Brian...did you have a knickname you were known by...

[Bill Miracle]

In New Orleans. My neighbor, a very good golfer (+3), is from there. He is mid-60's and used to play the 4 courses @ City Park. Actually played all over that N.O. area including MS, AL, etc.... He just moved here 3 years ago.

I asked if he knew you and he said all you Italian guys had knicknames (and there was a ton of you) that he probably would recognize. Also, I read a post about your dad and that he was known by his knickname. What was it?

 

[Brian Manzella]

No nickname

My dad went by "Tony" Baz" "Bazu" his real name was Basil or Biagio.

I was called "lil Tony" by some, but mostly just Brian or Manzella.

I didn't have a good nickname like "Tom the cab driver" or "The Roach."

 

[Bill Miracle]

BIG GRIN...

My dad went by "Tony" Baz" "Bazu" his real name was Basil or Biagio.

I was called "lil Tony" by some, but mostly just Brian or Manzella.

I didn't have a good nickname like "Tom the cab driver" or "The Roach."

No stallion back then huh?

Nah, he was asking me if they called you "tiny" or something like that. That's why I asked. When I described you, he said he knew someone out there that went by a knickname he thought was tiny or something like that. Maybe he was trying to remember the "lil" part. His name is Archie Brown. Black guy in his 60's. I think he worked for Shell Oil until he retired and came here to sunny FL. Not sure where he lived there but he played City Park a lot. He has a pretty decent game!

 

[Brian Manzella]

Oh...

Ask him if he knows:

Mr. Edinburgh

Walter Pryor

Jimmy Cole

George Airline

Jelly

Ducky Gilbert

Tank

 

[Tom Bartlett]

also;

Lefty

Toy

Joe "doodlebug" Dyer

Mercedes

New York Harold

 

[Michael Finney]

you made mercedes up

 

[Tom Bartlett]

you made mercedes up

Nope. First time I ever played Albert Crews, it was me and Griffen against him and Mercedes (he lived across the street from the first fairway at Pontchartrain. If I remember correctly he was an ex cop.

 

[Brian Manzella]

Mercedes!

Yeah.

He was a very light skinned, sorta "cornbread faced" dude.

I played against him a LOT when Ricky Jackson put on the party.

He could play a little.

 

[Brian Manzella]

I know I have said this before....but:

I have played a LOT of "real" and "pickup" football in a few cities.

I have played a LOT of "real" and "pickup money game" golf in a few cities.

The best of these "pickup" games where at Norman Playground, City Park and Pontchartrain Park in New Orleans.

They all had one thing in common: they were mostly African-American guys.

Golf:

Lefty

Toy

Joe "doodlebug" Dyer

Mercedes

New York Harold

Mr. Edinburgh

Walter Pryor

Jimmy Cole

George Airline

Jelly

Ducky Gilbert

Tank

Football:

Leo Bailey

Irv Noil

Diddy

Bubby

Kevin

Al Vex

Chuckie

Newt

Maybe it is because African-American males often don't get a fair shake, but, the best and fairest I have ever been treated in my whole life (outside of family) is at Norman, The Park and Pontchartrain.

Only one little problem, so far Katrina has knocked The Park and Pontchartrain out cold, and Norman is on haitus at best.

 

[Tom Bartlett]

AND....

If you ever wanted to see a bunch of people who had the three imperatives, and everything else in their swings was an X classification...watch those guys...and watch your wallet, cause they will win all your money.

 

[Brian Manzella]

If you ever wanted to see a bunch of people who had the three imperatives, and everything else in their swings was an X classification...watch those guys...and watch your wallet, cause they will win all your money.

Great point Tom.

Not a "set" flying wedge in the group. Not a single RFT.

But they could PLAY.

They had lag, clubshaft (PATH) control, and clubface control.

And they could all putt.

 

[birdie_man]

Bahaha those names sound right mafia....

Where's Jimmy "Two-Times??"

 

[Bill Miracle]

This guy (my neighbor) knows all these cats....

Golf:

Lefty

Toy

Joe "doodlebug" Dyer

Mercedes

New York Harold

Mr. Edinburgh

Walter Pryor

Jimmy Cole

George Airline

Jelly

Ducky Gilbert

Tank

All these guys taught my neighbor how to play...and he played with these guys on a weekly basis.

Ducky - was a big part teaching him. I guess he was the pro there at Ponchitrain. Doodlebug...all the signs at the city park baseball fields "no hitting golf balls" were because of him practicing his irons on all the baseball and rec fields. I can't remember which one but I think it was Tank or Jimmy Cole that he said used to carry brown paper bags full of $$$$ (fairly large amounts) in his golf bag....always looking for the biggest $ game he could find.

My neighbor was known as PUTT. He was about 10 years younger than these guys. I just found out that 4 doors down from me is another of that gang, Coach. Those two retired from Shell Oil (where a couple of the guys you mentioned worked) and moved here to Daytona together. He got a really good laugh when I showed him your list. Told me quite a few more stories best left off the web.

