Fats was a better player than everyone thinks. He was taught as a child by the best 3 cushion player in Europe. Fats never used violence- he even refused kill insects. He hustled servicemen near bases for a long time before and after WWII. He played many exhibitions and fundraisers for years as philanthropy. He also invested. There is a book that’s in a lot of libraries- a long bio of his life. It’s documented. There might not be modern pool without Fats.
Thanks for sharing! He came to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois in the late 70s for an exhibition and I was chosen to play against him because I was the base champion at the time. The game was eight ball and I broke and ran out on him and he pulled a big wallet out of his pocket, slammed it down on the table and said in a gruff voice. “ Let’s play for some cash.” That got a lot of laughs! The Director pulled me aside and said don’t you beat him again. He had two big white limousines with Illinois license plates, MF 1 and MF II A Captain station at Scott AFB had MF 2 😇
I believe it. Frank tullos was told the same thing in an exhibition with Allison fisher in Boone nc. Those espn runouts don’t work as good on tight tables with broke in balls and cloth
Probably part of his image at the time to look like he had more money than he did. He had two reserved parking spaces at a very large pool hall in St. Louis.
Glad to see Fatty get his props. He was a very good player. Not one of the greatest, but very good. Most pool players would have loved to play his speed when he was in his prime!
At the pool hall where I play is an old guy (AWESOME player) who spent a few days playing with Fats in his 20's. I really enjoy hearing his stories of being in a pool hall that had ZERO big screen TVs or loud music with garbage lyrics. Full of smoke and TONS of money changing hands. He says Fats was a really nice guy in person.
Ab Taylor from Rapid City SD was a great player and shot in a very upright position more so than Fats , he spun everything in and used a slip stroke. He was about the same age as Fats and I know they had matched up playing one pocket . Up until he died in the early 90s he still played 12 hours a day and never sat down
My grandma told me when I was around 12 years old that my grandpa beat the great fat man, Minnesota fats.. she spoke of how he recieved a phone call an went an played fats for 2 days straight an beat him at the time I had no idea, now almost 30 years later I wish they were around so I could hear an learn more about it..
Fats had what many players didn't have. Outgoing personality, gift of gab and skill😂😂 ! I'm 75 and remember him on TV in the 60's! You gotta love his bullshitting skills 😂😂 !!😅
I actually think it added value (while understanding why you feel that way). It really precipitated Nick to more strongly emphasize how much he respected Fats, and it elicited the catch phrase of the video, which was "He could catch a gear..."
@@jimsplacebilliards-5499 "I haven't missed one of those since World War 1." ~~ Fats after pocketing a cross-side bank standing upright and taking maybe 3 seconds of time on the shot.
*MAJOR PROPS TO MINNESOTA FATS. HE LEARNED FROM SCRATCH IN 1930s and 40s NOT LIKE TODAY WITH VIDEOS AND BOOKS TO LEARN FROM. IF YOU KNEW SOMETHING BACK THEN YOU DIDNT SHARE IT. THE WORLD WILL NEVER SEE ANOTHER PLAYER LIKE MINNESOTA FATS, TRIPLE SMART FATS*
my 2 favorite players nicky and fats my stance is just like fats get the book by fats the bank shot great bank shot diagrams in it wene i was a little shit i practiced those shots
Ronnie had all he could handle giving Fats 10-8; the same Ronnie Allen who offered anybody in Johnson City 10-8 during the tournament. Ronnie steered Florence to Johnson City early before the tournament one year, Fats beat Richie out of $24,000 getting 9-8. Fats gave a miserably exhibition in Beenie's Jack in Jills during a tournament...then the went to the Stardust Tournament in 1972 where Beenie won the one pocket and all around; won all the money: THEN FATS BROKE HIM! To the day he died Richie Ambrose as well as many other players didn't think he could play. 10-8 under Allen at his peak wasn't bad, and Taylor wouldn't give more than 9-8 playing banks!
Covid first week of January 2020. I first ran across Richie in Pensacola Fl in 1964. When I ended up in Phoenix 1989, from then on, every trip to Vegas(10-12 per year) we would team up, and I would help him out.
Nick is such a gentleman. It was an honor and pleasure to compete against him.
I could listen to stuff like this all day long and I'm very grateful for whoever put this together and shared it. ❤
Thank you.
Thank you for this beautiful experience with this amazing almost lost conversation!
Wow, what an absolute gem getting to hear Nick talks about Fats from back in the day. Great stuff.
Fats was a better player than everyone thinks. He was taught as a child by the best 3 cushion player in Europe. Fats never used violence- he even refused kill insects. He hustled servicemen near bases for a long time before and after WWII. He played many exhibitions and fundraisers for years as philanthropy. He also invested. There is a book that’s in a lot of libraries- a long bio of his life. It’s documented. There might not be modern pool without Fats.
I once asked Lou Butera what he thought of Minnesota Fats. He replied that he has done more for the game than anybody else. ❤
Thanks for sharing!
He came to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois in the late 70s for an exhibition and I was chosen to play against him because I was the base champion at the time.
The game was eight ball and I broke and ran out on him and he pulled a big wallet out of his pocket, slammed it down on the table and said in a gruff voice. “ Let’s play for some cash.”
That got a lot of laughs!
The Director pulled me aside and said don’t you beat him again.
He had two big white limousines with Illinois license plates, MF 1 and MF II
A Captain station at Scott AFB had MF 2 😇
I believe it. Frank tullos was told the same thing in an exhibition with Allison fisher in Boone nc. Those espn runouts don’t work as good on tight tables with broke in balls and cloth
Two limousines, wander why
Probably part of his image at the time to look like he had more money than he did.
He had two reserved parking spaces at a very large pool hall in St. Louis.
Glad to see Fatty get his props. He was a very good player. Not one of the greatest, but very good. Most pool players would have loved to play his speed when he was in his prime!
At the pool hall where I play is an old guy (AWESOME player) who spent a few days playing with Fats in his 20's. I really enjoy hearing his stories of being in a pool hall that had ZERO big screen TVs or loud music with garbage lyrics. Full of smoke and TONS of money changing hands. He says Fats was a really nice guy in person.
I've always loved Nick's laugh.
Love Nick's stories! Tx
Ab Taylor from Rapid City SD was a great player and shot in a very upright position more so than Fats , he spun everything in and used a slip stroke. He was about the same age as Fats and I know they had matched up playing one pocket . Up until he died in the early 90s he still played 12 hours a day and never sat down
Thanks!
My grandma told me when I was around 12 years old that my grandpa beat the great fat man, Minnesota fats.. she spoke of how he recieved a phone call an went an played fats for 2 days straight an beat him at the time I had no idea, now almost 30 years later I wish they were around so I could hear an learn more about it..
Fats had what many players didn't have. Outgoing personality, gift of gab and skill😂😂 ! I'm 75 and remember him on TV in the 60's! You gotta love his bullshitting skills 😂😂 !!😅
Very cool!
Fatboy Approved
NickV has great stories💪
Not sure who the young man is but Fats in his day was one of the best players in the world. And a master at setting the bet.
Great video until Schmidt butted in
I actually think it added value (while understanding why you feel that way). It really precipitated Nick to more strongly emphasize how much he respected Fats, and it elicited the catch phrase of the video, which was "He could catch a gear..."
Garner isn't doing his horse chomping. LMAO.
with thanks :)
The Fats Mystique. Nobody is really sure exactly how he pulled it off.
larger than life, sense of humor off the charts, high level skills in his art...?
@@jimsplacebilliards-5499 "I haven't missed one of those since World War 1." ~~ Fats after pocketing a cross-side bank standing upright and taking maybe 3 seconds of time on the shot.
Fats was a Millionaire period!
G.O.A.T. As far as matching up ànd
finding Men with Money!
*MAJOR PROPS TO MINNESOTA FATS. HE LEARNED FROM SCRATCH IN 1930s and 40s NOT LIKE TODAY WITH VIDEOS AND BOOKS TO LEARN FROM. IF YOU KNEW SOMETHING BACK THEN YOU DIDNT SHARE IT. THE WORLD WILL NEVER SEE ANOTHER PLAYER LIKE MINNESOTA FATS, TRIPLE SMART FATS*
I miss Fatty!!!
my 2 favorite players nicky and fats my stance is just like fats get the book by fats the bank shot great bank shot diagrams in it wene i was a little shit i practiced those shots
gg boys
I've met dudes that shot like the Fats. I can, but I throw it in whenever I ~get loose.. most of you guys couldn't get loose in a hippie compound.
Ronnie had all he could handle giving Fats 10-8; the same Ronnie Allen who offered anybody
in Johnson City 10-8 during the tournament. Ronnie steered Florence to Johnson City early before the tournament one year, Fats beat Richie out of $24,000 getting 9-8. Fats gave a miserably exhibition in Beenie's Jack in Jills during a tournament...then the went to the Stardust Tournament in 1972 where Beenie won the one pocket and all around; won all the money: THEN FATS BROKE HIM! To the day he died Richie Ambrose as well as many other players didn't think he could play. 10-8 under Allen at his peak wasn't bad, and Taylor wouldn't give more than 9-8 playing banks!
When did Richie pass? He was a piece of work, I knew him in Vegas in the early 90’s when he was hustling craps.
Covid first week of January 2020. I first ran across Richie in Pensacola Fl in 1964. When I ended up in Phoenix 1989, from then on, every trip to Vegas(10-12 per year) we would team up, and I would help him out.
I saw Fats and Ronnie Allen both plus many others play in Johnson City. I lived close to Johnson City! Fats was older then.