Who was St. Louis Louie Roberts ?

[Teacherman]

No better shot maker ever lived. He would make shots others wouldn't try.

I'll never forget a match between him and Mike Carella at Tournament Billiards in St. Louis. Played 2 shot roll out back then. Louie would roll to ridiculous spots, and then make the ball. (Although Carella put on a great show himself)

For an example (hope I can get the right words) he did an exhibition in my first pool hall. A couple of shots stand out in my memory.

First, he would line up 5 or 6 balls frozen on the foot rail. He'd take the cue ball in the kitchen creating 90 degree cuts on each of the balls and he'd fire them in the same pocket as if it were a speed pool shot. Yes, all of them in the same pocket. If he was cutting them into the right foot pocket, then the last ball, setting a couple inches outside the left foot pocket, frozen against the rail, would be fired into the right foot pocket.

The second shot was a draw shot. He'd put a ball in the right foot pocket. Set two other balls about a ball and a half width apart in front of the ball in the pocket and a foot or so out from the pocket. (In other words a tight fit for the cue ball to go between the two balls to pocket the ball in the pocket) He would shoot from the kitchen and fire the ball in and draw straight back and not hit either of the other two balls. But, that wasn't good enough. He would move the balls until the cue ball would barely fit between them (maybe a quarter inch more than a balls width of space between the balls) and do the same thing. Fire the ball in at 100 mph and draw straight back and not hit either ball.

Quite a showman also. Quite a personality. Didn't win as much as he should've. Wanted to play so bad he'd make bad games.

As far as Buddy was concerned, the story I've heard was, Buddy tortured him when they first played, but Louie kept comig back and it got to where Buddy didn't want to gamble with him.

My experience is limited but I can't imagine a better shot maker in the history of pool.

 

[OldHasBeen]

Louie vs. Buddy

Surely, Louie matched up against Buddy Hall in the 1970's. Who usually got the cash? Did it matter whether they played on a bar box or a nine footer?

For about a 2 or 3-year period, every time Louie got ANY meaningful cash, he would go to Shreveport and play Buddy. During these times he was On The Road with a fellow from St. Louis named Roger Reel. If anyone ever does anything on Louie's life, IT MUST INCLUDE ROGER'S INPUT.
Buddy started out giving Louie the 7. Always on a perfect GC. Busted Louie many, many times that way but all the time Louie was progressing and Buddy could see it getting harder & harder.
Many people in this forum ask what does it take OR how do you become a top player. I'm not saying Louie's way is recomended OR the only way, but this is what made Louie GREAT. He was so focused on beating Buddy (because he was The Best) that he didn't care about the money at all. ALL of his talents and suffering were devoted to that ONE THING.
One time he found himself & Roger in Mobil, AL and dealing with Earl Schrieber. Earl set up a match with Cleo (who was a hugh score and someone Earl had been trying to beat for a long time). Louie gave him a big spot but won easily. Maybe a $2,500 score. This just got Cleo's juices started and his Nose Was Open. Everything was set up for a big game the next day and Cleo told Louie to bring all he had, because that was the bet.
Earl told Louie to just go get a good nights sleep and call him in the AM.
EARL HAD FINALLY FOUND THE WINNER AGAINST CLEO.
After the match, Louie & Roger went straight to the Bus station and left for Shreveport, LA.
Now Buddy had just busted Louie about 4 days before and had heard about the score in Mobil. Louie, without any sleep comes in looking for the 7. Buddy says "No Way" - You got the 8 and that’s it. Louie plays and goes busted again and also loses his New Leather Luggage Set to Buddy. Louie & Roger are now "On The Streets" with everything they own in black trash bags.
Back in Mobil, Earl finds out what happened and seriously wants to put out a Contract on Louie.
Once in a while Louie & Roger would come back to St. Louis and tell of their experiences. They could keep everyone glued to their seats with the stories. An old player & hustler that still comes around, once said - "You guys make it sound like so much fun being busted and sleeping on a bus station bench", that I almost wish I could do that to. ALMOST being the key word.
I COULD TYPE 20 PAGES HERE ABOUT LOUIE AND IT WOULDN'T COVER 25% OF IT. ROGER REEL IS THE GUY TO TALK TO. LAST I HEARD HE WAS IN HOUSTON.

