PRO gambling stories

wahcheck

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I started a thread asking for gambling stories in pool, but I should have been more specific....so I'm starting this one because I'd like to know if anyone can relate a gambling story involving professionals. Thanks.
 
During a PBT event in 1994, I overheard a chat between CJ Wiley and Jose Parica. Jose complained to CJ that there weren't enough decent money tournaments to play in. I don't think I'll ever forget CJ's answer. He said, "Jose, there's a twenty thousand dollar added event at my room in Texas every night. It didn't take Parica long to figure out what that meant, and it wasn't long before Parica and his backer went down to Texas to match up with CJ, who asked Jose for and got four on the wire on a race to twenty one for 20,000 a set. They played two sets and broke even. I've always loved that line CJ used to get Jose to gamble with him.
 
wahcheck said:
I started a thread asking for gambling stories in pool, but I should have been more specific....so I'm starting this one because I'd like to know if anyone can relate a gambling story involving professionals. Thanks.

I was in Tampa at a tournament around 1982 or 83. It was not unusual for players to match up back then even the big name players. Somehow Sigel and Strickland got into an argument and the result was them playing. I think it was something like Sigel saying he could beat anyone who missed as much as Strickland. They played 7 ahead for I believe $3000.. Strickland won the first 6 games and was being really cocky. He didn't get out and Sigel got it back to around even in a short time. They stayed around even for a while when Strickland said he wanted to quit because he wanted to go to bed so he could play tomorrow. They were even and Sigel let him off the hook but had proved his point. If they continued to play Sigel would have beat him. Strickland left the room pretty sheepish. Sigel could have beat Strickland at any game on the table. If you know Sigel or Strickland ask one of them about this match. I am sure if you ask Strickland he will have a different memory of what happened.
 
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Well a pro'ish match between Edwin Montal and Keith McCready in Vegas during the BCA was a great match to watch. They started the match as a $1500 race to 11 playing bar box 9-ball. Edwin took a huge lead and got to the hill at about 10-6 or so, Keith came back and won to make it 10-10. Keith then said "start again and double it up?" or something of the sort and Edwin jumped all over that. So they started again at 0-0 and this time the money was $3000. This time the match was closer then the last started but Edwin ended up winning it and got all the cash (along with a fair chunk of side action he had on himself to boot).

Always thought it was a mistake for Keith to double up and restart. He was a huge favorite to win the match at 10-10 breaking. Be interesting to hear his own reasoning for it, did he think Edwin was weakening and the second set was a lock for $3000?
 
Some I heard

macguy said:
I was in Tampa at a tournament around 1982 or 83. It was not unusual for players to match up back then even the big name players. Somehow Sigel and Strickland got into an argument and the result was them playing. I think it was something like Sigel saying he could beat anyone who missed as much as Strickland. They played 7 ahead for I believe $3000.. Strickland won the first 6 games and was being really cocky. He didn't get out and Sigel got it back to around even in a short time. They stayed around even for a while when Strickland said he wanted to quit because he wanted to go to bed so he could play tomorrow. They were even and Sigel let him off the hook but had proved his point. If they continued to play Sigel would have beat him. Strickland left the room pretty sheepish. Sigel could have beat Strickland at any game on the table. If you know Sigel or Strickland ask one of them about this match. I am sure if you ask Strickland he will have a different memory of what happened.

Thanks for sharing, guys, these are just the kind of stories that I find interesting and amusing...here's a few I just HEARD about...if they are related inaccurately I'm sure someone will correct me....

I understand Earl doesn't gamble anymore at pool, but back when he did, I heard on an Accustats Video that he once matched up in Vegas with Morro Paez for a 20,000 dollar set, spotting Morro the 8...they say Earl won in a "breeze".

I also heard that once Earl won 10,000 dollars 1st prize at the Sands Reno Open and proceeded that evening to drink and play blackjack, losing all of it..
then, the following morning, he was pissed and said that the casino got him drunk and caused him to lose the money, and he would never return to that tournament. (He did return in subsequent years).

Supposedly, Archer and Bustamante matched up for 5,000 (Race to 13, 2 out of 3 sets) after some tournament. Busta won the 1st set 13-7. Archer broke to open the 2nd set and proceeded to RUN 13 RACKS. Before they played the 3rd and final set, Busta asked Archer if he wanted to DOUBLE the bet to 10,000; Archer said no, and Busta won the last set 13-7.

