I met a man....

Terry Ardeno

Terry Ardeno

I still love my wife
Silver Member
At physical therapy, there was a group of 3 men taking a physical test as a condition of employment for one of our local mines. I overheard him say he was from Kentucky. He seemed to be about 30 years old.

During a break, we spoke and I asked him where at in Kentucky he was from. He replied "A little town that nobody ever heard of called Paducah."
Well, EVERYBODY knows who hails from Paducah, Kentucky....Buddy Hall!

So I said I've heard of Paducah, it's right across the river from Metropolis, Il. And then I asked him if he knows Buddy Hall. He said "Who?" I repeated, "Buddy Hall, one of the greatest 9 ball champions who ever lived. He's a past World and U.S. Open 9 Ball Champion." And this guy said "No, I never heard of him. I don't follow pool."

I have some retorical questions that can't really be answered....

1. How can anybody live in as small a town as Paducah, Ky and "never heard of" a LEGEND like Buddy Hall.

2. You would think that the town would have a sign upon entering it saying something like "Welcome to Paducah, Kentucky, home of the Legendary Pool Champion Cecil "Buddy" Hall.

3. Don't local newspapers cover pool champions? I don't mean a write up every day, but something at least when he was in his heyday?

4. What about the locals who do play pool? Don't they ever talk to their family or friends about the world beater in their midst?

This is not the first time this has happened. I've asked people from Owensboro, Ky if they've ever heard of Nick Varner and they said "No".
One of my daughter's classmates at Valley Forge Christian College lived in Scranton and has never heard of Jim Rempe! The only time I can ever remember having someone answer "Yes" was when a Filipino couple was sitting next to me in a waiting room and after some small talk, I asked them if they ever heard of Efren "Bata" Reyes? "Who?" "Oh yes, the pool player." Then surely, they've also heard of Bustamonte and Parica? No. Luat or Andam? Nope. never heard of them.

It was hard to believe. I had heard over the years that pool players are like superstars in the Philipines. Maybe I just caught two people who had other interests besides pool.

Just an idea here, but when somebody like a Shane VanBoeing wins a major tournament, somebody who is a friend or family member should at least contact the local newspaper and have them write at least a short little story depicting what was accomplished. Somebody from Dennis Hatch's hometown needs to write something to their newspaper. Donnie Mills needs some ink for what he accomplished at this year's U.S. Open.
In other words, let's help make these guys a little more famous. Shannon Daulton, young as he is, is successfully running his own pool tour. His local newspaper should have profiled his winnings at Derby City and his great wins at the L.o.1P by now. I could go on....

And just not the local newspapers, how about local TV stations? If they can cover "punkin' chunking" or "hotdog eating" contests, or chess tournaments, why not pool???

It's too late for Buddy Hall. And Nick Varner. And "King" James Rempe. Oh, I'm sure there are SOME people in their towns that know of them, but for the most part, it's my opinion that a large chunk of fame has passed them by. Grady Mathews, Dallas West, Danny DiLiberto. I could go on, but has any of these great players ever been famous even in their home town? Sad.

Heck, outside of our town, we have a school named for an astronaut (Joe Walker). But besides that name on the school, I never heard of him, so how famous could he have been?

If a town can honor an astronaut, they can honor a pool champion as well!
 
I can't believe I just realized that the league operator of my APA league has the last name Hall. Just asked him and they're not related. That would have been cool. Good post Terry. I agree with you.
 
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Good post Terry, but all I can say is...Good Luck! I think you(we) may need it. People just don't seem to give a crap about pool.

I think us hardcore poolplayers sometimes don't realize how 'normal':wink: people look upon pool. It may be hard to believe, but I could ask the 5,000 local league players if they know who Efren, Archer, Varner, and many would probably have no clue.
 
Pool

Every time I have called for tech support on my wireless DSL I get routed to the Philippines.
Every single person I have talked to knows who Efren and Francisco are.
 
Terry,

Several years ago I was fortunate enough to share a breakfast table with Ralf Souquet in Reno. During our breakfast, I asked Ralf about his home town in Germany. He was kind to share some thoughts. One question was, what happens when you walk into the neighborhood "pub"? He asked what I really ment. I wanted to know if his local fans mobbed him when he went out. He laughed and answered that only his neighbor was mobbed. He's on the German national soccer team. Even one of the best players of our generation is an unknown at home!

