Regarding Jose's pool skills, I think he pocketed the object ball as good or better than anyone I ever saw. His nine/ten ball game was superior to Efren because of Jose having a better break. Jose would go weeks sometimes months and not play at all. He could practice for a couple of days and his game would be back 100%. In long sessions I would take him over anyone of his era. I just saw him a couple of weeks ago and he still looks like a little kid with that infectious smile of his and ready to play. HA
Question about Jose Parica
- Thread starter Positively Ralf
- Start date
Jose felt his strongest shots were thin cuts…IMO he hit them better than St Louis.
Some sites say Jose was born in La Puenta, California….if the timing was better, he would’ve been a welcome member to the US Mosconi Cup team.
Keith is standing by me now, and I am going to transcribe his words verbatim:
KEITH: First of all, Efren never gave me 9 to 7 and the breaks. If you were doing your homework, he did give me 9 to 7 in Olathe and beat me. I was hunting him down after that, waiting until I got money, and then over in Virginia when the movie people were there, I beat him 8 in a row for a thousand or more a game, and he never got past 3 balls in any game. Plus, I was betting on the side. This was in 1985, and my prime was in the '70s.
As far as Red's goes, I'm the one that got to Red, in Red's ear, and I bet $3,000 on Buddy, and Red staked the rest. I know all about the game. I never said "I can't shake this guy."
Before Efren even went to Red's, nobody knew him but me. We played races to 11 in Anaheim at the Sports Arena, and I lose 11-10, 11-10, and 11-10, playing even at 9-ball. I knew he was Cesar Morales before anybody else did at Red's because I knew him from California when he was sneaking around. Believe it or not, at that time, Efren didn't even know how to play one pocket.
Then when Efren came to Red's as "Cesar Morales," I already knew he was Efren Reyes. And Buddy drilled him. Buddy was ahead 13-7 going to15 for the money, and I think the score ended up being 15-11. No flip for the second set because there was none.
Needless to say, at that time, alls the the Filipinos would ever lose, if they did lose, would be one set. Then they'd pull up, and that's the same thing that happened with Buddy. Jose Parica was way better action back then than Efren. Jose would get up and play, and if he lost, you could beat him out of two or three sets. Win or lose, Jose was way better action.
Well, Keith was there too, and he standing right here again. Here is Keith's reply to your post, which I will transcribe verbatim:
KEITH: I don't remember Efren giving me 9 to 7 and all the breaks at Hard Times in 1995 for $250 a set. If I was getting 9 to 7 and all the breaks, I surely would have wanted to bet more than $250, especially on that front table at Hard Times. I do remember getting 9 to 7, but I don't remember 9 t0 7 and all the breaks.
JENNIE: Keith, what does "splitting two sets" mean?
KEITH: Well, split two sets means he won one and I won one. I was messed up at that time in '95. Real bad. Rudy Luat gave me the 6 ball and I never shot. He drowned me too. It would have been an entirely different game in the '70s. People waited for me to be f*cked up for 2 or 3 days so they could rob me. But the reality of the situation is I did it to myself. When I was in my prime, those games wouldn't have existed. Earthquake out.
Just verified with Alex.
9-7. Then, 9-7 with the break later on.
Efren was spotting Allen and Cooney 9-7 during that time.
They didn't play on the front table. It was in the middle.
Saw Rich and Keith play on the front table.
I was there when Keith was air barreled by another great player too.
He had Visa trouble too ....
efrin, jose, keith, and many other super top players all could beat any other on a good day in a set or two.
dont ever take that away from any of them.
the only pertinent thing is about the pino players is they didnt lose much most times and when they won the american players tapped out many times. that is half the secret of making money at pool.
dont ever take that away from any of them.
the only pertinent thing is about the pino players is they didnt lose much most times and when they won the american players tapped out many times. that is half the secret of making money at pool.
tough to compare different eras a bit, experience rules in pool
That's true. Parica would have probably won with ease and no comeback would have been needed. Jay Helfert has posted, on numerous occasions, that Earl knew better than to gamble with Parica back in the 1990s.