Well, that's it for now, guys; if you have more, I'd sure like to hear them...I wish someone would collect these kind of stories and put them in a book...I'd sure buy it...
 
Check out "Cornbread Red", "Hustler Days", "The Green Felt Jungle".................etc.

~DC
 
the lion roared

That's right....it's in the late 90's at JOB billiards in Nashville, back when they had camel pro tournaments there. Two young players were there but weren't old enough yet to play on the camel tour. There names, Corey Duel and Alex Pagulyan. Well, if you all have ever been to JOB's you will know that there used to be a tight diamond that was right to your left when you walk in. There, on that table, Alex decides to bet everything he has playing the 10 ball ghost, only there was a stipulations, he could not make the 10 on the break, if he made more than one ball on the break they spotted up, and i believe but am not sure, he could make no 10 ball combo's either. (if anyone was there they can help my memory). So, he agree's to play 8 ahead for like 7 or 8 thousand i believe. He starts play and is stuck 6 games in about 40 mins. He ask Corey to go out to the car and get him a t-shirt and some baby powder. When Corey comes back he says "alright, i got my t-shirt and baby powder, i'll let you suckers out right now for half of the bet" remember, he is stuck 6 games playing 8 ahead. Long story short, they should of took him up on his offer, because about 7 hours later he beats the ghost and win's the cheese. Guess the lion is the king of the jungle after all eh?

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Keith McCready and Johnny Archer used to match up a lot for many thousands of dollars that their backers would put up. Once Johnny got the 8 from Parica and beat him two sets of 8 ahead in less than three hours for $3000 a set. Keith started mouthing Jose saying no one can beat Johnnyif Johnny racks and that Johnny puts racks on people and that he would play Johhny even, if Johnny could not touch the balls. Jose just sat there with his head buried in his hands. About that time Johnny's backer comes over to Keith and says who would you like to rack the balls for you and him? Well in short order Keith changes his tune and asks for the 8. Johnny just sits back and says, EVEN! They didn't play, but it does teach us that if we bluff it may get called.
Another time I saw Johnny give a local hot shot the 7, 8 and break and beat him out of all his money, his watch and more. Johnny was only 18 and he ran over that guy. I also saw Johnny give another local the 3, 5, 7 and breaks. For $500 a set. I told his backer that was like suicide, but he responded, Johnny knows how to rack so you can't make a ball. He was right as Johnny ran over him after he came up empty time after time on the break. The guy paid and just told Johnny to beat it and asked the whole room of pros at the tournament if anyone else wanted to play him the same way. No other takers. Johnny also ran 13 racks on Bustamante gambling, then Bustamante says let's play another one and beats Johnny. That takes heart to come back form a trouncing like that to win the next match.
 
When I first got sucked into pool, I used to frequent a poolroom called 'Players', In Van Nuys, CA. This place was less than a block away from a police station, but it was THE action hotspot of the entire west coast. All of the pros stopped by there for some high stakes action. Downstairs was the poolroom, and upstairs they had a cardroom where you could play poker for tens of thousands. All of the top pool players used to go there to find high stakes games. It was a 24 hour room, and there was never a time that there was no money game going on. They had a 5x10" snooker table, and they often had liability games, sometimes for $5-$10 per point (which is ALOT). Efren was a common sighting in this room. Anyways, word got around that Santos Sambajon was going to play Jennifer Chen some $2,000 per set 9-ball, giving her the 6-out and the breaks. They played 2 sets, race to 11, and Jennifer got literally DRILLED. I think both sets were 11-6 and 11-7. This was back in either '97 or '98, years before Santos became famous. Roughly a year later, after a tournament at the Crystal Park Casino in LA, Santos was supposed to play Roger Griffis for I think $3,000 per set, at another poolhall. Shannon Daulton showed up in Roger's place, and asks Santos to play. Santos gets drilled 2 sets. Alot of people were saying that Santos had no chance to beat Shannon playing even, but what I saw from the match was that Santos was out of stroke that day. He didn't play nowhere near as good as he played against Jennifer (almost flawlessly). But then again, perhaps Shannon intimidated him, being that he's one of the top gamblers alive today.
 
