Who should rightfully be remembered as "The Cincinnati Kid?

[vagabond]

Who is the ``giant killer``

Don Willis

Nearly 11 years ago ex US Open champion David Howard`s wife wrote a letter to Billiards digest`s letters to the editor column protesting the use of the nick name ``Giant Killer`` by other players because she believed that David Howard is the real ``Giant Killer`` and NOT Nicki Bennish of South carolina.Steve Tipton was introducing Nicki Bennish as Giant killer during the WPBA tournaments.
BTW who is the Ice Man? Is it Larry Hubbard or Mika Immonen?
These nick names are NOT REGISTERED TRADE MARKS.There is no infringement of laws if one calls himself by whatever he chooses.

 

[jnav447]

Nearly 11 years ago ex US Open champion David Howard`s wife wrote a letter to Billiards digest`s letters to the editor column protesting the use of the nick name ``Giant Killer`` by other players because she believed that David Howard is the real ``Giant Killer`` and NOT Nicki Bennish of South carolina.Steve Tipton was introducing Nicki Bennish as Giant killer during the WPBA tournaments.
BTW who is the Ice Man? Is it Larry Hubbard or Mika Immonen?
These nick names are NOT REGISTERED TRADE MARKS.There is no infringement of laws if one calls himself by whatever he chooses.

http://onepocket.org/Nicknames.htm Larry Hubbart had the name first. but it fits Mika so well I don't think we're gonna see him change it. The REAL iceman was a basketball player, George "Iceman" Gervin; after he became popular the nickname "Iceman" was used by someone on every block. Anyone that knows Nicki Bennish knows that she's this sweet little thing...always seemed funny thinking of her as a giant killer.

 

[vagabond]

http://onepocket.org/Nicknames.htm Larry Hubbart had the name first. but it fits Mika so well I don't think we're gonna see him change it. The REAL iceman was a basketball player, George "Iceman" Gervin;

Hi,
I was trying to make a point.I get a kick when people claim for sole ownership to a nick name.

 

[renard]

Hi,
I was trying to make a point.I get a kick when people claim for sole ownership to a nick name.

I agree. What are people gonna try and do next, get trademark rights to thier nicknames? If they achieve enough noteriety to recieve a nickname by the general populace that should be enough in itself.

 

[brandonspitler]

i have lived in cincy for 25 years and the rightful owner of the cincy kid would be joey spaeth hands down and you can ask anyone from cincy

I was born and raised in Cincy, and I learned to play by playing with Donnie Anderson. Bank-Pool, One-Pocket, Straight-Pool etc. And I believe Donnie is the best bank-pool player I have ever seen. Now, Ive only seen a few....Fargo, Tugwell, Gary Spaeth, Mathews, Brumback, Hogue, Jarvis, Rucker, Tough Tony, Varner, Medley, Griffis, Piggy Banks, etc, etc, etc.
Donnie had the skill, the knowledge, and most importantly when it comes to a "nickname".... he has always had the CHARACTER to carry that name. Not only has Donnie always been an amazing player and tactician on the table, he has also ALWAYS been the life of the party lol. Hilariously funny most of the time, yet, gentleman's manners when needed. A wealth of instructional knowledge. (that he has always been willing to share)
So, I am "anyone from Cincy", and was considered a bit of a player back in the day in my own right....and I say Donnie Anderson will ALWAYS be "The Cincinnati Kid".

Sure, I'm probably a little biased because he was a teacher AND a friend. But thats ok too. The man could REALLY play, and his personality and antics were the stuff of LEGEND.

He will always be "The Cincinnati Kid" Donnie Anderson.

Sincerely,
Brandon Lee Spitler.

 

[Tramp Steamer]

I too vote for McQueen. RIP to a Great Actor, and Motorcycle Rider...

Count me in. :smile:

 

[Tramp Steamer]

I was born and raised in Cincy, and I learned to play by playing with Donnie Anderson. Bank-Pool, One-Pocket, Straight-Pool etc. And I believe Donnie is the best bank-pool player I have ever seen. Now, Ive only seen a few....Fargo, Tugwell, Gary Spaeth, Mathews, Brumback, Hogue, Jarvis, Rucker, Tough Tony, Varner, Medley, Griffis, Piggy Banks, etc, etc, etc.
Donnie had the skill, the knowledge, and most importantly when it comes to a "nickname".... he has always had the CHARACTER to carry that name. Not only has Donnie always been an amazing player and tactician on the table, he has also ALWAYS been the life of the party lol. Hilariously funny most of the time, yet, gentleman's manners when needed. A wealth of instructional knowledge. (that he has always been willing to share)
So, I am "anyone from Cincy", and was considered a bit of a player back in the day in my own right....and I say Donnie Anderson will ALWAYS be "The Cincinnati Kid".
Sure, I'm probably a little biased because he was a teacher AND a friend. But thats ok too. The man could REALLY play, and his personality and antics were the stuff of LEGEND.
He will always be "The Cincinnati Kid" Donnie Anderson.
Sincerely,
Brandon Lee Spitler.

