I just came across this site on google where a guy named Rod Curry claims to have beaten just about every big gun ever since the late 50s including willie mosconi here is the link http://konnections.net/rodcurry/Pool Players Rod has beaten short.htm . Now he does say its on a bar table which everybody knows is a great equalizer but some of these big guns he even claims refused to play him such as Boston shorty, Buddy Hall, Eddie Kelly, Jersey red, Jimmie Reid, Mike sigel, Luther Lassiter and many more. Im not familiar with this Rod guy but hes making some pretty bold statements i was curious if there could be any truth to these? is he really THAT good or used to be anyway? And if so why isnt he as famous as these guys?
surfer rod curry?
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Surfer Rod
I retired from hustling pool in 1983. I had no retirement plan. I may hustle 6 months on a bar table without losing and then lose it all in one night. When I got married, I would mail my winnings to a Denver Bank. I figured if and when I got into the big pool tournaments, I could not get as much action as I did when I hustled that town by looking for money pool games on the bar table. While a profession pool hustler, I'd plan a route such that it took me 4 years to get back to the same town. I use to say I've played in every city (5 times) except for the extreme northeast. They would only gamble (cheap) on straight pool. It took to long to win compared to 8-ball on the bar table. On the latter, I could play 12 games per hour--and played faster at closing time. And when I did get those big tournaments in the late 70's early 80's, I had trouble getting action on my route since the locals go to Vegas as "sweaters" all the time. So I could not get as many games because I was more well know and now no-one would play. I'm retired now but come out of retirement one every 4 years when a road player comes to give me one ball and the break playing last pocket 8-ball. Meanwhile, I hardly play and I've lost to most of the road players when they played me but I never gave up physically and made major comebacks before my opponents quit (winner). After being stuck for 2 weeks, I doubled the bet and won the last 16 games in a row to get 2/3rds of my money back before my opponents' backer said, "I quit." I never learned how to say that. It's all or nothing every time. Meanwhile, the champions are not betting their own money, are practiced up and should have no pressure. When I got older, I had to rely on Crown Royal to keep from "dogging" my stroke under severe pressure (betting my own money and I'm "out of stroke.")
I retired from hustling pool in 1983. I had no retirement plan. I may hustle 6 months on a bar table without losing and then lose it all in one night. When I got married, I would mail my winnings to a Denver Bank. I figured if and when I got into the big pool tournaments, I could not get as much action as I did when I hustled that town by looking for money pool games on the bar table. While a profession pool hustler, I'd plan a route such that it took me 4 years to get back to the same town. I use to say I've played in every city (5 times) except for the extreme northeast. They would only gamble (cheap) on straight pool. It took to long to win compared to 8-ball on the bar table. On the latter, I could play 12 games per hour--and played faster at closing time. And when I did get those big tournaments in the late 70's early 80's, I had trouble getting action on my route since the locals go to Vegas as "sweaters" all the time. So I could not get as many games because I was more well know and now no-one would play. I'm retired now but come out of retirement one every 4 years when a road player comes to give me one ball and the break playing last pocket 8-ball. Meanwhile, I hardly play and I've lost to most of the road players when they played me but I never gave up physically and made major comebacks before my opponents quit (winner). After being stuck for 2 weeks, I doubled the bet and won the last 16 games in a row to get 2/3rds of my money back before my opponents' backer said, "I quit." I never learned how to say that. It's all or nothing every time. Meanwhile, the champions are not betting their own money, are practiced up and should have no pressure. When I got older, I had to rely on Crown Royal to keep from "dogging" my stroke under severe pressure (betting my own money and I'm "out of stroke.")
Rod was well known by anyone in those days. he was good action, tough action, and honest action. he simply bet high and played hard.
he did some magical things with the big ball on the bar table that eft champions with their mouths open. When he came to Denver back in the 70's and 80's we kenew things were going to happen.
When he and Allen Hopkins polayed last pockt 8 ball on the BB in Vegas at the the Serene Room for $1000 per game, it was one of the most entertaining matches I ever saw. hopkins go out like Houdini that night and from everywhere. i'll let Rod tell the results of that match if he wants.
In case you are wonering who I am, I am Butch and was there with Al Hogue, now deceased!
Are there any videos on the internet of Surfer Rod playing?
AZB is an amazing place.
Serene Room
Rod also had a legendary matchup with Keith McCready in the Serene Room. From what I was told, it was for a good chunk of money and the place was standing room only. I was at the other end of town and missed it. I thnk they ended up even. Someone here will know.
Rod also had a legendary matchup with Keith McCready in the Serene Room. From what I was told, it was for a good chunk of money and the place was standing room only. I was at the other end of town and missed it. I thnk they ended up even. Someone here will know.
Sounds like he played jam up. But could he surf?
And if he did,how do you gamble on surfing?
Wait I know "We keep surfing until one of us gets eaten by a shark,but you got to post first"
And if he did,how do you gamble on surfing?
Wait I know "We keep surfing until one of us gets eaten by a shark,but you got to post first"
Surfer Rod
Rod came through Alaska around 1971 or 72.
I remember him playing Bill Amadeo straight pool.
Bill used 2-1/4" and Rod used big ball. (They had to switch cue ball every shot).
I think that was the only time he made it up there.
He played pretty sporty and had no fear - I don't think he got a LOT of action.
Back in those days, quite a few players came through Anchorage and maybe Fairbanks.
Lots of money floating around because of the Alyeska pPpleine being built.
The table they played on was a 9' centennial that had been in Alaska since new. It eventually ended up being in Hot Rods Night Club in Anchorage in 1991-2.
The table ended up at Gaslamp Billiards when we took it over in 1996.
Was sold to AAA Billiards (I think) from LA around 2004.
Mark Griffin
Rod came through Alaska around 1971 or 72.
I remember him playing Bill Amadeo straight pool.
Bill used 2-1/4" and Rod used big ball. (They had to switch cue ball every shot).
I think that was the only time he made it up there.
He played pretty sporty and had no fear - I don't think he got a LOT of action.
Back in those days, quite a few players came through Anchorage and maybe Fairbanks.
Lots of money floating around because of the Alyeska pPpleine being built.
The table they played on was a 9' centennial that had been in Alaska since new. It eventually ended up being in Hot Rods Night Club in Anchorage in 1991-2.
The table ended up at Gaslamp Billiards when we took it over in 1996.
Was sold to AAA Billiards (I think) from LA around 2004.
Mark Griffin
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Very cool thread!
Thanks for the great stories, this place is amazing! -Josh
Thanks for the great stories, this place is amazing! -Josh
My favorite post in that thread.....
http://forums.azbilliards.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=2796479
To many he is as famous. Rod just had a different style and went after some different clientele. He could walk into a town and have people betting $50 that never bet $5 their whole lives.
That's not to say he wouldn't pony up and play he drove many champs nuts with things he would do with the big ball. he would double kiss balls in and stickh whitey where it looked impossible. I have seen many scratching their heads.
Rod was no sissy either and feared no cowboy joint. That made me nervous.
Hey Rod,
I think you were in Dallas, at Cotton Bowling Palace, back in the mid 1960s. I seem to recall you getting into a physical altercation with a local tush hog named Vernon Litton. Vernon died last year at age 82. Just wondering if you recall the incident. Here's a pic of Vernon with one of his pit bulls.
I think you were in Dallas, at Cotton Bowling Palace, back in the mid 1960s. I seem to recall you getting into a physical altercation with a local tush hog named Vernon Litton. Vernon died last year at age 82. Just wondering if you recall the incident. Here's a pic of Vernon with one of his pit bulls.
Rod's the real deal is all I have to say. He gambled high with everyone and anyone, and he would play on a big table too. All the top players went after Rod, because as Freddie would say, he was a "thru ticket." Meaning he would play right down to his last dollar if you could beat him. That said Rod wore out more then a few champions playing his road game, Last Pocket Eight Ball. It took a Hopkins speed player to beat him at that game.
