Balukas or A. Fisher??

[freddy the beard]

Trivia question

Who was the first male Jean played in a major tournament? Hint, it was in St. Charles IL, she won the match with a score of 11 to 2 and shot an accu-stat figure of 900 plus. She was so dominant in the match that she apologized to her opponent for playing so good. Her next match was with Spanish Mike LeBron and she bar-b-qued him too.

the Beard

 

[vagabond]

Jean Balukas is my dream girl
Allison Fisher is my DIVA.

 

[jay helfert]

Who was the first male Jean played in a major tournament? Hint, it was in St. Charles IL, she won the match with a score of 11 to 2 and shot an accu-stat figure of 900 plus. She was so dominant in the match that she apologized to her opponent for playing so good. Her next match was with Spanish Mike LeBron and she bar-b-qued him too.

the Beard

Was it you Freddie?

 

[Cornerman]

cuechick earlier said Jean didn't really have a love for the game, her heart was more into tennis or golf. can anybody elaborate on this? it's not very often you have arguably the greatest player in a sport not having a real love for the game. interesting.

I elaborated on it. But I will elaborate more, if you need it. She was dominating a tour and it wasn't giving her any passion anymore. I think we all can understand this. At the time of her departure, she had won 16 WPBA tournaments in a row. The women didn't like playing her, and the men didn't like her playing in the open events. Not exactly a recipe for continued participation.

She did play other sports, but not to any professional status, to my knowledge She is/was an athlete. Referencing my earlier post, she was still playing competitive softball just a couple of years ago, but she had a knee injury. She probably still is playing if her legs haven't given out.

Fred <~~~ legs gave out a long time ago.

 

[Ken_4fun]

Get the match, and I am on the rail.......

As someone that has played a #1 Woman player before back in the day (Dorothy Wise "Dotty"), here is my opinion:

1) Race to 150, 14.1, even match Jean spotting Allison 30 balls.
2) 9 ball, winner breaks (Money style), race to 50, Jean spotting Allison
12-13 games on the wire for even match.
3) 9 ball, alternate break (tournament style), race to 50, Jean spotting Allison 8 games on the wire for even match.

I think Jean is a little better strategist than Allison, although we would have to see her 'defense' to really conclude on that. Jean has the better stroke, IMO, but not to take away from Allison as she also has a very good stroke. On power shots, Jean wins hands down against Allison.

The competition for Jean was not as tough as Allison playing other women players, but Jean played some well respoected men's players, and beat them, therefore I think the toughness and killer instinct has to go to Jean too, although Allison is a fighter too.

BTW, I would of considered Dotty an 'A' player, but not above that. I took $400 off of her playing on a big table, and feel as if I could have given her the 7. She had a male companion with her to be the 'draw', with her being the 'hammer', but it didn't work out for them.

Another point I would like to make is Jean retired in 1989 at the age of 29, so she is ONLY 46 TODAY, and not what I would call 'over the hill'. If they were ever matched up, I think it wouild stand the Pool world on its head, being able to sell out railbird seats for $500 a seat, as well as being on TV. And they would have to play by TODAY'S standards, not yesterdays.

Obviously this is the second biggest payday out there. They are sitting on a winning lottery ticket and nobody wants to cash it.........


Ken

 

[pdcue]

No ball in hand?

Jean faced a pretty tough ladies field as well...Robin Dodson, Lori Jon and Ewa (ofcourse they are no Karen Corr) and the no ball in hand and longer races made 9 ball a tougher game as well. If they played 9 ball today like they did back then, with no ball in hand, you would see a huge difference in the mens tournies as well.

Southpaw

FWIW - men's tourneys were Ball in hand from the 60s onwards.
BIH started at Johnston City, the dreaded 'push out' version.
One foul had taken over totally, for tournaments, by the early 70s.

AFAIK - women played the same rules

Dale

 

[pdcue]

This information is all quite accurate. I was Co-Director with Pat Fleming of the Brunswick World Open at Caesar's Palace. I was out in the television truck when the incident happened. There is a tape of this match, although I don't have it.

Basically a minor beef, and a subsequent (questionable?) fine, ended up curtailing the career of a legend. I often said that I saw worse in every men's tournament I ever officiated. It was not much of an altercation.

My personal feeling was that the other women were tired of Jean beating them ALL the time, and wanted an excuse to ban her. They may not like me saying this, but I have always had this feeling.

Once aghain Jay, you are dead on the money.
Loree Jon, who on her very best day couldn't have beaten Jeanie
with two guns and a knife, went on to be the "champion" at 14.1

What a joke, a sad joke indeed

Dale

 

[Cornerman]

Once aghain Jay, you are dead on the money.
Loree Jon, who on her very best day couldn't have beaten Jeanie
with two guns and a knife, went on to be the "champion" at 14.1

What a joke, a sad joke indeed

Dale

But... Loree Jon won her first World 14.1 Championship before Jean quit.

Fred

 

[pdcue]

But... Loree Jon won her first World 14.1 Championship before Jean quit.

Fred

Where and when?

IIRC Jean never failed to win a 14.1 championship
from the time she won her first one

Dale<inquiring mind wants to know>

 

[Nostroke]

Where and when?

