Earl/Efren World Championship

Neil said:
Don't know what year it was, but it was around 1/4 century ago. Get to see them in their prime. And, for those that think todays commentators are bad, wait till you hear the guy they stuck Buddy with. He doesn't have a clue.

Funny spot at 12:57 when the announcer spots a pretty lady.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgK121iAtoo
Click to expand...
The network's taping director knew who the pretty lady was (Earl's wife), and thus called for the camera close up on her. When the director realized that Buddy's booth partner (a non-pool-playing all-purpose network sports guy) wasn't aware of why the camera was focused on Lisa, the director quickly clued him in via headset communication. The awkward pause, then Dave's timid relevance elaboration for the home viewer, followed.

Arnaldo
 
Neil said:
Don't know what year it was, but it was around 1/4 century ago. Get to see them in their prime. And, for those that think todays commentators are bad, wait till you hear the guy they stuck Buddy with. He doesn't have a clue.

Funny spot at 12:57 when the announcer spots a pretty lady.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgK121iAtoo
Click to expand...

It was the summer of 1994. Great match for Earl (Efren wasn't the greatest yet).
 
That match was about a year before I took up pool, and I had never seen it before. Thanks Neil for posting this. Yes the ESPN announcer guy was atrocious, but Buddy wasn't actually too bad for being a non-broadcast guy on live tv. And wow it just reminded me of what a different era it was then. To be honest I can't even imagine pool being on ESPN anymore let alone on LIVE TV. And that crowd! Wow. That's how pro pool could and should be. It's sad to think about all of the mis-steps between then and now to go from that to the current state of pro pool.
 
Buddy turned out to be far more than not-too-bad. His on-camera and on-audio presence exceeded all expectations of a pro player. Lightning fast reading of the table layouts; instant (and highly-instructive) tele-strating diagrams of how the immediate shot and the entire rack would ideally be navigated; and all problem balls explained to home viewers and any emerging pool players who might be benefitted.

And that marvelous, listen-to-it-all-day smooth speaking voice (a calm and avuncular Southern baritone -- much like Grady's). Buddy was a natural -- the whole package from a broadcast TV point of view. He deservedly went on to commentate dozens of pro pool matches. Still does a few, I believe.

Arnaldo
 
arnaldo said:
Buddy turned out to be far more than not-too-bad. His on-camera and on-audio presence exceeded all expectations of a pro player. Lightning fast reading of the table layouts; instant (and highly-instructive) tele-strating diagrams of how the immediate shot and the entire rack would ideally be navigated; and all problem balls explained to home viewers and any emerging pool players who might be benefitted.

And that marvelous, listen-to-it-all-day smooth speaking voice (a calm and avuncular Southern baritone -- much like Grady's). Buddy was a natural -- the whole package from a broadcast TV point of view. He deservedly went on to commentate dozens of pro pool matches. Still does a few, I believe.

Arnaldo
Click to expand...

I agree. Buddy is one of the most insightful commentators I've ever heard. If you listen to his Accu-Stats tapes he very often notes things about the layout of the table that others miss.

I remember in particular one time when Billy Incardona and Buddy were doing commentary, and Buddy mentioned that the player at the table should play position on the next ball for the corner pocket rather than the side, because there was a potential pitfall with the side-pocket position (which wasn't at all obvious to even a knowledgeable player).

Billy said two things, which was that it seemed to him that there really wasn't any problem with playing shape for the side, but that also he would defer to Buddy's greater knowledge and experience in thinking there was.

Lo and behold, the guy played shape for the side and the very problem that Buddy mentioned came up! Billy then said something to the effect that that was why Buddy Hall was one of the greatest players of all time.
 
Yeah I admittedly undersold his skills on commentary. He was far better than his counterpart who was allegedly a professional broadcaster. Live TV is difficult for even seasoned actors and hosts. Buddy tackled it no sweat. His element is pool and it just came naturally. He was even smooth at correcting and glossing over his partner's cringe worthy errors without being condescending.
 
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