The dissappearing Road Player!! LOL

[Keith McCready]

Most of these stories bring back al lot of memories, some good and some bad, I'm glad I went through it but if I had the chance to go back and do it again, I wouldn't. As good as the times were I still feel that I lost a part of my life on the road. JohnnyT did it the right way. He knew when to move on. A smart man.

Is that you, Frank? Long time no see or hear. How are things going? You still living in the Valley? I see you're still playing pool. I sort of miss all them good old days with you and Hollywood Jeff. I miss playing you both. You and Jeff were the Valley Boys.

I think you and I started matching up when I was like 17 or 18, maybe even younger. I'm 51 now. How time flies.

As far as the disappearing road player, I'm still here, but the road players of today are not quite the same as those that were around in the '70s. That is not to say today's pool players on the road can't play good, but they're just a little bit more careful about who they play.

Back in Frank and my heyday, you'd walk in and say, "You want to play some?" Then it was flip it up and let the games begin. It was automatic, you would play 7 or 8 ahead, and somebody would lose two to three sets, no matter what happened. Then after it was over, they'd make an appointment to play some more.

Not in this day and age. Nowadays, if they get one set loser, they're looking for a respirator, and if they lose two sets, they need serious oxygen. Three sets is unheard of.

 

[Pushout]

As far as the disappearing road player, I'm still here, but the road players of today are not quite the same as those that were around in the '70s. That is not to say today's pool players on the road can't play good, but they're just a little bit more careful about who they play.

Back in Frank and my heyday, you'd walk in and say, "You want to play some?" Then it was flip it up and let the games begin. It was automatic, you would play 7 or 8 ahead, and somebody would lose two to three sets, no matter what happened. Then after it was over, they'd make an appointment to play some more.

Not in this day and age. Nowadays, if they get one set loser, they're looking for a respirator, and if they lose two sets, they need serious oxygen. Three sets is unheard of.

I was wondering when you were gonna chime in , Keith!! Knew you would, eventually.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Is that you, Frank? Long time no see or hear. How are things going? You still living in the Valley? I see you're still playing pool. I sort of miss all them good old days with you and Hollywood Jeff. I miss playing you both. You and Jeff were the Valley Boys.

I think you and I started matching up when I was like 17 or 18, maybe even younger. I'm 51 now. How time flies.

As far as the disappearing road player, I'm still here, but the road players of today are not quite the same as those that were around in the '70s. That is not to say today's pool players on the road can't play good, but they're just a little bit more careful about who they play.

Back in Frank and my heyday, you'd walk in and say, "You want to play some?" Then it was flip it up and let the games begin. It was automatic, you would play 7 or 8 ahead, and somebody would lose two to three sets, no matter what happened. Then after it was over, they'd make an appointment to play some more.

Not in this day and age. Nowadays, if they get one set loser, they're looking for a respirator, and if they lose two sets, they need serious oxygen. Three sets is unheard of.

Keith....

What was your biggest score while on the road (no tourneys... just cash-games) where you actually got paid? What did you play, who did you play and what was the spot?

Dave

 

[Keith McCready]

Keith....

What was your biggest score while on the road (no tourneys... just cash-games) where you actually got paid? What did you play, who did you play and what was the spot?

Dave

Probably the biggest score I made was playing a guy named Rosey in Vegas. I beat him out of about 360 thousand clams playing one-pocket and 9-ball. After the one-pocket set, we played 9-ball, and I gave him the 5-out and the break, race to 11 for 100,000. The score was 11 to 3. I was getting staked, and so I did not pocket all 360 thousand clams.

One of my most memorable road scores was in Dothan. There was a tournament going on, but after the matches were over, I proceeded to start gambling with a guy named Harley Bryant. I was playing him 9-ball on a bar table, giving him the 6, and the guy never missed. But I got the money, 21 dimes.

I've made a lot of 20,000 scores, but in order to win that big money, you gotta take the worst of it and outrun the nuts. Ain't nobody gonna give you that kind of dough, especially during those days.

