What player, of all-time do you think made pool look the easiest?

ShootingArts said:
I have said many times that I thought Willie Mosconi's biggest value to Brunswick was that he made it look as if anyone could buy a table and be running racks in a few weeks. I don't think anyone has ever made the game look easier.

Hu
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Agreed, Mosconi was a gifted natural athlete.

-dj
 
The opening post said it well...Rodney, hands down. During tough tournament play, he looked like a guy having a few beers with friends while playing for fun...except his balls went in and whitey was on a string.
 
lfigueroa said:
Yep, a troll, lol.

Lou Figueroa
just not a good one
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Fighting words? Hmmm perhaps I am not as skilled in vocabulary contests.
Slander? As long as you don't call me late for supper. Well Liar or Cheater will light my fire.
 
mikemosconi said:
Willie Mosconi was never known to be a drinker at all during either his competitive years or his many years on the road for Brunswick / I MET HIM BEYOND THOSE YEARS at events and he still was not a drinker as he aged - this is total fabrication. by the poster within this thread.
Why would anyone want to destroy the image of a man who did everything possible to make pool a clean game?
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You just keep drinkin' the Cool Aid. It's a mistake to idolize based on skills at the games conducted on the table. I know of many that I would love to have the skills they put on the table. The way they conducted themselves off the table is a whole nother story.
My intent was to demonstrate that opinion. Mosconi was definitely poster guy for the original question. How he behaved off the table is something I have direct knowledge of and was disappointed in what I saw him do off the table. Which had nothing to do with alcohol. The statement from Portland Slim was that he had seen it. Perhaps it was a one time event. I took it as evidence of his incredible ability on the pool table.
 
garczar said:
Rafael Martinez. Made the game look like childs play at times. I'd put Earl and Rodney tied for second. Never got to see Keith in full-flight.
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People are also mentioning Earl. I think we have different definitions of "made the game look easy." In my eyes, they both made the game look easy for them, but not something mere mortals could play.

Sigel and Efren both had moments that seemed effortless.
 
garczar said:
His dad owned a room in Colima,Mex and Raf learned 3c at a early age. Had/has a stupidly powerful free-wheeling stroke. Has the balls of a burglar and will shoot any shot at any time. Got him in trouble at times but damn is he entertaining to watch.
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If more people played like Rafael, pool would be a major spectator sport. More highlight reel shots per rack than any other player I've ever seen.
 
gregcantrall said:
Fighting words? Hmmm perhaps I am not as skilled in vocabulary contests.
Slander? As long as you don't call me late for supper. Well Liar or Cheater will light my fire.
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Like I’ve said, clearly you are just a troll.

And a pretty lousy one at that.

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
Like I’ve said, clearly you are just a troll.

And a pretty lousy one at that.

Lou Figueroa
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Help me out here. I fail to see any informative value in this post. Does that make it a "Troll?" Guess I should consult my internet vocabulary dictionary.
My Google search said:
Trolling is when someone posts or comments online to 'bait' people, which means deliberately provoking an argument or emotional reaction. In some cases they say things they don't even believe, just to cause drama.
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I am experiencing quite an emotional reaction at your proclaiming, "lousy". Which triggers me, Kettle Lou is what I shall call you.
 
gregcantrall said:
Help me out here. I fail to see any informative value in this post. Does that make it a "Troll?" Guess I should consult my internet vocabulary dictionary.

I am experiencing quite an emotional reaction at your proclaiming, "lousy". Which triggers me, Kettle Lou is what I shall call you.
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So are such a lousy troll… (how lousy a troll is he?)

You are such a lousy troll you’re not even as good at trolling as the Euros that pay us a visit every MC, lol.

Lou Figueroa
at least they can get
people riled up a bit
 
CeaseLess said:
Keith was def in the running for me
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The question was who made the game look the easiest, not who played the best or the fastest. Keith just cruised through racks with seemingly no effort, chattering away as he was making balls. He could clear a table faster than anyone this side of Butera, plus make it look easier.

All the rapid fire players (Butera, Drago, Salvos) made it look like there was effort and work being done on each rack. Not Keith, he always looked like it was just a walk in the park, making balls and having fun.

There is a good reason that every top player feared Keith. He made the game look easier to play than they ever imagined. That scared them. He was definitely not afraid of any of them either. Bring them on was his order of the day. A fully fit Keith, rested and sober, could beat anyone at any time!

All these circus shots we see guys making today were routine for Keith. He’d look at me and say “Watch this Toupee” and make some impossible shot that only he (or maybe Rafael) would even attempt. Safety was not really part of his game, but if he needed one you would be locked up tight behind a ball or two, with no escape.

One last thing. His stroke was like a whip and he could swing it many ways. He had more variety to how he played (stance, stroke, technique) than any player before or since. His style of play was truly unique.
 
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Overheard a story at the pool room about Mosconi a few weeks ago.

Guy was saying that back in the 70’s Mosconi was passing through town to do an exhibition. Mosconi showed up a little early and the guy screwed up his courage and went up to him.

“”Excuse me, Willie. Could I play you a game?”

Mosconi thought about it for just a moment.

“Sure. We’ll play to 125. I’ll spot you 100 and use an open break. How’s that sound?”

The guy says (wait for it), “Yes.”

Mosconi racks the balls with the one at the apex.

“One in the side.”

The rack busts open with the one barely missing the side pocket and the guy approaches the table and starts shooting.

“I think I got six and missed. Then I sat down and watched Mosconi run 125 balls as easily as I had run my six.”

Lou Figueroa
 
I will vote Rodney Morris. I could never play that relaxed, well maybe after consuming three Belgian beers, by which time I couldn't make a ball on an eight inch pocket.
 
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CeaseLess said:
Old or new, known or unknown, who, in your opinion, has made the game of pool look the easiest? For me I think the confidence, pace, skill, laughter and unfazed nature of Rodney Morris in his prime takes the cake. It always surprised me how he could be playing a hill hill match and make it look like he was practicing on his home table. He would one stroke a thin, blind, cut shot, get up walk around the table, go four rails through traffic and be waiting for the cue ball when it landed in perfect shape for his next ball. A thing of beauty and my favorite shooter to watch all-time. What about you, who do you think?
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Dead Money
 
jay helfert said:
The question was who made the game look the easiest, not who played the best or the fastest. Keith just cruised through racks with seemingly no effort, chattering away as he was making balls. He could clear a table faster than anyone this side of Butera, plus make it look easier.

All the rapid fire players (Butera, Drago, Salvos) made it look like there was effort and work being done on each rack. Not Keith, he always looked like he was just having fun and fooling around.

There is a good reason that every top player feared Keith. He made the game look easier to play than they ever imagined. That scared them. He was definitely not afraid of any of them either. Bring them on was his order of the day. A fully fit Keith, rested and sober, could beat anyone at any time!

All these circus shots we see guys making today were routine for Keith. He’d look at me and say “Watch this Toupee” and make some impossible shot that only he (or maybe Rafael) would even attempt. Safety was not really part of his game, but if he needed one you would be locked up tight behind a ball or two, with no escape.

One last thing. His stroke was like a whip and he could swing it in many ways. He had more variety to how he played (stance, stroke, technique) than any player before or since. His style of play was truly unique.
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I saw Keith play several times in California and played him once in Olathe but that’s another story.

He was amazing and as Jay said he ran out so quickly, often shooting some crazy shots as if they were hangers, opponents would get weak in the knees. And then there was the non-stop patter you had to fade, lol. Funny as hell… as long as you weren’t the one on the spit.

Lou Figueroa
 
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