Punky Jones...Hagerstown, MD?
- Thread starter billb
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Geese (Mike Gerace) snuck in on Punky in Hagerstown a few times back in the early '80s. He was a well-known action player who would engage in games of stake. Punky also traveled down to Rockville, Baltimore, Laurel, and other Maryland hotspots for action. He could play on the big table and the bar box, and as most old-school players, Punky could play all games. He wasn't a one-trick pony like some of today's youth.
I saw him about 7 or 8 years ago at a local regional tournament, and he's still got game, though it's not his main income anymore. :wink:
Keith McCready did a charity event in Pennsylvania at an Elks or Moose Club (can't remember) one time, and the place was really cool with lots of pool peeps. They had auctions for money that was donated to a medical charity for a heart revival machine for sports people. I can't remember the name of the machine, either. :embarrassed2:
Anyway, Keith and I were sitting at the bar, and this gentleman initiates a conversation with Keith, stating that he wouldn't mind playing him some with a spot. I looked at the guy long and hard and realized it was Punky, who truly did not need as big a spot as he was asking for.
I think I have a couple pics of Punky from the pool tournaments. He's not too hard to find if you go to Hagerstown. I always liked him. He was a gentleman gambler.
I saw him about 7 or 8 years ago at a local regional tournament, and he's still got game, though it's not his main income anymore. :wink:
Keith McCready did a charity event in Pennsylvania at an Elks or Moose Club (can't remember) one time, and the place was really cool with lots of pool peeps. They had auctions for money that was donated to a medical charity for a heart revival machine for sports people. I can't remember the name of the machine, either. :embarrassed2:
Anyway, Keith and I were sitting at the bar, and this gentleman initiates a conversation with Keith, stating that he wouldn't mind playing him some with a spot. I looked at the guy long and hard and realized it was Punky, who truly did not need as big a spot as he was asking for.
I think I have a couple pics of Punky from the pool tournaments. He's not too hard to find if you go to Hagerstown. I always liked him. He was a gentleman gambler.
Definitely not looking to gamble with him. I was more so interested in stories. I have seen him play and he is a good player now. My assumption is that he was a very, very good player at his peak.
Did Geese beat him? I had seen Geese play multiple times also. Obviously, he was a great player too.
Did Geese beat him? I had seen Geese play multiple times also. Obviously, he was a great player too.
Fredneck Champions. lol!
By the way, if you ever want to venture across the river to Kody's lair, I'm ready for round 2.
By the way, if you ever want to venture across the river to Kody's lair, I'm ready for round 2.
I got a good story why Carl(punky)jones wont come back to running out billiards(in dundalk) about 5-6 years ago punky came in looking for action like he always did from time to time, so he comes over to me an asks if i want to play(i got 50 dollars ) but iam thinking of a good way of playing with out alerting Punky that iam busted, so i tell him no i dont want to play now i got some things to do, now in the pool hall there is Tom Vanover, punky knows him and will not fool with him anymore(vanover used to give him the 8 and just rob him) but i have the perfect guy with me Pittsburge Mike Katsaris and i know Punky has no idea who he is, well i go over to Punky and say i will play you some races to 7 for 50 dollars with the free 8 and of course Punky wants to bet more but i cant cause thats all i have any way after awile he says come on ill play, so we play 2 sets i win both of them and Punky quits because he knows iam short, but what he dont know is that Pittsburg Mike is with me, so after we quit Mike asks Punkey to play some 9ball and punk says no i will play you some 1pocket(this was perfect now we our betting 50 a game with Punkys money) so mike wins the first 2 games and being who Punky is he raises to 100 a game, few hours later Mike and i bust Punky for 1300 off of 50 dollars, Punky never been back to dundalk again! Punky is a great guy and a great guy to gamble with, he will bet it up!
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Thanks for the great read. That sounds just like Punky.
