Interesting video, Fats
- Thread starter middleofnowhere
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This I believe is Island Drive's interview.
Bill was fairly close to Fats and of course Evelyn.
middleofnowhere
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Yea I think so. I don't know him but shared a cab with him in Texas once at Reds tournament.
middleofnowhere
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It got my interest. I think I will reread my copy "The Bank Shot and Other Great Robberies" I have an original hardback copy. Haven't read it in years.
It can still be found on Amazon and probably on eBay. Really worth getting and reading, it's a fun read.
I always heard people say that Fats could not really play that good / but if he never had to work a job his whole adult life then he must have played good when it mattered!
1940-51 He played his best pool.
he played top speed when younger. but made good games in good spots and stalled to win the cash. those that shot all out, stood on the sidelines with empty pockets and hated him.
i put him in a good spot once 50 years ago, and he made the biggest score of his life and thanked me for it as we split the cash.
he may have been a loudmouth but was a really good person. and even gave money to about anyone that needed it.
i put him in a good spot once 50 years ago, and he made the biggest score of his life and thanked me for it as we split the cash.
he may have been a loudmouth but was a really good person. and even gave money to about anyone that needed it.
Remember he became ''double smart fats'' then for a short period.
He was known as ''Triple Smart''.
He was known as ''Triple Smart''.
middleofnowhere
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I have known a lot of good game makers but they often take loses. If someone is unwilling to lose anything then why play them regardless what the game is? Did Fats ever take any serious losses?
I don't want to disparage anyone, but players like Diliberto probably lost almost as many times as he won. He was always willing to play a fair game. Unless he was on the hustle he was usually trying to outrun the nuts.
Most of the top players are willing to play tough games. That brings me back to Fats. I hate to think he was a nitt, however that is spelled.
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fats lost a few big money games. he just was better at making games and beating players.
most pool players dont quit when they are not playing well or see they have a bad game. in other words they cant quit losers. that right there makes them sure losers.
the nits that bet are only called nits because they win all the time and have money. i never see winners call anyone a nit.
just those that are losers or cant get a good game bet from someone.
just having a big bankroll and letting them know it brings the players out of the woodwork to chase after it.
most all the pool players that took on everyone died or stayed broke all their lives.
most pool players dont quit when they are not playing well or see they have a bad game. in other words they cant quit losers. that right there makes them sure losers.
the nits that bet are only called nits because they win all the time and have money. i never see winners call anyone a nit.
just those that are losers or cant get a good game bet from someone.
just having a big bankroll and letting them know it brings the players out of the woodwork to chase after it.
most all the pool players that took on everyone died or stayed broke all their lives.
fats gave himself the names double smart and then later on went to triple smart. all part of his spiel in new york.
he wasnt very fat in his younger years and his very older ones.
but boy he could out eat anyone. he would order a whole chicken then another. and then more food.
when i ate breakfast with him he ordered the big original joe's omelet, ate it all with all the stuff on the plate and ordered another. of course he was getting it all free for being there. he actually had me telling my road stories to him instead of visa versa.
all the road players would put the touch on him and he helped most all out and few paid back. plus he gave lots to animal shelters as he loved pets.
only those that were jealous, broke, or mosconi, ( who was also jealous) didnt like him.
he wasnt very fat in his younger years and his very older ones.
but boy he could out eat anyone. he would order a whole chicken then another. and then more food.
when i ate breakfast with him he ordered the big original joe's omelet, ate it all with all the stuff on the plate and ordered another. of course he was getting it all free for being there. he actually had me telling my road stories to him instead of visa versa.
all the road players would put the touch on him and he helped most all out and few paid back. plus he gave lots to animal shelters as he loved pets.
only those that were jealous, broke, or mosconi, ( who was also jealous) didnt like him.
Fats would bark during the election years, when the candidates rolled by the pool room in NY in their cars, waving.
He called the crowd the candidates.... ''constituents''.
I remember Evelyn telling me about Chicago, a time just before she and Fatty met in Carbondale.
She said he'd booked every match at Bensingers (170 some) and lost only a hand full.
Fats also positioned his life, home along the route that followed the horse betting crowds.
Interstate 50 ran from WI thru IL and South past Janscos. to the west a little, till Interstate 57 came along.
Horse racing was BIG back then.
Steve McAnnich had a backer that was a horse owner/Maywood Park, off North Ave burbs of Chicago.
Those horse men bet it up, and he was in the mix.
Fats was good at making games.
Fats dad was a merchant marine.
Rudolph as a child Knew when the food line bell rang at the docks, he was always the first one/Ev told me.
Back then the food was free, part of the job.
He called the crowd the candidates.... ''constituents''.
I remember Evelyn telling me about Chicago, a time just before she and Fatty met in Carbondale.
She said he'd booked every match at Bensingers (170 some) and lost only a hand full.
Fats also positioned his life, home along the route that followed the horse betting crowds.
Interstate 50 ran from WI thru IL and South past Janscos. to the west a little, till Interstate 57 came along.
Horse racing was BIG back then.
Steve McAnnich had a backer that was a horse owner/Maywood Park, off North Ave burbs of Chicago.
Those horse men bet it up, and he was in the mix.
Fats was good at making games.
Fats dad was a merchant marine.
Rudolph as a child Knew when the food line bell rang at the docks, he was always the first one/Ev told me.
Back then the food was free, part of the job.
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Fats became Double Smart (he says) when playing a game of banks. Just as he struck the CB, the floor gave way under his feet sending him to the lower level. Before he left the scene, he shouted out "IT'S IN!!"
Such fast thinking under duress earned him the Moniker.
Such fast thinking under duress earned him the Moniker.