Great thread, I read all 35 pages and while some great players were named, I'm going to cast another vote for Vernon Elliot. He is known
now, but when he was in his prime very few people knew who he was. Also he didn't stay home and wait for the action to come to him he went looking for the action, high stakes action.
He wasn't
just under the greatest players of his time, he was every bit their equal, or beyond. Let me give you some examples of people he played and beat, I'm sure you will recognize their names.
I saw a few of you mentioned
Jr. Harris, a fine player to be sure. Well according to Jr., Vernon beat him five games of one pocket for $200, or $300 a game I can't remember which. Jr. said he
never had a shot and
never won a game.
Cliff Joyner played Vernon around the same time he was One Pocket World Champion. Vernon beat him four games in a row for several hundred a game. Cliff said he
never had a shot and
never made a ball.
When
Ronnie Allen was in his prime he spotted Vernon 9-8 in 1-hole. Vernon robbed him. Then they played even for two, or three days even and broke even.
Larry Lisciotti once walked into the Parkmore Bowling Lanes in Louisville, Ky (Vernon Elliots home base). It was around the time of his 1976 World Open Pocket Billiard Championship Challenge of Champions victory. Vernon said
'Hello Larry' Slightly surprised Lisciotti replied
'You know who I am?' Vernon said
'yes, are you looking for a game' and to make a long story short he beat Larry at 9-ball, Bank & One Pocket out of around $4000. Then Larry suggested they play 14.1 to 300 points double or nothing. Vernon beat him at that too.
Vernon said the toughest game he could remember was against
Allen Hopkins when Allen was in his prime. They broke even.
Remember folks, before the above mentioned players played Vernon, they didn't know who he was. He never once played in a tournament, not even a small local one. If Vernon wasn't the greatest 'Unknown' monster of all time then whoever is, is still unknown.
tl;dr Get your lazy butt back up there and start reading. Its a good story.