Is Efren Reyes Good For Pool??????

I think what this game needs is a good old-fashioned rivalry. Efren needs to have a worthy nemesis, the Joker to his Batman, the Luthor to his Superman, the Sinestro to his Green Lantern, the Venom or Green Goblin or Doctor Octopus or Electro to his Spiderman.......

Pete Sampras had Agassi, Navratilova had Evert, Federer has Nadal, Bjorn Borg had McEnroe....Tiger has....well, whoever's hot this week.

Early in their careers, i think the rivalry between Efren and Parica was good for their respective games. But now, who can we sick on Efren?

Earl was a good choice but he doesn't seem to be doing too well these days....Souquet has always done pretty well against Efren but they both seem to have the same, good guy personality that people would be hard pressed to choose whom to support.....Manalo could provide Efren with enough competition but both being filipinos i don't think the american public's interest would be piqued....maybe if they start to verbally attack each other but what are the odds of that happening?

The Color of Money movie did a lot of good for the game of pool, in terms of getting people interested in the game. Someone with the looks and personality of the character Tom Cruise played would spark interest in the game for sure. Corey Deuel should be perfect, but he has to pick up some more steam a bit to catch up with the Efren Express...

it's a shame, really. what the IPT needs is an American champion. let's face it -- until rodney morris or archer or deuel step up, mainstream US media would not give the IPT the time of day.
 
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jay helfert said:
This is like asking if pool tables are good for pool. No, we can play on the floor.
Click to expand...

Oh man! I used to just reading flaming posts, responds, etc and rarely comments...but this one's the best!

Thanks man coz you really made my day and I'm still laughing! :D
 
"So you have a comp at your local and an OUTSIDER comes in. Spends nothing, doesnt socialise, wins and splits. Thats an anti hero. Not a hero."

So how do you think a person will feel, if the rest of the crowd thinks he's an outsider who shouldn't there. Why should he socialize with you then?
 
I'll tell you two players that would be good for TV. Stevie Moore and Dennis Orcullo. Steve plays jam up pool, but he is the underdog. But it would be a great match nonetheless.
 
the need for flair

pool is boring these days. it is a bunch of talent hoping to win against another champ. where is the competitive nature us monkeys bring to the table.earl the pearl vs. efren the magician was the last time I saw competitive flair.the owner of wwf (yes wrestling) is a billionaire because he knows the inner hatred to be second best.lets get some good old fashioned rivalries going.by the way the world might never know how good the canadian talent pool really is.I dare the promoters to bring the mosconi cup to CANADA
 
showtime said:
pool is boring these days. it is a bunch of talent hoping to win against another champ. where is the competitive nature us monkeys bring to the table.earl the pearl vs. efren the magician was the last time I saw competitive flair.the owner of wwf (yes wrestling) is a billionaire because he knows the inner hatred to be second best.lets get some good old fashioned rivalries going.by the way the world might never know how good the canadian talent pool really is.I dare the promoters to bring the mosconi cup to CANADA
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my sentiments exactly!
 
I would think

that any junior player just reading through the long list of Efren's wins:
(since he came over here)

would be truly impressed and inspired, I know I was.


2006 Asian 9-Ball Tour Jakarta Leg
2006 IPT World Open 8 Ball Championship
2006 World Cup of Pool (with Bustamante)
2006 Asian 9-Ball Tour Vietnam Leg
2006 Derby City Classic One-Pocket Championship
2005 IPT King of the Hill
2005 Derby City Classic Master Of The Table
2005 Derby City Classic - One-Pocket Championship
2005 Derby City - 9-Ball Championship
2005 IPT King of the Hill 8-Ball Championship
2005 San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour Stop
2005 Japan Open
2004 Derby City Classic Master of the Table
2004 Derby City Classic One-Pocket
2004 World 8-Ball Championship
2003 Mid-Atlantic 9-Ball Championship
2003 Las Vegas 9-Ball Open
2002 Challenge of Champions
2002 World Pool League Champion
2001 World Pool League Champion
2001 IBC Tokyo 9-Ball Championship
2001 Color of Money II Challenge Match (Reyes vs Earl Strickland)
2001 Masters 9-Ball Championship
2000 U.S. Open One-Pocket Championship
1999 ESPN Ultimate 9-Ball Challenge
1999 ESPN Ultimate Shootout
1999 Victor Chandler World Pool Championship
1999 Derby City Classic - One Pocket Championship
1999 Derby City Classic Master of the Table
1999 Sands Regency Open 29 9-Ball Championship
1999 World 9-Ball Championship
1998 World 8-Ball Championship
1998 Camel South Jersey 10-Ball Open
1997 PCA Shooters Challenge
1997 PCA Treasure Island Resort Event
1996 The Color of Money 9-Ball Champion (Reyes vs Earl Strickland)
1996 PBT World 8-Ball Championship
1996 PBT Legends of 9-Ball Championship
1996 PBT Western Open
1996 PBT Florida Flare Up III
1995 Sands Regency Open 21 9-Ball Championship
1995 PBT World 8 Ball Championship
1995 Pro Tour Championship 9-Ball
1994 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
1994 PBT Bicycle Club Invitational
1992 International 8-Ball Classic
1992 World 9-Ball Open (Tokyo)
1990 World Cup (Taipei)
1988 PBA McDermott Masters 9-Ball
1986 Sands Regent 9-Ball Championship
1985 Sands Regent 9-Ball Championship
1985 Red's 9-Ball Open
1985 Tar Heel Open
1985 Willard's Open

