How Hard Do You Hit the Cue Ball

[Williebetmore]

Pointless rambling about the Deacon

Willie, let's not forget that, though Irving was noted for his cautious approach, Crane was a many-time 300 ball runner and that he considered himself as good as anyone that ever played straight pool when 5 X 10 tables were in use, and was always prepared to gamble with Willie on a 5 x 10. He quickly conceded that Mosconi was his superior on a 9 x 4 1/2.

The quote you're referring to is, no doubt, the one that really rubbed Irving the wrong way. Mosconi said, "Crane wouldn't play any shot his grandmother couldn't make." Ouch!

SJM,
We will definitely not forget. Irving was my favorite player from the very start - his instructional book was my very first pool book. It's very interesting that the stroke taught by Crane in that book is basically the same stroke taught now by Mark Wilson and Jerry Briesath - maybe there's something to it. Irving seemed very much the gentleman the few times I saw him play (while Mosconi seemed very much the bitter old man in the recordings I have of him) - personality wise there is no contest (this is starting to seem like the old Nicklaus-Palmer comparison isn't it?).

When I saw Irving play at the Hawk's Nest in the early 70's he trounced every one except Mizerak. The Miz was at his peak and seemed totally dominant in the small round robin tournaments (with Allen Hopkins, Jim Marino, Pete Margo, and I think Jim Rempe was there at least once) - but Crane, who must have been in his mid-60's was ultra-impressive. Maybe the Cardiac Kid will weigh in with some Crane stories.

P.S. - If Mosconi was correct, then Irving Crane's grandmother must have been a fabulous player given the shots I have seen him make.

 

[Gerald]

That quote came from Bert's "9 Ball 60 Minute Work Out" and is it ever true!
Scott Lee, who posts on CCB, teaches the same format. He studied with J. Breisath and is a BCA certified instructor. He is a great guy and has a different twist than most instructors. You do not have to go to him--he comes to you! He does exhibitions all over the country at colleges and military bases. He has a an annual route that takes him around the entire USA. He is very reasonable and video tapes each lesson, so that you have a learning tool at all times. It seems that many of the instructors of that school of thought teach basic fundamentals and most of them teach the basic speeds of very slow (1 rail) lag (2Rails) med (3 rails) and hard (4 rails) and don't drop your elbow!! He has helped me and in fact is due to be here in So. Calif in a couple of weeks and I am currently reworking my schedule so we can hook up. He really helps to groove your stroke and he really helps me.

 

[sjm]

SJM,
When I saw Irving play at the Hawk's Nest in the early 70's he trounced every one except Mizerak. The Miz was at his peak and seemed totally dominant in the small round robin tournaments (with Allen Hopkins, Jim Marino, Pete Margo, and I think Jim Rempe was there at least once) - but Crane, who must have been in his mid-60's was ultra-impressive. Maybe the Cardiac Kid will weigh in with some Crane stories.

Irving would have been about 60 then. Was Joe Balsis there? Irving always had a hard time beating him. FYI, John Ervolino once told me he considered Joe Balsis to be Steve Mizerak's equal in straight pool in the late sixties and early seventies.

A great moment for Joe that I was lucky enough to witness was his cinderella run in the 1980 World 14.1 Championships in New York City, in which Mike Sigel won his first world 14.1 championship. Though well past his prime, Joe shocked everybody by getting all the way to the final in a field that included Nick Varner, Jim Rempe, Lou Butera, Irving Crane, Pete Margo, Ray Martin, Allen Hopkins, and Dallas West. No small achievement!

 

[Williebetmore]

Irving would have been about 60 then. Was Joe Balsis there? Irving always had a hard time beating him. FYI, John Ervolino once told me he considered Joe Balsis to be Steve Mizerak's equal in straight pool in the late sixties and early seventies.

A great moment for Joe that I was lucky enough to witness was his cinderella run in the 1980 World 14.1 Championships in New York City, in which Mike Sigel won his first world 14.1 championship. Though well past his prime, Joe shocked everybody by getting all the way to the final in a field that included Nick Varner, Jim Rempe, Lou Butera, Irving Crane, Pete Margo, Ray Martin, Allen Hopkins, and Dallas West. No small achievement!

SJM,
I do not recall seeing Joe Balsis there. At the time I didn't even know his name despite the fact that he had been a world champion (shows you the status of my pool knowledge at the time). I also saw Cicero Murphy play twice at that hall (not in the tournament) before someone pointed out that he was someone famous (at least to pool players). I think Lou Butera had a financial interest in that pool room and played there frequently, but he didn't play in those tournaments.

My pool playing buddy (the one I told you about that moved to Florida), claims that he saw Joe Balsis shoot a "perfect game" in an exhibition - he called a ball on the opening break (??head ball in the side??), and then ran 150 and out. Do you know if this is true (I never trust anything said to me in a pool hall, except from you - even my mother is a little suspect sometimes)?

 

[Williebetmore]

Then where did the rap come from that Willie couldn't make the long shots? .

WW,
I have never heard of such a rap. I do know that Willie played for "close position" better than anyone who ever lived. If he could run 125 and never get more than 8 inches from an object ball, maybe people didn't see him shoot long shots very often. The fellows from KC who saw him, said he would place an object ball on the foot spot, then take the cue ball and freeze it to the center of the head rail and shoot to pocket this spot shot 15 times in a row (off the rail). They say in his exhibition he would always pocket 15 in a row in less than 1 minute - that's pretty strong (try it yourself, its not very easy). Of course I have never seen Cole play - I hope I get the chance sometime.

 

[sjm]

My pool playing buddy (the one I told you about that moved to Florida), claims that he saw Joe Balsis shoot a "perfect game" in an exhibition - he called a ball on the opening break (??head ball in the side??), and then ran 150 and out. Do you know if this is true (I never trust anything said to me in a pool hall, except from you - even my mother is a little suspect sometimes)?

I've never heard this story, but it's very believable. Doubt it was an exhibition against a fellow professional, though. Only against a far weaker player would a professional attempt to pocket a ball on the opening break in straight pool. Add to it that Joe was a very cocky and somewhat arrogant shooter and the story is probably true. You can bet your last dollar, though, that it was on loose pockets, as were most exhibitions.

May have told you this before, but my favorite exhibition story by far is from when Rusty Miller arranged to have Mike Sigel play a local player at a private club in Gramercy Park, New York City. I believe it was 1982. Sigel broke and the local ran an eight, and then Sigel was off to the races in this 100 point match. When his run was up to 85, former New york City mayor John Lindsay (a member of that club) walked in and saw the remainder of Sigel's 100 and out. A few minutes later, Sigel was introduced to the former mayor. When Lindsay commented "great run, I wish I'd been here to see all of it", Sigel's now legendary reply was "want me to do it again?" Not even Balsis was that cocky!