A great set of stories from an amazing life: http://www.amazon.com/Amarillo-Slim-World-Full-People/dp/B000GG4GS0 http://www.amazon.com/Amarillo-Slim-World-Full

A great set of stories from an amazing life: http://www.amazon.com/Amarillo-Slim-World-Full-People/dp/B000GG4GS0 http://www.amazon.com/Amarillo-Slim-World-Full-People/dp/B00... Amarillo Slim engaged in these sort of prop bets all the time. Some of the more interesting stories where he "abuses the rules": * He bet that he could hit a golf ball a mile, "as long as bounces and rolls are allowed... flat ground of course"... When the wager was accepted, he teed off at a frozen pond, where it wasn't that difficult to accomplish. * Two variations on beating a champion at their own game: - Slim played Minnesota Fats at pool, "as long as I can provide the cue sticks"... And then beat Fats when they both had to play with broomsticks instead of real pool cues. - Slim bet that he could beat a very good ping pong player, "as long as I get to pick the rackets"... When the wager was accepted, Slim brought two identical cast iron skillets and let his opponent pick which "racket" he wanted. Without having practiced, his opponent didn't stand a chance. -- Later, someone else approached Slim and wanted to do the same bet. They had heard of the original bet, and had an Asian pingpong champion "ringer". (It seems pitifully obvious to me that Slim wouldn't pull the same trick after the story was out, but apparently this gambler had his Asian ringer practice with a skillet and thought he would be "safe")... For the second bet, Slim used "standard" Coca-Cola bottles, and won again.