In most sports athletes want to see their name in lights. But in the world of pool, notoriety is the last thing a hustler desires. Such is the dilemma that faces one Kid Delicious, aka Danny Basavich, a heavyset, bipolar, and endlessly charming Jewish kid from New Jersey, who flounders through high school until he discovers the one thing at which he excels - the felt - and hits the road. "Running the Table" spins the outrageous tale of the Kid and his study - if less talented - set-up man, Bristol Bob. Never was there a more entertaining or mismatched pair of sidekicks - the generously proportioned, easy-going Kid is the complete antithesis of his uptight, clean-cut pal - but together they go underground into the seamy world of pool to learn the art of the hustle and experience the highs and lows of life on the road.Their four-year odyssey takes them from run-down pool halls to slick urban billiard rooms across America, one night taking down as much as $30,000, the next losing so much that they lack gas money to get home. With every stop, the action gets hotter, the calls get closer, and Delicious' prowess with a cue stick becomes known more and more widely. "Running the Table" is a book about friendship, hustling and an America that you didn't know existed. Wertheim evokes a subculture full of nefarious but loveable characters and illuminates a country's fascination with games and gambling. He also paints a lasting portrait of an insanely talented and magnetic hustler, who is literally larger than life.
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Danny 'Kid Delicious' Basavich's intoxicating tale is a true story... and L Jon Wertheim tells it beautifully here, getting right under the skin of pool's darker subculture without overly romanticising its past... A fine twist on the sports biography. (Metro )
Pro sportswriter Jon Wertheim has painted a fascinating picture of the pair and the modern-day underground they trawled in search of easy money. (Jon Wise Daily Sport )
Forget the "sport" side of pool, this book is about burly guys in small-town America betting large sums of money... the humanity of the betting sharks amid a dying breed of old-school pool hustlers is vividly portrayed. (Stanley Pignal Financial Times FT Magazine )
Entertaining. (Tony Hodson Sport )
Pro sportswriter Jon Wertheim has painted a fascinating picture of the pair and the modern-day underground they trawled in search of easy money. (Jon Wise Daily Sport )
Forget the "sport" side of pool, this book is about burly guys in small-town America betting large sums of money... the humanity of the betting sharks amid a dying breed of old-school pool hustlers is vividly portrayed. (Stanley Pignal Financial Times FT Magazine )
Entertaining. (Tony Hodson Sport )
About the Author
L. Jon Wertheim is an award-winning senior writer for Sports Illustrated and the author of Transition Game: How Hoosiers Went Hip-Hop and Venus Envy. Film rights to his Sports Illustrated story on Kid Delicious were optioned by Lions Gate, and the movie is currently in development. He lives in New York.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.6 out of 5 stars
36 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended
30 Oct 2007
By Elderkin
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
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.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
PoolJax
9 Oct 2007
By J. Ludwig
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
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
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
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Book
17 Oct 2007
By Aaron Gross
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
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.
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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