Great players who worked.

Mr. Wiggles

Mr. Wiggles

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Somewhat a response to the why are pros broke thread, how about some examples of great players, not necessarily pros who also worked a regular job all their life. By their own admittance some pros don't practice anyway so total dedication probably isn't necessary for all players. My theory on pool players and people in general is some people are special and many are not!! To me the most impressive great player would be one who raised a family, sent his kids to college and payed all their bills while holding a full time job and playing this great game at a very high level. The world owes no one a living!!!
 
working players

If memory serves I am pretty sure that Joe Balsis was a butcher. I am less certain but I think Irving Crane was a car salesman.
 
Miz taught high-school and supported a family. Don't think he ever gambled much, but somebody may want to correct me. (Just checked a Jay quote, who confirms the Miz didn't gamble except for peanuts on 14.1. As Jay said, "Who'd want to gamble with him anyway?"
 
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The legendary "Two Tooth" Sally Wanklestein, owned a hot-pillow joint just outside of Galveston, for many years.
Although not a pool player herself, Sally provided a great deal of aid and comfort to the many players who travelled through. :)
 
Bob Vanover,Paul Guernsey,and AZ's own Randy G all here in the DFW.
Mr. Schmidt who is "just a sandwich maker"!
 
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mike bandy, father of 4, i believe. full time electrician. not too many liked their end of it with mike in the 90's and early 2000's. was a threat to win any tourny he entered ( he's won a bunch).
 
George Breedlove comes to mind. Owns a furniture company that he worked out in the shop (maybe he still does) making the furniture and still played pool at a very high level. He had a standard offer to any pro, "Work beside me for the same hours for a month and I'll play that person for 10k". He also was/is a good instuctor. He was one of my favoite players ever. Johnnyt
 
Any takers

Johnnyt said:
George Breedlove comes to mind. Owns a furniture company that he worked out in the shop (maybe he still does) making the furniture and still played pool at a very high level. He had a standard offer to any pro, "Work beside me for the same hours for a month and I'll play that person for 10k". He also was/is a good instuctor. He was one of my favoite players ever. Johnnyt
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Interesting concept, that work thing. Was there anyone who took him up on his offer?? I would think it was a short list takers.
 
The great Jack Colavita worked into his mid 70's, stayed married for 50+ years, and raised two children. He was a true testiment to a balanced life in pool.
 
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I always mention John DiToro, IMO the best all-around player in America with a full time job for 3+ decades. He has always worked in the 30 yrs we've been friends...ran the Florida tour for yrs, took down many Florida Pro events as a player and was "Player of the year" at least once. At 60yrs old, John still has a solid game and yes...still works.
 
Johnnyt said:
George Breedlove comes to mind. Owns a furniture company that he worked out in the shop (maybe he still does) making the furniture and still played pool at a very high level. He had a standard offer to any pro, "Work beside me for the same hours for a month and I'll play that person for 10k". He also was/is a good instuctor. He was one of my favoite players ever. Johnnyt
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Breedlove is such a great talent, I've always wondered how good he would have been if he'd played full time. I remember him winning a major 9 ball event in the mid-90's with all the top pros there, he won $20,000 for first prize. Another time I saw him play in a pro-am type thing in NY and he won it beating either Robles or Ginky in the final (can't remember which) and he was playing at such an incredible level, in the final he would put his cue tip at an exact spot on the table and then shoot his shot and the cueball would land exactly on the spot! It was one of the best if not the best displays of cueball control I've ever witnessed.
 
I wonder if this thread goes 2 pages without anyone repeating a previous post,,, :wink:

,,,or posting something pointless like mine.
 
Ernesto Dominguez has a thriving table mechanics business. Oscar works with him often, and is also in school.
 
Can't believe no one has mentioned Donny Mills. That dude can play. Pretty strong when no one in the world wants to play you at your game.
 
Working Man

Back in the 80's and early 90's there was a fellow in Orlando that played real solid for someone that was a full time auto-mechanic. Louis Veria. One afternoon a very well known player, Danny Medina, stopped in Jimmy's Billiards looking for action. Louis came in just after getting off from work at the car dealership down the street. He still had his mechanics uniform on and was covered in grease. Louis told Danny he would play him some $20 nine-ball and grabbed a cue off the wall.

They wound up playing all night and by early morning Louis was well ahead. At 7:30 Louis put his cue back in rack and said he had to go. Danny said "You can't quit when your ahead!" Louis said "But I have to go, I have to be at work at 8:00." Danny looked a little stunned and said, " You mean you really work, I thought that uniform was just part of your hustle."
 
He deserves some rep

When I was a youngster growing up in Denver, I'd sneak out my Dad's
Dodge Dart to drive across town and see this guy play. He made my heart sing.

Name was Andy Hudson, and he struck fear into players far and wide. Totally a standup guy who'd play three days without sleep if he had the right match. But he wouldn't miss church, and he worked his whole life. Read Melissa Little's post on Andy:

http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?id=4773
 
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