Mike Sigel frequents our pool room when in Rochester. Many times someone will walk up to the counter and ask who the guy telling all the stories is. Our local newspaper ran a 25 greatest athletes in Rochester history article. Some of the names I'd never heard of. Neither had any of my friends. I e-mailed the editor. A correction was included several days later including the great Irving Crane and Mike Sigel. Virtually no one knows our sport.

A couple of years ago, a challenged local teenage basketball player made an incredible shot seen virtually around the world. He went to the White House. Was on all the National TV news programs. He's a local hero. Not to take anything away from him but, it was one shot, one night. Not a lifetime of practice, practice, practice. No wonder no one knows our game!

Lyn
 
Terry Ardeno said:
At physical therapy, there was a group of 3 men taking a physical test as a condition of employment for one of our local mines. I overheard him say he was from Kentucky. He seemed to be about 30 years old.

During a break, we spoke and I asked him where at in Kentucky he was from. He replied "A little town that nobody ever heard of called Paducah."
Well, EVERYBODY knows who hails from Paducah, Kentucky....Buddy Hall!

So I said I've heard of Paducah, it's right across the river from Metropolis, Il. And then I asked him if he knows Buddy Hall. He said "Who?" I repeated, "Buddy Hall, one of the greatest 9 ball champions who ever lived. He's a past World and U.S. Open 9 Ball Champion." And this guy said "No, I never heard of him. I don't follow pool."

I have some retorical questions that can't really be answered....

1. How can anybody live in as small a town as Paducah, Ky and "never heard of" a LEGEND like Buddy Hall.

2. You would think that the town would have a sign upon entering it saying something like "Welcome to Paducah, Kentucky, home of the Legendary Pool Champion Cecil "Buddy" Hall.

3. Don't local newspapers cover pool champions? I don't mean a write up every day, but something at least when he was in his heyday?

4. What about the locals who do play pool? Don't they ever talk to their family or friends about the world beater in their midst?

This is not the first time this has happened. I've asked people from Owensboro, Ky if they've ever heard of Nick Varner and they said "No".
One of my daughter's classmates at Valley Forge Christian College lived in Scranton and has never heard of Jim Rempe! The only time I can ever remember having someone answer "Yes" was when a Filipino couple was sitting next to me in a waiting room and after some small talk, I asked them if they ever heard of Efren "Bata" Reyes? "Who?" "Oh yes, the pool player." Then surely, they've also heard of Bustamonte and Parica? No. Luat or Andam? Nope. never heard of them.

It was hard to believe. I had heard over the years that pool players are like superstars in the Philipines. Maybe I just caught two people who had other interests besides pool.

Just an idea here, but when somebody like a Shane VanBoeing wins a major tournament, somebody who is a friend or family member should at least contact the local newspaper and have them write at least a short little story depicting what was accomplished. Somebody from Dennis Hatch's hometown needs to write something to their newspaper. Donnie Mills needs some ink for what he accomplished at this year's U.S. Open.
In other words, let's help make these guys a little more famous. Shannon Daulton, young as he is, is successfully running his own pool tour. His local newspaper should have profiled his winnings at Derby City and his great wins at the L.o.1P by now. I could go on....

And just not the local newspapers, how about local TV stations? If they can cover "punkin' chunking" or "hotdog eating" contests, or chess tournaments, why not pool???

It's too late for Buddy Hall. And Nick Varner. And "King" James Rempe. Oh, I'm sure there are SOME people in their towns that know of them, but for the most part, it's my opinion that a large chunk of fame has passed them by. Grady Mathews, Dallas West, Danny DiLiberto. I could go on, but has any of these great players ever been famous even in their home town? Sad.

Heck, outside of our town, we have a school named for an astronaut (Joe Walker). But besides that name on the school, I never heard of him, so how famous could he have been?

If a town can honor an astronaut, they can honor a pool champion as well!
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I have met people from (non-players) Owensboro that knew who Nick was.

Also, I think this is just because the men are so overshadowed by the women as far as tv coverage goes. Jeanette Lee is probably the most recognized face in pool by non-players. I was eating with her and some other friends at a restaurant recently and about halfway through the meal the waiter said.." So, are you in town for a pool tournament?" I have been in public with her other times and it is obvious people recognize her.

Again, I think that the men would get a lot more recognition with an established tour and tv coverage.
 
I know this is not exactly the same thing, but I have the same name as my father, and have been surprised many times by the people that ask "are you related to...?"

Of course, in the pool world it does not surprise me, but it has happened many times in places and situations I would not expect, which makes me proud in a way because a lot of people really do know about pool to a some degree... And many of the people are genuinely excited about it and we sit and talk for a while, me usually telling some stories I've been told throughout the years.

And relating to your original point - many years ago (probably the 80's) my father wanted to open a pool room in the town he grew up in. He (and me later) grew up in a relatively small suburb town in north Jersey. The town would not let him open a pool room, due to pools "image". Forget about any signs or recognition around town (which don't exist), he wasn't even allowed to open a pool room with his own money and time... Back then, he had recently won the World Straight Pool event in NYC (at 24 years old) and was on TV with Mizerak, Sigel, Mosconi, Fats, Lassiter... and not just TV - it was CBS Wide World of Sports. I don't remember much from back then, as I was a wee tot, but you get point...
 
I play pool league in Monmouth, IL 2 nights a week, and it was my home town for 17 years.

Most people who live there have never even heard of Ralph Greenleaf.
 
SmorgassBored used to tell me about Buddy Hall's fame at the Planet 9 Ball in Tampa, FL. They had a Buddy Hall shrine built, housing a bunch of Buddy's stuff and Doug would be running the amateur pool tournament and would ask the league players if they knew Buddy Hall and almost without fail, they would answer no. That really sucks.

I think every time I do pool commentary I will send my local newspaper a write up about my exploits. j/k.

Maybe, when Terry and I match up at some one pocket and he gives me a little weight I will make an announcement to the local news media to see if we can get some additional publicity.

JoeyA
 
allen_jr said:
I know this is not exactly the same thing, but I have the same name as my father, and have been surprised many times by the people that ask "are you related to...?"

Of course, in the pool world it does not surprise me, but it has happened many times in places and situations I would not expect, which makes me proud in a way because a lot of people really do know about pool to a some degree... And many of the people are genuinely excited about it and we sit and talk for a while, me usually telling some stories I've been told throughout the years.

And relating to your original point - many years ago (probably the 80's) my father wanted to open a pool room in the town he grew up in. He (and me later) grew up in a relatively small suburb town in north Jersey. The town would not let him open a pool room, due to pools "image". Forget about any signs or recognition around town (which don't exist), he wasn't even allowed to open a pool room with his own money and time... Back then, he had recently won the World Straight Pool event in NYC (at 24 years old) and was on TV with Mizerak, Sigel, Mosconi, Fats, Lassiter... and not just TV - it was CBS Wide World of Sports. I don't remember much from back then, as I was a wee tot, but you get point...
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Thats good to hear about your dad.Can you play as well as him?
 
Sounds familiar

I grew up in Gloucester, Mass and learned to play in the same pool hall as Jimmy Reid did. I am willing to "betcha" if you went back to Gloucester and asked any of the locals who Jimmy Reid is they would not have a clue. The old pool hall called Nick's is long gone and their are no pool halls there to my knowledge. Just the way it is in pool.
Dan
 
Cuaba said:
I play pool league in Monmouth, IL 2 nights a week, and it was my home town for 17 years.

Most people who live there have never even heard of Ralph Greenleaf.
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Cuaba,
I know this sounds corny as heck, but when I got to the "Monmouth, Il" part in your post, Greenleaf's home town popped into my cranium. Sort of like Pavlov's dog sort of thing. :grin:

I'm not superstitious, but I like the number 37. I often set my alarm clock for 7:37 or 8:37 instead of 7:30 or 8:30. Why? That was the year Ralph won his last 14.1 championship, 1937.

I know it's goofy.....
 
Sad Story.....

