Pool Players Rod Has Beaten Detail                                   Rod's Home                                                Edited: 03-19-13 15:39        

1943-1960.  Born at the edge of and played in the Shenandoah River of Virginia until I was 17 yrs old.  Family of 8, we lived in a two-room  house from 1952 till when I built two more rooms onto our house under my dad's supervision when I was about 11 years old.  My dad was blind with a fourth grade education but a genius in certain disciplines with a photographic memory.  He was a radio star (as well as both of my sisters) in the 40’s and 50’s and beat everyone at checkers (even beat me by memory from another room with my baby brother moving for him).  The four oldest did not like him though and stayed as far away from him as possible.  One time, he threw a baseball bat at me as hard as he could and missed my head by inches (just for refusing to eat the burnt gravy he made).  No indoor facilities other than lights. (outhouse & natural spring drinking water from the ground).  Cole oil was only 5 cents per gallon and I had to carry it 1.5 miles from the store to my house when I was a teenager.  Even in the winter, my dad turned the stove to “pilot” before we went to bed.  The only warmth was the body heat sleeping with my other 3 brothers in one double-bed.  Never had much but I never needed much.  During school, I received 25 cents for lunch money from my dad of which I saved one-half of it and after a year, I bought my first bicycle for $35 cash.  Some of our kids today don’t know what it’s like to have nothing and don’t appreciate what they have.  The biggest gift I ever received as a child was $10 from my grandmother on one of my birthdays.  The best things in life are free.  Today, kids expect everything be handed to them.  We believed that if it was worth having, it is worth working for.  Going to school was paradise compared to  home when my dad was around.  Capitol punishment did work back then.  He did not beat the girls but literally beat the crap out of me and two of my brothers.  When one would do something wrong and not confess, he beat all 3 of us to make sure he got the right one.  After the beatings, our mom would be at the outhouse awaiting to comfort us.  He beat my mom and one of my other brothers more than me because I learned to stay out of his way.  First light and I would sneak out of the house hunting snakes and frogs with my BB-gun before my dad put me to manual labor (digging rocks with a pick and shovel.  In good weather we had to dig and move 100 buckets of dirt and rocks every night (to keep us out of meanness, my dad would say.  I was chased by a black bear when I was 3 and almost bitten by a copperhead snake at 5, I'm just thankful to God for being alive and free in America.  I believe I used up my 9 lives a long time ago.  We come from a family of talented folks but I was the first in my family to graduate from college; and with the highest honors (Summa Cum Laude) with a 3.83 GPA even though I took almost a double load and year-round the first 3 years.

1958.  My first exposure to pool was when I was 15 yrs old walking with my dad down an alley in Front Royal, VA.  He went in but I was not old enough to enter.  It was in the summertime; the windows were open and I remember this character, sounding like a trombone prancing around the pool table playing nine-ball and popping balls into the pockets.  I retained that imagery until I returned home and built my pool table scenario.  The pool table was our rectangular kitchen table that had a painted surface.  I placed those small-sized cereal and pudding boxes on the table as rails.  My dad's large marble-like checkers were the balls.  The cue stick was a sliver of wood from the bottom of the window shade.  Since there was no roll, I had to hit them with authority.  The latter was a pretty good lesson-learned.  My next exposure to pool was with my brother who lived with Great Aunt Virgie on the other side of the Shenandoah River.  However, I had to bicycle 5 miles north to town on the west side of the river and then 5 miles south on the east side.  The pool table was just a miniature and the balls were not nearly as large but we learned geometry and physics without even knowing it.  Much later in life, an acquaintance asked, "You play good pool because you have a math degree, huh?"  I said, "No, the only relative thing I learned from math is the scientific label for what I already knew."  Not education, experience!  

1960-1964.  I joined the U.S. Navy and after boot camp, my first duty station was in Orange, TX.  Before sea duty and since I was so small (110 lbs), I was assigned to "mess cooking."  I figured that if I eat all this food, I would become overweight.  Therefore, I started an exercise routine.  At least every other day, I would do 8 chin-ups and 16 push-ups.  I had 13 eggs for breakfast and drank 3 gallons of milk per day.  I love milk and as a child, we bigger kids were not allowed to drink milk, it was for the baby.  I remember sneaking milk via a 1 oz shot glass; surely, that wouldn't be missed.  Well, maybe, one more.  By the time I was aboard my ship, I was doing 35 chin-ups and 200 push-ups.  Ever try a chin-up aboard a moving ship?  The handstand push-ups came later and I use to do 70 of them non stop.  Looking back though, surely, it could not have been good for my heart to eat so much and gain so much weight in a short period of time--all muscle though.  By the time I was discharged, I weighed 185. 

1960s.  I taught Little David a double-kiss shot on the bar table with the big cue ball that no one could make with big table equipment if far enough away from a pocket.  On a new cloth, I have double-kiss ball over 3 feet from a pocket.  The stroke demands maximum spin and minimal velocity.  Later on, David attempted the double-kiss shot in a tournament and missed.  He asked, "Isn't that the way you taught me the shot?"  I said, "No, that is for when the object ball is off the rail?" (this one was frozen)  So I continued to show him how to make the ball when it is frozen.  In this case, you must stroke very hard addressing the cue ball at 5 or 7 o'clock, depending on which side of the table you are pocketing the object ball.  I like David, we go way back and I consider him a good friend.  I met him in Jacksonville, FL.  He looked to be about 14  when he was considered a "wonder boy" in that part of the pool world.  

1962.  I was in the U.S. Navy on the USS Okinawa (LPH-3) contributing to the blockading of Russian ships from supplying missiles to Cuba.  I was told by a shipmate that the life of a ship under fire is about 8 minutes.  I wasn't scared; just doing my job.  Oh, that's why we had repeating rifle training off the fantail.   Previously, on this newly-commissioned ship, we were stationed in Philadelphia and every Saturday, I would go downtown to Allinger's pool room.  That's where I first saw the old-timers and "sweaters."  They all took a liking to me and management put my picture on the wall for running a rack of 15-ball rotation on a 5x10 ft table.  I sure looked good with my pool cue and sailor suit.  Life is good!  That is where I first saw "Spirits" and "Peter Rabbit."  I was just a novice back then.  Later on when I beat Peter Rabbit in Las Vegas playing one-pocket, he couldn't believe I was the same player.  I went from novice to champion by 1966.

1962.  There was a restaurant outside of the Naval Ship Yard in Norfolk, VA that stayed open all night and that was my first exposure to 3x6 bar tables with the big cue ball.  There were about 10 quarters lined up to play the winner.  I figured it took 5 minutes to play one game which is 12 games per hour.  If I won 11 out of 12 games, Eureka! that's $50 per hour.  That is what I wanted to do after my 4 year tour in the U.S. Navy.

1964-1971.  Became an expert in pool and played professionally until married on 31 Dec 1970.  Shortly thereafter, I bought my first house for us in Denver in 1971. 

1964.  Honorably discharged from the Navy, I returned to my home town in Front Royal, VA, spent some time with my family and then headed to South Miami Beach, FL for the winter.  I got a lot of card action on my ship (Hearts, Pinochle, Cribbage, Canasta, etc) so I only drew $16 per pay day.  I had saved about $3500 or 90% of my 4-year salary.  Shortly after my discharge, I was getting the 8 and the break playing 9-ball from a guy named "Suit Case" in Berryville, VA.  I lost my entire mustering out pay in one week.  I did go back a year later and beat him even.

1964-1965.  After I saw Larry Lisciotti play in a 14.1 tourney in NYC in 1964, I snuck up on him in Florida (64 or 65) & beat him playing 8-ball in the bars.  We became friends and hung out a little.  I just hope I wasn't a bad influence on him with the drinking and all.  There was also a young player from my home town named "Fletch."  Very pale and his backer kept telling him to take a drink so they will think you're drunk.  Fletch said pretty soon he was drunk and couldn't make a ball.  I beat Richard Riggie playing 8-ball on a 4x8 in Baltimore, MD. 

1964-1965.  The first time I met or saw Weenie Beenie in person was in a club in Charlestown, West Virginia ('64' or '65').  I said, "Let's play, I know who you are."  He bet me $300 I did not know his real name (& had to spell it correctly).  I took the bet and spelled it correctly (Bill Staton) but he stiffed me saying, "You don't expect me to pay on a bet like that do you?"  The money was not up so he talked me out of it and dismissed his obligation.  I've never done that!  Then he set up a trick shot that looked impossible to me (8-ball in the side).  I had to give him 3 to 1 odds though and this time we put up the money.  He shot a ball that was lined up and moved the balls blocking the path of the 8-ball thus unimpeded, kissing off a ball into the side pocket.  He took my $300 but still would not play any pool.  I played him later on in the late 60s one pocket on a bar table, winner breaks.  He won the toss for the break and I soon saw that the balls rolled off toward his pocket.  That was a big advantage for him so I just thought, "Wait until I get the break."  He won the first 7 games before he lost one, then quit before I got a chance to break (strike 2, not much heart).  

