ratcues said:
Allen Hopkins
On another note, if Efren had been born, ahem, "American" his world wide impact would have been 100 fold what it is.
Billiard industry
- Thread starter ratcues
- Start date
Allen Hopkins
On another note, if Efren had been born, ahem, "American" his world wide impact would have been 100 fold what it is.
ironman said:
OK, Randy Goetlicher and Robin Adair. But from what I understand, McChesney was the driving force of that organization.
The Rules "TE" or "Texas Express" what can I say except WOW ! That was probably biggest impact on pool in the last 20 years hands down.
Those rules changed the game.
Mj
I have to agree with Diamond. They are the largest proactive force in billiards.JCIN said:Easy.
Diamond.
I am speaking about the last 20 years (which is most relavant to me)
One way to realize all that they do is try to imagine what it would be like if they were not around.
Scary.
As a cuemaker/repairman, I think Bill Stroud has made an impact, not only as a cuemaker, but the innovations he introduced.
He was a notorious road player.
He was a pioneer in custom cuemaking.
He was one of the first to introduce CNC machines to cuemaking.
He helped develop the Uniloc, Radial, and Universal Smart shaft. All of which are prevalent in the industry today.
He has passed on his expertise to other cuemakers and manufacturers and that benefits everybody.
He was a notorious road player.
He was a pioneer in custom cuemaking.
He was one of the first to introduce CNC machines to cuemaking.
He helped develop the Uniloc, Radial, and Universal Smart shaft. All of which are prevalent in the industry today.
He has passed on his expertise to other cuemakers and manufacturers and that benefits everybody.
I think Mike Shamos has done a tremendous amount for bring the knowledge and history of the game.
Another (yes I'm biased but...) Wes Hunter. A great cuemaker that runs a very popular amature women's tour and a heck of a good guy.
As a company Diamond has promoted pool very well.
Mike Howerton for AZ Billiards as a knowledge gathering point for all of us enthusiast.
I can list many others, it's hard to keep it to one...
Jim
Another (yes I'm biased but...) Wes Hunter. A great cuemaker that runs a very popular amature women's tour and a heck of a good guy.
As a company Diamond has promoted pool very well.
Mike Howerton for AZ Billiards as a knowledge gathering point for all of us enthusiast.
I can list many others, it's hard to keep it to one...
Jim
Fats was important because he brought pool into peoples houses and conversations and on TV(and no I'm not compairing myself to him, I will never be 4% of what he was). But he did make pool a household thing at least for me growing up in the 70's, older and younger people might have a different view. I'm also answereing this question as in a one person influence right now, so I cant say Diamond(Greg/Mark). I'll get to that later.
If I was going to say a company, Brunswick is important because they have been around since the Civil War, Diamond is huge these days, But I bet Sears sold aot of pool tables from their catalogs for many years thus bringing pool into peoples houses so thats different than pool hall pool, they might have sold more tables than Diamond has(Yet).
The movies Hustler and COM both helped alot, COM made Bushka a bigger name than he was before the movie, Gus Szamboti in pool rooms has been a big name for years, for people who know that their eyes light up when you show them a Szam or Bushka-more so than any other cue makers(not a knock either), Brunswick made a pile of cues too, getting cues in the hands of alot of people, so did the "Fat's" cues at K-Mart(I think thats right sears had someone as well) again my point being bringing pool to the masses.
Pat Flemming captured alot of recent history for a established niche market, which is cool but I dont think he brought many people into pool rather he served a market he didnt create a market(not a knock). I'm trying to answere this in a broad sence, "who put pool infront of the most people in recent history?"
Those are some of the influential people and companys that got us to where we are today reguarding pool as a home game, not as a proffessional sport or league thing, tournment game etc., from my perspective as a 41 year old person. Someone old like Jay might think greenleaf did more
.
the real question for a different thread is who is gonna do more in the future....
If I was going to say a company, Brunswick is important because they have been around since the Civil War, Diamond is huge these days, But I bet Sears sold aot of pool tables from their catalogs for many years thus bringing pool into peoples houses so thats different than pool hall pool, they might have sold more tables than Diamond has(Yet).
