Allison Fisher - Parkinson’s disease - retiring from professional competition

[OverTheNut]

Best wishes to Allison Fisher. Raised the female game to a different level.

Diagnosed with Parkinson's. Horrible thing for anyone to get.

EDIT: This was her statement on her Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/AFathlete )

I have some deeply personal news that I’m now ready to share.
Last year, I was diagnosed with the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.
I chose to keep my diagnosis private for a while because I needed time to process what it meant for me, my life and, of course, my career.
Cue sports have been such an enormous part of my life. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to play the game I love at the highest level for so many years, travel the world, compete against amazing players and make friendships that will last a lifetime.
As Parkinson’s has begun to affect the precision I need to compete at the highest level, I have made the very difficult decision to retire from professional competition.
This may be the end of one chapter, but it is certainly not the end of my journey in cue sports.
I still love this game as much as I ever have, and I plan to remain very much a part of it — through teaching, commentary, Legends of the Cue, appearances and other projects that I look forward to sharing with you.
You can read more about my diagnosis and my decision in the latest issue of Billiards Digest and hear more from me on Legends of the Cue.
Most importantly, I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career. The messages, friendships, memories and encouragement have meant more to me than you may ever know.
There is still much more ahead.

Allison

 

[JAM]

Billiards Digest October edition just came out. Written by sports journalist extraordinaire, Michael Philip Geffner.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

That absolutely sucks. Parkinson's is how my father passed, horrible. She is in my prayers.

 

[Zerksies]

That is so horrible, I wish her the best.

 

[skogstokig]

sad news. wish her the best, and hope they figure out a cure soon.

 

[tim913]

Took my daughter, who was around 10 at the time, to watch the women play at the Paradise Casino hotel in East Peoria, IL years ago. My daughter was hoping to meet Allison, and not only did she meet her but she was invited to her table, given some candy and chatting like old friends in a few minutes . Truly a class act, gracious lady

 

[garczar]

My dad had it, sucks big time. Thoughts and prayers champ.

 

[Rusty in Montana]

Sadly we all will be dealing with a medical condition that will limit our activities .
It's not fair but I'm glad for the time we had to enjoy watching her play pool at a level so many of us may never obtain .

I hope her Dr's can find something that will help her enjoy whatever she does next .
Who knows maybe she'll be the next great color commentator !

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

Took my daughter, who was around 10 at the time, to watch the women play at the Paradise Casino hotel in East Peoria, IL years ago. My daughter was hoping to meet Allison, and not only did she meet her but she was invited to her table, given some candy and chatting like old friends in a few minutes . Truly a class act, gracious lady

Sounds like a great time Tim!

And I was at the WPBA Event at the Paradise Casino in Peoria in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. We might have ran into each other!

Best of luck Allison!

And isn't this what Muhammad Ali had?

 

[tim913]

Yep Muhammad Ali and Michael J Fox

 

[KREE8TIV]

I have learned a lot watching her , so smooth . Much respect and prayers
Thank you for sharing

 

[jay helfert]

Best wishes to Allison Fisher. Raised the female game to a different level.

Diagnosed with Parkinson's. Horrible thing for anyone to get.

EDIT: This was her statement on her Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/AFathlete )

I have some deeply personal news that I’m now ready to share.
Last year, I was diagnosed with the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.
I chose to keep my diagnosis private for a while because I needed time to process what it meant for me, my life and, of course, my career.
Cue sports have been such an enormous part of my life. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to play the game I love at the highest level for so many years, travel the world, compete against amazing players and make friendships that will last a lifetime.
As Parkinson’s has begun to affect the precision I need to compete at the highest level, I have made the very difficult decision to retire from professional competition.
This may be the end of one chapter, but it is certainly not the end of my journey in cue sports.
I still love this game as much as I ever have, and I plan to remain very much a part of it — through teaching, commentary, Legends of the Cue, appearances and other projects that I look forward to sharing with you.
You can read more about my diagnosis and my decision in the latest issue of Billiards Digest and hear more from me on Legends of the Cue.
Most importantly, I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career. The messages, friendships, memories and encouragement have meant more to me than you may ever know.
There is still much more ahead.

