In a race to 7.
BeiberLvr with the discredit attempt. LOL, Neil is in good company.
In a race to 7.
Who might those fighters be and in which weight division since it would draw record crowds and revenues? Nobody kicks money in the a*s.
I think Neil has a lot more in common with CJ than a non player like Pat Johnson does. PJ comes from every angle he can manage to knock CJ yet has far less playing years and skill level to warrant challenging him compared to Neil. Do you have anything to say about that? Lets get posters and agenda in proper perspective. CJ was definitely world class.
To answer most of your questions, here is information I previously posted about that tournament.
- Because of the interest shown in this thread in the ESPN World Championship, and because of CJ's mentioning his "world" title so frequently on AzB, I decided to look up some facts about the event. Here's what I found (thanks Billiards Digest and Pool & Billiard Magazine).
• The ESPN World Open 9-Ball Championships were played in Santa Rosa, CA in January, 1996.
• This was an ESPN invitational, staged-for-TV event that had several components -- a pro-am celebrity event, a men's singles event, a women's singles event, a mixed-doubles event, and a playoff between the men's and women's winners. The "celebrities" were (largely or entirely) NBA and NFL cheerleaders.
• This event did not replace the WPA World 9-Ball Championship. Oliver Ortmann was the recently crowned 1995 winner of that event, and Ralf Souquet would later become the 1996 WPA World 9-Ball Champion. Also later in 1996, Rudolfo Luat won the PBT World 9-Ball Championship.
• These championships were held right between the break-away by a number of players from the men's PBT (Pro Billiards Tour) and the formation of CJ's PCA (Professional Cuesports Association). In fact, the PBT was holding its own event that same week (won by Efren Reyes), and their players did not participate in the ESPN event.
• The format for the ESPN events was single elimination, alternating break, races to 7 in the singles and 5 in the doubles.
• The number of pro players was 16 men and 16 women.
• The order of finish in the men's singles event was:
1st -- CJ Wiley
2nd -- Oliver Ortmann;
3rd-4th -- Earl Strickland and Allen Hopkins;
5th-8th -- Steve Knight, Jose Parica, George San Souci, and Danny Medina;
9th-16th -- Kyle Tafoya, Yasunari Itsuzaki, Tom Storm, Mika Immonen, Ismael Paez, Steve Moore, Billy Palmer, and Shannon Daulton.
• CJ played 4 matches to win the singles title, beating Moore 7-2, San Souci 7-6, Strickland 7-6, and Ortmann 7-5.
• Vivian Villarreal beat Allison Fisher 7-5 for the women's title.
• CJ teamed with Loree Jon Jones to win the mixed doubles 5-0 over George San Souci and Linda McWhirt.
• CJ defeated Villarreal 7-3 in the playoff for the men's and women's winners.
• CJ's winnings for the week were $88,500 -- a $1,000 appearance fee in the pro-am, $20,000 for the men's singles win, $7,500 for the mixed doubles win, and $60,000 for his playoff win over Villarreal (she got $40,000!).
• The total prize purse for the events was $313,000, said to be the largest to that point in the history of pro pool.
To answer most of your questions, here is information I previously posted about that tournament.
- Because of the interest shown in this thread in the ESPN World Championship, and because of CJ's mentioning his "world" title so frequently on AzB, I decided to look up some facts about the event. Here's what I found (thanks Billiards Digest and Pool & Billiard Magazine).
• The ESPN World Open 9-Ball Championships were played in Santa Rosa, CA in January, 1996.
• This was an ESPN invitational, staged-for-TV event that had several components -- a pro-am celebrity event, a men's singles event, a women's singles event, a mixed-doubles event, and a playoff between the men's and women's winners. The "celebrities" were (largely or entirely) NBA and NFL cheerleaders.
• This event did not replace the WPA World 9-Ball Championship. Oliver Ortmann was the recently crowned 1995 winner of that event, and Ralf Souquet would later become the 1996 WPA World 9-Ball Champion. Also later in 1996, Rudolfo Luat won the PBT World 9-Ball Championship.
• These championships were held right between the break-away by a number of players from the men's PBT (Pro Billiards Tour) and the formation of CJ's PCA (Professional Cuesports Association). In fact, the PBT was holding its own event that same week (won by Efren Reyes), and their players did not participate in the ESPN event.
• The format for the ESPN events was single elimination, alternating break, races to 7 in the singles and 5 in the doubles.
• The number of pro players was 16 men and 16 women.
• The order of finish in the men's singles event was:
1st -- CJ Wiley
2nd -- Oliver Ortmann;
3rd-4th -- Earl Strickland and Allen Hopkins;
5th-8th -- Steve Knight, Jose Parica, George San Souci, and Danny Medina;
9th-16th -- Kyle Tafoya, Yasunari Itsuzaki, Tom Storm, Mika Immonen, Ismael Paez, Steve Moore, Billy Palmer, and Shannon Daulton.
