A different Archer now, than in the past...

Russ Chewning

Russ Chewning

Short Bus Russ - C player
Silver Member
I've been watching Archer on TV since the early 90's, and I've noticed a change in his overall demeanor.

Back then, he just oozed confidence at the table. Looked like he never saw a shot he couldn't make. Performed the touchiest position shots with hardly a blink. When I saw him at 18/19 on an Accu-Stats video, it was the same: A supremely confident player who thought he was supposed to win every tournament.

Now, when I watch Archer on Accu-Stats, I don't see the same player. He seems much more tense, a does not have the same easy "flow" to his game. He is still able to bring the same level of concentration to the table, but does not seem as "sure" of himself as he once did.

I know Johnny went through a dry spell in the late 90's/early 00's.. Why do you all think that is? I have an idea about that..

Johnny's advantage over his opponents used to be much greater when the pro events were played on easier equipment. I know some people would say the exact opposite, since everyone could make balls on the break, but often, Johnny would hit you with a 4 or 5 pack early in the match, and it's hard to come back under that kind of pressure.

Then, when equipment tightened up in the early 00's, (thanks, Diamond! :D) Johnny's game seemed to fall off a bit. Is this a coincidence? Is it rather that Johnny now had someone in his life to support, so felt more pressure to perform well at every tournament?

I'd be interested to know your thoughts on this. Johnny still plays at a high high level, but I honestly think the Johnny of the mid 90's was a better, more confident player. I know it would be pure guesses, but I'd still like to know what you think caused this change (if you agree there WAS a change).

Russ
 
Johnny used to bend over, look at the shot. approach the table with his head down already, bridge up and shoot. And he made running out fast easy.
Now, he stands up near the table and nibble and nitpick and spin his brain.
And then he came with some aiming system supposedly.
 
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said the Archer of old was more confident.
Dry spells in wins can lead to self doubt, and pool is so much of a mental game, that it can break an average player. Someone of Johnnys ability will still shine through, but you can see them grinding out a win instead of steamrolling over people like they used to. Earl is the same way..... the man still has the skills and the knowledge, but the confidence is not there like it used to be..... but in his case, Earl put on batting gloves and light up sunglasses to try and compensate.
Watching the IPT version of Mike Sigel was heartbreaking for me. I had always admired his game more than pretty much anyone elses. And to see him play with such a lack of confidence....... was odd and sad to say the least. Mike was always a confident player, to the point of seeming arrogant on most occasions. Watching Sigel jump up after each shot, stroke like he had a 20lbs bag of lead tied to his arm etc etc etc...... was just freakin sad.
Chuck
 
I have kind of noticed the same thing, and I wonder if it is due to the fact that he now has a wife and child(ren?) who are counting on him to bring extra income into the household. Sleeping in the street is not so hard on a single guy, but it would have to be difficult to free up your stroke when you know that losing would be detrimental to your family's livelihood.

I don't know; it could be a lot of other things, too. Maybe he just doesn't practice as much? He's still fun to watch, IMO.

Aaron
 
Known him since he was missing a front tooth. Hey, you throw in the pressures of being "player of the decade", wife, children, sponsors, etc. Let's see how rubbery your arms feel. When you're single, and all you have to think about is the game and where you're going next, it's just plain fun. Now that it's a job, fun's over. It's a job. A job. I'm sure he still enjoys playing, but now it's different. He has to win, or at least place. Now that his place is open in Atlanta, that should take a little pressure off of him. Players are also better, now.

When he was a kid getting staked, he was making a name for himself, along with a boatload of cash. Where to for the next action? Who's the next victim? Those questions are now put to rest, since every walking creature knows him. Give the guy a break. Put it to you this way.... you want to play him some? If he's tight and not confident... jump! Call it what you will. It has become a business for him. And quite a good one, I might add.
 
Johnny and rest are not alone, they have good company. I've seen recent
clips of Efren twisting and squirming even before he hits the object ball, his
body language says it all. Lots of self doubt. It could be Father time or the
rest of the field are catching up on him, and FAST!. His mystic is gone, no
more aura of invincibility...
 
gopi-1 said:
Johnny and rest are not alone, they have good company. I've seen recent
clips of Efren twisting and squirming even before he hits the object ball, his
body language says it all. Lots of self doubt. It could be Father time or the
rest of the field are catching up on him, and FAST!. His mystic is gone, no
more aura of invincibility...
Click to expand...
You guys are killing me. Wanna try either one of them some? Let's get on the horn, fellas, and set it up. Gosh, how good, and how much time does someone have to put in to gain respect. Why don't you call Johnny and let him know that he's falling down on the job, and losing his winning attitude. PM me and I'll get you his number.
 
crawfish said:
You guys are killing me. Wanna try either one of them some? Let's get on the horn, fellas, and set it up. Gosh, how good, and how much time does someone have to put in to gain respect. Why don't you call Johnny and let him know that he's falling down on the job, and losing his winning attitude. PM me and I'll get you his number.
Click to expand...

Stop with the attitude, crawfish. No one is saying Johnny is not a phenomenal player. I am just curious as to the psychology of the game. Johnny of old came across as the alpha male on the pool table, even though he weighed like 160 lbs. Current Johnny comes across as a player who is in the top 10% of the field.

And what is the point of saying "Oh yeyuh? So why don't you go right on over there and play him some, then!?" ? Do we have to be able to run 20 racks in a row before we can make the observation that Johnny does not seem to have the same level of confidence as he once did? I can't beat Jeremy Jones right now either.. Does that mean it's not obvious that he has lost confidence??????

I actually am quite impressed to see Johnny stand up to the pressure, even though he might not be as confident now as he once was. Also, i really hope that his pool hall works out well enough for him not to have to rely on pool winnings.

