Good to see a genuinely nice person like Efren succeed.
Well, it's about time. I've been saying for years that this guy was finally gonna' break through and win something. I'm glad to see he is finally starting to realize his potential.
Good to see a genuinely nice person like Efren succeed.
Congrats to Efren, by the way, does anyone really know how old he is?
I'm gonna throw my 2 cents in here. I can't begin to imagine how anyone, and I mean anyone, could have ever been better than Efren. I watched him play Santos in the Fatboy tourney a few nights ago. A shot came up where he was gonna play a safe and roll the one ball down table. He hit it with a bit of draw, dragging the cue ball to the side rail, and just enough inside english to move the cue ball forward and lock it on the 8. Leaving Santo's kicking 2 rails at the one.
Jay says it right, Efren don't shoot the balls in, he caresses them. I've seen almost all the top players play in person over the last 30 years, and none come close to him. No disrespect intended to anyone. But he's a cut above, and a true Champion. We're all blessed to get to see him play. That's my opinion of Efren's play.
Congrat's to the Greatest player of all time.
This win may be the most special of all. At a point in his career where he is getting pushed hard by many of the younger players and taking his share of losses as well, he somehow found the fortitude and gumption to win one of the hardest titles of all to take, the Derby City All Around Championship.
Everyone already knows what a great player Efren is, but in this event he showed more heart and courage than ever before in his long career. Efren reached deep for this one, somehow summoning the strength to beat back challenge after challenge. One last time he showed the world that there is only one EFREN. If he never wins another title or hits another ball, he will go down in pool annals just like Greenleaf and Mosconi before him.
He won this week with dignity and grace, accepting his losses as graciously as his victories. I hope all present, even the young hustlers who populated the back room, were paying attention. A player like Efren will not pass this way again. The only apt comparison was a very sickly and frail Harold Worst winning the All Around titles at Johnston City and the Stardust in 1965. A few short months later he was gone. Not once did Harold bemoan his fate or even mention his illness as an excuse. These are real men, not boys playing games!
What an honor to have seen them both play, the two greatest players of my lifetime. How fortunate I am.
he epitomizes the humble, God-fearing Pinoy, who just works hard and makes full use of his talents... and when succeeding stays grounded, never boasts and never steps on other people's toes...
If really is a shame that one of the sports networks doesnt do a special on Efren.
Its long overdue IMO.
A segment on the Bryant Gumbal sports show would be great. They seem to dig down to the real meat of all the stories. I think in efren's case it would be his demeanor and his financial support of over 40 people.
Now there is what it's really about. The man behind the cue. Humility is what makes watching Efren such a treat.
Thank you for an excellent, heart-felt post. :groucho: :groucho: :groucho: