Stories behind nicknames

HitHrdNDraw

HitHrdNDraw

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I just read a portion of Danny Diliberto's book "the road player" (which is excellent in my opinion) and he talks in one section about the tuscaloosa squirrel, marshall carpenter. They called him the squirrel because you couldn't see the whites of his eyes, only brown, like a squirrel. Does anyone else know any stories behind nickenames of great players?
 
"Pretty Boy Floyd"

Jimmy Mataya is known as "Pretty Boy Floyd". According to him, for some
reason or another, pool and gambling has always been thought of as having a
connection to gangsters. When he was traveling with "Fats", sometimes "Fats"
would introduce him as his protege "Pretty Boy Floyd".
 
I love that book, I plan to read it for a third time here shortly.

I've wondered about a couple nicknames too, the only one I've thought up a theory for is johny archer. Does anyone know why they call him the scorpion? At first I thought maybe becuase he was from the south but lately I've been wondering if he got called that becuase of the way he makes his open bridge (ring and middle finger tucked under his hand; which is now fairly common, I even favor it myself, but I didn't know if maybe he was one of the first pro's to do this) becuase it resembles a scorpion from the front.
 
I thought he was sponsored by Scorpion Cues

I thought he was sponsored by Scorpion Cues.
 
I had assumed that he had a part in starting scorpion cues and named it after his famous nickname, I might be (and probably am) way off on this; just a theory.
 
I believe he has a lucky scorpion necklace. Also, Scorpion Cues were named after him, BTW.
 
The Monk

Someone will have to verify this one but I heard that Warren "the Monk" Costanzo was so named because, as a stunt, he dressed up as a monk and went to the various pool venues around Las Vegas and challenged anyone to matchup. At the time, Warren was an unknown top-flight player. The story is that he mowed down everyone he met up with, including his final opponent, a guy named Mike Sigel.

An interesting story, for sure, but I have not had anyone confirm this. Maybe someone here knows the truth.
 
despotic931 said:
I believe he has a lucky scorpion necklace. Also, Scorpion Cues were named after him, BTW.
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Everything Scorpion came ''after" the cue maker sponsored him. NIC-NAME AFTER THE CUE NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. GOT THE NECKLACE AFTER THE CUE, ETC. Sorry to burst your bubble but that's that way it is.
 
ginsu said:
Everything Scorpion came ''after" the cue maker sponsored him. NIC-NAME AFTER THE CUE NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. GOT THE NECKLACE AFTER THE CUE, ETC. Sorry to burst your bubble but that's that way it is.
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I seem to remember him wearing the scorpian necklace in the early 90's when he was sponsored by schon.
I think I have a old accu-stats tape of him in the Reno open with it and also when he lost to Tommy Kennedy in the US Open the year Kennedy won it.
 
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the shyte

:cool: every player that has a fan following should carry a nickname.only out of positivity should the name stick to the individual.my name is showtime in canada and it has suited me.
 
Monk from Philly

8ballEinstein said:
Someone will have to verify this one but I heard that Warren "the Monk" Costanzo was so named because, as a stunt, he dressed up as a monk and went to the various pool venues around Las Vegas and challenged anyone to matchup. At the time, Warren was an unknown top-flight player. The story is that he mowed down everyone he met up with, including his final opponent, a guy named Mike Sigel.

An interesting story, for sure, but I have not had anyone confirm this. Maybe someone here knows the truth.
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Monk stayed with me in Ft Laudale FL in 1962. His nickname at that time was Monk. The Vegas story is fiction.
the Beard
 
The Monk

I feel certain Warren got his nickname simply because he LOOKS like a monk. The guy is right out of "Robin Hood". If they wanted a guy from central casting for a TV commercial, they could put a friar's robe on Warren, and start shooting without any further touch-up.

Doc
 
justnick said:
I seem to remember him wearing the scorpian necklace in the early 90's when he was sponsored by schon.
I think I have a old accu-stats tape of him in the Reno open with it and also when he lost to Tommy Kennedy in the US Open the year Kennedy won it.
Click to expand...

Archer wore the scorpion in 1990 in the finals of the US Open. He was runnerup to Nick V. of course. Grady and Vickie Frechen talked about it in the match when Johnny beat Nick earlier in that tournament. Now that I think about it, Vickie had just married and was then called Vickie Paski. She talked about the scorpion and the fact that it was Johnny's lucky charm......
 
JimmyB500 said:
Archer wore the scorpion in 1990 in the finals of the US Open. He was runnerup to Nick V. of course. Grady and Vickie Frechen talked about it in the match when Johnny beat Nick earlier in that tournament. Now that I think about it, Vickie had just married and was then called Vickie Paski. She talked about the scorpion and the fact that it was Johnny's lucky charm......
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Thanks for the conformation .:)

I remember someone saying how could he play with it on,it would brush up against his cue at times
I knew it was way before his cue line came out.
 
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