His record speaks for itself, just like his shooting always does.

===> 53 Titles and he is 52 years old.... lol
 
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"pool is boring these days. it is a bunch of talent hoping to win against another champ. where is the competitive nature us monkeys bring to the table.earl the pearl vs. efren the magician was the last time I saw competitive flair.the owner of wwf (yes wrestling) is a billionaire because he knows the inner hatred to be second best.lets get some good old fashioned rivalries going.by the way the world might never know how good the canadian talent pool really is.I dare the promoters to bring the mosconi cup to CANADA"

What now pool version of "American Idol." Bunch of C-class players hoping to become the next champ?
 
8-ball bernie said:
the question here is a deep and important one. is efren reyes good for pool?
the answer that i give is NO!
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Huh?

"...young black kid stick it to the rich white man?"...please. Tiger didn't exactly come out of the getto. Anyway, isn't he half-asian?

"...if the beatles we're bald fat 60 year old men..." Ummm...right. You have to stop now - since you have it all backwards.

Bernie, you can use your wildest imagination and concoct fictional characters that you feel would be good for pool. You can devise outlandish schemes to fool the "American public" into turning their heads for a moment - but people will only gawk at a manufactured act for so long. If you throw in some clever gimmicks, you might come up with another flash-in-the-pan distraction for the idle day-time channel surfers of the world. There are many ways to get the general public's attention - create some stupid characters and make them say or do some dumb things. Even easier, just say the dumb things yourself... or drop your draws - that always turns heads. What will any of this achieve? You won't attract sports fans that way, I can assure you.

None of your ideas have a chance at creating lasting appeal; which is what most billiard-lovers cry out for, for their sport. Yes, billiards wants to be presented in a manner that it is actually interesting - the competitive drama needs to be there and the characters must be allowed to shine. It doesn't mean we have to discard all respectability and insult the intelligence of the audience. Most importantly, it needs to be real.

Efren is just about as real as they come. You can't make up or manufacture an Efren. Austin Murphy, your handicapped guy, or a hot-babe with pool training may impress you and your mom by pocketing a few balls and winning a staged event/circus act, but there's a heck of a lot more to sports entertainment than that. Also, have you considered that by the time we tune-in to watch Austin Murphy win the world championship, he might look like a humble, soft-spoken, 50 year-old, old guy with no teeth? "...is that old guy with no teeth in the next tournament, dad?" (no offence to Austin Murphy, of course)

To master pool/billiards/balkline like Efren has, takes around 52 years (to be exact) - billiards actually takes a lifetime to excel in. I see nothing wrong with that. In the end, the sports fans respect mastery and they know how to appreciate a true champion - especially one that trains their whole life before surmounting a difficult challenge in competition. If it were up to you, I don't think the audience would be given that opportunity, especially if the only original idea you have is to make a reality TV show out of pool and sell your sport short.

Bernie, with all of your good intentions, by all means try your best to be this "amazing IPT character" - but recognize that you have very little understanding of the game or what is really good for its future. You don't even know who your desired audience is. This is NOT about getting the moms and reality-tv/day-time soap-opera viewers (your "general public").

