Could any of my fellow AZBilliard people please tell me what Tournaments ( Big or Small) that Danny DiLiberto has won in his Pool Career? It seems that he has played every old time player, and won of course, and would like to know a little more about his Career, Thanks!
Well, he won the Johnston city all around tournament.. Since pool has never really had a tour, like a lot of other players he won a lot of state wide tournaments around the country.
He was twice runner up in the BCA US Open. He beat most everybody of his era at any one time. I sat there and watched him beat Miz for $5000. playing straight pool a 400 point game. Danny had a run of over 200 in that game.
In Miz's book miz says the next day Danny would not give him a return match. This was not true. Danny had backers who blew the money at the dog track and Miz left town before they could put together another group to put up the money.
Danny also beat Cisero Murphy the same type of match again running around 200 in the match. Danny wasted a lot of his prime years hanging around Miami going to the dog tracks, fishing and playing here and there.
He went quite a few years not hardly playing at all. This may account for much of his lack or tournaments wins. You have to go to them and play to win. Most were just a waste of time and money with no prize funds.
Not to mention, living in south Florida is like the end of the world compared to the rest of the country. It is like 450 miles to the state line. I was at a 9 ball tournament once and I had I think some bad food or something. I could not play I was really sick
I was looking to sell my entry spot for like half price. Danny came in and I gave it to him and we went half's. He didn't even want to play he was there I guess maybe to match up or something.
He blew right through the tournament winning easily. Lots of good players, Steve Cook, David Howard, Grady Mathews, Miz and others I can't remember. And Danny didn't really play 9 ball.
I saw him win a ring 9 ball tournament. They played with chips like the poker tournaments and you had to bust the table to move on. In the final there were 4 players on the table and at a point it was just Danny and another black player real good player.
Danny was almost out of chips and it looked like it was over. Danny began making a come back and 15 hours later he busted the guy. Danny could really play no doubt it. Very good under pressure.
Don't go so much by tournaments wins. Unless you were a tournament fanatic like say Sigel, who probably spent as much going to tournaments as he ever won, it was pretty hard to have a very good resume. Tournaments were few and far between and paid almost nothing. I think Danny would rather go fishing most of the time.
I think a funny thing happened with Danny. He was discovered by a new generation with the internet. Doing the commentary and so on he has become somewhat of an Icon, a status he never had before. It came along later on in life and I am glad he has had the opportunity to enjoy some recognition now.