Do any of you guys know of Mike Dunklin? How good was he in his prime?

[justinb386]

I am curious if any of you guys ever played Mike Dunklin, or seen him play (when he was younger and in his prime, whenever that was)?

I am not sure where he lived back in the mid 90's, but he used to come through my home town, and gamble with some of the top players (and there were several very strong players in southern Illinois back in the mid 90's).

I am not sure, but I imagine that he never lost to anyone when he came through town.

He was a really nice guy, and a really great player.

I never got to see him play much though, because he was a road player, and I rarely ever seen him.

I just wonder if he is still around, and still playing.

Hopefully he is doing okay.

I am very curious to hear how good he was in his prime, and I have no idea when he was at the top of his game.

Would love to hear some road stories about him, if anyone knows any.

He may have just been an average A player at best, but I always thought he was really great when I was a kid.

 

[nineballsafety8]

I used to see him at Ride the 9, in Bloomington, IL pretty regularly, but that was back in 2004ish.
Great guy, and a Jam up player. Him and Bobby McGrath pretty much owned any action in that room.

 

[amicenheimer]

I believe Mike still lives in the Bloomington area. Great guy!

 

[pool101]

Mike still lives in Bloomington and still plays, but not as much as he use to. He spends more time playing cards now I think. He still plays well, especially when provoked!

Mark

 

[Tramp Steamer]

Made the best donuts I ever ate. You could dunk those things until the cows came home.
Too bad he couldn't make a go of it.
And the irony, of course, is there's only that one letter difference between his name and that of the big franchise.

 

[justinb386]

Mike still lives in Bloomington and still plays, but not as much as he use to. He spends more time playing cards now I think. He still plays well, especially when provoked!

Mark

Thanks for the info. I am from Carbondale. I wish I had known he was in Bloomington. I would have took a trip up there to maybe have a chance to play him some. Was just always curious how good he really was. I only ever heard stories about him. Sadly never really got to see him play much (very few times and not for long). Happy to hear he is still around. I actually thought about trying to relocate to Bloomington . Thought it might have a decent pool scene.

 

[RADAR]

thanks for the info. I am from carbondale. I wish i had known he was in bloomington. I would have took a trip up there to maybe have a chance to play him some. Was just always curious how good he really was. I only ever heard stories about him. Sadly never really got to see him play much (very few times and not for long). Happy to hear he is still around. I actually thought about trying to relocate to bloomington . Thought it might have a decent pool scene.

pool scene is not good here any more sad to say!

 

[Ken_4fun]

One of the very best players from my home town said he was at a different level. He got cancer, and has never been the same as he was, but still a tough cookie.

Ken

 

[zrx replica]

Nice dude. Comes here to Peoria when a Tourney happends. Quiet mostly. Never heard a negative thing towards anybody. Well respected whenever He came here to play. Still plays at Ride the 9 in Bloomington as far as I know, but I don't play much and out of the groove now. Bobby prolly can give him a heads up if someone wants to hit some with him? Props to him for overcoming his Cancer deal and not giving up. AJ

 

[justinb386]

Nice dude. Comes here to Peoria when a Tourney happends. Quiet mostly. Never heard a negative thing towards anybody. Well respected whenever He came here to play. Still plays at Ride the 9 in Bloomington as far as I know, but I don't play much and out of the groove now. Bobby prolly can give him a heads up if someone wants to hit some with him? Props to him for overcoming his Cancer deal and not giving up. AJ

I am guessing that he had cancer (and survived it) long before I knew him back in the mid 90's. He was always a really nice guy (to me). He was good friends with this guy I knew named Richard (he was known as the Fox), and I think they took a lot of road trips together. I am thinking that I was maybe 15 or 16 the last time I seen Dunklin (in Carbondale, where I grew up), and never seen him again. He only came in to town when there was a big money match set up for him (I think). Besides him, there were so many great players around Southern Illinois back in the mid 90's. Many of them went to SIU, and left town after they graduated. The great action scene really died in that area after the 90's.

 

[watchez]

I am guessing that he had cancer (and survived it) long before I knew him back in the mid 90's. He was always a really nice guy (to me). He was good friends with this guy I knew named Richard (he was known as the Fox), and I think they took a lot of road trips together. I am thinking that I was maybe 15 or 16 the last time I seen Dunklin (in Carbondale, where I grew up), and never seen him again. He only came in to town when there was a big money match set up for him (I think). Besides him, there were so many great players around Southern Illinois back in the mid 90's. Many of them went to SIU, and left town after they graduated. The great action scene really died in that area after the 90's.

Soto was most likely the best player from Southern Illinois back in the 90's. He played a big big money match against Buddy in a bar and pretty sure Soto won. He would also play ANYONE with the big ball on a bar table 8 ball.

I only knew of Dunklin's game post cancer. He was a solid shortstop. Never saw him win any of the bigger regional events but he could hold his own. He was a regular at almost any of these events. (I played him one time in an alternate break tourney and beat him. - blind squirrel theory)

 

[Kiwis11]

Not sure how good Mike D was long ago. Super Nice Guy...played with him in Bloomington in the early 2000's and still see him now and then when I visit family in Bloomington. In AZ we rate players on a 10 point scale...In early 2000 Mike would have been a 9. It sounds kind of crazy but our best players...IE Scott Frost ect...are rated 10-4. Basically a 14. So Mike was much better than average but not close to a Champion.