Great players who worked.

Mr. Wiggles said:
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!!!
Click to expand...



Country Calvin Harcrow put himself through college and vocational school playing pool, work as a welder most of his life, owned various poolrooms & a night club, and now works as an electrician's apprentice.

Calvin played at a most high level of pool all his life, was a born natural at the game.


David Harcrow
 
Did not read all of these so not sure if anyone mentioned Donny "Carlot" Mills. He sure shoots em straight.
 
Back in the 80's pros used to come from all over the country to play a truck driver named Kenny Mccoy in Columbus Ohio. No matter what they were playing for he would quit to go to work. People used to call him the best working pool player in the world.
 
I've always thought Kenny wins this category hands down.

How many truck drivers do you know who don't have bad backs, 0 for me.
He played everything good, golf, 9 ball, 8 ball, one pocket. Bar table, big table, snooker table.

My vote goes to him.


chris_williams said:
Back in the 80's pros used to come from all over the country to play a truck driver named Kenny Mccoy in Columbus Ohio. No matter what they were playing for he would quit to go to work. People used to call him the best working pool player in the world.
Click to expand...
 
What was Harold Worst's business? Shoes?

Other notables from history would have been some of the greats like Michael Phelan who started a pool table company. Or is this limited to jobs outside the billiard industry?

Lots of players have owned pool rooms and as someone who did own a pool room briefly that counts as work in my book.
 
Pool room owners

JB Cases said:
What was Harold Worst's business? Shoes?

Other notables from history would have been some of the greats like Michael Phelan who started a pool table company. Or is this limited to jobs outside the billiard industry?

Lots of players have owned pool rooms and as someone who did own a pool room briefly that counts as work in my book.
Click to expand...

Didn't Kim Davenport go partners with Johnny Archer in a pool room?

Others that come to mind are John Schmidt, Grady Matthews, and C.J. Wiley.
 
TOM (cigar)VANOVER work his whole life while playing all the best pool players that stop by,where else almost 40years in a pool hall!
 
No one mentioned yet could get there playing 9ball with Kenny.... Maybe banks as well. One pocket there several that could win.
 
9BallPaul said:
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?"
Click to expand...

I believe The Miz taught school till he was 36..his trophy case in Lake Park
had many teaching awards along side the pool trophies.Basically, teaching
started to cost him money, he was doing well at other things.Not just pool,
he had invested in the stock market when he was young and got very
lucky (his words).

I'm also pleased to see Kenny 'the truck-driver' McCoy get the recognition
he deserves. Road players tread warily around him.
 
Is blowing your own horn acceptable?

I worked for 39 years for, at first, New England Telephone and at the end Verizon.

I managed to win the New England Championship three consecutive years, 1986-1988. After losing my first match, I won twenty seven consecutive matches spanning over four years. Kerry Herbert out of Maine, stopped my streak.

The highlight, of it all, was my second year. I won seven matches in a row. A total of 63 games. My opponents won only 19 games. That's better than an average win of 9-3. One of my opponents actually won seven games. The rest of it was a 54-12 margin.

I also finished 3rd and 4th in consecutive years in the, Eastern States Nine-ball Championships. My personal highlight included an 11-10 victory over Ray Martin in 1982. We were playing for third and forth place.

If you visit my web site you'll also see some of the other players I've played against. I even managed to beat some of them.

I also won the, Senior BCAPL Eight-ball Championship in 2010.

The biggest accomplishment of my life is staying married for 32 years and raising two great boys.


I don't claim to be the best ever, working pool player, but I got to be right up there.
____________________________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
 
Pat Fleming

Pat Fleming, started and runs Accustats while being a world class straight pool player.
 
Yes, definitely acceptable. Those are amazing accomplishments, plus you did very well at pool!

tom mcgonagle said:
Is blowing your own horn acceptable?

I worked for 39 years for, at first, New England Telephone and at the end Verizon.

I managed to win the New England Championship three consecutive years, 1986-1988. After losing my first match, I won twenty seven consecutive matches spanning over four years. Kerry Herbert out of Maine, stopped my streak.

The highlight, of it all, was my second year. I won seven matches in a row. A total of 63 games. My opponents won only 19 games. That's better than an average win of 9-3. One of my opponents actually won seven games. The rest of it was a 54-12 margin.

I also finished 3rd and 4th in consecutive years in the, Eastern States Nine-ball Championships. My personal highlight included an 11-10 victory over Ray Martin in 1982. We were playing for third and forth place.

If you visit my web site you'll also see some of the other players I've played against. I even managed to beat some of them.

I also won the, Senior BCAPL Eight-ball Championship in 2010.

The biggest accomplishment of my life is staying married for 32 years and raising two great boys.


I don't claim to be the best ever, working pool player, but I got to be right up there.
____________________________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
Click to expand...
 
John Abruzzo, Chicago............
Don McCoy......
 
Last edited:
Matt Clatterbuck is my top pick. He works 50 + hrs a week at UPS and plays as well as anyone out their.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top