1965.  "Barefoot" was one of my first nicknames made aware to me after I hustled up and down the east coast of Miami; up to Jacksonville via highway 1 and then back to Miami Beach via hwy 1A1.  I based out of the Calypso lounge in South Miami Beach and was hustled by Bernie (Pots & Pans) Rogoff after I beat Johnny Irish playing 8-ball.  Bernie made me play with a broom handle but I won anyway.  Who was hustling whom?  I also beat Marcel Camp playing one-pocket, a game I had recently learned (and liked) but did not get to play it very often in the bars.  I had trouble with long shots so I asked Marcel, "How do you make a long straight-in?"  He said, "Simple, just don't cut it."  Makes sense.  I didn't play them at the time but I saw Old Man Bill and Johnny Ervolino around the pool places and the dog track.  Sammy Blumenthal gave me the 5 and the break playing 9-ball on a big table but I got $500 back playing even on a bar table.  Afterwards, Harley Brian gave me the break and first shot playing 9-ball on the big table.  I broke easy, parked my cue ball and made a lot of 9-ball combinations on the first shot.  I met my friend David Howard around that time; he couldn't have been over 14 years old. 

1965.  On my first road trip west, I stayed over in Wichita, Kansas because the locals were trying to keep me there until Greg Stevens returned.  He was in North Carolina giving up big spots in nine ball.  They were calling him daily to come home and win their money back.  They played me every day for a month to keep me there but Greg never showed.  I won enough money to pay cash for a brand new 1966 Chevelle Super Sport 396, my first new car.  By 1966, I had run 11 racks of 9-ball, 11 racks of 6-ball and 11 racks of 8-ball.

1966.  In Dallas, I was beating everyone I played and George McGann was backing most of them.  I beat Norman Hitchcock on a daily basis and while beating U.J. Puckett playing 8-ball, a gun shot went off in the back room.  I found out later they ran out of money and were fighting over who was going to shoot me.  Lucky for me, they didn't have any more bullets at the time.  In a later game while beating San Jose Dick, George did pull a gun and pointed it right at me and told me to give him all my money.  I refused to do so.  San Jose Dick was begging George not to shoot me.  After a while, George put the gun away and proposed we play on the wire until the bank opens then he would pay me.  I was still winning and he kept doubling up betting funny money and I realized that he had no intention of paying me.  Dick got hot and won their money back.  George came over to me, apologized and stated that I would probably never give him any action again.  That just made me angry so I kept playing and lost it all.  I put my cue away and told George, "You'd better kill me or open the door and let me out."  He opened the door.  Later, I found out they broke into my car and stole my guitar, car title, registration, proof of insurance, etc)  I stayed in Dallas another month until my new paperwork came.

1966.  Shortly thereafter, I headed south to Houston and ended up in Red's pool room.  Whatever I made, I would give Red 25 percent steering fee.  I matched up with James Christopher such that I got the break playing one-pocket on a 4x8.  Back then, James weighed a lot and wore bib overhauls.  I believe we played for $600, the most money I ever played for.  James was my first big score in Houston.  I also beat Earl Strickland playing last-pocket 8-ball on a 4x8 bar table.  He looked to be about 16 years old and shot very well.  On his last shot, he had a long 90 degree cut and over-cut the 8-ball.  I bore down and he never won another game.  I gave him a walking stick and he steered me all over Houston for a "jelly roll" (10 percent).  I made over $500 in each joint, gave Earl his commission and that was the last time I saw Earl look happy.  I had his number and beat him every time I played him throughout the years (with one tie).  My record against Earl is 6-0-1.  The tie came once in Houston playing 8-ball for a $1000.  Charlie West was backing me and Earl won the first set.  I won the next set and he quit.  Stand by for more success stories against Earl "The Pearl" Strickland.  Another player with tons of heart (Fly Boy (Jimmy Spears)) lost to me on many occasions.  I also had his number and one time in Houston, I was lucky to win.  We were playing 8-ball, race to 11 betting $3000.  He had me 10 to 9, made the 8-ball on the break and scratched.  Then I made the 8-ball on the break to win.  I like Fly Boy and I hope he has settled down or has overcome the pressure.  I know just how one feels after losing it all.  A movie afterward a loss usually relaxes me and takes my mind off the negative.  A good movie gains your attention such that you no longer worry about the outcome.  Another time, Fly Boy owned a bar in Tennessee and gave me 8-ball action after the customers thinned out.  We played all night for $200 a game and finished the next day.  I won $1600 and the last $800 of it was in quarters.  With that weight, I had to keep pulling my pants up until I got to a bank.  Is that where that song comes from, "Pants on the ground?"  Fly Boy did beat me playing 9-ball in Rockville, Maryland around 1965.    

1966.  I beat "King James" Jim Rempe every day for a week.  I took all his money in Houston playing 8-ball on the bar box the year he was world's champion.  We both had a "slip" stroke back then.  He quit his but mine left me soon after I retired from the road in '83.'  If you don't use it, you will lose it.  I didn't play in many tournaments but I attended in hopes of playing the winner on the bar box.  After watching Denny Searcy beat Jim Rempe in Houston, Denny and I played a proposition game where I was getting the 6, 7, 8 and the break playing 9-ball; Denny was shooting with his normal cue and I was shooting with a broom handle.  We played for a little while but I was not making any headway so I was allowed to play Chinese pool (2 cues like chop sticks) with the same spot.  If I would almost drop the cue ball, I would move my arms up and down like a juggler to regain control.  We were playing for $25 per game and Denny kept asking me to raise the bet.  I really wanted to because I had a lock game but I acted as though I didn't like the game.  Anyway, at $25 per game, I beat Denny Searcy out of $1100.  After the game, Denny said, "You must have the best coordination I've ever seen."  Chinese pool rules:  I must pick up the cue ball by first contacting the top of the cue ball, compressing the two cue sticks downward and picking up the cue ball (now on top of the two cues).  After getting the cue ball up, mere point the two sticks and roll the cue ball down the pool sticks to make the object ball.  If I drop the cue ball, my opponent shoots from where it lands.  While attempting to pick up the cue ball and I touch or move an object ball, I lose my turn but can set the cue ball down anywhere on the pool table or my opponent's next shot.  If I drop the cue ball on the floor, my opponent gets cue ball in hand.

1966.  Little did I know Greg was on my trail and caught up to me in Galveston, Texas.  He tracked me to the beach where I was surfing and asked me to play 9-ball.  After Greg beat me playing nine-ball, I beat him playing 8-ball so then he asked me to play one-pocket.  I had not played much one-pocket but I obliged, and even liked the game.  I only played on bar tables so I didn't get that much demand to stay in stroke.  Anyway, Greg labeled me with the "Surfer Rod" nickname and it stuck more than other nicknames I had on the East Coast (Barefoot, Tarzan, Shenandoah, Virginia, etc).

1967.  I was steered into a trap by David Sizemore, a fellow pool player in a Greenville, SC pool room.  He had me giving a road player (San Diego Dave) from the west coast 3 balls and the break in one pocket.  I didn't like big tables but I took his word that this was a local sucker.  Greed never pays so I lost my money and sold one of my diamonds for cash to get "on the road again."  I pumped up again, saw them again and then they talked me into backing them--I lost again.  I've seen and heard about pool players doing "business" (losing on purpose and splitting the money later) but I can't live like that.  I believe in in karma and telling the truth.  One time in Denver (early 70s), I reached across the table to retrieve a piece of chalk and my wedding band got stuck outside the rail on the other side of the table.  No serious damage, but I could have lost my ring finger so I hardly ever wore any rings after that.

