Cisero Murphy Vs Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter Video from 1966

Thank you so much for posting this important video footage. I would bet most people on this forum have never seen either of these players (especially Cisero) shoot a single ball. It's important that we put this information out on the 'net for future reference.

I'd like to save a copy. Could you post the full vid on a host so I can do that? TIA!!!

http://rapidshare.com/
or
http://www.megaupload.com/

EDIT: I tried to give REP, but I got the spread it around thing. Sorry!
 
Last edited:
I've never seen this match. Thanks.

The first thing I notice is that on the opening break, Murphy puts the cue ball about a half diamond in front of the headstring. Nobody seems to mind though.
 
ronhudson said:
I've never seen this match. Thanks.

The first thing I notice is that on the opening break, Murphy puts the cue ball about a half diamond in front of the headstring. Nobody seems to mind though.
Click to expand...
I thought the same thing...but if you look closely, the picture is distorted (they were probably using an odd lens to get all of the table in frame). Look where the near side pocket is. He was behind the string after all.
 
Cisero is a sharp looking guy, i never saw him play untiol now, somehow I missed these video's over the years. His stroke is almost as complicated as Keiths is.

Luther looks like a C player all choked up on his cue.....until he hits the ball.

Wow what great video!!!
 
Thanks Lenny...rep coming. Did you all see all the peple in the stands? Not much else to do back then if you were legit. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
Thanks Lenny...rep coming. Did you all see all the peple in the stands? Not much else to do back then if you were legit. Johnnyt
Click to expand...
You can see Red sitting next to Dottie. :smile:
 
Since Luther is my favorite....

Does anyone have anything else of him? I think I've seen it all but I'm always looking:D

I often wonder what happened to all of that "wide world of sports" film stock????? There was a lot put on film from those days. Wasn't a couple of networks present during most of the Johnston City days? I've only seen the stuff on youtube of luther playing the last game of 1pkt but I'd love to find some(all) of that old stuff. I've actually tried to search the network (abc, cbs et al.) archives but can't really find anything. It's probably forgotten and sitting in some dark leaking stinky vault deteriorating. :angry:

If anyone has ANYTHING of Luther or any vintage footage. please PM me or reply here. I love the vintage stuff

thanks
BTW I already have the 3disc Vintage dvd set of greenleaf, taberski and the like <==it's great stuff
 
Man, that cut shot at 6 minutes and 20seconds in on the second part video was fearless the way he went into those balls, what a shot.
 
and also....

Johnnyt said:
Thanks Lenny...rep coming. Did you all see all the peple in the stands? Not much else to do back then if you were legit. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

Quite a few coats and black ties in the stands.........was that the fashion then, or were they requested to wear ties? Kinda like the blues bros. or men in black..........
 
Awesome video.. thanks

some of the comments were great like "Steve Mizerak... the youngster"

or how they mention Murphys pause at the back of his stroke.

which leads me to fundamentals.. between Lassiter and Murphy .. Murphy had much more solid fundamentals.. especially considering the time..

the you tube link brought up more of Lennys videos

and one of them shows Frost and Strickland playing a rack of 10 ball..

and it is the same thing.. Strickland drops his elbow, his warm ups change every shot... less than stellar fundamentals..

Frost is nearly textbook..

the only problem... both Murphy and Frost lost...

Is this proof of the million ball theory?

the more balls you hit the better you are going to play the game... period...

I will add that after improving my fundamentals my rate of improvement increased... but if I would have continued doing what I was doing I could reach the same skill.. it just would have taken longer..IMO
 
The hesitation Cisero had on his back swing got more pronounced as he got older. It makes me feel good to see this. Cisero was my friend and a very fine man! He was a helluva athlete and could have excelled at any sport. I heard he was a champion boxer before getting into pool. I know he was built like a rock.

Did you notice Lassiter's unique bridge when shooting left handed? I never saw anyone else use a bridge like this. Chris Schenkel was a fine announcer by the way. What a smooth voice he had. I'm not sure who "Johnny" was.

I did see Onifrio Lauri sitting right by the table at the foot end. He was well into his 60's then but still a great player. I also saw Norman Howard (the Jockey) sitting in the second row. And of course Jersey Red was right up front. Al Gassner, the referee, was another fine New York Straight Pool player.

Don't worry Stu, I know it was before your time kid. :wink:
 
jay helfert said:
Did you notice Lassiter's unique bridge when shooting left handed? I never saw anyone else use a bridge like this. Chris Schenkel was a fine announcer by the way. What a smooth voice he had. I'm not sure who "Johnny" was.
Click to expand...

Bob Jewett was explaining the use of this bridge at last years DCC in the straight pool room. I think they were talking about balkline or straight carom when it came up.

Bob please give some info on the palm up bridge if you see this.....
 
This thread sent me on a search for more about Cisero. Here's what I have found:

Cisero was inducted to the BCA Hall of Fame in 1995. Here is their summary:

"CISERO MURPHY: Born to a Brooklyn, New York family in 1937, James Cisero Murphy was the first and only African-American ever to win a world or U.S. national billiard title. He started by taking the New York City championship at age 16. While in his 20's he won the Eastern States 14.1 Championship six straight times against top competition, but because of his race was not invited to compete in world title events until 1965, when he won the Burbank World Invitational 14.1 tournament, beating Joe Balsis, Jimmy Moore and Luther Lassiter. Murphy remains the only player in the history of pocket billiards competition to win a world title on his first attempt. He continued to place near the top in straight pool events during the 1960s and, two decades later, had a winning record in the 1983 BCA U.S. Open 14.1 Championship. Murphy has posted several competitive high runs of over 250 balls."

Blackjack's (David Sapolis) memories of Cisero:
http://www.cet.com/~cuemaster/RSB/cisero.htm

Did you know Leroy Neiman painted Cisero?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Leroy-Neiman-Ci...16603807QQihZ024QQcategoryZ2852QQcmdZViewItem

Photos:
cicero_murphy.jpg

Cisero002.jpg

CiseroMurphy.jpg


A mural in Brooklyn:
sisero_murphy.jpg


A publicity booklet valued at $1500:
m128.jpg


Cisero's HoF Inductee Booklet valued at $250:
m390murphy.jpg


Typos & errors were rampant...Sisero Murphy, a lefty player, inducted in Las Vega, NV. LOL
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top