Danny D. and the HOF

Jerry Forsyth

Jerry Forsyth

Well-known member
I would like to clear up some misconceptions from another thread. First, you should all know that I wrote the book "Road Player" that is the story of Danny D. So it would be in my selfish best interest to see him elected to the HOF as it could improve book sales. Now, to clear up some things:

1) Nobody from the BCA "assured" Danny that he would be inducted into the HOF this year. They could not do that because the BCA does not elect anyone into the HOF. That is done by members of the billiard media. Staff members from AZB, Billiards Digest, Pool & Billiard, Inside Pool, etc do this job. It used to be done by BCA voting members but it was felt that this became political and that these members did not know the players or their skills as well as the media who are with them at every event.

2) Terry Bell and Larry Hubbard were not elected to the HOF over Danny. Danny is in the "Veteran Player" category and that category was not up for vote this year. That category and the "Meritorious Service" category (that Bell and Hubbard were elected from) alternate years. Veteran Player will be voted on in 2011.

3) One poster stated: "Everybody knows that the BCA is run by the pool print media and industry members, with the pool print media making the decisions." Well, it IS run by industry members. But the media is not allowed to serve on the board of the BCA and media members are not even allowed a vote on any issues before the BCA, so the media certainly does not run the BCA in any way.

4) This poster went on to say: "Personally, I do not believe it is done by vote, even though a so-called vote is cast. It's who you know that gets you in the BCA's Hall of Fame, and Danny should know this." Well, this is just wrong. It is done by a vote, the votes are tabulated openly at the headquarters of Billiards Digest, and the results are public. Every candidate has their resume presented to the voting members of the media and those members vote based on the resumes and their own knowledge of the candidates.

5) This same post went on to say: "Ask Buddy Hall what he's received for his BCA Hall of Fame recognition, as an example. I'm sure he's proud as punch to be recognzied by the pool print media and industry members, but it hasn't put any money in his pocket, but, gee, I wonder how much Buddy Hall being in the Hall of Fame has put in their collective pockets." And the answer is: Nothing. Please someone explain to me how Buddy being in the HOF has enriched anyone within the BCA or the print media?

Now, if you want to do something positive for Danny, bring a petition to the USOpen and start gathering signatures. Remember, those of us on the HOF voting board cannot sign this petition, obvious conflict of interest, but plenty of fans can and will.
 
Thanks for clearing things up about the HOF. I read the book and enjoyed it. Good reading.
 
JAM <---"poster"

ETA: When I read this post, I was on the phone with Mary Kenniston. She mentioned that she talked with Danny for a brief bit on the phone since his release from the hospital and he sounded great.

Now that I am off the phone with Mary Kenniston and I can post, it is I who is the poster that is referred to in Jerry's post for Nos. 3, 4, and 5.

Since the OP serves in an administrative capacity as well as moderator of this forum, it would not be wise or serve any purpose for me to reply illustratively with more detail to Nos. 3, 4, and 5 in this thread, suffice it to say that there used to be a BCA Hall of Fame Committee (HOF) consisting of industry AND print media members in the early 2000s, the exact date subject to check.

The person who relayed this vote to me, a vote that was taken over the telephone by the BCA's Hall of Fame Committee, is a well-known and credible print media person who cast his oral vote in that teleconference call attended by the HOF committee members, and I believe him.

I will add my signature to any petition to induct Danny DiLiberto into the BCA's Hall of Fame.

FTR, at somebody else's request, I tried in my own way to contribute to Danny's legacy by creating a Wikipedia page that now includes Danny in the American Pool Players category with as much data as I could muster at the time, poring through thousands of pages of old pool periodicals looking for any mention of "Danny DiLiberto."

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to add more meat to Danny's Wikipedia page, as everything has to be referenced on Wikipedia. Of course, I never expected a "thank you" from anyone for doing this for Danny DiLiberto's legacy on Wikipedia, and I've never gotten one anyway.
 
Last edited:
JAM said:
Since the OP serves in an administrative capacity as well as moderator of this forum, it would not be wise or serve any purpose for me to reply illustratively with more detail to Nos. 3, 4, and 5 in this thread, but suffice it to say.......
Click to expand...

