Who was the best hustler?

BillPorter said:
Actually, he wasn't that strong at pool. He was a scratch golfer and pretty good at bowling. He was world class at skeet shooting and very good with a pistol. He didn't always have the nuts as I won the only bet I ever made with him!:D
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Horseshoes was supposed to have been his best game.
 
Greg Stevens?

Way before my time, but i've heard that he was a monster when he got going.

Anyone have any input?
 
asn130 said:
Way before my time, but i've heard that he was a monster when he got going.

Anyone have any input?
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Big train was an animal,he would pop pills and be up for days,they say that players would stay away in the beginning of the session as he couldnt be beat and when he was coming down they would pounce on him.
 
Earl Shriver?

He bet me $1 to my $10 that he could make 100 spot shots in a row...after he won my $10...he then bet me HIS $10 to my $100 that he could BANK 100 spot shots in a row. I had to go for that.
I was sweating when he got to 60! He missed number 93!!!!!
He told me many stories about Titanic Thompson, Fats and others. I loved every minute.
 
Don Willis and Jack Cooney. I think there's more creative, entertaining, and sometimes unbelievable stories about each of them than any other player including efren (ceasar). And they all have the same premise, the loosers kept going back for more beatings. I love that part.
 
I personally Fats run 3 racks of 1 hole. First rack sunk a ball on the break and runs out. Second rack nothing on the break, his next shot runs out
8-0. Third rack nothing on the break his next shot runs out 8-0.

You gotta know something besides how to talk to do that. No he wasn't the best like he'd tell you but you'd better know what you're doing at banks, One Pocket and 3 Cushion. He usually knew the speed of the opponent vs his speed then worked the angles like the Master Hustler he was.

I only was able to watch him play the local guys in Carbondale IL in the mid 70s and 80s but there were 3 or maybe a fourth that could hold
their own against all the road players that were still coming into S. IL even though Johnson City was long gone Fats played them all and many times got the best of them.
 
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3kushn said:
I personally saw him run 3 racks of 1 hole. First rack sunk a ball on the break and runs out. Second rack nothing on the break, his next shot runs out 8-0. Third rack nothing on the break his next shot runs out 8-0. You gotta know something besides how to talk to do that.
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WHO?:confused:
 
He was considered the very best of all the long-session players. He popped speed pills the size of poker chips, ate enough for three days at a single sitting (an entire loaf of bread, a dozen hamburgers, stuff like that) and gambled up to eight days continuously. Mosconi himself told Stevens, "You shoot as straight as any man I ever saw, but you don't have the patience for one-pocket." Not surprisingly considering his big-match regimen, Stevens is now dead. GF
 
George Fels said:
He was considered the very best of all the long-session players. He popped speed pills the size of poker chips, ate enough for three days at a single sitting (an entire loaf of bread, a dozen hamburgers, stuff like that) and gambled up to eight days continuously. Mosconi himself told Stevens, "You shoot as straight as any man I ever saw, but you don't have the patience for one-pocket." Not surprisingly considering his big-match regimen, Stevens is now dead. GF
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Didn't he retire from hustling and open a poolroom in Kansas or something? I could be confused with another player of course. When did Stevens die?
 
MastersMaster said:
I geuss you could pretty much define huster and rodie as one in the same. One of the best I ever seen was Weldon Rogers Jr. Absolutely awesome. For along time, he was considered one of the best small table players in the country, if not the best. He played equally as well on the big tables. Juniors best hustle was playing everyone one-handed to their normal two-handed play. He played better one-handed than two, and two-handed, he was a machine. He was a monster player.
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Junior lives in my town and I see him every once in a while. I have played him several times and you are correct, he could defiitely play one-handed. He doesn't play anymore and his health is a concern but he does still enjoy fishing as much as ever.

I have hear quite a few "legends" give Junior his credit as being one of the best. He is a really good guy as well.
 
Wichita Kansas

1pocket said:
Didn't he retire from hustling and open a poolroom in Kansas or something? I could be confused with another player of course. When did Stevens die?
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Greg Stevens opened a pool room in Wichita, Ks. He got religion, barred all hustlers and frowned on gambling in the joint.

the Beard
 
I new Joe in New Orleans, he was a nice guy. Always friendly and willing to take a few of my dollars playing cheap one pocket
 
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