Ok, I've had enough, finally Part 1

G

Grady

Pro Player
I just hosted a Ritchie Florence, Tropicana Bowl action era reunion that was wonderful. I saw many old friends and we honored and recalled that special time in our lives. I'll, for the sake of this story call our gracious host R.This took place in Las Vegas at the Excaliber hotel.
Besides me, Ronnie Allen was the only pool player present.
Randi and I arrived on Fri. early. She was unpacking and I was shooting craps when along comes Ronnie.
"I got here with two cents in my pocket," he begins as he shuffles up next to me.
"R is gonna give me $1,000 tomorrow. Let me have a hundred," he continues.
"Now, Ronnie, you know you never, ever pay me back and we have sort of an agreement where you don't ask me for money, don't we?', I respond.
"Yeah, but this is different. I just can't find R. AND plus giving me $1,000 tomorrow he's gonna give me $5,000 to shoot craps and he wants to put up a half a million dollars to put on a tournament."
So I give him a hundred as much to get him away from me as to help him because I have always really liked Ronnie even though he has screwed me for 40 years without remorse.
30 minutes or so go by and, you guessed it, back he comes.
"I need $200 to bet this horse. Why don't you take half and loan me another hundred?," he says.
"C'mon, Ronnie, I'm a family man and $300 is a lot of money to me. Why should I think you're gonna pay me now when you've never paid or even kept your word in the past, I mean not even once?"
"This is different. R told me he wasn't gonna let me leave here without at least a couple of thousand dollars."
 
Ok I've had enough Part 2

All right, but if you screw me this time I'm really, really going to be angry and I'm gonna turn your account over to a mob collector to get my money."
So now I'm $300 out of pocket and in less than an hour back he comes. He notices that, as usual, I'm threatening to win decent money at craps.
That's another story, which, if asked I'll relate. There are several good reasons why I win more than anyone else at dice.
"Since I'm getting $5,000 to gamble with tomorrow, why don't we each take a little of the other guy's action?," says Ronnie.This I firmly say no to but he hangs around anyway, probably because I'm the only chance he has to get more money. Finally I get rid of him by glaring at him with obvious distaste.
The next morning, at breakfast with R, I mention, "Ronnie said you were going to give him a thousand dollars and $5,000 more to gamble with." Well, dear readers, R breaks out into almost uncontrollable laughter and he proceeds to tell how Ronnie has screwed him.
I got home $4,700 winners at craps, which wasn't easy because of circumstances not germane to this story.So the trip was ok for me but there are many other places I'd rather have spent that $300.
I feel better getting that off my chest. If some in internet land want to light into me for this post, have at it. I don't care anymore. Thanks,
Grady
 
Grady said:
If some in internet land want to light into me for this post, have at it. I don't care anymore. Thanks,
Grady
Click to expand...
I don't want to light into you, but I'd be interested in hearing more about the reunion you mentioned.

Tracy
 
I'm not going to light into you, but I do have a couple questions. Does Ronnie Allen still play pool? Do you have any St Louis pool stories from years gone by?

Thanks
 
I know that you have made some great 4, 5. and 6 figure scores at craps, Grady, and I would like to know anything about it that you are willing to relate to us. I know that craps is one game where you can get the house percentage very low compared to roulette,slots etc. thanks......
 
Some things never change. Glad you had a nice trip Grady. When you get a few minutes, enlighten us all to how to beat the crap game. I haven't played much Craps, but I'd like to know. I may switch over next time I head to Vegas.
 
Craps

Grady,

After reading your post I could not help but chime in.
My wife was one of the first women craps dealer's in Las Vegas (1976 at the old MGM). When we go on vacation to Las Vegas or the Caribbean I give her some of my hard earner cash to gamble with. The 'best' she can do at winning craps is 33% of the time.
I give you much credit when you won $$ at playing craps.

She once told me that there is a big difference between a craps player and a craps dealer (kind of hard for me to understand why).

Best Regards,
Hal in Ohio
 
Grady said:
He notices that, as usual, I'm threatening to win decent money at craps.
That's another story, which, if asked I'll relate. There are several good reasons why I win more than anyone else at dice.
Click to expand...
Is it dice setting, or just smart betting? I'd be interesed in hearing about this.
I've heard of dice setting and tried it with no luck.

Tracy
 
Grady said:
All right, but if you screw me this time I'm really, really going to be angry and I'm gonna turn your account over to a mob collector to get my money."
So now I'm $300 out of pocket and in less than an hour back he comes. He notices that, as usual, I'm threatening to win decent money at craps.
That's another story, which, if asked I'll relate. There are several good reasons why I win more than anyone else at dice.
"Since I'm getting $5,000 to gamble with tomorrow, why don't we each take a little of the other guy's action?," says Ronnie.This I firmly say no to but he hangs around anyway, probably because I'm the only chance he has to get more money. Finally I get rid of him by glaring at him with obvious distaste.
The next morning, at breakfast with R, I mention, "Ronnie said you were going to give him a thousand dollars and $5,000 more to gamble with." Well, dear readers, R breaks out into almost uncontrollable laughter and he proceeds to tell how Ronnie has screwed him.
I got home $4,700 winners at craps, which wasn't easy because of circumstances not germane to this story.So the trip was ok for me but there are many other places I'd rather have spent that $300.
I feel better getting that off my chest. If some in internet land want to light into me for this post, have at it. I don't care anymore. Thanks,
Grady
Click to expand...