Maybe I am reading this wrong, but are you saying you are biting your tongue because Jerry is a part of this site and a mod? I kinda doubt that he would do anything to negatively impact you if you are stating your opinions, as long as it is in an appropriate manner. Mr. Wilson on the other hand......

For once, I would actually like to see your full and unedited response to his thread, but whatever you feel is right.....

I for one like Danny D. and hope he gets into the HOF sooner rather than later. As far as all the politics BS that is floating around this, I am so sick of the pool world and the negativity it is always bringing around with it, I am just gonna sit and watch the show.
 
Jerry Forsyth said:
I would like to clear up some misconceptions from another thread. First, you should all know that I wrote the book "Road Player" that is the story of Danny D. So it would be in my selfish best interest to see him elected to the HOF as it could improve book sales. Now, to clear up some things:

1) Nobody from the BCA "assured" Danny that he would be inducted into the HOF this year. They could not do that because the BCA does not elect anyone into the HOF. That is done by members of the billiard media. Staff members from AZB, Billiards Digest, Pool & Billiard, Inside Pool, etc do this job. It used to be done by BCA voting members but it was felt that this became political and that these members did not know the players or their skills as well as the media who are with them at every event.

2) Terry Bell and Larry Hubbard were not elected to the HOF over Danny. Danny is in the "Veteran Player" category and that category was not up for vote this year. That category and the "Meritorious Service" category (that Bell and Hubbard were elected from) alternate years. Veteran Player will be voted on in 2011.

3) One poster stated: "Everybody knows that the BCA is run by the pool print media and industry members, with the pool print media making the decisions." Well, it IS run by industry members. But the media is not allowed to serve on the board of the BCA and media members are not even allowed a vote on any issues before the BCA, so the media certainly does not run the BCA in any way.

4) This poster went on to say: "Personally, I do not believe it is done by vote, even though a so-called vote is cast. It's who you know that gets you in the BCA's Hall of Fame, and Danny should know this." Well, this is just wrong. It is done by a vote, the votes are tabulated openly at the headquarters of Billiards Digest, and the results are public. Every candidate has their resume presented to the voting members of the media and those members vote based on the resumes and their own knowledge of the candidates.

5) This same post went on to say: "Ask Buddy Hall what he's received for his BCA Hall of Fame recognition, as an example. I'm sure he's proud as punch to be recognzied by the pool print media and industry members, but it hasn't put any money in his pocket, but, gee, I wonder how much Buddy Hall being in the Hall of Fame has put in their collective pockets." And the answer is: Nothing. Please someone explain to me how Buddy being in the HOF has enriched anyone within the BCA or the print media?

Now, if you want to do something positive for Danny, bring a petition to the USOpen and start gathering signatures. Remember, those of us on the HOF voting board cannot sign this petition, obvious conflict of interest, but plenty of fans can and will.
Click to expand...

Thanks for clearing things up.
 
While we're writing petitions for Danny D., let's not forget about the other players who are now relegated to "Veterans Category." Write the petitions and get them to the media members, especially the ones who you all believe don't know the players and their history.

Fred <~~~ voted for Danny D.
 
I plan to be at the US Open next month and I hope there will be a petition for fans like myself asking to consider Danny for induction into the BCA Hall of Fame.

I've talked with Danny at the US Open and he's a great guy with more pool knowledge and experience than most of us will ever have. I've studied pool and learned from the pro players and the commentators on many Accu-stats videos that I own. Of all the matches i've watched, some many times, Danny is the one commentator that i've learned more from. I'm not saying the other commentators don't try to pass on knowledge, but none of them explain shots and give tips like Danny does.

In my opinion based on some of the players who are already in the BCA Hall of Fame there's no doubt that Danny deserves to be in that group. He's not just a 9 ball player or just a one pocket player, he plays all games at a champion level.

James
 
JAM said:
JAM <---"poster"

Of course, I never expected a "thank you" from anyone for doing this for Danny DiLiberto's legacy on Wikipedia, and I've never gotten one anyway.
Click to expand...

