Who was the best hustler?

alstl

alstl

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
For those of you who have been around a while, who would you list as the best hustler you ever saw? You can break it down into two categories if you like, a hustler who could make money and keep it, or a guy who could make money but then throw it away on other "stuff".

Feel free to include some stories.
 
Besides Jay Helfert,
San Francisco Jack get my vote.
A movie about Jack Cooney's life should be made.
OF course Amarillo Slim deserves a biopic too.
 
alstl said:
For those of you who have been around a while, who would you list as the best hustler you ever saw? You can break it down into two categories if you like, a hustler who could make money and keep it, or a guy who could make money but then throw it away on other "stuff".

Feel free to include some stories.
Click to expand...

Frisco Jack.
 
You will never know!

alstl said:
For those of you who have been around a while, who would you list as the best hustler you ever saw? You can break it down into two categories if you like, a hustler who could make money and keep it, or a guy who could make money but then throw it away on other "stuff".

Feel free to include some stories.
Click to expand...

You will never know, that's why their the best.

Ray
 
Me, by damn it. Me. I am on a twenty-two year lay down just a layin' an' a waitin' for Efren to make the wrong move. I have created some sh#$ in my days, though. Nothing big.... but nothing tough. I occasionally stretch out and over spot the games, though. Or, I don't ask for enough. I'd have to go with Tony Mougey, Joe Root, and Foxy Willie. If you're from Raleigh, you'll know Willie. He's been known to take down some 4-5000 scores playing "non-players." As for Root. He once originated a $17,000 score by standing in a grocery store and barking out about gambling. I have seen him create action when there wasn't any. I mean two-four hundred action. It's insane. Played pretty sporty, too. Tony once "peppered" a town twice before taking the whole town off. I'd better not tell that one.
 
I think you'd have to include Don Willis on a short list.

Fats, too.

Totally different styles apparently (I never saw either) -- Willis quietly setting up scores over a lifetime career that supported his family. Fats with unrelenting bluster, and enough talent to back it up against all but a few (well, a little more than a few :) )

Also,a couple that have been honored at our Derby City HOF dinner should be mentioned -- Vernon Elliott (often cited as the best unknown player of his generation), and George Rood -- old enough now to have seen about four generations of players come and go!
 
I don't know who was the best because if I knew any road players were in an area I went to another area. Unlike Jay, Fredie, and a few more old road players on here I ran the other way. Just call me NIT, but I never had a losing year. From what I've been told "the Fat Man" was one of the best for matching up to his advantage. Johnnyt
 
I say Jack Cooney hands down! This guy would move to a town and go into the poolroom for months without ever hitting a ball and gauge everyone. Then when the time was right, he would start with the bangers and work his way up to the best in the room. All the while, he was hustling on the golf course during the days. Not sure if he still does the road so to speak, but he knew how to lay it down pretty well. JMO.

Southpaw
 
Actionhound said:
I have heard alot of stories and read some articles about a guy called Titanic Thompson, but he was before my time.
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That guy was a con artist and a very good one at that. He could also play pool. Get the book, "The Great Titanic Thompson". Good read. Probably finish it in one night. You will really enjoy it. Must read for everyone.
 
.

Vernon Elliot. I still don't know who he is. How do you like that action? I could play him tommorrow and never know but I've heard he doesn't mind leaving with your cash.
 
My nominee would be "Brooklyn Jimmy" Kassas, about whom I've written many times. Jimmy played at NY's fabled 711 room maybe 400 times and booked one loser - and what's more, he ALWAYS got a spot from his suckers, despite the fact that his actual speed was just a hair under Ervolino's! And he got rich, too: took his poolroom winnings to the racetrack, made a million, put that into NY's diamond center and became REALLY wealthy, and never looked back. GF
 
Jack Cooney

I never had the pleasure of watching him play but have quite a few stories. Some I am sure were embellished for the effect, but one that I have heard from several sources here locally in St. Louis was about one of his visits here. He as usual had been around for a little while and planning his strategy when he finally got into action with the biggest fish in town at the time playing one hole. All the locals knew that Jack was the favorite and knew that the local fish would take all bets if he liked the game. Apparantly, Jack knew this and let all the railbirds bet on him with the fish. Jack then proceeded to dump to the fish game after game until all the railbirds decided to stop and most left. Jack then proceeded to raise the bet with the fish and started turning it on and not only beat the fish out of all of his money, but got all the railbirds money that was now in the fishes pocket. It took a lot of patience and good bank roll because the fish did not play cheap.
 
George Fels said:
My nominee would be "Brooklyn Jimmy" Kassas, about whom I've written many times. Jimmy played at NY's fabled 711 room maybe 400 times and booked one loser - and what's more, he ALWAYS got a spot from his suckers, despite the fact that his actual speed was just a hair under Ervolino's! And he got rich, too: took his poolroom winnings to the racetrack, made a million, put that into NY's diamond center and became REALLY wealthy, and never looked back. GF
Click to expand...

Sounds like he had it figured out. How does a guy like that always get weight? Was the room so big and full of people that he could fly under the radar?
 
Don Willis comes to mind fastest when I read the title. Cooney would be my second pick.

Modern day (last 10 years or so)...well, there are some things once heard that you can't un-hear....When Jay Helfert said they went about "ransacking the country", I think that's a funny phrase that I'll always remember.
We were talking of course of when Corey Deuel and Alex Pagulayan teamed up and traveled together seeking out money games. Can you even imagine the poor (pun intended:D ) fools that matched up with that duo?:eek:

As a side note, I personally think that the team of Deuel / Pagulayan was second all time only to the tandem of Luther Lassiter / Don Willis.
 
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