The night i played Handsome Danny,

Car Lot Jim

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It was Derby week back in 86. Place, Parkmoor Bowling Alley, Louisville, Ky. This old guy (58) saunters up to me and says i hear you like to play bank pool.
I said i do, he said won't to play some for 30.00 a game? I said sure. Danny wins the first game, and says Jim, lets raise the bet to 50.00. I might add here that Danny had been rubbing me the wrong way, i had 2800.00 in my left pocket to gamble on, i said Danny, screw the 50.00 pool, lets play for 300.00 a game and you or me will make some money. He replied, Jim, i cannot afford to bet that much, i replied what kind of pool hustler are you? You come in here from Baton Rouge, and you ain't got no money, won't put up no money and won't bet no money. I usually don't behave like that but he had me pissed trying to hustle me. He breaks the balls. I step to the table and bank 6 in, he misses, and i bank in 2 more. Score 8-0 first game. After that i would go 1/2 an hour with nothing to shoot at, zilch. If i got a shot, it put a lot of pressure to pocket the ball, as i knew it would be another 1/2 hour before i got another shot. We played 6 hours, broke dead even. My bud, said Jim you should have ran thru that old guy. I replied, if that guy ain't a world champion, there aint any! I did'nt know who Danny Jones was at that time.
When i got home, i got out the pool & billiard magazine and read about Danny Jones being best all around in Johnson City tournament in 67 & 69. Luther Lassiter won it in 68, i had played him in Louisville in 73.
Car lot Jim
 

jazznpool

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Orange, CA
Very entertaining story CL Jim. Thanks. Tell us about how you and Wimpy came to play and what the results were.

Martin


Car Lot Jim said:
It was Derby week back in 86. Place, Parkmoor Bowling Alley, Louisville, Ky. This old guy (58) saunters up to me and says i hear you like to play bank pool.
I said i do, he said won't to play some for 30.00 a game? I said sure. Danny wins the first game, and says Jim, lets raise the bet to 50.00. I might add here that Danny had been rubbing me the wrong way, i had 2800.00 in my left pocket to gamble on, i said Danny, screw the 50.00 pool, lets play for 300.00 a game and you or me will make some money. He replied, Jim, i cannot afford to bet that much, i replied what kind of pool hustler are you? You come in here from Baton Rouge, and you ain't got no money, won't put up no money and won't bet no money. I usually don't behave like that but he had me pissed trying to hustle me. He breaks the balls. I step to the table and bank 6 in, he misses, and i bank in 2 more. Score 8-0 first game. After that i would go 1/2 an hour with nothing to shoot at, zilch. If i got a shot, it put a lot of pressure to pocket the ball, as i knew it would be another 1/2 hour before i got another shot. We played 6 hours, broke dead even. My bud, said Jim you should have ran thru that old guy. I replied, if that guy ain't a world champion, there aint any! I did'nt know who Danny Jones was at that time.
When i got home, i got out the pool & billiard magazine and read about Danny Jones being best all around in Johnson City tournament in 67 & 69. Luther Lassiter won it in 68, i had played him in Louisville in 73.
Car lot Jim
 

Car Lot Jim

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wimpy lassiter

wimpy lassiter

Martin,
I was at the Lousiville Billiards supply in 73 purchasing tickets to the U.S.Open 9 ball tournament held in Louisville that year. I watched Luther Lassiter warming up, he had just finished running 125 balls in straight pool.
His opponent gave up at that point. Luther asked me to play some 9-ball with him, i said sure, picked up a house cool with a tip about the size of a quarter and ran 8 balls, mis-cued, and watched Luther run about 9 racks of 9-ball, he was about the smoothest 9 baller i have ever seen stroke a ball.
CL Jim
 

hemicudas

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Jackson, Miss.
Danny was a much loved guy.

Danny was a much loved guy.

Danny Jones was a ton of fun, Jim. He had the ability to find stakehorses when players that played above him couldn't. Danny was one of the top hustlers in pool history. The list of guys he got, just in Miss., is endless. I put Danny in more ring and payball games in Baton Rouge than I should have but never regreted it. There always was that chance of him having a flashback and busting the entire game.

