Profile of slingshot champion

The late Rufus Hussey shows off his respectable beanshooter (slingshot) skill in this video, probably made in the early 1990s. Watch him throw a quarter in the air and ding it with a rock, and shoot a Japanese beetle off a leaf. Rufus Hussey - The beanshooter man

[#1 posted by Joel Johnson, January 13, 2009 11:23 AM]

He seems like a nice guy to spend a few hours with.

[#2 posted by deejayqueue, January 13, 2009 11:32 AM]

Looking at those Pepsi cans that's got to be mid-80's at best. I bet he had some great stories to tell. I'm glad at least he got to tell a few of them on camera for posterity.

[#3 posted by el3mo, January 13, 2009 11:33 AM]

Slingshots have been making a bit of a comeback. I know a couple of people who are really into it. Some of the newer wrist-rockets even have laser sights on them.

[#4 posted by Anonymous, January 13, 2009 11:34 AM]

I'm no biologist, but was that some Japanese Beetle whoopie?

[#5 posted by FoetusNail, January 13, 2009 11:39 AM]

Agreed.

[#6 posted by elk, January 13, 2009 12:10 PM]

Totally (mr howdy) spooked by the single frame flicker of a dog at the very end. Please don't do that. Please.

[#7 posted by obdan, January 13, 2009 1:11 PM]

THAT was friggin' awesome!

[#8 posted by beneditor, January 13, 2009 2:10 PM]

I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a news item as much as this - and I can't really explain why. Anyone else?

[#9 posted by The Lizardman, January 13, 2009 2:36 PM]

Wow, makes you want to grab a slingshot - which would likely end in major shortcoming induced disappointment for me but I'd still be proud to buy one from him. I wonder if he is still around.

[#10 posted by Alan, January 13, 2009 3:20 PM]

Jes lahk shootin' womp rats back in Beggar's Canyon!

[#11 posted by snagglepuss, January 13, 2009 4:43 PM]

Lizardman...You'll Put Yer Eye Out, Kid.

[#12 posted by the_boy, January 13, 2009 5:10 PM]

so that's what happened to Dennis the Menace!

(that dog at the end? totally the menace part)

[#13 posted by Blaine, January 13, 2009 8:39 PM]

The whole 'make the weed fall to the right' was more than I could take.

That was super, super cool.

[#14 posted by Takuan, January 13, 2009 10:04 PM]

sumbitch, thet good ole boy, he got the moving zen
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=izspplufh6M

[#15 posted by Anonymous, January 14, 2009 2:10 AM]

That is so cool. I dunno why. It just is.

[#16 posted by cha0tic, January 14, 2009 5:13 PM]

My Grandad said he used to go poaching with a catapult* because it was easy to knock roosting birds off a branch as they were silhouetted against the sky. It was relatively silent so didn't disturb the other birds. Or the game keeper. He also said that he knew someone that could turn a tap on using a catapult.

*Catapult is British for Slingshot.

[#17 posted by Takuan, January 14, 2009 5:45 PM]

keep meaning to master the classic sling.

[#18 posted by rAMPANTiDIOCY, January 14, 2009 10:20 PM]

Lizardman:

mark refers to him as "the late," so, presumably he's dead.

[#19 posted by Anonymous, September 4, 2009 8:14 AM]

According to this site: http://www.bookofjoe.com/2009/02/rufus-hussey-gives-a-lesson-in-four-parts.html

He passed away in February of 1994, may he rest in peace. He seemed like an awfully nice guy.

[#20 posted by joelhousman, September 4, 2009 8:18 AM]

I apologize for the double post. I posted as anonymous and then decided to make an account. According to this blog, he passed away in February of 1994. The wiki Nazi's over at Wikipedia apparently deleted his wiki page in 2008 because he was deemed 'insignificant' (grrrrr).

[#21 posted by joelhousman, September 4, 2009 8:29 AM]

Just found this too. A quote from Rufus in a newspaper a week after his appearance on the Tonight Show.