Geese and him used to go back and forth. Last time they met up, we drove up to Hagerstown to Punky's pool room. It was in the old part of town, as I recall. There was an excellent diner around the corner, but I digress. :embarrassed2:
Punky wanted too much weight from Geese that day,, so the game did not happen. I was actually kind of relieved. It would have been a long walk back to D.C. from Hagerstown if Geese had lost. :wink:
Punky Story
I played Punky on several ocassions, We swaped money back and forth. I cant remember exactly how we played. I have seen him in so much action. I seen him play Tony Long $1,000 one pocket. I seen him play Doug Young
getting the seven ball. He was always in action.
About 14 years ago I took Eddie Abraham into Haggerstown Pool Room. Eddie give Punky the 8-Ball for $100 a game. Eddie won 9 games. Punky was a complete gentleman. He give us drinks all night.
Best story I have is: about 13 years ago Punky calls me up and says I will play any body on the Eastern Shore of Md Even One pocket. At this time no one on the shore played one pocket, If they did they would have needed a spot from Punky. He said we could decent money as well. The funny thing was. Frank Tulles, a pool room owner from North Carolina used to come to Salisbury, around once every two months for something. I think he may have owned some tyoe of business in of the towns near there. Well I happen to Know Frank was in town. I talked to Frank to see if he was interested in Playing Punky. He said OK. Well, I called Punky back up. I said Ocean City Frank will play you some cheap. I new this would get Punky jacked up... He said No No No. If I am gonna ride all the way there he has to bet $1,500.. After some stalling. I finally said Ok. We can post $1,500... Punky came, posted the money, put up a fight, then told Frank good shooting as he left the pool room $1,500 short.
Frank was or is a Tuff old bird.
Plain and Simple. Punky is great action.
I played Punky on several ocassions, We swaped money back and forth. I cant remember exactly how we played. I have seen him in so much action. I seen him play Tony Long $1,000 one pocket. I seen him play Doug Young
getting the seven ball. He was always in action.
About 14 years ago I took Eddie Abraham into Haggerstown Pool Room. Eddie give Punky the 8-Ball for $100 a game. Eddie won 9 games. Punky was a complete gentleman. He give us drinks all night.
Best story I have is: about 13 years ago Punky calls me up and says I will play any body on the Eastern Shore of Md Even One pocket. At this time no one on the shore played one pocket, If they did they would have needed a spot from Punky. He said we could decent money as well. The funny thing was. Frank Tulles, a pool room owner from North Carolina used to come to Salisbury, around once every two months for something. I think he may have owned some tyoe of business in of the towns near there. Well I happen to Know Frank was in town. I talked to Frank to see if he was interested in Playing Punky. He said OK. Well, I called Punky back up. I said Ocean City Frank will play you some cheap. I new this would get Punky jacked up... He said No No No. If I am gonna ride all the way there he has to bet $1,500.. After some stalling. I finally said Ok. We can post $1,500... Punky came, posted the money, put up a fight, then told Frank good shooting as he left the pool room $1,500 short.
Frank was or is a Tuff old bird.
Plain and Simple. Punky is great action.
I never saw him play, but heard Snooker John from Missouri beat him back in the late 90s in Carl's home room. Now Snooker John can play and was ranked top ten on the McDermott tour, but is not top pro speed. He said he felt they played pretty close to even. So that seems like lower Pro level would describe his speed.
I only have one Punky story--- it was years ago at the Riverside in Lanc, PA. They had just finished a big 8ball barbox event and a bunch of us were just hitting balls and goofing off. It was a big event that had a lot of good players -- Hopkins and Shadow were there as well. Punky forced through the group of players and asked Hop to play for $100/game 9-ball on the barbox and I recall he asked him for the 7 ball (I might be wrong, but it was either the 7 or 8).
