U.J. Puckett Still Haunts Fast Freddy's

(from star-telegram.com) - Loved and hated in almost equal portions, a man who played pool better than almost any other -- and yet who wanted to go fishing even more -- treacherous and warmhearted: All this was the hustler U.J. Puckett.

Before his death in 1992, Puckett became national nine-ball champion, was featured on 60 Minutes with Harry Reasoner, was profiled by Texas Monthly magazine, and played televised matches with Willie Mosconi and Minnesota Fats.

Puckett also came to haunt a south Fort Worth pool hall, Fast Freddy's.

And now, at least according to the regulars down at Fast Freddy's, the great U.J. Puckett has returned.

"I sat here at 4 in the morning and heard the door open and close, and nobody was there and I said, 'Damn it, Puckett is walking around here again,'" said Richard McElroy, a longtime regular at the smoke-filled pool room down on Crowley Road.

"And a couple of girls have been right by him and they get a cold feeling, like he's standing over their neck. It's happened a couple of times. People talk about Puckett's ghost, and it's pretty serious." Continued...

U.J. Puckett Still Haunts Fast Freddy's
U.J. Puckett Still Haunts Fast Freddy's

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