Adventures on the Road Podcast with guest star "Strong Arm" John

Tonight my special guest is Strong Arm John who took me on the road when I was a senior in high school. He was more than a road partner, he was like the Big Brother I never had but needed.
We went though so many adventures neither one of us can possibly remember them all. In this show we give you the insight of what it was like to be two of the most feared and respected Road Players and gamblers.
People used to say that had the misfortune of following us a couple cities behind that "all we left was tombstones" because we were definitely a tough act to follow it would take some time for the local gamblers to get Pumped Back Up (but they always did and hopefully learned some important Life Lessons.
The Game is the Teacher 💪
For more of my techniques, systems and pro level fundaments to reach your full potential join me at masteringpocke...

[@BobMichelini]

I was once a small potato victim of both You and Strong Arm John! LOL! One time I was the Minnow and then other times I was the Shark! It was always hustling circle. I truly enjoyed the whole process for about 15 years. I laugh about old stories I remember from yesteryear playing Weldon, Oaks, Strong Arm and his players, and many others. I ran a pool room in Lafayette IN and then had a bar before moving to Fort Wayne. Pool was an absolute passion and the greatest game on earth in my opinion. Thanks for the memories! My favorite was when I was about 22-23 and I saw my first pro tourney in Richmond KY at the Clyde Childress event at the Maverick club! Buddy never missed a ball and Ronnie was wolfing at Allen Hopkins to get up there and play some with Buddy with the Eight! Called him a "Movie Star because he just signed with ESPN! Anyway, Larry Hubbard, Jimmy Reed, and I think Allen were in the final 4! What a blast. Ronny was booking the action and he sends Steve Cook to the liquor store across the street and the whole joint bet on the local kid to make 6 or 7. Cook comes out about 15 minutes later with a quart of milk! I'm still chuckling! Bob Michelini

[@billenright2788]

Dan Tull still owns Shooters. One of the best rooms anywhere. Matlock works the desk if you feel the need to watch him run racks on the barbox.

[@clydehinman7810]

Bill is that you from the billard palace in the late 80s? Tulsa Billiard Palace?

[@billc73]

Great video CJ! I grew up around John and used to love watching him ply his trade. Even went on a couple short road trips with him. Two things about John: He would always figure out a way to match up. And even with experienced gamblers John always had the edge!

[@Clutchdonkey]

Absolutely love hearing these stories and getting to hear from themselves from their point of view. Great job on this

[@Banshee4055]

I’ve seen John play several times and he played great. I’ve never seen him without a shirt that has cut off sleeves.

[@donloop8060]

At the age of 62 I'm finally heading out on the road to do my own hustle. It won't be on the scale of you two, but it will be an adventure. Peace

[@Louisiana-critter-getter]

Lmao I wish it was another 3 hours long I never get tired of listening to these

[@alfredallen4265]

This was great. Really. I wish this was 20 hrs long.

[@billenright2788]

Awesome stuff!!! Chester Burke was an old time gambler(also bank robber iirc) who owned a restaurant/club in Wichita. LOTS of money changed hands in that spot.

[@cjwiley1541]

Yes, Burkes Steak House

[@stevecampana9876]

Great podcast CJ. Looking forward to the rules/game you are working on. Be well. Steve.

[@Crazeyfor67]

A real fun podcast! Loved the stories from both of you. I live in Louisville so I'd really like to hear any Vernon stories. People here in Derby City can never agree on how talented a player Vernon actually was. Opinions run from fantastic to a pretty good hustler. So any info about Vernon much appreciated. Your opinion would be the last word. Thanks CJ

[@cjwiley1541]

I have a story about Vernon on this KZbin channel probably 20 down the list - he was a champion player, all round too, Banks, one pocket, snooker and of course 9Ball....I played him 12 straight hours and learned a lot, broke even when I was 18 but he may have been stalling.

[@davidgrider1142]

@@cjwiley1541 I love hearing stories about Vernon since he came into my hometown down here in little Jamestown, Ky 30 years ago, give or take, with his running mate at the time, a kid called Fat Eric. They both stalled the local players with some nickel and dime bank and one-pocket until Vernon got a game with the local pro and flushed his pockets. The last time I heard of Vernon was before he died, Buddy Hall was pushing him around in a wheelchair at a tournament in Nashville after Vernon had a stroke. That would tell you the type of respect he garnered.

[@tommyjones9872]

Great cast Mr.CJ! I really hope you decide to write a book! What great stories! Like you guys said, "it will never be that way again". Would love to read more! Thanks for sharing Strong Arm! Thanks for sharing CJ!

[@cjwiley1541]

The book may come faster than I thought,.just got an offer I can't refuse.

[@lionheart1585]

This is awesome I gambled with John at CJ's and first met him as a kid at the Pheasant Run Chicago tournament in the bodybuilding pants.