IIRC Jean never failed to win a 14.1 championship
from the time she won her first one

Dale<inquiring mind wants to know>

Jean won the World Championship 1977 through 1980- Loree Jon won the next year with Vicke Frechen runner- up and then Jean won the next two years 82 and 83 with Loree Jon runner-up.

BTW-In checking the record book i noticed that Irving Crane won the World Championships in the 40's, 50's 60's and 70's. Pretty strong.

 

[Cornerman]

Where and when?

IIRC Jean never failed to win a 14.1 championship
from the time she won her first one

Dale<inquiring mind wants to know>

That's an interesting twist. According to the BCA Rulebook and the Guinness Book of World Records, LJJ won her first World 14.1 Championship in 1981. She did it again in 1986. Was Jean present at these? I don't know, but Jean won the 1977-1980 World 14.1, and then 1982-83. Jean quit in 1989. It's certainly possible that Jean didn't play the 1981, 1986 or 1985 (Belinda) World 14.1 Championship.

I just wanted to point out the LJJ did in fact win major 14.1 tournaments before Jean quit.

You might be thinking of the US Open 14.1 which Jean never failed to win after winning her first one.

Fred

 

[jay helfert]

But... Loree Jon won her first World 14.1 Championship before Jean quit.

Fred

Loree Jon beat Vicky? for the Championship at the age of 15. It may have been Jean's last tournament she did not win, prior to the sixteen in a row. It was a short race to 75 I believe. Actually, I thought Loree Jon beat Jean for the Championship. Who knows the answer to this? I guess I could call LJJ.

Listen Loree Jon was no slouch at 14.1 and neither was Ewa.

 

[hemicudas]

Loree Jon beat Vicky? for the Championship at the age of 15. It may have been Jean's last tournament she did not win, prior to the sixteen in a row. It was a short race to 75 I believe. Actually, I thought Loree Jon beat Jean for the Championship. Who knows the answer to this? I guess I could call LJJ.

Listen Loree Jon was no slouch at 14.1 and neither was Ewa.

Quite right, Jay. Also at the time I believe her name was still Loree Jon Ogonowski(sp).

 

[ribdoner]

Quite right, Jay. Also at the time I believe her name was still Loree Jon Ogonowski(sp).

YEP... that's why she played better

BTW, does anyone else think she was/is one the the most attractive female players on the tour??

 

[tedkaufman]

Once aghain Jay, you are dead on the money.
Loree Jon, who on her very best day couldn't have beaten Jeanie
with two guns and a knife, went on to be the "champion" at 14.1

What a joke, a sad joke indeed

Dale

You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. In her prime, Jean didn't have to beat LJJ, who was just a kid when Jean retired.

But for your information, as recently as a few months ago, LJJ showed up at a local pool hall and ran a nifty 140. She also ran 5 racks and out on a tight pocket Diamond ProAm against Thorsten Hohmann to knock him out of an IPT event.

Your comments are ridiculous.

 

[Nostroke]

YEP... that's why she played better

BTW, does anyone else think she was/is one the the most attractive female players on the tour??

From my point of view, She was #1 of anyone in top 16.

Amazing how she went from 9 months pregnant to 109 Lbs in about 5 weeks-not once but 3 times!! Im not sure if it was really 5 weeks but it was damn quick.

Actually though last time i saw her, i thought she was a bit too skinny and i don't often say that about anyone.

 

[classiccues]

I think Balukas would OWN any of the current girl players in straight pool. Flat out bust them. 9 ball back then was mainly push out, and in push out 9 ball, she would probably win. In her prime, I saw her a few times at High Cue and I remember Jack Colavita saying to us, she is as tough as anyone in the house. Thats good enough for me.

JV

 

[14oneman]

Wow!

I think Balukas would OWN any of the current girl players in straight pool. Flat out bust them. 9 ball back then was mainly push out, and in push out 9 ball, she would probably win. In her prime, I saw her a few times at High Cue and I remember Jack Colavita saying to us, she is as tough as anyone in the house. Thats good enough for me.

JV

You guys are all mind readers! No need for me to comment, you all beat me to the punch!

Classiccues is RIGHT ON! I've said it before on other threads, Jean is simply the greatest female pool player to ever pick up a cue.

 

[freddy the beard]

Yes, Jay

Was it you Freddie?

I knew it would be you that would get it, Jay. The worst part was when she apologized for murdering me. "I'm sorry, Freddy," she said in a timid. little girl voice. Other than snooker, I couldnt possibly bet on any other girl playing pool other than Jeannie.

the Beard

 

[AuntyDan]

Robin filed a complaint with the WPBA board. The board (made up of players) doled out the fine. The WPBA fined Jean something small ($200?) for the sharking, and Jean refusing to pay it walked away from the tour. The two as far as I know remain friends. Jean said (to me) that at the time, she really was sick of playing on the tour and was probably looking for a good excuse to walk. She hasn't really entertained any comebacks (on the WPBA tour).

For those Balukas fans there's also a chapter about her and "Hall Of Fame Billiards", which she runs in Brooklyn with her family, in the excellent "Shooting Pool" by Mike Shamos and George Bennett. In this she states it was not so much the fine but the fact that it was the other WPBA players who got to decide her punishment that was the sticking point for her. However, as Fred confirms, one has to assume that she would not have quit over just this issue if she had not already lost most of her desire and motivation to play.