Raffle to Benefit 'Bugs' Rucker!

1pocket

1pocket

Steve Booth
Silver Member
Chicago bank pool legend Leonard ‘Bugs’ Rucker is really suffering from the advancement of diabetes. He is seriously down, but not out! He reportedly had a leg amputated yesterday.

Let’s show the man some respect and let him know that we care by really getting on board this raffle to raise some money to at least help him with some small comforts. There is only the most minimal public safety net for guys like Bugs as their health declines, yet this man is a genuine legend!

We already have committed donations of:
1. A brand new Sneaky Pete cue stick signed by One Pocket and Bank Pool legends (OnePocket.org)
2. A Bugs Rucker Bank Pool Hall of Fame poster signed by Bugs himself (OnePocket.org)
3. Something from Steve Lomako and The Rack
4. Freddy ‘The Beard’ is donating signed copies of both The Gospool and Banking with the Beard
5. Please consider donating either an item for the raffle, or buying some tickets – this is a real good cause!

I have gone ahead and set up a Paypal link for $10 per ticket raffle tickets – buy as many as you want; every $10 is an extra ticket and extra chance to win! I will also donate the Paypal fees, so 100% of your contribution will go toward Bugs. Our man Freddy Bentivegna has agreed to administer the delivery of these funds, because Bugs doesn’t even have a bank account.

Please chip in and help out any way you can!!!

http://onepocket.org/BugsFundraiser.htm
 
Caring members of the AZ community...

I'm going to be out 'out of the office' most of the day, but please help out with this effort. I'm not going to post my cell phone number on line :) but, I have authorized Grady Mathews, Freddy Bentivegna and Steve Lomako to release it to anyone who has any questions regarding this raffle, or better yet, anyone who wants to talk about helping out in any way!!!

Thanks in advance!!

Our Derby City One Pocket Hall of Fame dinner has sent Bugs nearly $2000 over the last two years -- I know he needs it and appreciates it!

Any chance that AZ would like to 'stick' this, if it is necessary, to keep it high profile?
:) :)
 
Hi there, unfortunately, I am not in a position to donate anything, because of my current financial situation, but I lost my late father to Diabetis, when I was 15, and so, from remembering what my dad went through, I understand what Leonards family is going through.

Please give my sincerest and very best hopes and wishes to Leonard and his family, and I hope that the many good people here on AZB, can help in some way or another.

Willie
 
I will find something pool-related and raffle-worthy to donate to this wonderful endeavor.

I will mail it to the address provided in the above-referenced link! Is there a deadline for receiving the items?

God bless Bugs Rucker!

JAM
 
I'm in for 3. I have his bank tape and immediately connected with him. Very worthy cause. My prayers are with Bugs.
 
That Bugs poster is really, really cool! What a great piece of pool history!

JAM
 
I just bought some raffle tickets, good luck to Bugs. This is the very, very, sad part of being a pool fan, I have seen it several times over the years. Think of the many, many thousands of dollars that have changed hands due to the incredible talent of Mr. Rucker yet at the end of the day there is not much of a retirement or benefits package for pool players.

Good Luck and God Bless
-don
 
You can call me

If you have ideas how you can help further, you can call me at 312 961 8888.
You might never see another champion the likes of the mighty Bugs Rucker. He could play anywhere, on any table, for any bet. He didnt even have his own cue stick. Even if someone gave him one he would usually sell it within a week. He could play with one directly out of the wall racks. He ducked no champions, but many champions ducked him. If you were dumb enough to play him a short set, like 2 out of three for all of it, nobody outside of Cornbread Red and Ronnie Allen could handle that kind of pressure like he could. Let's celebrate him a little while he is still with us.


the Beard
 
freddy the beard said:
If you have ideas how you can help further, you can call me at 312 961 8888.
You might never see another champion the likes of the mighty Bugs Rucker. He could play anywhere, on any table, for any bet. He didnt even have his own cue stick. Even if someone gave him one he would usually sell it within a week. He could play with one directly out of the wall racks. He ducked no champions, but many champions ducked him. If you were dumb enough to play him a short set, like 2 out of three for all of it, nobody outside of Cornbread Red and Ronnie Allen could handle that kind of pressure like he could. Let's celebrate him a little while he is still with us.


the Beard
Click to expand...

