Episodes

In the riveting conclusion of our four-part Legends of the Cue series with Keith “El Diablo” McCready, the legendary shot-maker and showman opens up about the artistry, heart, and hard lessons behind his unforgettable career. From his early days hustling in rough-and-tumble pool halls to his fearless showdowns with icons like Efren Reyes, Keith reflects on the fearless attitude and creative flair that made him both a crowd favorite and a feared opponent. Joined by co-hosts Mike Gonzalez, Mark W...

In this third installment of our four-part Legends of the Cue conversation with the legendary Keith McCready, we dive into one of the most fascinating chapters of his extraordinary life — his unforgettable role as Grady Seasons in Martin Scorsese’s 1986 classic, The Color of Money. Keith takes us behind the scenes of how a real pool hustler from the road found himself sharing the screen — and trading lines — with Paul Newman and a young Tom Cruise. From a serendipitous encounter at the 1985 U.S...

In this second installment of Legends of the Cue featuring the incomparable Keith “Earthquake” McCready, the stories get wilder, the stakes higher, and the characters larger than life. With his trademark wit and fearless honesty, Keith takes us deep into the gritty underworld of American pool during its most colorful era — where the lights never dimmed, the games never stopped, and the money was always on the line. From marathon gambling sessions at California’s legendary Billiard Palace to enc...

In this first installment of our Legends of the Cue four-part series, hosts Mike Gonzalez, Allison Fisher, and Mark Wilson sit down with one of pool’s most electrifying personalities—Keith McCready—to trace the raw, unfiltered beginnings of a life that could only be described as cinematic. Born in Elmhurst, Illinois, and raised under the California sun, Keith’s early years were anything but ordinary. By age ten, while most kids were trading baseball cards, he was already gambling, running poo...

In this concluding episode of our four-part series with the incomparable Mike Massey, we journey through a defining chapter of his extraordinary life in pool. Already recognized as the game’s premier trick shot artist, Mike reflects on the mid-2000s when his career transitioned from peak competition to enduring legacy. We begin with his collaboration with noted author Phil Capelle on Mike Massey’s World of Trick Shots, a groundbreaking instructional book blending precision diagrams, insider tip...

In this third installment of our four-part conversation with Mike Massey—BCA Hall of Fame inductee, Artistic Pool Hall of Fame member, and the greatest trick shot artist of all time—we continue charting the incredible journey of one of the game’s most colorful and accomplished legends. Mike takes us inside one of his proudest achievements: a grueling 24-hour marathon in Austria where he recorded an astonishing 330 break-and-runs in nine-ball, a feat witnessed live on national television that he...

In this second installment of our four-part conversation with legendary cue artist Mike Massey, we continue to trace the winding road of one of the most fascinating figures in billiards history. From the highs of tournament victories to the depths of personal struggles, Mike shares his remarkable story with unflinching honesty, warmth, and humor. We pick up in the mid-1980s, a time when Massey was rebuilding his life after personal turmoil, finding new love with his wife Francine, and embarking...

In this opening installment of Legends of the Cue, we sit down with one of the most colorful and compelling figures the game of pool has ever known—Mike “Tennessee Tarzan” Massey. Widely celebrated as the greatest trick shot artist of all time, Massey is also a fierce competitor, a winner of major nine-ball titles, and a Hall of Fame member whose story reaches far beyond the table. Mike Gonzalez, Allison Fisher, and Mark Wilson guide the conversation as Massey begins to recount a remarkable lif...

After three episodes of stories, lessons, and unfiltered honesty, Legends of the Cue brings you the powerful conclusion to our four-part conversation with one of the most fascinating figures in cue sports: John Schmidt — the man who broke Willie Mosconi’s 65-year-old straight pool high run record. Known to fans as “Mr. 600,” John opens up about the physical and mental toll of chasing greatness, from pounding thousands of balls a day until his body ached, to embracing fitness, nutrition, and eve...

In this third installment of our four-part conversation with pool great John Schmidt—affectionately known as Mr. 600—we journey through the emotional highs and crushing lows that shaped one of the most fascinating careers in cue sports. From flicking cockroaches out of his cereal on the morning of a U.S. Open to hoisting oversized winner’s checks in front of skeptical neighbors, Schmidt’s path to greatness was anything but ordinary. He opens up about the financial struggles and personal setback...

In part two of our four-part deep dive with “Mr. 600” John Schmidt—the man who broke Willie Mosconi’s legendary 65-year-old straight pool record—we follow his remarkable transition from ambitious newcomer to rising professional. Schmidt pulls no punches as he recalls the leap of faith that sent him on the road with little more than $1,200, a cue, and an old Honda Accord. Along the way, he gained priceless lessons on tough equipment, in hostile rooms, and against opponents of every caliber. He s...

In this episode of Legends of the Cue, Allison Fisher, Mark Wilson, and Mike Gonzalez sit down with one of pool’s modern legends—John Schmidt, affectionately known as “Mr. 600.” Schmidt etched his name in billiards history by surpassing Willie Mosconi’s fabled 526-ball straight pool record, a mark that stood unchallenged for 65 years. But as listeners quickly learn, his story is far richer than a single number. From his humble beginnings in Keokuk, Iowa—born on a bridge, no less—to a childhood ...

