Billy Incardona - Part 4 (Legends, Hustlers, and the Making of a Champion Mind)
In this fourth installment of our six-part deep dive into the extraordinary life of pool legend Billy Incardona, we step inside the smoky rooms, backroom barns, and broadcast booths that shaped one of the game’s sharpest minds and most colorful storytellers.
Joined by hosts Mike Gonzalez, Mark Wilson, and Allison Fisher, Billy brings to life the unforgettable characters and moments that defined his years as both player and commentator. He recalls the brilliance and blunt honesty of fellow legends like Grady Mathews and Danny DiLiberto, whose quick wit and unfiltered banter made the commentary booth as entertaining as the matches themselves.
The stories then move to the felt — and to a hidden marijuana farm in South Carolina — where a young Earl “the Pearl” Strickland faced off against world champion Mike Sigel in a grueling, three-day money match for large stakes. With a front-row seat to one of the sport’s most legendary encounters, Billy paints a vivid picture of raw talent, nerves, and competitive fire, explaining how this match foreshadowed Strickland’s rise to greatness.
And just when you think the tales can’t get wilder, Billy shifts to Las Vegas, where the legendary gambler and card savant Stu Ungar takes the stage — a genius of gin rummy and 3-time WSOP winner whose brilliance was matched only by his self-destruction. Through Billy’s eyes, we see the razor-thin line between genius and ruin that runs through so many icons of the cue and card rooms alike.
A master storyteller at the height of his recall, Billy Incardona once again proves why his voice — and his stories — are an irreplaceable part of pool’s rich and unruly history.
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Music by Lyrium.
About
"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”
Incardona, Billy
Pool Professional
Pittsburgh Billy Incardona has been a solid One Pocket player and after hours legend for many years now. In fact, he’s still mixing it up against a whole new generation of players today. Of course, as the 'voice of Accustats', he has helped educate thousands of players in our favorite game. Recently Billy has also been promoting One Pocket tournaments in his own action-friendly poolroom.
Like many of our great players, Billy was gifted with natural talent and a fiercely competitive nature, and growing up in Pittsburgh there was no shortage of competition. At that time, Pittsburgh was home to the Hawk’s Nest, owned by 9-Ball champion Bernie Schwartz, which was also the home poolroom of another young champion, Jimmy Marino. In this company both Billy’s game and his game-making flourished. In fact, one thing that stands out with Billy, besides his knack for in-game strategy, is his knack for managing the game before the game, the art of matching up.
Bill won the 9-Ball division at Johnston City in the Jansco Brother’s 1972 summer tournament. At this stage in his career he was '9-Ball Billy', but like many players, as he got a little older he began to turn his attention to One Pocket. His One Pocket game really got a boost when he lived in Las Vegas where he had regular private sessions with Hall of Fame player Ed Kelly. In the relaxed atmosphere around Billy’s personal table, Kelly revealed both the shots and the style that made him one of the best ever, and Billy’s observant mind absorbed it all.
While he never snapped off a ma…
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