I heard he was one of the most feared players on the planet for a while. Are there any videos of him on the web playing when he was in his prime?
How good was Ronnie Rosas?
- Thread starter cuetechasaurus
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What decade was he in his prime? The 80's?
Ronnie Rosas was truly a gifted player and he had a unique style that included extreme cue ball control. At his peak which was 30+ years ago, nobody had to love playing him.
There's a tape at the Plush Pocket of him beating Rodney Morris in the LA Open around 1995, the year before Morris won the U.S. Open.
I staked Ronnie against Ernesto once when Ernesto was unknown - this would have been about 1976 to 1978 time period. They were both in their 20's. Ronnie gave Ernesto the last two. They played some 5 or 7 ahead sets. Ronnie won that one - but it was a tough game. I aslo staked him against Ronnie Allen in 9 ball before that, when Rosas was around 20, first Rosas got the 8 and then even, and Ronnie Rosas easily beat him.
I was talking to his main backer when Ronnie was younger, around 20, and he said he struggled against the upper tier players then. I think he said Jimmy Marino gave him the 7 for cash and Ronnie lost. The top money players at that time were Cole Dixon, Keith, Jim Rempe, Jimmy Marino and many more. He was better at lower stakes. He was mainly a 9 ball player, but he could play all games.
Ronnie won the Huebler Cup tournament one year in the 1990's too against a pro field.
As far as his peak goes, I quit pool in the 1980's and 1990's, so I don't know what happened during that time.
Chris
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In the early 90's, he was taking down most of the local So Cal tournaments. That was at a time when pool was big and many players hanging around the area. Then, he seemed to disappear off the face of the pool planet.
He's always going to play well.
I know my old friend Billy goes in there too. We learned how to play pool around the same time together in the Valley.
Chris
Just an incredible player
Ronnie had a wonderful game back in the 80's. He was somewhat overshadowed by guys like Keith McCready, Jay Swanson and Cole Dickson but not far behind them in talent was Ronnie.
The first tiime I met Ronnie, we were matched up against each other at a monthly tournament in the old Billiard Tavern in San Diego. I didn't recognize him as a champion but he ended up mowing me down so easily, my head was spinning. He went on to win the event, undefeated.
I'll never forget the time that a major tournament came to Santa Ana, CA and Ronnie drew Buddy Hall. Ronnie came through with some clean shooting and took the match. I'm fairly certain Buddy didn't know Ronnie but he must've been impressed.
About 9 years ago, Ronnie had disappeared and a rumor circulated around the pool rooms that he had passed away. It was pretty much accepted as true. Then Ronnie showed up at the last Swanson Memorial and many of us thought we were seeing a ghost. In actuality, he had been incarcerated all this time.
I saw Ronnie at House of Billiards last week and his game seemed pretty straight and smooth. Maybe he'll get his pool chops back and dazzle us again.
Ronnie had a wonderful game back in the 80's. He was somewhat overshadowed by guys like Keith McCready, Jay Swanson and Cole Dickson but not far behind them in talent was Ronnie.
The first tiime I met Ronnie, we were matched up against each other at a monthly tournament in the old Billiard Tavern in San Diego. I didn't recognize him as a champion but he ended up mowing me down so easily, my head was spinning. He went on to win the event, undefeated.
I'll never forget the time that a major tournament came to Santa Ana, CA and Ronnie drew Buddy Hall. Ronnie came through with some clean shooting and took the match. I'm fairly certain Buddy didn't know Ronnie but he must've been impressed.
About 9 years ago, Ronnie had disappeared and a rumor circulated around the pool rooms that he had passed away. It was pretty much accepted as true. Then Ronnie showed up at the last Swanson Memorial and many of us thought we were seeing a ghost. In actuality, he had been incarcerated all this time.
I saw Ronnie at House of Billiards last week and his game seemed pretty straight and smooth. Maybe he'll get his pool chops back and dazzle us again.
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Ronnie was right on top of the L.A. pool scene in the 80's and 90's, when we had a lot of very good players. Probably a slight underdog to Keith or Swanee, but right there with Sal Butera, Ernesto and Morro, the other top guns.
Ronnie had a big game and wasn't much of an underdog against anyone. In 1988 when the Sands was one of the major tournaments and had large fields full of champions, Ronnie finished third, losing to Allen Hopkins in a terrific match. In that match, Ronnie made one of the best pool shots I've ever seen.
P.S. It was my first videotaped pool production and the forerunner to Accu-Stats. I have copies of that match (in it's entirety) on DVD, available on my website. Pat Fleming did commentary with me.
Ronnie had a big game and wasn't much of an underdog against anyone. In 1988 when the Sands was one of the major tournaments and had large fields full of champions, Ronnie finished third, losing to Allen Hopkins in a terrific match. In that match, Ronnie made one of the best pool shots I've ever seen.
P.S. It was my first videotaped pool production and the forerunner to Accu-Stats. I have copies of that match (in it's entirety) on DVD, available on my website. Pat Fleming did commentary with me.
Don't leave us hangin', Mon! Put out a teaser- make you some monies:
http://talk.cuetable.com/WeiTable.php
No way could I describe this shot. But if you watch the DVD you will know when it happens. Pat and I about fell out of our seats. I think I said to him, "Did you see that?" And he says, "I saw it but I don't believe it."
Ronnie was a cool head too, never showing much emotion. A little shrug sometimes or a small smile was about all you would get from him.