This a pic of Danny taken at the 1987 Steve Gunphrey memorial tournament held here in Jackson.
 

fred bentivegna

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chicago illinois
Danny was on a short list

Danny was on a short list

hemicudas said:
Danny Jones was a ton of fun, Jim. He had the ability to find stakehorses when players that played above him couldn't. Danny was one of the top hustlers in pool history. The list of guys he got, just in Miss., is endless. I put Danny in more ring and payball games in Baton Rouge than I should have but never regreted it. There always was that chance of him having a flashback and busting the entire game.

This a pic of Danny taken at the 1987 Steve Gunphrey memorial tournament held here in Jackson.

I use to see Danny in Hot Springs, AR during the race meet. He was dating a woman that owned a motel there. I put Danny on a very short list of OnePocket players that really knew the game. Everyone would not believe some of the players that I dont have on that list. I'll just drop one name and let your imaginations run wild, Cecil Buddy Hall, and I know he has won 1pkt tourneys. We are great friends, but as great a player as he is in Nine-Ball -- as Jersey Red would say, "He couldnt find his pocket with an Indian-guide."
I will cite one compelling example of whether Danny knew 1pkt or not, Artie Bodendorfer played him about 6 games in Bensingers and quit even! He did not like what Danny was doing to him. In his career Artie only quit 2 people playing 1 pkt --aside from Bugs, but they played all the time-- Danny Jones and Johnny Cannonball Lefty Chapman. Artie though Jack Cooney's 1pkt game was weak and told him so.
Danny had a very bad neck problem that plagued him throughout the best days of his career.
the Beard
 

fred bentivegna

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The night the Beard first played Danny

The night the Beard first played Danny

Responding to this thread finally shook my brain enough to remind me of when I first played Danny Jones. It was in Bensingers in 1961. I didnt know him, and in those days I would play anybody. We played 9ball for $3 a game on the old 5x10's. I was 10 games ahead when Danny went to the bathroom. Some old sweator-snitch siddled up to me and said, "Do you know who youre playing, kid? That's Dan Jones, he just won the national snooker title." Needless to say, I got shook, but was too dumb then to quit. I now couldnt make a ball. I lost the $30 back, and then all I had, about another $30. Danny next matched up with a thin black guy to play banks on a 4 1/2x 9. The black guy banked 8 and out and Danny packed him in and quit. I later found out that the black man was none other than Johnny Cannonball Lefty Chapman. It was the 1st 8 and out I had ever seen.
the Beard
 

Lunchmoney

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Washington State
The first time I saw Danny Jones was in Baton Rouge in 1978. There was a tournament going on, the Southern Open. Buddy Hall was playing Larry Hubbart. The room was quiet except for the clicking of the balls. It was Buddy's break and just after he set the cue ball down and was taking his practice strokes a voice boomed out "Send that Yankee back to New York Buddy Hall". It was Danny Jones from the bleachers. Cracked the place up. I don't recall who won the match though.


Lunchmoney
 

Scorzany

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I used to know Danny Jones as well but not as a pool player myself. Good man.

P.S. I saw Color of Money and I remembered that Danny Jones one commissioned a line of cues with his name on them (hand signed). Anyone know where I might get one and how much it might cost?

/salute Danny Jones
 

bjspivey

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Danny

Danny

He was one of my dear friends, I'd drive to Hot-Springs & see him at the track ,Danny was one of the GOOD GUYS in my book, We had good times back then, He was one class act! I loved him!!! I remember how he'd bet all his $$ at the track,Then we'd go play the jockies so he could bet again lol,B.J. ;)
 

bjspivey

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fred bentivegna said:
I use to see Danny in Hot Springs, AR during the race meet. He was dating a woman that owned a motel there. I put Danny on a very short list of OnePocket players that really knew the game. Everyone would not believe some of the players that I dont have on that list. I'll just drop one name and let your imaginations run wild, Cecil Buddy Hall, and I know he has won 1pkt tourneys. We are great friends, but as great a player as he is in Nine-Ball -- as Jersey Red would say, "He couldnt find his pocket with an Indian-guide."
I will cite one compelling example of whether Danny knew 1pkt or not, Artie Bodendorfer played him about 6 games in Bensingers and quit even! He did not like what Danny was doing to him. In his career Artie only quit 2 people playing 1 pkt --aside from Bugs, but they played all the time-- Danny Jones and Johnny Cannonball Lefty Chapman. Artie though Jack Cooney's 1pkt game was weak and told him so.
Danny had a very bad neck problem that plagued him throughout the best days of his career.
the Beard
He was in one Hell of a car- wreck lucky to have made it!!
 

