5 best players ever (in your opinion)

l like this post

i do like this post ,but, i would rather hear what is the top 5 player UNDER the age of 30 maybe 35,hell up to 50.reason being:everyone has heard old stories but their opinion of their play maybe leaned one way or another due to word of mouth.i like to see someone play and decide for myself and being as young as i am,me myself,i am unable to name someone from years ago being able to play any better than some of the talent seen today.equipment for one is totally different.so i think,therefor,the younger crowd would have a lot more educated input on this subject.
 
Well, as far as the under 30 crowd, I would have to say Corey is the best that America has.

In fact, other than Archer, Corey is the best that America has period.. That being said, sometimes I wish Corey would get his head more in the game as far as tournaments go. By that, I mean.. Well, you can tell how tired he is in a lot of his DCC One Pocket matches on Accu-Stats.

He looks like he stayed up for 24 hours straight before the match, which often, he did, gambling the night away. I think when Corey is put in that sort of environment, his performance in tournaments suffers.

When he goes to an international tournament where action is not so hot and heavy, he does extremely well. There's not much to be done for it, as Corey is a smart guy, and realizes that his gambling winnings far outstrip what he would make in the DCC tourneys.

I dunno, I just wish Corey was more the dominant player I know he could be. The kid has an ego the size of a house, and if he decided he was gonna win the U.S. Open a few months before, I have a feeling he would be a huge favorite to win it. He is a practice monster.

I guess I am just pining to see another American player with the ability to focus like Earl and Johnny. Both of these guys in their prime put 100% into every single shot, because they wanted the tournament win so bad.

Don't get me wrong. Corey is IMHO, our best player. An absolutely phenomenal talent.I just wish our best could be as dominating as they used to be in the days of bucket pockets....

(Cue squeaky voice: "Yeah, a 6-pack will usually get it done. That's what these guys don't realize.. I got a good break, but I can play a little, too!")


Russ
 
9 ball

1: Luther Lassiter

2: Buddy Hall

3: Jim Rempe

4: Earl Strickland

5: Keith McCready

One Pocket

1: Ronnie Allen

2: Jack Breit

3: Danny DiLiberto

4: Grady Matthews

5: Marshall Carpenter Honorable mention: Efren Reyes
 
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I fear Mike Sigel's antics (not just IPT)after his dominant period will keep many from placing his name on such lists
 
bigskyjake said:
One Pocket

1: Ronnie Allen

2: Jack Breit

3: Danny DiLiberto

4: Grady Matthews

5: Marshall Carpenter
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There is something I've never seen before. A top 5 one pocket list that doesn't include Efren. :eek:
 
> Sigel
Efren
Buddy
Earl
Nick or Steve Mizerak
Jim Rempe
Mosconi,Lassiter,and perhaps Greenleaf,although Mosconi's lack of participation in other games besides 14.1 keeps him form being a lock in my mind. His 14.1 skills remain unparalleled.

If these players played an all-around format consisting of a race to 7 one-pocket,a race to 21 8 ball and 9 ball,a 200 point 14.1 match,and a race to 11 short-rack banks,I think the finals would be Sigel and Efren. As bad as some are going to let me have it over this,I'd want Sigel in the calcutta. Narrowing it down to 5 is tough action. If we were talking strictly a single game like 9-ball,I'd want to get Archer in there too,4 World titles speak for themselves. I guess in terms of all-time greatness,you have to look more closely at players who won multiple titles at 2 or more different games,Nick,Steve,Mike,Jim,Efren,and Lassiter. Tommy D.
 
Best Money Player: Keith McCready, Jose Parica, Ronnie Wiseman, Ronnie Allen, Tony Watson, Marcus Chamat, Santos, Shannon Daulton, Minnesota Fats, Cliff Joyner, and Alex Pagulayan. I honestly have trouble thinking of one European who I'd consider as a good money player. I know. I know. It's because they don't gamble, with the strong exception of Sandor Tot! :D

Best Tournament Soldier: Allen Hopkins, Mike Sigel, Nick Varner, Buddy Hall, Earl Strickland, and Willie Mosconi. I also throw in all Filipinos, not only because of their shooting skills, but because they have the financial means to follow the entire international tournament trail, as they are supported strongly by the Filipino pool culture.