1967.  After running out of action in Nashville, a local took me north to a small town south of Indianapolis to play Stormy Hunter.  That is when I first saw John Abruzzo.  Looked like he was there for Stormy also.  I heard John was a good 8-ball player so I asked him to play some.  He declined as he has done every time I asked throughout the years.  He has done well in those league championships in Vegas though.  Back in Indiana at Stormy's place, he had his choice in whether he would play John or me.  He chose me.  I was young and cocky.  He thought he could high roll me because he raised the bet each game until we got to $500.  He didn't ask to raise it any more.  I beat him 10 in a row; I don't remember him winning a game.  I gave my partner half and we headed back to Tennessee.                                                              Top of Page 

1968.  Except for 100 points in straight pool for ten dollars, I didn't find too much high-stakes action in all of the Northeast.  Only once did I win any serious money in Pennsylvania.  I met a girl in Lorain, Ohio and we had some fun times.  I remember some cheap action in Ohio and lots of action in Indiana.  At the time, I was driving a new Pontiac GTO and towing a travel trailer I purchased in Montgomery, Alabama.  Found lots of action in Alabama and Detroit.  I wasn't the favorite but I beat California John playing 9-ball on the bar table.  I did even better in Lansing, Mich.  They lined up and I shot them down.  Around 18 years old, Jimmy Mataya had a strong reputation but I shot him into a coma.  U.J. Puckett was laying down the "lemon," getting big odds and beating everyone in the pool room.  That's when I found out about the misfired bullet in Dallas.  U.J. said in regards to me, "That boy better not knock my action; I saved his life in Dallas." I won enough to pay cash for a brand new 1969 Buick Electra 225.  Shortly thereafter, I received a call that my brother was killed in Viet Nam so I drove a thousand miles to get home for his funeral.  It was like looking at me!  I have not been to a funeral since.  I prefer the fond memories I have saved and stored in my being.  Larry only had 5 days left on his tour in Viet Nam and in the middle of a violent storm he readily accepted guard duty assignment outside.  He was not scared; after all, he and I use to play in storms.  Anyway, he didn't die from a bullet but from lightening.  It made me stop, think and re-evaluate playing in a storm.  I was the last in the family to see him alive.  We had lots of plans and he played good nine-ball.

1969.  I made good money in Alabama and Oklahoma.  I beat Fat Randy and Erman Bullard in Tulsa playing 8-ball.  I beat Donnie Folks playing 8-ball in Bartlesville and Clarence in Enid.  I beat Norman Hitchcock playing 8-ball and the Mayor of Longdale sponsored me giving Norman a spot playing 9-ball.  I tell the mayor, "I can't spot anybody playing 9-ball."  He says, "That's alright, I'll make him bet so much, he'll dog it."  I beat one-eyed Tony in Oklahoma City; I won all 8 games at $100 per game.  I beat Pittsburgh Mike playing 8-ball in Okla City.  I beat Earl Strickland in Houston, playing 8-ball in Oklahoma City and in pitching quarters in Ponca City.  I also beat the mayor out of $2800 pitching to a hat.  Afterwards, I saw him in Vegas and he says, "One time to the hat for $5G.  I said OK, counted my money and borrowed $400 from Will.  We get the first guy to come by in a hat, I borrowed it and placed it on the floor and told him, "My money is up, are you ready?  He said, "No." I ask, "How come?"  He said, "Because that's not a hat; that's a cap." It was a baseball cap so he wouldn't bet.  I beat my friend Denny Searcy playing 8-ball, one-pocket and with the 8 in 9-ball.  The last time I saw or played Denny was in North Carolina.  I beat him playing bumper pool.  When I arrived in El Paso, Texas, I bought a new Silver Streak Travel Trailer.  By that time, I had read the Bible through its entirety and went to just about every kind of church.  I use to study religion and found that when there were doctrinal differences, the church would divide.  For example, from the Assembly of God arose the Church of Christ.  From the latter arose The Disciples of Christ and hence, The Christian Church.  One day the Christian Church and the Baptist Church were talking about merging.  One old Baptist in the pew said, "Oh no, uh, uh, I've been a Baptist all my life; I'm not about to become a Christian."  LoL

1960s late.  Mike (Tennessee Tarzan) and I are good friends and never gambled.  We worked out running and swimming and I stayed with him and his family a short while in Tennessee while he was a fireman.  After he quit firefighting, we were tracking each other to play (late sixties/early 70s ) and finally caught up to each other in the Louisiana tourney across the river from Orange, TX.  Before our pool tournament there were rooster fights at the facility.  Mike shared his testimony and told me he was Christian and didn't gamble anymore.  I stated, "I'm a Christian also but still gamble." Even Huckabee says a good Baptist doesn't gamble.  Ha, ha!  Ronnie Allen knocked my action at that tournament by getting on the loud speaker saying, "I'll give anybody a ball playing one pocket, except that kid (pointing at me)."  Mike was also a brick layer before a fireman.  He was strong.  Once in Vegas, we were putting on a show jumping a whole ball then drawing back the length of the table for shape.  We were making them all.  However, Mike is so tall that he is shooting with the cue below his shoulder.  Being short, I had to put my right hand higher than my elbow.  I challenged all players playing that way (jacked-up).  After I retired, I wrote down 33 ways I'd play (come out of retirement) and 22 of them were even.  Weren't all pool though.  I pitched quarters better and didn't have to practice at that. Mike use to do one arm extended push-ups; 70 non-stop handstand push-ups were part of my daily routine back in the day.  I quit doing chin-ups; I found the latter (flexor exercises) negatively interfered with my pool stroke while extensor exercises proved favorable.  Now I have the "yips" and can't pull the stick past here, as Minnesota Fats would say, "For $200 a game, you can't pull your stick back past here."  

1960s late.  I hardly ever played on a big table but Wimpy watched me run 98 balls and turned me down when I asked him to play.  We were at Weenie Beenie's Jack & Jill in VA.  Wimpy reminded me of my father in his humble demeanor and all.  The tournament room charged admission and the management asked me not to gamble while the tournament was going on because everyone was outside watching my action taking all bets with ball in hand, making all 15 red balls in a side pocket in 19 strokes on a 5x10 snooker table.  I could only miss 4 balls and still win.  I had long hair, mohair suits & alligator shoes.  I was dressing and dancing like James Brown.  The latter happened to be in the same town as I many times.  Back at the tournament at Weenie Beenie's, I won all the money but Danny D won the tourney.  Wimpy was so nervous in the championship match that instead of pouring powder over is left hand and cue, he poured a pitcher of water on it.  Wet shafts and tips don't play too well.

1960s late.  Two guys approached me at the Cotton Bowl and discussed taking me to Amarillo to play Andy Olguin.  I didn't know him at the time, but the reputed toughest guy in Dallas (Vernon Litton) overheard our conversation and asked me, "Are you a pool hustler?"  I remained silent.  In a louder voice, he asked me the same question again.  I said, "I don't know you; I'm not telling you anything."  He jumped on me and we got into a tussle.  I was able to get him in a reverse head lock and he picked me up and kept slamming me against the wall but I wouldn't let go.  At the same time, I'm dodging one of his friends called "the Creeper" because it looked like he was trying to hit me with a chair.  I'm also looking around for my bling (2 diamond rings on my pinkies) that slipped off my fingers during the fight.  Diamonds were fashionable back then!  Anyway, I thought to myself, "Not hard enough--Squeeze harder, harder" and he eventually collapsed to the floor.  I literally put him to sleep.  I found my rings while the locals revived him.  Soon thereafter, he jumped me again and came at me again the same way, like a bull-dozer with his head down.  I was able to get him in the same reverse head lock and I put him to sleep again.  I did not pick on anyone or start a fight but discovered in Baltimore that after I beat them at pool, I had to arm wrestle.  After I won at arm wrestling, I had to fight them outside.  I gave up on the all night poker games and arm-wrestling until I was approached in Denver in the 70s were I was challenged once again.  A bigger & younger man claimed he won the National Arm wrestling champion and 4th in the World's Championship.  I kept ignoring him until he said, "I would have slammed you anyway."  That was it; just like in pool, it did not take me long to get action so I beat him when his knuckles touched the table.  He claimed that the wrist must touch also (he had his wrist arched upward).  Therefore, I took some deep breaths and was bearing down again when I heard, "pop, pop, pop."  I tore 3 ligaments in my right elbow.  It took several years before I could play good pool "jacked up" again (wrist higher than my elbow) without pain.  I never lost when matching up that way.  Needless to say, I quit arm-wrestling and fighting a long time ago but stayed in shape just in case.  I am thankful to God for looking out for my family and me.  We have been blessed beyond our dreams.  It's all about faith, family and friends.

1960s late.  In a small town in Florida just south of Alabama, I played a guy with no arms for money.  I did give him one chance (and he was almost offended for that gesture) and he would hold the cue under his neck and bat the cue ball to the object ball.  If he had to shoot from the other side, he would rotate the cue under his neck and "bat" from the other side.  He ran 7 balls before he missed and lost the game.  Then he sat on a bar stool and showed his flexibility by reaching into his top shirt pocket with one foot, getting a cigarette and putting it in his mouth.  Then he reached into his shirt pocket with his other foot and took out a lighter and lit his cigarette.

1969.  Only grind-out action but I remember getting more involved following my Christian life-style and studying different Churches along the way.  By the time I arrived in El Paso, I did run into Mexican Johnny a couple of times in my route.  We played 1-pocket in Texas and Tucson and I could only hope he had money when he came back from the dog track.  I don't believe I had ever met Weldon Rodgers at that time but I did try to get him to play some 8-ball or 1-pocket when I finally met him.  I met him after my college days but he had Hernandez play me instead.  In El Paso, I bought my 2nd travel trailer (Silver Streak) behind my 1969 Electra 225.  The road to Alamogordo looked to mountain-high so I made my way to the West Coast and up through Oregon then headed back East.  