How about heading north, every now and again, and playing some One Pocket? :smile:

 

[TheCueHunter]

I was born and raised in Cincy, and I learned to play by playing with Donnie Anderson. Bank-Pool, One-Pocket, Straight-Pool etc. And I believe Donnie is the best bank-pool player I have ever seen. Now, Ive only seen a few....Fargo, Tugwell, Gary Spaeth, Mathews, Brumback, Hogue, Jarvis, Rucker, Tough Tony, Varner, Medley, Griffis, Piggy Banks, etc, etc, etc.
Donnie had the skill, the knowledge, and most importantly when it comes to a "nickname".... he has always had the CHARACTER to carry that name. Not only has Donnie always been an amazing player and tactician on the table, he has also ALWAYS been the life of the party lol. Hilariously funny most of the time, yet, gentleman's manners when needed. A wealth of instructional knowledge. (that he has always been willing to share)
So, I am "anyone from Cincy", and was considered a bit of a player back in the day in my own right....and I say Donnie Anderson will ALWAYS be "The Cincinnati Kid".

Sure, I'm probably a little biased because he was a teacher AND a friend. But thats ok too. The man could REALLY play, and his personality and antics were the stuff of LEGEND.

He will always be "The Cincinnati Kid" Donnie Anderson.

Sincerely,
Brandon Lee Spitler.

Congrats playa....I've never heard of you and I'm sticking with Joey:thumbup:

P.s. This thread is 7 years old

 

[Tobermory]

Dear Cross Side Larry--

Gosh! If you remember Ray Ernst's room in Cheviot you must be really, really old. Just kidding.

I don't care who gets called The Cincinnati Kid because I never heard any pool player called by that name until after the movie. In fact, I don't remember any Cincinnati players using nicknames. They used first names.

Is Jumbo's in Mount Healthy the same as Mount Healthy Billiards, run by John with the gravelly voice? I grew up in College Hill and I can't imagine there was a pool room in Mount Healthy that I didn't know.

I don't think Joey Spaeth played out of Mergard's in Northside. I think he played out of Mergard's on East McMillan, called Twentieth Century. Am I wrong about that? Northside was my introduction to pool.

And no mention of Clem Metz?

If there is a heaven, it will look a lot like Megard's Twentieth Century, or Mergard's Northside, or even Billy Drahman's Valley Recreation in Lockland.

I loved the cast of characters in Cincinnati pool in the '60's. Dick Winkler, Clyde Norman, Sideline Sid (there was a nickname!), Hamilton Marty (his nickname doesn't count because he was from Hamilton, not Cincinnati), Tom Smith (one of the greatest characters ever to play pool and immortalized in the novel, but not the movie, The Hustler), Vince Balcamino, Garland Hutchison.

I must stop writing now or I shall start to cry all over the keyboard.

 

[pwd72s]

I too vote for McQueen. RIP to a Great Actor, and Motorcycle Rider...

Plus, he had some very cool cars...and no, he never actually owned a Mustang. It was selected for the movie as a car a cop would own.

 

[jay helfert]

DONNIE ANDERSON

That's correct. Don Willis was always "Canton Don."

 

[CincyBlues]

Adding two bits to an old thread here...

In the early 70s, I worked at the Royal Family Billiards in Roselawn and used to hang out at RFB Oakley and the Western Bowl after hours. Worked for Joey when he managed the place (and for Gerri Titcomb later.)

I heard Donnie Anderson claim the name "Cincinnati Kid" on a number of occasions. He was a likeable, gregarious fellow. Joey Spaeth was more introverted and quiet but he seemed to me to be the more deadly of the two players. Overall I'd say Joey was the better player but that Donnie talked a better game. Both were good guys and really fun to watch play.

 

[maha]

in the 1960's and 70's at every tournament joey spaeth was called the Cincinnati kid. so maybe locally in some venues others were called that often but nationally he was who was thought of with that name.

 

[pt109]

i have lived in cincy for 25 years and the rightful owner of the cincy kid would be joey spaeth hands down and you can ask anyone from cincy

I'm going with this opinion......Joey Spaeth

I've heard Don's name come up a lot in my life.....
...and he was always called Don Willis

 

[CincyBlues]

in the 1960's and 70's at every tournament joey spaeth was called the Cincinnati kid. so maybe locally in some venues others were called that often but nationally he was who was thought of with that name.

I should add that in Cincy some would describe Joey as the Cincinnati Kid, but I never saw or heard him make a big deal of it. He never described himself that way, while Anderson would from time to time.

I was a kid then and to me both these guys (and many other locals were like heroes to me.) I was never really a good player. (My best 14.1 run then was 63 and I hardly play at all anymore) but I loved the scene and was tickled in ways that only a kid could be at some of the antics that happen in pool halls.

Little side story, sort of related. One afternoon RFB Roselawn was almost empty. I was knocking balls around on one of the 9 footers when Gary Spaeth came in. I knew who he was but had never seen him play. We talked a bit and then played a friendly game of straight pool. He spotted me 150 -75. About six safes and 3 real innings later, it's all over: 150-8. I spent $20 bucks to rack 'em up. But I also spent $20 bucks to watch one helluva player and he was only about 19-20 at the time.

 

[cincy_kid]

I always believed it was Joey Spaeth too....

I never had the chance to meet him unfortunately but I was good friends with his son, the late, great Gary Spaeth. I was told that Joey played better than Gary but it seems hard to believe because wow was Gary so talented!

Since Cincinnati is sometimes referred to as "Cincy", that's why I started using the name cincy_kid on the internet (forums and video games, etc) for the past 20 years or so.

So although the debate may be who the real "Cincinnati Kid" is, I will at least stake claim to being the real cincy_kid (well at least on the internet)....:wink: