Have Any Top Pros Made Good Comebacks?

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
Were there any top pool players that have come back after retiring for a few years that came back as strong as they were? I know I've always hated to watch greats in other sports try to make a comeback. Boxing is at the top of my list for this...except for George Forman
 
Before Alex P. won the World 9 ball championship he stated that he left pool to play poker, but came back because he thought he could still win at pool. I have no idea how long his hiatus was, but he did win the World title then. He's the only one I know that played at his same level, but for all I know, he took a week off :)
 
I don't think I would consider Nick Varner or Mike Siegal to be a easy match in a tourney, however unlike boxing which mostly requires strength, technique and stamina, pool relies on hand-eye coordination and mental toughness. Most players retire due to age, vision, road fatigue etc... I would think pool would be one of the toughest sport to retire from for lets say a few years and come back and play at top form. IMHO
 
Rodney Morris took five years off at the peak of his career! He ain't playing too shabby now, is he?
 
Correct me if im wrong johnny but did you mean older players? Someone mentioned alex and rodney that's still young imo.
 
What about Kim Davenport? He did pretty freaken good in last years US open and didn't this guy almost go blind from a golf ball? Amazing if you ask me...:thumbup:
 
Joe Balsis took eighteen years off from pool and came back to win major championships. He ran a butcher shop and raised his family during that period. Jimmy Caras quit tournaments for ten years to travel and do exhibitions only. He came back at age 57 and won the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship. Mike Sigel came back after ten years off to beat Loree Jon Jones. :grin-square:
 
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jay helfert said:
Joe Balsis took eighteen years off from pool and came back to win major championships. He ran a butcher shop and raised his family during that period. Jimmy Caras quit tournaments for ten years to travel and do exhibitions only. He came back at age 57 and won the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship. Mike Sigel came back after ten years off to beat Loree Jon Jones. :grin-square:
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Now, that takes the cake for me. Impressive! :eek:
 
jay helfert said:
Joe Balsis took eighteen years off from pool and came back to win major championships. He ran a butcher shop and raised his family during that period. Jimmy Caras quit tournaments for ten years to travel and do exhibitions only. He came back at age 57 and won the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship. Mike Sigel came back after ten years off to beat Loree Jon Jones. :grin-square:
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LOL! That is the funniest sh^t i have heard in awhile on here that's worth a quote if no one does it i will. The sigel jones comment hilarious!
 
Gatz said:
What about Kim Davenport? He did pretty freaken good in last years US open and didn't this guy almost go blind from a golf ball? Amazing if you ask me...:thumbup:
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He is the one I was thinking about, and I believe he would have come back even better if he played more. I played him in Tampa in 85 or 86...I didn't do too well. Johnnyt
 
jay helfert said:
Joe Balsis took eighteen years off from pool and came back to win major championships. He ran a butcher shop and raised his family during that period. Jimmy Caras quit tournaments for ten years to travel and do exhibitions only. He came back at age 57 and won the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship. Mike Sigel came back after ten years off to beat Loree Jon Jones. :grin-square:
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And he made more than ALL the others on your list doing it lol. Johnnyt
 
There was this guy Willie Mosconi who retired at the age of six, but came back after that to have a pretty decent career.
 
Jay...It's completely different when you are FORCED to quit playing, versus choosing to quit playing. During his "time out" Rodney probably thought of little else (probably the same with T-Rex)...and came back with a vengeance. He's certainly playing great pool these days! :D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

jay helfert said:
Rodney Morris took five years off at the peak of his career! He ain't playing too shabby now, is he?
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jay helfert said:
Joe Balsis took eighteen years off from pool and came back to win major championships. He ran a butcher shop and raised his family during that period. Jimmy Caras quit tournaments for ten years to travel and do exhibitions only. He came back at age 57 and won the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship. Mike Sigel came back after ten years off to beat Loree Jon Jones. :grin-square:
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Yeah, Balsis was the name that came to mind for me, too. Still, it can be argued that after being a dominant junior player, he chose not to go the professional pool route and that when he began playing serious pool again in his early 40's, it was the beginning of his pro career.

Joes' run all the way to the final of the World 14.1 championships in 1980, when he was nearly 60, is still among the greater feats I've witnessed, and if not for a young upstart named Mike Sigel, who was in the process of winning his very first World 14.1 championship, he might have nabbed the title.
 
Johnnyt said:
I don't believe Buddy ever stopped. Johnnyt
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You're correct Johnny. Buddy had an uninterrupted 30 year career, piling up more wins (and more miles) than anyone before or since. Buddy won tournaments on all size tables, at all games, except 14.1.
 
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