You said a lot in a few words there my friend. Not too many came down the pike like him. In fact, none that I know of. Even Ronnie or Red had to have their own cue in their hand when betting high.
 
freddy the beard said:
If you have ideas how you can help further, you can call me at 312 961 8888.
You might never see another champion the likes of the mighty Bugs Rucker. He could play anywhere, on any table, for any bet. He didnt even have his own cue stick. Even if someone gave him one he would usually sell it within a week. He could play with one directly out of the wall racks. He ducked no champions, but many champions ducked him. If you were dumb enough to play him a short set, like 2 out of three for all of it, nobody outside of Cornbread Red and Ronnie Allen could handle that kind of pressure like he could. Let's celebrate him a little while he is still with us.


the Beard
Click to expand...

Tap Tap Tap, very well said and very true too :)

Willie
 
TheWizard said:
Hi there, unfortunately, I am not in a position to donate anything, because of my current financial situation, but I lost my late father to Diabetis, when I was 15, and so, from remembering what my dad went through, I understand what Leonards family is going through.

Please give my sincerest and very best hopes and wishes to Leonard and his family, and I hope that the many good people here on AZB, can help in some way or another.

Willie
Click to expand...
Thank you for your words of support. The ravages of Diabetes have taken a number of pool legends over the years -- especially the after-hours guys that tend to not get the ongoing treatment that they would need to hold off the progression of the disease.

Please do what you can to 'talk up' the cause; that would be a big contribution too!!
 
longhair said:
I'd like to send a check. To whom should I write the check?
Click to expand...
You can mail a check to:
OnePocket.org
56 Baptist Road
Canterbury, NH 03224

Just mention 'Bugs' raffle

Thanks for your support!!
 
1pocket said:
You can mail a check to:
OnePocket.org
56 Baptist Road
Canterbury, NH 03224

Just mention 'Bugs' raffle

Thanks for your support!!
Click to expand...
It's in the mail. Thank you for doing this for Bugs. I only got the chance to see him play one time, late in his career. Although he didn't play as well as he once did, he still stepped to the table like he was the king and the balls were his subjects. I'll never forget it.
 
Hey Steve

I had the pleasure of playing Bugs at the LA Open in 1993. Believe it or not, it is on You Tube. Julian(?) who used to film a lot of the pool matches captured it all!!

I was then, and now, strictly a recreational player - so it was fun. I think Bugs had more fun than I did!

Please find a check in the mail for $250.00 from the BCA Pool League. I know we contributed to the fund raiser at Red Shoes a couple of years ago - and wish other billiard entities would get a little more involved. If we get lucky enough to win one of raffled items, that is just a bonus.

These guys are treasures. Just means that somebody has got to get it together and write some books on the storeis of these road warriors. (Jay, Freddie, Grady?????)

Good Luck to all,

Mark Griffin
BCA Pool League
702-719-7665
 
Who do we pay if we use paypal, and when is the date of the raffle? Thanks and I wish Bugs the best...
 
poolandpokerman said:
Who do we pay if we use paypal, and when is the date of the raffle? Thanks and I wish Bugs the best...
Click to expand...
Here is the Raffle Paypal link again:

http://onepocket.org/BugsFundraiser.htm

Haven't picked an exact date yet, but I'm thinking the first drawing would be within two weeks. That gives those who are writing checks time to get them in the mail, and time for plenty of online attention (during this vacation season)...

We may have additional drawings after that for more items, if items continue to come in for this. The sad truth is, this kind of thing is going to keep coming up -- not just for Bugs, but for other guys, too. Many of these guys that relied on pool action all their lives lack the retirement safety net many of us enjoy, so the more their health declines the more uncomfortable their situation becomes.
 
Mark Griffin said:
I had the pleasure of playing Bugs at the LA Open in 1993. Believe it or not, it is on You Tube. Julian(?) who used to film a lot of the pool matches captured it all!!

I was then, and now, strictly a recreational player - so it was fun. I think Bugs had more fun than I did!

Please find a check in the mail for $250.00 from the BCA Pool League. I know we contributed to the fund raiser at Red Shoes a couple of years ago - and wish other billiard entities would get a little more involved. If we get lucky enough to win one of raffled items, that is just a bonus.

These guys are treasures. Just means that somebody has got to get it together and write some books on the storeis of these road warriors. (Jay, Freddie, Grady?????)
Good Luck to all,

Mark Griffin
BCA Pool League
702-719-7665
Click to expand...
Wow, thank you, thank you, thank you, Mark!!!
 
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