One of the greatest-ever televised pro player comebacks from far behind. Converted from a videotape of the 1995 Pro Tour Championship held in Owensboro, Kentucky (Nick Varner’s hometown). Kim Davenport makes a few mistakes early on, and Johnny Archer surges to an apparently insurmountable lead before the match is barely half over. But watch as Kim's skill, heart and sheer determination prevail. Terrific and inventive CB control by Kim under enormous pressure. Johnny Archer was at his sharp shooting peak and a very hard man to beat.
Just a few years after this amazing performance, Kim, an addicted golfer, lost most of the vision in his right eye due to a tragic freak accident on the course when the blades of a grass mower -- operated by a golf course maintenance driver -- sent a hidden golf ball at high velocity directly into Kim’s eye, radically affecting his professional pool career.
Buddy Hall and Nick Varner provide expert commentary. The Prime Network’s then-top golf tournament commentator, Tom Kelly, was oddly assigned to cover 1995’s Pro Pool Tour events. He self-admittedly had scant knowledge of professional 9-ball and was obviously struggling to understand what was going on, but Buddy and Nick's comments and insights more than make up for that commentary shortcoming.
Kim was the very definition of a professional player and a former top west coast money player who’d play anyone in the country for any amount of stakes before turning pro. As with Luther Lassiter, that kind of high stakes pool action instilled that never-give-up, fierce determination to win which carried over to their tournament playing.
Amusingly, you’ll endlessly hear that southern phrase “I’ll tell you what” from all three commentators, throughout the match. (But that phrase is quite charming compared to the unbearable “you know” stall/filler phrase that’s meaninglessly and continually injected into almost every sentence of any reply on any subject given by today’s talking heads on TV.)
Here’s the link to this great Davenport-Archer match from almost 20 years ago that’s still exciting -- and instructive -- every time it’s viewed by anyone who loves our sport:
http://youtu.be/eunxk6Etu04
I found it ultra-suspenseful and inspiring to watch this top-level match unfold. I think you’ll be increasingly rooting for Kim’s success long before it’s over. (Note his five or six long rehearsal strokes on every shot as he closed in on diminishing Archer’s lead.)
Enjoy.
Arnaldo
Just a few years after this amazing performance, Kim, an addicted golfer, lost most of the vision in his right eye due to a tragic freak accident on the course when the blades of a grass mower -- operated by a golf course maintenance driver -- sent a hidden golf ball at high velocity directly into Kim’s eye, radically affecting his professional pool career.
Buddy Hall and Nick Varner provide expert commentary. The Prime Network’s then-top golf tournament commentator, Tom Kelly, was oddly assigned to cover 1995’s Pro Pool Tour events. He self-admittedly had scant knowledge of professional 9-ball and was obviously struggling to understand what was going on, but Buddy and Nick's comments and insights more than make up for that commentary shortcoming.
Kim was the very definition of a professional player and a former top west coast money player who’d play anyone in the country for any amount of stakes before turning pro. As with Luther Lassiter, that kind of high stakes pool action instilled that never-give-up, fierce determination to win which carried over to their tournament playing.
Amusingly, you’ll endlessly hear that southern phrase “I’ll tell you what” from all three commentators, throughout the match. (But that phrase is quite charming compared to the unbearable “you know” stall/filler phrase that’s meaninglessly and continually injected into almost every sentence of any reply on any subject given by today’s talking heads on TV.)
Here’s the link to this great Davenport-Archer match from almost 20 years ago that’s still exciting -- and instructive -- every time it’s viewed by anyone who loves our sport:
http://youtu.be/eunxk6Etu04
I found it ultra-suspenseful and inspiring to watch this top-level match unfold. I think you’ll be increasingly rooting for Kim’s success long before it’s over. (Note his five or six long rehearsal strokes on every shot as he closed in on diminishing Archer’s lead.)
Enjoy.
Arnaldo
