Jimmy Matz

[Voodoo Daddy]

Jimmy was often in my room in Davie, Fl. in the mid-eighties. This was post accident. It was obvious that the accident had affected Jimmy's mind a lot but it had very little affect on his ability to play pool. Someone (usually his backer) would bring Jimmy in to play tournaments or to match up. If the backer didn't feel like watching Jimmy constantly, he would hire what we called a "handler". The handler's sole job was to follow Jimmy around and make sure he didn't get a beer. It was the strangest thing, Jimmy had the ability to beat the best player in the world, but one drink of beer and he might not beat the worst player in the room. Problem was, Jimmy loved beer. I remember one tournament where in a race to seven he had Richie Ambrose 6-0. Jimmy took a break to go to the restroom. We later found out that Jimmy had talked someone into hiding a beer in the restroom for him. After the break, Jimmy never made another ball and lost 7-6.
C J Wyly was on the road at this time and stopped by the room. He was playing great and easily beating the best players in the area. Jimmy and his backer came in and it wasn't long before Jimmy and C J were matched up. After about an hour and a half of getting torched, C J quit. C J said, "What's up with this guy? He shoots at everything, never ducts, and plays like he has absolutely no fear." I told C J that Jimmy shoots with no fear because he doesn't know he's supposed to be afraid and the only duck he knows anything about has wings and swims in water a lot.

House speaks 100% truth during these stories. That was the week CJ & Big Arm John came to FL, played Matz, Toby Sweet and Tommy Brown...CJ booked three losers inna row!!!

Nice to see "M" post,
Big Steve from Miami <AKA> Voodoo

 

[wagnew]

Hey Dave,
Met the new "Smooth" last week when he inspected a place of mine. 125# less makes him a whole new man. He does'nt play and says you don't either. I play a bar league Thursday in Lancaster and the straight pool league that will start soon at Leisure Lanes. Are you in York now? Call me 717-940-0498
Wayne Agnew

 

[JerseyJ]

Jimmy & I were friends in the late 60's & early 70's until I moved to Ocean City, NJ. I have a few good stories about Jimmy. Jimmy Caras was giving an exhibition at Kutztown College & said I hear that there is a kid here who thinks he can beat me . They played a 125 point straight pool Match with Matz winning 125 to 71! Caras didn't like loosing to Matz, believe. Another time he visited me in Miami & I took him to Congress Billiards to play Larry Lascoti who was world 9 ball champion. He didn't know who Jimmy was & gave him 2 balls. I backed him for 1K in a race to 10. Jimmy ate him up. After, Larry told Jimmy he was as good as anyone in the world! I played him countless times at Heister's Lane in Reading with him spotting me 75 in a 100 pointer with me having to break. I never won a game & I was a good player. Often I did not get another shot. 1 time I broke & he shot a om the pack shot & scratched. I ran 20 so yhe score was 95 to -1. Final score 100 to 95! He ran out. He was the best shot, best position player & best safe player I ever saw. Throw in the fact he was fearless made him tough to beat. We were really good friends but he would not let me win a game! Last time I saw him was painful. I was driving to visit my mother in Reading &;cut through Pennside were Jimmy lived with his parents. He was walking in a light rain & I picked him up to give him a ride home. He obviously had a traumatic brain injurybfrom a car accident that resulted in a plate in his head. Yrs later I heard about his suicide. I even recruited Jimmy to play on my team in a bar league we could have toured the country.. PLEASE SEND ME A COPY OF THE MATZ - FUSCO MATCH. I had heard about it a few yrs ago & have hoped to.purchase 1 ever since. Please get in touch & let me know how I can pay. You. Just saw Jimmy Matz's Balabushka at Proficient Billiards where it was refinished. I was visiting Reading & drove to Ephrata to visit there & then drove to New Holland to play at Club Med. WOW, what a poolroom! Players don't miss Club Med if 8n Tue Reading -- Lancaster area. 1 more Jimmy story. 2 of the zgold Crowns at Heister's Lane had their pockets shimmed for Jimmy. 1st shot on either table was s 115 run followed by an 111 run. He ran 284 there 1 day & just walked away to get something 2 eat.. To think I Played Jimmy almost daily for the cost of table time only! My game really improved during that time. I am 80 yrd old & can still play. Jan Sabo. (239)572-3488. 4500 Botanical Place Circle #204. Naples, FL 34112. I'd love to hear more Jimmy Matz storirs!

