Who was the best hustler?

jay helfert said:
The best pure hustler I knew was probably Popcorn, who moved as good as anyone I ever saw around a poolroom. He had a piece of everybody and was in on every good game. He was especially skillfull at setting up "marks". He snuck Lisciotti in on me, but I paid him back sneaking a young Frank Tullos into his joint. Playing the best for the cash had to go to Cornbread, who never met a bet he didn't like. The higher the bet, the better he played. He delighted in firing the money ball in at 100mph when all the cash was on the line. It was his way of adding an explanation point to the victory.

(QUOTE] Seems like every good player who came through CA in the late 60's / early 70's stayed with Popcorn in El Monte & were snuck in to 5 Points Bowl. No Telling how much money he made with Don Watson. We have talked about Don before, and big table / small table, I never saw him book a loser and Corn was always in. He could get staked himself sometimes. He had that big long stroke and always looked like he was stalling. He used to jump in the pay ball ring games at Verne Peterson's Billiard Palace once and a while against the big boys, always with a stakehorse, and while he could play some, that game was too tough for him. That was the only time I saw him out of line and it wasn't with his own money.
 
Another Keith story

I was out in Vegas at BCA around 1999, 2000 and they had a challenge room at the end of the Splash bar where players could go to practice and challenge opponents.

I was getting a beer, when I saw Keith coming out for one and I followed him back into the room. He was playing a guy 9 ball for an undetermined amount on a bar table. They evidently had finished the previous game early because there were a combination of stripes and solids on the table. Keith had just made the 4 and played safe on the 5.

The opponent got up to shoot and was aiming at the 13. Keith yelled out "5 BALL", the guy kept on aiming at the 13. Keith again yelled out "5 BALL" and the guy shot the 13 in the corner.

Keith said, "you shot the wrong ball, I told you, you had to shoot the 5". The guy said, "F.... YOU, I've got stripes"!

Well, an argument came about, the guy wouldn't let Keith use his stick as he previously did. In fact, he was making suggestions of what part of the anatomy he was going to put his cue when Keith walked around and picked up a jump cue that was leaning against the wall.

Keith then proceeded to RUN the table with the jump cue. Walked out and got another beer.

Funniest thing I ever saw.
 
CrownCityCorey said:
Flyboy
Archie the Greek
Harry Platis
some (current or former) Exec at the Mirage (Vegas).
Aloha Wayne (RIP)

Though these guys were "whales", but they were not stupid and getting the right game could be tough as nails.


the casino exec moves good,

i respectflly disagree about archie, next time we meet up i'll tell you the story, i know the whole thing, and what led up to his score. etc.
 
Willie the Wop and the One-Eyed Doc

jay helfert said:
That's priceless Freddie. And it sounds just like something he would say. I think I have may have heard him tell this story too, but there were so many funny stories from his lips, who can possibly remember them all.

Did you ever hear him tell the story about Willie the Wop? It was long and it was hilarious. He finally quit telling it. I think he made someone mad. Once he started playing Mosconi on TV, I never heard him tell it again.

Willie the Wop was a barely concealed, nasty reference to Mosconi. The story was, Willie the Wop and The One-Eyed Doc, for Willie's last money. Fats would even go so far as to say the story took place in Philadelphia. Willie had his last money up playing straight pool, and Doc was shooting at the game ball. Doc tells Willie he will bank it rather than shoot it straight in if Willie would humiliate himself, and do a series of shameful commands that the Doc would impose on him. Willie reluctantly complies, and Doc banks the last ball and misses it. Now Willie is running out, and when he gets to the hanger game ball he gives the Doc an option. If the Doc will take out his glass eye and spin in on the table, and then shoot it into a pocket, Willie would bank the last ball instead of shooting the hanger straight on in. The now embarassed Doc takes his glass eye out, spins it on the table and shoots it into the corner. Willie gets down on the game ball, but instead of banking it, he shoots it straight into the pocket, turns to the Doc and says, "Not that eye, Doc, the other one!"

the Beard
I've got 2 new trick banks up on my blog, www.bankingwiththebeard.blogspot.com/ Do you think you can make 'em? I don't think so.
 
Bump for Jay

freddy the beard said:
Willie the Wop was a barely concealed, nasty reference to Mosconi. The story was, Willie the Wop and The One-Eyed Doc, for Willie's last money. Fats would even go so far as to say the story took place in Philadelphia. Willie had his last money up playing straight pool, and Doc was shooting at the game ball. Doc tells Willie he will bank it rather than shoot it straight in if Willie would humiliate himself, and do a series of shameful commands that the Doc would impose on him. Willie reluctantly complies, and Doc banks the last ball and misses it. Now Willie is running out, and when he gets to the hanger game ball he gives the Doc an option. If the Doc will take out his glass eye and spin in on the table, and then shoot it into a pocket, Willie would bank the last ball instead of shooting the hanger straight on in. The now embarassed Doc takes his glass eye out, spins it on the table and shoots it into the corner. Willie gets down on the game ball, but instead of banking it, he shoots it straight into the pocket, turns to the Doc and says, "Not that eye, Doc, the other one!"

the Beard
I've got 2 new trick banks up on my blog, www.bankingwiththebeard.blogspot.com/ Do you think you can make 'em? I don't think so.

I just wanted to make sure Jay got a refresher on the Willie and Doc story.

the Beard
 
freddy the beard said:
I just wanted to make sure Jay got a refresher on the Willie and Doc story.

the Beard

Freddie,

Fats told several versions of this story, depending on the crowd and the mood he was in.

Here's another one with just the punchline to a long story. Willie The Wop is a great Straight Pool player but can't seem to win for the cash. He never can beat the Fatman when money is on the line. Finally one day he is playing Fats for all his cheese and running out, and it looks like he might finally win. He ends up needing only one ball and has the five ball straight in the side from one foot away. A HANGER!

Willie turns to Fats and tells him, I'm finally going to beat you Fatman. Get your money ready. Fats tells him he better not choke again. Then Fats would get down on the shot he had set up, and look at the crowd and say "This is what Willie did for all his cash", and MISCUE! The crowd would break into laughter every time. Fats would then add that he stepped up and ran out to win again, and bust Willie one more time.

Did you ever hear that version?
 
another version

jay helfert said:
Freddie,

Fats told several versions of this story, depending on the crowd and the mood he was in.

Here's another one with just the punchline to a long story. Willie The Wop is a great Straight Pool player but can't seem to win for the cash. He never can beat the Fatman when money is on the line. Finally one day he is playing Fats for all his cheese and running out, and it looks like he might finally win. He ends up needing only one ball and has the five ball straight in the side from one foot away. A HANGER!

Willie turns to Fats and tells him, I'm finally going to beat you Fatman. Get your money ready. Fats tells him he better not choke again. Then Fats would get down on the shot he had set up, and look at the crowd and say "This is what Willie did for all his cash", and MISCUE! The crowd would break into laughter every time. Fats would then add that he stepped up and ran out to win again, and bust Willie one more time.

Did you ever hear that version?

Yes, and I remember one more version. Fats is playing him and he needs one ball and tells Willie the Wop he will bank the last ball if Willie would do a vaudeville song and dance for him (I think Mosconi was at one time also a hoofer). After Willie does his thing, Fats banks the last ball. As soon as he hits it, the floor caves in on Fats. On his way down through the floor and into the basement, Fats yells out, "...And I dont want to hear nothing about that ball rolling off!

the Beard
I've got 2 new trick banks up on my blog, www.bankingwiththebeard.blogspot.com/ Do you think you can make 'em? I don't think so.
 
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A roadman's hustler review

In-Character Category:

There may be a few of you who have seen Grady Matthews in his worn overalls with a 5 gallon beard AND a piece of Johnson grass in his teeth playing with a clanking Budweiser cue. (his turkey call)

Goodtime Charlie does a pretty good country bumpkin impersonation with an MO of losing a few dollars on Friday night and taking it off Saturday when the bet was right.

Action generator Category:
note: There is a lot of difference between stirring up action and getting the cash.

I am really glad someone brought up Junior Goff's name because he covered the South like the dew. Too many stories to list.

I am amazed no one has brought up Ronnie Alllen. I believe Ronnie should be credited with changing the accepted strategy for one-pocket to aggressive from conservation. Jack Breit "almost exact" quote from memory.