He asked me if you were known as "blackie" I told him I didn't think so. Did you know Putt, Blackie, or Coach??

 

[Brian Manzella]

Who Dat?

Blackie:

Eddie Pustanio. Died about 10 yrs ago at about 85 yrs old. Use to be the Caddie Master and clubbuilder, then head of the Carts and club fixing, later years just fixing clubs. His son "Blackie Jr.," a member of the STAGE HANDS union, fished balls out of the CP Lakes my WHOLE LIFE, except the last few (non-golf) months. He also went by the name "The Weasel" & his little brother was the "Roach."

Putt??

The best PUTTer was name Greenup. He would set-up with his hands WAY behind the ball and his ball way forward, kinda like Ben Doyle with a 5-iron. Similar results!

He made everything.

I sure miss 'em all. They were really nice to me. I wish I could pay them all back somehow.

 

[shootin4par]

I sure miss 'em all. They were really nice to me. I wish I could pay them all back somehow.

you pay it back when you pass it on, which you do

 

[Tom Bartlett]

Let em know that Joe "Doodlebug" Dyer died two years ago. Really miss him. We played together just about everyday for a few years. He was 83 I believe. I don't remember ever playing a round of golf with him when he didn't have at least one chip in. Joe had more sayings than anybody.

Golf shots;
Rope-A-Dope
Drag Line (Only possible with the Brown Skinned Mama)
Monkey Tail
Ground F!@^#r
Pinch Shot

Miscellaneous;

Hit in the belly with a wet fish

You naturally strong...you don't have to hook it.

My little darling!

When I was your age, I used to could stand on my ___.

How bout her Joe? "Sheeit, she got a wheelbarrow fulla ass". Hello! How you doin?

You don't mind, huh? (He would ask this before he chipped in)

Golf don't know nobody.

I hit that one like a Damn Morphadite.

Take it out! Pin never helped a good shot.

Gimmie the sharp blade club.

If I could hold the pin for Gene Sarazen, I could hold it for you.

Awww f@#k! Excuse me Bob Charles (nickname he gave Brent). For some reason he didn't like to cuss in front of Woody.

Finney gotta pretty swing. But, he putts like Stan, Hehehe.

That Brian lets people get him all worked up.



I've often thought of writing down every anecdote That I can remember from golf in New Orleans. And, get Brian, Don and
Mike to do the same, and put a book together. It would be the best selling golf book ever. Much better than the stories from Tennison Park (Titanic Thompson). Because there were a lot more characters. It would be a Great selling book period.

 

[Bill Miracle]

Putt??

The best PUTTer was name Greenup. He would set-up with his hands WAY behind the ball and his ball way forward, kinda like Ben Doyle with a 5-iron. Similar results!

I sure miss 'em all. They were really nice to me. I wish I could pay them all back somehow.

Putt= John "Archie" Brown

I got two of 'em as neighbors and they are the best neighbors you can have. Since the day I picked up a club a year ago, Archie always sees me in the front yard swinging...comes over and we end up talking golf til one of the wives gets to hollerin' at us.

I'd play with him but he plays in a men's golf association on Tues and Thurs mornings. That sucker hits lasers at the pin.

 

[Bill Miracle]

Was Joe the one...

Let em know that Joe "Doodlebug" Dyer died two years ago. Really miss him. We played together just about everyday for a few years. He was 83 I believe. I don't remember ever playing a round of golf with him when he didn't have at least one chip in. Joe had more sayings than anybody.

That caused all the signs to be put up on the ball fields?

 

[Brian Manzella]

The Signs

That caused all the signs to be put up on the ball fields?

Amazing how we got to the same place--

The Golf Mafia Godfather

When I write my life story, this "character" will pop up so many times and in so many places you'll wonder how one man could have so much power and influence.

So Bill, this guy--"The GMG"--chased off so many life long City Parkers you wouldn't believe.

He tried to chase me off, and basically had a lot to do with my trying Louisville twice and sticking for the past 10 years.

So, basically he chased me from New Orleans and I am wildly successful in Louisville, and FGI chased me away and I have a bigger Instruction Forum than them, and one of the biggest anywhere.

Two of the best things that ever happen to me.

But the best was meeting my wife, Lisa, who btw, I have been lucky enough to be married to for three years today.

Lisa Manzella, 'CarolGalleyz's' nemisis, and rwh's (Bob Hayden) favorite on-line Manzella.

Mine too.

 

[Bill Miracle]

Who is the GMG????

Amazing how we got to the same place--

The Golf Mafia Godfather

When I write my life story, this "character" will pop up so many times and in so many places you'll wonder how one man could have so much power and influence.

So Bill, this guy--"The GMG"--chased off so many life long City Parkers you wouldn't believe.

????