Ball Banger

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Handsome Dan wins $20K in a pay ball game

Handsome Dan wins $20K in a pay ball game

.

The year was Feb 1979 at Greenway Pool Hall Baton Rouge La. There was a huge Hustlers Tournament that Keith McCready won. The action was like Johnson City. There was 3 day 100/200 Pay Ball game on a 10ft snooker table with players like St Lou lou, Steve Mizerak, Jersey Red, Fly Boy, Handsome Dan and a number of other world-class players. Just as St Lou lou got in the game, Handsome Dan started a multiple rack run. I can still see St lou, lou dressed in Sharkskin pants and a white dress shirt crying he was down $ 2 K and had not even got to the table.

Danny sold used cars when he wasn't playing pool. but as long as Danny was in town you could find him at Greenway pool hall. I remember Danny and Fly Boy were hustling buddy in those days. The last I heard about Danny he was dealing Blackjack on a riverboat casino and died from a heart at the Table.

Danny was a nice guy and always treated me with respect, and I was just a beginning player. It was Danny that taught me Zone position and how to play for Line position instead of speed.
 

Scrzbill

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Parkmoor was my training ground and I am glad to see it was a national force for many years. I was kidnaped by a woman who took me to Coral Gables Fla during the 70’s and by the time I returned, no Parkmoor.
 

rnewkirk

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Weatherford, TX
I first met Danny in Hot Springs 1979. Puckett took me there to hustle pool.

What a trip. Danny was married to a woman that owned a motel. Great stories were told between Danny and U.J. Made a good friend in Danny.

Danny was always moving on people. In 1982 or 83, at Moyers in Austin, where the annual Texas Open originally started, I walked in the front door and from across the room I hear - Come on Newkie, I'll take the 8 or 9-7 in onepocket. OF COURSE, Danny was creating action for himself and getting people to think he played under me. It was quite funny to me and everyone there. It didn't hurt my action, because almost everyone there knew me. LOL


Danny was quite the character, along with many others. Sadly, we have lost too many and not many of that era left.


Just retuned from DCC and pool seems to be on the mend. Had a great time.
 

unoperro

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I first met Danny in Hot Springs 1979. Puckett took me there to hustle pool.

What a trip. Danny was married to a woman that owned a motel. Great stories were told between Danny and U.J. Made a good friend in Danny.

Danny was always moving on people. In 1982 or 83, at Moyers in Austin, where the annual Texas Open originally started, I walked in the front door and from across the room I hear - Come on Newkie, I'll take the 8 or 9-7 in onepocket. OF COURSE, Danny was creating action for himself and getting people to think he played under me. It was quite funny to me and everyone there. It didn't hurt my action, because almost everyone there knew me. LOL


Danny was quite the character, along with many others. Sadly, we have lost too many and not many of that era left.


Just retuned from DCC and pool seems to be on the mend. Had a great time.

Nuke thanks for the story.
Like many on here you have plenty to share! Post in the journals if you dont want to fade naysayers but tell those tales before they grow anymore😉
 

Scrzbill

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Eagles Rest, Wa
I first met Danny in Hot Springs 1979. Puckett took me there to hustle pool.

What a trip. Danny was married to a woman that owned a motel. Great stories were told between Danny and U.J. Made a good friend in Danny.

Danny was always moving on people. In 1982 or 83, at Moyers in Austin, where the annual Texas Open originally started, I walked in the front door and from across the room I hear - Come on Newkie, I'll take the 8 or 9-7 in onepocket. OF COURSE, Danny was creating action for himself and getting people to think he played under me. It was quite funny to me and everyone there. It didn't hurt my action, because almost everyone there knew me. LOL


Danny was quite the character, along with many others. Sadly, we have lost too many and not many of that era left.


Just retuned from DCC and pool seems to be on the mend. Had a great time.

I’ll take the 8 or 9/7 from you.
 

bstroud

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Met Danny the first time at the Haskell pool room in Dallas.
This was before his car accident.

I must have been 16 or so.
He was on the road with Jack Terry.

He played Howard, another player in the room and won.
I played Terry and broke even.