A poolplayer still playing for a living in their 50's in 99% of the cases is a broke poolplayer.

Russ
 
crawfish said:
You guys are killing me. Wanna try either one of them some? Let's get on the horn, fellas, and set it up. Gosh, how good, and how much time does someone have to put in to gain respect. Why don't you call Johnny and let him know that he's falling down on the job, and losing his winning attitude. PM me and I'll get you his number.
Click to expand...



They still have our respect, we even put them high on a pedestal, that's why
we expect the same old Johnny and Efren to go gung-ho each and everytime
they play. And nobody said that they lost their winning attitude, learn to
dissect the thread properly before acting as their defender or sumthin.
 
I don't think there is anyone who is winning tournaments consistently any more, and by that I mean dominating. Players like Shane Van Boening win in streaks but it doesn't last.

As for the reason, I'm sure there are many. I think alternating breaks has something to do with it. So does this fascination with keeping players from making balls on the break. Just switch to 10 ball and be done with it.
 
gopi-1 said:
Johnny and rest are not alone, they have good company. I've seen recent
clips of Efren twisting and squirming even before he hits the object ball, his
body language says it all. Lots of self doubt. It could be Father time or the
rest of the field are catching up on him, and FAST!. His mystic is gone, no
more aura of invincibility...
Click to expand...

Didn't he win the overall at Derby City this year?
 
Russ Chewning said:
Stop with the attitude, crawfish. No one is saying Johnny is not a phenomenal player. I am just curious as to the psychology of the game. Johnny of old came across as the alpha male on the pool table, even though he weighed like 160 lbs. Current Johnny comes across as a player who is in the top 10% of the field.

And what is the point of saying "Oh yeyuh? So why don't you go right on over there and play him some, then!?" ? Do we have to be able to run 20 racks in a row before we can make the observation that Johnny does not seem to have the same level of confidence as he once did? I can't beat Jeremy Jones right now either.. Does that mean it's not obvious that he has lost confidence??????

I actually am quite impressed to see Johnny stand up to the pressure, even though he might not be as confident now as he once was. Also, i really hope that his pool hall works out well enough for him not to have to rely on pool winnings.

A poolplayer still playing for a living in their 50's in 99% of the cases is a broke poolplayer.

Russ
Click to expand...
Would you trade places with him? Thought so.
 
Human

The guy's a human being and shit happens: Marriage, Divorce, Kids, Mortgage, yadda, yadda....................

Now, he's a pool room owner (businessman).

No one I have seen yet is able to generate and hold momentum as strong as he. That's what 9-Ball is all about.
 
gopi-1 said:
They still have our respect, we even put them high on a pedestal, that's why
we expect the same old Johnny and Efren to go gung-ho each and everytime
they play. And nobody said that they lost their winning attitude, learn to
dissect the thread properly before acting as their defender or sumthin.
Click to expand...
20-30 years old... fearless and can't wait to play for the cash.
30-50 years old... hope I can make the bills.

This applies to most all I have met. Let me rephrase. 75% of great players that are SMART. The other ones are just broke.
 
crawfish said:
Would you trade places with him? Thought so.
Click to expand...

Depends on how much his pool room is making, and how much of that is his cut. Some people do place a higher priority on stability in their lives, crawfish.

Russ
 
I heard Archer and Kim Davenport are partners in a poolroom/sports bar in Atlanta,Ga.. Maybe he doesn't have to depend on that money as much anymore. Maybe he has let up some. But he has done it all. I talked to him 6 months ago and he told me he was playing golf alot. That might do it to.
 
alstl said:
Didn't he win the overall at Derby City this year?
Click to expand...



Early this year? when it comes to pool, that was eons ago! Pool fans have
short term memory, you're only good as your last tournament. I was talking
about his recent matches like the WPC, Pacman 9-Ball Open, Negros 9-Ball,
All-Japan and the Philippine 9 and 10-Ball tournaments. He is still a force to
reckon with, always a favorite to win, be it sentimental or smart money's
choice.

It could his history of playing poorly before his own countrymen, lots of
pressure and distractions. He plays better playing away from home, or his
"lucky" streak of winning inaugural tournaments or tournaments that offers
the largest loot like the "King of the Hill", the World Cup of Pool, the WPC
way back 1999 when it was first aired live all over the world except the
USA:mad:, the tournament in Japan many moons ago when they handed
$160,000 for first, which was unheard of and who could forget his classic
battle with Earl in the COM.
 
crawfish said:
20-30 years old... fearless and can't wait to play for the cash.
30-50 years old... hope I can make the bills.

This applies to most all I have met. Let me rephrase. 75% of great players that are SMART. The other ones are just broke.
Click to expand...



I would still say the field has toughen up, PLUS all the things that you said...
 
gopi-1 said:
Early this year? when it comes to pool, that was eons ago! Pool fans have
short term memory, you're only good as your last tournament. I was talking
about his recent matches like the WPC, Pacman 9-Ball Open, Negros 9-Ball,
All-Japan and the Philippine 9 and 10-Ball tournaments. He is still a force to
reckon with, always a favorite to win, be it sentimental or smart money's
choice.

It could his history of playing poorly before his own countrymen, lots of
pressure and distractions. He plays better playing away from home, or his
"lucky" streak of winning inaugural tournaments or tournaments that offers
the largest loot like the "King of the Hill", the World Cup of Pool, the WPC
way back 1999 when it was first aired live all over the world except the
USA:mad:, the tournament in Japan many moons ago when they handed
$160,000 for first, which was unheard of and who could forget his classic
battle with Earl in the COM.
Click to expand...

Who do you like in this years DCC one pocket? Pick somebody and I'll take Efren to go deeper in the tourney than your guy.
 
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