Kid Delicious book
- Thread starter Travis Bickle
- Start date
It has already appeared on eBay as both the publisher's uncorrected proof and as the published hardback version. I won the latter for $16 delivered, but it hasn't actually arrived yet.Neil said:
When Danny was on the road, he stayed at my home for two weeks when in the L.A. area. He was a fun guy to have around with many great stories, and he played pool on my table every day. Tang came out and matched up with him and so did Mika and Steve Knight. I actually filmed some of it and am in the process of converting it to DVD's. Danny was a good guy to gamble with and had fun win or lose.
He also played quite well in some tournaments out here at the Bicycle Casino and in Reno. He was featured on the Bar Box Shootout telelvison show made for INHD TV. By the way, I have DVD's of these shows as well (eight 30 minute shows). I met Jon Wertheim at Derby City last year when he was working on a story for Sports Illustrated. A very talented journalist who is now Senior Editor of SI. We spoke recently and he has booked Danny for many guest appearances to promote the book. You should be seeing him in the near future on The Best Damn Sports Show, among others.
I like Danny a lot and I wish him well. I hope he makes a complete recovery and returns to a full schedule in pro pool. He's a welcome addition to any tournament.
He also played quite well in some tournaments out here at the Bicycle Casino and in Reno. He was featured on the Bar Box Shootout telelvison show made for INHD TV. By the way, I have DVD's of these shows as well (eight 30 minute shows). I met Jon Wertheim at Derby City last year when he was working on a story for Sports Illustrated. A very talented journalist who is now Senior Editor of SI. We spoke recently and he has booked Danny for many guest appearances to promote the book. You should be seeing him in the near future on The Best Damn Sports Show, among others.
I like Danny a lot and I wish him well. I hope he makes a complete recovery and returns to a full schedule in pro pool. He's a welcome addition to any tournament.
The Woim
Banned
JAM said:
Pool is a niche sport. It's not going to have broad appeal. Ever visit family or friends and you're sitting there watching the WPBA on TV? Ever notice that your sisters generally think pool is a boring sport? If you didn't hear them say that then they probably said it quietly because they didn't want to offend you.
We love pool. It's a special relationship in a "til death do us part" variety. But it's not a love we should expect the rest of America to share.
True love ain't for sharin'!!!
Yours Very Truly,
The Woim
Terry Ardeno said:
Terry, I think you know what road player lifestyle is like. Don't put too much mystery or allure around it. Most time is spent inside the pool hall. Time away from the pool hall is spent in bed, eating, or gambling in some other way not related to pool (cards, horses, dogs, golf). Time is spent with others who like to do the same things. Severe illness aside, times you might find them doing something different include Christmas and Thanksgiving.
I edited this b/c I do not believe this for all successful pool players, just most of those that make their living on the road.
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I've read about the first third. I find it pretty entertaining. I like it better than "Playing Off the Rail." I think Wertheim is a better writer than McCumber, and to the extent that I know the players mentioned, a more accurate one as well.Travis Bickle said:
George Fels said:
But didn't you just write:
"I've read it. IMO Wertheim is great, Basavich is not nearly as interesting as Wertheim would like us to think, and "Bristol Bob" is boring and unlikable. Movie is said to be "in development"; they'd have to embellish the book considerably to make it an entertaining film. GF"
How I read this, is that the writer (Wertheim) is good (great), but the characters in true life not. Or did I (and Bud) just misunderstood your point and you meant that the characters in the book are not interesting. If so, what makes Wertheim great then?
Jerry Forsyth
Well-known member
Wertheim's Book
I had the pleasure of reading the book as it was being written and enjoyed every page. Fels is right, the subject matter is tough to write about. But Jon turns a very nice phrase and his use of language made even the fact that I was reading about the same hustle in different towns seem fresh and entertaining.
If you enjoy good writing you will love the book. Read it because it is the best piece of biographical creative writing we have in the game.
I had the pleasure of reading the book as it was being written and enjoyed every page. Fels is right, the subject matter is tough to write about. But Jon turns a very nice phrase and his use of language made even the fact that I was reading about the same hustle in different towns seem fresh and entertaining.
If you enjoy good writing you will love the book. Read it because it is the best piece of biographical creative writing we have in the game.
Pool has proven that the right guys can force America to fall in love with them
Greenleaf
Fats
Paul Newman
Tom Cruise
Greenleaf
Fats
Paul Newman
Tom Cruise
Why bash Basavich and Bristol Bob?
Mr Fels,
I enjoy your work immensely, but it seems you are a bit harsh in your comments on some of the most interesting pool icons in history. The first thing I used to read in Billiards Digest was always your column. We have never met although I spent some time in the Chicago area and I know quite a few of the people you have written about. The first pot shot at a player that I noticed was one of your columns about "Minnesota Fats". As I have mentioned before, I found it distasteful that you wrote you would not legitimize Mr. Wanderone by refering to him by his moniker. You also went on to describe him as somewhat of a hack as far as his playing ability. You may not have a job if it was not for the fat man. My grandfather told me he was a good and generous man, and he was a great hustler who matched up as well as anyone. He is still the most reconized name in the history of American pool. I still followed your work closely and thought maybe that was out of character for you.
