Hey, I resemble that remark! :grin-square:
I need a name....???
- Thread starter freddy the beard
- Start date
Hey, I resemble that remark! :grin-square:
I knew black Cannonball pretty well. I think he had a sister in Riverside, CA and he spent quite a bit of time out here. He was the second best bank pool player I ever saw (after Eddie Taylor) until I got to see Bugs play. And Cannonball was right there with them! From what I heard he was a complete player in his younger days, going to some of the 50's era World Championships and challenging the pros to play any game. I only saw white Cannonball play one time in Guys and Dolls in NYC. He was playing a big money game with Blackie and I was surprised to see him win. I thought Blackie was nearly unbeatable in 9-Ball. I think Cannonball also played Richie from The Bronx, but I can't remember for sure who won that match-up. I think Blackie called Richie to try to get his money back. 
Is this Bob, depicted on the right? He used to be good friends with Grady, I think.
I love his T-shirt in this photo, taken at the Open.
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If you're doing pool hustlers, you better not forget Mike "Geese" Gerace from Maryland.
We also have Bus Driver Ronnie, Cigar Tom, Tom-Tom, Strawberry, Sterling, White Max, Danny Green, et cetera, just a few names that come to mind at the time of this writing.
Freddy, my friend called me back and came up empty. He even contacted others he knew from his younger days but still no dice. Sorry.
Good luck with the book.
LOL! Those cats in your avatar have a unique grin themselves! :grin:
Fred,
A cool Wendell story was when the Feds were busting everybody in Johnson City that year and people were climbing out of the bathroom window, Wendell never broke for the door. He was released and not charged because he had a record book showing wins and loses that made it look like he was barely breaking even.
He also filed taxes every year showing he was a loser. He is a genius. As you and I know Wilber did not lose too often and when he did most of the time it was on purpose. When he played people 125 no count and gambled, it was truly amazing to watch him play safe at 90 balls and then win from there. He was a hard guy to wear down and could go the long haul.
Those guys who played him never understood that Wendell was the master of making people back scratch. When he did play safe all you ever had was a wing shot because he would play position to snooker you in the worst position on the table snookered from the whole table by one object ball. Can you say defensive player? Frank Taberski was Wendell's hero.
I also loved to watch him hustle 3 cushion players for money. 3C players hate to use a bridge. Wendell would play them safe and put their ball in a position whereby they had to use a bridge for a low percentage shot. The opponents would get so frustrated the he owned them and he would act like he was still trying to figure out how to play billiards. He would create angles using top spin to the rail to make a billiard and they would never really figure out that he was not just lucky. A true hustler through and through but an honest man who never cheated.
When Joey and him would go on the road, Joey would play the role as the hot fancy player who would play to the crowd and Wendell would be the backer or the money man. After many hours of breaking even with a money player, Joey would start getting behind and Wendell and him would get into an argument and Wendell would finally say, let's get out of here kid, you just don't have it today, shit even I could beat this guy.
Now the people have already clocked Wendell as the money man and were smelling the cash. Next question was, hey old man do you want to play some. Wendell would say, I am bored with this 200.00 shit, if you want to play get your little piggy banks together and let play for some real money like $ 4000.00 a set and we will see if you have a pump or are just a short stop. Wendell would then step in rested and play a guy that had been gambling for 4 hours, it was beautiful. Next thing you know he is getting a spot and when he beat them they thought he was getting lucky. Wendell used to practice miscueing and playing safe and he could drink Seagrams Vo while he played and he would actually stagger and trip over his own feet while he was walking around the table. It was better than the movies, in real life.
When Wendell would bust someone for all of his money as he did as a habit, he would always give the guy his last barrel back for groceries. Even after he busted him for all the money, when they left, they did not hate him and always thought they could beat them the next time they played. When Wilber got someone's nose open it was like going to the bank.
I remember he would meet Top tier straight pool player at the Corner Pocket on Milwaukee Ave every Friday night after he got got his pay check. Wendell tortured him for months and beat him like a pulp until finally it caused a divorce. This guy was capable of running 100 balls and got so obsessed on the thought of beating Wendell that he lost track of reality. Wendell made sure he always went home with groceries money. The only problem was Wendell had the rent money.
When Efren and Rudy first came to this country they were stalled at the Cafe for 6 months before they got their visas and went on the road. Frank had that 1000.00 nine ball tournament once a month on Sunday. Wendell had quit playing pool for years and had been working with me and I know he had not touched a pool cue. He did not even own one. A friend of ours, Jim Allen called Wendell and said that he had posted an Entry fee for Wendell to play because he want to see Wendell to play Efren.
Wendell said he was going to pass and did not want to play. Him and I were leaving Sunday night to go to Quad Cities for a job starting Monday morning. I called him and told him to pack his bag and I would pick him up early that morning. I called Mike Valentino and arranged him to meet us at the Cafe with his Kershenbroch cue. When I got Wendell in the truck I told him I was hijacking him to the cafe for the tournament and we were going to Quad Cities from there. He was pissed but agreed.
Efren had won the 1000.00 every month for 5 months and had never been placed in the losers bracket. As luck would have it Wendell and Efren were matched in the 1st round. Wendell really did not want to play and he only got a heartbeat because of all of the players were there and he was like the polar bear at the zoo. Wendell beat Efren and put him into the loser's side.