I've made a lot of good scores shooting craps, 50 and 60,000, but as you know with dice, you can lose a lot or make a lot. We win over 100,000 in Atlantic City shooting dice, me and Harry Platis, but I never could win that kind of money on my own money shooting dice because it never would let me. I'm a good dice man, if you're ever needing one next time you're at the craps table.

I've always liked being on the road. The road separates the men from the boys. It will always make you a better player to go on the road, to all the different pool rooms, and play others. You learn from your mistakes and gel when it's time to win.

 

[dabarbr]

Is that you, Frank? Long time no see or hear. How are things going? You still living in the Valley? I see you're still playing pool. I sort of miss all them good old days with you and Hollywood Jeff. I miss playing you both. You and Jeff were the Valley Boys.

I think you and I started matching up when I was like 17 or 18, maybe even younger. I'm 51 now. How time flies.

As far as the disappearing road player, I'm still here, but the road players of today are not quite the same as those that were around in the '70s. That is not to say today's pool players on the road can't play good, but they're just a little bit more careful about who they play.

Back in Frank and my heyday, you'd walk in and say, "You want to play some?" Then it was flip it up and let the games begin. It was automatic, you would play 7 or 8 ahead, and somebody would lose two to three sets, no matter what happened. Then after it was over, they'd make an appointment to play some more.

Not in this day and age. Nowadays, if they get one set loser, they're looking for a respirator, and if they lose two sets, they need serious oxygen. Three sets is unheard of.

Yes It's me. I always enjoyed playing you and Cole. Good old days. I enjoyed playin you until you got be too much to handle. I'm 68 now and still playing. Let me know if you ever decide to visit this area. I did see you in Vegas a couple of years ago and you introduced me to your lady. Seems like a good woman. Tell Jam hello for me.

P.S. The first time I saw you I think you were 15 years old. I had just beat Waterdog. Your buddies were having a hard holding you back. Telling you that you weren't ready for me yet. Gutsy little guy you were. Little did I knew then that soon you would be "El Diablo"

 

[Fuji-whopper]

Dave Hemmah, Tang Hoa and I drive from Los Angeles to Fort Lauterdale to attend the first Billiard Channel tour stop in 2000. We took about 3 weeks traveling having a good time and playing a little pool along the way, when we arrive guess who I draw in the first round? My buddy Dave.

2400 miles across the nation in the same car going to a single elimination tournament with a $500 entry fee (I think) and in the 1st round of the 1st tournament we draw each other. Awesome.

 

[Fatboy]

I will lay 10 to 1 that JAM did the typing for Keith.

Its awalys good to hear from Keith, he is the defination of a road player-all the others need to take notes.

Also the road is different now, there is no "live areas" because the internet dimes everyone out, its impossible to fly under the radar, everybody knows anybodys game or has an idea of how guys play so they are more careful as Keith said. Long gone are the days of comming into a town and testing the waters.


Too much information has awalys knocked action, now days you cant pin it on anyone its just the way things will be moving foward, the trick now is how to work that to your advantage, and I cant answere that, It favors the weaker players who dont get the attention.

 

[Johnnyt]

Anyone that reads the main forum of AZ Billiards and still gets themselves hustled needs to take a course in understanding what they read. Johnnyt

 

[JAM]

I will lay 10 to 1 that JAM did the typing for Keith.

You just might be right, but then again, you just might be wrong. You wanna post something? [PUN INTENDED] :thumbup:

I've been accused of a lot on this forum in recent times, not all good, Eric. But I don't post on Keith's behalf, just to set the record straight. :smile:

Its awalys good to hear from Keith, he is the defination of a road player-all the others need to take notes....

When you read Keith's story, you'll understand better what a road player is, Eric. Road players are considered "degenerate gamblers," as has been written on this forum by some of the American pool culture. Everyone is definitely entitled to their opinions.

There are some who don't think road players are the scum of the earth. When there is a live challenge match on the Internet, some folks enjoy watching it live, i.e., the gambling, the whoofing, the barking, and all of the associated traits of the road player or action man or gambler, however you want to define it. Dance, monkey, dance.