[@cjwiley1541]

I thought he was there at Pheasant Run when I played Bustemante, but he said he wasn't, of course there was more than one tournament there so I can't remember. for sure.

[@MannyTalaveraCoaching]

I am such a HUGE FAN!! Good to see Strong Arm John. I hope we can see a Doug Smith interview.

[@cjwiley1541]

I haven't seen Doug in awhile, is he up in Indiana? Yes, Doug and I have went through many adventures with John and we also took trips together and with Weldon "JR" Rogers.....those were some amazing days on the road, never a dull moment! Thanks Manny, I'll see what I can do to locate him.

[@corbingoggins1668]

@@cjwiley1541 Yes Doug is in Indiana he’s been around the Greene/Monroe county area for a few years now. Would you like me to ask him to get ahold of you CJ?

[@deanshuler8910]

Yes

[@davidnorman6887]

True inside information and extraordinary ability is very rare. In a moment of alcohol-induced honesty, a friend of mine showed me what he could do with a deck of cards. He was from a family of Vegas dealers and card players. I never played cards with him again UNLESS there was a shoe, and even that couldn't stop all of his tricks with a single deck.

[@deanshuler8910]

Cj's card story is awsome

[@barrychase7795]

The Claw!!! Being from Decatur IL I knew who John was. I was alot younger than John. A guy named Larry Parke told me that John wasn't the best player.He definitely was pretty good.BUT Larry told me that he was the best Hustler in the world period.

[@HillbillyIslandLife]

Just an awesome show !! Please keep it up

[@sandraguidry5430]

Omigosh! What a great discussion to sit in on! Y'all are so SPOT ON with the play in the game. League is great for bringing the game outta dingy barrooms, but y'all nailed it with it having removed the deep-down STRATEGY of the game and the mental workout involved. Yeah, there are "safeties", but that used to be a "suspected intentional miss" in the 'old-school' game. And, rare is the player that can skillfully maneuver their opponent to play the table to their own advantage. Ball-in-hand, jumping, etc...all bringing the game down to easier shot-making skill alone. (IMHO..."jump sticks" are a rather great marketing ploy) Psychology and strategy greatly lacking, and so much more, that used to be part of the pool game. LOVE this discussion and am so excited to see what you're going to "bring to the table" !

[@cjwiley1541]

Everyone should like the challenge, it will improve their knowledge and understanding of the deepest levels of pocket billiards.

[@tomshaw661]

loved it!

[@chrisllewellyn4632]

Great stuff guys!

[@sdickinson5234]

I met John around 1993 I was in the army stationed in Indianapolis and I liked to play tournaments so I stopped in Sticks and Stones to see if they had tournaments. I had heard of him already and he was at the counter and I think he said something about only gambling on softball anymore and I looked like a hotshot and he would need the 7 ball to play me haha. I was probably in the top ten players in Indianapolis and I never saw him play but I'm sure I couldn't have beaten him even. Indianapolis had a couple of other really good players at the time way above me like Larry York and Brian Groce. I saw Larry York a lot and last I heard he quit pool to be an artist and moved to Baltimore. That was back in the 90's still.

[@justinwray1411]

Great stuff, CJ. Hope you're doing well! Cheers from here in Arkansas.

[@cjwiley1541]

It's been awhile bud, hope you're doing well!

[@williamburdon6993]

He knew how to get the money, and who to get it from. Nice combination of skills.

[@deanshuler8910]

Love all your pods/videos story's are great . Love the game. Like more explanation on the gambling 10 a head, and what actually happens on 2 foul, what happens when on 1st foul ? and 2nd foul(ball in hand/ behind line?) You are the most entertaining on my favorite game. I thank you

[@cjwiley1541]

10 ahead is first one to get 10 game ahead so if you win 20 games and your opponent has 10 you'd win the set - the two shot shootout rules are difficult to explain but my new game has a lot of the same type rules, just refined and improved.

[@TheGuitar1962]

Really enjoyed listening to this interview. Thanks for creating.

[@cjwiley1541]

You're welcome, glad you liked it💯

[@clydehinman7810]

CJ i met at his pool hall back in the early 90s. Watching Gus "little hand" playing CJs bartenders friend $500 a gane one pocket. I was with Odessa Mike (Mike O). Dan i met at shooters because all us tulsa players loved going there especially when Floyd Baxter directed the big tournaments.

[@guymanges3628]

Thank you CJ...

[@jfkansas5508]

Need an on the road with Matlock.

[@davidnorman6887]

John, CJ.....put together and OG Health Tips podcast! I am 57 and all of my friends are unhealthy and tired of hearing tips from me.

[@deanshuler8910]

Yes

[@billenright2788]

Agree 100000% on the 2-foul deal. WAAAAAY better action game.

[@williamburdon6993]

The pool room I grew up in , they jarred each other just for fun., that was the greatest training grounds in the world.

[@Helpmelearn]

Great episode. If yu can set it up i would love to see some on the table example of two foul play.

