Banking my way to Heaven, by Artie Bodendorfer

Bugs was his name and pool was his game. He was a dream come true, Bugs wanted to be a great pool hustler, and that is what he became. The older he got, the better he played. His reputation grew and grew. He became more intimidating, and he beat everyone. He played for the money, not for the glory. Bugs was fearless, and his aggressive style was awesome to watch. I cherish the memories we lived and shared. I will remember Bugs.

We played each other about 25 times. Everywhere we would meet, we would play, it was our thing. We were both pool hustlers and we both loved action. Most everyone was scared to play Bugs, but Bugs and I loved the competition, and that's why we loved playing each other. It was very exciting each time we played. We never talked while we played either. There were no cheap shots taken by either one of us, checking each other's rack, stealing balls, or by forgetting to spot a scratch. Everything was above board. We never had a discrepancy, we had too much respect to cheat each other.

Bugs was a fierce competitor, and he would run out from anywhere on the table. He was an eight-and-out player. Bugs and Ronnie Allen were the two best run out players in life. Bugs and Eddie Taylor were the two greatest bankers. Taylor might have been a little bit more consistent, but Bugs had more heart. Bugs would bet all the money on one game. If Taylor and Bugs would play in a tough neighborhood, on bad equipment I would bet on Bugs because he had more heart and he was used to bad conditions. Taylor and Bugs were in a class by themselves. The two most intimidating one pocket players were Ronnie Allen and Bugs. Watching them play was very special. In their prime they could fill a stadium.

I have had many great experiences with Bugs and they were all fun and exciting. Bugs was like a brother to me and at the end of his journey, Bugs would tell me every time we talked, he also loved me like a brother. Bugs always looked out for me, if someone would bother me he would step in and say he is with me, and if you want a problem we can go outside and straighten it out. No one wanted a problem with Bugs. He hung out with a tough crowd. They all loved Bugs, and Bugs was their hero. Bugs was to pool what Muhammad Ali was to boxing.

I have known and been friends with Bugs for forty years. We never had an argument or disagreement. Bugs loved life and he never gave up. He once told me, Artie don’t ever give up, and that is exactly what he did all the way to the end even though the odds were against him. I loved Bugs not for what he did, but for who he was, a great man. There will only be one Bugs, the unique kid with talent and an innocent smile that people loved and admired. His great attitude and love for people always showed his true colors.

Bugs was a cool character, people would point and say, that’s Bugs the best bank pool player in the world. He had a very powerful nickname and a reputation to go with it. He was really in a class by himself. Bugs could have been anything he wanted to be, a pro baseball player, a pro basket ball player, but he chose to become a champion pool player and hustler. Back in those days there were no tournaments, so it was like this, hustle pool, get a job, or starve to death. He lived a good full exciting life. He was always his own boss and did it his way.

I will miss Bugs, and I’m sure the rest of the world will too. Bugs never backed down from a challenge and loved competition. I remember a guy named Sunshine, he idolized Bugs in every way. He tried to bank like Bugs and even act like bugs. He would try to talk and walk and even dress like Bugs. He would say Bugs is the coolest guy on the planet. He was a younger version of Bugs and became a pretty good banker. Sunshine had a lot of talent but the rough pool environment got the best of him. Bugs was ahead of his time in everything from talking, walking, dressing, you name it. Bugs was the coolest man alive. And for all you rap stars and musicians I got news for you, Bugs did it all fifty years ago. And he was a natural, not a wannabe cool guy. Bugs had an unbelievable following everywhere he went. Everyone wanted to see Bugs play. He was a great showman and when he got down to shoot you knew he was a great player. It was like watching Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron at the plate. He had class and style like no one else. When he went to put powder on his hands he would get it all over the pool table. It looked like someone spilled a bag of cocaine.

I hope one day we will be together again. I know Bug's good friend Paul Jones will be waiting at the gate for him. They will be together in paradise. Bugs journey is just beginning. God wrapped his hands around him and said, Bugs come with me to paradise, you’ve suffered long enough. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and everyone that knew him. Good bye, my friend.
Arthur Bodendorfer