1970.  I ordered and bought a new 1970 purple Cadillac Eldorado in Montgomery, AL.  Gray Hodges sold me a travel trailer and did some juggling such that his girlfriend got my 1969 Buick Electra 225 and traded her less expensive Skylark in for the Eldorado.  However, when the time came for me to pick up the Eldorado, the sales manager said I had no credit established.  He asked how I planned to make the monthly payments?  I told to come with me and I'll show you.  I had made arrangements to play the best pool player in Montgomery at a certain time.  He watched and afterwards, not only did he approve my credit, he sold me the insurance premium also.

 1971-1975.  I had a purple Cadillac Eldorado, met a beautiful gal and got married 31 Dec 1970 and settled down in Denver, Colorado.  I put my wife and me through college with the help of the G.I. Bill  and raised two daughters.  It was 11 years since finishing high school (GED) and each time, I was taking almost a double load in college and went all year round from summer, 1971 through spring, 1974, summers included.  One activity I really miss was playing softball.  We were the champs two years in a row (72 and 73).  I was playing in a pool league one day per week and hustled in Denver on the weekends.  But in 1974, I figured it was time to take a road trip (summer '74') so I headed north by northwest.  I made good money along the way and even better when I met Dan Louie.  He's my friend and I seemed to have his number for the most part.  I beat him every which way but loose.  I couldn't beat him playing 9-ball but I owned Danny Medina playing 8-ball and one-pocket.  My favorite comedian (Omaha Fats) and number one "sweater" (Floyd, over 90 years old) were a riot.  When I lost my driver's license in the late 70s for speeding, Floyd would chauffer me to Cheyenne to play "Cheyenne Pete" and to Colorado Springs to play Grady Mathews and Ronnie Allen.  Grady offered me one ball playing 3-cushion billiards and I beat him.  I like the big ball and the billiard balls were bigger than the bar table cue ball.  While watching, Floyd hardly ever said a word but after one of my Houdini shots, he'd jump up and say, "Mother of God, who is he?"  Another time he might say, "That's stronger than Nellie's breath."  I had no pressure when I knew Floyd was watching.  He was my number one fan and made my whole day.  Waterdog came through and I beat him playing straight pool on a bar table and on a big table.  On the latter, I ran 98 balls and the final score was 100 to -1.  I tried to help clean Waterdog up and even staked him to play (but no "junk") on the natural.  He beat Danny Medina playing 9-ball and Danny borrowed about $300 from me.  I never did see that money again.  Even after I took him to Vegas for a tournament and put him in action.  He always had an excuse and say, "I will pay you tomorrow."  The next day he would say, "I lost it all last night."  Tomorrow never came.  I have excellent credit and couldn't live like that (screwing your friends over money).  Minnesota Fats was putting on a show challenging all comers at Celebrity Billiards.  The loser contributed to the pot (going to charity).  I was sitting in the  bleachers watching him miss and laugh it off, "I wouldn't be missing for the cash."  After a while, I mumbled, "I'd like to play you for the cash."  A guy heard me and said this guy says he'll play you for the cash.  Fats took the microphone and said, "One-pocket?"  the guy asks, "One-pocket?"  $200 a game?  $200 a game?  Yes, Yes!  I went outside to get my cue and when I returned, he refused to play.  The audience booed him for reneging.  Andy Hudson, a great bank-pool player was racking the balls and I beat Andy so I can only assume Andy told Fats about me.  Andy use to say, "Rod, my eyes are gone; can't see like I use to; use to see around corners."  I corrected his verbs a little bit.      

1972-1973.  Going to school full time and raising a family, I only played in a weekly pool league unless Danny wanted to play or a road player came through.  

1974.  I've never lost a race to 15.  According to the laws of validity, it takes a race to 15 or 16 to make a trial valid, overcome luck and determine the best.  Think there will be many tournaments racing to 15?  I remember when Dan Louie spotted me the 8-ball in 9-ball in Port Angeles, WA in a race to 15 on a tough 4x8' for $2000 in the pot.  He had me 14-9 and I pushed out intending to force a jump over 1/2 the six ball.  Instead, the cue ball went too far and not only was it frozen to the rail, I had to jump the whole ball, 12 inches away.  Dan tells me to "shoot again."  The one ball was in the middle of the table and the nine was between it and the corner.  I had to hit (big cue ball on 4x8) this so hard, so fast with all the low English I could muster.  It happened so fast, I didn't see it but heard, "pop, pop, pop," into the one ball into the nine ball, into the corner pocket.  The fans went wild; my friend Dan shrugged his shoulders as I proceeded to run the next 5 racks and out.  Ah, the good ole days.  Also, against Rich Geiler in Salem, OR, he had me 14 to 9 playing 8-ball for a $1000.  Similarly, I kicked in a ball and played two-rail position to win the game and then again, run the next 5 racks to win.  I would never have quit winner but my friend Vince was in with me and told me to tell them that now they have to bet the $2000.  Against my better judgment, I relayed that info and BRS. (in with Dan) comes charging down the bleachers saying he was going to get his brother up here to break my legs.  I said, "Billy, you're bigger than I; why don't you do it yourself?"  He stormed off.  I apologized to Dan and told him Vince put me up to that; I am not going to quit winner.  Game over anyway.  I beat Dan playing 8-ball then one day he beats me playing straight pool to 100 points; beat me bad so the next game, he spots me 15 points; I win that match even though I never ran a rack.  On the third game, we agreed to play 25 points, each using a broom handle.  He broke and I ran 25 and out.  I miss the excitement and thrill of execution.  

1975.  I like Buddy Dennis.  The last time we played, I beat him playing one-pocket on a bar table in Okla.  I believe I was in college at the time so it would be on summer break.  He gave me one ball playing one-pocket on a bar table in Willard, Okla.  WW was his stakehorse.  I met Buddy right after I was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1964.  He has always been quiet and respectful.  He taught me a long time ago that 9-ball was not my game.

1976.  Bought a new 1975 Mercedes Benz SE 450  and took the family back east to where I was born (Shenandoah Valley, Virginia).  My oldest daughter, Shannon was almost 5 and the wife was pregnant with our 2nd child.  The wife was also from Virginia near Bluefield in the southeastern part of the state so we visited there also.  I was teaching high school and after our 2nd daughter was born, the wife tells me we have to get a bigger house.  We discussed and came to the conclusion that the only way we could afford a new house is if I went back on the road shooting pool.  I would spend 7 months on the road and 5 months at home.  

1977.  So I bought a bigger house and applied money directly to the principal.  I didn't know that shortly, she would divorce me (1978) for being gone so long and she got the house, I got the payments.  I took a trip and in Milwaukee, George Brunt beat me every day playing 8-ball for $100.  I was drinking mountain dew and was so nervous I was "dogging" it.  On the final day, we played last-pocket 8-ball for $300.  This time, I was drinking Crown Royal and  I won all 5 games.

1977.  I asked Willie Mosconi to play after he put on an exhibition in Omaha; he declined. I liked Johnny Ervolino; I remember when he, Old man Bill and the rest of the crew would come to South Beach, Miami, my first home on the road after getting out of the Navy. 

1977.  In Mobile, AL, I played Jerry Brock last-pocket 8-ball,  I had to jump over two balls, bank cross-corner & draw my cue ball back six inches for a window on the 8.  Got straight in and finally won against the immortal Jerry Brock @ $300 per game.  Made a similar out against Jimmy Mataya somewhere in the Ozarks.  Jimmy did beat me at a all night truck stop North of Cincinnati after I had beaten Billy Incardonia at nine ball, no less.  After the bar closed, we drove north to a truck stop with a pool table and pouring down rain.  I can’t play in the rain.  I treat the cue ball like a clock and 90% of the time, I strike the cue ball between 4 and 8 o’clock (the southern hemisphere).  So when it rains, I miscue.

1970s late.  When I played Steve Cook at the North Bar in Tampa, FL, I lost every day for a week.  I called Omaha John to come and play Steve 9-ball. I was still playing Steve and I had to curve the cue ball the length of the table and double-kiss my ball in.  Steve needed one ball and I needed two.  I was stuck on the end rail and didn't think I could get his ball out with double-kissing it and selling out.  Therefore, I had to shoot down on the cue ball, poking it toward the side pocket yet curving back to the end rail with enough spin to double-kiss it in and go to win the game.  I was almost broke when his backer said he can beat me.  So I give him 8-3, I break playing one-pocket on a 3x6.  I borrowed $300 and played for $500 a game.  I also let him keep raising the bet such that I only have one barrel.  I won $13K with the guy who loaned me the $300 betting on me.  Instead of throwing me something for making him $7000, he had to gall to, instead, ask for his $300 back.  

