Corey Deuel and Irving Crane

Corey's Attitude

I played in the 1993 BCA Junior Nationals in Kansas City with a 15 year old Corey Deuel. He finished fourth, Coltrain was clearly the man back then. I have seen him several times since and he gives the same perception he did back then, that he is kind of arrogant when he is in tournament action. But that is his right, he is a natural talent, not much of an entertainer, but his lone wolf attitude works pretty well for him in competition. Tiger doesn't talk to anyone Thursday thru Sunday, but he seems pretty normal outside the ropes. Charlie Williams gives the same perception. I am not saying how they are when they are sitting around the table at Thanksgiving with their families, just how they come off at tournaments. I'm sure there are situations that humble guys like Corey and Charlie, but pool tournaments aren't one of them.
 
who mentored corey???? not sure exactly i know he and Dee Adkins were around each other for a long time i think corey even lived with him... maybe that was his start up???
Great guy though IMO
 
Crane is my fav player to watch, wished I had more tapes of him myself. More than anyone else, he makes 14.1 look like a cakewalk, and always professional in doing so.
BTW, did not Mike Sigel grow up around Crane? Could explain some of Mike's knowledge on 14.1 I know they both lived in Rochester, NY.
 
iwilleatyou said:
I played in the 1993 BCA Junior Nationals in Kansas City with a 15 year old Corey Deuel. He finished fourth, Coltrain was clearly the man back then. I have seen him several times since and he gives the same perception he did back then, that he is kind of arrogant when he is in tournament action. But that is his right, he is a natural talent, not much of an entertainer, but his lone wolf attitude works pretty well for him in competition. Tiger doesn't talk to anyone Thursday thru Sunday, but he seems pretty normal outside the ropes. Charlie Williams gives the same perception. I am not saying how they are when they are sitting around the table at Thanksgiving with their families, just how they come off at tournaments. I'm sure there are situations that humble guys like Corey and Charlie, but pool tournaments aren't one of them.
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How did you do in the 93' Junior Nationals?
 
nothing to do with it

In 1966 Willie Mosconi walked in Texas by Takis Billaird parlor in Oakcliff Tx.A Cab pulled up and Mr. Mosconi got out with two bags and two cue cases. Walk in and hugged Auther Takis and shock hands and talk far maybe an hour..Then I was told to uncover table 1 and brush it down..I ask how he wanted them he said straight;;Then it started they and played far about 11hr.maybe 12 I was only 14 at the time.Thy left and came back about 10 hr. later Drank coffee and talk to us all then thy played about 12to13 hr. later Willie told Auther he had to be at Love feild in 3 hr. and wanted to cleaned up then he open one suit case and got his money belt and started to count out C notes I lost count at 23..I know that doesent have anything to do with Corey looking like Irving..Anyway I would like to have seen Irving Crane play Willie Moscni close to the same time he ran what 528 on a 4 1/2 by9 footer OH YA WHEN HE LEFT HE TOLD ALL OF US THAT AUTHER TAKIS WAS THE BEST AND WOULD BE HIS MENTOR FAR EVER..All I have to say is it was great watching and racking far in my thoughts the best I would ever get to see..
 
I just can't imagine Irving Crane practicing his golf swing with his cue between games. However, Corey......

Scott <<== noticed the swing was on plane.... ;)
 
I have been around Corey about a dozen times and I have only seen him act in a very professional manner. Just what I have witnessed over the years at a few tournaments.

-don
 
jay helfert said:
Mosconi retired in the late 50's when he was not yet fifty years old. He had a heart condition which made playing in competition too stressful for him. He did come back to play in the Burbank tournament in 1966, where he finished second to Balsis (Cisero Murphy beat Willie in the key match), and threw a fit. He went after tourney promoter Arnie Satin at the trophy presentation.

Crane meanwhile played right through the 60's, continuing to win events. He remained a competitive player in the 70's, still capable of beating anyone.
Both of these men returned one more time to play in the Legends Of Pool in the 1980's. Lassiter won both times this event was held. He was a good ten years younger than either one of these guys at the time.
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That brings up an interesting point. When discussing who is/was the best (in any sport) how important a factor should longevity in the game be? I.e., if Mosconi had to bow out because of a physical weakness (heart condition), does that reduce his claim as the best ever. If his natural shooting ability (admittedly coupled with hard work) gave him the right to that claim, does his natural weakness distract from the claim.
Steve. <== Playing the devil's advocate here.
 
catscradle said:
That brings up an interesting point. When discussing who is/was the best (in any sport) how important a factor should longevity in the game be? I.e., if Mosconi had to bow out because of a physical weakness (heart condition), does that reduce his claim as the best ever. If his natural shooting ability (admittedly coupled with hard work) gave him the right to that claim, does his natural weakness distract from the claim.
Steve. <== Playing the devil's advocate here.
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I see your point but don't think it applies to Mosconi. He didn't hang up his cue in 1957, he just stopped playing in tournaments. He entered one more tournament in 1966 and finished second - not bad considering such a long layoff from tournament play. He was doing exhibitions throughout the 60's in the post-Hustler boom for pool, and running hundreds routinely. Arguably, he was still playing the game better than anybody. He started playing in world championships in 1933, so longevity is not an issue with Mosconi. He accomplished 35-40 years of top level play, hardly a flash in the pan.

The longevity record has to be held by Willie Hoppe, who won his first world's championship at age 18 and his last at 65, after which he retired.
 
I was surprised when I watched the video of Crane's interview and he said he only played three or four days a week. He said people who play four hours a day to stay in stroke are wasting their time.

I'm glad somebody preserved the 1966 match vs Balsis so everybody could see the man's game. As far as I know he never gambled but he could have caught a lot of people by surprise because his demeanor did not suggest that he was a pool player.
 
Bobby said:
Corey was mentored by Jimmy Caras.
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Yep, there is a seat at park avenue billiards (orange park florida) that has a placque dedicated to jimmy caras where he came in and set watched people play , this was in his older years before he died, he used to say stuff like "now why did he miss that shot?" and everyone would tell him "well jimmy not everybody plays like you!"

From what people say corey was already a hell of a player before he got with jimmy.
 
The Deacon could play some. In addition to winning 6 World Crowns (one of which, in '66, he ran 150 and out in the finals at the age of 53), he came in 2nd 13 times. He also won the World Series of Billiards at the age of 65.

I mean come on now, pulleeze! :D

I would imagine he had an influence on Mike Sigel since they are both from Rochester. I read story on Wikipedia that said when Sigel was a young player he asked Crane to play. Crane ran 200 on him and then played a safety.:p
 
alstl said:
I was surprised when I watched the video of Crane's interview and he said he only played three or four days a week. He said people who play four hours a day to stay in stroke are wasting their time.

I'm glad somebody preserved the 1966 match vs Balsis so everybody could see the man's game. As far as I know he never gambled but he could have caught a lot of people by surprise because his demeanor did not suggest that he was a pool player.
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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!
 
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