Billiards needs sports fans. Sports fans are drawn to champions with character. Efren is a great champion with a heck of a lot of character. As a result of popularity amongst sports fans, champion characters may eventually become recognized in the general public - not the other way around. Despite what you may believe, you can't first develop yourself as a personality and THEN suddenly turn yourself into a sports hero.

When it comes to who is better for pool, you or Efren...

you, the character, couldn't hold a candle up to Efren, the champion. I think you need to learn how to appreciate what the sport has in Efren and start from there.

Keep the circus act away, Bernie.
 
class act?

in response to the guy who called bernie a class act.
now that boy efren reyes hes a real class act! go learn from him bern!
 
tfdr said to me
"so who are your hero sigel and earl??" then
"he is not arrogant like these americans..
and everybody even players socialize around him,
that is what endeared him to the fans
an exact opposite of those two
an anti-villain"
Sigel couldve been a hero if was king of the hill, but he was the defender on the cross and still seems to be, in training with or without trainer.
Earl seems to have crossed the boundary into hasbeen.
Really I didnt know people socialised around him (efren). Thats great.
I had a friend, aboriginal-filipino guy of efrens age. And I was drawing on what we used to do at times. Go to comps as the outsiders, just to win and get out with the cash.
I was thinking about how Efren would market or be endeared to Americans hearts or psyche. Didnt realize it was the IPT, international pool tour not APT, American pool tour and worldwide Efren has clout, specially in Asia.
I thought that the final there well youve got Rodney Morris playing for a home for his wife. And youve got Efren who wants to remodel his kids home, well ..thats the personal story...with what they do with the money won.
Well its not a happy ending for the american though shifting to an international perspective, it evens out.
Winning all those titles gives an anti hero more darkness anyway.
More to hate when he beats your guy haha.
crosseyed joe said to me "So how do you think a person will feel, if the rest of the crowd thinks he's an outsider who shouldn't there."
I think they'll feel bad. Keep it to themselves. And want revenge to prove themselves on the table.
"Why should he socialize with you then? "
because he probably came with me
Theres a big problem promoting someone to the western world if they can't speak english.
So there.
:cool:
 
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The only good thing about this post is all the love that flowed out from the az world to Efren. I was gald and proud to see that. The funniest comment of the whole post was the bayer, Thorazine thing...i woke my wife from a dead sleep laughing.

But there is an underlying issue in the post that Cuerus touched on. Here is the statement

"Pool has been around for many years and will continue to be.
Pool does not need to be Football or Golf"

We as pool players want so badly for pool to become a main stream sport..it will not happen if the game continues to go the way it is going. You can throw all the money at it you want..millions. Here is my 2 cents worth. If pool is to become a main stream sport then it must be introduced to the main stream. The BCA and other organizations are gona have to build its member base up to get money and make pool a school sport. I can remember playing pee wee football, we were running the plays that the high school guys were running..by the time i got to high school hell i could run the plays in my sleep. If you were to intertwine pool with schools so that billiard teams went to other schools to play, then the parents of these players would support it. That support would grow. I give you an example. Look at Soccer, years ago i told some one soccer will never take a foot hold in America. It's huge in Europe but it wont find a home here. Boy was i wrong. The lovers of soccer did it right...they took it to the little kids. Promoted it in school, summer league, etc. Heck a whole new life style was created from it "Soccer Mom" If the major cue makers and pool table companies donated money to schools to help build practice rooms at the schoo then it could be regulated by academicsl. Remove the dark image linked to pool and put the soccer mom and dad not chearing for little Johhny to kick a goal, but to run the last 3 on the table and park the cue ball on the next snap. Pool would take off. If local pool rooms would offer pool times to kids from lets say 3 to 6 pm. Have kids bring in their report cards for every A they get a certain amount of free time , B gets you this etc. Let a mom and dad see your interested in thier childs future and they will support it. I know some of this stuff works. I worked in a pool room for a guy and i brought these ideas to him, we tried a couple of them (the A grade for time thing worked great.) That is the only way "in my opinion" that our beloved sport will ever get to were the IPT and other tours have tried to take pool. The future of pool rest in the generation that is comming up not the ones that are playing now. I agree they need to "eat" and earn a living. But Pool isnt quite there yet. Sure you will have someone score huge in a tournament..and i love it. But i know how the story will end. But we can always hope..this is just my 2cents worth... and as long as Barry Keep tapig i will keep buying a Tape a week with Accustats

Tony Capers
lover of pool
 
then why efren is every player's favorite and the one they want to immulate??

all that it takes is a good promotion for the ordinary public's awareness..

a kinda Air jordan documentary video

higlighting his magical shots as well as his amiable personality


if there is
" i want to be like mike" or "bend it like beckham"

why not one for effy??
 
