Jimbo
09-25-2002, 06:36 PM
The first one was posted in a reply to a thread in the Home Poker forum which got me to thinking about the proverbial "Goold Old days".
This reminds me of a story while shooting pool on a road trip to Augusta, Ga. in 1974. I had beat the local champions for all they would lose at Willie Mosconi's new downtown pool hall when it was suggested I go to this bar outside of town. I found the local bar champion all chalked up and ready to play some 8 ball for $100 a rack. I won the flip, broke, scratched and he began to rerack the balls and told me I owed him a Benjamin. He said house rules; Scratch on the break and you lose. Well I paid my hundred, unscrewed and got the hell out of Augusta. After all I could not afford too many more rules lessons.
The next story is from the same road trip:
I was steered by my local contact to a spot in Hepzibah, Ga. just a few miles outside of Augusta. The joints name was JOHNNY REB'S complete with the confederate flag flying outside the building. A sign upon entering read:
No Hippies
No N****** (derogatory term for African Americans)
No Kidding
Well at least then I was still clean cut as I had just recently departed the US Army. I walk in and get swarmed immediately by railbirds, backers and local pros all wanting action. I already had a line on who to play in what order so I began matching up with and beating all comers over an 8 hour period. When the well dried up and I was preparing to leave a few old timers playing dominoes asked me if I played bumper pool. Of course I told them I knew the rules ( ha ha see above story) but had not played for years, all true. What I did not tell them was that when I learned to play pool at the age of 10 all I was allowed to play before turning 12 was bumper pool. Suffice it to say that two straight years of bumper pool with a natural talent for the game will stay with you for a lifetime.
The dominoe players pooled $300 and brought out their champion. For those of you who are unfamiliar with bumper pool this may not be clear, for all others I hope you appreciate the flow of the game. It is agreed that we will play 2 out of three for the cash. We post the $600 ($300 each) and take our first simultaneous shot. His landed an inch or so from my hole but I pocketed mine so it was my next turn. I ran all 5 balls (inclusive of the first shot) and was ready to continue when the backers asked me if we could settle for $250. I said sure (Hell anything can happen) and left with the single biggest score of my life at that time.
If anyone finds these stories mildy amusing or interesting please post any comments or questions. I may post more in the future as I have many to tell from the "good old days", several with famous personalities to include Amarillo Slim, Steve Mizerak, Willie Mosconi, Jimmy Caras and others. Yes I do know several of the players who made cameo appearances in The Color Of Money as well as some of todays famous champions.
Jimbo
This reminds me of a story while shooting pool on a road trip to Augusta, Ga. in 1974. I had beat the local champions for all they would lose at Willie Mosconi's new downtown pool hall when it was suggested I go to this bar outside of town. I found the local bar champion all chalked up and ready to play some 8 ball for $100 a rack. I won the flip, broke, scratched and he began to rerack the balls and told me I owed him a Benjamin. He said house rules; Scratch on the break and you lose. Well I paid my hundred, unscrewed and got the hell out of Augusta. After all I could not afford too many more rules lessons.
The next story is from the same road trip:
I was steered by my local contact to a spot in Hepzibah, Ga. just a few miles outside of Augusta. The joints name was JOHNNY REB'S complete with the confederate flag flying outside the building. A sign upon entering read:
No Hippies
No N****** (derogatory term for African Americans)
No Kidding
Well at least then I was still clean cut as I had just recently departed the US Army. I walk in and get swarmed immediately by railbirds, backers and local pros all wanting action. I already had a line on who to play in what order so I began matching up with and beating all comers over an 8 hour period. When the well dried up and I was preparing to leave a few old timers playing dominoes asked me if I played bumper pool. Of course I told them I knew the rules ( ha ha see above story) but had not played for years, all true. What I did not tell them was that when I learned to play pool at the age of 10 all I was allowed to play before turning 12 was bumper pool. Suffice it to say that two straight years of bumper pool with a natural talent for the game will stay with you for a lifetime.
The dominoe players pooled $300 and brought out their champion. For those of you who are unfamiliar with bumper pool this may not be clear, for all others I hope you appreciate the flow of the game. It is agreed that we will play 2 out of three for the cash. We post the $600 ($300 each) and take our first simultaneous shot. His landed an inch or so from my hole but I pocketed mine so it was my next turn. I ran all 5 balls (inclusive of the first shot) and was ready to continue when the backers asked me if we could settle for $250. I said sure (Hell anything can happen) and left with the single biggest score of my life at that time.
If anyone finds these stories mildy amusing or interesting please post any comments or questions. I may post more in the future as I have many to tell from the "good old days", several with famous personalities to include Amarillo Slim, Steve Mizerak, Willie Mosconi, Jimmy Caras and others. Yes I do know several of the players who made cameo appearances in The Color Of Money as well as some of todays famous champions.
Jimbo