Anybody know Gracek?

crawfish

crawfish

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am new to the forum, but not new to the pool scene. Back in the 90's (early, 92?) I got tortured by a Ricky Gracek from supposedly Chicago area. So did everyone else around Raleigh. Any info on the guy? Johnny told me he wouldn't drive across town and chase this guy down, so I know the fellow was for real. Does he still play? Was this his real name? Just curious.
 
crawfish said:
I am new to the forum, but not new to the pool scene. Back in the 90's (early, 92?) I got tortured by a Ricky Gracek from supposedly Chicago area. So did everyone else around Raleigh. Any info on the guy? Johnny told me he wouldn't drive across town and chase this guy down, so I know the fellow was for real. Does he still play? Was this his real name? Just curious.
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Who's Johnny? Archer?
 
Yes, Archer.

Johnny used to live in Raleigh and told me that if Ricky was cross town, he would not drive over there to find him to play: but, if he came in to wherever he was.... sure. So, I figured this guy was a real world beater.
 
I used to keep track of all the new players and yes, ricky was for real. I haven't heard anything about him for several years. Odds are, he finally realized pool was not a consistent living and settled into a family and a real job. I'm not sure where he was from exactly, but he made a big impression in Detroit by winning several of the monthly events over a few month spam with guys like Harry Sexton, and Cornbread Red playing in them. Those $25 entry tournaments had a lot of great players showing up. I think the last time I saw him play was in Vegas at the VNEA with some of the Michigan guys.
 
satman said:
I used to keep track of all the new players and yes, ricky was for real. I haven't heard anything about him for several years. Odds are, he finally realized pool was not a consistent living and settled into a family and a real job. I'm not sure where he was from exactly, but he made a big impression in Detroit by winning several of the monthly events over a few month spam with guys like Harry Sexton, and Cornbread Red playing in them. Those $25 entry tournaments had a lot of great players showing up. I think the last time I saw him play was in Vegas at the VNEA with some of the Michigan guys.
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Yeah, Ricky (Gracyk) - a young phenom from Detroit. I remember him coming from the losers side to torture Grady two sets for the win in one of those tough monthly tournaments. And he was about 17 at the time.

That trip to NC is probably when he gave a young Cliff Joiner the eight and beat him - but Cliff came thru Detroit a few years later and offered HIM the eight!

I don't think Ricky ever could have played Archer even.

He quit pool about ten years ago.
 
Rick "The Stick" Gracyk

This Kid played some of the best pool I've ever seen. Looked like he was 15, quiet, and deadly. I know there has to be posters that have ran accross him. I used to hear about him coming back from long road trips all the time. He wouldn't hustle, he would walk into a pool room and ask who is the best player, and play them. One of the most fundamentally sound players I've seen.
 
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