The Bank Shot and Other Great Robberies: The Uncrowned Champion of Pocket Billiards Describes His Game and How It's Played
Rudolph Wanderone is part rogue, part philosopher, part sinner, and – if we're not stretching the meaning of the term too far – part saint. He is the last of the old-fashioned high rollers, with a hundred-dollar bill in his handkerchief pocket and the guts to use it.Recalling the good old days, Minnesota Fats speaks fondly of his hustling escapades, and of his stickmen, men with names like Tuscaloosa Squirrely, Cornbread Red, Handsome Danny Jones, and Weanie Beanie, to name a few. He recounts the all-night shoot-outs, the highs and lows, his long marriage, his one-day stint at college at the height of his career, and the madness surrounding The Hustler, the movie based on his life.As an added dividend for pocket billiard buffs, Professor Fats describes his game and how it is played, illustrating his techniques for chalking the tip, cueing up, and hitting the ball. He also talks about the speed of the stroke, and the development of effective combinations, kiss shots, and bank shots. The Professor takes his pool seriously, and longtime players as well as beginners will benefit from his instruction and his expert analysis of the various approaches to the game.Illustrated with photos and line drawings, The Bank Shot and Other Great Robberies is a vivid portrait of a legend in his time – the incomparable Minnesota Fats – as well as a high-spirited read, and a useful handbook.