Minnesota Fat's Story

[Jeff]

I had a nice conversation with Brad Holford today.

Brad was a very good friend with Fats and traveled with him often. At the time Brad was a teenager when he started hanging around Fats. He was sort of a go-for. He carried his stuff. He drove with him around to poolhalls and restaurants. He helped with errands. When Brad got his drivers license, he worked as Fats unpaid chauffeur.

I called Brad to get his feedback on some stuff of Fats I am attempting to buy from Rich Youngman.

During the talk he told me about a time that Fats and his wife were really mad at each other. He was telling me how when Fats got mad his language was something to hear. But Fats had left town and one day called Brad and told him he was on his way home and he told Brad to meet him at the house because he was going to let him have anything he wanted of all his stuff to keep.

Brad said there was a BIG table in Fats home that had memorabilia piled up high on it. He said there was unused tickets to Heavyweight championship fights, keys to citys, pictures, etc.

And Fats was going to let Brad have any of it he wanted.

He said he got to the house and Fats was already there and before he could go inside, out came Fats cussing like he had never cussed before.......

His wife had thrown everything out because she was pissed at him and Fats was spewing out words he had never heard.

He said most of it ended up never being seen again.............


.

 

[Scott Lee]

To be accurate...Fats didn't even resemble a good husband or partner. He treated Evelyn like crap for almost their entire marriage. So, imo, he deserved any treatment he got from her. He was a mooch, who lived off of her for the whole time they were married. On the other hand, that stuff would have been worth big bucks today!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[ABall]

Ok..OK...I was wrong about minnesota fats....post edited due to overwhelming evidence. I was misinformed.

 

[senor]

Minnesota Fats was not even a good pool player; he was an author who made up the character. Then, he acted like this fictional "minnesota fats" only to play pool at a mediocre level, maybe a "B" player by todays standards.

So, were you around to see him play, or have you just seen him on the old ABC Wide World of Sports videos? I think most of the recorded footage of Fats doesn't do him justice, as with whoever his opponent was. They were all washed up when they were doing those challenge matches.

I socialize with a couple of old-timers that gambled with Fats and were around him quite a bit and they have nothing but good things to say about the way he played the game, especially bank pool and one pocket.

 

[9BallPaul]

More Fats Hokum

Fats was no world beater. But he could beat most anybody in the world. Those he couldn't beat, he'd extract weight or just avoid. But the man knew how to match up, and he craved action.

When it came to self promotion, Fats had no peer. In all these years, no one has come close. I had hopes recently for KD, but now I'm wondering.

 

[Russ Chewning]

Minnesota Fats was not even a good pool player; he was an author who made up the character. Then, he acted like this fictional "minnesota fats" only to play pool at a mediocre level, maybe a "B" player by todays standards.

He got two balls from Richie Florence, who was possibly the best 9 ball player in the world at that time, and a GOOD One Pocket player too, when Fats was WAY past his prime, and MURDERED Richie.

That's akin to say, hypothetically Gabe Owen giving two balls to some hypothetical 48 year old player, and getting CREAMED. Assuming that Justin Cone would get about the same weight, I would say that would mean that "hypothetical player" could PLAY SOME.

Anyone who calls Minnesota Fats a banger just has NO IDEA and has not done any detective work to FIND OUT.

If you were to compare the pecking order to today's players, Minnesota Fats was to Boston Shorty and Eddie Taylor what Jeremy Jones is to Efren and Cliff Joyner. A B player would get no less than 5 or 6 balls from a champion, and I guarantee you that anyone in the world that tried to give Fats 5 balls up until he was about 45 would have gotten DISMANTLED. And Fats would have bet as HIGH as they wanted to bet.

Now, could he play?

Russ

 

[cajunbarboxplyr]

I had a nice conversation with Brad Holford today.

Brad was a very good friend with Fats and traveled with him often. At the time Brad was a teenager when he started hanging around Fats. He was sort of a go-for. He carried his stuff. He drove with him around to poolhalls and restaurants. He helped with errands. When Brad got his drivers license, he worked as Fats unpaid chauffeur.

I called Brad to get his feedback on some stuff of Fats I am attempting to buy from Rich Youngman.

During the talk he told me about a time that Fats and his wife were really mad at each other. He was telling me how when Fats got mad his language was something to hear. But Fats had left town and one day called Brad and told him he was on his way home and he told Brad to meet him at the house because he was going to let him have anything he wanted of all his stuff to keep.

Brad said there was a BIG table in Fats home that had memorabilia piled up high on it. He said there was unused tickets to Heavyweight championship fights, keys to citys, pictures, etc.

And Fats was going to let Brad have any of it he wanted.

He said he got to the house and Fats was already there and before he could go inside, out came Fats cussing like he had never cussed before.......

His wife had thrown everything out because she was pissed at him and Fats was spewing out words he had never heard.

He said most of it ended up never being seen again.............


.

Jeff my last name is Holford......

My family was raised in Chrisman near Paris and thas only like a hour or 2 from where Fats lived..........Im curoius to if I am somehow related to Brad..........Do you think there is any way you can get me contacted with him thru email or something............ Just curious is all

 

[DeadPoked]

Minnesota Fats was not even a good pool player; he was an author who made up the character. Then, he acted like this fictional "minnesota fats" only to play pool at a mediocre level, maybe a "B" player by todays standards.

Walter Tevis might disagree with you that Fatty was the author who made up the character Minnesota Fats. Are you saying that Fats wrote "The Hustler"? If not, you need format your thoughts into words more clearly. And to say he played at a mediocre level is laughable. Fats may have had to get weight from the very top players of the time but to say he was a mediocre player or a B player is just flat out obsurd.

 

[RED LITE]

Fats Online

All I know for sure is that if Fats had a computer where he is today, he would keep us in stitches on this board.

Any of us who have jobs would lose them soon enough, by spending ALL our time here.

RL

 

[9BallPaul]

Walter Tevis might disagree with you that Fatty was the author who made up the character Minnesota Fats. Are you saying that Fats wrote "The Hustler"? If not, you need format your thoughts into words more clearly. And to say he played at a mediocre level is laughable. Fats may have had to get weight from the very top players of the time but to say he was a mediocre player or a B player is just flat out obsurd.

Damn, wish I'd said that.

 

[fan-tum]

Funny thing about Fats. When you first get into pool, Fats is the name you hear about. Then the more you learn about pool you laugh at those who revere him. Then when you get to the point where you know a lot about pool, you come to realize that he could actualy play, though maybe a notch under the very best. Fats took the money often in one-pocket.
Jay, did you ever meet him?

 

[ABall]

Walter Tevis might disagree with you that Fatty was the author who made up the character Minnesota Fats. Are you saying that Fats wrote "The Hustler"? If not, you need format your thoughts into words more clearly. And to say he played at a mediocre level is laughable. Fats may have had to get weight from the very top players of the time but to say he was a mediocre player or a B player is just flat out obsurd.

I was wrong about minnesota fats....post edited due to overwhelming evidence. I was misinformed.

 

[ABall]

He got two balls from Richie Florence, who was possibly the best 9 ball player in the world at that time, and a GOOD One Pocket player too, when Fats was WAY past his prime, and MURDERED Richie.

That's akin to say, hypothetically Gabe Owen giving two balls to some hypothetical 48 year old player, and getting CREAMED. Assuming that Justin Cone would get about the same weight, I would say that would mean that "hypothetical player" could PLAY SOME.

Anyone who calls Minnesota Fats a banger just has NO IDEA and has not done any detective work to FIND OUT.

If you were to compare the pecking order to today's players, Minnesota Fats was to Boston Shorty and Eddie Taylor what Jeremy Jones is to Efren and Cliff Joyner. A B player would get no less than 5 or 6 balls from a champion, and I guarantee you that anyone in the world that tried to give Fats 5 balls up until he was about 45 would have gotten DISMANTLED. And Fats would have bet as HIGH as they wanted to bet.

