Omaha Fat (aka Omaha Fats, Iowa Fats, Fat Marty, Martin Kamen, Kaimen, etc.)

[9BallPaul]

Recently I requested a photo of Omaha Fats from one of our posters, who kindly sent me an 8x10 glossy. The caption identifies Marty as the "Teacher of Fast Larry."

Most oldtimers on AZB recall the Fast Larry saga, and he's been banned for years and now runs his own site, poolchat.net. Recently I posted on that board and asked Larry for some stories about Marty, because he was a guy I befriended in Denver in the late '60s. He also helped me with my game and became a late-night breakfast companion. (Don't ask.)

Anyway, Larry responded with an answer that I can't retrieve, but he claimed that Omaha was the better player than the "other" Fats, Minnesota. Larry said the two detested one another and barked incessently at the old Johnston City tournaments.

This gives rise to a couple questions: Is Fast Larry a knowledgeable player? Was Omaha really any good? By the time I knew him, he was more like a circus side show, playing kids for peanuts and steering away from any serious competition. Yet, clearly, his whole life was pool and he was a very strong player, just not among Denver's elite.

Anybody shed some light on this? Thanks.

 

[jay helfert]

I knew them both. The only game that Omaha Fats could beat Fatty at was jacked up one handed pool. He was good at this. He had no chance playing Fats One Pocket or Banks. NONE! At 9-Ball he may have had a chance, but would not play a close game. Omaha wanted the triple nuts to play anyone, including kids.

I saw these two go at each other a couple of times in Johnston City. It was funny as hell and kept everyone in stitches. Omaha was one guy who could jaw with Fats and hold his own. I wish I had a tape of their repartee. It would be a classic now. They did their best to get under the other guy's skin and sometimes were successful. I'm sure there was no love lost between them, but both seemed content to entertain the crowd. I saw them smile at each other when they got a zinger in. For the most part, I would call it good natured ribbing back and forth, between two hustlers.

I don't know if they ever played, but I would put my money on the Fat man. He was a little too sharp and a little too good for the likes of Omaha. JMHO of course.

 

[9BallPaul]

I knew them both. The only game that Omaha Fats could beat Fatty at was jacked up one handed pool. He was good at this. He had no chance playing Fats One Pocket or Banks. NONE! At 9-Ball he may have had a chance, but would not play a close game. Omaha wanted the triple nuts to play anyone, including kids.

I saw these two go at each other a couple of times in Johnston City. It was funny as hell and kept everyone in stitches. Omaha was one guy who could jaw with Fats and hold his own. I wish I had a tape of their repartee. It would be a classic now. They did their best to get under the other guy's skin and sometimes were successful. I'm sure there was no love lost between them, but both seemed content to entertain the crowd. I saw them smile at each other when they got a zinger in. For the most part, I would call it good natured ribbing back and forth, between two hustlers.

I don't know if they ever played, but I would put my money on the Fat man. He was a little too sharp and a little too good for the likes of Omaha. JMHO of course.

Thanks Jay, because that's the way I sized it up. But what about FL? The guy clearly is no dummy, he promotes himself as though he's a bona-fide player, yet who the heck is he anyway, besides a forum creation?

 

[jay helfert]

Thanks Jay, because that's the way I sized it up. But what about FL? The guy clearly is no dummy, he promotes himself as though he's a bona-fide player, yet who the heck is he anyway, besides a forum creation?

I don't really know the guy. Larry Grindinger or something like that. I think he was always coming up with some crazy trick shots that he said he could make. I never heard of him playing anyone, except maybe in his dreams.

 

[Bobby]

Thanks Jay, because that's the way I sized it up. But what about FL? The guy clearly is no dummy, he promotes himself as though he's a bona-fide player, yet who the heck is he anyway, besides a forum creation?

I never heard of him until he started posting here. he claims to have run a 5-pack in Rotation! I find that a little hard to believe, I figure someone would have heard of him if he was that good...I mean c'mon, I think that's Efren's high run in Rotation.