larry 'boston shorty' johnson and 3c

T

TimurA

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I watched a 1989 3c match between Sang Lee and Larry 'Boston Shorty' Johnson .The match belongs to Sang Lee collectıon ,provided by CaromTV.

Larry Johnson,60 at that time, beat Lee with a 1.3 average.

He had a crisp and a very solid stroke .A serie of 10 by him was impressive.I do not think he was practicing 3c very much at that time.He was playing mostly pool,I suppose,but to beat a man like Sang Lee,who was at that time not a world champion but a man of several Korean championships and a mission 'to make the billiards beatiful in the States' is not a easy thing.

The match shows to me ,I think those old timers before Sang Lee in the USA ,really knew the game.

Any knowledge about this guy and his 3c achievements?

Regards,

Timur Arkun
 
TimurA said:
... Any knowledge about this guy and his 3c achievements? ...
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I saw him play at various times from 1969 through the 1990's. I think his average was about 0.800 to 0.900, but he was from the generation of US players that emphasized defense. His highest finish in the Nationals was second (to Frank Torres) in 1978.

He played in Las Vegas in the 1978 World Championship. I don't have the final standings handy, but here is his match against Ceulemans: http://www.sfbilliards.com/3c/Ceul02m.gif -- note that under that format, Johnson had an equalizing inning starting from a break shot.

Bob Byrne has a short biography about him in one of his books.
 
Here a photo showing [somewhat backrow right side only half of him showing] Larry "Boston Shorty" I believe 1967 in Las Vegas. But Jewett or another expert can correct me if I' wrong.:confused:

67lulasvega.jpg
 
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billiardshot,

That picture is from the 1978 World Championship in Las Vegas (mentioned by Bob). The players are: (back row) Ceulemans, Gilbert, Komori, Suguimizu, Kobayashi, Legarda, Johnson, (front row) Thogerson, Hallon, Dielis, Torres, and Diab.

Mark
 
Boston Shorty Had A Very Good Edge When He Played Any Game. He Got Up On The Table On His Knees.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I saw him play at various times from 1969 through the 1990's. I think his average was about 0.800 to 0.900, but he was from the generation of US players that emphasized defense. His highest finish in the Nationals was second (to Frank Torres) in 1978.

He played in Las Vegas in the 1978 World Championship. I don't have the final standings handy, but here is his match against Ceulemans: http://www.sfbilliards.com/3c/Ceul02m.gif -- note that under that format, Johnson had an equalizing inning starting from a break shot.

Bob Byrne has a short biography about him in one of his books.
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Isn't this the famous game with Ceulemans' first visit to the US and Shorty says something to the effect Ceulemans might be good but he's never seen US style safety play. Wait till I match up with him.

Yep Ceulemans had a tough match, couldn't keep him from scoring less than 10 to 60. Maybe he just got lucky.

Sorry Shorty but that time you misunderestimated the man.
 
3kushn said:
Isn't this the famous game with Ceulemans' first visit to the US and Shorty says something to the effect Ceulemans might be good but he's never seen US style safety play. Wait till I match up with him.

Yep Ceulemans had a tough match, couldn't keep him from scoring less than 10 to 60. Maybe he just got lucky.

Sorry Shorty but that time you misunderestimated the man.
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I heard that Shorty asked Raymond if he wanted to bet something on the match.
 
Is that right? That's hilarious. Did he just play the old school safety game and Ceulemans rolled over him?
 
60-10....a harsh defeat,but I read that Ceulemans doing this to his other opponents,too till middle 80's.

But I think his win against Lee is still impressive.

regards,

Timur
 
3kushn said:
Isn't this the famous game with Ceulemans' first visit to the US and Shorty says something to the effect Ceulemans might be good but he's never seen US style safety play. Wait till I match up with him.
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LOL! Thanks for the memories.

