Well I just (re)watched that old video between Mosconi and Fats. Through all the bluster, and though Mosconi really didn't like Fats in real life, there was a nice moment of camaraderie at one point. Mosconi was on the 9 ball and he missed it badly. Looked like maybe it skidded. Anyway Fats makes the ball and during the racking you could see the two discussing Mosconi's miss. Mosconi gesturing about what happened and Fats nodding his head with what I would call "professional courtesy."
I'm reading this discussion about essentially who was a greater ambassador of the game, and I respectfully have to throw out my opinion that Mosconi was a far greater ambassador than Fats. Here's my reasoning: Nobody has mentioned what great impact Mosconi had practically right out of the womb. Here he is with his father giving exhibitions on a milk crate. Then, he's making newspaper headlines as the "sensation" who is battling the immortal Ralph Greenleaf in exhibitions all across the country. (He first played Greenleaf in 1919 at the age of 6 and subsequently went on tour with him). Then comes his dominance of the game for 20 years, which surely had to be inspirational to many, followed of course by his many ensuing years in "retirement" giving exhibitions sponsored by Brunswick. So here's a guy inspiring others by the quality of his play for something like 50 years.
In contrast, was Fats ever really known before The Hustler came out when he reinvented himself? Have you ever heard anybody say, "Hey I love that New York Fats. He's the reason I took up pool!" So Mosconi had been in the public eye since let's say 1920. The Hustler came out in 1961 after which Minnesota Fats was "born." I'd say Mosconi had a 41 year head start on Fats in the ambassador department.
I'm reading this discussion about essentially who was a greater ambassador of the game, and I respectfully have to throw out my opinion that Mosconi was a far greater ambassador than Fats. Here's my reasoning: Nobody has mentioned what great impact Mosconi had practically right out of the womb. Here he is with his father giving exhibitions on a milk crate. Then, he's making newspaper headlines as the "sensation" who is battling the immortal Ralph Greenleaf in exhibitions all across the country. (He first played Greenleaf in 1919 at the age of 6 and subsequently went on tour with him). Then comes his dominance of the game for 20 years, which surely had to be inspirational to many, followed of course by his many ensuing years in "retirement" giving exhibitions sponsored by Brunswick. So here's a guy inspiring others by the quality of his play for something like 50 years.
In contrast, was Fats ever really known before The Hustler came out when he reinvented himself? Have you ever heard anybody say, "Hey I love that New York Fats. He's the reason I took up pool!" So Mosconi had been in the public eye since let's say 1920. The Hustler came out in 1961 after which Minnesota Fats was "born." I'd say Mosconi had a 41 year head start on Fats in the ambassador department.
