smashmouth said:
Here's how I see some of the legendary hustlers,
If you were to take a a really really good pro at any point in history, whose speed is maybe just below the that of world champions,
and this pro, say someone today like a Warren Kiamco, were to focus soley on money matches, nothing else, from the time he was a teen, not only would he trounce everyone opponent he faced (99% of which would not be pros), but would ultimately have a very good shot against world champs in a money match format, more than a good chance in fact
he'd probably earn a hell of a reputation along the way too
now if some tournament great and world champion , say a Ralph Soquet, just won a hard fought championship after travelling halfway across the globe for a mere 20-30k, how eager do you think such a champion would react to risking his winnings against a top player in his own right and world class shark?
I recognize that guys like Freddy and Jay have a few years on me and have seen more than I ever will when it comes to pool matches, so ultimately their opinion on this matter should carry more weight
One thing I've been pretty good at all my life is distinguishing facts from hearsay, and later, through schooling, analyzing people and events in an objective manner
I love stories of men like Willis, they read like great fiction, but more often than not the claims don't hold up. Often times, you can make inferences simply from the sheer audacity of such claims. In Don's case, there isn't a single world champion table tennis player today who could beat any top high school player from a chair, so forget about him beating anyone halfway decent sitting down. One might infer that some of his pool claims were just as bogus.
The legendary Japanese Karate Champ Mas Oyama (google him) is revered to this day, years after many of his claims were proven bogus, actually, Martial Arts is full of characters who have swindled the masses for years with false claims but that's a different matter altogether.
I'm sure Willis was a damn good player, but I've always felt that comparing hustlers with world champs is disrespectful to the champs
end of rant
You make a good point, and it may be true in many cases, such as if you're talking about a player who's Warren's speed. Very good as a money player and dangerous in tournaments too.
But it is the exception that proves the rule. The two exceptions I have seen in my life among gamblers were Don Willis and Jack Cooney. A possible third exception may have been Danny Searcy. These are notable gamblers who may have played a higher speed then the tournament champions. But I'll get back to them.
In fact, it could be argued that the opposite may be true! The very best players may well have been the gamblers. Remember that in Willis' day, the only big tourneys were Straight Pool and they could last for weeks with sparse prize money. Who played in these events? The players under contract to Brunswick and those with regular gainful employment. Expenses must have been high and the exposure would ruin a gamblers career.
What purpose could it possibly serve a pool player trying to make a living to play in one of these Championships, unless he was out for fame and glory? One reason Greenleaf was revered by his peers, was that he would go to the action rooms of his day and seek out the best players. I don't have any memory of hearing similar stories about Mosconi, Caras or Crane. They were tournament champions who got lucrative exhibition contracts and sponsorship.
I would argue that the absolute best pool players in the old days were "hustlers". Greenleaf claimed his toughest opponents were Andrew Ponzi and James Evans, both noteworthy gamblers. Even Lassiter did not take up tournament pool until he was in his late 30's and early 40's. He was doing far better as a gambler. He finally ran out of games. What tournament player of the 50's would have had a chance with John "Rags" Fitzpatrick. Try NONE! Same for Johnny "Irish" Lineen. These were the best players of their time, and the most feared and respected.
There were stories about Cannonball in the 50's going to the "white man's" tourneys and trying to make games. He was even willing to play these champions Straight Pool. And now we come to the case of "Canton" Don Willis. He roamed the country for more than three decades looking for anyone to gamble with him at Pool. Many did, many lost. Did he go to the towns where the tournament champions lived? You bet he did, hoping that he could get them to play. For the most part, they ducked him. They had nothing to gain and everything (reputation) to lose.
In my opinion Jack Cooney was the second best One Pocket of his time. Only Ronnie may have been a favorite over him. We'll never know. Jack was too busy making a much better living than any tournament player. I saw him play in his prime. He wasn't just a good player. He was a great pool player. PERIOD! And he occasionally tangled with other top players if the money was right. Trust me when I tell you that One Pocket was not his only game.
Finally there is Danny Searcy, another legendary folk hero. I personally witnessed him arrive at tournaments on the final day and issue a blanket challenge to all present. And these were 9-Ball players. Men like Sigel, Mizerak, Rempe, Hopkins and Howard. Only crazy ones like Louie Roberts would dare accept his challenge. And Danny shot him down in cold blood. I strongly suspect thet the only tournament player in the 70's who would have a chance gambling with Danny was Buddy. I make that match a toss up.
The same era gave us Greg Stevens, and I didn't hear about many tournament champions seeking him out. And everyone knew where he was and that they could bet sky high with him. So what is my point. I think I would like to show that the great and legendary "pool hustlers" should not be denigrated because they didn't win tournaments. If anything it may well be that the great tournament champions knew that they were overmatched.
To make a comparison from present day Poker. The best players are unquestionably the top gamblers. They absolutely love it when some tournament champion (like Phil Hellmuth) ventures into their game. They usually get eaten alive.