1970s late.  Mobile, AL  played Jerry Brock – Last pocket 8-ball.  had to jump over two, bank cross-corner & had to draw my ball back six inches for a window on the 8.  Got straight in & finally win against the immortal Jerry Brock @ $300 per game.  Made a similar out against Jimmy Mataya somewhere in the Ozarks.  Jimmy did beat me at a all night truck stop North of Cincinnati.  After I had beaten Billy Incardonia at nine ball, no less.  After the bar closed, pouring down rain.  I can’t play in the rain.  I treat the cue ball like a clock & 90% of the time, I strike the cue ball between 4 & 8 o’clock (the southern hemisphere).                                                                                                              Top of Page 

1970s late.  Against my better judgment, my steer man said play anything, including 9-ball. Target was the manager or Charlie the Ape.  I never ran a rack and lost playing 9-ball but the next day I talked Charlie into playing with a broom handle (six ball).  With a broom handle, I ran the 1st 6 racks and won my money back by the time it was over.  I loved walking that big ball around table with a broom handle.  I read where Amarillo Slim would beat anyone with a broom handle.  I wish I knew that before Harry talked me into giving Slim 2 balls and the break.  That was at Grady's tournament in Reno in 1993.  We were in a severe snow storm and the air terminals were closed.  After the tournament, the equipment became cold and clammy.  I lost to Strawberry playing one-pocket on a big table, I got 9-6 and the break.  I couldn't play very good under those (wet) conditions but at least I didn't go broke and came home with money.  If Slim thinks he can beat me playing with a broom handle, bring it on.  I can't play with a regular cue immediately afterwards though.

1970s late.  I made an appointment over the phone to play Weldon Rogers but he brought Bakersfield Bob Hernandez in to play me instead.  I just got out of college and was not in top form so BB beat me the first time we played 8-ball.  The 2nd time I played BB was in Longdale, Oklahoma at the mayor's club.  We had been playing all night and were dead even.  It was early in the morning and snowing.  A FBI agent came in with a wanted poster of a guy with long hair that looked a lot like me.  Meanwhile, while I'm being interrogated, BB is practicing and staying in stroke.  After about a half hour, the FBI agent took me into the bathroom to see if I had an appendectomy scar.  Since I did not have one, I was eliminated as a suspect.  The agent left and BB asked me to raise the bet to $300 per game; I agreed.  BB beat me 5 in a row so I was broke and only had $80 left.  Bob wanted to arm wrestle me for the $80.  I say, "Sure."  After losing, I'm so physically pumped up, no one could beat me arm wrestling.  It only took me 2 or 3 seconds to beat him so I doubled my money and on the road again.  The third time I played Bakersfield Bob was in Amarillo, TX.  Will W was backing Bob and he busted me again.  Here comes Dennis Porterfield wanting to back a stranger (Grady Mathews (the first time I met Grady, I believe)) against me for $100 a game, one-pocket.  I was broke so Will is now my stakehorse.  I won every game (six in a row).  So now I have $300 and BB was so greedy or eager to bust me again that he wanted my $300 and asked to play me $50 game.  I did and not only won my money back, I won $5G's more. That's were I learned someone would raise the bet on the last game knowing there was no more money (1 1/2 air barrel).  I beat him again afterwards in Willard, OK; BB was running the club.  The last time was probably the hardest because this was in the mid-80s and I had already retired but went to Las Vegas once per year as a result of League play.  In Vegas, I made the rounds and found BB in one of the Vegas clubs.  We immediately started playing 8-ball and he was way ahead all night but I finally got him after playing for 2 days. 

1970s late.  I beat Bugs (Leonard Rucker) and won a lot of money from him playing "dirty" 8-ball on a bar table in Chicago in the late 70s.  We would shoot each other's object ball in.  He'd shoot mine and I would shoot his in and vice versa.  However he did not realize until too late that after I shoot his ball in, I must position the cue ball such that he could not make any of mine.  He was a class act though.  Never said a bad word.  I gave out a lot of walking sticks that night--even to the police.  Not only overlooking my speeding offense for a small fee, a local policeman also steered me into pool action.

1978-1982.  Divorced and on the road again until I met and fell in love with a gal in Utah on 17 Oct 1982.  I visited a while but then had to get back on the road and "pump up."  I called her often but she said she didn't love me and told me not to come back.  That made me want to go back that much more.  So, after I "pumped-up" again, I did go back to Utah, started a new relationship and a new career working for the Federal Government.  See 1983.  After my divorce in 1978, I met a beautiful gal in Oklahoma City who later traveled with me to Las Vegas in 1979 where she won the ladies' $5000 the 9-ball championship at the site where Monk beat Mike Sigel.  Not only beautiful, she was smart also.

1980.  There was a big Las Vegas Pool Tournament open to generally everyone within certain requirements.  I met those requirements.  Jimmy Mataya did not in that he was the current World's Champion and was not allowed to play.  While I was practicing, Jimmy ask me to play for big bucks.  I told him I wanted to but to wait until after I'm through in the tournament.  Talking tough, He said, "If you're going to play me, play me now."  So I played him 8-ball and beat him out of 5 G's.  He later complained to the promoters that I was allowed to play and he wasn't yet I beat him out of a lot of money.  They finally gave in and asked me to withdraw.  The reasoning humored me in saying I played too good for the other entrants (from all over the world).  I'm the only pool player I know that has been asked not to play in a pool tournament because I was too good or was drawing customers away from their money-making casino tables.

1980-06-04.  This date was easy to remember because the night before, John & I were in Grand Island, NE.  John showed me the news paper and all that was left of where stayed (Regal 8 Motel) was a few toilet fixtures.  The first day in Colorado Springs at Grady's joint, Fat Randy from Tulsa, OK got me in stroke playing 9-ball, I got the eight.  We played for 24 solid hours then it was tournament time.  When someone made a comment about me, Randy would say, "He's crazier than I am."  Previously, I beat Grady every game of one pocket on a bar table but he beat me 9-6 and the break on the big table.  If I had only stuck to the bar table.  One of the hotels had a pool tourney and all the champions were there.  I beat them all for $500 on the bar table in Grady's joint in Colorado Springs around 1980.  I only lost one game all week (to Larry Hubbart, whom I have beaten every time) and you should have seen my out shot for the cash.  Last pocket 8-ball or one-pocket for $500 a game, I need two balls, he had his out ball about 2 inches from the pocket frozen on the end rail.  I had a long bank and I slammed it in with force follow draw (what an arc).  Practically drew it back into his pocket but with the big ball I did magic, came off the side rail and double kissed the last ball and ended up straight in for the cash.  I won $11,000 for the week and then lost it all to Grady and the "rail" on his big table in one night.  Grady and I were playing for $800 per game and I took all side bets (about $1500 on the side).  I did not give myself many barrels on a big table (my weakest kind) but Omaha John remained in with me.  I never quit but I asked John how come he stuck with me and he said, "Well, I just watched you beat 30 players in a row and you always came back before."  In the old days, we didn't leave our colleagues broke; Grady gave me an $800 walking stick.  So you grind on the road again until next time.  The last time I played Ronnie Allen was around that time in another bar in Colorado Springs playing 8-ball for a nickel a set.  For the $500 cash, I had to make a masse' draw on my last ball and break out the 8-ball (cue ball path completed a circle, broke out the 8-ball, straight-in and the crowd went wild.

1980.  After we left Grady's, we went through Wichita, KS to looking to play Jr Brown but he was not available.  Afterwards, we stopped and pumped up in Oklahoma City.  Met a mark who bet with me on every pool table in the bar.  I told John not to bet very much--just keep your opponent playing.  Afterwards, he had only won 4 or 5 games for $5/game and could not believe I made over a G on the other games. 

1980s early.  Omaha John and I are good friends (off and on partners from 1977 to 1982).  We usually split everything but since we were not traveling together he offered a hedge, 10 percent of what I won in money play against 10 percent of his tourney winnings.  I beat Cole out of $4000 even though he kept making hard shot after hard shot but couldn't get out, thus, couldn't win.  I gave John his percentage and John ended up beating Allen Hopkins for the 8-ball championship for $25G's in 1982.  Allen and I made a game.  He didn't show up but I stayed in action all night.  He showed the next day (I'd been up 3 days) and beat me.  He wouldn't bet more than $800 though.  John wouldn't give me my percentage until I got some sleep.  We made an appointment for the next day but Allen never showed.  The time before that, we played one-pocket on a bar table in Birmingham for a nickel, I believe.  He won the first 4-six games; I won the next two and he quit.  He's got my number but I never quit anybody, winner or loser.  It's all or nothing with me.  The one time I ran into Allen without a backer (North Carolina), he wouldn't play--wouldn't bet his own.  We never played but I like Buddy Hall; I was a stranger to most but when Buddy and Little David played for 5 big ones in Ponca City, OK, they both wanted me to hold the money, even overnight.  Around that time, Earl the Pearl was to play Dave Matlock and guaranteed two sets.  Earl lost one set and quit. The owner/backer got mad and wanted to throw Earl and his partner out for not playing two sets as promised.  Earl said, "I can't help it that Rod busted me before you got here."  Even though Earl and his partner beat me pitching coins on a snooker table, I won big pitching a quarter to the spot on the bar table.  I do everything better on a bar table!

