Pool
Players Rod Has Beaten (short
version) Rods Home Edited:
03-02-13 19:16
Surfer Rod played them all (mostly on the bar tables with the original
"big" cue ball (2 3/8 inches in diameter). Example: Sammy Blumenthal gave Rod the
5 & the break playing 9 ball (1966) & lost a lot of money. Then,
they played even on the bar box & Sammy quit after losing the first
set. A sucker on the big table but a champion on the bar box. He
even Beat Grady Mathews playing at Grady's Billiards in Colo Springs where the
cue ball is even larger. With the same stroke, the big cue ball will
always roll farther & spin longer, the latter being Rods strong suit. Rod especially preferred games of strategy
like 8-ball (his best game since 1-pocket games were not as common in the
tavern environment). He was not a shot maker & did not like long
shots. @ Once, while playing Marcel Kemp
(1965) 1-pocket at the Congress Bowl in Miami, Rod asked Marcel, "How do
you make a long straight-in?" Marcel said, "Simple, just don't
cut it." * in the rows
below indicate the players were asked to play but they declined.
|
Pool Players &
Comments |
Nickname |
Cities
& States |
Year |
|
Al Hogue 8-ball
& 1-pocket |
|
Denver, Grand Junction |
1970s |
|
Al Romero 8-ball He played tough & very slow. |
Little Al |
Seattle, Los Angeles |
1970s |
|
Alvin Thomas He put up 1G
to back an arm wrestler against Rod then admitted he was just checking |
Titanic Thompson |
Dallas TX |
1966 |
|
Andy Olguin 8-ball &
tossing quarters to a line |
Amarillo |
Amarillo, Denver |
1970s |
|
Artie Bodendorfer declined to play 8-ball in 1967 Shelbyville IN nor
1-pocket on bar box at his place in 70s Chicago * |
Smartie Artie |
Chicago, Vegas |
1967+ |
|
Benny Conway 8-ball Rod was
to give Benny ½ of his $ back but Rod was stuck all night & finally got
even |
The Goose |
Wichita, KS |
1970s |
|
Bernard Rogoff 8-ball Rod won
with a broom handle both times; he was shooting regular & gave Rod the
last 2 balls |
Pots & Pans |
Miami & Las Vegas |
1964+ |
|
Bernardo Chavez 8-ball & 9-ball |
King Kong |
L A, Denver, Vegas |
1970+ |
|
Bill Amadeo, Miami Beach, Anchorage & Houston, Texas, 8-ball &
1-pocket. Bill would wear Rod out for Grady M. |
Ole Man Bill |
Miami Houston Alaska |
1964+ |
|
Bill Kellerher; they crossed paths many times from Detroit & New
Orleans (8-ball & then 1-pocket). Strong opponent |
Calhoon |
Detroit & New Orleans |
1970s |
|
Bill Milke 8-ball,
Rod beat Bill in Milwaukee & also saw him in Las Vegas |
Milkman |
Milwaukee |
1970s |
|
Bill Stack 8-ball;
Rod also busted him kicking at balls in Birmingham or Jackson |
High Class |
Jackson MS & FL |
1970s |
|
Bill Staton 1-pocket
at Jack & Jills (big table); he stiffed Rod on a proposition in WV &
quit winner in FL |
Weenie Beanie |
WV, VA, FL, WA |
1964+ |
|
Bill Stigel 8-ball,
Rod beat Bill in Tampa playing 8-ball |
|
Tampa FL |
1966+ |
|
Billy Burge: Rod lost (9-ball) to Cornbread in Cincy & was in a
good position to win big in Detroit but Rod went broke in a proposition game
& left town; he had no patience to "talk up a game" nor look
for a backer after losing all his $. |
Cornbread Red |
Detroit, Cincinnati |
1970s |
|
Billy Incardona 9-ball,
1-pocket. Billy was with Mataya. Rod beat Billy & after closing, they
went to a truck stop. It was raining & Rods "spin" shots were
not working. Billy beat Rod in the 80s several yrs after Rod retired. |
Cardone |
PA OH Detroit Vegas |
1965+ |
|
Billy Ray Sudan 8-ball San
Jose, Port Angeles & Okla City (Rod won big in the last two cities