This reminds me of an occasion during what I believe was the 1997 BCA Championships at the Riviera in Las Vegas. A friend and I made a $10 bet on one of Efren's matches and I had Efren. When Efren fell behind 7-1 in the race to 11, my friend asked that we call of the bet. Needless to say, I was happy to do so.i also seen Parica in some matches when he thought he was out of kinda seemed to mail it in, LOL maybe was because he wanted to get to a money match
He went on to explain that everyone knew that Efren had a $1000 a rack one pocket match waiting for him at the Cue Club poolroom in Las Vegas, so the general feeling was that he'd mail it in in his loser side BCA Open match so that he could leave the Riviera. My friend said he had a guilty conscience as he knew about it and, obviously, I didn't. That's why he let me out of the bet.
I think it is safe to say that Parica had that same mentality at times.
Nothing could be further from the truth. They were, are, and will always be good friends. Keith likes to rib his opponents, especially when he's in the throes of a barkfest . That's how Keith rolls. It is all in fun with Keith. He does not have a mean bone in his body.keith never seemed to like efren much i remember him ribbing him in one match calling him little man throughout the match
Ask somebody in their 20s if they've ever heard of "The Color of Money" and they'll give you a deer-in-headlights look. Keith will be remembered for being Grady Seasons and his family line. His greatest strength, in my opinion, is comedically interacting with the audience during matches. The more involved the audience is, the better Keith will play. He's a performer. If calling Efren "Little Man" was a part of The Keith McCready Show," it was in fun, I can assure you.
When I read untruths, embellishments, and rumors about Keith, I will post the truth as long as I am alive. When Keith and I are dead, it won't matter because nobody will care.
Bingo! You hit the nail on the head. Nobody wanted to pull a Filipino player's name at a tournament because every single one of them was capable of a win. They also did their homework and matched up good when it came to games of stake. Tough action, but in my experience, all of the Filipinos are gentle souls, humble, and very friendly.
Sounds about right. Parica himself told me that one of the big differences between himself and other players is that he never choked.
Keep in mind Y'all, Varner went to the Philippines, played Efren on home court and beat em.
While improving and living in Belmont Shores, I heard about this kid in Costa Mesa.
This small pool room had a couch and a fireplace. That was a first, coming from Chicago.
I played Ether one time at the Original (Charlie the ape) Costa Mesa Hard times.
Got fortunate to win, he ran outta (his $$$) money after two sets.
He started to smooth out 2nd set, had me 10-6 or 10-7, winner break roll out 9 ball I won.
Tho after watching em play, I knew once he got rolling, I couldn't beat em.
But back then if he had more money, I would of gladly lost the $400 I had won and then moved on.
I did always enjoy watching em play King Kong on the Box, at that all night bar table place out east.
I used to get there about 1pm in my van, take a nap for a couple hours then go inside around 3am, when all the action started, after the bars closed.
I think Kieth would give em something like the Wild 5 or the 6 ball spot in those games.
Kong had no chance; Kieth would always put packages on em.
One night, right outside the front door at the all-night place while parked in my van/sleeping, someone woke me trying to break in my vehicle.
The DAZZZZZZZZZZZZe...
While improving and living in Belmont Shores, I heard about this kid in Costa Mesa.
This small pool room had a couch and a fireplace.
That was a first, coming from Chicago. I played Ether one time at the Original (Charlie the ape) Costa Mesa Hard times.
Got fortunate to win, he ran outta (his $$$) money after two sets.
He started to smooth out 2nd set, had me 10-6 or 10-7, winner break roll out 9 ball I won.
Tho after watching em play, I knew once he got rolling, I couldn't beat em.
But back then if he had more money, I would of gladly lost the $400 I had won and then moved on.
I did always enjoy watching em play King Kong on the Box, at that all night bar table place out east.
I used to get there about 1pm in my van, take a nap for a couple hours then go inside around 3am, when all the action started, after the bars closed.
I think Kieth would give em something like the Wild 5 or the 6 ball spot in those games.
Kong had no chance; Kieth would always put packages on em.
One night, right outside the front door at the all-night place while parked in my van/sleeping, someone woke me trying to break in my vehicle.
The DAZZZZZZZZZZZZe...