Best All Around Player of the Present and Recent Past???
- Thread starter jalapus logan
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Here's a creative break shot he played (I think this may have been against Mike Sigel):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw1lMLUHC3A
Efren won the firs 14.1 event he ever played, and he didn't know the rules. Typical.
I (and a few others) were in attendance the year he came in 3rd in the US Open 14.1 one year with some century runs including a 140+ against Dallas West, IIRC.
The pockets were huge.
I think when he ended up in 3rd place at the US Open 14.1, his last shot was bank cross side with the cueball going around the table to the stack (as opposed to the up and down that your video shows). I believe he missed the shot that I'm talking about. Lou F. might remember.
I'm all for the fun and magic, but that's not straight pool.
Not to be pugnacious, but no, I can't accept that 9 & 10 ball are literally the only game(s) in town. This perspective to me is kinda like trying to determine who makes the best hamburger...hell, we've all had plenty and they are all pretty damn good...even the greasy one at the bait shop down by the dock on lake marion, where you've got do dine next to the spinner baits. But the real question is who makes the best chateaubriand...and pairs it with the best wine...with tawny port to finish the meal. To me, that means who can best use creative thinking and pairs it with execution. 9 and 10 ball just don't cut the muster in this regard and represent a paint by numbers approach to what should be a diverse game with diverse skill sets.
Approaching the game with the above in mind would, at least to me, differentiate our collection of games (which our sport is, as opposed to the monoculture which is snooker). The Jansco's got this as does Greg Sullivan. In fact, it is no coincidence that that I started this thread as the 2020 DCC approaches. It's fun and represents something fresh and different. 9 & 10 ball can not hold this poster's attention, frankly. I'm bored and want to see more, which our sport can provide...unlike snooker. Promoters take notice...this pool player can't even tune in to his own preffered hobby much these days...let's strive for more!
Anyway, I'm not playing much these days , but as my marathon home build comes to a conclusion (can it though???), I'm starting to toy with the idea of playing again and, yes, actually competing. One day. But watching...that is another matter. Let's take it up a notch guys.
As for SJM, I really enjoy reading your account of the state of affairs in our game and you telling it straight as to who is playing well and not so well. Well played my friend, keep it up. But for your consideration, let's cast a wider net for the benefit of all.
Wow, that took a lot of typing with one hand doing the work and the other holding a brew.
Cheers,
JL
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I'll play him with the nutz...but I fear that they will get beat into oblivion. Gasp...I know so
I played him once and had him...and he knew it, too.
I tried to force follow a close to the pocket and straight-ish 6b...fired that green #*ckrr into the point and he ran the 4 balls to take the set.
Ah...I know that shot. I think It's my specialty...at f'ing it up, lol. I feel ya, but well played my friend.
Crap...but that wasn't what I wanted to say...your analogy pool:food is an interesting one and does require considering.
That said, rotation games are really the only games that are played at a world-level. Like it or not, they are today's measuring stick, for pro pool.
I like one pocket and banks, but even in the US, banks is a niche game of a niche sport. One pocket is more prevalent...but that's US only, really.
That said, rotation games are really the only games that are played at a world-level. Like it or not, they are today's measuring stick, for pro pool.
I like one pocket and banks, but even in the US, banks is a niche game of a niche sport. One pocket is more prevalent...but that's US only, really.
I refuse to accept the world as it is...I demand the world as it should be. Jim Beam is fine, but Woodford Reserve is better...Wilderness Trail is better still. Sorry, I like the good stuff.
Very well said and I love the all-around competition that is the Derby. Still, it is an outlier, which doesn't mean the sport can't evolve in a way that it moves more into the mainstream. As we know, Greg Sullivan tried to widen the appeal of all-around competitions by adding the Southern Classic and proposing to add other such events, but the project fell flat.
I cannot say you are wrong in wishing that our sport embraced the lesser disciplines more than it does now, nor am I saying that a move in this direction would be a negative. All I'm saying is that, for better or worse, these disciplines are on the fringe.
I think our views are far closer than you think, JL.
Alex gets my vote. Besides the noted all round game, he won the world trick shot championship and was twice Canadian snooker championship. A world 9 ball title and US 8 ball to go with it.
Yes, you've left out Mike Sigel.
I like efren as best all-around
alex is next up
honorable mentions to busty, neils, toasty, shane and dennis
og good link: http://www.thehypertexts.com/Harold Worst Pool Billiards the Best.htm
alex is next up
honorable mentions to busty, neils, toasty, shane and dennis
og good link: http://www.thehypertexts.com/Harold Worst Pool Billiards the Best.htm
I thought about Sigel, and in fact, I refereed several of his 14.1 and 9-ball matches in the 1980's and 1990's when he was the most feared player in those disciplines.
Mike was a truly awesome player in the finals of any 14.1 or 9-Ball tournament.
I don't know his winning percentage in those finals, but I'll bet it was about 75%.
But, I never saw Sigel play 1-Pocket, 8-Ball, or Banks during his prime.
That's why I picked Varner over Sigel as the Best All-Around player of that era.
Also, I noticed that nobody has mentioned Mizerak, who was dominant during the 1970's and early 1980's in 14.1 and somewhat less dominant in 9-Ball.
Fuzzy wuzzy was a WORM.
And just in case that wasn't enough, he did bet $40k on himself to win the world championships one year. And won it.
As they say: how does he sit down with balls that big?