The "Big O", Hardtime's best?

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patmoran

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It was only a few years ago when Oscar got the 8 from Max and won back what 'Pops" had lost. Since then he has become a world beater both gambling-taking down Raj twice I know of as an example-making the Mosconi Cup-and consistenly finishing high in tournaments.

Just wondering and curious to hear from the HT insiders. What was it that took Oscar's game to a higher level? And with HT known as the "House of Champions" how is the "Big O" ranking against all the other great HT players considering both gambling and tournaments?
 
patmoran said:
It was only a few years ago when Oscar got the 8 from Max and won back what 'Pops" had lost. Since then he has become a world beater both gambling-taking down Raj twice I know of as an example-making the Mosconi Cup-and consistenly finishing high in tournaments.

Just wondering and curious to hear from the HT insiders. What was it that took Oscar's game to a higher level? And with HT known as the "House of Champions" how is the "Big O" ranking against all the other great HT players considering both gambling and tournaments?
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I don't know of any regulars that he can't beat even.

Oscar and Louis Ulrich would be a battle.
 
I know he isn't a local to SoCal, but how would Oscar fare in a long race versus Rodney Morris?
 
westcoast said:
I know he isn't a local to SoCal, but how would Oscar fare in a long race versus Rodney Morris?
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Tough to say but I would think to most people Rodney would be considered the favorite. If played at Hard Times on #1 or #6 though, the line would be different than if played at the Tar Pit, for instance.

I agree with Spanky that in the area there is no one that Oscar couldn't beat even. And there are only a few that would even play him even.

Oscar is only getting better and better.
 
I would think Oscar might need the 8 from Rodney playing 10 ball, I could be out of line here one way or the other. I have bet on Oscar in his last 2 TAR matches and think he plays great, you have to respect a man who bets his own more times than not, works hard for a living and is a hell of a nice guy too. :smile:
 
oscar vs john schimdt

johns game is a little down right now from inactivity, he has played in only 3 tourneys in the last 6 mo. and gambled with only cliff at the derby in the same time frame. i would consider staking john if oscar came to victorville, some 9 or 10 ball. i have 3 new gc v with tight pockets. the particulars can be worked out, get ahold of me if interested oscar, fach has my cell # gary henry, owner of garys victor billiards.
 
I'm a believer in practice, you got the time for it? you can stay at tables practice for hours and hours repeatedly everyday, then you can become a world class player, add to that another factors which most of you should have like, Loving the game, I'm sure most of you have that or else you wouldn't be here.

Also be competitor, which means loving to win, and hating to lose, which most of the pro's have also.

if you can practice 6 to 8 hours a day, then you will become a beast player, because frankly thats what Pro's do, if theyre not in a tour, or don't have a gamble match, no tournaments to fly to, they practice in their home/town 6 to 8 hours a day, some of them practice 10 hours, Shane for example once said he practiced in one single day 17 hours but mostly he do 10 hours if he can.
 
asbani said:
I'm a believer in practice, you got the time for it? you can stay at tables practice for hours and hours repeatedly everyday, then you can become a world class player, add to that another factors which most of you should have like, Loving the game, I'm sure most of you have that or else you wouldn't be here.

Also be competitor, which means loving to win, and hating to lose, which most of the pro's have also.

if you can practice 6 to 8 hours a day, then you will become a beast player, because frankly thats what Pro's do, if theyre not in a tour, or don't have a gamble match, no tournaments to fly to, they practice in their home/town 6 to 8 hours a day, some of them practice 10 hours, Shane for example once said he practiced in one single day 17 hours but mostly he do 10 hours if he can.
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Oscar works full time and goes to school , no way he can practice 8 to 10 hours a dat,
Now how strong is that?
 
Competatively speaking, Oscar is the most active and hungry of all the good players in/around the area.

IMO he is hitting the ball the most consistently.

Even Parica, who was hands down the best around for a ton of years, hardly gets out and plays - plus he's in his 60's now.

Everybody else has responsibilities and families/people to support - playing pool has little to do with it.

John Schmidt did move back to the area, so we'll see what he does.
 
patmoran said:
It was only a few years ago when Oscar got the 8 from Max and won back what 'Pops" had lost. Since then he has become a world beater both gambling-taking down Raj twice I know of as an example-making the Mosconi Cup-and consistenly finishing high in tournaments.

Just wondering and curious to hear from the HT insiders. What was it that took Oscar's game to a higher level? And with HT known as the "House of Champions" how is the "Big O" ranking against all the other great HT players considering both gambling and tournaments?
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Oscar has had a sharp game since I've known him (since he was in high school). To get to his current level, it was a lot of hard work. He said he worked on his game all hours of the day and night (they have several tables at home to mimic tournament set-ups) then worked on his competitive game and nerves by playing in the local tournaments, then traveling and playing in the big tournaments.

Ernesto has literally 40 years of experience as a road player and pro - it's hard to beat that for a mentor. He has never doubted for a moment that Oscar could get to his current level. He told me years ago that Oscar would be a champion and has backed him 100% of the way.

Speaking of John Schmidt, I remember when Oscar was a teenager we were sitting near each other watching a match, and I was thumbing though a magazine with John Schmidt on the cover. He points to John's picture and said "ever see this guy play? He's fantastic!" - so as young as John still is, he is old enough to be one of the idols of the younger players.

Oscar is a good gambler too. He plays good for money and under pressure and he's still getting better. Oscar has made his point. He plays like a champion. I believe if Oscar decides to keep going, he could get there too.


Chris
 
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Oscar keep up with your schooling

Oscars rise has been tremendous, and is a great person.
No one I know practices as much as he has.

He is great, but he will never be able to beat SVB consistently.
Not because he has no heart and determination, but because he does not devote 100% of his time to pool.
He is going to school and that will restrict his emergence to be the best.
SVB is not studying his school books; he is practicing to get better!

I see big things for Oscar, once he gets his degree.
Imagine all the good things he is going to do, especially with his focus and determination.
He is definitely going to make more money with his degree, over the long run than SVB.

Ernesto, you did good, Barney
 
BarneyCalip said:
Oscars rise has been tremendous, and is a great person.
No one I know practices as much as he has.

He is great, but he will never be able to beat SVB consistently.
Not because he has no heart and determination, but because he does not devote 100% of his time to pool.
He is going to school and that will restrict his emergence to be the best.
SVB is not studying his school books; he is practicing to get better!

I see big things for Oscar, once he gets his degree.
Imagine all the good things he is going to do, especially with his focus and determination.
He is definitely going to make more money with his degree, over the long run than SVB.

Ernesto, you did good, Barney
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Do you know what degree he is working towards?
 
If someone wanted to play the best player at HardTimes, we'd have to call Oscar. I can hardly believe this because early on, I wouldn't have guessed Oscar would get anywhere near as good as his dad, Ernesto, in his prime. But here we are, Oscar is consistently placing high in major tournaments and winning TAR matches. For fun, he goes to Moorpark and roughs up Sal Butera - not an easy thing to do. He's proven to me he's no imposter.

patmoran said:
... And with HT known as the "House of Champions" how is the "Big O" ranking against all the other great HT players considering both gambling and tournaments?
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HardTimes has had a history of great players, no doubt. The top ones would include Jose Parica, John Schmidt, Rafael Martinez, Keith McCready, Ernesto Dominguez and Morro Paez. We even adopted Mark Tadd since he lived here for well over a year. I'm sure there're plenty of others I'm forgetting. Bottom line, Oscar's name would fit nicely among those top players of the past but still falls short of being number one, IMO. With time, he may get there though.
 
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