 

[T411]

Jimmy & I were friends in the late 60's & early 70's until I moved to Ocean City, NJ. I have a few good stories about Jimmy. Jimmy Caras was giving an exhibition at Kutztown College & said I hear that there is a kid here who thinks he can beat me . They played a 125 point straight pool Match with Matz winning 125 to 71! Caras didn't like loosing to Matz, believe. Another time he visited me in Miami & I took him to Congress Billiards to play Larry Lascoti who was world 9 ball champion. He didn't know who Jimmy was & gave him 2 balls. I backed him for 1K in a race to 10. Jimmy ate him up. After, Larry told Jimmy he was as good as anyone in the world! I played him countless times at Heister's Lane in Reading with him spotting me 75 in a 100 pointer with me having to break. I never won a game & I was a good player. Often I did not get another shot. 1 time I broke & he shot a om the pack shot & scratched. I ran 20 so yhe score was 95 to -1. Final score 100 to 95! He ran out. He was the best shot, best position player & best safe player I ever saw. Throw in the fact he was fearless made him tough to beat. We were really good friends but he would not let me win a game! Last time I saw him was painful. I was driving to visit my mother in Reading &;cut through Pennside were Jimmy lived with his parents. He was walking in a light rain & I picked him up to give him a ride home. He obviously had a traumatic brain injurybfrom a car accident that resulted in a plate in his head. Yrs later I heard about his suicide. I even recruited Jimmy to play on my team in a bar league we could have toured the country.. PLEASE SEND ME A COPY OF THE MATZ - FUSCO MATCH. I had heard about it a few yrs ago & have hoped to.purchase 1 ever since. Please get in touch & let me know how I can pay. You. Just saw Jimmy Matz's Balabushka at Proficient Billiards where it was refinished. I was visiting Reading & drove to Ephrata to visit there & then drove to New Holland to play at Club Med. WOW, what a poolroom! Players don't miss Club Med if 8n Tue Reading -- Lancaster area. 1 more Jimmy story. 2 of the zgold Crowns at Heister's Lane had their pockets shimmed for Jimmy. 1st shot on either table was s 115 run followed by an 111 run. He ran 284 there 1 day & just walked away to get something 2 eat.. To think I Played Jimmy almost daily for the cost of table time only! My game really improved during that time. I am 80 yrd old & can still play. Jan Sabo. (239)572-3488. 4500 Botanical Place Circle #204. Naples, FL 34112. I'd love to hear more Jimmy Matz storirs!

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

 

[garczar]

