"Playing Off The Rail"- Any Big Fibs?

[cuetechasaurus]

This is a great book, I'm sure that alot of you have read it. I know to make the story sound more exciting, they had to throw in some fiction here and there. Are there any well known BIG lies that were told in the book? And I know that Tony Annigoni was and still is a great player, but did he play top notch pool like it says he did in the book? The reason I ask, is because McCumber mentions Tony's high run of 120-something in straight pool ALOT in the book, and acts like it's some marvelous feat that no pool player has ever achieved. It really seemed like McCumber was ignorant that top-flight pool players that play 14.1 run in the 200's, 300's and some even in the 400's. A run of around 130 is great, but not that incredible (compared to scores noted above).

Were any of you present at any of the parts in the book? Do you recall the events like they were described? Did Tony play as good as anyone in the world (as stated in the book)? And did Tony really beat Johnny Archer that badly at Hard Times and Reno?

This was my second time reading the book, and of course I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[whitewolf]

This is a great book, I'm sure that alot of you have read it. I know to make the story sound more exciting, they had to throw in some fiction here and there. Are there any well known BIG lies that were told in the book? And I know that Tony Annigoni was and still is a great player, but did he play top notch pool like it says he did in the book? The reason I ask, is because McCumber mentions Tony's high run of 120-something in straight pool ALOT in the book, and acts like it's some marvelous feat that no pool player has ever achieved. It really seemed like McCumber was ignorant that top-flight pool players that play 14.1 run in the 200's, 300's and some even in the 400's. A run of around 130 is great, but not that incredible (compared to scores noted above).

Were any of you present at any of the parts in the book? Do you recall the events like they were described? Did Tony play as good as anyone in the world (as stated in the book)? And did Tony really beat Johnny Archer that badly at Hard Times and Reno?

This was my second time reading the book, and of course I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Yeah, and was Danny Green a drug addict ?

And some of the things said about McCready!

Lawsuit city you reckon?

And BuckTooth, was he really that good also? I liked the part where he would grab the pool balls and start whistling them through the air at people's faces.

I enjoyed the book also, but it may be a few years before I would read it again.

 

[freddy the beard]

"Wanted no part of him"

The scene McCumber writes of me playing Paul Jones was comically accurate. However, when he writes that I wanted no part of Tony Antigoni, and I ducked him, was insulting. I called him on that in person and he did apologize, saying he stretched it a little because he knew I did not want to play him straight pool or nineball, which I didnt. But I wouldnt play anybody straight pool or nineball back then. One pocket or banks and maybe eightball, would have been a stick-up -- in my favor. In those days I turned NOBODY down that wanted action.

the Beard

PS The GosPool is almost ready for the printer. Call or email me for advance copies.

 

[Island Drive]

This is a great book, I'm sure that alot of you have read it. I know to make the story sound more exciting, they had to throw in some fiction here and there. Are there any well known BIG lies that were told in the book? And I know that Tony Annigoni was and still is a great player, but did he play top notch pool like it says he did in the book? The reason I ask, is because McCumber mentions Tony's high run of 120-something in straight pool ALOT in the book, and acts like it's some marvelous feat that no pool player has ever achieved. It really seemed like McCumber was ignorant that top-flight pool players that play 14.1 run in the 200's, 300's and some even in the 400's. A run of around 130 is great, but not that incredible (compared to scores noted above).

Were any of you present at any of the parts in the book? Do you recall the events like they were described? Did Tony play as good as anyone in the world (as stated in the book)? And did Tony really beat Johnny Archer that badly at Hard Times and Reno?

This was my second time reading the book, and of course I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tonys leagacy speaks for itself. He's a great salesman, intelligent, good looking and when he's on a roll its like drinking from a firehydrant. His intentions are admirable and I think KT would have his hands full one on one.

 

[EL'nino]

Yeah, and was Danny Green a drug addict ?

And some of the things said about McCready!

Lawsuit city you reckon?

And BuckTooth, was he really that good also? I liked the part where he would grab the pool balls and start whistling them through the air at people's faces.

I enjoyed the book also, but it may be a few years before I would read it again.

I just want to say that if somebody can run 120-130 balls they can run 200's also.

 

[Island Drive]

I just want to say that if somebody can run 120-130 balls they can run 200's also.

Your probably right and back in Tonys day once you got to 120 the game was usually over. Good players back then....not the top end ones, but the very good players would usually put together an 80 ball run once during each match, and sprinkle that with a 25 and a 40.

 

[scottycoyote]

i really liked the book too. Seems like i remember reading somewhere that waterdog said that the whole account of him knowing who tony was and mccumber gapping him to keep it quiet was totally false, but other than that ive never really heard any of the other stories disputed other than what freddie said above.

 

[Gerry]

Regardless of what was true or not in that book it was a great read IMO. The whole time I was reading it I was thinking there is probably things much more amusing happening daily in room around the world!

I know I can embellish a good tale from back in the day now and then....

And YES Freddie...I'll take a copy ASAP...

