Efren vs Earl Color of Money

[L.S. Dennis]

It took me a long time to come around, but after watching so much of Filler and Gorst plus Shane and Dennis, I'm inclined to agree. They probably would have smoked just about everyone from my era. Of course the playing conditions/rules were vastly different back then, but the ball pocketing and cue ball control is at a higher level today among the very best players. Only Parica sticks in my mind as perhaps being their equal. His focus and concentration was always 100% on all shots and he moved the cue ball like he had it on a string. He seemed to never miss, I'm sure he was 800+, and he never flinched for a bet or a challenge. He brought the pool world and all the champions to their knees when the heat was on. Jose spotted everybody, including some of the greats mentioned above. Earl got the nine in Ten Ball! Buddy didn't want any!

There probably wasn't anyone better past or present playing for the $$$ than Jose. He should have been elected into the HOF long before some of the others who were put in there before him.

 

[Hungarian]

From entertainment to robotic perfectionists. I prefer the former. Modern pool IS mind boggling good but it has a sterile quality that imo is off-putting. I try to watch current players(not all but most) and i rarely watch a whole match, there's a human element that is sorely lacking.

Agree, I'd rather watch very good players match up and bet it up playing one pocket over everything.

 

[westcoast]

Great players from any era deserve credit and respect. Like most inter-generational sports comparisons, one never knows how the players would have performed if put in a time machine- too many variables to consider, most particularly the equipment

 

[straightline]

That round thing look familiar?

 

[markjames]

too many variables to consider, most particularly the equipment

just imagine what could have happened
in the 300BC olympics if the javelin throw
used a carbon fiber shaft

 

[VTEC John]

One of the things Efren did in that last stretch was shooting off the rail with a lot of English, and we all know what happens when you jack up and apply serious English. Sometimes Earl missed and left him on the rail, sometimes Efren rolled it to the rail, but he played off the rail and compensated for the curve successfully over and over to get position.