Jack Cooney: Any stories?

[8ballEinstein]

Charlieb,
Your account of his last road trip were consistent with the things I heard through the grapevine, though the sequence of events were slightly different. No matter. In what seemed like a span of 7 or 8 months, Jack was ahead so much money, it was nearly beyond belief. And this is based on the stories we know about. As BackPocket9Ball said, we might not know some of the bigger scores Jack made, and I'm sure he's not talking about them.

 

[Terry Erdman]

Freddy and Artie

Jack and Barbara lived with me and my wife and kids for about 3 months. We hustled together every day and made plenty cash. He never played any other game the whole time other than 1pkt.

the Beard

Freddy you stated that Artie was the best one pocket player you have ever seen. Did he ever play Jack? And if not who would have won if they did play, in your opinion. Or were they too good of friends to play each other. If the Cooney's were with you for that long of time I am sure that they knew Artie as well and probably no reason to bang heads with each other when little fish are there to catch? Anyway who would you have bet on to win the cash Artie or Jack.

 

[freddy the beard]

Jack and Artie

Freddy you stated that Artie was the best one pocket player you have ever seen. Did he ever play Jack? And if not who would have won if they did play, in your opinion. Or were they too good of friends to play each other. If the Cooney's were with you for that long of time I am sure that they knew Artie as well and probably no reason to bang heads with each other when little fish are there to catch? Anyway who would you have bet on to win the cash Artie or Jack.

I first posted this on another earlier thread:
When Jack first started hanging in my joint, North Shore Billiards, Artie was at first skeptical about playing Jack. Jack's rep had Artie somewhat intimidated. They wound up playing together as partners against a weak player (Grady Humphreys), giving him a big spot for big money. After a few days, Artie, frustrated by Jack's shot selection, suggested they quit the partners game and play against each other. Jack, on the other hand, was quite impressed with Artie's shot selection and asked for 10 to 8.
Even though I would try him periodically myself, I learned at an early age not to bet against Artie no matter who he played.

the Beard

 

[jay helfert]

I first posted this on another earlier thread:
When Jack first started hanging in my joint, North Shore Billiards, Artie was at first skeptical about playing Jack. Jack's rep had Artie somewhat intimidated. They wound up playing together as partners against a weak player (Grady Humphreys), giving him a big spot for big money. After a few days, Artie, frustrated by Jack's shot selection, suggested they quit the partners game and play against each other. Jack, on the other hand, was quite impressed with Artie's shot selection and asked for 10 to 8.
Even though I would try him periodically myself, I learned at an early age not to bet against Artie no matter who he played.

the Beard

If Artie ever coughed up that 10-8, he would have met a "new" and improved Jack. Guess what, he was spreading for Artie. Jack was always looking for the best score in the joint, no matter how long it took.

 

[freddy the beard]

Spread for Artie? ha ha

If Artie ever coughed up that 10-8, he would have met a "new" and improved Jack. Guess what, he was spreading for Artie. Jack was always looking for the best score in the joint, no matter how long it took.

Spread for Artie? That's like trying to trick a Marciano into getting in the ring with you. IT NEVER HAPPENED. He was bulletproof. I tried a few times and gave that notion up quickly. Asking for 10 to 8 is a way to make sure you never play. I played them both, and have I busted Jack (I belong to a small club.), so when I tell you even up would be no contest, believe me. I would bet on Jack playing anybody other than Artie.

the Beard

 

[vagabond]

For the first and last time I had seen jack cooney in late 90s at shooters in olathe,KS.The European pro player Mark Chamat matched up with ronnie Allen, one pocket,ofcourse.Jack was chamat`s coach.Jack was allowed to coach chamat for every shot.I now don`t remember the outcomes.

 

[Fatboy]

Back in the 70's and 80's about once or twice a year the word would go round about another huge Jack Cooney score. The pool grapevine was pretty strong. All the champion players would be a little sick when they heard how Jack just beat some well known, high rolling bookie out of 80K. The same guy that pulled up on them after losing a thousand or two.