playing 9-ball). |
|
San Jose, WA MO OK |
1969+ |
|
Billy Stroud 1-pocket; Billy
didn't recognize Rod (long hair) so Rod busted him in Tulsa but lost a little
in 1968 |
|
Detroit MI, Tulsa |
1968+ |
|
Billy Weir 8-ball
Clovis NM, Denver CO, Longdale OK & Baton Rouge, where Billy beat the
pros in ring 9-ball |
|
Clovis Denver LA OK |
1969+ |
|
Bob Hernandez 8-ball beat Rod twice but got greedy in that Rod won big
$ in the end in Albuquerque + arm wrestling |
Bakersfield Bob |
Amarillo Lawton Vegas |
1970s |
|
Bob Meucci masse' better than anyone but when Rod challenged him wait
til tomorrow--don't have a stick,
laughter |
|
Colo Sprgs, Little Rock |
1970s |
|
Bob Osbourne 8-ball Rod beat Bob
playing 8-ball on a 4 ½ x 9 (All Tech) bar table in FL; Rod's stroke was
working |
Bob Ogburn |
Hialeah FL Danville VA |
1965+ |
|
Bob Smith, red-headed, Toledo, OH, 70s, Rod won playing 8-ball &
Omaha John won playing 9-ball |
Toledo Bob |
Toledo, OH |
1970s |
|
Bobby Leggs, in his club in Indiana playing 8-ball, 70s, Bobby quit
after losing 8 games for $50. |
Bobby Legs |
Indiana |
1970s |
|
Buddy Dennis, Baltimore & Okla, 60s & 70s. 8-ball &
1-pocket |
Baltimore Buddy |
Baltimore, Oklahoma |
1964+ |
|
Calvin Harcrow, Longview, TX, double-kiss (proposition shot) long bank
from opposite corner |
Country Calvin |
Longview, TX |
1980s |
|
Cecil "The Rifleman" Hall, nice guy but short $ at the time,
70s * |
Rifleman, Buddy |
CO, OK |
1970s |
|
Charles Richard Cook Against
Rod, Bucktooth took the $ down. If you side bet when he's around, you're the
sucker |
Bucktooth |
Oakland, Reno |
1970s |
|
Charlie the Ape 9-ball Charlie
beat Rod & the next day, they played 6-ball with a broom where Rod ran 1st 6 racks |
Charlie the Ape |
Santa Anna, CA |
1970+ |
|
CJ Wiley C J was after Rod's
time but he was mentored by Rod's road-playing partner (Omaha John Shuput) |
C J |
Dallas, TX |
2003+ |
|
Cole Dixon, Las Vegas, Rod won 4Gs in 1-pocket; he cut balls in from
everywhere but he didn't win |
Hippie Cole |
Las Vegas UT |
1982+ |
|
Dallas West, Rockford, Illinois, late 70s, beat him sober then had to
beat him both drinking |
|
Rockford, IL |
1970s |
|
Dan Louie, Seattle/Port Angeles, 70s, 8-ball, 9-ball with the 8 &
straight pool w a broom handle |
|
Seattle Denver P.A. |
1974+ |
|
Danny "Handsome Danny" Jones, Florida/Baton Rouge, 60s/70s,
8-ball & tossing quarters to the spot |
handsome Danny |
OH FL Louisiana |
1965+ |
|
Danny DiLiberto, Jack & Jill's in VA, except for Rod's local birth
area, Danny was one of the first pool players met |
The Buffalo Kid |
Virginia
Miami |
1964+ |
|
Danny Medina, Denver & Las Vegas, 70s & early 80s, 8-ball
& 1-pocket, Rod was the 1st to take Danny to Vegas |
Denver Danny |
Denver, Vegas |
1970+ |
|
Dave 1-pocket on bar box; Rod
won 2Gs & gave ½ to Joey Torma. As Rod was driving away in a snow storm,
Dave kicked at the snow & slipped to the ground. "Karma" |
San Diego Dave |
Colo Sprgs San Diego |
1970s |
|
Dave "Cadillac Dave" Piona, Oregon & Willard, OK, 70s,
8-ball |
Cadillac Dave |
Oregon
Willard, OK |
1970s |
|
Dave Knottingham from Sheridan, WY who was road-partners with Rick
John |
The Sheriff |
Denver, WY, Vegas |
1977+ |
|
Dave Matlock 8-ball, Rod has never lost a race to 15 & would have
won if so. Dave wanted to play 10 ahead instead but it took Dave 2 days to
win the match in 98% humidity & 102 deg. The cloth speed was 7' more than
normal. |
Gunslinger |
Ponca City, Vegas |
1980s |
|
David Howard When he was a
teenager, we called him, "Little David the Giant Killer" |