Growing up in the Greenway Poolroom in Baton Rouge gave me a look at the Hustler "du jour" and the old guys who turned to owner (Lambert Louviere) for a job when they needed to pump back up.

HAB
 
HittMan said:
In-Character Category:

There may be a few of you who have seen Grady Matthews in his worn overalls with a 5 gallon beard AND a piece of Johnson grass in his teeth playing with a clanking Budweiser cue. (his turkey call)

Goodtime Charlie does a pretty good country bumpkin impersonation with an MO of losing a few dollars on Friday night and taking it off Saturday when the bet was right.

Action generator Category:
note: There is a lot of difference between stirring up action and getting the cash.

I am really glad someone brought up Junior Goff's name because he covered the South like the dew. Too many stories to list.

I am amazed no one has brought up Ronnie Alllen. I believe Ronnie should be credited with changing the accepted strategy for one-pocket to aggressive from conservation. Jack Breit "almost exact" quote from memory.

Growing up in the Greenway Poolroom in Baton Rouge gave me a look at the Hustler "du jour" and the old guys who turned to owner (Lambert Louviere) for a job when they needed to pump back up.

HAB

You called that one right. Ronnie could go into any bar with a pool table (which is all of them), make friends and start drinking. This is when NO ONE is even playing pool! Pretty soon he would steer the conversation around to pool and then the games would begin. Before the night was over, Ronnie would have ten new friends for life, who had cheerfully donated all the money in their pockets to him. I saw this move with my own eyes more than once.

Not only was Ronnie the best One Pocket player of his era, he knew more about matching up than anyone else. I can't tell you all he taught me about One Pocket, but let's just say he knew some moves that no one else did. If you let him break the balls, you were dead! Guaranteed to not get a shot at your hole, unless he let you. Ronnie in his prime would have beaten Efren with the break, NO QUESTION! No balls, just the break. Efren or anyone else wouldn't have a prayer letting Ronnie break all the time.

So now, let's say Efren and Ronnie could have played break apiece, 25 years ago. Ronnie wins 9 out of 10 on his break. Can Efren beat him 9 out of 10 on his break? I'm not so sure. That's why I think Ronnie would have had a good chance against the Mighty E during his prime years, the mid 60's to early 80's.
 
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jay helfert said:
You called that one right. Ronnie could go into any bar with a pool table (which is all of them), make friends and start drinking. This is when NO ONE is even playing pool! Pretty soon he would steer the conversation around to pool and then the games would begin. Before the night was over, Ronnie would have ten new friends for life, who had cheerfully donated all the money in their pockets to him. I saw this move with my own eyes more than once.

I have known Ronnie over 45 years and if there was any money in a joint he could get it all. I recall when he came into a little beer bar a friend of mine owned in Temple City, CA, not too far from Santa Anita race track. Ronnie came in and had a couple of beers and sold a couple of Meucci Cues he had. There was a player in the place from Riverside who said he would like to play Ronnie with the 7, but would only fire one $100 set at him. The owner stakes Ronnie who blows $500. They make a small adjustment, Ronnie plays on his own dough and beats him out of $600. The owner takes the heat, plays with a big spot and loses another $1,000 or so. Ronnie is out the door with a little under $2,000. I chided my friend for thinking Ronnie would play his heart out to try and win $50. The owner was a little hot, but it didn't last long. He had the great Ronnie Allen playing in his joint and he was welcome back any time. He knew how to make em pay and like it. John
 
Bucktooth has Beat more CHAMPIONS than any player ever not SUCKERS, he played the best when they were at the top of there game and busted them. Bucktooth ran his business wold not play for long periods of time, but a new champion would appear here comes Bucktooth just to name a few Mike Segal Johnny Archer Mark Tadd,keith, Cole, Louie Roberts, Johnny E, Cannon Ball, BIG NOSE ROBERTS,OKIE SAM, DETROIT WHITEY,ALLEN HOPKINS, these were all GREAT PLAYERS and still are not suckers these are just a few names the list is so long you need a adding machine.....and another thing just think FAT BOY you can get on the list with all these champions.
 
