DVD Review- CJ Wiley's Million Dollars Challenge

I'll never be an NBA basketball player,but someday I'm going to be a Pro Pool Player

so i have my son tonight for my birthday (it's my off-week).
and he is getting his 12 Days of Xmas presents - which is today/MY BDAY.
he ran to the tree, and ripped open the padded envelope from CJ
(i now know where you live....)
yelling: CJ Wiley! CJ Wiley! WHAT is it, Mom?!?!

(this is AFTER he got his Scorpion signed cue from Johnny)

so i showed him the PMs from CJ....all of them.
and he is now watching THE EARL MATCH.

but moreover, he couldn't believe, that he had 2 PMs from CJ, to aid him PERSONALLY, in his shooting

MY SON IS LEFT-SIGHTED/LEFT-HANDED (like me), and insists on now being RIGHT-handed....

what an absolute AMAZING BDAY/12th DAY present!

(and THIS, is WHAT, POOL, is MISSING)
Click to expand...


PINKLADY that's great to hear, I'm glad Grey was surprised and liked his "12th Day Present".

I still remember what a thrill it was watching pool on Wide World of Sports with Howard Cosell when FATS and Mosconi were playing.

I missed a basketball game and a practice to go see Steve Mizerak do an exhibition and get his autograph.....when the coach called me in his office to kick me off the team I said "you know coach, you can kick me off the basketball team cuz I'll never be an NBA basketball player, but someday I'm going to be a Pro Pool Player"....he scoffed disapprovingly :sorry: (wonder what he ended up thinking?)

I never would have guessed I'd {someday} be playing "THE MIZ" in my first USA Pro Tournament......dreams do come true. :D

There's no reason for pool to be "missing" this......we'll get it back on track soon. ;)
 
Last edited:
CJ Wiley said:
PINKLADY that's great to hear, I'm glad Grey was surprised and liked his "12th Day Present".

I still remember what a thrill it was watching pool on Wide World of Sports with Howard Cosell when FATS and Mosconi were playing.

I missed a basketball game and a practice to go see Steve Mizerak do an exhibition and get his autograph.....when the coach called me in his office to kick me off the team I said "you know coach, you can kick me off the basketball team cuz I'll never be an NBA basketball player, but someday I'm going to be a Pro Pool Player"....he scoffed disapprovingly :sorry: (wonder what he ended up thinking?)

I never would have guessed I'd {someday} be playing "THE MIZ" in my first USA Pro Tournament......dreams do come true. :D

There's no reason for pool to be "missing" this......we'll get it back on track soon. ;)
Click to expand...

Great story, CJ, and thanks for sharing. Mizerak was one of the guys who got me excited about pool, too. I saw him play a lot at the 1976 PPPA World 14.1 Championships in Asbury Park, NJ. Steve won the hot seat, but Larry Lisciotti double dipped him to win the title. Those were the days.

Glad to see that you had your priorities in order.
 
"what if YOU get an eye put out.....besides, I gotta spare"

Quote:
Originally Posted by CJ Wiley View Post
PINKLADY that's great to hear, I'm glad Grey was surprised and liked his "12th Day Present".

I still remember what a thrill it was watching pool on Wide World of Sports with Howard Cosell when FATS and Mosconi were playing.

I missed a basketball game and a practice to go see Steve Mizerak do an exhibition and get his autograph.....when the coach called me in his office to kick me off the team I said "you know coach, you can kick me off the basketball team cuz I'll never be an NBA basketball player, but someday I'm going to be a Pro Pool Player"....he scoffed disapprovingly (wonder what he ended up thinking?)

I never would have guessed I'd {someday} be playing "THE MIZ" in my first USA Pro Tournament......dreams do come true.

There's no reason for pool to be "missing" this......we'll get it back on track soon.
Click to expand...



sjm said:
Great story, CJ, and thanks for sharing. Mizerak was one of the guys who got me excited about pool, too. I saw him play a lot at the 1976 PPPA World 14.1 Championships in Asbury Park, NJ. Steve won the hot seat, but Larry Lisciotti double dipped him to win the title. Those were the days.

Glad to see that you had your priorities in order.
Click to expand...

I didn't get much support from my teachers in high school.

My principal took me in his office to scold me about my future one day and the conversation went something like this:

principal - "CJ, you're not taking school serious and now you're off the basketball team, what are you going to do with your life?"

"I'm going to be a professional pool player and beat Steve Mizerak some day"

"that's ridiculous, what if you get an eye put out?"

"what if YOU get an eye put out.....besides, I gotta spare"

"get out of here and go back to your teacher"

"they teach things I'll never use, I have the greatest teacher, but not in this building"


'The Game is my Teacher'
 
sjm said:
Great story, CJ, and thanks for sharing. Mizerak was one of the guys who got me excited about pool, too. I saw him play a lot at the 1976 PPPA World 14.1 Championships in Asbury Park, NJ. Steve won the hot seat, but Larry Lisciotti double dipped him to win the title. Those were the days.

Glad to see that you had your priorities in order.
Click to expand...

The Miz had a big impact on me also (sorry for the long read, feel free to skip). I was 16, had just got my 1st car.

Anyway, as I had learned how to forge Dad's out of school signature - I was just learning pool on GC II's in a Brunswick bowling alley in King of Prussia, PA. Winter of 1974. Someone said - "there's a big pro matchup in South Philly tonight at xyz pool hall". My best bud and I jumped in my puke green Impala and drove down the Schuykill Expressway.

We arrove to the seedy, smoky, dark, crowded poolhall. It was like an old house and "the match" was upstairs. I'd never seen anything like it. A young Alan Hopkins was stepping in the box with The Miz. A money match. 9 ball (yes CJ, 2 push ;)). My buddy and I may have been the only 2 other white guys in there; we kept a low profile.

The spectators were riveted and respectful. I was too naive to pick up on what must have been going on behind the scenes.

The pool playing was AMAZING. We were mezmerized with the entire atmosphere. The room was packed with a bunch of wide eyed smoking prairie dogs poking their heads up. In the end, Hopkins took the cash and immediately left as The Miz was cussing like crazy as he slammed shut his box style cue case. Damn, he was Po'd.

As my buddy and I were cautiously walking out I saw this big glass display of cues. "OHHHH, look at them!"

That's when I bought my only player and my fate of debature was sealed.

Thanks Miz. ;) RIP
 
By the way, since I derailed :o, I'd like to say about the Million $ DVD:

It was not immediately apparent to us that there was a "menu". Unlike a Redbox DVD where you see options and click play to start a movie, the video goes straight into the documentary. There's no "set-up". You have to click "menu" on your DVD remote to view racks 7 through 12, and see 7 other features.

Ok, I feel a little less CJ-ish now. ;) :grin-square:
 
CJ Wiley said:
PINKLADY that's great to hear, I'm glad Grey was surprised and liked his "12th Day Present".

I still remember what a thrill it was watching pool on Wide World of Sports with Howard Cosell when FATS and Mosconi were playing.

I missed a basketball game and a practice to go see Steve Mizerak do an exhibition and get his autograph.....when the coach called me in his office to kick me off the team I said "you know coach, you can kick me off the basketball team cuz I'll never be an NBA basketball player, but someday I'm going to be a Pro Pool Player"....he scoffed disapprovingly :sorry: (wonder what he ended up thinking?)

I never would have guessed I'd {someday} be playing "THE MIZ" in my first USA Pro Tournament......dreams do come true. :D

There's no reason for pool to be "missing" this......we'll get it back on track soon. ;)
Click to expand...

Sure there is reason to be missing it Its called average income the fact is there are probably thousands of players who had the skill to be a pro player who decided that the chances of supporting a family with a honest living were far better better in the real working world ,, even tho the chances are far better at becoming a pro pool player than any other sport only a select few can make good money at it
and even a decent player like myself can make extra money on the side and keep a job
I had a young kid tell me a few months ago he wanted to be a pro player and I looked at him and said why when you can still gamble and play tourneys and get your fill anyone at any level can make money gambling if their smart


1
 
"the person with the most flexibility will also have the most control"

Mitchxout said:
My principal told me I was like "a Cadillac rolling on 4 flat tires." :thumbup:
Click to expand...

It's funny how teachers will only push a certain agenda, although the best ones will try to help expand our minds with a "bigger and better" world. I like the "Law of Requisite Variety" that indicates "the person with the most flexibility will also have the most control"

....this goes for pool playing and "life playing" as well.
 
