Pool Personalities

Here's my list of pool personalities. These are the players who bring entertainment and fun when they are actually live, shooting at the table, not just on the offs.

Keith McCready
Ronnie Allen
Minnesota Fats
Alex Higgins
Alex Pagulayan
Jimmy Mataya
Shannon Daulton
Earl Strickland
Louie Roberts
Jeanette Lee
Larry Lisciotti
Jimmy Reid
Cornbread Red

Honorable Mention because I've seen these guys bring entertainment to the railbirds in the past: Scott Frost, Rodney Morris, Tony Chohan, Amar Kang, Liljon, Tony Watson, Dennis Hatch, Marcus Chamat

I know as soon as I hit the Submit Reply button on this post, I will think of some more.
 
Most entertaining for me is likely the combination of Grady Mathews and Danny D commenting on any match with Mike Sigel, or listening to Steve Cook explain how sorry he was for beating the entire field and how they all played so well despite his luck, all the while delivering this earnest remorse for his opponents in a powder blue double-knit polyester prom suit with knit pink socks and a lime green tie.

These days I like watching Alex do his thing and I like the new breed of commentators like Daniel Busch and Box.

Pool... its a reasonable argument to keep on going isn't it?

Lesh
 
kkdanamatt said:
Fats was so over-the-top, especially when he played Mosconi on TV.
They were polar opposites in personality.
Willie's personality was zero and Fats' approached infinity.
Charlie Ursitti was very perceptive and wouldn't stop Fats' verbal deluge.
Nobody could out-talk Fats.

Don Willis was smart, funny and commanded the room when he performed his various hustles. I saw him in NYC at Paddy's 7-11 in the early '60's.

Tommy Cosmo was fun to watch as he danced around the table while running out.
They were all stop shots....that's why an easy layout is sometimes called a "Cosmo".

Freddy 'The Beard' Bentivegna was a great story teller and a keen observer of his fellow man. I didn't know him well, but he told me quite a bit about himself. It's all in his book.
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i question your comments on don willis
since he is known as the greatest undercover pool player i dont see him making a show
if you saw it i believe you
just that style would never have been my impression of how he worked a room
 
Karl Boyes should be mentioned on this list.
He willingly took on the role of 'bad guy' for the Euros.
...and the man can PLAY
 
Larry...Don was undercover in that for many years he didn't play tournaments because he didn't want his picture taken (even though he was photographed many times at Johnston City). He just waited for the winner, and then wanted to gamble! LOL He was, after all, a road player...and as such would walk into a poolroom and take over the place, shouting "I'll play YOU some 1-pocket"; "I'll play YOU some 9ball"; "I'll play YOU some dice"; I'll play YOU some gin"...etc. The funny part is that he would win them all. Willis was an amazingly talented man! :grin:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

bbb said:
i question your comments on don willis
since he is known as the greatest undercover pool player i dont see him making a show
if you saw it i believe you
just that style would never have been my impression of how he worked a room
Click to expand...
 
Scott Lee said:
Larry...Don was undercover in that for many years he didn't play tournaments because he didn't want his picture taken (even though he was photographed many times at Johnston City). He just waited for the winner, and then wanted to gamble! LOL He was, after all, a road player...and as such would walk into a poolroom and take over the place, shouting "I'll play YOU some 1-pocket"; "I'll play YOU some 9ball"; "I'll play YOU some dice"; I'll play YOU some gin"...etc. The funny part is that he would win them all. Willis was an amazingly talented man! :grin:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...
thanks scott
 
Re: Junior Harris, I used to practice with his wife Cheryl at Q-Stix in Newark, Delaware. Took lessons from Junior back then. I'd heard he'd moved to Texas, is that true? Cheryl was on ladies tour back then
(20+ years ago) are they still together? Both real nice people. I believe Junior came from Elkton, Maryland as a young man. Very strong shooter like others from the Delaware/Maryland area back then like Delaware Dogs, Russell Parsons, Chick Trakus, Delaware Larry, Wayne Comers.........brings back great memories
 
kkdanamatt said:
Fats was so over-the-top, especially when he played Mosconi on TV.
They were polar opposites in personality.
Willie's personality was zero and Fats' approached infinity.
Charlie Ursitti was very perceptive and wouldn't stop Fats' verbal deluge.
Nobody could out-talk Fats.
Click to expand...

Here is a pic of all three at that match ... enjoy.
56a2b5e7cfafb.image.jpg
 
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Larry Neudecker, aka Baltimore Red. About 7 or 8 years ago Larry moved into Charleston WV. I met him at an old place named "Whitey's", on the West Side. Had no clue who he was. He shot fast and loose, as free as a kid scribbling crayon markings on a wall.

