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Was pool better 50 years ago?

M
mikemosconi said:
I also think that people here either forget or are too young to remember that 50 years ago and all before that - straight pool was always the most visible pool event to the masses in the U.S. via Wide World of Sports on TV and the major event mostly held in NYC large hotel ball rooms. Johnston City tournament was not a broadcast event.

Major 14.1 events were “sterile” in nature as players were in a Tux, tables were refereed, fan attendees sat in utter silence except for applause occasionally on great shots. You could hear a pin drop in the ballrooms in NYC during play- I attended a few of the events held toward the mid and late 70s in NYC.

Even the 1989 US open 14.1 revival held in Chicago’s Palmer House Hotel( I attended) the players were in a tux and the room was extremely parochial from a game and player behavior standpoint. This was the last one that I recall being so formal. The subsequent events in NYC in the early 90s were much less formal in structure.
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While that was a particular format, at the same time 9 ball tournaments were happening all around the country, with the same players. I watched Crane win a 9 ball tournament at Weenie Beenie's.
ABC did show the occasional pool tournament, it was rare. It was so edited as to be unwatchable. Not the kind of coverage they gave other sports.
They did do an interesting coverage of Johnston City once. Probably their best treatment of a pool tournament.
I know most have seen it but here is a small clip of the ABC showing of it.
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Was pool better 50 years ago?

Island Drive
When pool was not taught, unique play styles were created, and the diversity of a players form was very prominent.
Corn Bread Red Slip Stroke.... who's teachin' that :).
Gambling/traveling was the norm, seeing many different players pa$$ thru was the norm.
Seeing Steve Gumphrys for the first time was not the norm, as was Sofi. But they are the best.
Yeah.... yah don't see this as much because of instructions evolution, but when you do see natural Quirks from any player on the planet, it's special.
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tip technology - hardness at center different from hardness at edges

a1712
Bavafongoul said:
Mister, I haven’t been to NPR in a long time….I really have no idea whom you are or what you stand for
and personally speaking, I don’t give a _hit what you think, believe or post anywhere or anytime. I hope
that is clear enough. You never impressed me on NPR or I’d recall something, anything you posted. In
other words, I don’t pay attention very long to insignificant things, events, people or their opinions on Az.
But I don’t back down on anything, you’ll always know where I stand and I’ll still admit if & when I’m wrong.

i
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Good Lord. You waited 5 years to respond to an apparent dig, when you clearly said "I don’t pay attention very long to insignificant things"? You need to let go my Friend. Brian.
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Was pool better 50 years ago?

gregcantrall
Back in the 80s we planned our yearly vacation around the Reno Samds tournaments. Seeing Efren destroying the 9 ball tournaments was entertaining. 🤷‍♂️ Now I enjoy watching the Snooker put on my television by wst.tv.
My morning entertainment is about to start, with Judd Trump vs John Higgins. The competition and coverage that are world class makes for my favorite cue sports entertainment at this time. Gotta go, I just have time to get my breakfast before watching The Battle on the Baize as it starts at 6 o'clock my time. Uh 18 minutes till show time. Try it you might like it. 🤷‍♂️
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Lil Al Romero

S
Island Drive said:
Having moved to So. Cal Long Beach in summer of 76 I heard about em.
A yr or so later we crossed paths.
One thing jumped out at me!
He always wore collared short sleeved shirts with his ''tails'' hanging out.
Well tell the tail.
He'd practiced so much on the GC, the metal edges cut horizontal holes into his shirt tails just below the beltline.
I said to myself, I'm just starting to Play that much, this man plays ALLOT.... so respect/avoidance/rumor mill were in play.
Don't think Hashimoto would of matched up with him in Public view back then.
Some of the old timers would matchup privately, Heubert Cokes/Fats Was a great example.
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I was around So Cal when Brian was giving Little Al the 7 and Al played left hand. Brian finally bailed on that saying he saw the light. :ROFLMAO:
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Was pool better 50 years ago?

mikemosconi
I also think that people here either forget or are too young to remember that 50 years ago and all before that - straight pool was always the most visible pool event to the masses in the U.S. via Wide World of Sports on TV and the major event mostly held in NYC large hotel ball rooms. Johnston City tournament was not a broadcast event.

Major 14.1 events were “sterile” in nature as players were in a Tux, tables were refereed, fan attendees sat in utter silence except for applause occasionally on great shots. You could hear a pin drop in the ballrooms in NYC during play- I attended a few of the events held toward the mid and late 70s in NYC.

Even the 1989 US open 14.1 revival held in Chicago’s Palmer House Hotel( I attended) the players were in a tux and the room was extremely parochial from a game and player behavior standpoint. This was the last one that I recall being so formal. The subsequent events in NYC in the early 90s were much less formal in structure.
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Fedor Gorst - looking for action in Louisville, KY tomorrow. If you could - would you?

lfigueroa
maha said:
suckers play the slot machines and justify it for whatever reason. that's on them. at least there once in awhile they do win.

suckers play better players even for money and justify it in their minds . fine with me.

but if you are stupid enough to do it with a pro and play even. at least make it a one and stop game. then you get to shoot as many times as him.
but will still lose. but will get some play in.
now maybe you wont be such a fool. as a fool and his money will part.
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Some 20-odd years ago the casinos came to St. Louis and they completely and totally killed pool room action.

I was sitting on the rail next to a grizzled veteran of the pool wars who couldn't get a game and was bemoaning the situation. Staring straight ahead he said, "I ain't playing nothin' that stands against a wall 24 hours a day and says, 'I'll play you whenever you like; any time of the night or day; you can bet whatever you want; I will never quit and I will never ask you to adjust.'"

Lou Figueroa
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Lil Al Romero

Island Drive
Having moved to So. Cal Long Beach in summer of 76 I heard about em.
A yr or so later we crossed paths.
One thing jumped out at me!
He always wore collared short sleeved shirts with his ''tails'' hanging out.
Well tell the tail.
He'd practiced so much on the GC, the metal edges cut horizontal holes into his shirt tails just below the beltline.
I said to myself, I'm just starting to Play that much, this man plays ALLOT.... so respect/avoidance/rumor mill were in play.
Don't think Hashimoto would of matched up with him in Public view back then.
Some of the old timers would matchup privately, Heubert Cokes/Fats Was a great example.
Click to expand...
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