I never did see, John Shuput's name or John Abruzzo, these guys could play, I'd love to hear some old time stories about Abruzzo, heard at one time he used to travel with Lassiter, he still plays/bets dam good. And dbarbr Gabby was one of the nicest players I ever matched up with in my LB Bill days. He never beat me and always used to say "Slim I can't beat you" every time after he paid me, I also took down Earl the Pearl at Long Beach Billiards on Atlantic Blvd for $2,000 in 78-79 on the 9', the tables were damp, dirty, we played two shot shoot out, he gave me the wild 8 then the call 8 then the last two, and as he and Monroe were walking out the door I said I'll play even, they kept walkin'. Earls pocketing ability was quite amazing at the time, but he didn't manage his game well enough to win in those conditons (we turned on the swamp cooler), I also told him "you'd be a great player if you would learn to follow your ball" he drew every shot...I mean EVERY shot with low ball, on a dry table I could not of beat em.
Played omaha John just before he won the miller lite tourney in vegas-great player and class act.