James would have stole Gabes lunch money, playing either game on the big table and heisted him on a bar table.
How good was James Walden in his prime?
- Thread starter the Professor
- Start date
James would have stole Gabes lunch money, playing either game on the big table and heisted him on a bar table.
He was Hawaiian, but yes that's him, Peter "Tito" Keanu.
I was a youngster when he came through. I remember him being very cool.
Can one of you please elaborate? Sounds like the kind of story that makes going to the pool room and just chatting worthwhile.
TITO was a young man whose game improved faster in a short time frame (year +-) than anyone i ever saw. Had the most powerfull rotation game break of anyone in this area.
He was on the road with several other young players when a gun accidentley discharged in a car, the bullet hit him in the head, tragically killng him. Another VERY good young player was also in the car and TITO'S death affected him to the point that he's now a recluse who rarely ventures out of his house.
Chris (RACKLEY) was there and he may expound on this.
Yep!
Yep, Fat Randy. I had a long talk with James and he said he thought Randy was the best out of all the Oklahoma boys.
Gabe wants non of JW action and never has. Gabe lives in Houston now and he not playing good anymore
Yep, Fat Randy. I had a long talk with James and he said he thought Randy was the best out of all the Oklahoma boys.
Gabe wants non of JW action and never has. Gabe lives in Houston now and he not playing good anymore
He was closer to top speed then they ever will be
You're probably right. I do know James was close to the top.
There was a Poncha City boy that few ever went looking for.
Close...,
It would have been close on the Bar Box, but James had way the better on the big tables.
It would have been close on the Bar Box, but James had way the better on the big tables.
Okay. GR8 discussion with regards to the speed of some wonderfull players of yesteryear such as, WALDEN, OWEN, MATLOCK, "FAT RANDY", etc,. now, let's throw in a wild card, none other than the mighty "JUMPIN JACK HINES".
i don't know of JACK playing much 1P so i'll opine on bar box 9B
DM
JH
JW
GO
FR
The mid south area players that may bogart this list would be FARGO, CHRISTPHOR and OOP (imo)
Although i played some of these players tournement pool on a semi competitive level from time to time i'd defer my opinions to "ISLAND DRIVE" (Bill) who probably was in action with or played very competitive tournement pool with most if not all of them.
There's a huge differance between playing and watching
i don't know of JACK playing much 1P so i'll opine on bar box 9B
DM
JH
JW
GO
FR
The mid south area players that may bogart this list would be FARGO, CHRISTPHOR and OOP (imo)
Although i played some of these players tournement pool on a semi competitive level from time to time i'd defer my opinions to "ISLAND DRIVE" (Bill) who probably was in action with or played very competitive tournement pool with most if not all of them.
There's a huge differance between playing and watching
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The game then was big table 9 ball for the most part.
I got to spend a fairly healthy amount of time with Jack and he taught me a lot while he was briefly around but I would have bet on James if they were to have matched up.
I think Matlock's big table game is underated by KingT.
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Despite his reputation as a Barbox specialist, Mattlock could play on the 9 foot as strong as anyone but the top handfull of pro's of his era in my opinion. I watched him snap off a McDermott tour tournament that was played on Gold Crowns and he missed ONE ball in the finals. His safety play and kicking ability looked like he was raised in Manila instead of Olathe.
His kicking ability was because of his 3 cusion play!
I think Walden was probably the best player in this list at 9/10 ball… I"m sure Fargo would have tortured him playing banks… Christopher and OOP were way under Walden.
I do think Hines would have been a good game for James on a Bar table on any given day…. That is two different styles for sure… James is so calculated and measured where as….. Jack was pretty much fire it in and move it around… I can remember watching him play good time Charlie… every time Jack missed he raked the balls off the table and racked.. didn't matter if he missed the 9 or the 1.
Forgot him on that list. Doh!!!