Tom Jennings
As a spectator and fan these are a reflection my memories of times past.
I had attended the first PPPA World 14.1 Championship, 1976, that was held at the Asbury Park Convention Center, on the Boardwalk. It was a bit of a historic event as it was a break away for the Professional Poolplayers who were not happy with the particular goings on at the BCA. It was a fascinating tournament and there was a lot of scuttle-butt running around because this event was held on the same dates as the 1976 BCA U.S. Open. Tom Jennings won the U.S. Open and Larry Liscotti won the PPPA World Title. Subsequently, Liscotti then defeated Jennings in a 1000 challenge match for the undisputed World Championship.
As the 1977 PPPA World Championship approached, Tom Jennings was being refered to by the PPPA players as bogus champion, because all the good players were at their tournament in 1976. I believe Jennings entered the 1977 PPPA tournament because these PPPA players were calling him out, so to speak. When he arrived at the tournament, he was a marked man, as he was sort of refered to as the BCA poster boy.
After Jennings won his first couple of matches, he was scheduled to meet Ray Martin, who was one of the more vocal PPPA members who was poo-pooing Jennings. The matches were 150 pointers. Jennings forged a huge lead on Martin and was in the 140's to Martin having maybe 30. As I watched that match, I remember how huge of an upset this was going to be and how cool Jennings was about the fever surrounding his play.
Slowly, "the Cool Cat" Ray Martin is winning safe battles and making his way back into the match. Martin, with his cat-like smile, is working the table and Jennings at the same time. Tom's body language was definately not good as he was slumping evermore into his chair.
As you might guess Martin won the match and with the eruption of cheers, you would have thought it was for the title.
Tom did not look good after that match and lost his match, too.
Tom did go on to win the U.S. Open later, with his thrilling comeback. maybe he learned a lesson from the Martin match.
The following Summer, 1978, the PPPA Tournament moved to New York City. Wouldn't you know a couple rounds into the tournament. It's a Martin-Jennings rematch. Again, Jennings is up over 100 balls and needs less than a rack to win.
Unfortunately for him, it was an agonizing repeat from the year before. Ray Martin went on to win that Tournament and become the World Champion.
Tom Jennings went on to lose his next match and was not heard of much, in the pool world again.
My impression of Tom was that he played as well as any of the players. Although, I think he was a nice guy versus the killer instinct guys in those tournaments.
I often wondered about him and what happened?
He was very talented on the pool table.