For those who have been asking for stories from ‘60’s, ‘70’s...here is one I will share with you’all !..Let me preface by saying, we’re going back around 45 yrs. and my recall, on minor details, may be less than perfect..But, the main thrust of the story is accurate, and is easily verefiable ! (by those still above ground 
)
Somewhere around 1970-71, My good friend Mike James, came over from Shreveport, for a visit to my home town (at the time) of Arlington, Tx..I received a call from one of my ‘railbird’ friends, in Ft. Worth, informing me that some young guy, had beaten a few good player’s there, and was making some noise about wanting to play some hi $$$$ one pocket… No one seemed to know him !
I told my friend to tell him to wait a little while, and he could get some action, as high as he wanted to play for…At that time (before cel phones, and the internet) strange road player’s were not that uncommon..My game was pretty solid by then, and I was pretty sure I could handle anyone who appeared to be 10, 15, yrs. younger than me.
Upon our arrival, neither Mike nor I, recognized the player, but Mike knew of his apparent stakehorse, or partner...It was Lefty (Jr.) Goff !..I believe they may have known who I was, and I was probably their main target !…We could care less, so we kicked it off, 5 ahead for $100 a game. I won that first session fairly quickly, but I could see the youngster could play a little !.. Then began some intense negotiations for doubling the bet, with me giving up a little weight.
We agreed to 9/8 on his break, and 8/7 on mine ! His play notched up a little, and that session took a lot longer..but I still managed to prevail..They needed to replenish their funds, and we agreed to meet the next day, and we also allowed them to bet all they were stuck ($1500) with me giving up 8/7 break about !
By that time, we had a line on who he was !.. It was Steve Cook, and we also found out, he had just won the Open one pocket division at the Stardust.. In any event, I guess I had him a little weak, because the final session, took only a few hours...Not one cross word was ever spoken, and we all shook hands, and they went on their way !.. I followed Steve’s career, from that point on, and saw him go on to become one of the best one pocket player’s, ever!
I would not be presumptuous enough to think I could have won, 'even'..after he matured as a player..But, I would like to think, maybe he learned a few moves from the 'old man'..to help him along !..I did not see him again, ‘til after my 20 yr. hiatus, and he defeated Mark Tadd, in Helfert’s ‘93 LA Open ! ..We shook hands, and remained.. good friends until his untimely passing, way too young !.. RIP ‘Cookie Monster’..It was my pleasure knowing you.
Dick Mc Morran….(2015)
)Somewhere around 1970-71, My good friend Mike James, came over from Shreveport, for a visit to my home town (at the time) of Arlington, Tx..I received a call from one of my ‘railbird’ friends, in Ft. Worth, informing me that some young guy, had beaten a few good player’s there, and was making some noise about wanting to play some hi $$$$ one pocket… No one seemed to know him !
I told my friend to tell him to wait a little while, and he could get some action, as high as he wanted to play for…At that time (before cel phones, and the internet) strange road player’s were not that uncommon..My game was pretty solid by then, and I was pretty sure I could handle anyone who appeared to be 10, 15, yrs. younger than me.
Upon our arrival, neither Mike nor I, recognized the player, but Mike knew of his apparent stakehorse, or partner...It was Lefty (Jr.) Goff !..I believe they may have known who I was, and I was probably their main target !…We could care less, so we kicked it off, 5 ahead for $100 a game. I won that first session fairly quickly, but I could see the youngster could play a little !.. Then began some intense negotiations for doubling the bet, with me giving up a little weight.
We agreed to 9/8 on his break, and 8/7 on mine ! His play notched up a little, and that session took a lot longer..but I still managed to prevail..They needed to replenish their funds, and we agreed to meet the next day, and we also allowed them to bet all they were stuck ($1500) with me giving up 8/7 break about !
By that time, we had a line on who he was !.. It was Steve Cook, and we also found out, he had just won the Open one pocket division at the Stardust.. In any event, I guess I had him a little weak, because the final session, took only a few hours...Not one cross word was ever spoken, and we all shook hands, and they went on their way !.. I followed Steve’s career, from that point on, and saw him go on to become one of the best one pocket player’s, ever!
I would not be presumptuous enough to think I could have won, 'even'..after he matured as a player..But, I would like to think, maybe he learned a few moves from the 'old man'..to help him along !..I did not see him again, ‘til after my 20 yr. hiatus, and he defeated Mark Tadd, in Helfert’s ‘93 LA Open ! ..We shook hands, and remained.. good friends until his untimely passing, way too young !.. RIP ‘Cookie Monster’..It was my pleasure knowing you.
Dick Mc Morran….(2015)
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