Terry Ardeno said:
Cuaba,
I know this sounds corny as heck, but when I got to the "Monmouth, Il" part in your post, Greenleaf's home town popped into my cranium. Sort of like Pavlov's dog sort of thing. :grin:

I'm not superstitious, but I like the number 37. I often set my alarm clock for 7:37 or 8:37 instead of 7:30 or 8:30. Why? That was the year Ralph won his last 14.1 championship, 1937.

I know it's goofy.....
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Ralph Greenleaf died broke and was buried in an unmarked grave in Monmouth.

He didn't have a headstone until the 1980's, when the local pool league raised enough money to buy him one.
 
Quesports said:
I grew up in Gloucester, Mass and learned to play in the same pool hall as Jimmy Reid did. I am willing to "betcha" if you went back to Gloucester and asked any of the locals who Jimmy Reid is they would not have a clue. The old pool hall called Nick's is long gone and their are no pool halls there to my knowledge. Just the way it is in pool.
Dan
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Here's one similar....Again, while visiting my daughter at college in Valley Forge, I was listening to some of the guys there talk sports. One kid was a wiz and really seemed to know a lot of different things about different sports. He said he was from Manchester, Conn. He said he wanted to try and be a youth Pastor there.

"Scout's Honor" this is true.....

I asked him if he knew Larry Lisciotti.

"Who?"

Larry Lisciotti, the former World 14.1 Champion and one of the greatest players to ever come out of New England.

"What's 14.1?"

You can't make this stuff up. More people know who "Sea Bisquet" is over world champion pool players.
 
Don't tell me you guys are actually surprised, ask 100 people in the street who the Vice President is, I'd guess 80% won't know. So expect them to know Johnny Archer, or Earl, never happen....most people don't even know if they're alive. :wink:

I remember several years ago telling my Mom that I started playing pool again, after a 20 year lay-off, her reaction was "Pool?, that's a bum's sport". Her brother owned a pool hall before I was born, and that's just the way people have always thought of pool and poolplayers. Heck, I've been in more than one room that made me think the same. :eek:

Don't be so surprised when you hear the same thing ten years from now.

Jim
 
Lol this brings back a good memory.....

So back in 2003?? maybe 2004?? when I first got into trying to shoot pool competitively.... I was talking to a girl on AOL in a Michigan chat room.. Well i said something about shooting pool and she's like well thats kewl i shoot pool a bit and work at a pool hall.... In which i reply'd wow that must be nice.. And proceeded to ask how good she was... Her reply was well i'm ok, but my dad's been teaching me for about a year or so...

So I was like well is he any good?? I could probably teach you a few things.. lololol :grin: ( since she lived like 90mins away from me at the time in BattleCreek )

She comes back with the " well he's a world champion pool player " lol

I did the WTF..... and asked who his name was.....

She tells me it's Jayme Goodwin..... and i give the reply " who's that " :eek:

Needless to say after doing a search of his name, i got the hint......

nothing like feeling like a dork when trying to impress a cutie patootie......
 
Terry Ardeno said:
"Scout's Honor" this is true.....

I asked him if he knew Larry Lisciotti.

"Who?"

Larry Lisciotti, the former World 14.1 Champion and one of the greatest players to ever come out of New England.

"What's 14.1?"

You can't make this stuff up. More people know who "Sea Bisquet" is over world champion pool players.
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Terry, I bet a lot of league players would also ask what 14.1 was. And I would bet that 90%+ have no idea who Larry Lisciotti is.

I have been surprised when friends of mine who play good and hang out at pool halls all the time don't know who Willie Mosconi, Ralph Greenleaf, etc. are. Many, many people don't care about the history of the game and the great players.

If people who actually play pool don't care, I think it will be real hard to get the general public to care at all.
 
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jimmyg said:
Don't tell me you guys are actually surprised, ask 100 people in the street who the Vice President is, I'd guess 80% won't know. So expect them to know Johnny Archer, or Earl, never happen....most people don't even know if they're alive. :wink:

I remember several years ago telling my Mom that I started playing pool again, after a 20 year lay-off, her reaction was "Pool?, that's a bum's sport". Her brother owned a pool hall before I was born, and that's just the way people have always thought of pool and poolplayers. Heck, I've been in more than one room that made me think the same. :eek:

Don't be so surprised when you hear the same thing ten years from now.

Jim
Click to expand...

This pretty much sums it it!
 
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