Mosconi/Fats match of the century

I watched this when originally aired years ago. Minnesota Fats talks more than Howard Cosell (the guy with the microphone). Howard was a famous sportscaster in those days but made some remarks about the way a player was running during a televised football game. I won't say what his remarks were but he never was seen much more as a sportscaster after that day.
Minnesota Fats had played some on television a while before this and was running his mouth about how he had beat Willie Masconi. Masconi was the commentator and called Fats out saying he never beat him. There was friction between Willie and Fats after (and maybe before) that.
I think this match up was agreed to be played by Willie after Fats made that statement to prove to everyone that Fats would never have a chance to beat him.
Thanks for the thread. It's good to see these guys again.
 
GREAT video. Thanks for the link! I really enjoyed it. Wish there were more from this era to look at. Where can one find these gems?

Another Minnesota Fats snippet: As "Minnesota Fats", he gained enough attention to appear in a televised exhibition match against Willie Mosconi. Mosconi beat Wanderone in the games. For a few years, there were rematches on TV with Wanderone and Mosconi, in which Mosconi beat Wanderone without much trouble. These proved to be popular with television audiences, and may also have contributed to his fame. He appeared on What's My Line? in the 1960s, successfully stumping the panel.

Wanderone, with his hustler persona, enjoyed promoting the so-called "feud" with the reserved Mosconi. He would publicly state, "I may have 'given away' a few games to deserving competitiors, but I have never lost a real money game since I was old enough to spell 'Weeli Mesconi.'"


JAM
 
I vaguely remember seeing it back in the day but didn't appreciate it like I do now.

I had forgotten how far forward Mosconi's grip hand was placed..even duing 9 ball it was almost off the wrap and way less than a 90 degree angle.
 
great post. anyway to save it? i only have high speed at work and cant watch it there.
 
Wow!!!!! Thanks!!

I Thought I Was Gonna Get Rick-rolled And This Is Real!
 
Ralph Kramden said:
I watched this when originally aired years ago. Minnesota Fats talks more than Howard Cosell (the guy with the microphone). Howard was a famous sportscaster in those days but made some remarks about the way a player was running during a televised football game. I won't say what his remarks were but he never was seen much more as a sportscaster after that day.
Minnesota Fats had played some on television a while before this and was running his mouth about how he had beat Willie Masconi. Masconi was the commentator and called Fats out saying he never beat him. There was friction between Willie and Fats after (and maybe before) that.
I think this match up was agreed to be played by Willie after Fats made that statement to prove to everyone that Fats would never have a chance to beat him.
Thanks for the thread. It's good to see these guys again.
Click to expand...

This is how the new book by Dyer starts out. Talking about how Mosconi as an analyst jumped out of his chair after Fats during a lull in the taping of another event. That was when the promoters realized what they had.
 
JimS said:
I vaguely remember seeing it back in the day but didn't appreciate it like I do now.

I had forgotten how far forward Mosconi's grip hand was placed..even duing 9 ball it was almost off the wrap and way less than a 90 degree angle.
Click to expand...

You should try to see Willie's 1984 instructional tape.

Watch Willie, Luther Lasiter, Steve Daveis. You'll see
how little many 'experts' understand about this game.

Dale
 
"Rags" Woods

About 1 hour and 6 min into this, you get to see Robert "Rags" Woods. What a sweet old man he was (I only knew him in his later years). I really miss him.

Rags.jpg
 
CrownCityCorey said:
About 1 hour and 6 min into this, you get to see Robert "Rags" Woods. What a sweet old man he was (I only knew him in his later years). I really miss him.

Rags.jpg
Click to expand...

There was "White Rags" John Fitzpatrick and there was "Black Rags" Robert Woods. Both were acclaimed players in the 50's, and into the 70's in the case of Black Rags. He was the acknowledged champion of the black players on the West Coast and mentored many great players, including Iceman, California Shorty, Rush Out Red, Black Nate, Cecil and others.

He was a nice man and never afraid to take on a road man. They usually didn't like it after a while. Jimmy Marino pounded everyone on his first trip out to California, except one guy, RAGS! He was a top speed player. I watched him play many times in the late 60's and he had that effortless game reminiscent of Jimmy Moore and Don Watson. And he gambled real good too, never showing any fear, and lots of heart.

I helped him get on the Legends Of Pool in the 80's, when Jimmy Jacobs asked me if there were any old time black champions. He was a dear friend of mine and he looked out for me in the black poolrooms of L.A. Everyone respected him.
 
Last edited:
I've never seen footage of Mosconi in his prime, but you can tell what an incredible player he was from this footage. I have no doubt he would have been a monster at 9-ball in his prime just like he was at straight pool.
 
I was reading a book, Hustler days, where lots of incite was given.

Fats would boast so big that he would say things equivalent to a 550 yard drive in golf, or a quadruple turn slam dunk; things that are just not possible, but people, because they didn't have the incite, actually believed him.

Fats, a very good player, never possessed the skills of Lassiter, or Mosconi, at any point in his career.
 
Walsh

Clean out your inbox.

Tried to send you a pm and could not.

Send me your email address.

Thanks!
 
I just finished the book "The Huster and the Champ" last week. If offers very interesting insight into the two men's lives. Lots of good Jay Helfert quotes in it too, BTW.
 
Gregg said:
I was reading a book, Hustler days, where lots of incite was given.

Fats would boast so big that he would say things equivalent to a 550 yard drive in golf, or a quadruple turn slam dunk; things that are just not possible, but people, because they didn't have the incite, actually believed him.

Fats, a very good player, never possessed the skills of Lassiter, or Mosconi, at any point in his career.
Click to expand...

I wish I could have met Minnesota Fats. I never was fortunate enough to have done so. The only Minnesota Fats I know is from reading newspaper clippings and seeing video clips such as in this thread. I actually was, and still am, very interested in the legacy of Rudolph Wanderone, Jr., and have written extensively about him for a pool-related project.

I have always enjoyed hearing his quips, like this one: When he was named the "uncrowned king" because he never got actively involved in tournament circles, because he was too busy out hustling, his reply on his new title was: "You judge a king by the size of his wallet and his palace. You can leave the crown in the toilet."

Another interesting Fats tidbit is that Singer Etta James has alleged that Wanderone is her father: http://www.wargs.com/other/james.html

His legacy continues to live in the hearts of pool enthusiasts today, 11 years after his passing. :)

JAM
 
Notice Mosconi's foul at 14:38?

Greetings,

Thanks for posting this video. I remember the match, but I didn't get to watch it at the time. This is great!

Did anyone notice Willie's cue butt bonking the 4-ball during his 2-ball bank at 14:38 into the video? He hastily replaces it, and no one seems to have noticed! :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top