storys

Thought I'd tell you all a true one!!! My father staked a few of the pro players back when, I was home [Huntington W.Va] from Tx Dad was sick he told me a fine player from Ohio was comming to play a guy in Ky. Dad was to stake him for 1,500 But he couldn't go, just felt too bad!! I could go dad,Trust me ok? Dad said well if you think you can handel it WHY NOT!! So this guy & a friend of his shows up {with a big dog} in his car. OFF WE GOOO. Hit winchester in few hr. looked for bar where Dallas[the sucker] hung out. Got 2 rooms mine & theres & dog ! Went back to the bar, [laid down a lemon] hung out all nite I drank a few too many! All of a sudden Police Bust in, I went to ladies room to hide the $$. we leave[ no player no win] police ran everyone off, said they were looking for some killer, I was upset What a mess! I go to my room, to the john to pee, Just as I flushed [as I got up ]REMEMBERED WHERE I HID THE 1,500, Yep, in my panties,Im now on my knees in front of the bowl pickin wet 100s out of the damm thing!!! Drunk cussin up a storm!! Putting 100s on lamp shades over shower rods over backs of chairs everywhere!! Called front desk to ask where drain went ect ect, Then here comes Dad,s player to see if I'd like to go eat a bite. I opened the door he took one look smiled,said What are you doing with 100,s all over the place??I told him what I did, he said ,you expect your dad will belive you flushed the up money down the head??He will have to I lost 500 of it!! He laughed some more then left with friend & Dog befor I got up next day.3 days later local news story about fishing 100 bill out of waste plant hit and saved me!!! Thats how I met Howard Vickery B.J.Spiv :D ey
 
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I heard one that happend at the last Expo in Pennsylvania, between Keith McCready and a guy from Michigan, Jason Kirkwood.

Well i guess Kirkwood was playing guys all nite long and finally nobody wanted to play him, and everyone was crowding around another table that some guys was playing at, so Kirkwood yells out," Anyone wanna play " or something like that, well nobody looked over. So a few minutes later he yells again, " Anyone wanna play for 2000$ a set " and of course everyone comes over to see if anyone would play him, but no takers.

Well McCready i guess was trying to get a game with Kirkwood before hand, or was nagging at him for a game or something to the matter. Well i guess Kirkwood said lets so race to 9 for 2000$ and Kirkwood said yes, but McCready said lets play on a big table.

In the end Kirkwood beat McCready something like 9-3 or 9-2
 
Years ago in Atlanta Jose Parica is giving Paul Turner the 8 for $1000 on the bar box and playing seven ahead. One local is walking around taking bets with him taking Paul, not even paying attention to the fact Jose has Paul down 5. Well Paul cathes a gear and comes back and beats Jose. My guess is business was done since they were still taking side bets with Paul down that far. But who knows as Paul was at one time a sure enough Bar Table Champion.

Another time Paul is playing Richie Ambrose no ball in hand unlimited push outs 9 ball for $1000 seven ahead on the bar box also. Paul get a lucky roll and says I thinks this thing is going to turn around now. So Richie sits down and takes a very long break. After about half an hour of stalling Richie still won't get up and play. So Paul's backer goes over to the money holder who was the bartender and says Paul beat Richie and gets the whole $2000 and leaves. Richie and his backer go through the roof over it and all four get barred for life.
 
Strickland-Sigel

macguy said:
I was in Tampa at a tournament around 1982 or 83. It was not unusual for players to match up back then even the big name players. Somehow Sigel and Strickland got into an argument and the result was them playing. I think it was something like Sigel saying he could beat anyone who missed as much as Strickland. They played 7 ahead for I believe $3000.. Strickland won the first 6 games and was being really cocky. He didn't get out and Sigel got it back to around even in a short time. They stayed around even for a while when Strickland said he wanted to quit because he wanted to go to bed so he could play tomorrow. They were even and Sigel let him off the hook but had proved his point. If they continued to play Sigel would have beat him. Strickland left the room pretty sheepish. Sigel could have beat Strickland at any game on the table. If you know Sigel or Strickland ask one of them about this match. I am sure if you ask Strickland he will have a different memory of what happened.


