What the story of the real Minnesota Fats? I've heard the character was based on a real person, and also?

Question

that a real person took the nickname for himself only after the movie was made. Anyone know the history?

Answer 1

Rudolph Wanderone, a very fat man, called himself Minnesota Fats. He was known as New York Fats, and Brooklyn Fats, or just Fats. People say that he had probably never been to Minnesota. Then the movie (and book), The Hustler came out, and Fats said that the movie was about him. And he began calling himself Minnesota Fats. Walter Tevis, the author of The Hustler (as well as The Color of Money, The Man Who Fell To Earth, and the Queen's Gambit) denied that the book was about Mr. Wanderone. He said that he made up Minnesota Fats and Fast Eddie. Tevis was upset about Wanderone stealing the name from his book and movie.

Fats was not a particularly good pool player, not of tournament pro caliber. He said he was the best. He said that he had never lost a game. He said a lot of things, and he said it loudly. He put on a good show, and he was good for the game. He is in the BCA Hall of Fame, not for his pool, but for his promotion of the game. For this, he deserves his place in the Hall of Fame. He was the best and funniest show in pool. And he was pretty good at making bank shots.

He had the ability to manage his money as well as manipulate other players (important to the hustle).  In his latter years he did television promotion, sometimes with Masconi, but he was never the great player.

Answer 2

He was a famous pool player, that would hussle people till his name got out.  Then people would come from all around to play him and try to beat him.

Answer 3

Minnesota fats was ur dads nickname in high scool

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Answer 4

A VERY FAMOUS POOL/BILLIARD PLAYER

Answer 5

old school pool hustler...