[@earthtribe786]

Great conversation to hear! Is there any video of two foul being played we can watch?

[@cjwiley1541]

No, that game was successfully taken out of people's mind somehow.....the game I have is much better than that one but has some similar components. We will be releasing the game by April, we are putting together something the pool world has never seen before. I want to get the game back on a major TV channel like I did in the 90s but on a much bigger scale.

[@earthtribe786]

@@cjwiley1541 looking forward to it!

[@tyarnold4088]

I remember seeing strong arm in Peoria in the 90s

[@dalebirmingham8994]

Its natural for men to compete against each other

[@cjwiley1541]

It makes the world stronger 💪

[@philbisbo859]

I seen him play probably 20 years ago or so. Maybe even longer!

[@Otingocni]

awesome podcast!!!

[@pommac10]

I’d like to get that 2 foul rule more explained. Also called the push/roll out ?

[@cjwiley1541]

Yes, I called it Two Shot Shoot Out it's much better than the One Foul rules being used these days, within 45 days I will release the game we were discussing, it's much better than even the Push Out\Roll Out rules. I'm looking forward to applying what we are working on, we are also refining the entire way the game is produced using AI technology and other elements that increase the entertainment value.....I'll let everyone know when the time arrives.

[@mattst4444]

CJ you ever play or run into Bobby Pickle from Around Nashville

[@HillbillyIslandLife]

What is JAR? I mean the compound itself? Never heard of it and I like to think I’ve been around in that world

[@cjwiley1541]

Hiacin scalpomine

[@HillbillyIslandLife]

@@cjwiley1541 basically, dramamine

[@CueStudent]

Visine has been used for it too.

[@sonitty]

As great as CJ was, I think he would of been even harder to beat with the magic rack. When I saw Bustamante beat him at Pheasant Run, the break was definitely a big part of the reason CJ lost.

[@cjwiley1541]

Bustemante had a tremendous break that's for sure!

[@dannypowell594]

When you guys speak of people being "jarred", what is it exactly that they were spiking the food/drink with?

[@cjwiley1541]

Hyacin Scalpomine

[@tyarnold4088]

So in 2 foul any time i get hooked i can push out?

[@davidnorman6887]

Where can we see the details and a demo of the new game?

[@cjwiley1541]

Not yet, we will put something out soon.

[@davidnorman5488]

@@cjwiley1541 It would be great to see Derby, Turningstone or a similar event eventually add it to the games roster.

[@waynesrc]

The players can't blame anybody else for them going to rack your own. People cry and inspect the rack so much that you would have to rack and rerack until your back hurt and still not please the guy. That was self inflicted by the players.

[@cjwiley1541]

Just rack them once and the other player can either break or give the racker the break - racking their own balls is like a batter pitching to himself in baseball.....it takes away an important competition within the competition - and makes the game too easy!

[@dalebirmingham8994]

Sure didn't want to mess around at burkes steak house

[@rockymilner3286]

What is the drug in what is used to jar a player? I’m just curious. I’m familiar with the term but have never known what it is?

[@cjwiley1541]

Hiacin scalpomine - not sure how it's spelled exactly

[@boxlaxtv5891]

wow, were you really valedictorian CJ?

[@cjwiley1541]

No, he misspoke if I remember correctly....not sure where he got that but I did take the last half year off Hustling pool with him and still had enough points to graduate....I don't think my class was big enough to have a valedictorian 😊

[@stevegeller5219]

Jump cues hurt the game. Knowing the skill that is needed in kicking is not necessary when jump cues are allowed.

[@cjwiley1541]

Yes, and kicking was not supposed to be a part of rotation games - they slipped that in without anyone realizing what would happen in the long run. We are going to bring back the purest form of rotation within the next 44 days.

[@eddiejacobs4260]

I really liked Strong Arm John and Doug Smith but I did stake Allen Hopkins giving Doug Smith the 5 and break in 9 ball and easily beating him and also watched Jeremiah Johnson giving Strong Arm John the 7 and beating him also

[@muddymo7641]

Killer

[@James-hf7pn]

Two foul is an offenses game

[@cjwiley1541]

It's very strategic and yes, the 3 Way Shots can allow you to be very offensive as long as there's a defense component involved.

[@chrisharvey8651]

Didn't he come to Beaumont TX n get dropped by a Car Salesman named Tommy Sanders ? Also I played him on a Bar Box n I quit. We broke even. I was a Pipefiiter Pipewelder but I matched up good....Ask Earl....lol😂 Or the deceased man St Louie Louie....The dude gave me the last 3 on a bar box ...I BROKEHIM

[@wcrimi]

I never heard the term jarred. What was it?

[@cjwiley1541]

When you get some drug put in your drink to make you play poorly

[@billenright2788]

Man you guys are preachin' to the choir. Pool today is so watered down. Lots of great players but the game itself has been downgraded.