Jimmy & I were friends in the late 60's & early 70's until I moved to Ocean City, NJ. I have a few good stories about Jimmy. Jimmy Caras was giving an exhibition at Kutztown College & said I hear that there is a kid here who thinks he can beat me . They played a 125 point straight pool Match with Matz winning 125 to 71! Caras didn't like loosing to Matz, believe. Another time he visited me in Miami & I took him to Congress Billiards to play Larry Lascoti who was world 9 ball champion. He didn't know who Jimmy was & gave him 2 balls. I backed him for 1K in a race to 10. Jimmy ate him up. After, Larry told Jimmy he was as good as anyone in the world! I played him countless times at Heister's Lane in Reading with him spotting me 75 in a 100 pointer with me having to break. I never won a game & I was a good player. Often I did not get another shot. 1 time I broke & he shot a om the pack shot & scratched. I ran 20 so yhe score was 95 to -1. Final score 100 to 95! He ran out. He was the best shot, best position player & best safe player I ever saw. Throw in the fact he was fearless made him tough to beat. We were really good friends but he would not let me win a game! Last time I saw him was painful. I was driving to visit my mother in Reading &;cut through Pennside were Jimmy lived with his parents. He was walking in a light rain & I picked him up to give him a ride home. He obviously had a traumatic brain injurybfrom a car accident that resulted in a plate in his head. Yrs later I heard about his suicide. I even recruited Jimmy to play on my team in a bar league we could have toured the country.. PLEASE SEND ME A COPY OF THE MATZ - FUSCO MATCH. I had heard about it a few yrs ago & have hoped to.purchase 1 ever since. Please get in touch & let me know how I can pay. You. Just saw Jimmy Matz's Balabushka at Proficient Billiards where it was refinished. I was visiting Reading & drove to Ephrata to visit there & then drove to New Holland to play at Club Med. WOW, what a poolroom! Players don't miss Club Med if 8n Tue Reading -- Lancaster area. 1 more Jimmy story. 2 of the zgold Crowns at Heister's Lane had their pockets shimmed for Jimmy. 1st shot on either table was s 115 run followed by an 111 run. He ran 284 there 1 day & just walked away to get something 2 eat.. To think I Played Jimmy almost daily for the cost of table time only! My game really improved during that time. I am 80 yrd old & can still play. Jan Sabo. (239)572-3488. 4500 Botanical Place Circle #204. Naples, FL 34112. I'd love to hear more Jimmy Matz storirs!

One of the best 'keep a thread alive' posts ever. Great stuff.

 

[JerseyJ]

Jimmy & I were friends in the late 60's & early 70's until I moved to Ocean City, NJ. I have a few good stories about Jimmy. Jimmy Caras was giving an exhibition at Kutztown College & said I hear that there is a kid here who thinks he can beat me . They played a 125 point straight pool Match with Matz winning 125 to 71! Caras didn't like loosing to Matz, believe. Another time he visited me in Miami & I took him to Congress Billiards to play Larry Lascoti who was world 9 ball champion. He didn't know who Jimmy was & gave him 2 balls. I backed him for 1K in a race to 10. Jimmy ate him up. After, Larry told Jimmy he was as good as anyone in the world! I played him countless times at Heister's Lane in Reading with him spotting me 75 in a 100 pointer with me having to break. I never won a game & I was a good player. Often I did not get another shot. 1 time I broke & he shot a om the pack shot & scratched. I ran 20 so yhe score was 95 to -1. Final score 100 to 95! He ran out. He was the best shot, best position player & best safe player I ever saw. Throw in the fact he was fearless made him tough to beat. We were really good friends but he would not let me win a game! Last time I saw him was painful. I was driving to visit my mother in Reading &;cut through Pennside were Jimmy lived with his parents. He was walking in a light rain & I picked him up to give him a ride home. He obviously had a traumatic brain injurybfrom a car accident that resulted in a plate in his head. Yrs later I heard about his suicide. I even recruited Jimmy to play on my team in a bar league we could have toured the country.. PLEASE SEND ME A COPY OF THE MATZ - FUSCO MATCH. I had heard about it a few yrs ago & have hoped to.purchase 1 ever since. Please get in touch & let me know how I can pay. You. Just saw Jimmy Matz's Balabushka at Proficient Billiards where it was refinished. I was visiting Reading & drove to Ephrata to visit there & then drove to New Holland to play at Club bMed. WOW, what a poolroom! Players don't miss Club Med if 8n Tue Reading -- Lancaster area. 1 more Jimmy story. 2 of the zgold Crowns at Heister's Lane had their pockets shimmed for Jimmy. 1st shot on either table was s 115 run followed by an 111 run. He ran 284 there 1 day & just walked away to get something 2 eat.. To think I Played Jimmy almost daily for the cost of table time only! My game really improved during that time. I am 80 yrd old & can still play. Jan Sabo. (239)572-3488. 4500 Botanical Place Circle #204. Naples, FL 34112. I'd love to hear more Jimmy Matz storirs!

