McGoorty: A Pool Room Hustler (Total/Sports Illustrated Classic Series) (Paperback)

by Danny McGoorty (Author), Robert Byrne (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

?Pool hustler, hobo, alcoholic, ladies? man, and tournament player . . . McGoorty was a Runyonesque character and a first-rate raconteur. The result is a memoir that should rack up many readers, even among those that don?t know a cue from a swizzle stick.? ?Publishers Weekly

?At times funny, occasionally filthy, here and there exaggerated, but it?s an entertaining story of a guy who doesn?t try to pass himself off as any sort of giant at the table: just a fellow who loved the game.? ?Willie Mosconi, nineteen-time World Straight Pool champion

-- Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
“Pool hustler, hobo, alcoholic, ladies’ man, and tournament player . . . McGoorty was a Runyonesque character and a first-rate raconteur. The result is a memoir that should rack up many readers, even among those that don’t know a cue from a swizzle stick.” —Publishers Weekly

“At times funny, occasionally filthy, here and there exaggerated, but it’s an entertaining story of a guy who doesn’t try to pass himself off as any sort of giant at the table: just a fellow who loved the game.” —Willie Mosconi, nineteen-time World Straight Pool champion --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Total Sports (November 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892129493
• ISBN-13: 978-1892129499
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,588,747 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If vulgar doen't bother you, November 12, 2001

By	Rick Jennings (Lebanon, Tennessee USA) - See all my reviews

This is another wonderfully written book by Robert Byrne. It shows the vivid life of a pool hustler/hobo/drunk/real person that was in his prime in the 1920's-1950's. If gives a real sense of McGoorty and his life in what apear to be his own words. He also shares extremely colorful insight, his opinion, into several famous and well known professional billiard players and World Champions of his era. It is full of real life experiences during those times; however, the language and crude tone are very vulgar. If you're not offended it is an enjoyable interesting read.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Essential Americana, April 9, 2001

By A Customer

McGoorty, billiards legend, tells all. Not quite on the same plateau as, for example, Mezz Mezzrow's 'Really the Blues', but definitely up there in the modest pantheon of books unafraid to celebrate lowbrow Americana in all its primal glory. McGoorty's glorious world of the 1920s and 30s is gone now, but thankfully we have a few books like this to remind us what it was like.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique read, July 11, 2001

By	"littlespooncom" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Quick review: Very unique voice. Was a pleasure to read. Excellent Social Anthropological details contained within. Highly recommended. Made me want to learn 3 cushion.