1980.  From Ponca City, Omaha John and I went to Bartlesville, OK to play Donnie Folks.  I beat Donnie a session of 8-ball for a $1000  and John beat him playing 9-ball and snooker where John played both games great.  I did not get to see many snooker tables in my routes.

1980s early.  In the early 80s just before I retired from the profession, in Tampa, Steve Cook beat me every day for a week in the North Bar.  The air conditioner was immediately above the pool table so I couldn't use my jacked-up stroke.  I called in Omaha John to play Steve 9-ball.  John flew in and eventually won on the following day.  I was on short money but still in action with Steve.  Finally, he missed a ball and the momentum turned.  I heard Steve say, "One ball skidded and my whole world caved in."  At the end, I was making Houdini shots and ended up playing Steve's backer,  I gave him 8-3, I break, one-pocket on a 3x6 (my favorite) bar table.  I only had one barrel but allowed him double the bet each time to go 13K on the wire.  The bar owner went into the back room and paid us.  That big guy who was with Ronnie Allen in the Louisiana across the Sabine River from Texas, made it big in Tampa and won more of the 13K betting on me than John and I.  He got about $7G's and John and I split $6G's.  Yet, instead of throwing some consideration our way, he had the gall to ask for the $300 back he had loaned me earlier.

1980s early.  Harry took me to Ponca City to play Dave Matlock 8-ball for $5G's.  I would have won if we had played a race to 15 but instead, we played 10 ahead.  We played for two days in 99% humidity and 102 degrees.  The only thing I drank was a half gallon of orange juice each day.  In that humid climate, the rails were 7 feet faster than normal.  I can't perform my magic when the equipment is wet.  Dave would not play even up one-pocket so Harry and I played each other.  Normally, the Longdale mayor would gamble but this time he was being a good boy and not drinking alcohol.  Therefore, not gambling.   

1980s early.  I beat Kim but he gave me the 7 and the break playing 9-ball in Denver on a big table.  I like Old man Bill.  The last time I played Grady was on a big table in Houston playing one-pocket for $5G's.  Instead of Grady showing up at the appointed time, "Old man" Bill showed and we played $10 8-ball all night.  We had to call ball and pocket and the next ball and pocket; i.e., there was no getting out of line.  I won against Bill but now Grady shows up 24 hours past our scheduled time.  I was wore out but played (and lost) anyway.  I'd "jaw" the object ball and Grady was hanging up the cue ball.  I didn't mind being managed though.  Grady has class and made me like it.  Other players also found ways of getting me out of my comfort zone.  I didn't care.  I just wanted "Action."  I got to table quicker than the rest

1982.  Met and fell in love with a gal in Ogden, UT on 17 Oct 1982 while passing through playing pool for a living.    

1983-2003.  Although I had Bachelors degrees in three disciplines, I started my life over and hired on at the IRS in Ogden, UT at the entry level (GS-2) as a tax examiner.  I climbed the ranks and twenty years later, I retired in 2003 at the highest grade (GS-15) and headed back to Utah to be with my youngest daughter.  At 13, she needed me the most.  I have two other grown daughters.  Both have done well in their careers.  One is a Registered Nurse and the other is a manager at a Title Company.  The youngest daughter had some distractions as a teenager but she has graduated high school and now raising her own family.  My youngest daughter gave me my first grandchild.  Now, I have 4 grandchildren, 2 girls and 2 boys.  

1983-1984.  In 1983-1984, I taught at various high schools and Jr High’s in the Ogden and Weber County School Districts.  My IQ is not as high as Rachael Welch’s but I am in the top 3 percent in the World.  Yet, like Rodney Dangerfield, “I don’t get no respect.”

1983.  After I retired from the professional pool circuit, my girlfriend, her siblings, in-laws and I went to the Utah State Fair.  For a dollar, if you run a rack of 6-balls (any order), you get a small prize.  With another dollar, same thing until the 5th upsize, I won the biggest toy Snoopy Dog at the fair.  I won a Snoopy for each family before I missed once and it cost him $6 instead.  Anyway, I ran 19 racks of 6-ball with plenty of witnesses and won all their largest stuffed animals; the ones the "Carney" says the customers are not suppose to win.  To make the feat more amazing, I used a house cue and the table was made of plywood, thus warped toward the center.  Therefore, I had to hit them firm down the rail or fade the roll-off.        

1984-1999.  I worked Hill Air Force Base, Clearfield, UT and played in a weekly pool league or two.  I finished 35 pool championships in Utah, Nevada and the Rocky Mountains with a 1st or 2nd place from 1984-1997.  The Utah Open was hardest in which to qualify.  Race to 1, double elimination.  I went 4 years without qualifying until I found out I could buy my way in.  Then I took off like a jet.

1990s.  League play made it possible to compete in the VNEA or BCA Championships in Las Vegas each year (late 80s to early 90s).  At one of these Las Vegas tournaments, I was beating Scott Kitto, champion of Iowa, playing cheap 8-ball and preparing for my next match, Ernesto Dominguez.  The referee made us quit in the middle of the game.  Scott got mad and slipped his cue stick under the cue ball and slung it about 20 feet in the air and it landed on Dominguez's head unintentionally.  They had to take Ernesto to the hospital and he was my next opponent.  The good news is that now I know upon which table I would be playing and got a chance to practice on it (they all rolled a little differently).  The bad news is that just before the match, they made me switch to another table.  Also while shooting, someone flashed me head on with their camera and I started seeing spots.  I made one mistake, he got one lucky roll and "turn out the lights."

1989.  The year I bought a 1987 Buick Regal Grand National Turbo 345, I won just about everything (6 tournaments and one 2nd place) that year.  That included Utah, Nevada and the Rocky Mountain region.  

1990s.  The last road player that came through said that Danny got into some trouble!  I was playing Danny Medina $900 per game in Wendover, NV where gambling is legal. They barred only me from gambling. The next day, the pit bosses and dealers sympathized with me but said too many customers left the casino tables to watch me play.  From Surfer Rod to Sucker Rod but always exciting.

1991.  Chiropractor broke my neck (twice).  My MRI report indicated I had 18 pinched nerves.  My neurology surgeon and symptoms indicate I have arthritis due to age and a chiropractor.  I was always told to stay away from chiropractor’s and that they were quacks (not a real doctor).  One evening after reading something from work for about 9 hours with my head down, I got a knot in the back of my head and an extreme headache.  I had made an appointment with a physical medicine doctor and then 2 different workmates recommended a particular chiropractor.  So I cancel with the physical medicine doctor and went to the recommended chiropractor who laid me laid me down horizontally, turned my head to one side and said, “Relax.”  As I did so, he jerked my head toward him such that all the disks in my cervical vertebrae were dislocated abrasively toward the next vertebrae straining muscles and tendons.  In pain and shock, I went, "Uh" and my brain communicates "that's not right" and jerks the discs back in place causing cartridge damage and pinched nerves.  As if that wasn't enough damage, he turned my head to the other side and executed the same maneuver and thus damaged that side also.  I should have listened to my mom.  When I told the work mates about the negative experience, they informed me I went to the son of, and not to the recommended chiropractor.  Another time, I learn the hard way.   Top of Page 

1993.  Tried to play Eddy Kelly in Maryland in the sixties but he declined.  I watched him win Grady's Reno One-Pocket tournament though. Cornbread kept ducking instead of going for the out.  I didn't play big tables but I thought I could out-move my opponents.  Wrong, they all moved good and somehow Harry P talked me into giving Amarillo Slim 2 balls and the break playing one-pocket with Harry and I partners & Slim was his own partner.  I love Harry but still not sure if I was suckered or not for my half of the 5 big ones.

1996.  The last time I won one was in 1996 & that was against a local, Ace Brown, whom I taught to play in the 80’s.  Sad but true.

1997.  I was born April 2, 1943 with an umbilical hernia.  Didn’t bother me when I was young because I was always physically active (wash-board abs) until I retired from one profession (pool player) & started a desk job in 1984 with the Feds.  Over the years of sedentary work, the muscular definition diminished & corrected surgery was performed on my umbilical hernia in 1997.

