Legends of the Cue

In this third installment of our six-part conversation with pool legend and all-time hustler Billy Incardona , we dive deep into the wild, unfiltered golden age of American pool — a time when the cues cracked, the cash flowed, and the characters were larger than life. Billy takes us straight into the heart of Johnson City, Illinois , home of the famed Jansco Brothers’ “Hustlers Jamboree.” With his...

In this captivating second installment of Legends of the Cue: The Billy Incardona Story , co-hosts Mike Gonzalez, Allison Fisher and Mark Wilson continue their deep dive into the colorful, gritty, and often hilarious world of one of pool’s true storytellers and road warriors. " Nine-Ball Billy "  pulls no punches as he recalls his early influences, his larger-than-life mentor “Champagne...

In this first installment of our six-part conversation with the great Billy Incardona — known to pool fans everywhere as “Nine-Ball Billy” and later the unmistakable voice of Accu-Stats — the Legends of the Cue team dives into the early years of one of pool’s most colorful and enduring figures. Hosted by Mike Gonzalez , Mark Wilson , and Allison Fisher , this episode traces Billy’s roots in Pittsb...

In this powerful conclusion to our four-part Legends of the Cue series with Mark Kendall , guitarist and founding member of the platinum-selling rock band Great White , we dive deep into the stories that shaped his life both on stage and at the pool table. From the adrenaline rush of performing for hundreds of thousands of fans to the quiet intensity of a one-on-one pool match, Kendall reflects on...

In this third installment of Legends of the Cue ’s four-part conversation with Mark Kendall , the legendary guitarist and founding member of Great White , we explore the deep parallels between two of his lifelong passions — music and pool . Joined by hosts Mike Gonzalez , Mark Wilson , and Allison Fisher , Kendall opens up about the rhythm of discovery that links his guitar playing to his cue stro...

In this second installment of Legends of the Cue with Mark Kendall — famed guitarist, songwriter, and founder of the multiplatinum rock band Great White — we journey deeper into the fire and rhythm of a life shaped by equal parts grit, melody, and cue chalk. From his early days strumming in garages and dreaming beyond backyard gigs, to the electric moment when fate and a record label executive col...

In this first installment of a captivating four-part series, Legends of the Cue welcomes Mark Kendall — the soulful guitarist and founding member of the multi-platinum rock band Great White , and one of the most accomplished celebrity pool players in the world. Known for his passionate guitar riffs and humble nature, Kendall opens up to hosts Mark Wilson, Mike Gonzalez and Allison Fisher about the...

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...

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 tra...

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...

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 ordi...

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’...

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...

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 wa...

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,...

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, fr...

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...

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 p...

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...

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...

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...

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 extraordin...

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...

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 secon...

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-p...