It seems that Rempe and Varner won a bigger variety of Tournaments than Sigel, Strickland, or Archer. Why aren’t they as celebrated? Were they as talented? Were Ruth McGinnis and Jean Balukas better, or as good as Allison Fisher and Chen Siming?
IMO, Varner in his time was a true champion.. played all games. That was until
Johnny and Earl started sharpshooting everybody. In tournaments, if Earl hit
his high gear, forget about it.. he beat Nick 9-0 once.
Jean Balukas is regarded as the best female player ever.
$.02
Not really true about Sigel, considering Sigel was the best 14.1 and 9-ball player at the same time. Sigel also won one pocket tournaments.It seems that Rempe and Varner won a bigger variety of Tournaments than Sigel, Strickland, or Archer.
Definitely as talented, and they *are* celebrated. Both are in the Hall of Fame. Rempe may have the longest undefeated streak in tournament 9-ball play. Nick had the greatest two year professional stint and has won world championships in 5 disciplines. I think they're just old and retired, so they don't get celebrated today. Efren gets celebrated since he's still playing.Why aren’t they as celebrated? Were they as talented?
Always a tough debate, especially since so few watched both. I know Jean ended up playing men's tournaments and cashed in 5 out of 6 events she played. That's good for anyone. And she had solid wins over Keith, Buddy, Lebron in their prime.Were Ruth McGinnis and Jean Balukas better, or as good as Allison Fisher and Chen Siming?
I also saw one other match go the same way, at the worlds in Chicago, Roger Griffis was down 12-1....tied it up and lost on the hill.(races to 13)
It seems that Rempe and Varner won a bigger variety of Tournaments than Sigel, Strickland, or Archer. Why aren’t they as celebrated? Were they as talented? Were Ruth McGinnis and Jean Balukas better, or as good as Allison Fisher and Chen Siming?
It seems that Rempe and Varner won a bigger variety of Tournaments than Sigel, Strickland, or Archer. Why aren’t they as celebrated? Were they as talented? Were Ruth McGinnis and Jean Balukas better, or as good as Allison Fisher and Chen Siming?
My take on it was that Varner, Sigel and Lassiter all have a reasonable claim to having been the best all-around American player ever.
Lassiter's track record at Johnston City, given the fact that the fields were made up of dozens of hall of famers, is simply amazing. If memory serves, he won two of the disciplines in each of three consecutive years in the early 1960's, an almost inconceivable feat. Many feel that Lassiter was the greatest nine baller of his era, and in the one shot shootout rules of his day, Eddie Kelly and Harold Worst were among the very few that would even play him even in nine ball. Lassiter was a beast playing for money.
Varner won world championships in five disciplines, namely 14.1, 8-ball, 9-ball, one pocket and banks. Sigel was as good or better than Varner in 14.1 and 9-ball and was comparable to Nicky in anything but banks. Sigel vs Varner almost too close to call.
Give yourself a pat on the back if you picked any one of these three as America's best ever all-around player.
To me, the undeniably great Jim Rempe is not mentionable with these three as an all-around player.
Nicky never did drugs and he was never a big drinker....only drug problem he ever had was Cigarettes, and he finally quit that.
9-0 means zip.
Saw Grady beat Buddy hall in his prime/Reno in match play, Buddy never one a game. Seen that a few times.
I also saw one other match go the same way, at the worlds in Chicago, Roger Griffis was down 12-1....tied it up and lost on the hill.(races to 13)
With the men , it depended on what day it was, as to who would play better.
I watched all of them play many times over the years and
I can remember when every one of them was unbeatable, for a time, when most of the others were playing also.
Archer and Earl came to the party a bit later than the others but had the same effect.
Ruth McGinnis was a fine woman and a very good player , my first post I was thinking of someone else , sorry Ruth.
Jean would have been right there with Allison and Siming although I only have other peoples word to go by on Siming , I only watched her play a little bit.
When Jean was playing it was different , most of the other women were helpless.
Many were C players at best,
I always figured that's why she wanted to play the men.
I'm getting worse in the memory department every day , I think I should pack it in and call it a day.
Funny, for someone who claims to be so "in the know" from reading books/talking to good players that you could jump behind the claim that Mosconi was a rabid racist, but you don't know that Rempe WAS considered an all-time great when he was playing?
In fact, the first book to ever make mention of Efren Reyes, "Billiards, and the Search for Higher Truth on the Green Felt", had a nice picture of Rempe, and a decent write up on his accomplishements. I haven't looked at my copy in a while, but I am pretty sure it made little mention of Sigel and Varner, if at all.
If I'm writing a book and have access to let's say Justin Bergman, does that mean because I dont write about Shane, Dennis or Chang that means Justin plays better than them?
Jason