Battling Matlock with Wade 'Billy Johnson' Crane & me

In the pool world, Wade Crane aka "Billy Johnson" had a devastating break shot and was nick named "Boom Boom" because of the power.

I was at a pool tournament in Alabama with all the greatest pool players and was matched up a gambling with with David Matlock who at the time was the best bar table 9-Ball player in the country and probably the world. This is the story, we played Matlock with me playing and Billy Johnson breaking, and what a battle it was!

[LeonFleisherFan]

Great story, thanks for sharing! Bringing up fond memories: I drew and beat Matlock in the first round of a 9-Ball Open in Tulsa, Oklahoma, back in 1989, when he was the top seed according to the Calcutta and I was just a kid travelling the U.S. on my own (mostly by Greyhound, train and of course hitch-hiking). Sadly, I don’t remember anything about the match other than the hall and table, how intimidating his sheer presence felt on me, his granitic facial expression and grumbled response when he lost. He went on to win the tournament through the loser’s bracket (a 64-player field, so I did get to watch him play later that day after I was out, losing, if memory serves, to a player by the name of Joel Weinstock). I also remember being taken along from Fayetteville, Arkansas, by a local player there by the nickname of „Big John“ who played a cool Joss West Sneaky Pete, a big man with a sweet personality and deep, resonant voice, wondering as I’m typing this if he’s still around? I remember seeing you play someplace, too, but forget where. Fond memories of my now seemingly distant youth when nothing seemed more important than to go shoot some pool…

[BladeRunner-tdbe]

One of the best yet. Hope you never run out of stories like this.This was so good I'm watching again!

[TheBamChug]

Spent a lot of time with Wade...I miss him dearly

[roymartin]

CJ I Could almost see Wade’s Eyes through you... When you Shuttered and paused a second. I Have to say as Good a Player that you were/are you are Equally Talented in Storytelling.
Keep em’ Coming

[markmiddaugh]

Good one...love watching Matlock play.

[jrsc]

I love these stories brother! Keep em coming!

[johnmesamore]

I love the stories even though you’re leaving out a lot of it lol. I’m 65 years old and there was a lot going on back in the good ole days.but I’m really enjoying the current time’s

[Marvinfantail]

Rip Wade..great story..just watched him play match for first time.He didnt really miss anything and was scary solid looking player.reminds me Rodneys style

[johnmccloskey]

Loved your story. U were grining the whole time and so was I. Watched Weldon beat a west coast player in Tucson on a bar table. Didn’t take him long to pull up.Weldon made the shot went 3 rails on a very slow table and got perfect shape.

[djamo]

Just watched Wade "Billy Johnson" Crane play Danny Diliberto in one pocket in the 1999 Derbey City Classic. That man could shoot! Dang!

[jimmiegreene]

I really enjoy these stories C.J. I remember seeing you back in the 80s (South Florida) for the first time and many times after that through the years. You were definitely a champion. Looking forward to the book!

[phantombb]

Hey CJ. When u say his eyes were blazing. Do u mean like the eye of the tiger ? Extreme focus ? Please explain more if u get a chance

[Raptoryfz]

Matlock was the best bar box player to ever live.

[yenjerry]

I miss Billy, the car accident was so unfortunate...We use to sit outside "the office" and tell Efren stories. Did you ever stop in Knoxville? We had some pretty strong players. I'm sure you could have found a good game.

[phantombb]

Always seems kinda weird an cool to me that some of the biggest an best matches take place in the smallest towns

[Grayback]

Hey CJ, thanks for the story. I lived in southern California in the early 90's when Mark Tadd was at his prime. What did you think of his game and him overall?

[kenweis]

The thing about bar tables is the felt, balls and rails are sometimes junky

[wombra]

skooled hard thanks! does this kind of punk rock pool underground even exist anymore?

[rickelliott]

Surely you wasn't running around with "Burl the squirrel from Middlesboro" lol.

[danieldavis]

My Grandma & Grandpa along with a bunch of other relatives lived in Piedmont Alabama which is about 25 miles from Anniston Alabama and while down there on vacation with my parents in the early 90’s they had a tiny pool hall right in little old Piedmont with about 10 bar tables so I went in and played the owner and beat him then he called someone else who I also played and got stuck about 8 games fast playing 8 ball which I hated but funny thing was my Dad and uncle came in just as we switched to 9 ball and started betting $50 a game on the side with the owner but I didn’t know I was playing the guy for $40 a game until we switched to 9 ball and the only way he would switch is if we doubled the bet to $80 a game and I beat him something like 27 out of the next 30 games long story short there was some great action back in the 90’d because I played at a room in Anniston I walked in and only the counter man was there but it was a Thursday afternoon but he said he would play some $30 one pocket and I beat him out of ten games and he was telling me there is always action there and a few other places plus
Fort McClellan and a few colleges 😉