TY & GL

 

[lunchmoney]

I remember the first time I met Louie, when he walked into the pool room it was as if a major Hollywood celebrity had walked in. Everyone dropped what they were doing and stared. Later on, Louie was standing at a table BS'ing with a some friends and every few seconds he would lean over the table, stroke once and then fire in unbelievable shots. I had to use the rest room and he followed me in and asked if I wanted to play some. I told him that he was way out of my league. His response was " We can work out a spot". I still declined. That same night he matched up with a local. Louie got the breaks and his opponent was spotted every ball on the table. It was an incredible display, he hit high gear and didn't miss. The match didn't last too long. I had also heard that he was listening to some self-hypnosis tapes at night while sleeping. Rumor had it, the tapes made him such a feared 9-ball player that eventually someone stole them.

Lunchmoney

 

[hemicudas]

I remember the first time I met Louie, when he walked into the pool room it was as if a major Hollywood celebrity had walked in. Everyone dropped what they were doing and stared. Later on, Louie was standing at a table BS'ing with a some friends and every few seconds he would lean over the table, stroke once and then fire in unbelievable shots. I had to use the rest room and he followed me in and asked if I wanted to play some. I told him that he was way out of my league. His response was " We can work out a spot". I still declined. That same night he matched up with a local. Louie got the breaks and his opponent was spotted every ball on the table. It was an incredible display, he hit high gear and didn't miss. The match didn't last too long. I had also heard that he was listening to some self-hypnosis tapes at night while sleeping. Rumor had it, the tapes made him such a feared 9-ball player that eventually someone stole them.

Lunchmoney

Believe me when I tell you, Lunch, it was, Bob Dancer, that stole them. I know.

 

[Eric.]

I had also heard that he was listening to some self-hypnosis tapes at night while sleeping. Rumor had it, the tapes made him such a feared 9-ball player that eventually someone stole them.

Lunchmoney

The story I would hear is that when Louie got himself "hypnotized" by the tapes, he would walk around a tourney like he was in a trance, not say a word to anyone and just play lights out.


Eric

 

[watchez]

The story I would hear is that when Louie got himself "hypnotized" by the tapes, he would walk around a tourney like he was in a trance, not say a word to anyone and just play lights out.


Eric

One of my early days in a pool room was watching Louie giving what was considered one of the better local players (Joe) the 6 ball. After Louie was 4 sets winner and running over the other player, the other players backer was standing up in his chair jumping up and down, howling like a monkey while Louie was running out. After the rack, Louie said to the backer 'You can do whatever you want...jump, scream, sing, move your arms...I don't care, just don't touch the table. I am hypnotized & you can't win.' For the last set, the backer ran circles around the table, screaming and hollering as Louie ran out, never missing a ball. The last game, last nine ball...the nine ball was just below the spot....cue ball on the opposite end rail, a few inches off the rail....Louie turns to me and asks 'Which pocket should I make it in?' I point to the bottom right and of course he made it. The backer and match was done.

I miss watching a player like Louie that never missed.

 

[lunchmoney]

Believe me when I tell you, Lunch, it was, Bob Dancer, that stole them. I know.

I believe you $Bill, and somehow it doesn't come as a big surprise. I wonder if Bobby listened to them?

Lunchmoney

 

[Barbara]

One of my early days in a pool room was watching Louie giving what was considered one of the better local players (Joe) the 6 ball. After Louie was 4 sets winner and running over the other player, the other players backer was standing up in his chair jumping up and down, howling like a monkey while Louie was running out. After the rack, Louie said to the backer 'You can do whatever you want...jump, scream, sing, move your arms...I don't care, just don't touch the table. I am hypnotized & you can't win.' For the last set, the backer ran circles around the table, screaming and hollering as Louie ran out, never missing a ball. The last game, last nine ball...the nine ball was just below the spot....cue ball on the opposite end rail, a few inches off the rail....Louie turns to me and asks 'Which pocket should I make it in?' I point to the bottom right and of course he made it. The backer and match was done.

