Champions That Stay In Too Long

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
I almost didn’t buy the TAR package for the first time since they started. At 72 yo I’ve seen a lot of champions from almost all sports try to stay in the game too long past their prime. I remember the Brown Bomber, Floyd Patterson (Who I knew very well) and countless other boxing champs stay in too long or try a comeback because they were broke, missed the limelight, or just thought they still had it, only to embarrass themselves in front of millions of their fans. Broadway Joe was another that had a sad ending to his career. There were a lot more in football back in the day that had sad endings. In baseball Ruth stayed in too long along with Mantle and dozens of other champions. This don’t happen as much in the major team sports today because the money is so big owners want the best players in there. I sincerely hope I’m not about to watch another great champion tonight staying in the game at the highest level too long. I hope I am very wrong here and the Magician puts up a great battle. I’m not even betting on the match (1st TAR no bet) because if it happens I’ll have to turn it off before I start to tear up. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
I bought it. Johnnyt
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Good!
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I recorded Grady Mathews last gambling match which I streamed with John Henderson. I have not put it on the internet and its just sitting in the can. I just did not think the match did Grady any justice whatsoever and it was sad to watch really. Not sure if and when I will ever put it out there for the public to watch even though I have had some request for it. Mike Sigel bowed out in his prime I believe besides the IPT stuff, probably the smart thing to do which might be why we do not see Efren at DCC anymore.
 
He's different!

He does not fear anyone, he's playing against himself! A 2 or 3 day tourny might wear him down, but he can control the pace of a match like this, he'll be fine..., Dont be surprised!

I did bet and I took Efren!
 
King T said:
He does not fear anyone, he's playing against himself! A 2 or 3 day tourny might wear him down, but he can control the pace of a match like this, he'll be fine..., Dont be surprised!

I did bet and I took Efren!
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Again, I really hope you are right.
 
This will probably be one of the last times we see two of Pool's greatest players ever play the game against each other, and in a TAR match nonetheless.

I don't know why you wouldn't buy it.
 
about 8 months ago Efren came straight from the airport to the pool room, he had a game set up 11/7 I think for $200-$300/game. Efren walks in with his cue, the baggage claim check still attached to his case. He tosses all 15 eggs out on the box runs out in rotation, might have moved a ball here or there but for the most part ran out. did that 2 more times. FWIW I cant see straight after a 15 hour flight let alone play pool.

efren didnt look tired, he looked great, he got warmed up and played damn near perfect, only missed a ball or 2, came with a trick shot a double kiss tickey sorta thing in the top oppsite corner which made the OB go in his hole to win, I thought he shit it in, he didnt smile. then 3 -4 racks later he made the EXACT same shot again-he won 2 games with this shot-no accident.

I watched the whole session, at the end he looked fine, then went home to eat/shower.


I aint worrried about Efren yet.to address JT's post which is a valid post about knowing when to say when. Efren will just switch to chess and rob everyone there when pool is over, if its ever over. Since he stopped smoking and fixed his teeth he has looked great.

If SVB puts a beating on him, it could be because SVB is just playing that good-IMO he is playing the best he ever has and will continue to improve for a couple more years. He aint the player Efren is. Will he be? dont know. If he drills Efren so be it, live to fight another day. Now if efren misses lots of balls and doggs it(I dont see that based on what i saw 8 months ago on the rail) then yeah he should consider retiring, but one loss to one player-is no reason to retire(a consideration if it happens a few times in a row).

He is very smart has his $$ and isnt going make any mistake with the end of his pool career, he picks his spots wisely. he aint broke like lots of boxers are so they just come back for the payday. he loves to play and win, if he didnt KNOW he had a shot to win he would duck SVB. Who knows pool better than he does? or his game? nobody but him, he sees things in SVB we dont cause he is at that level.

I think it will be a competitive match.
 
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I get what you are talking about, Johnny. Here's one I'm sure you remember well. Maybe the saddest fall of all time, by the greatest that ever was.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nlKKn_dUqqA

I wish Efren the best, but if he goes down badly, I wonder if Shane will cry like Holmes did over Ali.

All that said, I'm gonna grab a nice pour of Knob Creek and a fat Honduran and be glued to the TV for the next few hours like the rest of you.
 
I really had to read what your wrote twice.
Hope you are having a better day.
Efren is a long way from hanging up his cue.
Hugs
mrs.g
 
Well he looked pretty good in the 8-ball. Shane played very bad in the first 1/3rd of the match. That is when the old Magic Man would have jumped out to a good lead and put pressure on SVB. He never could break but his skills could over come that back then. If I had no break SVB would be the last one I'd agree to play 8 and 10 ball with. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
In baseball Ruth stayed in too long along with Mantle and dozens of other champions. This don’t happen as much in the major team sports today because the money is so big owners want the best players in there.
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I stopped when i read this because a friend of mine who is in his late 60,s and is an original Mets fan from 1962 was talking to me and mentioned the same thing only he used Willie Mays as an example and said how painful it was to watch him in the 1973 world series, falling down in center field and just not looking anything like he used to. Stayed in way too long.
I remember the 73 series but it didnt make as big an impression on me as i was only 13 at the time, but as i read what you said above and what my friend said, i got to figure those guys werent that smart with their money and they didnt get anything in the way of contracts like these bums get today.
 
Johnnyt said:
If I had no break SVB would be the last one I'd agree to play 8 and 10 ball with. Johnnyt
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Agreed. The stats backed it up. The break hurt Efren big time. Shane deserves everything he gets as he worked hard for that break.

Freddie <~~~ can't break as well as Efren
 
without even seeing the tar match its another jt thread that seems to be a few minutes early.efren isn't playing a c player and getting robbed,hes matching up with one of the top players in the world and going to be in it or win it when its over.champions who stayed past their prime or too long eventually lose to mediocre opponents and that's when people feel bad watching.
while efren might be on the way down he has way too far to fall before the jerry cooneys of the pool world beat him even.
 
scttybee said:
without even seeing the tar match its another jt thread that seems to be a few minutes early.efren isn't playing a c player and getting robbed,hes matching up with one of the top players in the world and going to be in it or win it when its over.champions who stayed past their prime or too long eventually lose to mediocre opponents and that's when people feel bad watching.
while efren might be on the way down he has way too far to fall before the jerry cooneys of the pool world beat him even.
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Like I said, Shane shot horrible (for him) the first 1/3rds of the match or it would not even been close In the 10 ball match Shane will win by a muck bigger margin I believe. Johnnyt
 
its not just this match or this tar event,yes hes getting older but when you talk about staying too long that means the person is embarrassing themselves or their own reputation,there used to be efren and then the rest of the world,now hes down a bit with the mortals(the top mortals)
and you start another silly thread(btw im curbing my need to crap on it)
he needs to drop 5 balls to be just another top player worry when he gets to the 4th one
 
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