Corey Deuel and Irving Crane

[Scott Lee]

Doc...On top of his accomplishments on the pool table, Crane also held a REAL job, as a Cadillac salesman.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

It's hard to argue that Mosconi is not the greatest straight pool player of all time. However Crane had a much longer competitive career than did Mosconi, winning world titles (including 9-ball) in each of 6 decades. He also holds the high run of 309 on a 5 x 10 table, which I think is the most impressive high run by anyone on any equipment. This is a record which will never be broken. Crane was all business at the pool table, but otherwise a very classy gentleman.

Doc

 

[Mr441]

It's hard to argue that Mosconi is not the greatest straight pool player of all time. However Crane had a much longer competitive career than did Mosconi, winning world titles (including 9-ball) in each of 6 decades. He also holds the high run of 309 on a 5 x 10 table, which I think is the most impressive high run by anyone on any equipment. This is a record which will never be broken. Crane was all business at the pool table, but otherwise a very classy gentleman.

Doc

I agree that Crane had a very long competitive career but I must correct you on one point, Crane won world titles in 4 decades (40's, 50's, 60's, 70's) not 6.

 

[alstl]

I'm very surprised that Crane said that regarding practice. Other top pros swear by lots of practice. I know the snooker players all practice a lot, it's the only way to stay on top in snooker. The great Walter Lindrum used to practice 8-12 hours a day even after he was champion and insisted that he was the best because he practiced more than anyone else.


I'm pretty sure he did gamble at some point. Eddie Taylor says in avideo interview that he was once on the road with Crane for a brief time and Crane did gamble in 9-ball. In fact, he tells a funny story about how they went into a poolroom in the south and Crane plays some local player who has no idea who Crane is even though there's a big picture of him hanging right there by the table!

That's a good story. The interview used to be on avbtv, not sure if it is still there or not. It is a good interview, he talked about playing Mosconi and several other things. I'm sure his job selling cars combined with raising a family interfered with his practice time but he said once you reach a certain level you only need 3 or 4 days a week because you have the knowledge in your head. Might not work for everybody but it worked for him.

Another thing in the interview which I've heard Grady say about Crane was he kept playing until a ripe old age simply because he loved the game so much.

 

[Bobby]

That's a good story. The interview used to be on avbtv, not sure if it is still there or not. It is a good interview, he talked about playing Mosconi and several other things. I'm sure his job selling cars combined with raising a family interfered with his practice time but he said once you reach a certain level you only need 3 or 4 days a week because you have the knowledge in your head. Might not work for everybody but it worked for him.

Another thing in the interview which I've heard Grady say about Crane was he kept playing until a ripe old age simply because he loved the game so much.

Yes, I've heard he played until a very old age also. I think he is the oldest world champion in pool ever, winning his last one at about 60 years of age.

 

[The Saw]

Probably Mike Lebron more than anyone else.

Lebron, the Philipine invasion, Dee, Dees mom, and more than anything, Coreys own creative genius. He's no Rhodes Scholar but his creative genius is off the charts.... Put real money in pool and see what happens when Corey gets dedicated to pool again! IMO, he is bored with pool and has been for a long time and his behavior goes right along with that. He just doesn't care...

 

[alstl]

Lebron, the Philipine invasion, Dee, Dees mom, and more than anything, Coreys own creative genius. He's no Rhodes Scholar but his creative genius is off the charts.... Put real money in pool and see what happens when Corey gets dedicated to pool again! IMO, he is bored with pool and has been for a long time and his behavior goes right along with that. He just doesn't care...

You are right about that, Corey is one of the most creative players to come along in quite a while. The fact that they have changed the break rules because of his is proof.