The story you tell is pretty close. The match up was at the Rocky Point Beach Resort in the practice room . I was also there and for some odd reason I remember the details. I was working for Bill Stigal at the time. He is the one that promoted the tournament. You are correct that it was a 7 ahead matchup. Strickland did win the first 6 games and Sigel battled back to even. This is the point where we differ. My memory is that Sigel said he was quitting because of a morning match. Strickland was livid and shouted that Sigel couldn't quit because the bet had been made and the money was posted. I remember the bet being 2000.00. I do agree that Sigel would probably have ended up with the money. Whether my memory is good or yours is, or maybe, neither one of us remembers correctly, at any rate, the match-up did take place and the room was packed. That tournament brings back memories for me. For what it's worth, Buddy Hall beat Mike Sigel in the finals. I can also remember one night when Louie Roberts (with maybe a few too many coctails) jumped in the swimming pool with clothes on.
 
Bill S said:
The story you tell is pretty close. The match up was at the Rocky Point Beach Resort in the practice room . I was also there and for some odd reason I remember the details. I was working for Bill Stigal at the time. He is the one that promoted the tournament. You are correct that it was a 7 ahead matchup. Strickland did win the first 6 games and Sigel battled back to even. This is the point where we differ. My memory is that Sigel said he was quitting because of a morning match. Strickland was livid and shouted that Sigel couldn't quit because the bet had been made and the money was posted. I remember the bet being 2000.00. I do agree that Sigel would probably have ended up with the money. Whether my memory is good or yours is, or maybe, neither one of us remembers correctly, at any rate, the match-up did take place and the room was packed. That tournament brings back memories for me. For what it's worth, Buddy Hall beat Mike Sigel in the finals. I can also remember one night when Louie Roberts (with maybe a few too many coctails) jumped in the swimming pool with clothes on.

…hit his head on the bottom of the pool and walked around with a quarter size scab on his forehead for the rest of the tourney.
 
Stories Galore!

There is a Full Page Article written abou me back in '77 titeld "The Hustle Is On"! It was in the Globe Democrat (a local St. Louis paper). It has some very good stories about my 20 years "On The Road". My Daughter started selling the article (mounted & framed) on ebay for $175 and sold 12 in two weeks before I found out. Buddy is writing some autographed statements to go with it and I hope to have it ready to sell in a few weeks.
JUST A FEW STORIES -
While playing at Afton Billiards here in St. Louis about (? 33 years ago ?), this 16 year old comes about 2 am asking for a $20 nine-ball game. The other 2 good players were busy so I play him. We play about an hour and I'm maybe $60 or $80 loser (this was un-heard of for me), and I quit.
ALL the other players asked me why I would quit such a young kid and they said I couldn't "stand the heat".
Well, I saw what I saw, and didn't like what I was seeing.
The next afternoon, this kid comes back in and the other 2 good players jump on him like " S**** On S*** " !
I proceed to get about 3 railbirds to bet $5 & $10 on this "Kid" for me because if I were to bet, everyone would have thought I knew something.
I didn't!
All I knew is What I saw, witnessed & paid for last night.
THE "KID" WAS KEITH & IF YOU CAN'T FIGURE THE OUTCOME - YOU JUST NEVER HEARD HOW GOOD KEITH PLAYED @ 16.

BUDDY - Just One Of My Favorites !!!
I had just witnessed what the "Larry&Mike" show had done to the local St. Louis players a couple of weeks earlier and again, I was fortunate enough to be on the right end of the wagering. (Larry claimed to be the Backer but thats another story).
Now - I am in Oklahoma City (playing Pittsburgh Mike daily) and here comes Larry & Mike into the poolroom at 44th & May. We talked a little and Larry says they are on their way to Shreveport, LA to play Buddy.
NOW REMEMBER - BUDDY & I ARE PRETTY CLOSE AS I WAS THE FIRST ONE TO "GO ON THE ROAD" WITH HIM WAY BACK WHEN.
But I couldn't get it out of my head how great this Mike Segal had played just 2 weeks earlier in St Louis. I ask Larry if I could get a "Sweat-Bet" piece on Mike when they play. He says sure and agreed to give me a $10 bet when they played.
A couple of nights later word comes in (via phone) that they are playing - so I call Guys & Dolls and speak to Larry. I asked him how things were going.
Larry tells me - "WELL, TOM - THE HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR 9 HOURS NOW AND MIKE HASEN'T MISSED A BALL - MADE A BAD ROLLOUT - IS BREAKING VERY WELL & PLAYING AS GOOD AS I HAVE EVER SEEN HIM PLAY.
I says "Great" - How do we stand?
LARRY SAYS - "WERE 4 GAMES STUCK" !!!