 

[JerseyJ]

One of the best 'keep a thread alive' posts ever. Great stuff.

 

[JerseyJ]

One of the best 'keep a thread alive' posts ever. Great stuff.

Has my story on Jimmy Matz been posted? I composed it at the wrong spot & am not sure if it posted

 

[JerseyJ]

Sorry, I made the tapes over a week ago and you were not one of the people that originally responded.

Wedge

Perhaps you can post a thread asking for a copy and one of the 7 people that received the tape might be kind enough to make you a copy. As I said earlier I already returned the borrowed VHS and am not set up to make another copy.

What make of cue do you have of Jimmy's and how did you get it?

Wedge

Jimmy Matz & I were good friends & played almost daily at Heister's Lane which is the bowling alley mentioned earlier. I was a good player but Jimmy spotted me 75 points in a 200 point game with me breaking. I never won a game. Often the only shot I had was the break as he would run 100 & out. 1 time he scratched on an in the pack shot & I ran 20. Score 95 to -1. Final score was 100 to 95 as he ran 101 & out. To think I played a world class player for only the cost of time on the table! My favorite Jimmy story was when Jimmy Caras was giving an exhibition at Kutztown College & said I hear there us a kid here who thinks he can beat me. They played a 125 point game with Matz winning 125 to 71! Caras didn't like loosing to a young college student! That may be the only time that happened. Another time Jimmy was visiting me in Miami & I took him to Congress Billiards to play Larry Lascoti who was world 9 ball champion. He did not know who Jimmy was & gave him 2 balls in a race tob10 for $1,000 that I backed him with. He ate Larry up! After, Larry told him he was as good as anyone in the world. I saw him run 9 racks of 9 ball which was amazing. Also ran 284 on a Brunswick GC with shimmed pockets at Heisters. He just stopped at 284 because he was hungry. That us how easy it was for him to run hundreds. He was the best shot, position player & safety player I ever saw. Add in the fact that he was fearless made him almost impossible to beat! I even recruited him to play on my team in a bar league. Team was loaded & could have toured the country. I moved away from Reading in 1973 but came back to visit my I'll mother. The last time I saw Jimmy was on such a visit. It was in the early 80's & I saw Jimmy walking in a light rain. I gave him a ride home & noticed he had an obvious traumatic brain injury from a car accident that made it necessary to have a plate in his skull. Very painful to see him like that. Yrs later a friend told me Jimmy committed suicide with his father's 38 revolver. AWFUL!
I 1st heard of the Matz - Fusco tape on this forum 2 yrs ago & have been trying to purchase 1 ever since. PLEASE SEND ME THE TAPE & TELL ME HOW I CAN PAY FOR IT. I played all of the players from Reading that were mentioned in the post from 2 yrs ago. Buddy, Larry Swazakowski. Mac Duncan was just becoming a good player. He was a boxer with fast hands who finally lit up a racist a**hole who was always picking on him. Everyone at the Paradice Bowling Alley on S 9th St cheered Mac on! There was another good player, Ace who I just missed at Berks Lanes a few yrs ago when it still had 9' Gold Crowns. I was told that he still plays very well as do I at 80 yrs old! Love to hear from anyone who has additional stories about the late Jimmy Matz from Reading PA. I have been posting on the dementia forum as I have Parkinson's & am keeping a log to be later posted on the forum detailing my pool playing ability affected by this nasty disease in hopes it helps others. Thank you, Jersey Jan

 

[JerseyJ]

Jimmy Matz & I were good friends & played almost daily at Heister's Lane which is the bowling alley mentioned earlier. I was a good player but Jimmy spotted me 75 points in a 200 point game with me breaking. I never won a game. Often the only shot I had was the break as he would run 100 & out. 1 time he scratched on an in the pack shot & I ran 20. Score 95 to -1. Final score was 100 to 95 as he ran 101 & out. To think I played a world class player for only the cost of time on the table! My favorite Jimmy story was when Jimmy Caras was giving an exhibition at Kutztown College & said I hear there us a kid here who thinks he can beat me. They played a 125 point game with Matz winning 125 to 71! Caras didn't like loosing to a young college student! That may be the only time that happened. Another time Jimmy was visiting me in Miami & I took him to Congress Billiards to play Larry Lascoti who was world 9 ball champion. He did not know who Jimmy was & gave him 2 balls in a race tob10 for $1,000 that I backed him with. He ate Larry up! After, Larry told him he was as good as anyone in the world. I saw him run 9 racks of 9 ball which was amazing. Also ran 284 on a Brunswick GC with shimmed pockets at Heisters. He just stopped at 284 because he was hungry. That us how easy it was for him to run hundreds. He was the best shot, position player & safety player I ever saw. Add in the fact that he was fearless made him almost impossible to beat! I even recruited him to play on my team in a bar league. Team was loaded & could have toured the country. I moved away from Reading in 1973 but came back to visit my I'll mother. The last time I saw Jimmy was on such a visit. It was in the early 80's & I saw Jimmy walking in a light rain. I gave him a ride home & noticed he had an obvious traumatic brain injury from a car accident that made it necessary to have a plate in his skull. Very painful to see him like that. Yrs later a friend told me Jimmy committed suicide with his father's 38 revolver. AWFUL!
I 1st heard of the Matz - Fusco tape on this forum 2 yrs ago & have been trying to purchase 1 ever since. PLEASE SEND ME THE TAPE & TELL ME HOW I CAN PAY FOR IT. I played all of the players from Reading that were mentioned in the post from 2 yrs ago. Buddy, Larry Swazakowski. Mac Duncan was just becoming a good player. He was a boxer with fast hands who finally lit up a racist a**hole who was always picking on him. Everyone at the Paradice Bowling Alley on S 9th St cheered Mac on! There was another good player, Ace who I just missed at Berks Lanes a few yrs ago when it still had 9' Gold Crowns. I was told that he still plays very well as do I at 80 yrs old! Love to hear from anyone who has additional stories about the late Jimmy Matz from Reading PA. I have been posting on the dementia forum as I have Parkinson's & am keeping a log to be later posted on the forum detailing my pool playing ability affected by this nasty disease in hopes it helps others. Thank you, Jersey Jan

He spotted me 75 in a 100 point game not 200.

 

[JerseyJ]

Sorry, I made the tapes over a week ago and you were not one of the people that originally responded.

Wedge

Perhaps you can post a thread asking for a copy and one of the 7 people that received the tape might be kind enough to make you a copy. As I said earlier I already returned the borrowed VHS and am not set up to make another copy.

What make of cue do you have of Jimmy's and how did you get it?

Wedge

Is it Jimmy's Balabushka? If so, that cue was at Proficent in Ephrata, PA for Refinishing. There is a framed picture of Jimmy in his stance down on the table as if he was shooting. When I knew Jimmy he did not drink at all. The accident caused a traumatic brain injury that caused over issues such as a drinking problem. What a shame! It was painful for me to seeing how affected he was the when I picked him up while walking in the rain & gave him a lift home. Rest in peace Jimmy. ... Jersey Jan

 

[JerseyJ]

Hey Dave,
Met the new "Smooth" last week when he inspected a place of mine. 125# less makes him a whole new man. He does'nt play and says you don't either. I play a bar league Thursday in Lancaster and the straight pool league that will start soon at Leisure Lanes. Are you in York now? Call me 717-940-0498
Wayne Agnew

I had been driving up to Leisure Lanes from Reading while visiting friends there. Leisure Lanes had GC's that played well A few of the players knew Jimmy & Ace. Had a good time. Just recently I was visiting old friends in Berks County & found Club Med in New Holland, PA on line & drove up. It was worth the drive as it's one of the best if not the best poolrooms I've ever been to. Have you been there? I went to York College in the 60's & plated in both rooms, 1 on Market & the other on George. I also played in a straight pool league that had quite a few very good players. Father & son Franklin & John Hubbard & a young player from Hanover named Kenny. Any of those names familiar?