I ordered a copy of December 26 and I got an e-mail saying it was being shipped. It has tracking info, but when I clicked on the tracking info, there is no info about where it is. How long should it take to arrive?
 
we can still get it out today if we have your info.

westcoast said:
I ordered a copy of December 26 and I got an e-mail saying it was being shipped. It has tracking info, but when I clicked on the tracking info, there is no info about where it is. How long should it take to arrive?
Click to expand...

I would need your email or full name to track it for you. We did lose some packages over Christmas because of the heavy volume during the holidays. If you haven't got it by now we'll probably just send you another one right away.

Please PM me your info so I can look it up asap.....our shipping is going out at 6 PM Dallas Time so we can still get it out today if we have your info.

Thanks, and we apologize for any inconvenience.....I'll include something extra in the package for your trouble.

Best Regards, and play well in 2014


CJ
 
We have over 100 pounds of legal documents from the lawsuit.

Luxury said:
Wow! Thank you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

You're welcome.....there's a lot to the court case that we didn't cover in the documentary. We wanted to hit on all the key events between the PCA, Earl's Million Dollar Run and what happened to the Million Dollar Challenge TV Tour.

We have over 100 pounds of legal documents from the lawsuit....probably one full tree. ;)
 
@ WEDGE, CJ, et al -

yes, we're stupid. all of yáll read below.


KoolKat9Lives said:
By the way, since I derailed :o, I'd like to say about the Million $ DVD:

It was not immediately apparent to us that there was a "menu". Unlike a Redbox DVD where you see options and click play to start a movie, the video goes straight into the documentary. There's no "set-up". You have to click "menu" on your DVD remote to view racks 7 through 12, and see 7 other features.

Ok, I feel a little less CJ-ish now. ;) :grin-square:
Click to expand...
 
CJ Wiley said:
This is the advantage of spending 300k in a legal defense. My attorney
had them so confused they forgot to study the video.
....and we didn't see any reason to "wake the dead". LoL

half_attorney_at_law_half_zombie_slayer_magnets.jpg
Click to expand...

I'd like to know who represented the insurance company. ;)
 
14 attorneys at the final settlement

poolmouse said:
I'd like to know who represented the insurance company. ;)
Click to expand...

They (the insurance and marketing agency) had 14 attorneys at the final settlement. They probably spent in upwards of $500,000 in this lawsuit.
 
There's a theory in statistics that indicates that the number 30 is "magical"

KoolKat9Lives said:
I should know this, but am too lazy to go through all the posts or re-fire the video. What was the race to during this historic match? I thought it was a race to 11...
Click to expand...

It was a race to 15 in all the PCA matches. There's a theory in statistics that indicates that the number 30 is "magical" to even "rolls out" (this is my interpretation regarding 30 and pool matches), so it was decided by Earl, George, myself and the majority of the PCA players that a race to 15 would be the best test of skill (without going overboard).

On TV the races can be shorter because the pressure is so much more intense and EVERY shot counts.....so the races on our TV matches were to 11, and if we played 'Two Shot Shoot Out' races to 7 would be plenty.
 
Allen also would bet in three tries he could break & run all the balls in one pocket

That's a great story, and Allen Hopkins was another player that had a great impact on my game and how I looked up to that caliber of player. Allen went all through the south in his gambling days and gave great players the break on a bar table......this seems impossible, but I learned how he did it and made a fortune doing it as well.

Gary Lutman is a great bar table player from St. Louis, we have played many, many times since I was 16 year old. One of the last times we gambled I gave him the break on the bar table and won (no one thought I could).....after that he came up to me and said "I think I've had enough of trying to beat you, how bout you and I go some spots and team up on some people on the road?" I agreed and we ended up doing well.

Allen also would bet in three tries he could break and run all the balls in one pocket.....that is also amazing, until you learn how he breaks the balls to do it. He showed me in Dallas one time and it made an incredible difference. I ran 29 balls in a row on video one night using this break. I should have broke the third rack. ;)

29 BALLS IN ONE POCKET Using TOI - LINK - YOU TUBE VIDEO





KoolKat9Lives said:
The Miz had a big impact on me also (sorry for the long read, feel free to skip). I was 16, had just got my 1st car.

Anyway, as I had learned how to forge Dad's out of school signature - I was just learning pool on GC II's in a Brunswick bowling alley in King of Prussia, PA. Winter of 1974. Someone said - "there's a big pro matchup in South Philly tonight at xyz pool hall". My best bud and I jumped in my puke green Impala and drove down the Schuykill Expressway.

