Many years ago, possibly as early as 1981, a friend of mine was an eyewitness to a unique pool experience. A well-known world champion pool player was traveling through Louisiana and somehow he had met up with Marty the Gypsy, from South Louisiana; Morgan City to be exact. Marty wasn't much of a pool player himself but occasionally he scuffled by staking and steering pool players for lucrative, local action. Marty the Gypsy appeared this cold winter's night at the Sport Palace at approximately 2:30 am with the world champion in tow.
Sonny didn't remember any details about how the world champion and Marty had met and at that point, it really didn’t matter. Pool had become a major part of his life and hanging out at “The Palace” was a regular routine. This particularly quiet night only Sonny and the bartender, Mr. Eddie, were in the building. Marty couldn't wait to tell Sonny the good news. Marty excitedly told Sonny who he was traveling with and Sonny easily recognized the world champion and was in awe that on a night so cold and bleary a player of this caliber would grace the very doors of where he was hanging out. Marty then went on to tell Sonny how he had a very nice size bankroll and was going to stake the champion against anyone that wanted to play.
The world champion removed his cue from his nondescript cue case and started hitting balls. Sonny,
a pool degenerate at an early age couldn't believe his eyes and was mesmerized by the champion's skilled play. He watched as the champion 's smooth and accurate stroke, pocketed ball after ball, seldom ever missing and seldom ever getting out of line.
Unfortunately, it was early in the morning and none of the regular players were there for him to play so the champion just practiced. The streets were barren of traffic and life. Not even a stray cat could be seen on this winter’s night. Interestingly enough, about 30 minutes later, from the darkened and quiet streets of New Orleans appeared a stranger. The stranger walked in and started immediately talking about the fact that he was looking for action. Marty the Gypsy couldn't believe his good fortune and immediately put his champion in the box. The game was one pocket, and it didn’t matter what game they played because Marty the Gypsy knew the champion could play all games.
After a few hours of play, it became apparent that no score was in sight for Marty the Gypsy. Somehow this stranger from the night was able to beat one of the best pool players in the world. Several hundred dollars later, the stranger had finally busted Marty the Gypsy and the world champion. The match ended abruptly and soon the only ones that remained in the pool room were Sonny, Mr. Eddie, Marty the Gypsy and his wife. The world champion and the stranger had suddenly disappeared. Shortly after noticing this, Sonny walked up to Marty and asked him where the champion had gone. Marty the Gypsy said that the stranger who had won the money, offered to take the world champion to a pool tournament in a neighboring state and that they had left together.
Sitting near the clear glass windowed doors, despondent and inconsolable; Marty, lost and bewildered, was steadily chomping on his Winston cigarette as the morning sun glistened on his greasy hair as the wife moaned, "Come On Marty, we're broke, let's go home".
JoeyA
Sonny didn't remember any details about how the world champion and Marty had met and at that point, it really didn’t matter. Pool had become a major part of his life and hanging out at “The Palace” was a regular routine. This particularly quiet night only Sonny and the bartender, Mr. Eddie, were in the building. Marty couldn't wait to tell Sonny the good news. Marty excitedly told Sonny who he was traveling with and Sonny easily recognized the world champion and was in awe that on a night so cold and bleary a player of this caliber would grace the very doors of where he was hanging out. Marty then went on to tell Sonny how he had a very nice size bankroll and was going to stake the champion against anyone that wanted to play.
The world champion removed his cue from his nondescript cue case and started hitting balls. Sonny,
a pool degenerate at an early age couldn't believe his eyes and was mesmerized by the champion's skilled play. He watched as the champion 's smooth and accurate stroke, pocketed ball after ball, seldom ever missing and seldom ever getting out of line.
Unfortunately, it was early in the morning and none of the regular players were there for him to play so the champion just practiced. The streets were barren of traffic and life. Not even a stray cat could be seen on this winter’s night. Interestingly enough, about 30 minutes later, from the darkened and quiet streets of New Orleans appeared a stranger. The stranger walked in and started immediately talking about the fact that he was looking for action. Marty the Gypsy couldn't believe his good fortune and immediately put his champion in the box. The game was one pocket, and it didn’t matter what game they played because Marty the Gypsy knew the champion could play all games.
After a few hours of play, it became apparent that no score was in sight for Marty the Gypsy. Somehow this stranger from the night was able to beat one of the best pool players in the world. Several hundred dollars later, the stranger had finally busted Marty the Gypsy and the world champion. The match ended abruptly and soon the only ones that remained in the pool room were Sonny, Mr. Eddie, Marty the Gypsy and his wife. The world champion and the stranger had suddenly disappeared. Shortly after noticing this, Sonny walked up to Marty and asked him where the champion had gone. Marty the Gypsy said that the stranger who had won the money, offered to take the world champion to a pool tournament in a neighboring state and that they had left together.
Sitting near the clear glass windowed doors, despondent and inconsolable; Marty, lost and bewildered, was steadily chomping on his Winston cigarette as the morning sun glistened on his greasy hair as the wife moaned, "Come On Marty, we're broke, let's go home".
JoeyA
