Minnesota Fats Vs Irving Crane Billiards (Part 1 of 4)

[MattisSoderstorm]

Im watching old men play pool. What am I doing with my life?

[worldalvin]

Is Allen Hopkins doing commentary?

[willienunya]

It's hard to say how Fats truly played, I met him back in last 70's, he didn't play that good then, above average but not professonal. He did not play in the professonal tournment held. I suspect he could hussle good because of the name.

[Bladerunner55217]

efren would of left it inbetter shape on the last ball

[dennygalehouse]

Fats was a great showman. Crane was a great player. Willie Mosconi was , far and away , the greatest pool player of all time.

[misestrelka]

I've been trying to find this video of Fats talking about, how he knows nothing for playing for fun, only money... it's in black and white.

Some help? anyone...

[S0ryiu]

@misestrelka I think I know the one you are talking about, he says "I was always a hustler, there are many players better than me; pool fans just seem to love the way I shoot."

[peetie44]

Two of the best hustlers were George Rood and Don Willis.

[bdmru80]

Charlie Ursitti is such a paesan, love it.

[lacampbellmd1]

yea but fats was one of the best one pocket players u ever wanna see

[notbestfriends]

Fats never won any pro tourney. He couldn't even carry Mosconi's jock.

[Forsnow]

Crane had 6 world titles in straight pool!

[percyweintraub]

crane looks like clint eastwood



[mypalrocco]

He looks like an old, shriveled, nut sack!

[tooleey]

This fat jerk is a big ugly flabby sloppy dude & its not Minnesota Fats, its Detroit Fats. I saw him flipping burgers at Burger King in Detroit. He has a putrid horrible smelly odor as well.

[halsamdu]

This is not the true Minnesota Fats !!

[MiNDx1er]

lol the soccer button is funny in this video.

[misfitkid66]

i love how they keep calling him fatty lol

[mypalrocco]

Hard to believe, both these old fuckers lay rotting in their caskets now...not so sure that they weren't both already fucking deceased when they were playing this game here. SHEEESH! 

[applecri5p]

@mypalrocco this is why pool is only for the gentlemen,

[tooleey]

@mypalrocco What , you'll never get old? That'll be you some day. Unless you don't make it that far......

[mypalrocco]

@tooleey

My motto: Die young and leave a good looking corpse!

[tooleey]

@mypalrocco Someday you'll realize that you don't get a second chance so you'll struggle to stay alive as you listen to the young punks disrespecting you. "What goes around, comes around" ...........But I will admit that this phony fats is a sloppy fat fuck.

[mypalrocco]

Minnesota Fat Fuck!

[notbestfriends]

Fats, at best was a good amateur. He never won a pro tourney. Couldn't eve carry Mosconi's jock.

[bigvandave]

2 Legends

[IzAAcFinz]

their playing form is kinda different?

[TheStinkyHindu]

bloodgutsnglory you don't know sh!t about how he played then, only his ex-wife would. From what you just said, they BOTH would not be in their prime at this age. So saying such, who plays it best now most likely did then as well too but nobody will know for sure but I can say no average joe would like yourself. Fats was always a gas to watch when the camera was centered on him and his showing off.

[bloodgutsnglory]

Fats wouldn't have stood a chance against either of these old guys in their primes. Fats was a better talker than he was pool player. On any given day an average Joe at the local tap could beat Fats, IF he said average Joe could disregard Fat's jibber jabber.

[850kell531]

i agree and disagree. fats could play pool amazingly, but players like jersey red, mosconi, crane and lassiter could beat him.

[monsterbowler]

@850kell531 agree. Fats could hold his own, but he really was at his best in the gambling and self promotion.

[850kell531]

yeah he was a hustler, not a pool player. he was lazy, and when he was on the road with wimpy lassiter, he repeatedly lost all their money playing cards.

[Seracues]

Fats has beaten Mosconi before, but if i remember correctly it was only once. Mosconi would wear ear plugs when playing him. Thing is in tournaments Fats actually threw them all but walked away with the most money. He's a gambler the practice room is where he hustled people. A hustler doesn't care about being known and doesn't want to be known, he just wants your money. My 2nd uncle actually played Fats before and won amazingly enough, but if they woulda played again Fats probably woulda won.

[benjamen19]

the shoot he was doing at 3:20 he kicked it out that was an easy shoot in the corner why he kick it out like that

[MrBeachyspuds]

fatty was amazing at bank shots

[RayHusted]

its nice to see these guys play but dam, they dug them out of their graves for entertainment, would be nice to have em both playing each other in their prime.

[bloodgutsnglory]

@RayHusted lol. You have to keep in mind when these guys were in their prime 8ball and 9ball weren't popular. And TV didn't record matches back them. Crane and Mosconi did play against each other in their primes. Just no footage of it to speak of.

[aardvaark069]

Crane WAY past his prime......Fats too.

[nickirving]

you are so awesome for posting this

[Beretta9tt]

Irving Crane was a many times champion. Don't know the number but the only reason he didn't have more titles is because he played with Mosconi. Fats would have no chance of outplaying him (maybe out con but never outplay).

[MurderMafia]

imo Crane>Mosconi

[MrHighcue1]

@Beretta9tt fatts beat mosconi in the 7 ball lost the 9 ball 3-4 and tied in the 8 ball ,so don't think he cant play that's all apart of the hustle. if you beat all the pros its make it hard to get a money game .

[S0ryiu]

@Beretta9tt I still consider Mosconi to be the greatest pool player ever.

[sussexcounty]

Fats was the best!

[COLUMBINE1818]

Fats needed the pressure of a game being woth $4000 in the 1940's. Fats was a better hustler and gambler than a tournament player.

[fntime]

But isn't that how it's played. What makes

Tiger Wood great, his game remains

consistent no matter the money involved.

My girlfriend was at best an average player. When she could beat you, was

when the stakes got higher, most people

chock, because of the money.

Don't dismiss this. If you took gambling

out of pool, who would be left?

[COLUMBINE1818]

If you can't win the tournament And the back room bet then you are not a Great player, but just a very good one. If I have a choice between a player who is great under pressure or a player who is great UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE I'm going to take the all arround guy every time. I'm not dismissing Fat's hustling ability, but his status as a Great player. Sure he was good when the bet was on the table, but any other time he couldn't compete with the likes of Irving Crane or Luther Lassiter.

[jkellner07]

I enjoyed the ignorant commentator. Haha.

[JoeyPencils]

I think the commentator was Allan Hopkins (Young Hoppie) world billards champ at the time they did this show on espn