I see that the BCA HOF induction(s) will be in Charlotte at the Trade Show in June. I don't recall having heard anything about the nominees or balloting, and I couldn't find anything on the BCA website. Rumors, anyone?
BCA Hall of Fame 2008 nominations?
- Thread starter Bob Jewett
- Start date
Bob Jewett said:
I have not heard any rumors, but I have my own views on who should be inducted.
Allen Hopkins first and foremost. Great player, great talent. Won World 14.1 and World 9 Ball Championships. Won the U.S. Open 9 Ball Championships TWICE. Won major titles in One Pocket. Produces the renowned Super Billiard Expo, which, by the way, is why the BCA has not inducted him. That's my very strong opinion because it "clashes" or "clashed" with their trade show and Hopkin's Expo has grown every year.
I don't want my post to turn into a rant on the BCA, but their HOF is "on paper only." There is no physical building or shrine, only a sheet of paper on each inductee that is kept in a file drawer somewhere. A long time ago, I was researching Luther Lassiter and telephoned them for his birthdate. They had no info other than the short blurb that accompanies each "inductee" in their initial write up. I finally found Luther's birthdate by tracking his social security / death index since he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. I called them back when I found the info and although the conversation sounded pleasant, there's no doubt in my mind that they never updated or recorded the info I gave them on Mr. Lassiter. Can anybody imagine the Pro Football HOF or MLB HOF having the same cavalier attitude towards it's great champions? I could go on, but won't.
I also feel Pat Fleming should have already been in their Meritorious Service catagory for his tremendous help to pooldom from his Accu-Stats products.
Grady Mathews deserves serious consideration, but he has no shot because his views clashed with the suits at the BCA in the past.
Bennie Allen should have been inducted a long time ago. Multiple sanctioned World 14.1 Championships and most have long forgotten him. Even though Cicero Murphy never won a BCA sanctioned World Championship, he IS in the HOF, based on being the first black player to win a 14.1 Championship, sort of pool's Jackie Robinson. Don't get me wrong here, I loved Cicero Murphy and I'm glad he's in. But lets be fair...1 World 14.1 Championship that is not even listed in the BCA's own rule & record book because they never sanctioned it versus multiple times World Champions like Hopkins, Bennie Allen, Grady Mathews....pool politics at it's worst.
Also, it's way past time for the great Jose Parica to have been inducted.
But remember, these are the same people who passed over Earl Strickland several times before finally inducting him after they had "penalized" him enough. There was a 5 time U.S. Open Champion and 6 time World 9 Ball Championship NOT in the BCA HOF.
My bottom line is that this is probably my number one pet peeve or complaint or whine or whatever in pool....that the great champions of our time honored great sport are not given their just due. I really wish that these greats were shown much more than the token respect our sport's alleged santioning body gives them, which is minimal at best.
Last edited:
Bottom line Allen Hopkins should be in there before anyone,look at a few people who have made it in before him,just unbelievable.Terry Ardeno said:
Fast Lenny said:Bottom line Allen Hopkins should be in there before anyone,look at a few people who have made it in before him,just unbelievable.
I absolutely agree.
My picks for the Player's ballot would be Johnny Archer, Allison Fisher, Allen Hopkins, and Jose Parica.
Allen Hopkins deserves it. Are there any other multiple world champions from that era not in the HOF? Unfortunately, I think the politics will keep him out for now.
Jose has exceptional credentials, but Johnny and Alison are ahead of him in line right now.
Allen Hopkins deserves it. Are there any other multiple world champions from that era not in the HOF? Unfortunately, I think the politics will keep him out for now.
Jose has exceptional credentials, but Johnny and Alison are ahead of him in line right now.
Tad Kohara should be in there .
Hopkins of course.
Hopkins of course.
Terry Ardeno said:I .
I was researching Luther Lassiter and telephoned them for his birthdate. They had no info other than the short blurb that accompanies each "inductee" in their initial write up. I finally found Luther's birthdate by tracking his social security / death index since he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. I.
QUOTE]
I have interest in Zodiac signs.Do you mind anouncing his birthdate?
Hopkins`s contribution to pool ,with out any reservations, will qualify him for induction into hall of fame.
Terry Ardeno said:
Hopkins has been nominated twice I believe. I think if the BCA didn't want him in because of politics, he wouldn't have even been nominated.
There is a "shrine" of sorts and you can visit it the next time your in Colorado Springs. There's a picture of it on the BCA website. Granted it's not the Washington Monument, but at least it's something.
The fact that they didn't have lots of info on Lassiter is a disgrace to be sure.
Pat Fleming is an excellent choice for the Meritorious category.
Allen Hopkins WILL get in. Perhaps their just teasing him by nominating him, but not selecting him.
For all his accomplishments, Grady will get in eventually, hopefully.
"Alledged"
You are right on target. Our "alledged" governing body has always
dropped the ball when it came to aknowledging(?) our superstars.
If I were Ronnie, or Allen Hopkins, or Ed Kelly, or Jimmy Reid, I would be glad they didn't
honor me with their HOF award. The ones that are in there certainly
deserve to be there, but so many have been omitted that it is not a
REAL honor, persay. Steve at One Pocket.org has done a much better
job of recognizing the real greats of our game.
Dick
Terry,Terry Ardeno said:
You are right on target. Our "alledged" governing body has always
dropped the ball when it came to aknowledging(?) our superstars.
If I were Ronnie, or Allen Hopkins, or Ed Kelly, or Jimmy Reid, I would be glad they didn't
honor me with their HOF award. The ones that are in there certainly
deserve to be there, but so many have been omitted that it is not a
REAL honor, persay. Steve at One Pocket.org has done a much better
job of recognizing the real greats of our game.
Dick
Last edited:
Ed Kelly was inducted in 2003.
I think Mr. Wilson should be inducted.
dudlock said:
Right you are dudlock. He died on Oct 25, 1988.
SJDinPHX said:
Dick,
Ronnie Allen's biggest supporter on AZB I think is Hemicudas. But you're right, RA does deserve his place in the HOF.
Not enough good words can be said of Steve's great efforts and success at Onepocket.org. THAT is how to honor inductees!
And thanks again for lending me that book!
Jimmy M. said:
Jimmy,
The problem is that guys like RA, Grady, Vernon Elliott, Richie Florence etc have done most of their work outside of tournament venues. The BCA is a business. I don't want to go so far as to say that many of their suits are not even fans of pool, but I will bet that many of them have no idea who the great road warriors were, nor do they care.
Compare what Steve at Onepocket.org has done for a HOF for the bank and 1 pocket players with the BCA HOF. He has probably 1/100th of the budget that the BCA has and yet produces a far greater and much more honorable event when someone is inducted. Why? Because he is a true FAN and lover of pool. It's a passion rather than a business. And visa-versa at the BCA.
It's good to see Vernon Elliott's name mentioned in this discussion even though there is hardly any chance that he will ever be seriously considered by the powers that be as a candidate. But if you asked Ronnie Allen who received weight playing Vernon and lost, Buddy Hall, Allen Hopkins, Nick Varner, who would not play Vernon even, Earl Strickland, and the list of champions goes on, then he could easily become a viable candidate. What may be the most impressive point for his eligability is the list of champions that ever BEAT Vernon.__________That's how many I know about too.