Gerry

 

[kyle]

They come to Canada to play some snooker and the "target" is Bill Wiebernuik, they watched him play and leave never trying to make a game saying he had just been beaten by someone else and figured the last thing he'd want to see is an American road player. I just doubt that a guy who played world class snooker would be scared of any road player from the states playing his game.

 

[rackmsuckr]

I read it a long time ago. Most of the Seattle chapter was right. They only mention my husband once, but the part with Billy and Harry was correct. I was there in the poolroom in and out while Tony was in town.

 

[cuetechasaurus]

I read it a long time ago. Most of the Seattle chapter was right. They only mention my husband once, but the part with Billy and Harry was correct. I was there in the poolroom in and out while Tony was in town.

So how good did Tony play? Was he playing 9ball as good as anyone in the world like the author stated?

 

[Island Drive]

So how good did Tony play? Was he playing 9ball as good as anyone in the world like the author stated?

7 under Buddy Hall in his day.

 

[Nostroke]

I just want to say that if somebody can run 120-130 balls they can run 200's also.

Sure anyone that can run 400 can run 700's and anyone that can run 700's can run 1000's and anyone that can run 31 can run 60 so im really a 1000 ball runner. If anyone wants to play 500 no count race to 1500, you can bet what you want!!

 

[Nostroke]

i really liked the book too. Seems like i remember reading somewhere that waterdog said that the whole account of him knowing who tony was and mccumber gapping him to keep it quiet was totally false, but other than that ive never really heard any of the other stories disputed other than what freddie said above.

Yeah-The Dog told me that. But he did know who Tony was and maybe used that to borrow the hundred or whatever it was but paid him back after making a small score. Not a big lie, but the Dog was mildly perturbed about it.

 

[rackmsuckr]

So how good did Tony play? Was he playing 9ball as good as anyone in the world like the author stated?

Ummmm, no.

 

[huckster]

Great book, but full of artistic embellishments at least as far as the Akron chapter was concerned. I was backing Jack Hynes at the time and after the first day it was known the Cali guy (Tony A) was being backed by a writer. I personally offered to match Jack up with Tony after the tournament laying 2000 to 1500 for a race to 15 with Rerack Jack. He talked it over with Tony and countered with six ahead 300 against 500 with them getting the 8. My last offer was something like a 3k set giving the 8 and the didn't want to play. Our own Al-Fahl-Amir works for Dick Eshelman who is a pool playing successful attorney (and a nice guy to boot) that almost beat Tony but plays recreationally.

Huck

 

[Bob Jewett]

This is a great book, I'm sure that alot of you have read it. I know to make the story sound more exciting, they had to throw in some fiction here and there. ...

I've known Annigoni since the 70's. He played perhaps the 7 or 8 better than I did then, which I would like to think would make him world-class, but I don't think he was ever the odds-on favorite to win the local 2-day tournaments.

I don't think he normally curses as much as in the book, but maybe it was the company he was keeping.

Some of the players are not the way I remember them, but the book had the right general flavor. Some got too easy a treatment and some too rough.

Annigoni is now the main promoter of the USPPA handicapped nine-ball league.

 

[jayburger]

I actually enjoyed the book very much. Tony had to play pretty sporty,if not world class, to beat robb saez as easily as described. The part that really got me was that he acted like losing a short set to junior harris (around baltimore/tysons corner i think) could never happen again. I know junior is not a world champion either but he could win a race against anyone at any time. all in all a good read though.

 

[jayburger]

i was sitting in front of the tv one afternoon about 3 years or so after reading the book watching one of those "americas most wanted " type shows . the story that day was about a jewelry store heist. the story went that the local jewelry store owner (bucktooth) and his friend(annagoni) had invited a guy into the backroom of the jewelry store to play some pool on the table in the back room. i have to assume this guy was in a trap and had no idea who the pool player was he was gonna be playing(annagoni). it didnt say who won the pool match but when bucktooth opened his jewelry store the next day, he found that his safe in the back room where the pool table was had been" professionally" removed. I just laughed out loud as i was watching this. turns out the "mark" for bucktooth and annagonis hustle had probably been trying to figure out how to get in the backroom all along to get a look at the safe and being a poolplayer seemed to be the best option.LOL. I'm sure bucktooth was insured so he came out of it ok, but how sharp was the guy who hustled the hustlers. true story.

 

[EL'nino]

i was sitting in front of the tv one afternoon about 3 years or so after reading the book watching one of those "americas most wanted " type shows . the story that day was about a jewelry store heist. the story went that the local jewelry store owner (bucktooth) and his friend(annagoni) had invited a guy into the backroom of the jewelry store to play some pool on the table in the back room. i have to assume this guy was in a trap and had no idea who the pool player was he was gonna be playing(annagoni). it didnt say who won the pool match but when bucktooth opened his jewelry store the next day, he found that his safe in the back room where the pool table was had been" professionally" removed. I just laughed out loud as i was watching this. turns out the "mark" for bucktooth and annagonis hustle had probably been trying to figure out how to get in the backroom all along to get a look at the safe and being a poolplayer seemed to be the best option.LOL. I'm sure bucktooth was insured so he came out of it ok, but how sharp was the guy who hustled the hustlers. true story.

I saw that on tv but I didn't know that that was Bucktooth.