The last big scores I remember Jack making were over Toby in Vegas and James Walden at Derby City. Let's just say the total was in the neighborhood of six figures each time. I see Jack and Barbara once in a while and he claims to be retired. All I know is if he comes out of retirement, I'm betting on him.

i sat on the rail and watched Toby in Vegas in alot of action and never seen him lose a game he didnt plan on losing-small action to keep'em comming back. To make a big score off Toby is strong. I was watching him in the earily 90's, perhaps he got comfortable after the Archie score, I havent seen Toby play since but before that, Toby was one of the hungeryiesy player I ever knew. man he was hungey. The only yime I saw him play light hearted pool was $5/game against Tony Ellin RIP

Mr. Cooney sliped under my radar, I dont know about him, but reading is interesting

 

[wayne]

After Cooney and his backer had relieved a local fish of about $70,000 Jack had a moment of conscience and told the fish he would give him a game where he could get some of his money back. The cueball was placed at the center of the table and the 8 ball was put on the spot and the 9 ball in between the cue ball and the 8. For $100 a game Cooney would kick at the 8 ball and whoever made the 9 won (9 ball rules). Unbelievably, Cooney won 26 games in a row.

 

[wayne]

Another time at the old Players club Cooney was hitting balls badly all afternoon setting up a game. He finally had his mark and the game was agreed upon. Just as they were getting ready to start a guy going by looks at Cooney and blurts out "WOW, YOU'RE Jack Cooney!" I thought Cooney's wife was going to pull out her gun and open fire on the admirer.

 

[stan shuffett]

Over 20 years ago Jack was playing and practicing at Nick's place in Owensboro and an interesting story surfaced.

Supposedly, Jack went into a poolroom one day with an instructional book in hand and opened the book and layed it on his practice table and was attempting some of the diagrammed shots in the book as if he were just learning the game, really pouring it on. Onlookers noticed this and soon decided that they would approach him for a money game. The rest is history.

 

[jay helfert]

Spread for Artie? That's like trying to trick a Marciano into getting in the ring with you. IT NEVER HAPPENED. He was bulletproof. I tried a few times and gave that notion up quickly. Asking for 10 to 8 is a way to make sure you never play. I played them both, and have I busted Jack (I belong to a small club.), so when I tell you even up would be no contest, believe me. I would bet on Jack playing anybody other than Artie.

the Beard

Who do you like between Ronnie and Artie, circa the 70's or early 80s'.

 

[jay helfert]

Over 20 years ago Jack was playing and practicing at Nick's place in Owensboro and an interesting story surfaced.

Supposedly, Jack went into a poolroom one day with an instructional book in hand and opened the book and layed it on his practice table and was attempting some of the diagrammed shots in the book as if he were just learning the game, really pouring it on. Onlookers noticed this and soon decided that they would approach him for a money game. The rest is history.

This guy is a classic, isn't he? Sounds just like him.

 

[Nostroke]

Ive got a small lame story and its been a while so hopefully i got the important details correct and maybe someone can chime in w more details and corrections.

This occurred at Lamperts in Baton Rouge during one of Grady's 1P tournaments- I dont think either of the players entered the tournament.

Jack was playing 9 Ball One Pocket. The balls were racked like 9 Ball-the first to 5 wins except Jack was giving this other guy a ball for $300 game. The other guys name was either "Hooker" or "Rooster". He was in his 50's and had a pretty good head of hair that was just a little too dark. I think he was from the Carolinas.

Anyway Jack was down $17K when i got there. I didnt stay long. The next day i went to the tournament watched most of the day and at night I went back to Lamberts and those guys were still playing.
Anyway they played over 36 hours straight Jack battled back and broke even, give or take a thousand..

On another note, there was a guy from my neck of the woods who i have heard was a great Hustler- would do some of things talked about in this thread-was very patient like Cooney, would come to pool room for days witout playing anyone, biding his time etc. His name was 'Country'-Stories anyone?

 

[vagabond]

The other guys name was either "Hooker" or "Rooster". He was in his 50's and had a pretty good head of hair that was just a little too dark. I think he was from the Carolinas.



QUOTE]

Hooker owns a pool room in Goldsboro, NC

 

[Love The Game]

My 2 cents:

Cooney hung around StL and KC in the early 90s and took off some big scores. It took a while, but he really laid it down.

I was getting out of my car at the C&C in St Louis when he pulled into the parking lot with Barbara in a big white Lincoln with CA plates. The StL guys checked out the car and the driver. Took about 15 minutes to figure out the guy was Cooney from SF.

