First post, and it's fairly odd.

Short handed (ish, we split into 2 7h tables when 14 people showed up) 5-5 with a 10 button straddle, it's a private game and plays very wild. The two villains in the hand are both stuck action players and both a very range 70-90% of hands when stuck and will continue with bulk of these holdings even for large raises, villain #1 routinely shoves/pots with any piece (sometimes a creative piece) after the flop when checked to him or he's first (he likes to be the first in), villain #2 does not like to fail to see flops even with very ragged hands if he as at least a suit, but even not-so-coordinated low pair hands will also speculate for large raises. Hero is perceived to be a good player that gives action and plays aggressive, also quite happy to play fairly large pots.

The game plays deep late night but it's shallower early and this hand happens fairly early in the night. Both villains have around 1600 and the hero has them covered. We agreed to a blind raise to $40 from the small blind for a round. (It's a no double straddle game)

Passive reg in the big completes to $40, villain #2 utg makes it $140 (claiming blind raise, which I'm sure checks out, honest guy and we've all been playing in same games for the 6 years I've been around, he's also the host), folds to villain #1 in the CO who calls $140, Hero on the button raises to $625 with AcQdTd9c, both blinds fold and both villains call. 3-ways to the flop.

($1950 in the pot) Flop comes down Jc 5h 4d. Villain #2 scans the board is not thrilled and checks, villain #1 shoves for $975. Hero thinks quickly and decides to call. Reluctantly villain 2 tanks and calls the $975. It was a very interesting showdown, and I'll add that in later there is interest.

Is the hero,s call of $975 defensible or just lighting money on fire? With friends at the table that laughed me pretty hard, I did defend the play which I think was marginal, but I would like to know if the concensus is that I'm rationalizing a bad investment.