In this final installment of our four-part “Legends of the Cue” series with Hall of Fame great LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown, we celebrate the laughter, the triumphs, and the unforgettable memories that define her remarkable life and career. LoreeJon takes us behind the scenes of her hiatus from the game to focus on family, sharing how raising her children, caddying for her son on the golf course, and bonding with her daughter over horses became her “therapy” away from the table. We follow her inspi...

In this third installment of our four-part conversation with Hall of Famer LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown, we dive deep into the defining years of her remarkable career — a journey marked by triumphs, challenges, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. LoreeJon takes us behind the curtain of professional pool in the 1980s and 90s, recalling the whirlwind of tournaments that carried her from local tri-state competitions to Japan’s celebrated stages, where she became both champion and celebrity. She ...

In part two of our four-part series with BCA Hall of Famer LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown, we journey back to the early 1980s, when a 15-year-old prodigy from New Jersey stunned the billiards world by capturing the World Straight Pool Championship. That historic win not only earned her a Guinness World Record as the youngest world champion in the sport’s history but also set the stage for an extraordinary career that continues to inspire players today. LoreeJon reflects on the whirlwind of attention ...

In this debut episode of our four-part conversation with pool legend LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown, we go back to the very beginning of a remarkable journey in billiards. A World Pool-Billiard Association Hall of Fame inductee and one of the most decorated players in women’s pool, LoreeJon opens up about her early life, her family’s influence, and how a cue stick in her tiny hands set her on the path to greatness. From her childhood home in Garwood, New Jersey—where a full-sized Gandy table dominate...

In this fourth and final installment of our exclusive Legends of the Cue series with Hall of Fame icon Nick Varner, we bring his extraordinary journey full circle. From the heights of world titles to the challenges of sustaining a career in a sport often overshadowed, Nick’s story is equal parts grit, passion, and perseverance. Nick revisits his late-career triumphs, including capturing his second WPA World Nine Ball Championship at the age of 51 and going undefeated to claim the 2000 World One...

In Part 3 of our four-part conversation with BCA Hall of Famer Nick Varner, we dive into the rich details of his legendary career, exploring the transitions, rivalries, and defining moments that shaped one of the greatest champions in cue sports history. Nick reflects on his early love for straight pool—a game of patterns, precision, and deep strategy—and how it contrasted with the faster, high-pressure rise of nine ball. He shares fascinating insights into the mental shift required to thrive w...

In Part 2 of our four-part conversation with Billiard Congress of America Hall of Famer Nick Varner, we dive deep into the years when his career shifted into high gear — and he began carving out one of the most remarkable résumés in cue sports history. Nick takes us ringside to legendary match-ups with Minnesota Fats, Hubert “Daddy Warbucks” Cokes, and other colorful characters, sharing the high-stakes gambling culture, sharp banter, and the psychology of playing for your own money. We hear how...

In this first installment of our four-part conversation with Hall of Fame legend Nick Varner, we trace his remarkable journey from the dusty farmlands of southern Indiana to the glittering lights of pool’s biggest stages. Known as the winningest all-around player in American history, Varner holds world titles in eight-ball, nine-ball, ten-ball, straight pool, and one-pocket — a resume as versatile as it is unmatched. Nick’s story begins with a childhood spent working the family farm, learning d...

In this fifth and final installment of our Legends of the Cue deep-dive with co-host, former Mosconi Cup Captain and player, professional pool player, master teacher, and broadcaster Mark Wilson, we bring the conversation full circle — from the bright lights of international competition to the grassroots of the game he loves. Mark takes us behind the curtain of his Mosconi Cup captaincy, sharing the challenges of managing world-class talent, the psychology of match play, and the small strategic...

In this fourth episode of our special five-part series with Legends of the Cue co-host, former Mosconi Cup captain, accomplished professional player, master teacher, and broadcaster Mark Wilson, we journey through some of the most personal and defining chapters of his extraordinary life in pool. Mark opens up about an unthinkable personal tragedy that nearly ended his career—and how a single spark of resolve set him on a path toward “relentless positivity” and a renewed purpose. We follow his r...

In the third installment of our five-part conversation with former Mosconi Cup Captain, professional pool player, teacher, and broadcaster Mark Wilson, we dive deep into the formative years that shaped his career — on and off the table. Mark’s story picks up in the heat of fierce competition and colorful characters. From life on the road with the fiery Jeff "The Pool Monster" Carter — a player as polarizing as he was talented — to the lessons learned under the watchful (and often demanding) eye...

In this compelling second installment of our five-part Legends of the Cue conversation with renowned player, teacher, and former Mosconi Cup Captain Mark Wilson, we dive deep into the crucible of commitment and the hard-earned lessons that shaped his extraordinary career. From his earliest days at Jerry Briesath’s legendary pool room in Madison, Wisconsin, Mark recalls the struggles of being the worst player in the room—and the obsessive drive to change that. He shares vivid, often humorous sto...