Here's what is so hard to describe. Over the next month or so, I watched him win/lose a few cheap sets, and he never, ever showed any speed. Cooney looked and played like an in-law staying at his daughter's house.

People would say "Jack, how's it going today", and the dude would just grin and say, "Great, how are you?". He and his wife were in the pool room 4 or 5 times a week, but never asked for action. They were just clocking the players.

Ronnie had been in town a month before, and had taken a big hit just prior to Jack's arrival. There was no doubt he was after that cash.

I guess there was around 25k available in the area, and Jack got all of that and more.

I talked to him in KC a month later, and he was just so under the radar, it was crazy. He would play just good enough to get the dough and nothing more.

Truely an amazing guy.

 

[poolcuemaster]

If you haven't watched Gene Hooker play 9 ball One pocket you ain't seen nothing yet, he allways bets with him getting the break or he won't play a better player. He kicks two rails and hits the back ball and makes it in his pocket about 3 out of 4 times and either plays safe or runs out depending on how they are laying. I watched Tony W beat him 10 to 3 regular 1 hole for 75 biguns at US Open 4 years ago over 3 days so Tony is still in tournament next day and he played Shannon the same way and played like a man on fire, I thought up untill then that he was a banger. I'm sure he wins more than he loses after watching that match. Leonard

 

[freddy the beard]

Ronnie and Artie

Who do you like between Ronnie and Artie, circa the 70's or early 80s'.

Jay here is an except from my book, The GosPool:

"The two of them [Artie & Ronnie Allen] were going to play one time – up in Wisconsin – and they spent two hours in negotiations. Over what table, how much to bet, what are the rules, and they finally got stymied on what cue ball! Now Artie's with a friend of mine, Race Track Phil, who was a raving lunatic and who had just won about fifty thousand at the track. He loved Artie and he wanted to see the game. He's the kind of guy that will blow like ten thousand just to see them play; he don't care, okay? Now he wants Artie to play Ronnie; he wants to see that game. I mean, what a game, Ronnie and Artie, playing even! But Artie wouldn't play; he wouldn't concede these things that Ronnie wanted. And my friend is threatening Artie; he put the gun on Artie and said, 'I don't care if ya lose, but if ya don't play I'm going to kill ya.' But Artie said no, no, no. My friend was like a wild man; he was screaming and cursing, 'Just play; I don't care about the money.' And he didn't care about the money! He just wanted to sweat the game. But on the threat of death, Artie would not make a game that he didn't like.
It came down to he wouldn't let Ronnie put his own cue ball in. And Ronnie, by the same token, wouldn't play without his own cue ball! Everybody wanted to see the game; I was there and I was dying to see the game."
I really didnt like Artie's style of play, but I was smart enough to not bet against him. On the other hand, I loved Ronnie's game, but I couldnt bet on him if the two played. I would have bet (small) on Artie.

the Beard

 

[Black-Balled]

If you haven't watched Gene Hooker play 9 ball One pocket you ain't seen nothing yet, he allways bets with him getting the break or he won't play a better player. He kicks two rails and hits the back ball and makes it in his pocket about 3 out of 4 times and either plays safe or runs out depending on how they are laying. I watched Tony W beat him 10 to 3 regular 1 hole for 75 biguns at US Open 4 years ago over 3 days so Tony is still in tournament next day and he played Shannon the same way and played like a man on fire, I thought up untill then that he was a banger. I'm sure he wins more than he loses after watching that match. Leonard

Never gambled with him, but he is a gracious and classy gentleman! His family also gets 2 thumbs up from me!

 

[Snapshot9]

I talked

to Walden about his Cooney match, and James told me he had won about
$150,000 about 4 months prior to the Cooney match.

And I wonder if that rich guy down in Orleans is the same guy that Gabe took 16 big ones off of playing 1 pocket.

 

[1 Pocket Ghost]

If you haven't watched Gene Hooker play 9 ball One pocket you ain't seen nothing yet, he allways bets with him getting the break or he won't play a better player. He kicks two rails and hits the back ball and makes it in his pocket about 3 out of 4 times and either plays safe or runs out depending on how they are laying. Leonard

Yep, I saw Hooker getting that spot a few years back - I think it was against Keith - and yeah, I did think that that break of Hookers was pretty wild.