How good is/ was James Walden

[HollyWood]

Last time I saw him play was at the Olathe 96,000. shootout. He was 4th or 5th with Shane V. ( from the original 19,or 20)entry's. James did make it to the final table. thanks in advance to those willing to post about a great great player Mr. James Walden. thanks again, Mark

 

[Donkey Puncher]

At the time I first met him (at Road Dogs in OKC in 1998 or so) he was the best player I had ever seen in person. He'd spin back-cut balls in that "didn't go." I played him 8-ball on the GC3 and he missed once after about 8 or 9 racks and left me snookered and didn't miss again until I had to go. I racked (ie. He ran out) for over an hour and a half. He was also very personable. Easy to talk to, like most true Okies like myself, and always willing to give advice or input on a shot.

I believe he won around $150,000 in Baton Rouge by beating Flyboy. He was a feared player for many, many years his best being 80's and 90's and was one of the top 3 or 4 bar table players in the nation. Still a very good shot, and well-respected.

 

[JAM]

James Walden is one of my favorite pool players to hang out with. A quiet, unassuming-type guy, James doesn't open up until he gets to know you. When he does, though, he's like a breath of fresh air.

When the IPT came to the fore, James qualified for the event in Vegas. Like many of the other action players, he came out of the woodwork and decided to give this tournament format a serious look. Though James will always be remembered for his high-stakes action, the IPT at that time offered the opportunity for pool players to earn a decent wage off of their pool-playing capabilities. Dave Matlock and Scotty Townsend, like James, also decided to give this tournament lifestyle a serious look for the same reason as James. :wink:

I have not seen or spoken to James in a long while. After the IPT folded like a lawn chair, James, as well as other IPT players, became disgruntled with pool and told me he might hang up his cue for a spell and look into other avenues of making a living. I sure do hope he's doing well. James is a good man. :smile:

James Walden depicted on the left at the 2005 U.S. Open.

 

[JAM]

James was so excited about the IPT. I think he was one of the players who agreed to sign a contract and have Mark Trainer be their agent. Mark Trainer, from what I was told, made a small fortune in real estate, and he wanted to be an agent to IPT players. So he had capital to get the ball rolling on his end. I'm sure he lost close to a million or more, but that's a topic for another thread. :frown:

Mark's contract seemed lucrative for some players, paying all their expenses to each event. At the time, there was talk of an IPT event to be in England on the forefront. Mark Trainer would take a percentage of the winnings, and in return, the player didn't have to worry about coming up with the monies needed to attend tournaments around the world. Seemed like a good deal at the time.

The IPT turned a lot of action players like James into tournament soldiers overnight, but their dreams soon turned into a nightmare that got worse and worse when the IPT payouts weren't forthcoming.

Here's another shot of James, depicted on the right, that was taken at the IPT in Vegas in 2006. That's Ronnie Wiseman in the middle. :smile:

 

[Gmanpoke]

I don't want to speak for James but based on the few conversations I've had with him, I'm not sure he would appreciate this thread. James is an old school pool player who traveled all over the country making a living playing pool. He has said on more than one occasion that the internet and cameras in cell phones has destroyed his ability to make a living. I don't think anyone here is trying to kill James' action. I think its more of an innocent curiosity about a lifestyle and a skill level most really never get to witness.

If you really want to know how good James is/was, take trip to OKC. You will find James in one of the pool hall almost every day. James is very approachable. He will play almost anyone cheap. At least I see him play a lot of locals cheap, including me. He is easy to talk to and a lot of fun to play (mostly watch).

I'm not trying to bust anyone's balls or offend anyone. I just think we should be considerate of the people who we talk about on this forum.

Steven

 

[Donkey Puncher]

Hey Steven, I will be going back home for a few days, and if I haave some time, I would like to play someone. Are you interested? I stay in Edmond with my dad, but I will go to Jamaica Joe's or Mikey's 24/7 or Chester's or wherever the action is nowadays.

PM me a cell # if interested.

That goes to any Okies on here reading this as well.