I first met Rod in Dayton back in the 60's. He cruised into town in his '52 Chevy and came right into the kids hang out on Salem Ave., where all us young guns were still learning the game. I was one of the better players in that room and ended up playing this muscly young man some $2 9-Ball. After I lost $10 I pulled up. I could see I was in over my head.
Rod matched up with a local bar table champ we called Sarge that night for ten a game, a pretty good game back then. By the time I got there it was all over. Rod had gone through Sarge pretty quickly and he pulled up too. Rod didn't let any grass grow under his feet either. When the game was over he hopped in his car and headed for the next town. I guess you could say he was a road man's "road man!"
I first met Rod in Dayton back in the 60's. He cruised into town in his '52 Chevy and came right into the kids hang out on Salem Ave., where all us young guns were still learning the game. I was one of the better players in that room and ended up playing this muscly young man some $2 9-Ball. After I lost $10 I pulled up. I could see I was in over my head.
Rod matched up with a local bar table champ we called Sarge that night for ten a game, a pretty good game back then. By the time I got there it was all over. Rod had gone through Sarge pretty quickly and he pulled up too. Rod didn't let any grass grow under his feet either. When the game was over he hopped in his car and headed for the next town. I guess you could say he was a road man's "road man!"
Around 1970 or 72, me and Sugar Shack Johnny arrived in Oklahoma City and went around hustling. Surfer Rod had been thru there. He had long hair a beard, wore a robe and sandals. They called him, "Jesus." He was hustling all by himself and going into joints where most of the people were wearing crew cuts --and were certainly not Hippie friendly. Scary, scary joints. Everybody carried a gun. It was legal to do so. I only went in them myself because I was with the lunatic Sugar Shack.
The word was that Rod was given a hard time in a few of those joints but he wouldnt back down to nobody.
Beard
Here is a old post I found that I had made about Rod a few years ago:
I ran into him all over the country. He was not afraid to play in brutally dangerous "heat-spots." In the early 70s I ran into him in OK City playing for big money in a super-country, heat-spot with long hair, a beard, a robe and sandals. Long hair and hippie types were at risk for their life in these type joints. I, myself, had no beard, short hair, and was traveling with the famous tush-hog Sugar Shack. That was minimum protection for me to play in that joint.
Rod was all by his lonesome. They called him "Pool Playin' Jesus." I heard a few stories of him refusing to give up the money when he got threatened in those kind of joints.
The word was that Rod was given a hard time in a few of those joints but he wouldnt back down to nobody.
Beard
Here is a old post I found that I had made about Rod a few years ago:
I ran into him all over the country. He was not afraid to play in brutally dangerous "heat-spots." In the early 70s I ran into him in OK City playing for big money in a super-country, heat-spot with long hair, a beard, a robe and sandals. Long hair and hippie types were at risk for their life in these type joints. I, myself, had no beard, short hair, and was traveling with the famous tush-hog Sugar Shack. That was minimum protection for me to play in that joint.
Rod was all by his lonesome. They called him "Pool Playin' Jesus." I heard a few stories of him refusing to give up the money when he got threatened in those kind of joints.
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I LMAO when I read this. We sent him to a pretty rough joint out in South Denver near the Horse Track. He wore those wife beater shirts and had that long pony tail.
Around 5 pm on a Friday he had them all betting something and we got called. When we got there Rod had ripped his shirt off and was standing in the middle of the table and barking.
He would stand his ground with anyone, but I never saw him start anything with anyone. He was actually a pleasant guy to be around. I would rather slap a Mack Truck than Rod though.
when did you try to match up with wimpy,and what was his reason for not wanting to play you? im asking this because im from wimpys hometown,and he's a legend in these parts as well as the norfolk va area. this would be the first i've ever heard of him backing down from someone
i am sure it was a matter of lassiter not agreeing to a set of conditions- bar table or big ball would be my guess- not an admission that he was inferior.
As great as he was, he still needed to keep his pool smarts about him...occasionally.
I just read rod was born/ raised in front royal, va.
Backcountry today. Woulda been middle of nowhere back then
Backcountry today. Woulda been middle of nowhere back then