However, the life of an American road player in the '70s and '80s was when pool shined ever so brightly in the United States. Though it was still tough to make a profit in pool, the gambling is where it was at. The tournament venues were gathering places for many an action man. Today, most American champion-caliber players are tournament soldiers. Times have changed, and the road players, the REAL road player is a dying breed. Yet, there are some who still enjoy seeing those monkeys dance, and after the show, they rip them apart as if they're trash.

AND I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The existing lot of American professional players is dwindling. Soon there will be no pool in the States, as those spirits who desire to soar will have to go overseas to pursue their pool dreams. Pool as some of us knew it is dying a slow death. The recent news about the BCA organization canceling their events due to financial difficulties, as well as the news that there will not be a WPC 9-ball championship in 2008, is a sign of the times up ahead.

Pool will never rise in popularity today in America, no matter how much money is thrown at it. Nobody gives a damn anymore in the United States, except the majority of us writing on this forum, sad to say. No matter how many players you bring together in one venue site and no matter how much money is paid out in the tournament on American soil -- a la Kevin Trudeau's IPT multi-million-dollar payouts and HIGH-CLASS venues with green rooms and all the works -- pool will be no different in some eyes than a back-yard croquet game.

BTW, with your sore back, if I'm ever in your presence, which doesn't look likely considering I am on the East Coast, hate Las Vegas, and refuse to fly on an airplane, I would be happy to type your posts for you. At 150 WPM, it won't take long! I can at least promise you that they will be 99.9-percent spelled and punctuated correctly!

JAM

 

[JimS]

Missed JAM's posts lately. Good to see one again.

 

[chefjeff]

If that's the case, I have to visit the safety deposit box. I have 4,000 gallons of gasoline sitting in the box.
JoeyA

NOT NOW!

Wait...metals are on sale right now...this is the time to buy, imho.

Jeff Livingston

 

[punter]

Three of us were headed to a tournament in Tyler Texas and were in on everything together but one friend had twice as much money as us. On the way, we stopped in Shreveport to gamble at Pockets. As we're walking into pockets, we see a thug in a cadillac but we were in such a hurry to gamble we didn't think anything about it. About 5 minutes later, a cop comes in and asks who's driving our car. The thug crammed a screwdriver through the ignition and was almost gone when the cops saw him. They chased him and he pulled a pistol out on the cops but they were able to get control of him before he could fire. He had 2 pistols on him(one ours), fake crack and his gun had three fired bullets in the revolver. We had to go to the police station for some reason and the cops had beat the shit out of the kid and told us they gave him some "police assistance" for pulling a gun on them lol...

This didn't stop us, we went back to Pockets and won about 3 different games before running into Jimmy Sanders. One of the guys with me kept saying he couldn't make a ball, he was just getting lucky making all them combos and cheeses. I finally pull up and find out who he is and we head to Tyler with a steering wheel that now turns with the steering column and all in about a 2 foot circle and a garbage bag over the broke window in the middle of winter. We get to the tournament in Tyler, don't cash and go completely busted to the point of digging quarters out of the seats to get enough gas to make it home. We get home and convince the friend who had the most money he owed both of us money even though we were in on everything together and he had the most money lol...

After looking back on it, we were the luckiest pool players on the planet that night. If we'd forgot something in the car and walked up on that kid, he would have probably shot us.

Good story. I remember hearing of Jimmy Sanders as one of the better players in Louisiana many years ago. An old hustler named Joe Bob Humphrey went to play him some with a friend of mine. They lost all their dough and the car they were driving. Joe Bob was an old school hustler, ex-carnie, with the gift of gab. He played a young Earl Strickland at a local pub and beat him out of a hundred or two. I think there was some verbal intimidation involved. A little while later I saw the rematch when Earl showed up with some friends (backup) at a bar called the Spur Lounge, in Vinton, La. It didn't take long, Earl won the flip and ran out the set, without a peep from Joe Bob.

 

[ironman]

Good story. I remember hearing of Jimmy Sanders as one of the better players in Louisiana many years ago. An old hustler named Joe Bob Humphrey went to play him some with a friend of mine. They lost all their dough and the car they were driving. Joe Bob was an old school hustler, ex-carnie, with the gift of gab. He played a young Earl Strickland at a local pub and beat him out of a hundred or two. I think there was some verbal intimidation involved. A little while later I saw the rematch when Earl showed up with some friends (backup) at a bar called the Spur Lounge, in Vinton, La. It didn't take long, Earl won the flip and ran out the set, without a peep from Joe Bob.

