How good was Jimmy Mataya in his prime? Should he be in the HOF?
- Thread starter 1000BallRunner
- Start date
1000BallRunner
Member
Bill - in jimmys prime that you mentioned - was he playing the top top speed?
Not really.
Like I said, His best playing days were when he was younger.
The Best players playing 9 ball, Buddy Hall, Steve Mizerak, Nick Varner, Johnny Archer, Billy Incardona, Wade Crane, Jimmy Marino, Cornbread Red...
could all give Jimmy the (8) for sure!
I saw jimmy play Dave Bollman giving him the seven on a gc 9 ft around 1985. Played maybe 24 hours straight. Basically even. Jimmy played a ball to ball and a half under those guys imo but he was crazy fun to watch unlike todays robotic players
Badpenguin
Well-known member
Put some very dark 'Sunglasses' on, it bother You that much!
Yes, they all had more speed than Jimmy.
I saw him play. He played good. Slightly under the sigel varner hall Strickland bunch. But he did have a gear.
I agree. Jimmy would not win getting the eight from any of those guys. But they might not like it giving him the seven
Jimmy was a 'Personality' He had a lot of 'Style/Dress/Manner/Smooth Talking/Intimidating at the table.
Very true and well said. I enjoyed being around him a lot as a twenty year old one dollar ring game player that might make five balls in a row. That was before the internet so getting to see good players was rare for me
I'd like to see him in the HOF. I'm different though. I don't care as much about how many titles someone has. I think a Hall of FAME should include the most famous people. Whether he created that fame with his mouth or his cue, he's one of the best parts about that era IMO. I doubt he'll get there with the current standards, and that's fine with me too.
You think they do’t have to gamble now? How many pro players today do you think can make a living with their tournament winnings?
I personally think that’s why the Asian countries are kicking everyon’s a$$es… they don’t frown on gambling.
Last edited:
I think the HOF in every sport (At least NBA, MLB, NFL) induct some that I don’t think belong and some or left off that should be in. I can go right down the list. Sometimes it‘s a popularity contest, politics… pool is absolutely no different. Pro Bowl, all star games are an example of popularity contest that not always based on playing ability. If you are in a big city you have a better chance of making it. Which in turn increases your chance of making the HOF.
I think Pete Rose should have made the hall of fame... other may disagree. HOF or no HOF Pete’s accomplishments are his own and can never be taken away and I don’t think he measured his game on an induct of the HOF. Life is not fair sometimes.
I’m not advocating one way or another but Jimmy's accomplishments can never be taken from him some of which are non searchable on the internet. That’s how it goes in gambling. I will say that all of the great names that are be tossed around in this thread, they have all gotten beat when it comes to gambling. More times than most would realize and not always because they were giving a spot. Also, Gambling and tournaments are different animals not to say someone could do both well but not everybody does.
Last edited:
True, but I think he's more famous for marrying Eva than anything else. Man, she was hot.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
is hot
Maybe it’s because I’m old but she has aged amazingly well and is still the striking Viking to me.
I like your passion.
FYI - Jimmy Mataya has been on the ballot for many years. Because he was over 60, he was in the Veterans Category, which is how Kim Davenport got in. The HoF committee typically alternates voting on a Veteran Player and a Meritorious Service every other year. Every year of course the Committee votes on a Greatest Player to induct.
If you think Mataya has a better bio to be told to sway the voters, please put it together and send it in. The voting is done by the United States Billiard Media Association plus living HoF members as well as at large billiard community members with significant history knowledge.
If the Committee ever does a combination of player and meritorious service, Mataya would have Grady, Billy and maybe a few others as competition.
What is cited most often when considering Mataya is the span of his career. Yes, his top gear could play and beat anyone, and when he’d come out of retirement he would often place very high, including I believe a runner-up to Strickland around early 90’s in the McDermott Masters. That would have been an incredible showing. But Jimmy wasn't a career tournament player, and he wasnt on anyone’s radar for years as he busied himself in other endeavors. His greatest years were early 1970’s. It’s very difficult to gage HoF worthiness based on gambling play. It’s why Louie, Ronnie and Keith don’t get more nods despite all reports of their greatness outsjde of tourney play.
Freddie <~~~ voted for Mataya
Last edited: