All credit to Efren
When Efren first came here, he had never even seen One Pocket. he got plastered a couple of times by Keith in LA in the 80's.
He went to Chicago and graduated from the Incardona-Beard school of One Pocket and emerged as the world's top player by the early to mid 90's.
Efren is and has been the best One Pocket player on Earth for many years now. I'm sorry, not even Cliff or anyone else plays his speed. Yes, at one time Ronnie was the best in the world, circa late 60's to early 80's. And prior to Ronnie it was someone else, maybe Clem or White Rags.
But the fact that Efren has been the best player for a long time at one of the most difficult disciplines in Pool speaks legends to me. I saw him play at Derby City this year and he was dominating. His creativity and execution were flawless, and he appears to be at the top of his game in One Pocket.
On more than one occasion, he found a shot that no one else even saw, including the commentators. That is the wonder of this man we call Efren, absolutely one of the greatest to ever hold a cue. In my humble opinion, there has never been anyone better at controlling the Cue Ball, which is the essence of good pool. Of course, I didn't see Greenleaf or White Rags or Clem Metz play.
The only other players that come to mind for Efren's quality of Cue Ball control were Worst, Lassiter and Mosconi. Lassiter would shake his head in disgust when he got 2" out of line. Mosconi would mutter obscenities under hsi breath, if he was forced to make a hard shot due to faulty position. Harold Worst meanwhile just got up there and made the next shot and got right back in line. He was one cool dude.
If I could see my all time favorite match up it would be Efren vs. Worst and second would be Efren vs. Ronnie, circa 1970. Is Efren the greatest player of all time, I don't know. He is not nearly so dominant at 9-Ball, although if the game were Ten Ball, I like him over just about anyone. And if they play rotation, forget about it.
Earl is the greatest tournament 9-Ball player I've seen, bar none. Parica the best gambler at 9-Ball with Buddy, Richie, Keith and Denny right there. In 9-Ball, Efren is in a pack that includes Buddy, Nick, Jose and Sigel. They all beat him with regularity on tour, and sometimes Efren beat them. it was a toss-up when they played. Earl claims Efren is the best player he has faced, and for good reason.
Remember for many years, even the filipinos considered Parica to be the best player. And head to head Jose has gotten the measure of Efren many times. Like fine wine, Efren seemed to improve with age. Jose meanwhile, has had his share of ups and downs. Efren is definitely one amazing pool player and a delight to watch. He belongs where he is, in the HOF.
One of the greatest, Definitely! The greatest ever, I don't know. When you heard all the Greenleaf stories and the way he was revered by the old time great players, you give pause to anyone else claiming his crown. But it's like comparing Babe Ruth with Barry Bonds or Hank Aaron, different era, different game.
Of all the players playing this modern era, post 1960 and The Hustler, Efren will most likely be remembered and talked about like Greenleaf was from the 40's to the 70's. All we ever heard when we were kids was how great Greenleaf was and I for one believe it. I'm sure Freddie and Grady will concur on that one. Even Mosconi, Caras, Crane et all gave the accolades to
Greenleaf.
Lassiter, Worst and Philadelphia (White) Rags came after in the 40's, 50's and 60's. But the old timers who saw both eras still thought Greenleaf could have handled these guys. Maybe that has happened to me to a certain degree. I saw the heart of Richie Florence and the brilliance of Ronnie and it is hard for me to shake it and say someone is better than them.
Let's just say they are all great players, in a different era and time. I like the comment Ronnie made to Billy, when he said Efren might have won, but been too exhausted to spend the money. That was very generous of him. Before Richie had his stroke in the early 90's he was getting his game back in gear and beginning to beat everyone again. He was in his mid 40's. He confided in me he wanted to take a crack at Parica who had beaten just about everybody gambling. That was Richie.
I love Efren. Beside being a great poolplayer, he is a helluva good man.
I'm glad I got to see him play.