Bill S.
 

androd

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New Braunfels tx.
I knew Danny fairly well, he was a hard working pool hustler.
He came and got me 3 times to go to bar spots, they were playing partners 8 ball. We won all the money, Danny never made a ball, of course my action was dead, so he took another partner, and so on, he'd get every nickle in the spots.

He was also the best end game player that I ever played, never leave you a shot. I've played a lot of great players, he was the best at the end game.

He and Jack Terry were on the road, they met and married two girls from Austin Tx., moved to Houston, stayed many years. Both fine players.
I've staked Danny some few times, we did well. No one tried any harder than Danny for a Stake Horse.

The story I heard, he died on the dance floor in a Natchez Casino

P.S. A little story I've told before. Red and Danny would put in together and bet me Baseball parley's, Red's favorite player was Marichal.
They agreed on two teams, marichal was pitching for Frisco and a very big favorite Danny wanted the price on Philly but Red said No!
They agreed to play a game of one pocket to see who got to pick.
After the rack Red said what? light sharking ? Danny said fine.
Danny won the one pocket, took the price with Philly. Marichal one hit Philly for a shutout.
Red moaned about losing the one pocket and the parlay for weeks, of course the other two teams won. :p:D:)
 
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Island Drive

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1968 till the Treasury dept Raid

1968 till the Treasury dept Raid

I knew Danny fairly well, he was a hard working pool hustler.
He came and got me 3 times to go to bar spots, they were playing partners 8 ball. We won all the money, Danny never made a ball, of course my action was dead, so he took another partner, and so on, he'd get every nickle in the spots.

He was also the best end game player that I ever played, never leave you a shot. I've played a lot of great players, he was the best at the end game.

He and Jack Terry were on the road, they met and married two girls from Austin Tx., moved to Houston, stayed many years. Both fine players.
I've staked Danny some few times, we did well. No one tried any harder than Danny for a Stake Horse.

The story I heard, he died on the dance floor in a Natchez Casino

P.S. A little story I've told before. Red and Danny would put in together and bet me Baseball parley's, Red's favorite player was Marichal.
They agreed on two teams, marichal was pitching for Frisco and a very big favorite Danny wanted the price on Philly but Red said No!
They agreed to play a game of one pocket to see who got to pick.
After the rack Red said what? light sharking ? Danny said fine.
Danny won the one pocket, took the price with Philly. Marichal one hit Philly for a shutout.
Red moaned about losing the one pocket and the parlay for weeks, of course the other two teams won. :p:D:)


Good story, reminding me of Danny Jones....Handsome Danny Jones was the way I heard em called in 68 as a college kid. He Was a nice looking man, had slicked back hair if I remember correctly and wore pants that reminded me of golf players. I caddied allot as a kid.

His overall appearance was near the best. I do remember his smile and did watch a few of his matches. I was still bustin' my chops playing in this event. Other than the collegiate event, my first and ONLY pool tournament I ever went to was Janscos :). I did play in the 14.1 event generally going out (2-2)each year as a kid. I had NO chance in the other 2 disciplines and would look for soft action, was difficult to find in that group of Rounders. I was a broke dick college kid, putting myself thru school with Thanksgiving, Xmas and Spring break Gambling money Winnings that kept me in school. Never bet too high, but I always matched up well as I kept improving.
 

androd

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New Braunfels tx.
Good story, reminding me of Danny Jones....Handsome Danny Jones was the way I heard em called in 68 as a college kid. He Was a nice looking man, had slicked back hair if I remember correctly and wore pants that reminded me of golf players. I caddied allot as a kid.

His overall appearance was near the best. I do remember his smile and did watch a few of his matches. I was still bustin' my chops playing in this event. Other than the collegiate event, my first and ONLY pool tournament I ever went to was Janscos :). I did play in the 14.1 event generally going out (2-2)each year as a kid. I had NO chance in the other 2 disciplines and would look for soft action, was difficult to find in that group of Rounders. I was a broke dick college kid, putting myself thru school with Thanksgiving, Xmas and Spring break Gambling money Winnings that kept me in school. Never bet too high, but I always matched up well as I kept improving.

His nickname was handsome Danny, U.J. said he named himself, he looked like a Georgia ground Squirrel, but Danny had a way with the Ladies.
I was in New Iberia, they asked me if I knew Crook neck from Baton Rouge ?
This was after his car wreck.
 
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