Scott Lee said:
Scott,
I met Jack White many years ago in Los Angeles. He snuck into a poolroom I was in and I watched him hustle a few rich kids out of their daddy's money. He was pretty slick and had a lot of con. These kids were also my customers, so I wasn't too happy with him stealing my games. At least I would give them a spot.
After a few days of this, I got on a table and proceeded to shoot about fifty balls into the rail, while he was sitting right there (I purposely got a table next to where he was sitting). Naturally Jack steps up and suggests we practice a little Eight Ball. He offers to help me with my game. He says we can practice cheap for a dollar or two a game (he used the same line with the other kids). And he'll show me a few things while we are playing.
So I pull out a wad of a couple hundred and tell him when I play, I like to gamble. His eyes got as big as saucers. I asked him if he would like to play for ten or twenty a game. I can tell he doesn't know what to think. So I keep banging balls around and say nothing. I can see the wheels turning in his head, and finally he says okay kid I'll play you for $10.
No stalling now, I beat him two games in a row, and he pulled up. So I said next time you want to hustle someone, just ask me. Funny thing is he wanted to be buddies with me after that. The next day he tells me he knows a spot in Long Beach by the university where a lot of college kids hang out, and we can make some money. He says I'll fit right in because I look like a college kid.
So we go to Long Beach and the poolroom, and sure enough it's full of kids and they all know Jack. Jack tells them he brought this rich kid from Beverly Hills who like to play pool, and they can win some money. Sure enough, he gets a kid to play me for $20 a game Eight Ball. He can't play. We win over $100 and Jack makes another $50-60 sidebetting. All the time Jack is saying how amazed he is that I am making shots. He puts on a helluva act.
After it's all over, we go out to the car and chop up the money. He takes half of the $100+ I won and keeps all the side money. I said "Wait a second, I'm in on that too". He says, no it's all his because he made the bets on his own, and after all he brought me here. Needless to say, that was my last go round with Mr. White.
Years later, I heard his name mentioned as a guy who put on exhibitions at colleges and army bases and stuff. But I never ran into him again.
