Running the Table: The Legend of Kid Delicious, the Last Great American Pool Hustler

"Jeez, that fat man, look at the way he moves. Like a dancer. And those fingers, them chubby fingers. That stroke, It's like he's playing the violin or something." - Fast Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) marveling at - Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) in "The Hustler" - The above quote is what begins the PROLOGUE of this gripping true story of Danny "Kid Delicious" Basavich. Danny is a 5 foot 9 nine inch 320 pound, charming, bipolar, depressed, suicidal, crowd-pleasing, warm-smiling, ice-breaking, pool-hustling, professional champion, Jewish mensch, from New Jersey, by way of Brooklyn! Danny as a kid would buy candy and treats in bulk, bring them to school and sell them at outrageous markups between classes. He also ran poker games during study hall and football pools on Fridays. He ingeniously figured out that packs of baseball cards that included valuable bonus cards were slightly thicker than the regular packs. Using a micrometer Danny could figure out which packs had the valuable cards in them without opening the pack and would then buy those packs and resell the bonus cards at a huge markup. In summary, before Danny started playing pool he already had the makings of a classic hustler. Due to his girth Danny was teased and bullied unmercifully in high school and dropped out when he was fifteen. Danny became overridden with depression. He would sleep all day and eat unbelievable amounts of food. Then he discovered pool, which probably saved his life and made this writer's dream of a story reality. Danny starts practicing pool in every waking minute of his life and his burgeoning talent gives him a reason to live. It gives him a self-worth that he never had before when he looked in the mirror and saw an unattractive overweight man-child going nowhere, as he seriously considered suicide. From the moment he sees the potential in himself, the reader is then taken on a roller coaster ride from one pool hall to another. Some venues are pig sties, and others are glimmering palaces. When Danny wins a big hustle against a "slender, flashy, up-and-coming player called "Kid Vicious" a legend is born. As Danny unscrewed his stick and prepared to leave, a fan whistled and then cracked, "Kid Vicious" just got hustled by "Kid Delicious"! "Kid Delicious" would become Danny's moniker from there on out. Along with fighting his depression "Delicious" had to fight the "catch-22" of not becoming too famous, because no one would play him. A number of times ill-fated professional pool leagues would start with grandiose plans and go bust. There was the quandary that hustling paid more than a professional match, but "Delicious" also wanted the celebrity and acknowledgement of his talent. But if he got the professional victories that would put him on TV and in billiard magazines, then he could no longer enter backwater pool halls in North Dakota, Minnesota, Alabama, and wherever his car would take him, incognito, "under the radar" for a big hus

The story of Kid Delicious is great fun and a look into the world of pool, hustling, gambling and life on the road that most of us have no idea even exists. The author brings the cast of characters to life and for someone like me with a 9 to 5 job, wife and kids it was stunning to read how these guys lived on the road for months with only their wits and pool skills to keep them going. I was afraid this book would be another pumped up magazine article, but there was much depth and backstory throughout so I never got that feeling. The book is well researched and the writing is crisp and to the point. I highly recommend this book.

This was a great book. One of those books you don't want to end. Kid Delicious is a person with insecurities, fears, and issues that we can all relate to. I found myself rooting for him on every page. It feels like L. John Wertheim is in the back seat of the car for the entire journey. His ability to paint a picture of the pool sub-culture is second to none. I highly recommend this book to anyone who can relate to an ordinary person doing his best to be extraordinary in his pursuit.

I found Running The Table to be an excellent read. Even if your not a hard gambler or a pool player, you will enjoy this book. Jon Wertheim's writing is exceptional and the tales of Kid Delicious and his travels are really fun and entertaining. To read more about Danny Basavich aka Kid Delicious Google: PoolJax

RUNNING the TABLE...Danny Basavich's life story up to now is a great read as I knew it would be. If you enjoy pool, hustling, gambling and con jobs, this is a must read. Although I never got to play Danny, I've met him and watched him play many times. He's a great player and a great guy. John "Johnny T" Terrell