Rod, (as we called him at Cochran's) we have both said before, was a pretty fair squeeze artist. I only played him a few times before we became good friends, and each time was a lesson in torture. I'd get stuck, and grind even... It wasn't as much his squeezing, that was hard to take, it was his sloooooooooooow play, that would get to almost anybody. After getting to know him, I don't think it was a gaff...he just played that way. (or so I thought !)
I was in with him one time, when he played Jack Perkins. Their regular game was Rod got 9/8...It was usually a see-saw. One time he got Jack stuck pretty good, and real hot..Jack said..."God Damn it, you got ANOTHER BALL, with a 30 second shot clock... And no jacking off that stick..When you get down to shoot, 5 warm up strokes, and you pull the f-ing trigger."
Rod expressed aprehension to me, but I encouraged him to try it...They doubled the bet, And Jack gave him 10/8...Rod beat him 6 in a row that way, and never missed a ball or a safety..Jack was livid, so it was easy for me to take him the rest of the way off...Fun times !!