Uncrowned Champion

ribdoner said:
Thumbs up or thumbs down with regards to HOF?

I'm a strong "up" based on what he did prior to....
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If you based the Hall OF Fame in any sport, on what people did outside of their sport , there might be 3 people in all of them .
We all have our demons,
especially if every time you got drunk , everybody knew who you were.
I'm not a big fan of Matayas , but I still think he should be in the Hall Of Fame
 
I’ve seen the side of Jimmy that the pool world likes....a Fats that was also a champion.
I’ve seen him woof up the Rack in ‘79....prepping the place for next day action.....
...and a pool hall full of the most hardened money players the world has ever seen....
...follow him out to the parking and listen like little kids until he finally drove away.
....Fats and Floyd....they were world class entertainment.

10 years later...Valley Forge....the original tournament with the Joker
...matches are done for the night...nobody is leaving...just all sitting in the stands waiting...for someone to make a move....
...Jimmy Mataya steps into the match area...black suit, black shirt and tie...long black coat...
....broad-brimmed black hat...puts his hands on his waist...rotates slowly..360 degrees..
...says...”I’m gonna bust the first man who stands up!”

Within 15 minutes there’s 5 action games going on...Jimmy has money in every one.
....the gamblers used to wait for Fatty to do the same thing.

I’ve seen the older Floyd....too much to drink...can’t play like he used to,.....
...being a caricature of himself.....those who didn’t see him in his prime are going to be
scornful.....not me, I feel protective.

And I would like to see him in the Hall of Fame
 
Jay we have been friends for over 45 years, and you through dirt in my face. But after listening to your comments, I totally agree with you. It's not hard to be a man but I wore a mask of anger fueled by alcohol. And whether you like it or not you're still my friend. Be Safe Jim Mataya
 
JimMataya said:
Jay we have been friends for over 45 years, and you through dirt in my face. But after listening to your comments, I totally agree with you. It's not hard to be a man but I wore a mask of anger fueled by alcohol. And whether you like it or not you're still my friend. Be Safe Jim Mataya
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Welcome Jimmy.

Hope to run into you one day in Vegas.

Aloha
 
JimMataya said:
Jay we have been friends for over 45 years, and you through dirt in my face. But after listening to your comments, I totally agree with you. It's not hard to be a man but I wore a mask of anger fueled by alcohol. And whether you like it or not you're still my friend. Be Safe Jim Mataya
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Jimmy, I always loved you and enjoyed seeing you at your best. You were a Ten Ball - Ring Game killer before we ever played that game in tournaments. I think you were one of the best competitors I ever saw in the pool world. I also happen to remember the tournament in Vegas where you beat Earl in the finals. I think it was back in 1988 or '89. You told me before the match that if you didn't win this one you would retire, and then you won! Please refresh my memory and tell me what tournament that was. I know all the top players were there.

I never much cared for the Pretty Boy Floyd personna that you adopted. That was not the same person that I admired so much. You were just fine as Jimmy Mataya, champion pool player!

Either way, your emotions were real and you were never afraid to speak your mind. In the pool world, you were a Man among men. I can't say that about too many others I met during our travels through the pool halls of America. We both encountered a lot of bums and thieves.
 
ribdoner said:
Thumbs up or thumbs down with regards to HOF?

I'm a strong "up" based on what he did prior to....
Click to expand...

Jimmy's best playing was in the practice room where all the real money was changing hands. If there was action anywhere Jimmy wanted to be right in the middle of it.
 
JimMataya said:
Jay we have been friends for over 45 years, and you through dirt in my face. But after listening to your comments, I totally agree with you. It's not hard to be a man but I wore a mask of anger fueled by alcohol. And whether you like it or not you're still my friend. Be Safe Jim Mataya
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Jimmy, glad to see you on AzBilliards. There's a whole lot more pool peeps on Facebook. Do you have a Facebook account? If so, I'm sending you a friend request. I'd love to read your words of wisdom and enjoy a few more pool tales.

I hope this is really you and not somebody prentending to be you. I should ask you a secret question that I know only you would know the answer to. :grin:

Ooh, I got one. In 2006, you were invited to compete in a pool tournament in New Jersey. What tournament was that, and what happened during the event that was unusual? Come back, Jimmy, if this is really you and answer. You told Keith and me about this event and had us in stitches laughing so hard. :rotflmao1:

Social media is not for everybody, but it is a good way to connect with pool fans and pool enthusiasts around the world. Most of the American pool players are on Facebook now. I sure would like to see you there.

