*THE REAL* Pool's 15 most influential people/brands list

sjm said:
OK, fill me in. Who, other than Fedor Gorst, has he groomed to become a world champion? Johan is also the mentor of Ruslan Chinakhov, a super straight shooter but probably never a world's top 25 professional in anything but straight pool. I also know that Johan did some great work with Skyler Woodward, helping Skyler get to the next level as a competitor, and that he did the same for Tyler Styer. Obviously, Johan is an amazing instructor, a legend in his field, but he hasn't, to my knowledge, groomed that many players that went on to become top professionals.

Johan may not even be among the ten most influential instructors of this era. Jerry Briesath has probably worked with twenty times as many players that went on to be top professionals over the years as Johan, but I wouldn't put Jerry in the category of most influential in pool either, despite the fact that he has served the game so very well over the years. I think the instructors that have been the most influential in pool are those that have mass taught the amateurs, especially those that have run the national organizations set up to teach the amateurs while also setting the national teaching curriculum. In America, that probably means Randy Goettlicher. I don't know who it would be in Europe or Asia.
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You make some good points. From an instruction perspective I kind of figured the ones that have had greater influence on amateurs have gained some well earned notoriety. But then I thought that there are so many people “in the masses” that it turns into a drop in the bucket for influencing pool overall. I thought I’d turn my head toward who might have had the most influence in elevating the games of professional players.

I know he’s credited for his work with Niels Feijen and Alex Lely. I assume he’s played a core role with Fedor, Ruslan and Kristina. I assumed there were other top level groups he’s worked with but maybe not. And I don’t want to emphasize the outcomes of being on the winning side of Mosconi Cups because I don’t think that is influence, but I can’t help but assume his approach to coaching might have similarly elevated the players he did coach. Could perhaps Appleton, Shaw, Melling, Boyes, van den Berg, and maybe Filler become stronger players due to time with Ruijsink. Like you said, Sky and Tyler certainly improved under his guidance.

I’m probably giving him too much credit but I can’t help but wonder if he’s contributed a greater emphasis on routines, drills, regimens, and discipline to the training practices of professional players as opposed to the old “gamble until you’re good. I don’t practice” mentality. Every time I see Shaw do a crazy drill on FaceBook wonder how much Ruijsink influence is behind why I’m watching that today.

I think Briesath could fit in that category for who he’s worked with at a professional level but I was thinking more in terms of current influence which I assumed his contributions were starting to shift from current to historical. But that could be a naive statement.
 
the azbilliards community has influenced me.

i once went to a pool event and took pictures.

maybe using real names is a good idea.

its called social proofing
 
MattPoland said:
I know he’s credited for his work with Niels Feijen and Alex Lely. I assume he’s played a core role with Fedor, Ruslan and Kristina. I assumed there were other top level groups he’s worked with but maybe not. And I don’t want to emphasize the outcomes of being on the winning side of Mosconi Cups because I don’t think that is influence, but I can’t help but assume his approach to coaching might have similarly elevated the players he did coach. Could perhaps Appleton, Shaw, Melling, Boyes, van den Berg, and maybe Filler become stronger players due to time with Ruijsink. Like you said, Sky and Tyler certainly improved under his guidance.

I’m probably giving him too much credit but I can’t help but wonder if he’s contributed a greater emphasis on routines, drills, regimens, and discipline to the training practices of professional players as opposed to the old “gamble until you’re good. I don’t practice” mentality. Every time I see Shaw do a crazy drill on FaceBook wonder how much Ruijsink influence is behind why I’m watching that today.

I think Briesath could fit in that category for who he’s worked with at a professional level but I was thinking more in terms of current influence which I assumed his contributions were starting to shift from current to historical. But that could be a naive statement.
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OK, I'll restrict my consideration of the topic to pros.

No, he's not a significant influence on any of Appleton, Shaw, Boyes, or Filler. He just coached them at the Mosconi. In fact, Filler has always had a full-time coach in Germany. Appleton also had a long-term coach in England, who sadly passed a couple of years ago. For Nick Vandenberg, I simply don't know. On the other hand, Skyler and Tyler actually went to Johan's academy in Russia to work with him one-on-one on their fundamentals., so they are in a different category.

Agreed that Jerry's influence is more historical than current at this point, but the number of top players he's worked with over the years is truly mind-blowing. Oliver Ortmann directed some of his HOF induction speech at Jerry Briesath, one of his earliest influences, and noted, looking Jerry in the eye, "if I had lived in America, you would have been my coach for the length of my career." Yes, Jerry's excellence was well known even in European circles.
 
sjm said:
No, he's not a significant influence on any of Appleton, Shaw, Boyes, or Filler. In fact, Filler has always had a full-time coach in Germany. For Nick Vandenberg, I simply don't know. On the other hand, Skyler and Tyler actually went to Johan's academy in Russia to work with him one-on-one on their fundamentals., so they are in a different category.

