LOL he was around 25 at the time and he couldn't remember being with a 13 year old African American female

I just spent a couple of hours watching Minnesota Fats videos and interviews etc. Quite a character, and even in his old age he sank some incredible shots and could talk like no other. Took zero time and just lined up and shot.

He had a heck of a lot of confidence and I'm sure that carried him where his skills lacked. One of my favorite quotes as seen in a pool match on youtube, again as an old man, "pff, practice, I don't need no practice. Like I don't need practice when I'm playin' with girls..." He could light up womens faces much younger and far removed from his word with just his demeanor and confidence.

Thanks Johnny for the great stories, I look forward to reading your book.

I remember watching the Fats-Mosconi matches when I was a kid. I also rooted for Willie.

Titanic would not play in golf tournaments because he said he couldn't take the pay cut. He played for more on one hole than the pros made in a year.

Minnesota Fats made a lot of fun of pool tournaments and attack Mosconi every chance he got. He said if he wanted a trophy, he'd buy one. They nearly got in a fist fight on TV when they were both 65. Fats would have whipped his ass grabbing at him.

At some pool exibitions, the players wore tuxedos. Fats said putting a tuxedo on a pool player is like putting ice cream on a hot dog.

At one early pool tournament, Fats set up as a bookie, handicapping matches. He reportedly won all 34 of his bets and really pumped up his bankroll. When he was older and went to the Hustler's convention, he was the big money winner. His first mentor and stakehorse, the very, very rich Hubert "Daddy Warbucks" Cokes staked one of the young champions to play Fats, and Fats beat everyone he played, but it was late at night, and the young pros were tired and drinking. One of Fats angles is that he would stop in the middle of a match if the opponent got momentum and eat awhile. Maybe a whole turkey.

I was never very good at pool, but I hung out in a pool hall a lot playing gin and getting poker players. My standard and only prop was that I would play nine ball if they would make the seven ball a money ball for me, and the seven came back up until it went down in rotation. As long as a smaller ball was on the table, the seven came up. I had the five, seven, and nine as money balls and would blast away at combos trying to get lucky, always going for a money ball.

In Doyle's book The Godfather of Poker, he tells a great story about meeting Fats. It took place in Texas during Doyle's early years. It naturally involved a bet between Fats and some guy about eating a whole turkey. It's hysterical. The book is a really fast, great read. Worth buying.

Amen. Doyle's book is one of the very best poker books ever written. It rings very true, especially since he reveals what a sucker he was on some business props. We knew and played with many of the same people starting out. Your average square John, nine-to-fiver might not believe Doyle but I do. As he says, so many fabulous things happen to gamblers, they do not need to lie about their lives. Doyle has been very helpful to me answering questions and giving me a few quotes, and a book review. My last letter from him said he and Sailor were the best auction bridge players, a gambler's game. They beat world tournament champ Oswald Jacoby.

+1

i love etta james. such an amazing talent. my favorite song is: "I'd rather go blind"

Can't they just do DNA on the remains of Fats?

Also the hustler wasn't portraying him...

They'd need to dig him up for DNA. Etta believed he was her father, and didn't need any more proof.

Not necessarily.

Hair samples on his old comb, hat, clothes or blanket.

Old cigarette butts or chewing gum.

It has been done before, in other cases.

Nice find Johnny. Seidel even directly linked this post, btw...

Where on Seidel?