Keith (and me) wrote an article about you in InsidePOOL magazine many moons ago. The article was an instructional pool article about a pool shot, but it had happenings in there. Keith shared a tournament that he and you were at, and you were wearing a funny hat. I'll see if I can find it. It was great. :thumbup:
 
jay helfert said:
Jimmy, I always loved you and enjoyed seeing you at your best. You were a Ten Ball - Ring Game killer before we ever played that game in tournaments. I think you were one of the best competitors I ever saw in the pool world. I also happen to remember the tournament in Vegas where you beat Earl in the finals. I think it was back in 1988 or '89. You told me before the match that if you didn't win this one you would retire, and then you won! Please refresh my memory and tell me what tournament that was. I know all the top players were there.

.
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I’m guessing ‘88 McDermott Masters.
 
garczar said:
A lot of the blame for this trainwreck goes to the producers. Some idiot wrote a script for this and i seriously doubt it was Mataya. This isn't the only "play pool like me" video that is horrible.
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i agree that there videos that somehow did not win academy awards, ha ha, as for me, i was paid to do a job, and tried my best to give them what they wanted.stay safe my friend!
 
JimMataya said:
Jay we have been friends for over 45 years, and you through dirt in my face. But after listening to your comments, I totally agree with you. It's not hard to be a man but I wore a mask of anger fueled by alcohol. And whether you like it or not you're still my friend. Be Safe Jim Mataya
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Despite my previous re-post of other people's negative posts, I've always been a fan. I didn't realize the level of your game until I saw a tape of you playing 9 ball, I believe it was at the Sands Regency. You were trying to hide from the camera so you wouldn't be recognized. I was really impressed at how smooth you were.

For those who haven't seen him play, here he is beating a young, skinny Johnny Archer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hz3EIftBpg
 
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spktur said:
In the late 80s I was in the practice room at the All Star Open in Lexington Ky

and Mataya came in woofing at everyone about playing some one pocket when

a 17 year old Shannon Daulton stepped up and said he would play him some.

Jimmy came back with 200 a game and Shannon said let's make 400. Then

Jimmy came back with 'now that we got the bet right, let's get the game right,

how much weight do you need?' At this Shannon said 'I don't need any f'n

weight, just get your a** up to the table and play'.

Shannon being Shannon wouldn't let him go and ended up chasing Jimmy out

of the room trying to get him to the taible.
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first of all , shannon is one of my good friends in the world of pool, really like that guy! second, no player has ever chased me out of the room, i think you are exaggerateing a little bit, but never the less, i commend you for dogging out,there has been times where i let the fun go to far,so i deserved to be dogged! stay safe my friend.
 
Jim , In the Video of you playing a young Johnny Archer in the Brunswick open 1989 , what Sunglasses are you wearing when they interviewed you . I really like the look of them. You played a super game in that video , smooth . Thanks
 
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Jimmy was a very fine player whom I watched as early as 1976. I always saw him as a better action player than tournament player, but he was a formidable opponent for anyone unlucky enough to draw him. He's certainly worthy of HOF consideration, but I'm not sure his competitive resume will carry the day with the selection committee. Wishing him luck going forward.
 
PoolFan101 said:
Jim , In the Video of you playing a young Johnny Archer in the Brunswick open 1989 , what Sunglasses are you wearing when they interviewed you . I really like the look of them. You played a super game in that video , smooth . Thanks
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can"t remember what kind of glasses, but remembered they wanted me to take them off for the interview, i refused, no wonder everybody dislikes me . :cool:
 
sjm said:
Jimmy was a very fine player whom I watched as early as 1976. I always saw him as a better action player than tournament player, but he was a formidable opponent for anyone unlucky enough to draw him. He's certainly worthy of HOF consideration, but I'm not sure his competitive resume will carry the day with the selection committee. Wishing him luck going forward.
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resume was only highlights of my career, naturally i won other tournaments, how many world titles do you need for HOF . your a hard guy to please, ha ha. stay safe my friend
 
Irrespective of whatever judgement we might impose on the man, given our limited knowledge of his life...

Way cool to have you join us and share your words, Jimmy.

Thanks.
 
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