He told me his name, and I hit a few balls with him, which meant I did a hell of a lot more watching than playing! Larry's a short and muscular guy, built like a trapeze artist. I'll never forget the day he asked Roger Whitey (the owner of the place) if he could get up on the table to reach shot. Roger said it'd be fine, and Neudecker, with his cue stick held flat in front between both hands, jumped flat-footed from the floor to the table, landing under the light in a squatted position! (This was a diamond table with a diamond light.) He reached down and shot the shot and then jumped back to the floor and continued running out like it was par for the course.

He told me later that he actually did work in a circus for a few years, and that's why at nearly 50 he can still do tricks like that. Two or three years later he disappeared, maybe back to Baltimore, not sure. I haven't seen him since. Larry, if you're on AZ and read this, we miss you buddy!
 
Will it ever end?

Some of the tales about legendary pool, card, dice, and whatever type gamblers are suspect, in my opinion.
I never saw a poolroom where a person could walk in with loudmouth "I'm taking over" bluster about betting as high as the sky and not wind up getting his face slapped off and a pistol stuck in his nose by some ex-con or hoodlum hanging out looking for an easy score. Loudmouth strangers in pool rooms don't live very long. And, even if they win, the regulars would merely take the money back through violence.
These stories parallel some of Minnesota Fats' nonsense in his book about "I never lost a match for the cash in my life". Which is, of course, totally absurd.
It's always been my hope that all this stuff could be laid to rest once and for all and that this wonderful, difficult, game might finally get some decent credentials.
I guess I'm just a dreamer. :shrug:
 
Jersey Red was a memorable pool personality, as you never knew what to expect with him.

Alain Martel, the French Canadian known as "The Dancing Bear," was another classic.
 
Low500 said:
Some of the tales about legendary pool, card, dice, and whatever type gamblers are suspect, in my opinion.
I never saw a poolroom where a person could walk in with loudmouth "I'm taking over" bluster about betting as high as the sky and not wind up getting his face slapped off and a pistol stuck in his nose by some ex-con or hoodlum hanging out looking for an easy score. Loudmouth strangers in pool rooms don't live very long. And, even if they win, the regulars would merely take the money back through violence.
These stories parallel some of Minnesota Fats' nonsense in his book about "I never lost a match for the cash in my life". Which is, of course, totally absurd.
It's always been my hope that all this stuff could be laid to rest once and for all and that this wonderful, difficult, game might finally get some decent credentials.
I guess I'm just a dreamer. :shrug:
Click to expand...

I like the stories.... even the embellished ones (or especially those)

Stories are everywhere you go... Fishing, Racing, Gambling, Religion. Whole lotta color in those stories. Sorry you are in a place where someone cant just march in and yell out "Alright you bastards! Come rob me. The rooms got the 8 and Im playing till its all gone or everyone one of you is busted." At my hall it would just serve to get you action.... fast.

Lesh
 
Low500 said:
Some of the tales about legendary pool, card, dice, and whatever type gamblers are suspect, in my opinion.
I never saw a poolroom where a person could walk in with loudmouth "I'm taking over" bluster about betting as high as the sky and not wind up getting his face slapped off and a pistol stuck in his nose by some ex-con or hoodlum hanging out looking for an easy score. Loudmouth strangers in pool rooms don't live very long. And, even if they win, the regulars would merely take the money back through violence.
These stories parallel some of Minnesota Fats' nonsense in his book about "I never lost a match for the cash in my life". Which is, of course, totally absurd.
It's always been my hope that all this stuff could be laid to rest once and for all and that this wonderful, difficult, game might finally get some decent credentials.
I guess I'm just a dreamer. :shrug:
Click to expand...

I myself am glad that there are places where folks can walk in and announce that they're looking for action without being robbed or worse. It seems to me to be a bit of am embellishment to say that in every poolroom you've seen, the customers would rob someone that announces their intentions. Maybe one day these types of stories will be laid to rest.

Sincerely,
Keith
 
Body language also plays a part. I've only seen Keith play on tournament videos, but the way he played to the camera and the audience when in his prime kept reminding me of something with his body language as he moved around the table.

Then it hit me....the same strut Mick Jagger uses on stage...
 
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pwd72s said:
Body language also plays a part. I've only seen Keith play on tournament videos, but the way he played to the camera and the audience when in his prime kept reminding me of something with his body language as he moved around the table.

Then it hit me....the same strut Mick Jagger uses on stage...
Click to expand...

:rotflmao1::rotflmao1::rotflmao1: Like this --> HERE
 
Personalities....The Rocket/Roger Griffis. One of a kind and shoots lights out. Amarillo Slim got his name from the pool players and he liked ta play. Scotty Townsend of course. A few more I'm sure. Many top players tho didn't like to ''stick out'' and be noticed.
 
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