We arrove to the seedy, smoky, dark, crowded poolhall. It was like an old house and "the match" was upstairs. I'd never seen anything like it. A young Alan Hopkins was stepping in the box with The Miz. A money match. 9 ball (yes CJ, 2 push ;)). My buddy and I may have been the only 2 other white guys in there; we kept a low profile.

The spectators were riveted and respectful. I was too naive to pick up on what must have been going on behind the scenes.

The pool playing was AMAZING. We were mezmerized with the entire atmosphere. The room was packed with a bunch of wide eyed smoking prairie dogs poking their heads up. In the end, Hopkins took the cash and immediately left as The Miz was cussing like crazy as he slammed shut his box style cue case. Damn, he was Po'd.

As my buddy and I were cautiously walking out I saw this big glass display of cues. "OHHHH, look at them!"

That's when I bought my only player and my fate of debature was sealed.

Thanks Miz. ;) RIP
Click to expand...
 
Set up a match in Greensboro, I know you want me to play one person in particular

Quote:
Originally Posted by CJ Wiley View Post
29 BALLS IN ONE POCKET Using TOI - LINK - YOU TUBE VIDEO
Click to expand...

PINKLADY said:
i think the only thing everyone will notice, CJ, is that Mary's not wearing any panties....

.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Mary's a character, she's never met a stranger, that's for sure.....and sweet as can be.

I wish I would have broke the 3rd rack to see if I could have run 44 balls....or 58 ;) .

Set up a match in Greensboro, I know you want me to play one person in particular. :D

I'll pay anyone 'Two Shot Shoot Out' on a Gold Crown with Centennial Balls.
 
As I finish CJ Wiley and Mary Avina's DVD set regarding the PCA's "Million Dollar Challenge", I'm left mulling several things.

1.) Has the sport of pool.....or any sport, really.....had a tortured soul such as Earl Strickland?

Earl's candid interview once again reveals his bright, vivid, undying passion for not only pool....but, to constantly learn and "solve" the game at it's highest level, under the most intense pressure.

Earl details the time leading up to the Challenge and the training/methods he used to solve the Million Dollar Riddle. Having met Earl and seeing him work a table over till it plays up to his standards, I guess I really shouldn't be surprised.

2.) How "soul-cleansing" was this project for CJ? It had probably already been said from Earl to CJ in the past, but one has to hope that when "The Pearl" cuts Wiley off in mid-sentence to emphasize the point that he was VERY happy with the outcome/payment.....that it laid to rest any doubts the principal players had about the situation. Earl seemed wholely satisfied with what happened, plus CJ sounded much appreciative and respectful of Strickland's candidness.

3.) I wonder about the level of equipment in pro pool back in 1996, as compared to today. It is mentioned that these were Gold Crown's with triple-shimmed 4.5" pockets. I would ASSuME this to mean that they were originally closer to 5" pockets that had been tightened up. I've played on some tables of this variety and this can make them finicky. With that said, a 4.5" pocketed table isn't big news anymore, as it seems like some players have promoted tighter and tighter table conditions. I'd say the table Earl ran 11 on was definitely no cupcake, however. I wonder what type of cloth and balls these were. I'm sure CJ knows the answer to these questions.

4.) There's no way in the world I could have done something like this. From spectators shouting "....can I get 10%.....?", DURING the run, Jay Helfert's dogged pursuit of racking perfection, not to mention his speech asking everyone to sign a witnessing statement, etc. etc......well, I would have been shaking so bad, I'd have miscued. Btw, great storytelling, as usual, by Toupee Jay. He's a guy that you could just spend all day talking to about anything in the sport....constantly engaging and always insightful. All a nod to Max Eberle for giving another pro's view on the event and witnessing history.

5.) Earl does it all in long-sleeved shirt AND tie. You don't see that much anymore. That in itself would have killed me. I just can't play in long sleeves. I've never even attempted it in a tie.


6.) My biggest question is hopefully soon-to-be answered. Will pool ever see another professional venture such as this? Perhaps the carrot could be 11 racks for $1 million. Or maybe 12.....just to officially pass Earl. I know that if you provide the pro's a goal, they WILL work to beat it. They just need that carrot.

This DVD set really takes one down a winding, wistful, thought-provoking voyage into pool's world of "What Might Have Been.....".


Highly recommended for history buffs of the sport or any players in general.


As for me, I probably would have cut the 1B in the side. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top