WORDS CAN'T DESCRIBE HOW "GREAT" BUDDY PLAYED IN THIS GUYS & DOLLS POOLROOM IN SHREVEPORT, LA. THE OWNER "RED BOX" (I think), HAD A ROOM MADE FOR BUDDY - "BUDDY'S ROOM" AND IT WAS THE BEST EQUIPMENT & CONDITIONS THAT $ COULD BUY.
IN MY OPINION - I SAW "PERFECT NINE-BALL" BY BUDDY MORE THAN ONCE AND FOR HOURS AT A TIME !!!

While there once - I went to lunch/dinner (at Morrisons) with Eddie Taylor & Jersey Red. (Oh, How I wished I would have had a tape recorder of the stories that went on for about 2 hours - I don't think I said 3 words the whole time). Buddy might not know this but the both of them agreed that Buddy was playing Nine-Ball better than either of them had ever seen.
JUST THINK OF THAT COMING FROM THESE TWO !!!

Now, I heard Buddy say yesterday (announcing at the US Open) that he admired "Wimpy" (Luther Lassiter) as playing Nine-Ball, a level better than anyone else at Johnston City in those days. He also said that Wimpy was a Class Act & A Great Gentelman of the game.

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE - (For those Days).

BUT FOR MY $$$ - "BUDDY" PLAYED THE BEST NINE-BALL I HAVE EVER SEEN.
& I've seen a lotta Nine-Ball in the last 44 years.

ps - After my conversation with Larry that night - I called off my bet - waited about 20 min. and called a local player I knew. - I had him bet $25 a game ON BUDDY with some railbirds.
"NOW I WAS MAKING $$$ IN OKLAHOMA CITY - & - SHREVEPORT"!
TY & GL
 
Nice to hear some stories about Oklahoma City. I've grown up in a little town called Guthrie, OK. My father is a pool player here and plays with some of the best in the state (James Waldon, Caleb Moore, Donnie Brown and a few others). The poolroom you're talking about is True Loves on 44th and S. May. Still has great equipment in the place. The place here in Oklahoma City now though is Chesters on N. 50th and May and Mikey's on NW 30th and Portland. Mikey's is open 24x7, but if you get some action going on in Chesters, you can sometimes get them to stay open later than what they do.

Being that you were playing in the OKC so long ago, you ever happen to run into Norman Hitchcock?
 
OK pool

bb81 said:
Nice to hear some stories about Oklahoma City. I've grown up in a little town called Guthrie, OK. My father is a pool player here and plays with some of the best in the state (James Waldon, Caleb Moore, Donnie Brown and a few others). The poolroom you're talking about is True Loves on 44th and S. May. Still has great equipment in the place. The place here in Oklahoma City now though is Chesters on N. 50th and May and Mikey's on NW 30th and Portland. Mikey's is open 24x7, but if you get some action going on in Chesters, you can sometimes get them to stay open later than what they do.

Being that you were playing in the OKC so long ago, you ever happen to run into Norman Hitchcock?
ARE YOU TALKING :confused: about STORMING NORMAN/ TALL GRAY HAIR?? B.J.
 
Funny Keith story in "The Green Felt Jungle"

:p I think everyone will agree that there is a very funny story about Keith McCready and his stakehorse in the latest edition of "The Green Felt Jungle">
His stakehorse Gene the Machine is one very funny guy, now taking a vacation in Orlean Parish Prison. :p
 
B.J.the bandit said:
ARE YOU TALKING :confused: about STORMING NORMAN/ TALL GRAY HAIR?? B.J.

I've never actually met the gentlemen. But my father knows him. I imagine that we are talking about the same person. If I'm not mistaken he one the World 9 Ball Championship a few times? He still lives here in Oklahoma City the last my dad had heard.
 
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