Ronnie Allen: stories about Harold Worst

Thanks for sharing. I would like to learn more about him, I think Freddy the Beard talks about him in some of his books too.
 
I listened to one hour of the RA interview and wanted to find out more about this colorful character so I looked him up in wikipedia.

There's no entry for Ronald (Ronnie) Allen, pool player (there are many RAs for soccer player, playwright, lawyer, etc).

I'm new to pool and just finding out about the history. Someone more knowledgeable should write up a brief of RA's history for wikipedia.
 
bdorman said:
I listened to one hour of the RA interview and wanted to find out more about this colorful character so I looked him up in wikipedia.

There's no entry for Ronald (Ronnie) Allen, pool player (there are many RAs for soccer player, playwright, lawyer, etc).

I'm new to pool and just finding out about the history. Someone more knowledgeable should write up a brief of RA's history for wikipedia.
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Ronnie "Fast Eddie' Allen Wiki Article.
 
wow

Man, I didn't even know about Harold Worst....I just heard his name mentioned as one of the good players in the past; but after this testimonial by Ronnie
Allen, I am in awe of how good he must've been.............!
 
We dont get to see harold do anything cue ball comes in to make the hung nine and then overhead view of nine on the break no idea of harold other than he was a rightie. Where is the video of the first fourteen games. Our loss for now. Rip mr worst i hear u were the best wish i could see more of your game.
 
CJ Wiley said:
That was an interesting video. Does anyone really think he could have beat Earl, Buddy or Efren though? Honestly?
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Yes he could have. He was like Efren, able to raise his game to whatever level he needed to win. You have no idea! He was a man's man, respected by all, tourney players and hustlers alike. Kind of like Greenleaf in that respect.

Harold won the World Three Cushion championship at 24, traveling to hostile territory in South America and beating their hero Juan Navarro to win it. The crowd was all pulling against him and yelling for him to miss. Makes the Mosconi Cup seem like child's play. He needed a police escort to get out alive.

On the tables of that era, he was the best. Ask Buddy, he saw him play. Earl would have had a meltdown playing him. Efren would have been a good game for Harold but damned sure no lock. Harold was stronger mentally! And you know what I mean string bean!
 
CJ Wiley said:
That was an interesting video. Does anyone really think he could have beat Earl, Buddy or Efren though? Honestly?
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If you ask me whether I think Harold Worst played as good fifty years ago as players play today, I would say no. But I don't think that's the same question as whether Harold Worst could beat Earl, Buddy, or Efren.

Given Worst's actual accomplishments (world 3-cushion champion, 1965 Johnston City 9-ball, straight pool, and all-around champion, snooker champion, and swept the Stardust championships) in his extremely brief pool career, and what everyone who actually saw him play has said about his abilities (including the excerpt we just heard from Ronnie Allen), I believe that Worst definitely possessed the talent and intelligence to develop the extra skills that today's best players have and that he was capable of beating the likes of Earl, Buddy, or Efren (I'm not saying he'd be the favorite, but he could compete as an equal with any of those guys).

I think Worst would be among the elite players of the world in any era in which he lived, and that in the history of the game I could count on one hand the players I would say would be Worst's equal as an all-around player.
 
I"m joking of course.

jay helfert said:
Yes he could have. He was like Efren, able to raise his game to whatever level he needed to win. You have no idea! He was a man's man, respected by all, tourney players and hustlers alike. Kind of like Greenleaf in that respect.

Harold won the World Three Cushion championship at 24, traveling to hostile territory in South America and beating their hero Juan Navarro to win it. The crowd was all pulling against him and yelling for him to miss. Makes the Mosconi Cup seem like child's play. He needed a police escort to get out alive.

On the tables of that era, he was the best. Ask Buddy, he saw him play. Earl would have had a meltdown playing him. Efren would have been a good game for Harold but damned sure no lock. Harold was stronger mentally! And you know what I mean string bean!
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Yeah, I've heard his name many times, it's just amazing the think he was that far beyond his time. I did notice (watch very close) he used inside on his shots...hmmm.....I"m joking of course. ;) ...or am I? 'The Game is the Teacher'
 
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Grady Mathews told me when I asked about him that Harold woofed regularly at Luther Lassiter back in the day. He was in a unique spot.

Lassiter thought his homeboy Don Willis was the best player for the cash. It was a known fact Harold drilled Willis for the cash at least once.

Hence,Lassiter never got down with Harold,but only because of a respect thing is the way Grady explained it.

Grady added that he was also a great tournament player,and maybe his best talent was his ability to rise to the occasion based on pure guts,determination,and even intimidation.

He was barred out of the 9 ball ring games in Johnston City,and used to give 10-1 odds on him running 100 in 14.1 as a proposition bet.

Harold's overall demeanor when the pressure was at it's peak,was so steely-eyed that according to Grady,and written about by George Fels,that he caused 2 opponents to die of heart attacks while gambling within a week of each other.

That's a hell of a man in my book. Tommy D.
 
Tommy-D said:
Grady Mathews told me when I asked about him that Harold woofed regularly at Luther Lassiter back in the day. He was in a unique spot.

Lassiter thought his homeboy Don Willis was the best player for the cash. It was a known fact Harold drilled Willis for the cash at least once.

Hence,Lassiter never got down with Harold,but only because of a respect thing is the way Grady explained it.

Grady added that he was also a great tournament player,and maybe his best talent was his ability to rise to the occasion based on pure guts,determination,and even intimidation.

He was barred out of the 9 ball ring games in Johnston City,and used to give 10-1 odds on him running 100 in 14.1 as a proposition bet.

Harold's overall demeanor when the pressure was at it's peak,was so steely-eyed that according to Grady,and written about by George Fels,that he caused 2 opponents to die of heart attacks while gambling within a week of each other.

That's a hell of a man in my book. Tommy D.
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That's funny, he was so intimidating he gave people heat attacks? That's saying something, is there any more films of him playing?
 
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