Little David |
FL, OK |
1965+ |
|
Denny Searcy, Houston, Okla & NC, 60s&70s, all games,
cue/broom/chop-sticks/bumper pool |
|
Houston Okla NC |
1966+ |
|
Dick "San Jose Dick" McMoran, Dallas, late 60s, 8-ball; his
backer pulled a gun on Rod after Rod won in 8-ball |
San Jose Dick |
Dallas
San Jose |
1966+ |
|
Dick Lane, Houston, late 70s, 8-ball |
|
Houston |
1970s |
|
Dick Miles, Utah & Las Vegas, 70s, 8-ball & 1-pocket on a bar
table |
|
Utah Las
Vegas |
1970s |
|
Doc "The Poet" White, Albuquerque, Canyon City, Colo,
8-ball, Rod ran 8 racks & won, he got one shot) |
The Poet |
NM
CO Anaheim |
1970s |
|
Don "Portland Don" Watson, Deland, Fla, 60s & Alabama,
late 70s, 1-pocket |
Portland Don |
OR Deland, FL
AL |
1970s |
|
Don "Waterdog" Edwards, Denver, 70s, 8-ball/ straight pool,
all sized tables, ran 98 balls & won 100 to -1 |
Waterdog |
Denver |
1970s |
|
Don McCoy 1 of 2 guys to beat Omaha John in 5 yrs playing 9-ball;
However, it was on a big table in Don's joint. |
|
Des Moines
Vegas |
1970+ |
|
Don Willis, Akron, Ohio, 70s * |
|
Akron, OH |
1970s |
|
Donnie Folks, after Rod beat Donnie playing 8-ball, Omaha John beat
Don playing 9-ball & on snooker table. |
|
Bartlesville, OK |
1970+ |
|
Earl Strickland beat by Rod each time 6-0-1 8-ball 60s-80s
Houston/OK/tossing qtrs. 1 of 2 players to beat Omaha J |
The Pearl |
Houston Okla City |
1966+ |
|
Ed "Champagne Eddie" Kelly, Baltimore/Fredrick, MD, 60s,
asked him to play over the phone * |
champagne eddie |
Vegas
Baltimore MD |
1965+ |
|
Eddie "Detroit Whitey" Beauchene, Las Vegas, Nev, 70s, Rod had
him brain-dead shooting 1-pocket. |
Detroit Whitey |
Las Vegas |
1970s |
|
Eddie "The Hat" Burton, South Carolina, 60s, 8-ball |
The Hat |
South Carolina |
1965+ |
|
Erman Bullard, Tulsa & Okla City, late 70s, Omaha John beat Erman playing
9-ball after Rod won at 8-ball |
|
Tulsa Okla City |
1970s |
|
Ernest "Nubby" Morgan, Las Vegas, 70s, 8-ball & 1-pocket
on bar table |
Nubby |
Houston
Vegas |
1970s |
|
Ernesto Dominguez, Scot Kitto accidentally Ernesto on the head & Rod
had to wait to play him in a tournament |
Chihuahua |
L A & Las Vegas |
1970s |
|
Felipe "Mexican Phil" Valdez, Denver, 70s & 80s, 8-ball
& 1-pocket on a bar table |
Mexican Phil |
Denver |
1970s |
|
Floyd Baxter Checker player but
when Rod tried to back his father playing checkers, Floyd declined, 70s &
80s |
|
Little Rock |
1970s |
|
Gary Pinkowski, Rod met Gary in Hollywood FL in 1965 & partnered
up with Gary playing 9-ball & Rod playing 8-ball |
|
Miami
ARK Vegas |
1965+ |
|
Gene "The Machine" Cooper, Port Angeles & Sacramento,
70s, 8-ball, 1-pocket & pitching quarters |
The Machine |
WA
CA Vegas |
1974+ |
|
Gene Catron Good at
knock-down dominos & proposition shots |
The Glove |
Milwaukee, Vegas |
1970s |
|
George "Tacoma Whitey" Michaels, Tacoma & Seattle,70s,
1-pocket & 8-ball; sore loser |
Tacoma Whitey |
Tacoma WA |
1970s |
|
George Brunt,Milwaukee,70s,8-ball; tripled the bet, played last
pocket, Rod won every game, $300 per |
|
Milwaukee |
1970s |
|
Grady Mathews, Amarillo, 70s/80s, won 1-pocket on bar table/3-cushion
billiards, lost on big table |
The Professor |
Colorado Reno TX |
1976+ |
|
Greg "Big Train" Stevens, Galveston, TX, 1966, 8-ball,
Wichita, KS locals kept losing while waiting for Greg |
Big Train |
Galveston
Wichita |
1966+ |
|
Harry "Poochie" Sexton, Detroit & Flint, Mich, 60s &
70s, 8-ball |
Poochie |
Flint Michigan Detroit |
1968+ |
|
Harry McConnell Rod watched Harry practice in Phily when Rod was in the
