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Minnesota Fats

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Athlete

The Resume

    (January 19, 1913-January 15, 1996)
    Birth name was Rudolph Walter Wanderone, Jr.
    Hosted the TV series 'Celebrity Billiards (1967)'
    Died of congestive heart failure at age 82

Why he might be annoying:

    Some biographies list the year of his birth as 1900.
    He never confirmed the year, though records indicate it was 1913.
    He dropped out of high school to hustle pool in Times Square.
    He learned some hustling techniques from Arnold Rothstein, Rothstein is infamous for 'fixing' the 1919 World Series.
    He was nicknamed 'New York Fats.' He changed it to 'Minnesota' after the Paul Newman billiards movie 'The Hustler' came out (1961).
    He claimed the Jackie Gleason character in the movie was based on him, but the writer denied it.
    He could 'talk the talk,' but lost to rival player Willie Mosconi in nearly all their legendary matches.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was married to the same woman for 54 years.
    He was a 'blue collar' billiards player, once quoting, 'A pool player in a tuxedo is like whipped cream on a hot dog.'
    He is enshrined in the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame (1984).
    He was a humorous, flamboyant and colorful character.
    Tables and cue sticks bearing his name sell, well.
    This is apropos, since he once said, 'Money is the root of all good.'
    His epitaph reads 'Beat everybody living on Earth. Now, St. Peter, rack 'em up.'
    The Twilight Zone episode 'A Game of Pool' with Jonathan Winters portraying 'Fats' Brown was loosely based on him.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 26 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 64 Votes: 45.31% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 19 Votes: 47.37% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 32 Votes: 40.62% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 25 Votes: 44.00% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 86 Votes: 55.81% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 105 Votes: 47.62% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 281 Votes: 62.63% Annoying