• CJ played 4 matches to win the singles title, beating Moore 7-2, San Souci 7-6, Strickland 7-6, and Ortmann 7-5.
• Vivian Villarreal beat Allison Fisher 7-5 for the women's title.
• CJ teamed with Loree Jon Jones to win the mixed doubles 5-0 over George San Souci and Linda McWhirt.
• CJ defeated Villarreal 7-3 in the playoff for the men's and women's winners.
• CJ's winnings for the week were $88,500 -- a $1,000 appearance fee in the pro-am, $20,000 for the men's singles win, $7,500 for the mixed doubles win, and $60,000 for his playoff win over Villarreal (she got $40,000!).
• The total prize purse for the events was $313,000, said to be the largest to that point in the history of pro pool.
There are fighters right now who know given the chance they could compete with and beat the UFC world champion but they are not invited for one reason or another so they dont get the chance. That doesnt take away from the fact that the UFC world champion is world class and earned the right to be called by many world champion.
Bottom line is C.J. won the world championship in a world class field and he was capable of beating anyone at that time. The fact that you try to discredit him makes you look bad... just saying.
CJ tries to discredit all kinds of folks on AZ all the time.
As you say, "...makes you look bad...just saying."
Lou Figueroa
You play good right? Don't you have over a 200 in straight pool. That is amazing, an incredible feat, but iyo did you play as well in your prime as CJ did?No comparison.
I'd definetly be happy to win that one......88K:grin-square:. I'd also feel fortunate that I was one of only 16 picked, uh...I mean invited, to play in it (looks like only players from CJ's PCA were in that tournament).
Sort of reminds me of how Mike Sigel, with the help of his buddy Kevin Trudeau, set himself up for a potential (a mortal lock in his case) big payday at the beginning of the IPT. The first ever IPT match was an exhibition match between Mike and Lori Jon, the "King of the Hill" match. The winner got $150K with 2nd being $75K. Mike easily won and was "King of the Hill" which automatically put him into the 2nd IPT tournament final which he lost badly against Efren...........but pocketed another easy $100K.
Minnesota Fats: "ain't we all hustling?" "aint Nixon out there hustling for votes?"
Yes, anyone can create the angle they need from these two ALIGNMENT points, remember, there's 4 angles off each one, so there's 8 total angles, one being straight in, and another as thin as you can cut the object ball.
'THE TOUCH OF INSIDE' will help create those angles naturally, if someone is willing to practice their instinctual development. When this has been practiced enough the player's mind will automatically create the desired angle....without any conscious thought or effort. This is the beauty of the highest levels of pool, it's like playing a musical instrument, the music plays through you, not the other way around.
Our subconscious minds are so incredible that using this system will free the player to tap into their full potential. Also, they can utilize the true "secret" of great shot-making, which is touch and a "feel" for the pocket.
The reason few of the champion players can describe how they aim is because they do it instinctively......although they still need to use the center or edge for a reference point.....and it's always best to visually use the CENTER of the cue ball (for a reference point) to develop the maximum touch and feel necessary to control and manage your game. This is vital to position play and cue ball placement, when utilized properly.
'The Game is the Teacher'![]()
https://youtu.be/5ahPI9nZpfg
This would be the most notable. Believe me though, there are gyms across the world with fighters who have the skill but are yet to be recognized.
He doesn't try though... when he mixes it up he owns you fools and you still look bad.
He doesn't try though... when he mixes it up he owns you fools and you still look bad.
This was CJ's post.
It obvious that CJ has no 'Fear of Feel'.
It does not matter if CJ won a 'World' Championship or not.
CJ has played 'the best' & he's beaten 'the best'. Does that mean that he's 'the best'?
No. But he certainly was one of 'the best' during a time when there were many extremely good players.
It's the message not the messenger.
Why do some 'attack' the messenger instead of addressing the message?
That's up to the readership to decide.
No wonder there are so very very few professional players that will post here on AZB.
Best 2 All,
Rick
PS My advice for CJ would be to have a question & answer section on his website & advertise it here with the permission of AZB. Then those that want to learn from CJ can do so.
PPS I'd recommend the same thing for Mr. Shuffett.
PPPS Either that or give each their own sub forum sections here with controls.
I can show you how to make a ball on the break EVERY TIME, you need only rack the balls EXACTLY the same...EVERY TIME! Heck, i'll even call the pocket!
By your reasoning, then anyone that is world class, which CJ was, has the right to call themselves a World Champion? That doesn't make any sense at all, and is derogatory to the true World Champions.
........so you want me to say something about my 200+ ball run, right?
It was done in my basement under zero pressure on a table with 5.5" pockets. :embarrassed2:![]()