Navy, 1962; later, Rod beat Harry in NJ |
The Horse |
Phily NJ |
1962+ |
|
Harry Platis Rod was Harry's 1st mentor & if Rod went
broke, Harry was willing to stake Rod. Once while playing, Harry fouled the
cue ball with 1 of those gloves for $2000. 1 foul ball in-hand but Harry
begged for "overs" & ran out. |
|
WA Vegas Reno OK |
1974+ |
|
Ismael "Morro" Paez, San Jose/Las Vegas 70s, 8-ball;
last-pocket 8-ball |
Morro |
San Jose Vegas S Cal |
1969+ |
|
Jack "Frisco" Cooney, Okla City, 70s, hustled Rod for a spot
playing 1-pocket but would not play even |
Frisco Jack |
Okla City KN Chicago |
1970s |
|
Jack Brett, played 9-ball on the big table but would not play Rod
8-ball or 1-pocket on the bar box. |
Jersey Red |
NJ Houston Vegas |
1965+ |
|
James "Fountain Inn Red" Willis, South Carolina, 8-ball |
Fountain Inn Red |
SC |
1965+ |
|
James "Junior" Norris, Wichita Falls, Texas, 70s & 80s,
8-ball, 9-ball & 6-ball |
Junior Norris |
Wichita Falls TX |
1970s |
|
James "Youngblood" Brown, Stockton, CA & Chicago, late
60s, 8-ball Denver, last-pocket 8-ball |
Youngblood |
Chicago Denver Calif |
1969+ |
|
James Christopher, Houston, 60s/ColoSprings 80s, 1-pocket, 8-ball
& last pocket 8-ball |
The Sniper |
Houston Colo Sprg OR |
1966+ |
|
Jay "Swanee" Swanson, Atlanta, 70s, 9-ball on a bar table |
Swanee |
Atlanta CA |
1970s |
|
Jeff Carter, Omaha & Madison, WI, 70s, 8-ball. Rod won every
game in a short set for $300. |
|
Madison WI
Omaha |
1970s |
|
Jerry Brock, Mobile, Ala, 70s, 8-ball, last-pocket 8-ball &
1-pocket |
|
TN-MS
Mobile AL |
1970s |
|
Jim "King James" Rempe, Houston, 60s, 8-ball when he was
reigning champion |
King James |
Houston
CO Vegas |
1966+ |
|
Jimmy "Cowboy" Moore, Albuquerque, 70s, 1-pocket; we both
had nice slip strokes back then |
Cowboy |
Albuquerque |
1970s |
|
Jimmy "Fly Boy" Spears, Houston/Tenn, 70s, 8-ball; Rod had
his number & won a lot over the yrs |
Fly Boy |
Baltimore Houston TN |
1966+ |
|
Jimmy "Hippie Jimmy" Reid, Las Vegas, 70s * |
Hippie Jimmy |
Las Vegas |
1970s |
|
Jimmy "The Phily Flash" Fusco, Detroit, Mich, 70s, 1-pocket
but he didn't play long |
The Phily Flash |
Detroit |
1970s |
|
Jimmy Caras, putting on a pool exhibition in San Diego but he would
not play for anything |
Boy Wonder |
|
1963 |
|
Jimmy Marino, Washington, PA, 60s or 70s, 8-ball & 9-ball |
Hippie Jimmy |
S or Pittsburgh in PA |
1968+ |
|
Jimmy Mataya, Lansing/Las Vegas, 60s thru early 80s, 8-ball when he
was reigning champion |
Pretty Boy Floyd |
Lansing Las Vegas |
1968+ |
|
Joe "Tracy Joe" Salazar, Las Vegas, 70s 8-ball &
1-pocket |
Tracy Joe |
Las Vegas S California |
1975+ |
|
Joe Kiley 8-ball in Burlington Iowa |
Boston Joey |
Burlington Iowa
IL |
1970s |
|
Joe Ross in Miami, Florida on first road trip South in 1964. Rod won bet to pickup front end of a car
then lost |
Kokomo Joe |
Miami near dog track |
1964+ |
|
Joey Spaeth; his son beat Rod on a big table while Rod's cue was
stolen; Rod busted them tossing quarters. |
Cincinnati Kid |
Cincinnati |
1965+ |
|
Joey Torma, Denver, 8-ball,Omaha John put up all his cash, spotted
Joey in 9-ball & won |
Dallas Joey |
Denver Dallas |
1970s |
|
John "Mexican Johnny" Vasquez, Miami, El Paso, TX, 60s &
70s, 8-ball & 1-pocket |
Mexican Johnny |
TX AZ Miami Chicago |
1965+ |
|
John "Pittsburgh John" where Rod beat him & Jim Marino
in 8-ball & 9-ball South of Pittsburgh & in Vegas |
Pittsburgh John |
Pittsburgh & Vegas |
1970s |
|
John "Railroad John", Atlanta & Fayetteville, NC, 8-ball
& last-pocket 8-ball |
Railroad John |