1999-2003.  I transferred to the D.C. area for a promotion and to build up a higher Government Pension such that I could retire at the earliest convenience.  When I left Ogden and my daughter Bobby in 1999, she was daddy’s girl.  I only spent vacations with her twice a year and called her once per week.  When I returned in 2003, she was a different person but I will always love her just the same.  In my various professions, I've dealt with the psychologically of thousands of adults and of teenagers.  My oldest really adopted our family work ethic and motivational drive.  She use to spend hours being creative on the typewriter next to me while I was studying.  She has worked very hard and is now a Registered Nurse in Denver.  My youngest daughter has only seen my lazy side now that I’m retired.  My second daughter is getting her MBA, has been a bank manager and now works at a title company, also in Denver.  I started to worry about these family problems but then came Keira, my first grandchild.  So beautiful, where'd she come from?  So I’m here to stay (in Utah) and live out my life.  I was the first from both sides of my family to graduate from college and subsequently, I also put my ex wife and my other two daughters through college.  My credit is excellent and I have always owned up to my responsibilities, both to my children and to my financial obligations.  For appointments, I’m usually always early, and then must wait, depending upon the profession.  I hold an Associates degree in Arts, Bachelors degrees in Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Mathematics (the latter at Weber State University while I was working full time at Hill AFB.

2003.  Since remodeling my condo after my retirement from the government, several road agents came through and beat me.  My excuses were that my muscles were sore from manual labor putting stuff like tables, desks, chairs and beds together.  Another is that I had to keep an eye on my teenage daughter.  The pros come though about every 2 years and they usually give me 1 ball and the break playing last pocket 8-ball or 9-6 and the break playing one pocket.  I've lost to all of them but if/when I start making a comeback, they all quit.  Some of the road players that came through and tortured me were:  Edwin Montel, Glen Atwell, Gabe Owen, Mark Haddad (staked by a local) and Oklahoma James (backed by Cole Dixon on borrowed money).  All the pressure is on me, the over-the-hill underdog, putting up my own money and the champions are getting staked or loaned money to play me.  Once, I paid out $1000 erroneously to Tyler Eddy.  We were playing BCA rules except in last pocket 8-ball, you don't lose unless you make the 8 and scratch.  On a scratch, you get ball in hand.  I tried to pop the 8 over a ball to my last pocket; it flew off the table and the BCA rules indicated that as a loss.  I play by the rules and honor my debts so I paid him before I remembered the exception.  I really did not lose.  Think Tyler will give me that thousand dollars back and play some more?  

2004.  "Squirrel vs. Surfer Rod" by OldHasBeen dated 2004-10-01:  I'll never forget a match I watched (and bet on) at the Tropicana Hotel in Vegas, way back when. Squirrel & Surfer Rod were playing One-Pocket on a bar table for $500 a game and every time squirrel would leave Rod on the other side of the stack with balls around his hole, Rod would just jump over the stack and bank a ball into his hole & run out or get at least 4 or 5 balls. Rod was using his normal cue.  Well after this happened about 3 or 4 times, Squirrel (Marshall Carpenter), made a big speech. "If this guy thinks he can keep doing this silly crap and Get The Cash - He'll Just Have To Bust Me".  Now I only had a Piece of a side bet on Rod and was only betting $20 a game so I went to bed about 2 am.  When I got back down to the Tournament Room at about 1 pm the next afternoon, the game was just getting over. SQUIRREL WENT BUSTED & my $20 bet returned $520.  About 3 month later in Nashville, I watched Squirrel playing $400 One-Pocket with a good player from New Orleans and what do you think Squirrel was doing? - That's Right - Jumping Over The Stack & Banking Balls Into His Hole.

2004.  "Great story, OHB. Also great to see you on this awesome site. Never played Squirrel. In fact, I have never seen him play. I have seen him many times at tournaments and other places but he was never in action. Surfer Rod is another "?" though. Never played Rod one pocket but I did jump into that, "8 ball FIRE", once. I had a tee shirt made up in Ft. Walton Beach, FL in 1974 that said on the front, "POOL HUSTLER". On the back it said, "Let's play $20, 8 ball". This worked well in the bars back then because all the bangers played 8 ball and thought 9 ball was a luck game. The player I was with, Bill Stack, played bar table 8 ball at top speed at the time. He and I walked out of a bar in Jackson, MS one afternoon, finding no action in the place. I ask a guy walking into the place if he wanted to play some $20, 8 ball and the guy says he will try me a few.  We walk back into the bar and crank it up. I get very lucky and win the first two games. The next two games told me to put the other, Bill, in action. It took him two full days but the, Bill, tag team tapped out.  For those who have never heard of Surfer Rod, he was a very good one pocket player but at this time he was probably the top 8 ball player in the country.  Yes, he hustled us to play one pocket after the 8 ball fiasco but we figured the other side of that, hot horseshoe, probably looked the same."  $Bill

2005.  On the last day playing Haddad and the same for Oklahoma James is that I was 26 games looser at $500. I doubled the bet and beat them both 8 in a roll.  I must be a thousand dollar player because I have won the last 16 games in a row at that price.  Little consolation when I get in stroke, win some of my money back then my opponent quits.  I can't quit winner or loser.  At the end, James made such a mental error, he flew out the door before I got to the 8-ball.  Similarly, I had Haddad talking to himself, "Got another dead one, huh?”  I said, “No, I’ve got two dead one’s.”  This occurred three games in a row.  The third time I got lucky though.  I was in the zone but I could hardly walk the day after.  We had previously agreed to play every other day.  I need a day in between to recover from the hangover.  I only drink when I’m playing pool, but can no longer drink two days in a row now that I am a senior citizen with arthritis.  I only play when a road player comes thru.  I use to say, “I play them all; thin and tall; have a ball; don’t fall; don’t care how good they are.”  

2005.  Twice retired now (1964-1983 (pool) and 1983-2003 (government)).  Road Players have been coming thru but too few and far in between.  Also, they “hit and run.”  I’m an endurance player (ha! ha!).  The last time I won one was in 1996 & that was against a local, Ace Brown, whom I taught to play in the 80’s.  However, I'll still play.  I play scared now but never scared to play.  Comments from others below:.

2007-10-26.  Ran into Surfer Rod in the early 70s in Texas. He was by himself, but managed to torch everyone thrown at him (he started with me, then Tommy Green, Keith "Squirrel" Thompson, and "Handsome" Danny Jones). This was on a barbox and Rod never missed a shot in 2 days of playing - made some of the most spectacular runouts I've ever seen. Guy was a tushhog. Great choice.  jnav447

2010-06-19.  You are right Rod, That is a young Vernon Litton (sp).  He could be a tush hog, but I agree "bully" is a better description.  He was a pretty good "spot picker"   He did not fool around with guy's like Charley Boyd, George Mc Gann, Billy T Dyer, or Stanley "the Creeper".  There was a Tush Hog pecking order in Dallas, and he rarely crossed that line.  I witnessed him get into a scuffle with Surfer Rod, at the Cotton Bowling Palace, it somehow wound up out on the lanes, and after a few punches were thrown, Rod got him in a killer head lock, and held him there 'til the cops came.  Rod was around for a few days afterward, and Vernon gave him a wide berth.  SJDinPHX

2010-Quotes.  $600,,,, why does that number sound so familiar to me? I GOT IT!!! Because that's how much Rod beat me out of the first time we played in Jackson, MS and I wish I had been playing one pocket. He got me playing 8 ball on the bar table, LOL.... Didn't feel so bad when I put in with Bill Stack, who's game is bar table 8 ball, and blew another $300-$400. Stack and I were almost tapped when he thought of asking me to look in the parking lot for a Mercedes from CO. Yea but it was a bit too late then. Good to see you here, Rod,,,,,,,,,,, $Bill

2010.  C.J. Wiley wrote:  "Surfer Rod" and Omaha John....the Dynamic duo....I can still hold my own on the "big" tables, but you guys are the "kings" of the bar box..."  Carson wrote:  "I'm getting my broom handle tuned up....having trouble "shaping" the tip though..LOL.  Peace Rod.....you are still the Eight Ball Champ. C J."  Rod wrote back:  Don't laugh, one time in Longdale, OK, after I beat everybody I played including Billy Weir, either James Christopher or Weldon Rogers and then Andy Olguin playing 8-ball, Andy and I agree to play 9-ball, we both play with a broom handle.  Andy really liked to draw his ball and has beaten me playing 9-ball, but not with a broom handle.  When I was in stroke with a broom handle, it became magic and I could out shoot what I was doing with a pool cue.  I would "muscle"/ "walk" the big cue ball around the table and clean house.  After I won pretty good, Weldon Rogers wants to take over for Andy.  Didn't matter to me--"Line em up" I would say.  I was beating Weldon all night and Andy was continually working on and whittling down Weldon's broom handle until it became the size of a regular cue.  Weldon is now drawing the cue ball around the table and I can see I can't win that way.  He wouldn't change the game back so I played anyway and they got most of their money back.  Since they wouldn't readjust, I  went back to my travel trailer to get some sleep.  All of a sudden, my trailer was shaking and there was loud banging on the outside of my trailer.  I open the door and there was James Christopher and two ladies wanting to party.  Was it champagne or Bally Hai wine?   Rod

2010-10-13.  Gambling by Grady Mathews:  I quit gambling.  Dealing with the slimiest a**holes ever is just more than I can take.  They win, financially.  It's always a bad deal for me when I play new guys.  I despise players who don't bet their own money and if you stop to think about that it includes a lot of champions.  With notable exceptions I don't like backers either.  Champions like "Surfer Rod" and Toby Sweet are men I admire and respect deeply.  They bet high, drove great cars and always had beautiful women with them.  Compare that to today's road players and it just makes you sick.

