Outside of all the hustling and woofing, does anyone know what speed Minnesota Fats played at?
I'm not trying to knock him or start a big war, just wondering.
I'm not trying to knock him or start a big war, just wondering.
Minnesota Fats
- Thread starter s'portplayer
- Start date
Jay Helfert
I know Jay is out there somewhere and I'm quite sure he knows.
Here Jay Jay Jay hereeeeeeee Jay Jay Jay
I know Jay is out there somewhere and I'm quite sure he knows.
Here Jay Jay Jay hereeeeeeee Jay Jay Jay
I have no personal experience to draw from, but I did watch video of him playing in those Legends matches in the ealry 80's (?) and he sure did bank well. That told me that he had to have had some game at some point.
In the same tourney he was 50/50 to shank a straight in, but give him a bank (and let instinct take over) and he would slam into the back of the pocket.
In the same tourney he was 50/50 to shank a straight in, but give him a bank (and let instinct take over) and he would slam into the back of the pocket.
Although Fats could play, particularly banks and one-pocket, he never played at the speed of his contemporaries.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Thanks Scott and Mosconiac.
I too have seen these videos of him playing in the legends matches, and always thought that he definitely had some skill, just never knew how much back in the day.
I would like to also say, that I give all the credit he deserves for an ultimate showman and pool promoter. I'm sure there are a few other people that compare, but I dont know of anyone who has done more for the popularity or promotion of pool that M. Fats.
Even to this day, ask someone who has never picked up a cue to name some pool players. I'm quite sure that most people would say Minnesota Fats.
I too have seen these videos of him playing in the legends matches, and always thought that he definitely had some skill, just never knew how much back in the day.
I would like to also say, that I give all the credit he deserves for an ultimate showman and pool promoter. I'm sure there are a few other people that compare, but I dont know of anyone who has done more for the popularity or promotion of pool that M. Fats.
Even to this day, ask someone who has never picked up a cue to name some pool players. I'm quite sure that most people would say Minnesota Fats.
I'm guessing around shortstop speed but others could tell you for sure. He played well enough to make a decent living playing pool. How much weight were you going to give him and how well could you play with him talking non stop while you were at the table? That was all part of the equation.
Yep, the legend of "Minnesota Fats" lives on. He was a great show man in the classic sense...probably the last of the breed.
On his playing ability, he didn't have to be the best I suppose. He used his brain to get the best of the action. Couple that with the champion's need to "beat that old blowhard" and you've got a good chance to get the game you want.
My favorite story is how won the dough at Johnston City. He (reportedly) would sleep all evening so he could show up in the wee hours of the morning fresh as a daisy. The hard-core gamblers were staggering around from 24 hours (or more) of play and would be ripe for the kill.
On his playing ability, he didn't have to be the best I suppose. He used his brain to get the best of the action. Couple that with the champion's need to "beat that old blowhard" and you've got a good chance to get the game you want.
My favorite story is how won the dough at Johnston City. He (reportedly) would sleep all evening so he could show up in the wee hours of the morning fresh as a daisy. The hard-core gamblers were staggering around from 24 hours (or more) of play and would be ripe for the kill.
I was tableside in Detroit at JL Hudson department store in the mid 60s when Fatty played an exhibition while promoting either Ebonite or AMF pool tables; can't remember which.
What I do remember is how well he executed wing shots and when he began to drill four cushion wing shots, well that was impressive.
_Rick
What I do remember is how well he executed wing shots and when he began to drill four cushion wing shots, well that was impressive.
_Rick
pool today
I started this thread, after I thought about how few exhibitions and promotions of pool there are for the non-players out there.
Earl and Johnny, with their exhibitions/schools, are doing alot for the players out there and who knows, this type of event may turn out to be a smash hit and get current players more actively involved, bring more players back into pool, and bring new players into the game. Two people won't be able to do it alone, it will take many of the top/popular professionals to do what is needed.
As far as promoting pool like it was done in the Mosconi era, with exhibitions, tv shows, etc... I don't know of nor predict much of that happening today and it's sad.
I started this thread, after I thought about how few exhibitions and promotions of pool there are for the non-players out there.
Earl and Johnny, with their exhibitions/schools, are doing alot for the players out there and who knows, this type of event may turn out to be a smash hit and get current players more actively involved, bring more players back into pool, and bring new players into the game. Two people won't be able to do it alone, it will take many of the top/popular professionals to do what is needed.
As far as promoting pool like it was done in the Mosconi era, with exhibitions, tv shows, etc... I don't know of nor predict much of that happening today and it's sad.
If you read Dyer's "The Hustler and the Champ," it's not at all clear that he ended up very well. Also, if you read Jon Bradshaw's "Fast Company : How Six Master Gamblers Defy the Odds - and Always Win," which seems to have just been republished, the picture of his latter days is pretty bleak.alstl said:
This has all been covered in earlier threads about Fats. In a nutshell, he was a good player! Not a great player, just a good one. His best games were One Pocket, Banks and Three Cushions. He was a ball or so under the best players.
That being said, he was the best hustler alive! His name around New York for many, many years was Triple Smart Fats! Now, I wonder why they called him that. Certainly not because he was dumb.
Fats was one of a kind, an American original. He could draw a crowd in the Mojave desert. If he was at a tournament, more people would crowd around to listen to him then were watching the matches. Used to piss off some of the players.
Fats was one smart guy, and a great pool hustler. He would match up (and beat) just about anyone who wanted to mess with him. Guys like Cornbread and U.J. who were great hustlers themselves, always sat back and watched when Fats was making a game. They didn't want to get involved with him themselves. They knew better.
And no one could out talk him. NO ONE!
That being said, he was the best hustler alive! His name around New York for many, many years was Triple Smart Fats! Now, I wonder why they called him that. Certainly not because he was dumb.
Fats was one of a kind, an American original. He could draw a crowd in the Mojave desert. If he was at a tournament, more people would crowd around to listen to him then were watching the matches. Used to piss off some of the players.
Fats was one smart guy, and a great pool hustler. He would match up (and beat) just about anyone who wanted to mess with him. Guys like Cornbread and U.J. who were great hustlers themselves, always sat back and watched when Fats was making a game. They didn't want to get involved with him themselves. They knew better.
And no one could out talk him. NO ONE!
Mike the Bike
Banned
Fats played Willie Mosconi and got spanked but he always said he did better just to wind Willie up, it always did.
mike
mike
Yeah, after watching some of the old videos, it was easy to tell that Fats loved to get Willie wound up.
In one of those old videos, Fattie was woofin so hard at Willie that he started Fats to laydown the "cheeeessssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeee", LOL. Damn that was funny.
In one of those old videos, Fattie was woofin so hard at Willie that he started Fats to laydown the "cheeeessssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeee", LOL. Damn that was funny.