Atlanta Fayetteville NC |
1970s |
|
John Lineen Rod beat Bernie Rogoff/Johnny Irish with a cue & with a
broom handle playing 8-ball at Calypso lounge |
Johnny Irish |
South Miami |
1964 |
|
John McHenry; all night club outside Chicago, late 60s (9-ball) &
Lawton Okla, 70s, 8-ball (all over the country) |
John Henry, Tex |
IL
FL CO OK
TX AR |
1965+ |
|
Johnny Chapman where Rod beat John playing 3-cushion billiards on a
bar table in Miami in 1964 |
Cannonball |
Miami |
1964+ |
|
Johnny Miller after watching Popcorn play 9-ball in Miami, Rod
developed a "slip stroke." They both retired in 1983. |
Popcorn |
CA S Beach Miami |
1964+ |
|
Junior Brown, Wichita, Kansas, 70s, 8-ball |
|
Wichita KN
Vegas |
1970s |
|
Junior Sweatman, Miss & Birmingham, late 60s, 8-ball & 9-ball
(played 2 days alternating opponents) |
|
Miss & Birmingham |
1969+ |
|
Keith McCready, Port Angeles/Houston/Anaheim, 70s, Rod won 8-ball
& tossing qtrs; Keith won 9-ball & 1-pocket |
Earthquake |
CA
WA IL NV Iowa |
1969+ |
|
Kim Davenport Rod beat him
playing 9-ball (with the 7) in Denver |
Kimmer |
Stockton CA
Denver |
1970s |
|
Larry "The Prince of Pool" Lisciotti, Miami, 60s, after Rod
saw him play in NYC, Rod won playing 8-ball |
Prince of Pool |
Miami NYC |
1965+ |
|
Larry Hubbart last-pocket 8-ball/1-pocket where Rod won in Louisiana
& ColoSprgs; Rod played the best of his life & beat all the pro's for
11G's at $500/ga--losing 1 game all week then going off to Grady in 1-pocket
on his big table |
The Iceman |
Baton Rouge LA & Colo Springs CO |
1980+ |
|
Larry Johnson "Boston Shorty", Las Vegas, 70s * |
Boston Shorty |
Boston, NYC, Vegas |
1965+ |
|
Leonard Rucker. Rod was steered to all-black bar to play Bugs. They
played "dirty" 8-ball where Bugs shot in Rod's ball, Rod shot in
Bugs ball, etc. The trick was to make Bugs' ball & leave the cue ball so
Bugs could not make Rods |
Bugs |
Chicago |
1970s |
|
Lewis "Junior/Lefty" Goff, Florida border town, all-night
club, 70s, 1-pocket |
Junior or Lefty |
FL
AL MS |
1966+ |
|
Lou "Machine Gun" Butera, Los Angeles, 70s * |
Machine Gun |
Los Angeles |
1970s |
|
Louie "St. Louie-Louie" Roberts, across border, Orange, TX,
70s, 8-ball & with a spot in 9-ball |
St Louie-Louie |
LA TX St Louis North |
1970s |
|
Louis "Little Hand" Bramlett, Texas 60s, 8-ball &
1-pocket |
Little Hand |
TX
Houston |
1966+ |
|
Luther Lassiter watched Rod run 98 balls on a big table then refused
Rod's challenge; Wimpy was so nervous, & spilled a pitcher of water
(instead) of powder & was easily defeated by Rod's friend Danny DiLiberto
* |
Wimpy |
VA |
|
|
Marcel Camp, Miami, 60s, 8-ball & 1-pocket; See Note @
top of this page |
Campy |
Miami |
1964+ |
|
Mark "Mark Tadd" Tademy, SLC, 80s after Rod retired, Rod use
to give him a ball in 1-pocket; he learned cheap |
Mark Tadd |
|
|
|
Mark Haddad gave Rod 1 ball & the break playing last-pocket for a
nickel per game. Rod lost all week & was 26 games down. What do you do?
Rod doubled the bet & won every game (8 in a row). The local backing Mark
quit & Rod asked the bartender for the up-money. The local backer had
talked her out of it. Rod retrieved the $ & retired. |
|
Ogden |
2005 |
|
Mark Jarvis young champ, Rod beat him 8-ball 70s Chicago. 82: they
crossed path on the road, each with a redhead |
Chip |
Chicago, Texas |
1970s |
|
Marshall "Squirrel" Carpenter played Rod in Las Vegas in the
late 70s or early 80s. Rod was jumping the rack to bank a ball in his pocket
& getting out. Marshall says no body could beat him with that shot.