JAM,
A big thank you from me (I didn't know).

I spoke with Danny last night, and he was very distressed about being passed over yet again. He appreciates any efforts on his behalf, and would definitely appreciate your sentiments.
 
Jerry, I appreciate your post. It provides some new insight into how the HOF voting actually takes place.

However, I haven't heard anything that can possibly explain why Danny wasn't already inducted in the Greatest Players category before being relegated to the Veterans Player category. The same applies in the case of Jose Parica.

Both of these players deserved to be included as "Greatest Players" in my own opinion and that of countless others. Bottom line is it just stinks.
 
Williebetmore said:
JAM,
A big thank you from me (I didn't know).

I spoke with Danny last night, and he was very distressed about being passed over yet again. He appreciates any efforts on his behalf, and would definitely appreciate your sentiments.
Click to expand...

Williebetmore and perspicaz, thank you for your "thank you," and you're welcome. :grin-square:

I'm not a close friend of Danny's. In fact, I endured a bad experience with him in Vegas. It's water under the bridge now, but I only mention this to say that I am not in Danny's fan base. At the request, though, of a friend of his who is a fan of Danny's, I created his Wiki page out of respect for this man's legacy. I cannot dispute the fact that he's a pool legend and worthy of recognition, no matter what my personal feelings are.

Danny devoted a large part of his life to pool, and it may be difficult for some to understand the meaning of being recognized by a Hall of Fame when your life has been devoted to the game/sport that Hall of Fame commemorates.

I think this is especially true when these champions age. Of course, they would like enjoy this recognition while they're still alive, unlike Strawberry Brooks who passed away before he got his One-Pocket Hall of Fame (HOF) induction. The motto of OnePocket-dot-org is Strawberry's quote. Vernon Elliott was fortunate to receive his One-Pocket HOF recognition before he died; Strawberry wasn't as fortunate. :(

Though Danny has already been inducted into the One-Pocket HOF and is lucky enough to have received those honors in 2005, the BCA HOF would also be very meaningful to him, but what about Jose Parica, Jimmy Mataya, Grady Mathews, Ronnie Allen, and those who have passed, like the late Cornbread Red? What about our foreign brethren, like Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann? Should Allison Fisher and Johnny Archer have been inducted into the BCA's Hall of Fame before some of these pool icons? Well, the voting members of the BCA's HOF committee thought so.

There can only be one or two inducted each year. No matter who wins, there will always be somebody who feels slighted and disappointed. Danny is fortunate to have so many fans in his corner defending him, rooting for him to get in. He's a richer man than he may realize to have this kind of fan base.

The BCA Hall of Fame committee will still induct who they want in the end, and threads like this will do nothing more than be used as a vehicle to air concerns. The print media may not like what they read about them, may disagree with some of what's written, but that's one of the freedoms the media and the reading public enjoy in this country: the freedom of speech and expressing one's opinion.

If threads like this help to get Danny inducted into the BCA's Hall of Fame, then that's a good thing for Danny. I'm not so sure if it will sway the vote one iota, after seeing them pass over Earl Strickland and Allen Hopkins for so many years, but, hey, I saw the pool print media up front and close at the U.S. Open in 2004 when Earl was on the TV table. They looked at Earl as if they were smelling something foul the entire time he was shooting, couldn't understand why anybody in the stands would root for him. There was public outrage, much like these recent threads about Danny, each and every year that Earl Strickland and Allen Hopkins were not inducted. There were some inductees who the majority of the pool public thought should never have been inducted before Earl and Allen, but the BCA's Hall of Fame voting membership thought differently. Maybe they'll give Danny the green light someday.

Go get 'em, Danny. :cool:
 

Attachments

  • Danny DiLiberto.JPG
    Danny DiLiberto.JPG
    42.7 KB · Views: 620
Last edited:
Danny is a great player and treasure to the game. Road player, tournament player, instructor... In his retirement years he has demonstrated his mastry over and over through his commentary. Just what have the media folks been smoking that he hasn't already been enshrined in the hall?????

OOben Hadd for BCA president.