Allen agreed - and they went at it for a while. I'm not sure who won, but I recall asking Allen why he agreed to spotting someone like Punky the 7 when he runs out from everywhere. He said the ball doesn't matter on a barbox because he knows both players are expected to run out and he agreed to the game based on who is supposed to run the biggest packages more often.
Anyways, I really liked Punky's style. He seems like a gentleman and he's definitely a sporty player.
Allen agreed - and they went at it for a while. I'm not sure who won, but I recall asking Allen why he agreed to spotting someone like Punky the 7 when he runs out from everywhere. He said the ball doesn't matter on a barbox because he knows both players are expected to run out and he agreed to the game based on who is supposed to run the biggest packages more often.
Anyways, I really liked Punky's style. He seems like a gentleman and he's definitely a sporty player.
i have a punky story too
i was at jack and jills prolly 12 years ago.
everyone thought my road partner denver barger played
2 balls better then me.
so punky asks me for the 7 i come back with ill give you
the 8 ball so we play 7 ahead for 1500 or 2k cant remember for
sure.
i break and run the first 6 the whole time they are asking
my road partner damn you play better then him
so everytime my cue ball would just be a little off he
would say thats why im better my cue ball would be perfect.
and when i didnt break and run the last rack he told them
thats why he is better he would have run the set.
i did win the set fast.
and at that time me and denver played dead even .
"That's why I'm better, my CB would have been perfect." LOL
Punky played in the APA Masters league in Champions in Frederick about a year ago. It was a pleasure to watch him in action.
Supposedly, Punky beat Earl Strickland at an early age in Hagerstown I believe it was for some big money.
Earl's backers got really pissed, so they called up from NC to make another match, only this time they said that Punky had better lose because they had their 'mafia' with them. Punky's backers said to bring it on as they had some heat too. So Earl came back and got beat again. Word was that Punky could really play when their was big money on the line. Having said that, supposedly Punky lost to Larry Nevel who beat him like a drum.
Punky recently told me that he traveled to some place over the Md line in Virginia to play the ghost for $600 a set, and that he usually won. He used to practice playing the ghost in Champions and I saw him beat the ghost in good fashion.
Punky admitted to not having a powerful break - I timed it at 18.5mph. His health is not so great now as it is hard for him to stand up for long periods of time.
Supposedly, Punky beat Earl Strickland at an early age in Hagerstown I believe it was for some big money.
Earl's backers got really pissed, so they called up from NC to make another match, only this time they said that Punky had better lose because they had their 'mafia' with them. Punky's backers said to bring it on as they had some heat too. So Earl came back and got beat again. Word was that Punky could really play when their was big money on the line. Having said that, supposedly Punky lost to Larry Nevel who beat him like a drum.
Punky recently told me that he traveled to some place over the Md line in Virginia to play the ghost for $600 a set, and that he usually won. He used to practice playing the ghost in Champions and I saw him beat the ghost in good fashion.
Punky admitted to not having a powerful break - I timed it at 18.5mph. His health is not so great now as it is hard for him to stand up for long periods of time.
This in no way is ment in disrespect, but if Punky did beat Strickland it wasnt even, he had to atlease be getting the wild 7 or probably more, Thats what Punky needed and got From Vanover.
I believe they were playing one pocket - a whole different game than 9 ball.
which ain't too shabby either- I wish I was able to unshell the pearl with the 7!
Thats why i said no disrespect, You beat the best in the world with just that little spot, you can flat out play, I can say from days gone by that Punky can bet with the best of them and will play anybody with out fear of who they are or what they won and will play his game to the end! Thats the kind of heart Punky carries!
I guess I forgot to mention that these matches took place a long long time ago, when Punky supposedly shot a LOT better than he does now.
Personally, when I saw him shoot for the first time a year ago, I was doubtful too about how good he used to be. But then I heard the Punky stories. What else can I say.
JAM...I believe you're talking about a defibulator. They have portable units today, that are much less expensive than the old machines.
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
I remember a real nice PH in Hagerstown. Why did it close?