2010-12-20.  Surfer Rod has been a fixture in the western US pool scene for decades.  He was everywhere, when I was a young player...CO, UT, TX, CA, ID, NV, MT, WA, OR, many more places I'm sure.  Rod was king of the oversize CB, and never afraid to bet it up!  Scott Lee, www.poolknowledge.com, Professional BCA Instructor

2010-12-20.  I remember Rod well - He was tough to beat playing bar table 8 ball.  Gerald Huber, author, "The Green Felt Jungle"

2010-12-21.  Say what you will Jay, but at least he got out and gambled high!  Rod played better on a barbox, with an oversize CB, than most anybody.  He did lose a lot playing on big tables, but was never short on heart, and played for a ton of cash many times.  Win or lose, he was an action hound to the end, and I never ever heard of him dumping or acting like some of the prima donna players I've seen over the years.  Scott Lee                                                                                                                                                                                                         Top of Page

2010-12-21.  Rod was one of the toughest players I've ever seen on the bar table.  The first time I saw him (in the early 80s) he played Walter Glass in the Rum Runner in Las Vegas.  The game was 100-point Straight Pool on the bar table for $200 a pop.  Rod was enjoying a few drinks and it appeared to affect him.  He lost the first game 100-86.  The next game he lost again 100-68.  At this point it was getting late (about 2:30 AM) and Walters' backer wanted to bolt.  Rod got up and barked that he was stuck some cash and Isn't getting a chance to get it back. Walters' backer eventually gave in and play resumed.  Walter won again, this time even worse, 100-48. After all the drinks, Rod looked a little roughed up but he got up and threw his whole bankroll on the table and said he'll bet it all.  His girlfriend begged him not to do it.  The bankroll came out to $2000. Walters' backer thought there was no way he was getting out of there unless he busted Rod so he matched the bet.  All of a sudden Rod couldn't miss a ball if it was in the attic!  He took the win and the cash.  Just recently I ran into Walter and I asked him if he remembers that matchup.  He told me he remembers it like it was yesterday.  Walter was a bit bitter because one of his break shot yielded nothing and stopped a critical run.  Rod was quite the character and a monster bar table player.  He rightly mentions only Allen Hopkins as the one guy who owned him on the bar-box.  Oddly enough, on the big table a good A-player could get the best of him.  Harry Blackstone, Jr

2010-12-22.    Fred 'Beard' Bentivegna  why he always had big money?  I knew Rod since 1965, and yes, champions were always trying to track him down because he was a high roller and a through ticket.  But I always wondered why if he was such a sucker did he always have such a big bankroll?  Yeah, he took some big hits but he never stayed broke for long.  I even trapped him once on a big table at the Congress Bowl.  But the next time I seen him I was broke and he was "fatter'n a hog."  I ran into him all over the country.  He was also not afraid to play in brutally dangerous "heat-spots."  In the 60s I ran into him in OK City playing for big money in a super-country, heat-spot with long hair, a beard, a robe and sandals.  Long hair and hippie types were at risk for their life in these type joints.  I, myself, had no beard, short hair, and was traveling with the famous tush-hog Sugar Shack.  That was minimum protection for me to play in that joint.  Rod was all by his lonesome.  They called him Pool Playin' Jesus.  I heard stories of him refusing to give up the money when he got threatened in those kind of joints.  Beard

2010-12-22.  I played Rod just about every time I ran into him on the road.  First time was in Lansing, MI.  Beat him playing 8-ball using his own big cue ball.  Most of the time we played one-pocket on the bar table with the big ball.  That was really his best game.  He gave me some of the best advice ever.  "Suckers can't play and Players don't bet."  That advice kept me in the Bars instead of the pool rooms most of the time.  It was where the money was.  Bill Stroud.  Replied by Rod:  Billy beat me early in my career but didn't recognize me (until it was too late) when I beat him good in Tulsa some years later (8-ball and one-pocket).  By then, I had long hair and a beard.  And no, one-pocket is not my best game.  I like it but didn't get that much action at the game on the road playing 95% of the time on bar tables from town to town.  Except for Boston, I've been to every major city about 5 times.  I planned my routes such that it would take me 4 years to get back to the same town.  

2011-01-05.    Robert LeBlanc  I played Rod couple of times and I know a little about him, first he was one of the few pool players who had enough heart to bet his own cash.  I knew all of the players all across the country and a whole bunch of them wouldn't bet a quarter of their own money and if they did they couldn't or wouldn't fade Rod's action.  Most of the so called high-rollers always got staked.  Don't mean your a bad guy if you don't bet big, but it sure is a lot different betting your own ! One time in Vegas I was playing one pocket for $40 a game, I had one barrel and I was a nervous wreck ! lol   bobbycotton  

2011-02-23.    Grady Mathews  "Rod, I always liked maybe loved and admired warriors like you.  It's been an honor to have played you and been your friend.  I never played you your best game either."

2011-03-22.    Mark Jarvis  WOW! SURFER ROD!!  NOW THERE IS AN OLD SCHOOL CHAMPION.  I WAS JUST IN DENVER AND I WAS ASKING ABOUT YOU... WE HAD SOME GOOD TIMES IN THE 80s DIDN'T WE?  I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW COOL IT IS TO SEE YOUR ALIVE AND WELL.  REMEMBER ARIZONA?  OLD PUEBLO BILLIARDS... 3 DOLLAR SAM, HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.  MARK.

2011-03-22.    CJ Wiley  "Surfer Rod" & "Omaha John"    John Shuput  were two of the most "legendary" road players of my time....Rod played the eight ball, big ball and all the "propositions" and John was secretly one of the best bar table players in the world....he played pretty well on the big box too;0) I assure you it wasn't good for your "bankroll" to run in to these two in some little bar and not know them...they busted many a road man!

2011-03-23.    CJ Wiley  Rod, is it true you used to do one handed push ups on your head?  that always sounded amazing to me...I know you had several "physical" propositions up your sleeve;0)

2011-03-23.    John Shuput  I'll weigh in on the handstand pushups.  He could do more handstand pushups than a high school gym class could do regular pushups!

2011-03-23.    CJ Wiley  That's AMAZING...I couldn't remember if you told me that or I dreamed it ...lol ....I think Mike Massey is the only other person I've ever heard that could do that...I'll have to stick to "regular" push ups;0)

2011-03-24.    Rod Curry  Mike Massey did extended (hands over head) push-ups; all abdominal strength.  In the 60s and 70s I did 35 right-arm push-ups, 35 chin-ups (hands supinated), 200 regular push-ups and 70 handstand push-ups (2 hands), each in one setting, every or every other day until I quit doing the chin-ups in the mid 70s when I realized arm-flexor exercises were not good for my pool stroke.  When I played pool for a living, I played pool 6 days/60 hrs per week and fasted on Sundays.  Extensor exercises were good for my stroke but after years in a desk job, my center of gravity lowered and it hurt to put that extra weight on my hands doing handstand push-ups so I quit that also.                                             Top of Page 

2011-05-16.    Danny DiLiberto  Rod, Wanted to say thanks for taking the time to recant your experiences over the years of playing pool.  Still to this day everyone I know has great respect for what you are able to do on a pool table (In other words still scared to death to take you on!).  Thanks again Rod, I enjoyed reading it!  Danny

2011-05-24.    Gary Haas  Hey Rod, I remember you coming to Baileys bar in Bay City, Michigan about 25 years ago and cleaning the place out.  Harry Sexton was also there; do you recall this?

2011-05-24.    Rod Curry  Yeah, I remember Harry.    I also beat him in Flint, Michigan.  Harry Sexton "Poochie."  Nice guy though.

 

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