Then you posted that you heard my grandfather (Don Willis) was a card cheat. That Mr. Fels crossed a line in my opinon. I have never heard from anyone including some of the great card player from the past (Amarillo Slim, Doyle Brunson, Sailor Roberts, Johnny Hughes, Crandell Addington, etc) that he was a cheat. A lot of people through the years have told me stories that make me smile, but you are the first to insinuate that he cheated at cards. Why are you so bitter towards hustlers and road players? Is it because you love the game so much you are dissapointed with your accomplishments on the green felt? Roadies and hustlers are not all bad and callous people. I have had the pleasure of meeting many champions, huslers, and road men, and quite a few of them I consider friends.
When you make a statement like "Basavich is not nearly as interesting as Wertheim would like us to think, and "Bristol Bob" is boring and unlikable." it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I spent some time around Kid Delish, his brother, and Bristol Bob. They kept me in stiches while relieving me of some cash. The last week they were around I went from betting against them to steering them a bit. Before they left town I was having a tense time with my ex-girlfriend due to the amount of time I was spending at poolrooms. Before they left they took us out to dinner and drinks. The next day after they were gone my gf received flowers at her office with a card that said "thank you for loaning us your boyfriend for the last week, he thinks the world of you and he is a great guy" That Mr. Fels is the type of people they are. You may be stuck in your cramped office or study and wish you were on the road living a pool players dream. Please do not sucker punch some of the people who have given me some of my most vivid memories of my life. Don't be bitter and callous it does not suite you and detracts from your talent as a great writer and good human being.
Huck
George Fels said:
Mr Fels,
I enjoy your work immensely, but it seems you are a bit harsh in your comments on some of the most interesting pool icons in history. The first thing I used to read in Billiards Digest was always your column. We have never met although I spent some time in the Chicago area and I know quite a few of the people you have written about. The first pot shot at a player that I noticed was one of your columns about "Minnesota Fats". As I have mentioned before, I found it distasteful that you wrote you would not legitimize Mr. Wanderone by refering to him by his moniker. You also went on to describe him as somewhat of a hack as far as his playing ability. You may not have a job if it was not for the fat man. My grandfather told me he was a good and generous man, and he was a great hustler who matched up as well as anyone. He is still the most reconized name in the history of American pool. I still followed your work closely and thought maybe that was out of character for you.
Then you posted that you heard my grandfather (Don Willis) was a card cheat. That Mr. Fels crossed a line in my opinon. I have never heard from anyone including some of the great card player from the past (Amarillo Slim, Doyle Brunson, Sailor Roberts, Johnny Hughes, Crandell Addington, etc) that he was a cheat. A lot of people through the years have told me stories that make me smile, but you are the first to insinuate that he cheated at cards. Why are you so bitter towards hustlers and road players? Is it because you love the game so much you are dissapointed with your accomplishments on the green felt? Roadies and hustlers are not all bad and callous people. I have had the pleasure of meeting many champions, huslers, and road men, and quite a few of them I consider friends.
When you make a statement like "Basavich is not nearly as interesting as Wertheim would like us to think, and "Bristol Bob" is boring and unlikable." it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I spent some time around Kid Delish, his brother, and Bristol Bob. They kept me in stiches while relieving me of some cash. The last week they were around I went from betting against them to steering them a bit. Before they left town I was having a tense time with my ex-girlfriend due to the amount of time I was spending at poolrooms. Before they left they took us out to dinner and drinks. The next day after they were gone my gf received flowers at her office with a card that said "thank you for loaning us your boyfriend for the last week, he thinks the world of you and he is a great guy" That Mr. Fels is the type of people they are. You may be stuck in your cramped office or study and wish you were on the road living a pool players dream. Please do not sucker punch some of the people who have given me some of my most vivid memories of my life. Don't be bitter and callous it does not suite you and detracts from your talent as a great writer and good human being.
Huck
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I was around
Danny and Bob for around 6 months, off and on when they bounced between
Oklahoma/Colorado/ and Kansas, probably about 4-5 times. Danny was very likeable, humorous, could turn a phrase, and played very well. Bob was quieter, definately the straight man of the two.
The best thing Danny could do now is to get healthy and start winning tournaments again.
Danny and Bob for around 6 months, off and on when they bounced between
Oklahoma/Colorado/ and Kansas, probably about 4-5 times. Danny was very likeable, humorous, could turn a phrase, and played very well. Bob was quieter, definately the straight man of the two.
The best thing Danny could do now is to get healthy and start winning tournaments again.
Bob Jewett said:
I also got a kick out it ... read it in maybe 3 days. Think he did a good job at describing Danny's struggles, as well as Bristol Bob's. But I'm not so sure Wertheim is as good as McCumber was in "Off the Rail." Seemed to me the road tales were more varied and told in greater detail (to the extent they were true, I guess) in the latter. Of course, in McCumber's book, you're talking about grownups, while with Kid Delicious, it's a pair of youngsters learning the trade while still growing up. Still, their roller-coaster ride is entertaining.
Also thought Wertheim went on a little too much with the clinical descriptions of depression ... those sections read a little like boilerplate to me. I'd have liked better to have heard more about how Danny was feeling, in his own words, more or less. But there's some heartfelt pain in there, too. Bristol Bob, wasn't all that likable, I'd have to agree with Fels, but I wouldn't say he was boring. Just a tightly wrapped kid at war with himself.
All in all, a very worthwhile book, seems to me.