Agreed that Jerry's influence is more historical than current at this point, but the number of top players he's worked with over the years is truly mind-blowing. Oliver Ortmann directed some of his HOF induction speech at Jerry Briesath, one of his earliest influences, and noted, looking Jerry in the eye, "if I had lived in America, you would have been my coach for the length of my career." Yes, Jerry's excellence was well known even in European circles.
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I kind of floated him out there as a possible person regarding recent professionals while wondering if someone like you would confirm if there’s greater depth to his contributions. I’ve learned here that is likely not the case. Thanks for your perspective.
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
That other thread that was off by a lot inspired this thread where we can share what we feel are the real 15 most influential people/brands in pool.

Here's mine in no particular order:

Efren

Earl

Walter Tevis

SVB

Greg Sullivan/Diamond

Pat Fleming/Accustats

Mark Griffin/CSI

Brunswick

Aramith

Simonis

Willy Mosconi

Jeanette Lee

Minnesota Fats

George Balabushka

APA

Barry Hearn/Matchroom

Barry Behrman

Who did I miss? Who shpuld be off? Replaced by who?

best,
brian kc
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APA founders by name - Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart.
 
chefjeff said:
Is the most read book, The 99 Critical Shots?. Ray deserves some points for that.
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It sold a lot, and had a 30th anniversary reprint, and a total of 13 or so printings, but I'm pretty sure Bob Byrne holds the record. His Standard Book of Pool and Billiards has about 250,000 copies sold. Counting all of his instructional books, I think his count is over 500,000.
 
walmart by far. why? because everyone seems to go there and most will see cue sticks and pool stuff for sale. it gets them thinking and makes for cheap presents for the kids and thats how things develop.

those banger in the bars that play often all have walmart cues.

brands that already have a captive audience dont due much for the sport just help those already in it.
 
Bob Jewett said:
It sold a lot, and had a 30th anniversary reprint, and a total of 13 or so printings, but I'm pretty sure Bob Byrne holds the record. His Standard Book of Pool and Billiards has about 250,000 copies sold. Counting all of his instructional books, I think his count is over 500,000.
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Thanks.

Bob MUST be on the list.


Jeff Livingston
 
Wait, what? Charlie Williams vs. Earl? That's the guy known for his picture bending a cue in half breaking a rack. He's caused more broken Walmart cues than Earl ever did. Famous for that?
 
I would have to give Fats a lot of credit, not that he didn't give himself plenty too! More casual players and members of the general public thought he was the greatest player in the world than those that credited Mosconi and all other players combined when I was a youngster and young man.


Cornerman said:
Tom Cruise. Right or wrong.
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Angry at Tom Cruise's influence, not you! For months it was hard to go a night without seeing some goofy basset trying to twirl a cue. I considered twirling one and "accidentally" rapping one of them upside the head more than once! Aside from his annoying influence I don't doubt that Tom brought many millions of dollars into pool. No idea how many would admit to it but he brought players into pool too, some probably got past a rough start to become decent players. He was probably a good influence when all is weighed.

Hu
 
ShootingArts said:
I would have to give Fats a lot of credit, not that he didn't give himself plenty too! More casual players and members of the general public thought he was the greatest player in the world than those that credited Mosconi and all other players combined when I was a youngster and young man.




Angry at Tom Cruise's influence, not you! For months it was hard to go a night without seeing some goofy basset trying to twirl a cue. I considered twirling one and "accidentally" rapping one of them upside the head more than once! Aside from his annoying influence I don't doubt that Tom brought many millions of dollars into pool. No idea how many would admit to it but he brought players into pool too, some probably got past a rough start to become decent players. He was probably a good influence when all is weighed.

Hu
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This pretty much sums up my feelings on it as well.
 
in his prime he might have been the greatest all around player in the world. few out of shape people in their 60's or so play even close to their former speed.
 
In this hypothetical, I view it as you’re coming up with a list of 15 people each year based on their current contributions that influence pool. Some names carry over, some drop off, and some newcomers show up.

I think the Hall of Fame and other avenues are key to honoring historic contributions, even if the magnitude of those contributions are echoing today.

You won’t find pool’s future by looking through the rear view mirror. I can’t imagine bringing someone like Fats into this conversation.
 
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MattPoland said:
In this hypothetical, I view it as you’re coming up with a list of 15 people each year based on their current contributions that influence pool. Some names carry over, some drop off, and some newcomers show up.

I think the Hall of Fame and other avenues are key to honoring historic contributions, even if the magnitude of those contributions are echoing today.

You won’t find pool’s future by looking through the rear view mirror. I can’t imagine bringing someone like Fats into this conversation.
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For every baby boomer, Fats was THE pool player. We all bought his b/s, but what great b/s it was!!!

He and Willie were the only known players amongst my friends. Their TV match was anticipated eagerly. Without Fats, a lot of boomers would be bowling today instead.


Jeff Livingston
 
ask anyone that is not a regular player in pool rooms what diamond products are, or anything not related to fats, mosconi, black widow, mizerak , or brunswick are about and you will get a blank stare.
 
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