Hustler & The Champ Willie Mosconi, Minnesota Fats, And The Rivalry That Defined Pool

The riveting story of an unforgettable match. In the tradition of the high-stakes sportsmanship inPositively Fifth Street, a Pulitzer Prize nominee that covers the legendary match-up of pool's two greatest sharks. It was Valentine's Day, 1977, and Howard Cosell was hosting the ABC-TV broadcast of the long-awaited shoot-out between the best-ever tournament player, Willie Mosconi, against the game's most famous hustler, Minnesota Fats. The artist and the showman. One was good. The other was good, too, but he definitely made it more fun. The ratings for the program exceeded the Super Bowl and the World Series that year, because the rivalry had decisively divided fans as well as players. Hearkening back to the growth of billiards during the 1940s, Dyer expands the story that was started inHustler Days. He reveals the lawsuits and countersuits about who could call himself the best pool player, the history of their match-ups, and the money they won. The distinctions between the two heroes create a real-life drama that exceeds "The Hustler." This is the ultimate tale of American sportsmanship. R.A. Dyer is a columnist for Billiards Digest, and lives in Austin, Texas.

R. A. Dyer is a columnist for the nation's premier pool magazine, Billiards Digest.  He is currently statehouse reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and before that, was a reporter for The Houston Chronicle, where he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Austin, Texas.