 

[ironman]

I don't want to speak for James but based on the few conversations I've had with him, I'm not sure he would appreciate this thread. James is an old school pool player who traveled all over the country making a living playing pool. He has said on more than one occasion that the internet and cameras in cell phones has destroyed his ability to make a living. I don't think anyone here is trying to kill James' action. I think its more of an innocent curiosity about a lifestyle and a skill level most really never get to witness.

If you really want to know how good James is/was, take trip to OKC. You will find James in one of the pool hall almost every day. James is very approachable. He will play almost anyone cheap. At least I see him play a lot of locals cheap, including me. He is easy to talk to and a lot of fun to play (mostly watch).

I'm not trying to bust anyone's balls or offend anyone. I just think we should be considerate of the people who we talk about on this forum.

Steven

james is a great guy. he is mannerly and friendly. he has that soft spoken country accent and can make the word "bet" sound like a four syllable word. I have always gotten along with him well and enjoy his company.
he has a very dry sense of humor and a very quiet guy. I have never really figured out why but every time he speaks, i start laughing.
James is not the best pol player ever by any means and does not claim to be,,,,But,,,, nobody ever plays as hard for the money as he does. If the match goes into the 12th hour, I will take a ticket on James no matter who he is playing. He latches on like a Pit Bull.
The other poster was right on too. he plays like an animal on the bar box, but he plays all tables and all games pretty darn good.
Obviously he is one of my favorites!

 

[catpool9]

James Waldon

James Waldon came thru Texarkana,Arkansas back in 2000, he stopped by my brother Calvin's nightclub, James and Calvin started playing for $100.00 a game 9-Ball even.

Calvin won the flip, broke and ran three games then broke dry, James ran that one and nine more, Calvin threw in the towel, told James he could get the 8 from lesser players.

James handled that cue ball like it was on a string, and broke fantastic, plays really smooth!


David Harcrow

 

[houmatroy]

I don't want to speak for James but based on the few conversations I've had with him, I'm not sure he would appreciate this thread. James is an old school pool player who traveled all over the country making a living playing pool. He has said on more than one occasion that the internet and cameras in cell phones has destroyed his ability to make a living. I don't think anyone here is trying to kill James' action. I think its more of an innocent curiosity about a lifestyle and a skill level most really never get to witness.

If you really want to know how good James is/was, take trip to OKC. You will find James in one of the pool hall almost every day. James is very approachable. He will play almost anyone cheap. At least I see him play a lot of locals cheap, including me. He is easy to talk to and a lot of fun to play (mostly watch).

I'm not trying to bust anyone's balls or offend anyone. I just think we should be considerate of the people who we talk about on this forum.

Steven

I know James & like him...He is really a good guy...But the old days you speak of where people could stay under radar & make a living at pool are long gone & will never come back...From now on pool players will make road trips more out of boredom or just a different scenery more so than to try & hatch out a living...There will always be suckers so there will be scores but they will be few & far between compared to the old days...It's sad but true that it can never go back...but technology is here to stay & only getting more advanced.

 

[catpool9]

Technology

I know James & like him...He is really a good guy...But the old days you speak of where people could stay under radar & make a living at pool are long gone & will never come back...From now on pool players will make road trips more out of boredom or just a different scenery more so than to try & hatch out a living...There will always be suckers so there will be scores but they will be few & far between compared to the old days...It's sad but true that it can never go back...but technology is here to stay & only getting more advanced.

Thats right Troy, the old days of slipping around under the radar are over. It used to take weeks, months or longer to find out who was who!

I remember when the pager came out , there were no cell phones, all the players had pagers, when ever someone saw action somewhere the 'pool detectives' would get on the pay phone and page there buddy to come to where the action was, that was pretty cool back then, throw some jelly and you got paged regular.

It's amazing now, you can be getting a drink at the bar and someone with a camera phone is already getting the low-down on ya.


David Harcrow

 

[1on1pooltournys]

Health?

I saw James back in May and he did not look very healthy. I almost didn't recognize him. Does anybody know if he is healthy? I sure hope so.

 

[JAM]

I saw James back in May and he did not look very healthy. I almost didn't recognize him. Does anybody know if he is healthy? I sure hope so.

Last time we spoke with him on the phone, he did say he was working on his health. I hope he's okay.

BTW, I sent you a PM about another matter.