Best 9-ball Break-and-Rack Player: Johnny Archer.

Best All-Around Player (all games and proficiency on all equipment): Keith McCready, Jose Parica, Shannon Daulton, Larry Lisciotti, Corey Deuel, Dave Matlock, Louie Roberts, Ernesto Dominguez, and Alex Pagulayan.

As far as best one-pocket, 14.1, 9-ball, 8-ball, 10-ball, bumps, and snooker games of pocket billiards, the answer always seems to be based on geographic location and age of the respondent, IMHO. ;)

JAM
 
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JAM said:
Best Money Player: Keith McCready, Jose Parica, Ronnie Wiseman, Ronnie Allen, Tony Watson, Marcus Chamat, Shannon Daulton, Minnesota Fats, and Alex Pagulayan. I honestly have trouble thinking of one European who I'd consider as a good money player. I know. I know. It's because they don't gamble, with the strong exception of Sandor Tot! :D
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Marcus is European of course and Ive heard he usually wins the cash when he plays in the Philippine's which speaks for itself. Didn't Niels and Steve knight both go to the USA to play for cash? I heard Steve knight did pretty well playing for money?

Stalev also of course ;)
 
TheOne said:
Marcus is European of course and Ive heard he usually wins the cash when he plays in the Philippine's which speaks for itself. Didn't Niels and Steve knight both go to the USA to play for cash? I heard Steve knight did pretty well playing for money?

Stalev also of course ;)
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But, of course, The Russian. How on earth could I forget him?! The highest stakes I ever witnessed, the Russian was involved. He showed no fear and didn't care what the stakes were. That kid's gotta mean break! :p

I keep forgetting Marcus Chamat is from Sweden. He's always such a mainstay on the American tournament trail at the higher profile events. Is he living in Philippines these days? When Marcus discovered I drove a Volvo, he seemed to like me more. :p

Niels plays only a couple games in the wonderful world of pocket billiards, and doesn't have a diversified knowledge of all games. I wouldn't consider him a money player, not saying he won't gamble, though.

Another European I hastily forgot is Fabio Petroni, the Italian Stallion. He's one of those quiet money players, like a panther waiting to pounce on his prey. He can be deadly on a field of green, and he likes money games. My fondest memory was seeing him spank Dennis Hatch in Toledo. Dennis was barking it up mighty loud, and Fabio just sat there, quiet as a church mouse. I think the whole American audience was pulling for the Italian player that night! :D

JAM
 
1. Willie Mosconi
2. Efren Reyes
3. Luther Lassiter
4. Mike Sigel
5. Nick Varner

I'm talking all around players.
 
JAM said:
But, of course, The Russian. How on earth could I forget him?! The highest stakes I ever witnessed, the Russian was involved. He showed no fear and didn't care what the stakes were. That kid's gotta mean break! :p

I keep forgetting Marcus Chamat is from Sweden. He's always such a mainstay on the American tournament trail at the higher profile events. Is he living in Philippines these days? When Marcus discovered I drove a Volvo, he seemed to like me more. :p

Niels plays only a couple games in the wonderful world of pocket billiards, and doesn't have a diversified knowledge of all games. I wouldn't consider him a money player, not saying he won't gamble, though.

Another European I hastily forgot is Fabio Petroni, the Italian Stallion. He's one of those quiet money players, like a panther waiting to pounce on his prey. He can be deadly on a field of green, and he likes money games. My fondest memory was seeing him spank Dennis Hatch in Toledo. Dennis was barking it up mighty loud, and Fabio just sat there, quiet as a church mouse. I think the whole American audience was pulling for the Italian player that night! :D

JAM
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Thanks for the info, I don't know Niels history but I've read on this forum that he went to the US a few years ago to play many money matches but this is 2nd hand info. Niels of course plays 9 Ball, 14.1 and 8 Ball well like most Europeans but 1 pocket and banks doesn't seem so popular over here.
 
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