I miss watching a player like Louie that never missed.

That's incredible! Did anyone know who authored those tapes or what was on them?

Barbara

 

[Eric.]

That's incredible! Did anyone know who authored those tapes or what was on them?

Barbara

I believe it was Louie talking to himself.


Eric

 

[hemicudas]

That's incredible! Did anyone know who authored those tapes or what was on them?

Barbara

I'm sure, Bob Dancer, knows, Barbara. He is suppose to be in FL some where. Bob use to listen to them in Jackson after he took them in Baton Rouge.

 

[Kerry Impson]

I don't know Bob Dancer, but did these tapes help his game, too?

 

[Blackjack]

I don't know Bob Dancer, but did these tapes help his game, too?

These tapes were similar to the Ryan Elliot "Overcoming Contenderosis" tapes. Did they work? Yes, and they worked so well that they were stolen from Louie. I believe Louie did get the tapes back IIRC.

 

[hemicudas]

I don't know Bob Dancer, but did these tapes help his game, too?

I think they did, Kerry. I was in with, Dancer, after he started using them when he played and busted, Benny (Without A Penny-Goose) Conway, in New Orleans. I didn't think he was the favorite before he started using them and didn't like the action but he took it off easily.

JFTR,,,,,,,,Louie knew who had the tapes. There in lies another story.

 

[sjm]

No better shot maker ever lived.

I'd have to go with Luther Lassiter, who I watched as a child. Not far behind are Cole Dixon and Fong Pang Chao.

Of course, I never saw Louie play, and would love to hear somebody who saw both Lassiter and Louie play compare the two.

 

[The Kid]

Thanks for all the stories.
I was at the U.S.Open a few years ago when they had this banquet with most of the past champions in attendance.
Scott Smith told a story about Louie that had something to do with Louie trying to wake someone up in their hotel room so he could borrow some money to get in action.
The guy wouldn't pick up the phone so Louie set off the fire alarm to try and get the guy out of his room.
After hearing that story I was hooked.
I think a St Louis Louie book could be quite entertaining,anyone want to take on that task.

 

[sizl]

ROGER REEL IS THE GUY TO TALK TO. LAST I HEARD HE WAS IN HOUSTON.

TY & GL

OHB, Would that be the same Roger that does cue repairs at Bogies in Houston?

 

[Tommy-D]

> I only saw him play twice unfortunately,and can honestly say I NEVER saw him miss a ball. The first time I saw him play,he took 9 balls out of the tray and just threw them out,and ran out for over an hour before I left. The second time,I only saw him hit one ball,but what a killer,yet inhumanly stupid shot it was. Here is the shot.


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%_D2O4%`Y6J0%aV5C7%bQ2[2%c]6V4%di7R0
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All I saw was the cue ball come to rest at the position shown,as I walked into The Rack in Memphis,before the initial remodel,so this was on the old Gandy that used to be in the front. Louie looked at it,and didn't even take a warmup stroke,just loaded up with high right and jackhammered the ball into the pocket,the cue ball jumped off the rail and took pretty much this exact path. He turned around and looked at Herb Wilmot,and said "ya know Herb,I could have slow rolled and ball and still made it,but I didn't want it to roll off". Grady tells a story about Louie going up to like 8 different players at a tournament and borrowing 3-400 to gamble with,putting his cue up for collateral,but specifying he needed to use the cue to play the match with. All 8 people gave him money,none of them saw the cue,and he disappeared. I have also been told a story about another kind of self-help product he used. The person walks into the bathroom at The Rack,and sees Louie reading what looks like a sheet of notebook paper with scribbling on it. Louie,seeing he is not alone anymore,hurriedly wads the paper up and stuffs it in the crotch of his pants,and says something to the effect of "you didn't see this,but if you gonna try and take it,here it is",while grabbing his crotch. This was pretty close to the time he left and went to Arizona,so you can draw your own conclusions about what his mental state might have been. If he had been using subliminal tapes,and had them stolen,maybe the paper had the same things written on it,and was used to replace the stolen tapes. He was a gifted,yet apparently very complicated individual. Tommy D.

