American Pool Checkers-Chicago
-An E-Mail Newsletter-
for Pool Checkers enthusiasts
Written by: Charles Thompson ('Pecan')
9/1/03 (Issue- #1) - Monthly
The Homan Sq. Community Center experience have been a wonderful thing for the Chicago Area Pool Checker players. Already we have had visits from our fellow brothers in Indianapolis IN, and a couple of visits from our friends in South Bend.
We just recently had a visit from a young man from as far away as Mississippi. Just as importantly, we have introduced the game to as many local players in 6 months, as I can recall us during in 25 years prior to it. The Wednesday's games have been very spirited and very competitive. New players are learning; (or improving-They claim that they already new how to play, but just never bother to. Our thanks are extended to our own Mr. Eddie Smith for for making the contact to securing the site .
International Checker Festival
I am personally inviting all my checker playing friends to come to Mr. Blaine's Checker Festival on Sept. 13 & 14, 2003. Since I am the defending & (3 times champion), I am taking a personal interest in it. We would like to have the strongest field possible for the event. I am sure Mr. Blaine will contact all about the details.
Washington D.C. Pool Checker Fest a Great Success
Our own Fred D. Shurn has reported that the Washington D.C. Pool Checker Club had a very successful Checker's Fest in the early part of August of 03. Congratulations are offered to two of the players very much responsible for this venture- Pres. Talbert, and Mr John Curtis.
_The Legend of "Buster"
The "Pecan Man"
When Pool checker players in Chicago talk about ‘greats' of the game, its starts and ends with "Buster". We say, (it may be disputed by others), that he was the greatest African American Pool Checker player of all times. We realize that's a tall statement, but we are prepared to defend it with some facts and some "legend.".
I first met "Buster, " a small and quiet man, in the late 60s. It was at a barber shop- called ‘Gus' Barbershop.'
A friend of mine, and my first Pool Checker mentor, Clarence Dew-a very good player in his own right, at the time, had secretly brought "Buster" into the shop without my knowledge.
At the time, I was being considered as the next great player in the area. I was rising fast. I was young, (by Pool Checker Player's standards) brash , and ‘full of it.' After Mr. Dew had convinced Buster to throw a game or two to him, unbeknownst to me, (which he later said was very hard to do), I said to Mr. Dew, Who is this "Scrub"? "Where did he come from? Mr. Dew said to me, "Would you like to play him?. I said, to no one in particular, "If he doesn't bet, I don't want to be bother with the "Ham".
"Buster" sat quietly, saying nothing. As I pulled my seat up to the table, (Dew had brought in about 10 or 12 other players from the area). I said to "Buster," "Do you bet, "Scrub" ? Buster said, "No", I don't bet." Then Mr. Dew said to me, I will bet on him; How much do you want to bet? I said $5.00! Mr. Dew then said, No!, that's to much, I will bet you $2.00. (He and the rest new what I was getting into). They could have cleaned up if they had wanted to.……….
TO BE CONTINUED in the next issue.
A look at a selected week of Rated Play Games-
Homan Sq. Community Center's
Pool Checkers weekly Rated Play Results
For (Wed. 8/13/03)
Rank Players W L D Pts. P/N W/% CLASS-A (MASTERS) - (1400 & ABOVE) 1 Thompson, C. 13 0 7 66 13 .83 1 Lambert, A. 13 0 7 66 13 .83 3 Williams, O. 8 2 10 52 6 .65 4 Shurn, F. 7 5 8 44 2 .55 5 Smith, E. 5 7 8 36 -2 .45 5 Earnest, T. 6 8 6 36 -2 .45 5 Loggins, W. 6 8 6 36 -2 .45 8 Humphreys, L. 4 7 9 34 -3 .43 9 Lillard, J. 4 8 8 32 -4 .40 10 Davis, F. 4 13 5 22 -9 .28 11 Baynes, L. 2 13 5 18 -11 .23 CLASS-B (EXPERTS) - (BELOW 1400) 1 Deadmon 16 4 4 72 12 .75 1 Sample, G. 16 4 4 72 12 .75 1 * Voss, W. 15 3 6 72 12 .75 4 Young, A. 12 1 11 70 11 .73 5 Sykes, L. 7 5 12 52 2 .54 5 Lee, E. 8 6 10 52 2 .54 7 Johnson, S. 5 8 11 42 -3 .44 7 Joiner, H. 4 7 13 42 -3 .44 9 Polk, R. 2 6 16 40 -4 .42 10 Polk, S. 6 11 7 38 -5 .40 11 Myrick, C. 3 9 12 36 -6 .38 12 Jamison, 0 10 14 28 -10 .29 13 Hall, W. 2 18 7 22 -13 .23 * Our Mississippi visitor Dir. C. Thompson
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