Later, he was practicing. http://konnections.net/rodcurry/Pool Players Rod
has Beaten detail.htm |
"Tuscaloosa Squirrel" |
Tuscaloosa
Vegas |
1970s |
|
Martin Kaiman. Omaha Fats was Rod's favorite comedian unless Rod was
the subject of Marty's ridicule. You couldn't tell if he was serious or not.
On the road & not much happening, Rod sometimes would go into an Omaha
Fats routine & take off the house. The opponents were all smiling,
laughing & having a good time losing their money. |
Omaha Fats |
Denver CO Omaha |
1970+ |
|
Melvin Brooks played Rod 9-6 1-pocket on a big table at Grady's
tournament in Reno. Rod had him stuck until a big snow storm hit & shut down
the city. Lights/heat went off & it became so wet & clammy, Rod's
"spin" betrayed him |
Strawberry |
Reno, NV |
1993 |
|
Michael "Geese" Gerace, DC, 60s, proposition shots, Oregon,
70s, 1-pocket |
Geese |
OR DC
VA Baltimore |
1969+ |
|
Mike "Pittsburgh Mike" where Rod beat him in Okla City, 70s,
playing 8-ball |
Pittsburgh Mike |
Okla City |
1970s |
|
Mike "Tennessee Tarzan" Massey, TN & LA, 70s, we visited
some but never played for money * |
Tennessee Tarzan |
TN
Vegas IL all over |
1966+ |
|
Mike Sigel, Little Rock/Denver,70s, 8-ball for a nickel? Rod say
"sure." he comes back, wants odds * |
Captain Hook |
MS
LA NV ARK CO |
1970s |
|
Nick Varner, nice gentleman, Owensboro, KY, 70s * |
The Kentuckian |
Kentucky |
1970s |
|
Norman Hitchcock; after Rod beat the Mayor playing 1-pocket &
tossing a quarter to the hat, Bill backed Rod playing 9-ball against Norman.
Rod says he'd rather play 8-ball. Bill said, "I'll make him bet so much
he'll "dog" it." |
Hitch |
Longdale OK
Dallas |
1970s |
|
Norman Howard", Detroit, put a msg on Rod's windshield in Mich
City, IN, "bet more was here" |
Jockey |
Detroit
Indiana Mich |
1968+ |
|
One-eyed Tony Howard, Okla City, 70s, 8-ball; Rod ran 8 racks on him;
Rod won every game for sure |
One-eyed Tony |
Okla City |
1970s |
|
Paul Brusloff. Rod met Paul in the most action spot in the USA at the
time (Detroit) where they matched up pitching coins to the line on the
sidewalk outside of the pool hall in a snow storm. It was snowing so hard,
the maintenance man had to sweep the line off before each throw. Rod showed
respect to his elder & retrieved the coins each time. After a while,
Rod's fingers became frozen & he lost all his stash. Cornbread Red
reprimanded Rod for not matching up inside. When Rod's loses, he is too
stubborn/impatient to ask for a better game/sponsor so "on the road
again." |
Jew Paul |
Detroit, MI |
1970s |
|
Pete "Canadian Pete", Michigan City, IN, 8-ball, he hung
around with Jockey. They took turns donating. |
Canadian Pete |
Michigan City, IN |
1968+ |
|
Pete "Cheyenne Pete" Trujillo, Denver/Cheyenne, 70s, 8-ball
but Rod lost playing golf on Pete's snooker table. |
Cheyenne Pete |
Cheyenne
Denver |
1970s |
|
Peter Linhard in NJ & later in Vegas. 9-ball props & 1-pocket;
Rod improved a lot since they first met (Rod learned). |
Peter Rabbit |
NJ Vegas |
1965+ |
|
Randy "Fat Randy", Tulsa, 70s, 8-ball |
Fat Randy |
Tulsa
Vegas |
1970s |
|
Ray "Cross-eyed Ray", Atmore, Ala, 60s, 8-ball |
Cross-eyed Ray |
Atmore, AL |
1960s |
|
Rich "The Hat" Geiler, Salem, Seattle, 70s, 8-ball, had Rod
14-9; Rod kicked the ball in & ran 6 racks to win |
The Hat |
WA
OR |
1970s |
|
Richard Austin beat Rod at 9-ball in Houston some time after Rod beat
Richard playing 8-ball in Rich's club in Tenn. |
Memphis Flash |
TN
Houston |
1970s |
|
Richard Riggie, Baltimore, MD "64" or "65" Rod
beat Richard playing 8-ball on 4x8 bar table. |
|
Baltimore MD |
1970s |
|
Richie Ambrose Little Rock Arkansas * |
|
Little Rock ARK |
1970s |
|
Richie Florence died too young; he beat Rod playing 1-pocket at a
Sacramento tournament |