 

[jay helfert]

Louie Roberts

They give an award out at the Derby City Classic bearing his name.
But I can't find much on the internet about him.
He must have been quite a character to have the action/entertainment award named after him.
Also I know he has passed away,but how did he die?
I have seen conflicting reports on that matter.
And finally what speed did he play at,maybe someone can compare him to one of todays players.
Thanks for any info.

Louie was my friend too. He lived with me and we traveled together for several years. His correct nickname is "St. Louie Louie". He became one of the best money players during his heyday in the 70's and early 80's. He would play anyone, but he was probably a ball (the Eight) under the best players like Buddy and Sigel.
He may have been the greatest shotmaker ever, with an uncanny eye for cutting balls. He could fire in a thin cut shot off the end rail better than anyone I ever saw. And the object ball would never touch a rail, simply amazing. Oh, and he played fast too, without a second wasted once he saw the shot. Very quick, very accurate. That's his M.O.
His downfall was alcohol and he couldn't resist its temptations. He probably committed suicide in an alcohol fueled stupor. The year was 1990 I believe and he was in Phoenix. He had been chronically depressed for many years and his game had slipped badly. Louie was only 40 years old.
One game I remember well was a money match he played with Keith in Memphis in 1983 or 84 at a tournament there. Both were non stop talkers, but somehow during the course of the match they agreed to play "mum" pool (no one talks or it's a loss of game). It was a ten ahead Nine Ball match so it took several hours of silence, and ended in the wee hours of the morning. Louie finally got there and his parting shot to Keith was "nice talking to you kid".
Yes, he was unique. Intelligent, handsome (the girls adored him), personable and extremely talented (he was a great athlete in high school). He could do a better Elvis impersonation than any of these clowns out there today, believe me.
His death was a loss for pool, but he was lost to us long before he finally passed. I hope he is in a better place now. I loved Louie.

 

[jay helfert]

Louie and Luther

I'd have to go with Luther Lassiter, who I watched as a child. Not far behind are Cole Dixon and Fong Pang Chao.

Of course, I never saw Louie play, and would love to hear somebody who saw both Lassiter and Louie play compare the two.

I saw them both play many times. They were sort of a decade apart, with Lassiter's heyday in the 50's, 60's and early 70's, which is where Louie really got started. Luther played a slow and easy game, taking his time like Buddy does. But he probably missed fewer balls than any player, with the exception of Sigel.
Luther was acknowledged by his peers as the best 9-Ball player and no one would play him. I never saw him get a significant money game during the 60's or early 70's. He was the dominant tournament player during that same period. Once at Johnson City when Eddie Kelly was on the top of his game, he walked into the practice room and challenged anyone to play a thousand dollar 9-Ball match. Lassiter had been dozing in the bleachers, resting his head on his cue. He heard this challenge from Kelly and woke up. He began to get up and Kelly immediately said "I didn't mean you Mr. Lassiter".
Louie couldn't have beaten Lassiter in his prime. He was too undisciplined and Luther was a seasoned pro and winner. He would have irritated Lassiter, but that would have only made him play better.
That's my opinion.

 

[Rickw]

One thing that I don't understand is that if a player like Louis could make any shot like the ones described in this thread and have the stroking ability as well, how come he was a ball or two behind Buddy and Mike Sigel? I understand that Buddy was just awesome for several years but if a guy never misses and shoots shots the way Louis purportedly did, how did he lose? He must have missed once in a while.