U.J. was one of the all-time great Hustlers. If you were on his list, he could hustle you in many different ways. It all depended on which hustle he thought would turn your goose loose. Weather it took a "Red-Ass" hustle OR a "Sugar" hustle.
If you were a fellow player/hustler, he would share scores & spots that you could bet would make you some good cash - If you listened.
He was behind many of the Hugh scores at Johnston City and elsewhere that most never knew he was even involved.
I never forget a spot he gave me while we were in Texas one time. He told me of a bar in BlackFish Lake, Arkansas. My partner & I left a.s.a.p.
After playing almost 5 days of non-stop action we were up almost $7K. When we were burned out and leaving through the front door on a nice bright sunny afternoon - Here comes Puckett walking towards us. He was driving a real nice pick-up with a Hugh bass fishing boat in tow. He also had his nephew (C.J.Willy) with him.
It was just like in the movie "The Sting". When he saw California Bob & myself walking out, he didn't say a word, he just rubbed the side of his nose and kept walking.
Now U.J. wouldn't have given me this spot IF he didn't KNOW he would get his "IN".
I had just busted the best player in the area (Calvin) and all his backers. We had mentioned that we were headed for New Orleans. We drove almost straight through only stopping once for a 5-hour nap. When we got to New Orleans we went right to The Sports Palace thinking we could check out the action before getting some long awaited rest.
I almost couldn't believe my eyes. Here was Calvin practicing on a back table and waiting for me. He had stayed up (wired to the max), drove straight through and wanting a rematch. He had a new backer & bankroll and wanted to start playing right then. Now I had just busted him on his home bar box & I was really a big table player. He was a good bar table player but not really known for playing the bigs.
I told him that if he wanted to play me, I'd be back in about 18 hours and he could bet all he had.
As I was leaving, the deskman said I had a phone call - It was Puckett. I asked him where he wanted his "IN" sent. He said, we can worry about that later, I want to just make sure "I'm IN", down there. I assured him he was (now that he called himself in) and asked him how the fishing was back there in BalckFish Lake. He said - "All I have been catching so far were pretty small but his nephew was going to start fishing tomorrow and he had some pretty high hopes for him".
Now I just realized that this saga did go on (back & forth) for over 2 months (with U.J.) giving up good spots and monitoring our action everywhere he was sending us.
Some day I might write the final conclusion BUT right now I'm tired of typing and can just say - PUCKETT KNEW THE HOW, WHEN & WHERE OF HUSTLING!
TY & GL
U.J. was more fun than you could ever know! He got me barred out of Dallas for a few years for gettin on T.V. telling EVERYONE THANKS FOR MAKIN HIS LIVING EASY!! Or in his words I'd like to thank all the Suckers I Beat!!! LOL, I loved his Big old ass, He could get you hooked on Pool or Fishing There are GReat Storys Told on him He was a true Texas Bull-shitter Who could get there!! Who are you to call him a prick?
