Jon Katz and David Mamet: Ping Pong hustlers

[i_am_a_scientist]

From J Katz’s Wiki page

He is a close personal friend of renowned playwright David Mamet, with whom he attended Goddard College. Katz co-wrote “House of Games” and appeared in a small role in Mamet’s 2000 film “State and Main.” They used to travel around college to college hustling people over games of ping pong. Katz would let Mamet beat him. They would pretend to play for money then Mamet would say “If you want to play me, you have to beat my friend first.” To keep the game moderately close, he would sometimes spot his opponents 15 points for a game up to 21 and during every point, recall a painful experience from his childhood.

Bolding mine. That is hilarious.