The movies Hustler and COM both helped alot, COM made Bushka a bigger name than he was before the movie, Gus Szamboti in pool rooms has been a big name for years, for people who know that their eyes light up when you show them a Szam or Bushka-more so than any other cue makers(not a knock either), Brunswick made a pile of cues too, getting cues in the hands of alot of people, so did the "Fat's" cues at K-Mart(I think thats right sears had someone as well) again my point being bringing pool to the masses.
Pat Flemming captured alot of recent history for a established niche market, which is cool but I dont think he brought many people into pool rather he served a market he didnt create a market(not a knock). I'm trying to answere this in a broad sence, "who put pool infront of the most people in recent history?"
Those are some of the influential people and companys that got us to where we are today reguarding pool as a home game, not as a proffessional sport or league thing, tournment game etc., from my perspective as a 41 year old person. Someone old like Jay might think greenleaf did more
.the real question for a different thread is who is gonna do more in the future....
No question in my mind. WALTER TEVIS! He wrote both The Hustler and The Color Of Money. When The Hustler movie came out, pool as we knew it in America, changed forever. New family style poolrooms sprang up all over. When The Color Of Money came out, viola it happened again. Except this time, it was all upscale rooms. Walter nearly singlehandedly saved pool twice. No wonder he got inducted into the Hall Of Fame. We now need him to do it again a third time. Unfortunately, that will be kind of hard to do from where he's at.
Second, I would acknowledge Robert Rossen and Martin Scorsece, the two men who made the above films. Rossen made a classic film that is shown to film school students to this day. Scorsece's film made pool bigger worldwide than ever before.
Third, I give the nod to Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason, who brought two unforgettable characters to the big screen.
And finally, the Fatman himself. He kept pool on the map for all those years he was in the limelight. People hung on his every word and deed. He was known and loved worldwide for being a poolplayer.
Those are my top six for making a long term difference in this sport.
Present day my vote might go to Mark Griffin. He has labored long and hard to create more opportunities for pool players to play and compete. Right alongside him are Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart, who created the APA and made pool fun again. Along with them I have to mention another unsung hero, Renee Poehlman, who has done a fabulous job of building the APA to what it is today.
Okay, so those are my top ten of people who have made the biggest difference in this sport in the year's I have been around.
Second, I would acknowledge Robert Rossen and Martin Scorsece, the two men who made the above films. Rossen made a classic film that is shown to film school students to this day. Scorsece's film made pool bigger worldwide than ever before.
Third, I give the nod to Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason, who brought two unforgettable characters to the big screen.
And finally, the Fatman himself. He kept pool on the map for all those years he was in the limelight. People hung on his every word and deed. He was known and loved worldwide for being a poolplayer.
Those are my top six for making a long term difference in this sport.
Present day my vote might go to Mark Griffin. He has labored long and hard to create more opportunities for pool players to play and compete. Right alongside him are Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart, who created the APA and made pool fun again. Along with them I have to mention another unsung hero, Renee Poehlman, who has done a fabulous job of building the APA to what it is today.
Okay, so those are my top ten of people who have made the biggest difference in this sport in the year's I have been around.
Last edited:
jay helfert said:
I have to agree with the the top six on your list because I saw what they did for pool and poolrooms first hand. We opened our poolroom in NY in 1958 I believe. We were just going to close it when the Hustler came out. For the next five years we had a waiting list just about every night. Just as pool was about to get flushed again the COM came out. Another five year surge followed that movie.
And of course Fats has to be noted too for bringing pool to TV. Johnnyt
Without a question in my mind Simonis Cloth Company has impacted the pool world the most in the last 20 years. It has totally changed the game of pool by going to faster cloth. The faster cloth with the way balls could slide into the pockets and balls could be pocketed with slow speed, is what brought on the tighter pockets. It made 9 ball go from being a fun to watch power pool game to being a somewhat boring game to watch. Now 9 ball is just stay on the proper side of the next object ball and run out. No really having to power around the table for shape. Not much turning the cue ball loose as with the fast cloth and tight pockets you might miss the shot.ratcues said:
