SpiderWebComm said:
This was buried in another thread so I thought I'd post it. This is Keither w/ the Ether's answer as to who he thought the toughest gamblers were. Billy is probably not a huge surprise to many.... but I thought I'd pull your attention to the Tooth.
I know the Tooth isn't the most loved person on this forum, and he's our whippin' boy in many occasions... many times called a locksmith and nit and asking for whale-weight cause he can't play. Just thought I'd make this a main post for those who rely on AZB for historical info--- not the barking that isn't always accurate.
I know it breaks many of your hearts to hear this, but Tooth was a PLAYER at one time, folks. I'm sure he can still pop them OK even with his coke bottle glasses (in case you're a B player looking to make a score). Anyways, just thought I'd post this out in the open so those who think the Tooth is a nit can show him a LITTLE respect. Just because Fatboy dropped the anvil on his head doesn't mean he's a nit.
Let me add a little more. The toughest ones to beat out of any money that I've run across are Billy Incardona and Bucktooth. The reason being is they were tough as nails to match up with.
Bucktooth especially was difficult to get down, but if you could get his nose open, he would go off. I only beat him one time. I had to quit him winner because he's such a nice guy, if you know what I mean. LOL. And then he found a way, his way, to come back and beat me out of a little something. He is a hard campaigner to deal with, but if you can take the worst of it, you will go ahead and win yourself a nice little package.
As far as good guys to gamble with, Eddie Burton, Cole Dixon, Wade Crane, Richie Florence, they all used to stack it up.
Grady Mathews has always been fair to gamble with because he would take a game and bet you as high as you can fly. That's the one thing I always liked about Grady.
Harry Platis is another one who I would consider a good man to gamble with. He has no fear and would play anybody for whatever they had, as long as they gave him a semi chance to win.
I cannot forget Mark Bitore who put pool players in action annually around the country. One thing about Mark, if you beat one of his guys, there would be another one standing in line to play you. He moved them in and out like a coach, and you could bet until your arms fall off. One time I was broke over there in Dallas, and he staked me over the phone for 2,000to play Lizard one-pocket even. I beat him in 30 minutes, 5 ahead.
Bookmaker Rodney from Houston comes to mind, but he's all done playing now. Weldon Rogers is another sniper. Let's not forget about Harley from Jacksonville, Cornbread Red in Detroit. These are just a few action men I can think of offhand, but today some people might not know these names.
There's a lot of players that were hard to beat and hard to gamble with. Larry Hubbart and Mike Sigel were tough to beat. I believe I was the only one that ever beat them out of any money when they were traveling on the road. They didn't book too many losers.
As far as people gambling today, I think that it has sort of gone out the window. It's nothing like it was in the '70s. The '70s could give pool the 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and the break as far as gambling, and you can take it for what it's worth. It will never, ever be like it was back then.
