If your read on this player is accurate (and we would think that after 3 years it is) then he is never raising this river with just a 9. We need to put him squarely on TT, JJ or 77.
However i question whether he is actually playing the way you describe. Many 'rocks' take advantage of their image 1 or 2 times a night to steal big pots like these on very scary boards. They are not idiots and realise that you realise he is very very tight so he may be making a play.
Against an unknown with no reads this is of course an insta call, however noone can advise you on this hand because whether you call or not is based entirely on your read of this player after playing with him over the years. If you really believe he is never bluffing then the only hand he could have that you beat is 77.
I agree with your analysis and this was what was going on in my head at the time. Through sheer optimism, I included 10-9 as a possibility, although in retrospect, that was just to convince myself to call.
As for the second part of your response...I'm sure he's used his image to his advantage at times. However, I've certainly never seen him in a big pot without a big hand. I think if he does bluff, it's picking up smaller pots, but again, I've only seen him get caught one time.
Knowing that he's not raising this river without a boat, I guess this is a folding situation. Can that possibly be right? I did call and he turned over the one hand I could beat...77. I'm getting over 2:1 on the river with the possible holdings of the villain being JJ, TT, 77, JT and maybe 10-8, of which I can only beat one. Knowing he has to have the boat here, what's the worst hand I have to call with? 10-7, right? I can beat 77, 88 and lose to JJ, JT, the second of which is less likely due to the ten in my hand.
I hate folding, so all of this talk about folding boats is crazy to me. That's why I posted this hand, because I think it's the right play here.
Also, any comments on my betting?