Bucktooth has Beat more CHAMPIONS than any player ever not SUCKERS, he played the best when they were at the top of there game and busted them. Bucktooth ran his business wold not play for long periods of time, but a new champion would appear here comes Bucktooth just to name a few Mike Segal Johnny Archer Mark Tadd,keith, Cole, Louie Roberts, Johnny E, Cannon Ball, BIG NOSE ROBERTS,OKIE SAM, DETROIT WHITEY,ALLEN HOPKINS, these were all GREAT PLAYERS and still are not suckers these are just a few names the list is so long you need a adding machine.....and another thing just think FAT BOY you can get on the list with all these champions.
 
frankwhite said:
No, he is 100% pro poker player. And may I add, plays pretty sporty.
Frankie


Well, not necessarily. Nicky, after taking down a few big poker scores, totaling in the 7 figures, moved to vegas to pursue the cash games there becasue the Internet was becoming more difficult.

Recently, he moved back to NY, after complaining about the vegas action. He is now determined to get back in on the pool scene, as he has been showing up quite frequently at Amsterdam in NYC. Even though he knows almost everyone in the room, he stays in the back, quietly playing by himself for hours at a time.

And... As far as Ginky is concerned, the pictures Jam posted where of Ginky fresh off from the road. He had already been on tv, and was starting to become very well known. The blonde hair was part of his disguise. Perhaps this was after a road trip with pagulyan? How would you like to run into them, undercover is some nondescript room in the Midwest? LOL.

Rg
 
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.

I did not read a single post of many that replied, but each state has one, maybe two good (not great) players that 'work it' and make $250,000 over a 30 year period and they still keep it going', when they pick your pocket you always want more, and that 'more' is always there. They are never well known that's why they $bank$ it.
 
HittMan said:
In-Character Category:

There may be a few of you who have seen Grady Matthews in his worn overalls with a 5 gallon beard AND a piece of Johnson grass in his teeth playing with a clanking Budweiser cue. (his turkey call)

Goodtime Charlie does a pretty good country bumpkin impersonation with an MO of losing a few dollars on Friday night and taking it off Saturday when the bet was right.

Action generator Category:
note: There is a lot of difference between stirring up action and getting the cash.

I am really glad someone brought up Junior Goff's name because he covered the South like the dew. Too many stories to list.

I am amazed no one has brought up Ronnie Alllen. I believe Ronnie should be credited with changing the accepted strategy for one-pocket to aggressive from conservation. Jack Breit "almost exact" quote from memory.

Growing up in the Greenway Poolroom in Baton Rouge gave me a look at the Hustler "du jour" and the old guys who turned to owner (Lambert Louviere) for a job when they needed to pump back up.

HAB

I once heard about Charlie busting a pool room somewhere when he came in wearing his overalls looking like a farmer and circling the 9' tables with two quarters looking for the coin slots :D
 
Titanic Thompson was from here and his nephew is still alive and many great stories...there is a book about titanic...its called the unsinkable ti...great gambling stories
 
cornfed said:
Bucktooth has Beat more CHAMPIONS than any player ever not SUCKERS, he played the best when they were at the top of there game and busted them. Bucktooth ran his business wold not play for long periods of time, but a new champion would appear here comes Bucktooth just to name a few Mike Segal Johnny Archer Mark Tadd,keith, Cole, Louie Roberts, Johnny E, Cannon Ball, BIG NOSE ROBERTS,OKIE SAM, DETROIT WHITEY,ALLEN HOPKINS, these were all GREAT PLAYERS and still are not suckers these are just a few names the list is so long you need a adding machine.....and another thing just think FAT BOY you can get on the list with all these champions.

Please, please, please list the WEIGHT that Tooth got when beating these champions. Has Bucktooth beaten any champion even???? I didn't think so.

Please STOP IT on this forum about how freaking great and how much gamble Bucktooth has. You don't have ANY gamble and NO HEART when you want the world all the time. I would gladly bet thousands as well if I could get ridiculous weight. Is there ANYONE that Bucktooth has beaten where the game was even remotely in line????

I can't take it anymore and I know I will probably be a target now. But in case you haven't figured it out 99.99% of internet barking does NOT lead to a game. So you are wasting your time.
 
best hustler?

u.j. puckett, and alfie taylor, sparky webb they all got weight from there opponite and probably could beat the guy even to start! sparky was on the road for 5 yrs and only booked 1 loser!
 
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