Tony Watson road stories
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The first time I ever saw Alex P gamble was at Qmaster's during the Open about 2000 and he was playing Tony even 9 ball 8 ahead for 10 dimes each, Tony would get to the hill game 3 times during the 12 to 14 hours and could never win the 8th game. At 6 am Pags got even and asked Tony and Steve if they just wanted to play a race to 13 for the 20K and they agreed. Tony was the first to 9 games and added a little to much on the break and jumped the cueball off the table and never got back to the table, Pags ran out the set from 7 or 8 games. That was some awesome 9 ball all night long and Tony beat Charlie Williams in an even set that same week at Qmaster's for some good change.--Leonard
While Tony is a great player, I had front row center seats at DCC when he played John Drew Hager. No doubt Hager played his best to win that set but it took around 14-15 hours to do it. Tony would made some unbelievable shots although Hager's safety play was spot on. This happens to be the same year Durbin snuck up on Watson and bested him out of a chunk of dimes. Dang, I sure miss Ex. West.
Gary
Gary
We saw each other then
I saw Hager beat him also live at DCC and they played 10 ball because John Sr told him not to play 9ball so Tony couldn't string as many racks together. On the last night John Jr. played Tony a set of 9ball and when Sr. came in and saw they were playing 9ball he was raising hell at Jr and little Hager said dad I just wanted to go back to Texas and tell them I beat the SOB any way he wanted to play. Hager won the 9ball also, the next year Tony left NC for DCC with a few hundred and no backer but free entry and room(Louis Robert award) and when I got there on Wenesday morning he had a $57,000 bankroll. He is fun to watch when he hits the high gear and is talking trash while he is running out.--Leonard
I agree Gary I have not been to the DCC at the casino yet but I was crazy about the Ex. West.
I saw Hager beat him also live at DCC and they played 10 ball because John Sr told him not to play 9ball so Tony couldn't string as many racks together. On the last night John Jr. played Tony a set of 9ball and when Sr. came in and saw they were playing 9ball he was raising hell at Jr and little Hager said dad I just wanted to go back to Texas and tell them I beat the SOB any way he wanted to play. Hager won the 9ball also, the next year Tony left NC for DCC with a few hundred and no backer but free entry and room(Louis Robert award) and when I got there on Wenesday morning he had a $57,000 bankroll. He is fun to watch when he hits the high gear and is talking trash while he is running out.--Leonard
I agree Gary I have not been to the DCC at the casino yet but I was crazy about the Ex. West.
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You're right, it was 10 ball!! Am I right in thinking that JDH got 2 games on the wire in a 10 ahead?? I missed the 9 ball set with Tony but did see JDH get hijacked by Hennesse the next evening after his 10 ball set with TW. There used to be some great pool played back then by fellas who were itching to play rather than scrape a few nickels to run to the casino with....
I am sure we have crossed paths at some point, Leonard. I used to get around pretty good before...Maybe we will be actually get to meet someday and I for one look forward to it. Take Care!!
Gary
Were you the lucky guy with the girl in red
I'll never forget a brunette with red velvet like sweatpants sitting across from me while they were playing, got company and had to quit typing.This young lady was at least a 12 in a 0 to 10 contest, as Buddy Hall would say her momma did a fine job.
I'll never forget a brunette with red velvet like sweatpants sitting across from me while they were playing, got company and had to quit typing.This young lady was at least a 12 in a 0 to 10 contest, as Buddy Hall would say her momma did a fine job.
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Always liked Ray's game, never saw him bet though, and he played a lot like a bunch of the Indiana guys 2nd's and 3rds very nice person and lots of potential if he played more.
Yes, but not like he played 25 years ago. He’s had to work hard to keep what he has after some physical setbacks, but probably plays no more than 85% of the speed he did play.
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Tony left NC around '89 or '90 as soon as he turned 16. And as a kid, he had some really, really thick glasses. So, he was started coming in to Pro Billiards, on Monroe Rd in Charlotte. And there was an older guy named Ray Reddick, who used to be a backer for Searcy. Well, Ray liked to sweat after he had a few. And the barking was loud! And maybe a lil' sharking along with it. lol But he was good to go off for 3-5k when he was in that state. One night, Ray comes in already drinking. And he and Tony are both loud trying to make a game. And Tony played his hand really coy-like. So after they go back and forth, Tony acts like he's frustrated and grabs his glasses and waves them around as he shouts, I'll play you even 6 ball on that 10' snooker table, and I'll take my glasses off! Well, Ray liked this and they started the first set for like 3.5k. After all, what kid in the '90s would even know about playing on a snooker table, right? That was the golden era of 9-ball. Well, outside of Charlotte, a bunch of little towns had a pool room with a snooker table usually in the very back. And most had buck-boards on them in the daytime. But, in NC they were used quite often at night primarily for games like 6 ball or golf. In addition, come to find out, the week before, Tony had also gotten lasik surgery, which was pretty new at that time. Ray was beside himself. Tony ran away with that one.