L A Richie |
California |
1970s |
|
Robert Dancer lost to Rod in Detroit & Phoenix (8-ball &
1-pocket). Robert won at 1-pock in Vegas after Rod retired |
Detroit Bob |
Detroit Phoenix Vegas |
1970s |
|
Robert LeBlanc they crossed paths over the years. Rod beat him in
Detroit (Rod got the 6, Cotton got the break) |
Cotton |
Detroit
ARK Vegas |
1970s |
|
Ronnie Allen would always talk all the time & shark his opponent
if he had to. It happened to Rod but late in their careers, Rod busted Ronnie
in 8-ball in Baton Rouge. The most memorable was a match in Colo Springs
where they played a set of 8-ball to 5 games for a nickel. The score was 4-1
(Rod) when got out of line & could not go down table (filled with
Ronnie's balls) so Rod did a masse' draw (the cue ball went into a circle
before it exponentiated "like a yo-yo) increasingly back to the other
end rail, breaking out a frozen 8-ball to win the match. The crowd went wild. |
Fast Eddie |
Vegas, Baton Rouge Colorado Springs, Burlington,
Iowa, across the river from Orange, TX |
1970s 1980s |
|
Rudolf Wonderone "woofed" all over the USA starting in
Miami. He quit Rod near Houston & would not play in Denver |
Minnesota Fats |
Houston
Denver |
1970s |
|
Sam Blumenthal, Jacksonville, 60s, 9-ball: lost with the 5 & the snap
on big table; won even on bar table |
Snooker Sam |
Jacksonville, FL |
1965+ |
|
Sammy Jones declined to play Rod in 70s San
Angelo TX. Lots of other action though. |
Jumpin Sammy |
San Angelo, TX |
1970s |
|
Samuel Trivett, Weenie Beenie's place in Alexander, VA, 60s, 1-pocket
on a big table |
Seattle Sam |
Alexander, VA |
1964+ |
|
Scott "The Shot" Smith, Denver & Colo Springs, 70s,
8-ball |
The Shot |
Denver, Colo Springs |
1970+ |
|
Scott Kitto, Iowa/Vegas, 70s, Scott accidentally hit Dominguez in the
head with the cue ball |
|
Iowa, Vegas |
1970s |
|
Sebastion "Chino" Franko, Los Angeles & Denver, 70s,
8-ball |
Chino |
Los Angeles, Denver |
1970s |
|
Steve Cook, Tampa, 79 or 80, 8-ball/1-pocket; he beat Rod for a wk, a
ball skidded & Rod came back big |
Cookie Monster |
Ohio, Tampa |
1970s |
|
Steve Mizerack would not play Rod in Port Angeles, WA nor his own
& John Madden's in Vegas * |
The Miz |
Port Angeles, Vegas |
1970s |
|
Steve Oaks, Kokomo, Indiana, 70s, 8-ball |
|
Indiana, Kokomo |
1970s |
|
Stormy Hunter 8-ball Artie
& Rod where looking for a game when Stormy chose Rod & lost every
game ($4000) |
|
Shelbyville, IN |
1966+ |
|
Terry Bell, Littlerock 70s/Colorado Sprgs 80s, 8-ball, he never called
a bet, even on a big table * |
Terrible Terry |
Colo Sprgs Little Rock |
1970s |
|
Tommy "Staten Island" Halliday, New Jersey, 1964 or 1965,
8-ball |
Staten Island |
New Jersey |
1965+ |
|
Tony "Fargo" Ferguson, Tulsa, 70s, 8-ball & pitching
quarters |
Tony Fargo |
Tulsa, Denver |
1970s |
|
Utley "UJ" Puckett, Rod beat UJ playing 1-pocket on the bar
box; Once when Rod came thru, UJ steered him to a club to play 8-ball with a
friend of his. Rod asked, "How much do my action do you want. UJ said,
"I just want half." |
U J |
Ft Worth, TX, Dallas |
1966+ |
|
Wade Crane beat Rod in 9-ball in Chattanooga but didn't run into each
other that often. |
Billy Johnson |
Atlanta, Chattanooga |
1970s |
|
Walter "Woppie" Getty, Dallas & Okla, Rod beat him &
every "shark" in Dallas & then repeated same in bumper pool. |
Woppie |
Dallas, TX,
SC, OK |
1966+ |
|
Walter Glass, North Carolina, late 70s, 8-ball; Rod beat him in Vegas
playing straight-pool on the bar box. |
|
North Carolina |
1970s |
|
Warren "Monk" Castanza, Houston, Las Vegas, 70s, 8-ball
& 9-ball |
The Monk |
Houston, Las Vegas |
1970s |
|
Willie Mosconi, Omaha, Neb, 70s * Willie declined to play Rod in Omaha after asked in the 70s |
|
Pennsylvania, Omaha |
1970s |
|