Now, could he play?

Russ

"There's a hundred players who would swim a river of shit to play Fats."-Danny McGoorty....that's what Danny has to say about Fats in his biography.

 

[cuejoey]

There are some good stories here on AZ about Fats in previous threads...i seen him in an exhibition approx. in 1964..he was a real character cracking jokes and playing pool....

 

[Pushout]

"There's a hundred players who would swim a river of shit to play Fats."-Danny McGoorty....that's what Danny has to say about Fats in his biography.

Twenty. Get your quotes straight. Also, you have to take into consideration the quality of players McGoorty was talking about.

 

[Jeff]

Brad and I had a very good talk, this was the first time I had talked to him but it probably won't be the last.

I think he was glad to have someone call that didn't just want dirt on Fats. He said that's the one reason he doesn't talk a lot about his years with Fats. People don't want to hear the normal stories or the good things about Fat's, it always seems to get around to them wanting to know the bad.

He didn't seem real happy about a few people who have used him to write a few of the books out there either. I won't mention names but lets just say they didn't follow up on what they promised him.

We talked a little about stuff Brad has and like is usually the case, people involved in History don't know the importance of it at the time.

I can't give a contact number for Brad, I know for sure he wouldn't want me doing that. He has chosen to remain out of the spotlight for a reason and I won't interfere with that.

 

[SJDinPHX]

All I know for sure is that if Fats had a computer where he is today, he would keep us in stitches on this board.

Any of us who have jobs would lose them soon enough, by spending ALL our time here.

RL

He has been replaced by his illegitimate son, Ronnie Allen. Ronnie could
give Fats 8 to 6 playing one pocket, but he would need a lot of weight
in the b---s--t department

 

[3andstop]

All I know for sure is that if Fats had a computer where he is today, he would keep us in stitches on this board.

Any of us who have jobs would lose them soon enough, by spending ALL our time here.

RL

Listen, I know this has nothing to do with pool, but when you mentioned that if Fats had a computer he'd keep us in stitches, something came to mind that I think may run a distant second to that great thought.

Check this out. Again, this is not pool related but hilarious non the less for anyone who is not familiar with this website.

check out the videos. The one entitled "Bat Day." is pretty funny.

www.thekidfrombrooklyn.com

 

[jay helfert]

I knew Fats well, very well. Brad and have also met on several occasions. I was another Fat's gopher and happy about it. He is the single most unforgettable person I ever met. And he was one of the best "hustlers" who ever lived. He earned his "Triple Smart Fats" nickname the hard way. By beating other hustlers, including Arnold Rothstein.

There is a section in my book about how he came to be known as Minnesota Fats, so I won't divulge all that here. Suffice to say, it was the best hustle of his life, and he made millions off it. Probably more than Walter Tevis made from writing the book.

Could he play? Damn right he could play! Russ is right on. Fats played a ball below the top players, but he could out maneuver any of them on a pool table. His best games were One Pocket, Banks and Three Cushions. He beat Richie for a huge score getting 8-7, when Richie was in his prime. He beat the young champion Eddie Robin in Three Cushions in 1963, but Eddie denies the match took place. I was an eye witness.

Sure, he talked a lot and it bothered some of the champions of his day, when he said he never lost a match. Most of them knew he was an entertainer as well as a pool player. And some took offense. But if anyone got on his case, he was prepared to match up and gamble with them. He would play and he would bet high! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. At his core, he was a hustler.

He belongs in the Hall Of Fame. He kept pool on the map for years. His star presence is what gave the impetus to making the Legends Of Pool series for ESPN. They wouldn't have made those shows without Fats. Fats was by far the biggest name in pool in the 60's, 70's and 80's. He was a household name and garnered a crowd of autograph seekers wherever he went.

 

[Willy_BadDream]

Watched him on Sunday mornings

We had one TV in the house as a kid and I can remmember my family of 8 had to watch fats shoot pool cause my father said so. Because of Fats we ended up with a pool table in our basement. Thankyou Fats!
Willy