"Playing Off The Rail"- Any Big Fibs?

cuetechasaurus said:
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?.

The results of the little tournament in the book (Greg Fix wins, with Tony coming in second or third) was reported in P&B or BD mag long before the book came out. That's the only reason I'd even heard of either one of them.

Fred
 
I guess you were not paying close attention to the show. Bucktooth and his wife were beaten and bucktooth had his mouth and nose duck taped and could not breath...His wife was able to break loose and get the tape off Bucktooth and save his life. They knew exactly who robbed them and he was not involed in the hustle in the back room. He was caught later and escaped but then was caught again. It was actually nothing to laugh about... They did not come in the next day and low and behold the safe was gone....
 
NINEBALLART said:
I guess you were not paying close attention to the show. Bucktooth and his wife were beaten and bucktooth had his mouth and nose duck taped and could not breath...His wife was able to break loose and get the tape off Bucktooth and save his life. They knew exactly who robbed them and he was not involed in the hustle in the back room. He was caught later and escaped but then was caught again. It was actually nothing to laugh about... They did not come in the next day and low and behold the safe was gone....
I remember all that.... I just didn't know that that was Bucktooth. Did they use his name (Bucktooth)on the show?
 
I don't believe they used the nick name, Bucktooth. But bucktooth had jewelery and a pawn shop in the pool room and thats what the thieves took and were after.....They might of said his nick name but I can't remember for sure....
 
jayburger said:
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.


At the time Rob Saez was maybe the 30th best player in the room. He was getting the 6 from Frankie Hernandez 2 years later when his game improved. It is only in the last 2-3 years or so that Rob has reached "national speed"
 
Bob Jewett said:
Annigoni is now the main promoter of the USPPA handicapped nine-ball league.

Does Tony Annigoni own a poolroom in the bay area? I visit a friend there from time to time and she wanted to meet him or at least see his place.

By the way, I don't think anyone has mentioned that he is a very nice person and is easy to play with. I played him at the Derby in '05 and he really impressed me. When I made an obvious foul, he waited for me to call it on myself and would have let it go if I hadn't, even though I was winning the match at the time.
 
He used to be involved

longhair said:
Does Tony Annigoni own a poolroom in the bay area? I visit a friend there from time to time and she wanted to meet him or at least see his place.

By the way, I don't think anyone has mentioned that he is a very nice person and is easy to play with. I played him at the Derby in '05 and he really impressed me. When I made an obvious foul, he waited for me to call it on myself and would have let it go if I hadn't, even though I was winning the match at the time.

He had his hand in serveral over the years but not at this time that I know of. In fact I have not heard from him or of what he is doing in quite some time. I am sure he will be in Reno next month however. He is a very active entrepeneur(sp) so I would not be surprised if he pops up with one in the near future. I noticed the last one he was involved with (The Blue Fin) in Monterey finally went out of business and had an auction last month.
 
I talked with Tony yesterday. He's still very much involved with the USPPA handicap tournament system.

He's also working with a Bay Area youth group organization. He still works with Pool room owners getting the stores up and running.

As far as "Playing Off the Rail" and his prowess at the table, well, I've seen him play and he can and has beat some of the best. World Class? well maybe his game is local to California, but he's in a group of very few players that have had a very popular and enjoyable published book about his road antics.
 
NINEBALLART said:
I guess you were not paying close attention to the show. Bucktooth and his wife were beaten and bucktooth had his mouth and nose duck taped and could not breath...His wife was able to break loose and get the tape off Bucktooth and save his life. They knew exactly who robbed them and he was not involed in the hustle in the back room. He was caught later and escaped but then was caught again. It was actually nothing to laugh about... They did not come in the next day and low and behold the safe was gone....

The robber was the lowlife player who was written about in the book I believe he was called "Gorgeous George" and his name may have been Dave Rodden? It was a setup to rob the tooth the whole way. I seen the tooth bring 40k into a pool room and leave empty handed and he still liked the game!!! He wanted to play more against the legendary Jack Cooney.
 
Nostroke said:
At the time Rob Saez was maybe the 30th best player in the room. He was getting the 6 from Frankie Hernandez 2 years later when his game improved. It is only in the last 2-3 years or so that Rob has reached "national speed"

I know his game has came along way the last few years but I took him and Mike Rinella on the road when Rob was 19. He didn't book too many losers. He was on the stall against Tony A in the book and gave him something like the 7 ball. I don't know if Rob could give Tony the 7 ball now let alone 12 or 13 years ago. Rob played good for example he beat Tony Mougey while we were on the road and 13 years ago Tony Mougey didn't play too bad. He had to have been in the top five in the room IMHO. I rate them as follows. Ginky, Frankie H, Slim, Robbie, Waterdog. How close was I, and am I missing anyone?
 
The robber was not "Boy George", or his real name Dave Rodden. It was some other guy, Rotten Rodden is still running around, saw him in Reno a while back. Now the guy we're talking about, Dave Rodden, DID rob $4,000 off the light here in Modesto years back...He can't even stop for gas anymore around here!........................Marc
 
Hey Beard...Did you ever play Vernon Elliot? Some think he was one of the greatest HUSTLERS (not the greatest PLAYER) of all time. If he wasn't, who was in your opinion??

THANKS!

Jim
 
Nostroke...<<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!!>>

Right. What he didn't take into account is that EVENTUALLY you're going to get a bad roll or get stiffed on the break shot just by random bad luck.

The GREATEST players who have actually put 400+ together were PARTLY fortunate not to get unlucky and PARTLY so fantastic that they sunk balls from seemingly impossible positions.

So, your are correct...just because you can (have) run 200 doesn't mean you can or will ever run 400 if you tried for the rest of your life.

Regards,
Jim
 
Vernon Eliot

av84fun said:
Hey Beard...Did you ever play Vernon Elliot? Some think he was one of the greatest HUSTLERS (not the greatest PLAYER) of all time. If he wasn't, who was in your opinion??

THANKS!

Jim

I played Vernon Eliot bank pool about 4 times. I finally beat him the last time we played. He was a great guy and a fabulous hustler. He was also a tremendous player. He deserves to be in the bank pool HOF. Minnesota Fats had to be the greatest hustler, based on the premise of who could you lock in a room with him for a week and expect them to come out with the money? Cooney, Vernon, CornBread, Incardona, Bodendorfer were also among the greatest hustlers.

the Beard
 
going back to the robbery of bucktooth you are correct that i didnt see the whole show(didnt know rich and his wife were beaten and i certainly wouldnt have laughed about that) just caught the part about it being a pool match in the backroom.
 
Island Drive said:
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.

Very, very accurate.
 
jayburger said:
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.

Now Jr Harris and TA in my estimation would be gambling.
 
jayburger said:
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.

That is just hilarious. As loud as Bucktooth is, I bet that scream was heard in Kansas.
 
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