Willie Munson, Milwaukee, 70s, 8-ball, he relieved George Brunt &
kept Rod in action |
|
Milwaukee, Vegas |
1970s |
The only guy not mentioned above that has beaten Rod out of
big $ is Allen Hopkins (Port Angeles, WA (late 70s), Birmingham, Ala & Las
Vegas (early 80s)). The first time was on a 4x8 with high rails such that
no matter what english Rod used, the rail would pinch the cue ball causing it
to come off the rail slow & at an increased angle. The second time
was in Birmingham playing 1-pocket on a bar table. $200 was his max &
he won the first six games in a row. After Rod won the next two, he
quit. The last time was in Las Vegas playing last pocket 8-ball. He
showed up 24 hours late but may have kept Rod in cheap action all night to wear
him down (so that's where Grady learned that move)! Although Rod had been
up for 3 days & he was fresh, Rod never back down. Rod lost the first
8 games in a row. Rod asked to raise the bet each & every game but
the most he would bet was $800 (and he had a stake horse). Needless to
say, Rod went off for eight big ones. Omaha John owed Rod $2500 for 10% of his
tournament win but he would not give Rod same until Rod got some sleep.
We made a date to play the next day but Allen never showed, again! Rod
still want a rematch but since he's twice retired (from pro pool (1964-1983),
from the Feds (1983-2003) & a chiropractor broke Rod's neck (twice), He's
now the underdog. It use to be second nature & Rod loved the pressure
but now Rod doesn't play enough to overcome it. By the time he's in
stroke, he's usually broke. Good thing Rod has a retirement plan.
Late in his career, the nerves got the best of Rod until the Crown Royal kicked
in. Steve Cook drank but not when he played pool. Rod was just the
opposite in that the only time he drank was WHEN he played pool. Luckily, the road players stopped looking
for Rod on the pool table. Rod played
scared but never scared to play & never "dogged" the bet. "Line em up, Rod use to say." Awhile back, Rod documented 33 ways in which
he would come out of retirement & play all comers; 22 ways were EVEN.
On top of that, if you don't have the money (or nerve) to play your own, Rod
knows locals who will stake you or even loan you money to play him. After all, Rod never learned how to quit
& too many players know it. He's
not rich but he out-bets rich people.
8-ball or Last-pocket 8-ball with 1 ball
(optional) & the break
8-ball or Last-pocket 8-ball with 1 ball & the break, Rod will play
Chinese pool (2 cues)
8-ball EVEN or Last-pocket 8-ball EVEN, both play Chinese pool (chop
sticks)
8-ball with 3 balls & the break, Rod will play with a broom handle
8-ball EVEN or Last-pocket 8-ball EVEN, both use a broom handle
8-ball EVEN or Last-pocket 8-ball EVEN, 4 or more rails
8-ball EVEN or Last-pocket 8-ball EVEN or 1-pocket EVEN jacked up (wrist
higher than elbow)
Double-kiss shots EVEN
One-pocket 8-5 & the break
One-pocket 9-6 & the break
One-pocket 11-5 & the break, Rod will use a broom handle
One-pocket EVEN, Rod will play Chinese pool, opponent can play regular
or Chinese-style
Toss a quarter closest to the spot on the pool table from 5-10
feet EVEN
Toss a quarter closest to the wall (all coin tosses are EVEN up)
Toss a quarter into a 3” cup EVEN or shirt pocket from 6-8 feet
EVEN
Toss a quarter into a whisky glass in 8 tries from 6-8 feet EVEN
Toss quarter closest to the line in the dirt EVEN, tile EVEN or wood
floor EVEN
9-ball One-pocket with the break only
9-ball with 6,7,8,9 & the break
9-ball with break & ball in hand anywhere on the table
Make spot shot with soft stroke without hitting a rail or
scratching EVEN
Make spot shot with hard stroke without hitting a rail or fouling
EVEN
Hand-stand push-ups against any other senior citizen pool player about
Rod's age EVEN