fred bentivegna
Verified Member
Depends on the conditions
Depends on the conditions
It would depend on the conditions. I love Efren, he is one of the classiest players who ever lived, but my heart is with the guys I grew up with, Bugs, Ronnie and maybe even you. Cardone mentions that he played Bugs, Ronnie and Efren and thinks that gives him a superior opinion. But I played all three also. I'm like you, ability and talent go to Efren, heart goes to Ronnie and Bugs. Gamesmanship and sharking go to Ronnie. Bad playing conditions I would have to favor Bugs. I already mentioned that he gave Jersey Red 9 to 7 on a bad table. Creativity, I make it a draw. Bugs with the banks, Ronnie with the gamebreaker shot, and Efren, magical solutions with the cue ball.
Stamina, stretched out over a long period, in either one long session, or maybe playing a session every day for a month, I would give Artie the nod. If he had enough time, he'd figure a way to beat them. Two out of three for all the marbles: definitely Ronnie and Bugs, with only Cornbread more dangerous in a big,big money short session.
Here are some personal examples I experienced.
I played Ronnie at the Billiard Cafe with Larry Schwartz staking him, for $200 a game, and playing me 10 to 8. I beat Ronnie the first eleven games in a row and that didnt finish him off. How he got Schwartz to keep going I'll never know. He ended up getting six games back before I packed him in. He played me 10 to 8 again later in Hot Springs Ar, and ran 10 and out six games in row. One game he owed one and had to run eleven. He might have kept going and set a record but I quit after game six.
I was playing Efren at the Billiard Cafe, I had him stuck 6 games and he was betting his own money. One of his backers came in and he let the guy back him. I couldnt believe it. The privilege of having a backer meant that he would have to win 12 games back to get even, since he was now only playing for 1/2 the bet. The backer turned him into a new man and he won back 4 games in a row. Of course I quit 8 games winner.
the Beard
Right is right, I must also mention that the only time I played Bugs when he was betting his own money, was when we played even down in Bensingers and I beat him out of $400 at $30 a game. A week later he returned with backers and broke me playing me 9 to 8 and 2 out of 3 breaks.
Depends on the conditions
Artie Bodendorfer said:Who would you take playing one pocket Ronnie Bugs or Efren. Going in a Bad nabor hood in a bad equipment pool room and the have to take a sick out of the rack. And Number two do you think Bugs would have played better with his own cue and how much? And if the bet thier own moneyb who would you pick?
It would depend on the conditions. I love Efren, he is one of the classiest players who ever lived, but my heart is with the guys I grew up with, Bugs, Ronnie and maybe even you. Cardone mentions that he played Bugs, Ronnie and Efren and thinks that gives him a superior opinion. But I played all three also. I'm like you, ability and talent go to Efren, heart goes to Ronnie and Bugs. Gamesmanship and sharking go to Ronnie. Bad playing conditions I would have to favor Bugs. I already mentioned that he gave Jersey Red 9 to 7 on a bad table. Creativity, I make it a draw. Bugs with the banks, Ronnie with the gamebreaker shot, and Efren, magical solutions with the cue ball.
Stamina, stretched out over a long period, in either one long session, or maybe playing a session every day for a month, I would give Artie the nod. If he had enough time, he'd figure a way to beat them. Two out of three for all the marbles: definitely Ronnie and Bugs, with only Cornbread more dangerous in a big,big money short session.
Here are some personal examples I experienced.
I played Ronnie at the Billiard Cafe with Larry Schwartz staking him, for $200 a game, and playing me 10 to 8. I beat Ronnie the first eleven games in a row and that didnt finish him off. How he got Schwartz to keep going I'll never know. He ended up getting six games back before I packed him in. He played me 10 to 8 again later in Hot Springs Ar, and ran 10 and out six games in row. One game he owed one and had to run eleven. He might have kept going and set a record but I quit after game six.
I was playing Efren at the Billiard Cafe, I had him stuck 6 games and he was betting his own money. One of his backers came in and he let the guy back him. I couldnt believe it. The privilege of having a backer meant that he would have to win 12 games back to get even, since he was now only playing for 1/2 the bet. The backer turned him into a new man and he won back 4 games in a row. Of course I quit 8 games winner.
the Beard
Right is right, I must also mention that the only time I played Bugs when he was betting his own money, was when we played even down in Bensingers and I beat him out of $400 at $30 a game. A week later he returned with backers and broke me playing me 9 to 8 and 2 out of 3 breaks.
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