02copy.jpg
 
JAM said:
If threads like this help to get Danny inducted into the BCA's Hall of Fame, then that's a good thing for Danny.
Click to expand...

I wish this was true (that threads like this help), but for some reason, they don't. Last year's multiple threads for Parica didn't help him. Astonishingly, he got less votes this year.

Fred <~~~ as perplexed as anyone
 
Cornerman said:
I wish this was true (that threads like this help), but for some reason, they don't. Last year's multiple threads for Parica didn't help him. Astonishingly, he got less votes this year.

Fred <~~~ as perplexed as anyone
Click to expand...

I believe Jose Parica pissed somebody off on the BCA Hall of Fame (HOF) committee. Of course, I have no proof of this, and nobody told me this either.

I base this opinion on the existing track record of who the BCA HOF voting group -- consisting of pool media -- have inducted to date, to include the timing of when each inductee was inducted.

When players like Allen Hopkins and Earl Strickland sit by the wayside for so many years, you wonder why some others got in ahead of them.

Jose's got a little "larceny" in him, meaning he's a road warrior as well as a tournament solidier. This disgusts a lot of pool purists, and I believe -- again, my opinion -- that the print pool media has more pool purists within their group as a whole than enthusiasts of action.

For Francisco to be inducted ahead of Jose is ludicrous, but I have to say that I am so very happy for Bustie. I consider him a friend and believe he, like so many others before him, has totally devoted his life to pool. Of course, he's deserving, but to induct him ahead of Jose is a slap in the face to the leader of the Filipino Invasion -- again, my opinion.

AzBilliards forum had always been a place for the pool public to network with each other, disseminate pool-playing strategies, find out pool smut, discover upcoming tournament happenings, and read what organizational missions are. Who we want to be in the BCA's Hall of Fame doesn't really matter in the end. :)

JAM
 
Jen,

Another great post. Started to write a reply when I thought of the "larceny" angle of player selection on the original thread about Danny. Thought it wiser to keep quiet:ignore:. You have more standing at AZ than I. And, your post was clear, accurate and concise. As always.

Also enjoyed your photo of Danny the boxer. Many here at AZ don't know about Dennis Hatch's stint in the ring. The two are obviously connected.

Lyn
 
Last edited:
JAM said:
I believe Jose Parica pissed somebody off on the BCA Hall of Fame (HOF) committee. Of course, I have no proof of this, and nobody told me this either.

I base this opinion on the existing track record of who the BCA HOF voting group -- consisting of pool media -- have inducted to date, to include the timing of when each inductee was inducted.

When players like Allen Hopkins and Earl Strickland sit by the wayside for so many years, you wonder why some others got in ahead of them.

Jose's got a little "larceny" in him, meaning he's a road warrior as well as a tournament solidier. This disgusts a lot of pool purists, and I believe -- again, my opinion -- that the print pool media has more pool purists within their group as a whole than enthusiasts of action.

For Francisco to be inducted ahead of Jose is ludicrous, but I have to say that I am so very happy for Bustie. I consider him a friend and believe he, like so many others before him, has totally devoted his life to pool. Of course, he's deserving, but to induct him ahead of Jose is a slap in the face to the leader of the Filipino Invasion -- again, my opinion.

AzBilliards forum had always been a place for the pool public to network with each other, disseminate pool-playing strategies, find out pool smut, discover upcoming tournament happenings, and read what organizational missions are. Who we want to be in the BCA's Hall of Fame doesn't really matter in the end. :)

JAM
Click to expand...

As usual, you bring up some interesting points and the "larceny" theory may have some merit. At first, I was thinking, "Bustie" doesn't have any "larceny" in his veins?". It may be that Bustamante is simply better known for his International play and a more popular choice for that reason alone.

Jose's constant presence here in the U.S. for decades and his penchant to gambling (and winning) may have indeed have taken its toll. The truth is Jose deserves to be in the HOF and hopefully, one day he will get there as well as Danny.

Is contact information for the HOF voters available? If so, perhaps interested parties could civilly present their case to them individually.

I liked what Jerry shared about the BCA and how the HOF voting is currently handled.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top