Unknown "monster" players

DoubleA

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Anybody ever heard of Danny Green from Jackson, Tn.? He's a better golfer than he is pool player, but he'll take your money at either.
I know Danny, used to bet some good money, and yeah, you don't want to play golf with him.
 

scottyjoe145

scottyjoe145
Silver Member
I know Danny, used to bet some good money, and yeah, you don't want to play golf with him.

I ask him one time why he didn't turn pro, he said because there's no way he could make as much money as he currently did! Now thats gambling!
 

3kushn

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Anybody seen Dennis Gieske.
Island Drive knew him but last I heard he hasn't seen him in many years.

Edit Sorry the article is hard to read. Report from Johnson City Oct 1971: Dennis Gieske and Bill Meacham two of the remaining undefeated
players in the 9Ball.

Gieske_MeachamReduced.jpg
 
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kztyler

Registered
I was just thinking about Tommy Golly, Googled him and turned up this thread. Tommy and I used to shoot pool up at the Boy's Club on 6th Street in Allentown. I was around 13, he was maybe a year younger, so that would be around 1973. When we got a bit older, I used to run into him down at the Jordan Lanes. Someone at the Superexpo in 2013 said Tommy was playing cards now. I remember watching Tommy shoot petersen pool once at the BC, he ran several hundred balls without missing. He was around 15 at the time. I heard that he went on to win some kind of college pool championship.
 

ddadams

Absolutely love this cue.
Silver Member
I've heard stories about a couple guys that travel together. I'm pretty sure they could beat Shane every now and then, or at least one could.

They got into a bit of trouble recently beating some guy out of big money.

Don't know their real names, but they go by Arizona and New York for nicknames.


Maybe you guys have heard about them. :grin:



Also, I think this Carl guy was and still is a hell of a player. Not sure if he's still going on the road but he could play... *when he wants to*. Don't know his last name but he had better luck than anyone I've ever encountered.
 

StraightPoolIU

Brent
Silver Member
I've heard stories about a couple guys that travel together. I'm pretty sure they could beat Shane every now and then, or at least one could.

They got into a bit of trouble recently beating some guy out of big money.

Don't know their real names, but they go by Arizona and New York for nicknames.


Maybe you guys have heard about them. :grin:



Also, I think this Carl guy was and still is a hell of a player. Not sure if he's still going on the road but he could play... *when he wants to*. Don't know his last name but he had better luck than anyone I've ever encountered.

The only way to beat that Carl guy is to make him play something like American Rotation with call shot call safe.
 

Black-Balled

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was just thinking about Tommy Golly, Googled him and turned up this thread. Tommy and I used to shoot pool up at the Boy's Club on 6th Street in Allentown. I was around 13, he was maybe a year younger, so that would be around 1973. When we got a bit older, I used to run into him down at the Jordan Lanes. Someone at the Superexpo in 2013 said Tommy was playing cards now. I remember watching Tommy shoot petersen pool once at the BC, he ran several hundred balls without missing. He was around 15 at the time. I heard that he went on to win some kind of college pool championship.

He did win, 1982.
http://www.acui.org/content.aspx?menu_id=14&id=13181
There are also more than a few AZB folks on that there list.

Tom golly came through our dc suburb pool room and put a bit of a heist down, I hear. I wasn't around yet, but they talked about it still, years later. They were more in awe of Gary Nolan though, I think Arlington is still afraid of getting its bush whacked.

Last I heard about Tom, he was working in a casino in Atlantic city. I got no real info though.
 

ninelee99

Registered
Earl Kellum, Walter Glass, Johnny Marrow, Gary Seay, Billy Weir, Erumand Bullard, "The Big Mex " Fat Ralph, Country Calvin, all those guy's could "Gin it", some still do!



David Harcrow
I was at The Brass Tap in Raleigh NC in the late 80's for a big 9 ball tournament held each yr. the week before the US open. Most of the best players in the world were in this tournament . Earl Kellum walks in late on Friday night & the pa announcer hollered out Earl Kellum is in the house, there is going to be bar table action here tonight. I noticed several pro players matched up gambling on the 9 ft. tables. No one wanted to play Earl Kellum on the bar box.
 

Cory in DC

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
He did win, 1982.
http://www.acui.org/content.aspx?menu_id=14&id=13181
There are also more than a few AZB folks on that there list.

Tom golly came through our dc suburb pool room and put a bit of a heist down, I hear. I wasn't around yet, but they talked about it still, years later. They were more in awe of Gary Nolan though, I think Arlington is still afraid of getting its bush whacked.

Last I heard about Tom, he was working in a casino in Atlantic city. I got no real info though.

I've known Jersey John for 10+ years (don't see him much anymore, though) and he never mentioned being the 1976 ACUI champion! Thanks for the link.
 

THE MONTREALER

THE MONTREALER
Silver Member
unknown monster player

Hi i remember back in the Eightys there was a player stating that he was from Verdun Quebec Canada. Nobody new him he walked away with all the Money his name was Ray Martin Us Open Champion

Never forget that
 

str88shooter

Registered
Mike Carella

Died young or everyone would know his name. Was winning big money playing champions about the time he passed.
 

optician

best one pocket in philly
Silver Member
doug hale

20 yrs ago met doug in pheonix one of the best bar table players bar none
 

Runner

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Semi Unknown

Tommy Sanders name comes to mind. NOt totally unknown but not
very well known for sure.

In todays world many players have no idea who Mark Tadd is/was or
Greg/Craig Stevens.

Spot on... Mark Tadd is a little more known now, but back in the day he was simply untouchable... no one could match up with him... he could play all the games, took down two out of three in the L.A. Open ( one pocket, 9 ball) in what '93?
As strong as Earl at his peak... maybe a ball better.
 
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OLD NO 9

AzB Gold Member
Silver Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake Popiano View Post
Don McCoughy from Des Moines Ia,mid 70's world 9ballto champ-look it up-he owned several pool halls in the DesMoines area amd tough Scott Frost the game of onepocket-how strong is that

Only played Don once, in NE on ,9' GC's his wife was there, and he or I had to play Medina for the Hill. Wonderful man to play match play with. He and I talked later and he was talking about the opening of a new pool room. He did take pictures while there he mentioned, to put in his new room. We were playing at Madsens in Lincoln, had to be around 90-91.

Don McCaughy (I think is the correct spelling) often was listed as Don McCoy, but I've seen it spelled a half dozen different ways. Don although not the first name that pops up when great pool players of the late 60's or 70's & 80's are mentioned was well known with the gamblers.

Best story I have of Don is the time he was at a fairly large tournament, with all the top players of the day, and couldn't find a game for a couple grand with anybody. Grady Mathews jumps up and says something like this "I can't believe this man is looking for a game for a couple grand in a room full of champions and nobody will play him. come on Don I'll play ya some 9-ball for five hundred to give you some action."

Grady wouldn't play him one-pocket and got slaughtered playing nine-ball. Seems to me this was in the mid 70's in Rockford, but with fading mind and memories I could be off by a decade or 300 miles either way:D

PS
Whenever I saw Don, "Roadman" Paul Baker was not to far behind.
 

Spimp13

O8 Specialist
Silver Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake Popiano View Post
Don McCoughy from Des Moines Ia,mid 70's world 9ballto champ-look it up-he owned several pool halls in the DesMoines area amd tough Scott Frost the game of onepocket-how strong is that



Don McCaughy (I think is the correct spelling) often was listed as Don McCoy, but I've seen it spelled a half dozen different ways. Don although not the first name that pops up when great pool players of the late 60's or 70's & 80's are mentioned was well known with the gamblers.

Best story I have of Don is the time he was at a fairly large tournament, with all the top players of the day, and couldn't find a game for a couple grand with anybody. Grady Mathews jumps up and says something like this "I can't believe this man is looking for a game for a couple grand in a room full of champions and nobody will play him. come on Don I'll play ya some 9-ball for five hundred to give you some action."

Grady wouldn't play him one-pocket and got slaughtered playing nine-ball. Seems to me this was in the mid 70's in Rockford, but with fading mind and memories I could be off by a decade or 300 miles either way:D

PS
Whenever I saw Don, "Roadman" Paul Baker was not to far behind.

To help clarify it is Don McCaughey for the spelling :). Don was one of the best in Des Moines many years ago. Paul Baker aka Highway Paul is still around. I occasionally see him out at Prairie Meadows and he comes up to Big Dogs I believe on occasion. He used to play cards with my grandpa many years ago. We got to talking about and he told me a couple of stories. Both Don and Paul are great ambassadors of the game.
 

OLD NO 9

AzB Gold Member
Silver Member
To help clarify it is Don McCaughey for the spelling :). Don was one of the best in Des Moines many years ago. Paul Baker aka Highway Paul is still around. I occasionally see him out at Prairie Meadows and he comes up to Big Dogs I believe on occasion. He used to play cards with my grandpa many years ago. We got to talking about and he told me a couple of stories. Both Don and Paul are great ambassadors of the game.

Hey Matt, thanks for setting me straight on a couple things, I'm real happy to be that close on the spelling of Don's last name considering that it seemed to be spelled differently every time I saw him and it was indeed "Highway Paul"

You are right both Don and Paul are great ambassadors of the game and I'm happy to hear that Paul still gets around. If I remember right not only was Paul adept at cards and pool but was also a pretty fair golfer. Was told one time he took delight in hustling club pros. While you say "Don was one of the best in Des Moines" I believe you could substitute country for Des Moines.
 

Michael Andros

tiny balls, GIANT pockets
Silver Member
Randy Brown. Legend has it, one of the best 9-ball players ever ( played all games, however ). Scuffled around with Wade Crane when Randy was 17, 18, 19. Snuck up on almost everyone. Played like a machine. The only part of his body that moved was his arm from elbow to fingertips. Just played phenomenal and was extraordinary to just watch play. Hailed from Clearwater, Florida ( same as Donnie Mills ). He passed away a few years ago, would be @ 65 now.
 

Rjmoncrief

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Eugene Browning. Period. Whatever happened to that guy?

Eugene was a monster. I was running with the best player in Alabama at the time,
Early to mid 80's, Steve Downey. We ran into Eugene in Gadsden. He and Steve played
$100 nine ball. Per game, not sets. Eugene wins coin toss and proceeds to put 9 racks together while Steve and I set there in silence. He finally misses. My boy Steve then goes to the table and puts 7 racks together and we're hooked $200 and I pull out of my half of the action. They played for hours and actually came out close to even. Eugene played a little stronger than Steve but Eugene came to us there in Gadsden at a place called The Players Pub, Steve owned the place and knew the table pretty well.
I believe Eugene is now in Texas. Steve still lives in Gadsden.
 
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