End of the pool hustler
The pool hustler is an archetype of American's gritty underbelly. Sadly though, the game seems to be over, at least according to an editorial in today's New York Times. The writer, L. Jon Wertheim, is the author of Running the Table: The Legend of Kid Delicious, the Last American Pool Hustler. According to Wertheim, a confluence of factors killed the classic con, from the Internet to the poker boom to fraud king Kevin Trudeau's International Pool Tour. From the essay:
Hustlers who had been traveling incognito for years came out of the woodwork to try to qualify for the (International Pool Tour). Joining meant that their cover would be blown, but the money was too good to pass up.Link to the New York Times, Link to buy Running the Table
The first three events were smashing successes. But in keeping with the circadian rhythms of pool, the boom times didn’t last. Last year, after a tournament in Reno, Nev., players were informed of an inconvenient detail: the tour couldn’t pay the prize money. Mr. Trudeau, once accessible and upbeat, was nowhere to be found.
The tour eventually notified players that the debts would be paid in small, periodic installments. But to date the players have yet to be paid all of the money they are owed. There hasn’t been another International Pool Tour event since.
Some players were so demoralized by Mr. Trudeau’s hustle that they quit the sport entirely. And the rest had become known quantities to avid amateur players. Unmasked by television and the Internet, these once-stealthy hustlers could no longer lure anyone into believing they were just passing through town, innocently looking to relax at the local poolroom.
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I'm certain some of them could try their hand at swindling kids out of their lunch money playing Pokemen, Yug-i-oh or Magic! The Gathering.
My Father was a pool shark when he was younger. Even at his age (mid 70's) he can still run a table like hell. I remember one time when in college, my brother brought a friend home and we went out to eat. As we waited for our food my brother's friend proposed a game of pool (8 ball) to my father. We got to the table and slyly the friend asked about putting a small wager on the table, say $5. My Dad said sure, dug out his wallet, thumbed passed his fives and said "Hmm, I only have a $20, want to make it $20?" Sure the guy responded. Dad then gave him the patter "Well, I might as well give you the money now, I can barely play." So the mark...er...friend says oh, not at all, in fact seeing as you are older you get to break first. Dad set up the cue ball, and ran the entire table on him, it was a wonder to behold. I knew Dad could play damn well, but this was pure magic with a crappy cue, table, and balls in a little bar/restaurant in rural SD. It was great watching the friend's face run from, "oh, lucky" to "wow, impressive" to "I have been had". Ah Dad, you rock to this day.
On the bright side, maybe that shameless waste Kevin Trudeau has moved his target market from desperate sick people to desperate small-time reprobates.
During a brief tenure being employed at a local health-food store I was shocked, SHOCKED, to discover the frequency with which people would approach me with 'facts' or questions and cite Trudeau's several books/infomercials as a reliable source. I had no idea prior to this the influence what obviously contemptible huckster could have on seemingly competent citizens. But these occasions did allow me to indulge a favorite pastime, tirading against his fraudulence and dishonesty.
I would cite frequently the revealing article published by Scientific American ( http://tinyurl.com/n2v62 ). I vociferously denounced his quackery, pointing out his jail time, highlighting his contradictory (and nonsensical) medical advice, while underscoring his repeated censures by the FTC. The customers would then point over my should to a copy of Trudeau's "Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About" prominently displayed amongst the few books for sale. Thus, it was our supposedly reputable business that was using him to trick our own customers. Overall, its a dire shame, and further evidence of how quickly people will buy into a well-marketed scam - even experienced con-artists like pool sharks.
While the pool hustler may be gone, there are still other cons out there that people still fall for. Believe it or not 3 card monte and the shell game still have great practitioners that manage to make a living separating the fool and his money.
http://www.scoundrelsforum.com is a great source for info on older cons. One of the mods/creators is a relative of Soapy Smith. A con man who controlled several con gangs that ran a soap with a prize scheme. You may have seen something similar on the show "Deadwood."
While some people may frown on the con man, whether it be cards, billiards or just plain old scams, they wouldn't have had jobs if people hadn't wanted to make money in a quick and easy fashion.
Re-reading this post, I realize someone will probably post something about their grandma losing their social security check to a con man. These are not the men I'm referring too. I guess there is a bit of a romantic mystique to men like Minnesota Fats, Soapy Smith or even Harry "The Hat" Anderson (Night Court guy) taking money from the guy who thinks they have a "sure thing."
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Also the editors of BoingBoing (or some of them at least) do have a soft spot for Grifter stories, noting how they loved 'The Sting' with Redford & Newman (who doesn't love that film) and even mentioning Dakan's novels Geek Mafia and Mile Zero. I wouldn't count Trudeau as a artist, but he was most definately a confidence man. I think the fact that simple confidence men are to be reviled, but the true artist.... well thats something else entirely.
The pool hustler is dead?
Reeeeeeaaaaalllly.
My bar must be full of cylons then.
#6 (Aaron2): Shh! If people don't believe that hustlers are gone, the con won't work!
@zipster
Your dad rocks.
I think a lot of people have a certain admiration for a certain class of hustle. Yeah, the pool hustler is tricking people into playing way out of their league, but the only reason he can do it is because he is REALLY good at pool. Same with some other cons. Some cons are noting more than cheating and no one really has respect for that. Part of what defines pool sharks is genuine skill. Genuine skill at anything deserves at least a little respect.
Zipster, I'd say for $20 your friend got a great life lesson and a story he can tell for the rest of his life and grin about, so that's a pretty good bargain!
To me, pool hustling has the same amount of respect I give to a good poker player, who depends on skill and the ability to leverage sheer luck (the turn of cards or where the break sends balls on the table), and reading the opponent.
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pool hustling is a famous pastime of the prostitutes in bangkok. always fun to root for them over dinner.
I heard a great piece on NPR about Kid Delicious the other week.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15819308
Its so super good.
One fraud is causing the downfall of a bunch of other fraudsters? How terrible.