After the match he was having a cigarette and having a coffee with John the Greek and was surrounded by all the top guys in Chicago at the time and the question they were asking was how did you beat Efren? Wendell's answer was, " I heard that this fella Efren was real good at kicking and banking so when I played him safe I made sure that any kick or banks were tough and off the short rail. Even though Wendell had not played the game in years he knew how to clock the best player in the world and beat him by using his brain. He knew on an open table in 9 ball he could play as good as anyone. To beat Efren he had to take away his strength with the kicks and the banks. Wendell had no desire to stay all day and after knocking The Magician into the loser bracket he lost to John Wright in the next match. Boy was John Wright on cloud nine and Wendell shook his hand and said, John you played real good. Then we left.
The funny thing was that everyone who was there never believed that Wendell had quit pool cold turkey and was not in stroke or was not playing somewhere else. He had grinded it out with the Magician and beat him at his own game.
Rick
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If you're doing pool hustlers, you better not forget Mike "Geese" Gerace from Maryland.
We also have Bus Driver Ronnie, Cigar Tom, Tom-Tom, Strawberry, Sterling, White Max, Danny Green, et cetera, just a few names that come to mind at the time of this writing.
Strawberry is already in. Sterling? Sterling Ward? He is in the POS category. The other guys I never dealt with. Geese I interacted with only a little in LA and Johnston City. If you want him commemorated you will have to provide a short bio. My book is going to be 300 plus pages already.
Beard
I knew the other one, not well, though. I'll have to look it up in my stuff. Lyn would know.
Edit: Eddie......Konowski......? Something like that.
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I thought you were creating an encyclopedia of pool hustlers, but I think, if you aren't including Geese, that you are creating an encyclopedia of pool hustlers as known to Freddy the Beard, which is different, I guess, than a general encyclopedia of pool hustlers. I guess there's a lot of hustlers that you may have never run across. In that case, if you had limited interaction with Geese, he doesn't need to be in your encyclopedia of pool hustlers.
I'm not sure of Sterling's last name, but I wouldn't consider him a piece of sh*t. He gave plenty of high-dollar action to players in D.C. area, and still does, from what I hear. He always treated me okay.
Lefty (jr) Goff
Hey robin,
It has been several years since Herman Love's place closed (in Dothan).
He would be there most everyday just like you said.
Always with the old white caddy.
I am sure he is still alive and in the same area - I just don't see him up and moving to anywhere else.
I used to go down there 2-3 times a year - and always enjoyed getting beat by him. He could still play last time I saw him maybe 6-8 years ago.
He could till bank real good- and he would come with a shot like Ervolino used to do; move a lot of balls and whitey would stick to back side of a ball. Amazing and frustrating.
Freddie, I have his phone number if you need- think it is still good.
Mark griffin
Hey robin,
It has been several years since Herman Love's place closed (in Dothan).
He would be there most everyday just like you said.
Always with the old white caddy.
I am sure he is still alive and in the same area - I just don't see him up and moving to anywhere else.
I used to go down there 2-3 times a year - and always enjoyed getting beat by him. He could still play last time I saw him maybe 6-8 years ago.
He could till bank real good- and he would come with a shot like Ervolino used to do; move a lot of balls and whitey would stick to back side of a ball. Amazing and frustrating.
Freddie, I have his phone number if you need- think it is still good.
Mark griffin
JAM...You do! I expect that Keith will be as excited to read Freddy's new book, as the rest of us! LOL Sounds like a really fun read...speaking of reading...and nothing's been mentioned in awhile...any idea when Keith's book is coming out?
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
I thought you were creating an encyclopedia of pool hustlers, but I think, if you aren't including Geese, that you are creating an encyclopedia of pool hustlers as known to Freddy the Beard, which is different, I guess, than a general encyclopedia of pool hustlers. I guess there's a lot of hustlers that you may have never run across. In that case, if you had limited interaction with Geese, he doesn't need to be in your encyclopedia of pool hustlers.
I'm not sure of Sterling's last name, but I wouldn't consider him a piece of sh*t. He gave plenty of high-dollar action to players in D.C. area, and still does, from what I hear. He always treated me okay.
Different Sterling apparently. Sterling Ward was in LA in the 70s after leaving Chicago. Ask Jay Helfert about him. He was a convicted pedophile.
Yes it is an encyclopedia of Pool Hustlers that I have personal interaction with and believe me -- that is a very large number of them. I certainly cant cover everybody, it is not a text -- it is a very personal piece of entertainment and insight. There aint too many that I am leaving out, however.
Geece would certainly qualify otherwise, in pool speed, hustle and personality. Since I am inserting some of your quotes already -- as I have had interaction with you -- Whats the problem with you saying a little something about Geese?
The book is going to be interspersed with insights and quotes that I have accumulated throughout the years from people and players like, Grady, Danny Di, Steve Lomako, JAM, Jay Helfert, Petie Saxton, Billy Incardona, etc.
Beard
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Thanks anyway Mark, but as of now, Junior isn't on my roster. Played him once in Johnston City and that was the only encounter he and I had. But, you can count on just about all the pool villains being displayed.
Beard
Later on when I get near a publishing date I might post a roster of who all I cover in the book.
Beard
Beard
Is this Bob, depicted on the right? He used to be good friends with Grady, I think.
I love his T-shirt in this photo, taken at the Open.
Yeah I think so Jam. It's been so long since I've seen him. I remember a much younger guy. :wink:
Bob was well over 6' tall and had a lanky and angular body, one of those guys who always looked like he was halfway down on the ball.
P.S. Who's the guy with Bob. He looks kind of familiar.
P.P.S. I've got a great idea. Make a shirt with Keith's likeness on it (just like in that pic) and simply put ETHER under it. You'll sell a million of 'em!
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