This Ironside story is a homage to the classic Paul Newman film The Hustler. Playing the Fast Eddie Felson role is Michael Christian who was juvenile delinquent heading down the wrong path, but now through Raymond Burr's guidance has developed his skill with billiards so that he now has a match with the Minnesota Fats of the profession played here by Jack Albertson.
If you notice the Chief's workplace does have a pool table there so you can see while he was still mobile he must have used it considerably.
Against all odds Christian beats Albertson, but that has some unforeseen consequences
Unfortunately the brother the Chief might have paid attention to is Carl Reindel who manages Christian, but at heart is no good degenerate gambler. Going with the odds Reindel placed his bets on Albertson and it's either pay up with Christian's earnings so far or get his legs broken.
What happens probably could never happen again, still it makes for some dramatic and interesting viewing.
If you notice the Chief's workplace does have a pool table there so you can see while he was still mobile he must have used it considerably.
Against all odds Christian beats Albertson, but that has some unforeseen consequences
Unfortunately the brother the Chief might have paid attention to is Carl Reindel who manages Christian, but at heart is no good degenerate gambler. Going with the odds Reindel placed his bets on Albertson and it's either pay up with Christian's earnings so far or get his legs broken.
What happens probably could never happen again, still it makes for some dramatic and interesting viewing.