Allison

Allison was not just a great player, she was and is a great person! I witnessed her do many good deeds down thru the years, never looking for any recognition.

 

[Dan White]

The only thing that has been shown in multiple studies to slow or even stop progression of PD is the right kind of intense exercise. Sadly, doctors only prescribe pills and take notes to document the decline. Vitamin B1 therapy has shown remarkable results in some people but there's no money in it so a rigorous trial doesn't get done.

 

[trob]

Well damn.. she absolutely took womens pool to another level. I hope the best for her. I met her once or twice and what a fantastic person.

 

[Cleveland_Rocks]

Allison Fisher is a legendary pool player. May she be restored to health as much as possible, and live in peace. It says a lot that she still wants to be so connected to the game. Best wishes to Allison Fisher!

 

[Cuebuddy]

I believe it was in 2015 or 2017 I was able to give her a mini cue for everything she has done for the game.
I will never forget how her face lit up.
She looked at me and said “and who are you?”

Allison was not just a great player, she was and is a great person! I witnessed her do many good deeds down thru the years, never looking for any recognition.

 

[9Ball Wiz]

Best wishes to Allison Fisher. Raised the female game to a different level.

Diagnosed with Parkinson's. Horrible thing for anyone to get.

EDIT: This was her statement on her Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/AFathlete )

I have some deeply personal news that I’m now ready to share.
Last year, I was diagnosed with the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.
I chose to keep my diagnosis private for a while because I needed time to process what it meant for me, my life and, of course, my career.
Cue sports have been such an enormous part of my life. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to play the game I love at the highest level for so many years, travel the world, compete against amazing players and make friendships that will last a lifetime.
As Parkinson’s has begun to affect the precision I need to compete at the highest level, I have made the very difficult decision to retire from professional competition.
This may be the end of one chapter, but it is certainly not the end of my journey in cue sports.
I still love this game as much as I ever have, and I plan to remain very much a part of it — through teaching, commentary, Legends of the Cue, appearances and other projects that I look forward to sharing with you.
You can read more about my diagnosis and my decision in the latest issue of Billiards Digest and hear more from me on Legends of the Cue.
Most importantly, I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career. The messages, friendships, memories and encouragement have meant more to me than you may ever know.
There is still much more ahead.

Allison

Good luck Allison. Your a true star!

 

[sjm]

My heart is breaking.

Allison is a legendary player in both snooker and pool and has been a great role model in our sport. To pool, she brought a confidence and aura not seen since the retirement of Jean Balukas.

She was a trailblazer for other female snooker crossovers like Kelly Fisher and Karen Corr. Nobody who was there will ever forget when Allison introduced close friend Kelly Fisher on the night of her BCA Hall of Fame induction. Allison brought the house down when she suggested that Kelly had enjoyed unprecedented success in women's pool and then added "well, almost."

On a more personal level, Allison is my close friend of over twenty-five years. I have spent a lot of time with her, both socially and at the pool table. She is witty, personable, and brutally honest, a straight shooter of the highest order. She is also very determined and will find a way to navigate the unimaginably bumpy road that lies ahead.

Why must bad things happen to good people - especially to this good person? Good luck, Allison, in meeting the challenges that lie ahead.

 

[Bishop]

The only thing that has been shown in multiple studies to slow or even stop progression of PD is the right kind of intense exercise. Sadly, doctors only prescribe pills and take notes to document the decline. Vitamin B1 therapy has shown remarkable results in some people but there's no money in it so a rigorous trial doesn't get done.

It’s not a cure all but pretty much every rabbit hole you can go down touches on extensive and aggressive exercise as a combatant to just about everything. Particularly walking, interval walking and general cardio along with weight lifting.

 

[mnorwood]

When I first got interested in pool she was the first player that I was a fan of. She inspired me in many ways. Prayers for her.