Grady, I'm sure I'm a few thousand ahead of you in the R.A. department. His last big chunk was for almost 3K and after that I've taken a pass. It's like that story about the bird that hitches a ride across the river on the alligator's back. We all know how that one ends. And if you give money to R.A. we know how that story will end to.

If there was a line to get paid by R.A., it would stretch from Vegas to L.A.
 
jay helfert said:
Grady, I'm sure I'm a few thousand ahead of you in the R.A. department. His last big chunk was for almost 3K and after that I've taken a pass. It's like that story about the bird that hitches a ride across the river on the alligator's back. We all know how that one ends. And if you give money to R.A. we know how that story will end to.

If there was a line to get paid by R.A., it would stretch from Vegas to L.A.
Click to expand...

What would you pay more for....a R.A. debt or an IPT debt?:(
 
Grady, I never met Ronnie Allen, but your story reminds me so much of the late Johnny Ervolino. I know you knew Johnny well, too, so you'll know why. Johnny could be so charming, you knew whatever money he hit you up for was never coming back, but it was hard not to like him and harder yet to resist giving him what he asked for. I sure miss his cackle!
 
Tell us, tell us, tell us!!!!

Please Grady, tell us how you win at craps. You should post it in the "Non-pool related" section for prevent nit infestation, though.

Thanks,
Ed (who loves all your stories)
 
tedkaufman said:
Grady, I never met Ronnie Allen, but your story reminds me so much of the late Johnny Ervolino. I know you knew Johnny well, too, so you'll know why. Johnny could be so charming, you knew whatever money he hit you up for was never coming back, but it was hard not to like him and harder yet to resist giving him what he asked for. I sure miss his cackle!
Click to expand...

He could whisper and you could hear it across the poolroom. "The Velvet Foghorn"!
 
Grady said:
All right, but if you screw me this time I'm really, really going to be angry and I'm gonna turn your account over to a mob collector to get my money."
So now I'm $300 out of pocket and in less than an hour back he comes. He notices that, as usual, I'm threatening to win decent money at craps.
That's another story, which, if asked I'll relate. There are several good reasons why I win more than anyone else at dice.
"Since I'm getting $5,000 to gamble with tomorrow, why don't we each take a little of the other guy's action?," says Ronnie.This I firmly say no to but he hangs around anyway, probably because I'm the only chance he has to get more money. Finally I get rid of him by glaring at him with obvious distaste.
The next morning, at breakfast with R, I mention, "Ronnie said you were going to give him a thousand dollars and $5,000 more to gamble with." Well, dear readers, R breaks out into almost uncontrollable laughter and he proceeds to tell how Ronnie has screwed him.
I got home $4,700 winners at craps, which wasn't easy because of circumstances not germane to this story.So the trip was ok for me but there are many other places I'd rather have spent that $300.
I feel better getting that off my chest. If some in internet land want to light into me for this post, have at it. I don't care anymore. Thanks,
Grady
Click to expand...

Reminds Mike of Billy-Bob Cress's reply. "It's your fault for loaning it to me! You ain't gonna get it back, so don't even ask!" FTR, I was the one person in the pool room he never pinched!
 
Hey Grady, I just picked up a CD of McReady v. Nolan hosted by Grady "The Dirty Old Man" Mathews". Are these hard to find? Are they worth anything?
Purdman
You are sumptin else buddy!
 
Grady said:
...I feel better getting that off my chest. If some in internet land want to light into me for this post, have at it. I don't care anymore. Thanks,
Grady
Click to expand...

Grady:
Thanks for sharing. You put your time in the trenches so anything you got to say is welcome. And who doesn't love a Ronnie Allen anecdote?
;)
 
Grady said:
.
I got home $4,700 winners at craps, which wasn't easy Thanks,
Grady
Click to expand...


First of all to what ends do you tell a story like this, and second if you won 4700 and that's a big IF then why bring it up? maybe Karma of the loan helped in the craps score. Maybe instead of having a big ego you should have told him you didn't have $300. Maybe you'd be smarter and learn from the past and just say "sorry you've already burned that bridge".
All in all I like you G but your story just screams "I'm a big Dumb Dumb" and I somehow doubt that was your intent.

Jim
 
A friend of mine told me a story about how he loaned Ronnie $1500, and Ronnie gave him a bad or fake check (i dont remember which) to pay it back. I've got another friend that loaned Ronnie $500 in Vegas a few years ago, same thing. I guess Ronnie is known for this sort of thing. Thats a shame. And for him to keep coming back to you Grady, it seems like Ronnie doesn't have any shame. Is he still an alcoholic? He got 86ed from a PH out here because of the way he was acting when he was drunk.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top