Stakehorsing is a lot more than just picking up somebody's road tab. My partner made the bets, I put the balls in the subway. I didn't interfere with his part of the business, he didn't interfere with mine. He set up the bets, and made an investment in my talent and abilities. If we won, we spent the night in a motel. If we lost, we swatted mosquitos all night sleeping in the car at a rest area. My partner and I were loyal to each other. These days there are a lot of cowboys that will shoot with anybody's money, and there is no loyalty or commitment involved. It takes a lot of teamwork, and the stakehorse must know the strengths of his player as well as the weaknesses. My partner Dexter would scout players for days before trying to set something up. What he was doing was devising a gameplan that would play to my opponent's weaknesses.
When I went to Texas and rolled Gene Skinner, it wasn't so much about my playing as it was about Dexter's ability to set up the right game with the right player at the right time for the right money. When you work as a team like that, then my job and his become much easier. All I have to do is put the balls in the holes. I didn't have to worry about setting up games, money, attitudes, arguments, or anything else but screwing my cue together and getting the job done. Many players try to do all of this, and I think that's wrong. I would never interfere or say a word while Dexter was making the deal. That would have been like Dexter interrupting me during the matchup and telling me what ball to shoot and how to do it. We respected each other's positions within the partnership. We understood our roles. So why would anybody do it? Because it is a vital ingredient to your success on the road (in my opinion). Is there risk involved? Darn right. There is risk involved in anything when the outcome is in question. This is just my opinion on this subject.
O H B said it right!! I was born in the life!! I love the action it's almost like fishing.When your fishing on the bottom with no bobber and get that bite you feel a little flutter inside!!!