 

[philly]

I had been driving up to Leisure Lanes from Reading while visiting friends there. Leisure Lanes had GC's that played well A few of the players knew Jimmy & Ace. Had a good time. Just recently I was visiting old friends in Berks County & found Club Med in New Holland, PA on line & drove up. It was worth the drive as it's one of the best if not the best poolrooms I've ever been to. Have you been there? I went to York College in the 60's & plated in both rooms, 1 on Market & the other on George. I also played in a straight pool league that had quite a few very good players. Father & son Franklin & John Hubbard & a young player from Hanover named Kenny. Any of those names familiar?

Just so you know, Ace is still around and playing well and still a real gentleman.

 

[JerseyJ]

Just so you know, Ace is still around and playing well and still a real gentleman.

Ace has always been a gentleman! He was 1 of the best players from Reading but was no match for Jimmy Matz. Does anyone know Mac Duncan? He had a lot of potential & was just starting to be a good player. We played each other many times at Paradice Billiards on S 9th St in Reading. In those days Mac was no match for me.

 

[philly]

Ace has always been a gentleman! He was 1 of the best players from Reading but was no match for Jimmy Matz. Does anyone know Mac Duncan? He had a lot of potential & was just starting to be a good player. We played each other many times at Paradice Billiards on S 9th St in Reading. In those days Mac was no match for me.

Never forget the loss I took from Ace in a tournament. Didn't sleep for three days as it was on my mind.
Had him down 6-2 in a race to 7 in a tournament and lost the match.
Not a handicapped tournament.
Still bothers me to this day.
Some matches you never forget.

Nobody was a match for Matz.
He'd run 300 balls and just walk away from boredom.

 

[JerseyJ]

I'd like a copy of the tape as well. Most of the stories from that guy are legendary as far as pool-speed goes.

I heard a story about Jimmy Matz that goes back years. Something about he and two other guys walk into a poolhall in North Carolina looking for action. They're all hanging out for a while and there wasn't anyone to play so the two other guys decide to grab dinner at a nearby restaurant. Before leaving, they tell Jimmy he has the OK to play anyone who walks through the door - except for a young guy named Earl Strickland.

They disappear for an hour or two and come back to a packed poolhall-- with nearly everyone crowded around one table....

"WTF?" the guys think as they try to weave through the crowd to see what's going on. On the other side of a wall of people they see....yup, you guessed it... Jimmy Matz was playing Earl for $5 / game 9-ball--- and Earl is stuck something like $100. There was speculation to whether or not Jimmy KNEW he was playing Earl Strickland. Apparently, Earl asked him to play and stepped into a coma-stroke of a galactic magnitude.

I was told this story many years ago, so if someone knows the exact details - please chime in, and my apologies for any inconsistencies since it's been years since I heard it. I wonder if Earl remembers Jimmy Matz?

From what I've heard from many top players, even after his car accident, he was a champion-killer. Before his accident, he was a champion-killer-killer.

Anyways, please PM me with your address and I'll send you a check. Thanks for the video.

Dave

I love those Jimmy Matz stories. In my pöst I tell a few myself as we were good friends. When I lived in Reading. Wedge, we must know each other from Heisters as I was there every day until I moved away. On 1 of the posts a jabo was mentioned. I believe he was talking about me, J Sabo as I was a good player. These Forums are very informative & entertaining. Nice to be in contact with other serious players.