Jimmy Caras once told me that Willie didn't speak to him for year
after he beat Mosconi in an exibition match.
after he beat Mosconi in an exibition match.
One thing is for sure, when you mix pure talent with devastating killer intensity and desire, you get a very dangerous pool player.![]()
I doubt he ever made a decision that was for the good of the game or for other pocket billiard professionals, his being a purist aside. It seems to me as if he was looking out for Mosconi at all times. No doubt he ran the 526, ran 100+ in exhibition constantly dominated the world championship etc. He did that and it was great but pool was bigger then and he could have promoted the sport and other players which might have ultimately made him more money. I have talked to a few of the older guys who knew Mosconi and he seemed to be a bit of a primadonna always looking out for #1.
I must have seen him play exhibitions more the 50 times and he was always kind of a miserable guy. He would give dirty looks at anyone who moved when he was shooting. Once after a not so great trick shot exhibition, he didn't know they would be 4 x 8's. He left without signing any autographs and as he was maybe 30 feet away shouted back, "What time do I have to be back here tonight, I want to get in a round of golf". It was obvious being in that pool room and having to be nice to the customers was the last place he wanted to be.
Once he was playing an exhibition in Tampa against Eddie Taylor. It was a 1000 point catch up match over 4 nights all guaranteed money. We got there a little late the second night and everyone was just milling around. Turns out Mr. Baker who owned the room and was footing the bill for everything had thrown Mosconi out of the room and paid off Taylor. Mosconi was so miserable the first night yelling at the spectators, complaining about everything in the place. Said something to the effect that Bakers room was a dump, sort of correct by the way, Mr. Baker had had enough and it was over. To the best of my knowledge Baker didn't pay Mosconi he gave all the money to Taylor.
This is not to bad mouth Mosconi but beyond his obvious talent there was not much there to admire about the man. Ask Danny DiLiberto about Mosconi. When Mosconi was working for Ebonite they wanted to give a job to Danny as their touring pro. The company was headquartered in Hialeah where Danny lived. Mosconi put the kibosh on the deal keeping Danny from getting the job. Mosconi I doubt ever did a thing for another player in his life.
That doesn't sound anything like the Willie Mosconi that was a family friend, that I grew up around, and knew pretty well. To me, he was one of the nicest men I ever knew, and I miss him very much.