Best Non-Gambling Player, if one's ever existed

Has there ever existed a non-gambler top player? At least in the last 50 years? Of course from US. I'm sure others around world may not gamble.

Also, if all top players have gambled at some time, which is known to gamble the least.

man everyone plays great for free!
 
wait wait wait.........I have a book round here summwhere that sais Willie Mosconi supported his family...ie, Mom and syblings in his younger years as a gambler!

He may have sworn it off later in life, but he DID earn a living posting it up before the Brunswick $$$ started flowing!


G.
 
I'm sure Earl would have to be included in the discussion.

I think it's widely known, that his Cuetec contract forbade him from gambling.

Although, I'm sure he gambled before and after his tenure with Cuetec, I don't think he is/was considered a big-time action player.

Anyone with more "Earl" knowledge than I have, care to speak up?

Earl lost to SVB a few years ago. I think they played a match during the Lexington Allstars or something.....:shrug:
Earl also played Efren over seas in the race to 120 if I remember right.
 
Tommy Kennedy has always had the reputation for being a non-gambler and he plays pretty sporty.
 
Earl has gambled since the end of cutec deal, he lost to BJ Ussery in Greensboro giving him the 7 a year or so ago.--Leonard
 
I'm sure Earl would have to be included in the discussion.

I think it's widely known, that his Cuetec contract forbade him from gambling.

Although, I'm sure he gambled before and after his tenure with Cuetec, I don't think he is/was considered a big-time action player.

Anyone with more "Earl" knowledge than I have, care to speak up?

Back in da day Earl was a road player in every sense of the word...even laying lemons & going by different names...He came thru Houma in the early 80's and made a pretty good lick before anybody in town knew what hit em..The 1st oilfiled boom deff had Houma on every road players must do list.
 
Tommy Kennedy has always had the reputation for being a non-gambler and he plays pretty sporty.

tommy kennedy was a reknown gambler. Never played tourney's, I saw at the US Open after he swore off gambling. Everyone in the know knew he could play. Many that didn't know him was wondering how this guy came out of nowhere.

Of course, back then there was enough gambling all over that you could stay in the shadows for a long time and not be known. Now with the internet everyone spreads the word. Of course the gambling at the small places is gone also. I believe it's a tougher world for the gamblers today.
 
Earl lost to SVB a few years ago. I think they played a match during the Lexington Allstars or something.....:shrug:
Earl also played Efren over seas in the race to 120 if I remember right.

When Earl played Shane it was in Louisville at the Cue Olympics that Mark Griffin tried putting on a few years ago and Earl had already been done with Cuetec by then he was playing with a Mike Gluyassy with a huge tennis racket grip on it and when he played Efren in the Color of Money match i dont believe he was sponsored by Cuetec quite yet not positive though. But Earl might have gambled while he was with Cuetec because i know that Cuetec has not banned Shane from gambling since he has signed with them.
 
If you call gambling meaning either side has a chance to win then the strongest non-gambling player was Vernon Elliot. He laid low and when he was on the table he was way better than the favorite to get paid.

According to Mosconis book he gambled early on in his career. He seemed to look down on gamblers after he got the big Brunswick deal.

Geoge Breedlove had a couple of years in the 80's when he did not gamble, at that time he was probably the best non gambler on the planet at that time. I think he is past that right now as he has been known to bet it up and pretty high too. Tommy Kennedy still does not gamble to my knowledge and he plays real strong.

The German players (Ralph and Thorsten ) as mentioned mentioned earlier are the best known current non gamblers.
 
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Some of the top non gamblers from the old days were Irving Crane and Joe Balsis. Even Steve Mizerak got totally away from gambling for many years. Ray Martin was also not much of a gambler. Mike Massey went straight after he found religion.

Modern era Ralf Souquet, Mika and Thorsten come to mind. They focus on trying to win tournaments. All three have a lot of pride though, and if someone got out of line with any of them it could be a costly mistake. I'm trying to remember who it was that pushed Miz to gamble in New York many years ago. I just remember Steve blitzed the guy playing 9-Ball.

Mosconi got egged into a match with famous hustler Nicky Vachiano in Philly once upon a time. 9-Ball with Willie giving up big weight. It ended up costing Nicky a pretty penny.
 
Some of the top non gamblers from the old days were Irving Crane and Joe Balsis. Even Steve Mizerak got totally away from gambling for many years. Ray Martin was also not much of a gambler. Mike Massey went straight after he found religion.

Modern era Ralf Souquet, Mika and Thorsten come to mind. They focus on trying to win tournaments. All three have a lot of pride though, and if someone got out of line with any of them it could be a costly mistake. I'm trying to remember who it was that pushed Miz to gamble in New York many years ago. I just remember Steve blitzed the guy playing 9-Ball.

Mosconi got egged into a match with famous hustler Nicky Vachiano in Philly once upon a time. 9-Ball with Willie giving up big weight. It ended up costing Nicky a pretty penny.

today its ralph s
mika does gamble a little.
ralph has never gambled from what im told.
i played mika 1 game for 1000 so i know he gambles.
 
Yes this is my first post.. been a long time reader but just got around to actually registering.

I just felt I should put in my 2 cents. One of the best sportsmen you'll ever come across, and former champ who does not gamble, is Tony Robles. Great guy and a true asset to the sport.

Let the flak begin,
 
Mosconi gambled, if you can call it that, frequently as a young man; as a champion, nobody wanted any part of him, although he did win one brief but ballyhooed match with 1-P expert Don DuQuoy. Caras also gambled frequently when younger, and had several matchups with Don Willis, which he apparently lost. Crane would accept an occasional wager on a tournament match if he knew the opponent. Balsis wouldn't bet a dime. GF

I know Mosconi and I think Caras worked for Brunswick, Crane sold cars, what did Balsis do outside of pool for a living?
 
I know Mosconi and I think Caras worked for Brunswick, Crane sold cars, what did Balsis do outside of pool for a living?

He owned a butcher shop for twenty five years. Joe "The Meatman" Balsis.
 
He owned a butcher shop for twenty five years. Joe "The Meatman" Balsis.

Thanks. It had to be tempting for guys like Crane and Balsis to gamble. I imagine they were approached by potential backers trying to set up a game especially at Johnston City.
 
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