Allison Fisher
- Thread starter Brain71
- Start date
She's here in Vegas, competing in the Predator World 10-Ball Championships, as is Jeanette Lee, and several other women.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
The competition in the WPBA is quite a bit stiffer than it was a few years ago. Allison is still a powerhouse, but the days of her making it to the TV rounds for virtually every tournament are over. On any given weekend, there are probably about 20 or so ladies on the WPBA roster who have the ability to make the TV rounds. Even looking at the San Diego Classic brackets, you can see some of the insane matchups that came in the early (pre-redraw) rounds:
Karen Corr vs. Ewa Laurance (2nd round)
Sarah Rousey vs. Gerda Hofstatter (3rd round)
Yu Ram Cha vs. Vivian Villarreal (3rd round)
Ga Young Kim vs. Vivian Villarreal (1 loss bracket 5th round)
Jasmin Ouschan vs. Helena Thornfeldt (1 loss bracket 5th round)
Karen Corr vs. Ewa Laurance (2nd round)
Sarah Rousey vs. Gerda Hofstatter (3rd round)
Yu Ram Cha vs. Vivian Villarreal (3rd round)
Ga Young Kim vs. Vivian Villarreal (1 loss bracket 5th round)
Jasmin Ouschan vs. Helena Thornfeldt (1 loss bracket 5th round)
Snark,
I humbly disagree with your post. The other women aren't getting better; Allison isn't the Allison she once was (which happens to everyone after playing for multiple decades).
There's no one on tour who could remotely hang with Allison when she was in punch.
Regardless of what anyone says, the WPBA got the shits of Allison/Karen winning all the time and changed the format to alternate break to give other girls a prayer in hell.
I suspect if they never changed the format, Allison would likely have no less than 25% more titles to her credit.
I promise I'm not an Allison cheerleader. I've seen all the other girls play and they all take a back seat to Allison when she was in her prime (by about the wild-7). It was that big of an ability gap.
Just my humble opinion. Everyone on that list above would get weight, except for Karen (who was just a slight dog to her, imo).
Dave
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Allison is playing just fine. So is Karen. It's really just that everybody else has kicked it up a notch or two. Jeanette is still right in there fighting,the asian girls are still playing their game, Gerda and Viv seem to have regained the old spark, Monica has gotten past whatever that little thing was that was holding her back and now it's "look out world!!!". Sarah has gone from "the kid that plays pretty good" to being a potential giant killer anytime she plays. There are ladies who are moving up from the regional tours and are bringing some bigtime game with them, examples Holly Sholes, Deb Shjodt(?),Ming,etc. There are some new ladies from europe getting involved like Tamara Radamakers. Long story short.....the competition on the WPBA is the toughest it's ever been. The changes to the system of scoring was needed, under the old system Allison and Karen had aquired so many points it was next to impossible for anybody to move up in the rankings. Proof of this is that in recent years despite major wins by Kelly Fisher, GYK,XTP and a few others it only took two wins by Allison or Karen to maintain their positions at the top of the hill.Allie is hardly over the hill or past her prime. I've noticed she's been expanding into other games and business ventures in recent years and is maybe spending a little less time honing her 9-ball game. She's still capable of grabbing the top spot if anybody takes her game for granted.:wink:
The new bunch has increased the talent level in the WPBA, Pan, Kim, Webb and Kelly Fisher. Other than Karen Corr there was no competition including Jeanette Lee. I think Jeanette even knows that now. Karen Corr was the only one that could give AF a run for the money. Jeanette, Ewa and Gerda are all great but not really on the same level as Allison and Karen.
Something does seem to have changed in Allison though. You can see it in her face. I may be wrong but I think she may be ready to walk away and move on. I hope not she has been fun to watch and great for the sport and my game.
AF is the best Female player to ever play the game. I agree that the change in format was to level the playing field. It's probably not a bad business move on the WPBA's part. I loved watching AF & KK play, but it was getting a little boring watching the same two players play all the time.
Ever hear of Jean Balukas ?
I would love to see that match up. Jean never had anywhere near the competition that Allison has. Many more women are now playing pool and it is a international field. I have one DVD of Jean playing Ewa back in the early 80's. It must have been a really bad day for Jean. I was not impressed with her game at all. I know she was a great champion and I wish I had a better example to watch.
I have a friend who took a lesson from Allison and supposedly the APA was a big distraction to her and she couldn't practice as much.
Every little rumor may help us figure this out.
Well here is my simplified thought process on "SUCCESS".
Period from 1990's to now
Tournament success=#1 Allison Fisher, #2 Karen Corr
Business success= #1 Jeanette Lee, #2 Ewa Laurance
Financial success= #1 Jeanette Lee, #2 Ewa Laurance
and Allison IS A VERRRY smart lady.......so draw your own conclusions.:wink:
Period from 1990's to now
Tournament success=#1 Allison Fisher, #2 Karen Corr
Business success= #1 Jeanette Lee, #2 Ewa Laurance
Financial success= #1 Jeanette Lee, #2 Ewa Laurance
and Allison IS A VERRRY smart lady.......so draw your own conclusions.:wink:
Not sure what your point is.
I do know that much of Jeanette and Ewa's success in the business world is based on looks and would be much harder to come by without them. The sponsorship is much easier when you are attractive. If Jeanette was ugly it wouldn't matter if she was a good business person she just wouldn't sell. She saw an opportunity and ran with it, good for her.
That match with Ewa was a very poor performance from Jean. She was much better than that. I used to have a tape of a match (which I've since lost) of Balukas playing in the men's 1987 U.S. Open, it was after she was banned from the women's tour. She played Larry Liscotti and totally drilled him 11-1 or 11-2 I think. She had a very powerful stroke, much better than any of the women on today's tour. She also beat Buddy hall in that same tournament.
I'm not saying she was definitely better than Allison but it would be close. I think Allison has slightly better cueball control but that's about it. I really think that had they played in the same era they may have pushed each other to even higher levels of play.
Reports of Allison's fall are mistaken. She still plays beautifully, and remains incredibly tough to beat in WPBA circles. Trust me, she'll hoist the winner's trophy at one of the next few WPBA events.
As for the matter of the best female player ever, I feel very, very strongly that Allison is the best female 9-ball player ever, and I watched both Jean and Allison often in their respective primes. Jean's straight pool prowess makes her the best all-around female player ever, but Allison greatly deserves the nod in ine ball. No doubt about it!
As for the matter of the best female player ever, I feel very, very strongly that Allison is the best female 9-ball player ever, and I watched both Jean and Allison often in their respective primes. Jean's straight pool prowess makes her the best all-around female player ever, but Allison greatly deserves the nod in ine ball. No doubt about it!
Bobby,
It is unfortunate that the only video that seems to be available of her play is a poor rep of her true talent. Maybe someone will put another match on Youtube or upload one to our AZ site. If another match is available I would be interested in purchasing it.
I have seen her in the audience at recent WPBA events. Comeback?!?!
My point is obvious. Allison is busy with many more things (some financially lucrative I'm sure) these days and is probably not at the table as much on a day to day basis. Ewa and Jeanette have been making lots of money without the same success at the table as Allison (ie. Allison is now following the JL and EL example). Allison is just as capable as JL and EL at doing exhibitions, motivational speaking,being a spokesperson,etc. She is also JUST as beautiful as them.
What I don't understand is YOUR apparent animosity towards Jeanette and Ewa. If you don't think they can be competitive or that both of them are incapable of being a success without their looks I'll just tell you that you're WRONG. And yes, I know all three ladies.