November 20, 2007

Onepocket.org is pleased to announce that we will be inducting two players into the One Pocket Hall of Fame this year, the 'voice of Accustats', Billy Incardona, and Philadelphia's Jimmy Fusco. Both of these guys are not only strong players, they have decidedly contributed to the growth and popularity of the game. Our third inductee is actually two brothers, George & Paulie Jansco, the original hustler's jamboree promoters of the famous Johnston City & Stardust tournaments. The sole Bank Pool inductee this year is retired champion and banking legend, Donny 'The Cincinnati Kid' Anderson. Our Hall of Fame dinner will again be one of the featured special events at the upcoming 10th annual Derby City Classic in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday, January 8th.

In our second year looking beyond One Pocket, reaching out to the world of under-appreciated legends of pool action, OnePocket.org is pleased to announce that 'Hippie Jimmy' Reid is this year's choice for Lifetime Pool in Action recognition.

This dinner is always a very entertaining evening, as these players are among the most colorful, talented and action-oriented legends in all of cue sports. This also happens to be the 10th annual Derby City tournament, so this year has to be special! Stay tuned for more info...

Click here for banquet details and to make your reservations

Leonard 'Bugs' Rucker Dies

November 11, 2007

Chicago's legendary Banks and One Pocket Hall of Fame player Leonard 'Bugs' Rucker died today at the age of 69. He had been lately suffering from the severe advancement of Diabetes. Bugs was considered by many to be heir to the title the world's best banker after Eddie Taylor retired, and he incorporated his banking to great success in his One Pocket game as well. He was inducted into the first class of the One Pocket Hall of Fame in January of 2005, and our first class for the Legends of Bank Pool in 2006.

Click here for his Hall of Fame page

John Brumback & Tony Chohan

2007 US Open Banks & One Pocket Champions

Local veteran John Brumback came out of the one-loss side to win the US Open Bank Pool Championships at Qlympics in Louisville, KY. Meanwhile, Tony Chohan is our new US Open One Pocket champion.

John Brumback

Tony Chohan

Rack 'em up with the late

Al 'NY Blackie' Bonife

This interview took place back on May 5th, 2005, when Blackie was living in Florida. I had always hoped to follow up with Blackie, but that didn't happen, and unfortunately he died August 15, 2007. Al Bonife, better known as 'NY Blackie', was a real straight shooter and an astute game maker. He was a long-time friend of Buddy Hall, and he also spent time in California with 'Little Al' Romero. Both Buddy Hall and Al Romero have been kind enough to add some of their own reminiscences of Blackie which are included in the interview.

Click here for the complete NY Blackie interview

Rack 'em up with

Donny 'The Cincinnati Kid' Anderson

Born June 9th, 1929, as a youngster Don Anderson developed into a strong pool player along with two other local kids from Cincinnati: Eugene ‘Clem’ Metz and the late Joey Spaeth. While Clem turned his attention to One Pocket, and Joey became one of the all-around stars of Johnston City, Bank was always Donny’s game of choice, and with the advent of Bank Pool tournaments in the 70’s, it was Donny Anderson that emerged as our first Bank Pool World Champion.

Click here for the complete Donny Anderson interview

Rack 'em up with

George 'The Trapper' Rood

George Rood is a good inspiration to 9-Ball players of all ages, that it’s never too late to take up the game of One Pocket. George started as a 9-Ball and Straight Pool player and didn't seriously take up One Pocket until he was about 75 years old! George was honored at our 2007 Derby City Classic Hall of Fame dinner with a “Lifetime of  Pool in Action” award.

Click here for the complete George Rood interview

Rack 'em up with

Jaffar 'Patch Eye' Basheer

Jaffar Basheer is a living example that you do not need to set aside your deeply held values when you enter a poolroom. Born Henry Burnett, Jaffar converted to Islam back in the 50’s. Of course he is best known today as ‘Patch Eye’, having lost an eye in an auto accident in 1958.

Click here for the complete Jaffar Basheer interview

Master of the Table Efren Reyes

Efren 'Bata' Reyes was once again the star of the show of the ever bigger and better Derby City Classic that just wrapped up its 9th year in Louisville, Ky. With the faultering of the International Pool Tour, top players came from all over to take their chance in this premier event, with over four hundred players entered in both the Banks and the One Pocket divisions. Some of the international players making their appearance this year included regulars Francisco Bustamante, Mika Immonen and Ralf Souquet as well as newcomers (or relative newcomers) Dennis Orcollo, Darren Appleton and Evgenij Stalev.

As the Banks division progressed it looked like Efren was out to prove he could win at Banks, too -- having won both the 9-Ball and One Pocket in prior years. Finally he was stopped twice by first-time Derby winner Stevie Moore from Atlanta.

Unfazed, Efren proceeded to march through the One Pocket field undefeated, leaving him the prohibitive favorite for the all-around title going in to the 9-Ball.

Of course the DCC wouldn't be the same without the 24-7 action games that spread nightly from the 'practice room' to the tournament tables scattered throughout the hotel. Even Efren found time to relax with a little late night One Pocket versus Scott Frost and Corey Deuel. Granted, he did lose to Corey after hours, but who else would even consider offering Corey a 10-7 handicap in One Pocket?

Bank Pool Recap & Gallery

One Pocket Recap & Gallery

Derby City Classic Ambience

Action, Action, Action

AZBilliards/OnePocket.org Room Photo Gallery

2007 Hall of Fame Dinner

January 9, 2007

Freddy 'The Beard' congratulates banking legend Vernon Elliott

It was somewhat of a family night as a full house gathered in Louisville for the third annual One Pocket Hall of Fame dinner held Tuesday during the Derby City Classic. With Strawberry's recent death, all three One Pocket inductions were posthumous, but aside from the elusive Hayden Lingo were all well represented by immediate family.

This year's class of One Pocket inductees were Melvin ‘Strawberry’ Brooks, John ‘Rags’ Fitzpatrick and Hayden Lingo. The evening also featured the induction of three Legends of Bank Pool, the late John 'Cannonball' Chapman, undercover banking legend Vernon Elliott and Chicago's Javanley 'Youngblood' Washington.

In addition to these One Pocket and Bank Pool inductions, two players were honored for lifetime Pool in Action recognition, 92 year old George Rood and the late Denny Searcy.

Click here for 4 pages of highlights from this event