Jimmy was a pretty good player in his day. He came up in Shreveport when Buddy was there and learned a lot from him.

I think Jimmy and I played about 8000 $100 sets at the old Guys & Dolls downtown.

 

[stick8]

road player

I can rember some of the old roadies, some us to come through my town, we had no world class players but some dumb ass that would play anyone!! if any of you remember [johnny rider] he would come through with a player-johnny a,doughboy,mark tadd, bruce b from athens,etc, ect. and the owner of small bar would play them or back his sons. lo lo .lamb to the slaughter.rember watching grady m &horace h from eaginton ga play all nite!!!howard vicory came through, came in one day he was playing a guy, i ask his wife?? does he know who he is playing?? she said i dont think so do you??/ i said yes that is [jean the machine] but i said nothing, he needed a lesson. got more but will stop for now STICK:thumbup:

 

[SJDinPHX]

Jimmy was a pretty good player in his day. He came up in Shreveport when Buddy was there and learned a lot from him.

I think Jimmy and I played about 8000 $100 sets at the old Guys & Dolls downtown.

Lewis, Do you remember Mike Jame's joint in Bossier City. (was it the Fountain ?) Joe Bob was kind of a regular in there, and Mike and I trapped him a few times before he snapped. He was a character. Hard to believe
our paths (yours and mine)didn't cross many times.

Dick

 

[punter]

Lewis, Do you remember Mike Jame's joint in Bossier City. (was it the Fountain ?) Joe Bob was kind of a regular in there, and Mike and I trapped him a few times before he snapped. He was a character. Hard to believe
our paths didn't cross many times.

Dick

The first time I saw Joe Bob Humphrey was at Buddy Guidry's joint in Beaumont, Texas. He had just come into town and he and Buddy were friends. That night he played Tommy Sanders and came out on the short end. I saw him play many times after that and he was pretty good on the bar boxes, and always entertaining.

 

[androd]

I've always liked being on the road. The road separates the men from the boys. It will always make you a better player to go on the road, to all the different pool rooms, and play others. You learn from your mistakes and gel when it's time to win.

it does seperate the men from the boys, the boys can take it, the men go home. with a few exceptions.

 

[Fuji-whopper]

I saw Harley last night at Bankshots, will ask him to see if he remembers this matchup so I can rib him a little about it.

 

[ironman]

Lewis, Do you remember Mike Jame's joint in Bossier City. (was it the Fountain ?) Joe Bob was kind of a regular in there, and Mike and I trapped him a few times before he snapped. He was a character. Hard to believe
our paths (yours and mine)didn't cross many times.

Dick

Those days in Bossier are a bit cloudy to be honest. In those days I suffered often from the Bourbon Flu and a couple of other strains.

I always thought that back in the 70's Bossier and Shreveport were very good bar hustling towns.

Seems like I remember the Fountain but just not sure. I remeber Joe Bob though.

I just rmembered another name too. Fred Elliot. I think he died.

I ren into him in the Black Knight one time and he was crying and told me that Eddie Taylor had just died and that they were collecting money form all to put together a nice funeral. I had just won a little and handed Fred $200 to contruibute. He then convinced me to make it $300.

The next day I go to Guys & Dolls and there sits Eddie Taylor. I near passed out and told him what Fredd hadd pulled on me and Eddie near Died of laughter.

For some reason I can't remember I ended up in Omaha for a while and never saw Fred again, but I vowed to kick his ass when I did.

I sure I hope I don't run into him again.

 

[jay helfert]

Lewis, Do you remember Mike Jame's joint in Bossier City. (was it the Fountain ?) Joe Bob was kind of a regular in there, and Mike and I trapped him a few times before he snapped. He was a character. Hard to believe
our paths (yours and mine)didn't cross many times.

Dick

Dick, Didn't Bossier City have a bunch of casinos back then? Like a little Vegas.
I remember going there and being surprised. But the bars had good action. And by that I mean soft.