I was there and sitting near Gilbert when Shorty turned his head to Alan before his match, put his hand over his mouth like in a whisper, and said: "Let's see how Ceulemans does against the Good Old American Ooooilll". Shorty almost sang the word oil, meaning safety play. (I might not have rememberd it correctly word for word, but the "American Oil" part I will never forget). I almost fell over in my chair it was so funny. Then Shorty got throttled.

Shorty was a very good player and always finished high in the 3-cushion tourny's held at Cushion & Cue in Oak Park, MI from 70-75 when I was there. That tournament always featured the best of the mid-west and east coast, with the occational sprinkle of West coast players like Alan Gilbert & Frank Torrez, but not often (I only remember see them one year). I don't think he ever practiced 3-c unless he was gambling or playing in a tourny. He could have acheived more if that was a game he focussed on, but he just loved the action that all games provided.

Dave
 
TimurA said:
the article says that he holds a world title in 3C apart from pool.

İs the information correct? becouse the posts here tell that he is predominantly a local player and his best is only second to Torres.
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I don't know what year that Billiard News Article is from but here are the US National results from 1968-2001: http://www.3cushion.com/after1990.htm. Shorty is not in any of them except for 2nd in 78 as previously mentioned. He never won a world title unless it was years ago, but I couldn't find anything on it.
 
12squared said:
LOL! Thanks for the memories.

I was there and sitting near Gilbert when Shorty turned his head to Alan before his match, put his hand over his mouth like in a whisper, and said: "Let's see how Ceulemans does against the Good Old American Ooooilll". Shorty almost sang the word oil, meaning safety play. (I might not have rememberd it correctly word for word, but the "American Oil" part I will never forget). I almost fell over in my chair it was so funny. Then Shorty got throttled.

Shorty was a very good player and always finished high in the 3-cushion tourny's held at Cushion & Cue in Oak Park, MI from 70-75 when I was there. That tournament always featured the best of the mid-west and east coast, with the occational sprinkle of West coast players like Alan Gilbert & Frank Torrez, but not often (I only remember see them one year). I don't think he ever practiced 3-c unless he was gambling or playing in a tourny. He could have acheived more if that was a game he focussed on, but he just loved the action that all games provided.

Dave
Click to expand...

'The Good Old American Oil'

easy to the red and hard away from the white technique or some kind of sneaky delibarate safety shooting?

I am new to the game and I wondered about what Johnson did to stop Ceulemans though it is clear the 'oil' did not save him.

Timur
 
Check out this from USBA website.

http://www.usba.net/PastChampions.asp

This where Johnson name only appear: see below.

UNITED STATES 3-CUSHION CHAMPIONS
Statistics gathered by Robert Byrne and Bob Jewett

1978 San Jose, CA
1st Frank Torres .835
2nd Larry Johnson .830

Maybe Eddie Robin's 3 Cushion book have other information in it?
 
TimurA said:
the article says that he holds a world title in 3C apart from pool.

İs the information correct? becouse the posts here tell that he is predominantly a local player and his best is only second to Torres.
Click to expand...

I was quoting the newspaper clip/article on his HOF page link I posted. It says the US Open was held by James Cattrano in Flushing, NY and shorty won it back to back. I have no idea about the world title mentioned.
 
Boston Shorty won the US Open in 3 Cushion twice and also the US Open in Straight Pool. I believe he is the only player ever to accomplish this unusual feat.
 
Paul8ball said:
Boston Shorty won the US Open in 3 Cushion twice and also the US Open in Straight Pool. I believe he is the only player ever to accomplish this unusual feat.
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Shorty won the "so-called" US Open 3C title twice. These were not official US Open tournaments. They were promoted by Jimmy Cattrano and held at his room in Queens. This is not to say Shorty wasn't a top player at both disciplines, but he was never the best American 3C player.

Harold Worst, on the other hand, was the World 3C champion for several years, and won the all-around at both Johnston City and the Stardust in 1965, the year before he died at age 37 of leukemia.

Mark
 
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