I liked how in Bernie's IPT bio it said that he won a major 8-ball tournament that had 21 players. He must have really shot amazing to top a field like that.

(envisons a hole in the wall bar, AC/DC blaring, single-elimination bar tournament)
 
quitecoolguy said:
The only good thing about this post is all the love that flowed out from the az world to Efren. I was gald and proud to see that. The funniest comment of the whole post was the bayer, Thorazine thing...i woke my wife from a dead sleep laughing.

But there is an underlying issue in the post that Cuerus touched on. Here is the statement

"Pool has been around for many years and will continue to be.
Pool does not need to be Football or Golf"

We as pool players want so badly for pool to become a main stream sport..it will not happen if the game continues to go the way it is going. You can throw all the money at it you want..millions. Here is my 2 cents worth. If pool is to become a main stream sport then it must be introduced to the main stream. The BCA and other organizations are gona have to build its member base up to get money and make pool a school sport. I can remember playing pee wee football, we were running the plays that the high school guys were running..by the time i got to high school hell i could run the plays in my sleep. If you were to intertwine pool with schools so that billiard teams went to other schools to play, then the parents of these players would support it. That support would grow. I give you an example. Look at Soccer, years ago i told some one soccer will never take a foot hold in America. It's huge in Europe but it wont find a home here. Boy was i wrong. The lovers of soccer did it right...they took it to the little kids. Promoted it in school, summer league, etc. Heck a whole new life style was created from it "Soccer Mom" If the major cue makers and pool table companies donated money to schools to help build practice rooms at the schoo then it could be regulated by academicsl. Remove the dark image linked to pool and put the soccer mom and dad not chearing for little Johhny to kick a goal, but to run the last 3 on the table and park the cue ball on the next snap. Pool would take off. If local pool rooms would offer pool times to kids from lets say 3 to 6 pm. Have kids bring in their report cards for every A they get a certain amount of free time , B gets you this etc. Let a mom and dad see your interested in thier childs future and they will support it. I know some of this stuff works. I worked in a pool room for a guy and i brought these ideas to him, we tried a couple of them (the A grade for time thing worked great.) That is the only way "in my opinion" that our beloved sport will ever get to were the IPT and other tours have tried to take pool. The future of pool rest in the generation that is comming up not the ones that are playing now. I agree they need to "eat" and earn a living. But Pool isnt quite there yet. Sure you will have someone score huge in a tournament..and i love it. But i know how the story will end. But we can always hope..this is just my 2cents worth... and as long as Barry Keep tapig i will keep buying a Tape a week with Accustats

Tony Capers
lover of pool
Click to expand...

Anyone who skipped over this post because of it's length should go back and read it! Tony is exactly right. You can't build anything solid by starting at the top. You must start with the foundation and build up from there. The IPT has started at the top, and is trying to pull the game up. In order for pool to be accepted as a "mainstream" sport, it needs to have a foundation in the schools. When the entire industry (table manufacturers, cue manufacturers, instructors, and everyone else) start to focus on high schools, we will start to see some solid growth. Schools need to have billiard clubs, pool as an intermural sport, make it part of the phys-ed program. Students can learn practical application of geometry and physics presented in a forum that makes them WANT to learn.

We can't pull pool into the mainstream...we have to build it from the ground up.
Steve
 
You can not really promote pool in the classroom as it is a "gambling" game for serious player. It's a reputation that can not be taken away from pool. So a grassroot level approach is not really that ideal. You'll have to make do with what is on the top.

The pool community has to show to younger generation that playing pool can be a "livable" career choice.
 
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I must disagree. Pool is enjoyed by thousands of players who don't find it necessary to gamble. Those who really understand the game enjoy it for the pure pleasure of playing. Gambling is a small part of it. I can go into my local pool room on any given night. 16 9 foot tables, and maybe 3 or 4 of them have money matches going on...the rest are playing for fun.

The fact that is has never been really done on a large scale has nothing to do with gambling. I think it's more that nobody wants to put the effort into building it up.
Steve
 
Tap tap tap...that is the frustrating part. No one has put effort in it. The big issue is that to do it right..i mean really take pool to the school. The return of the investment is not imediate. But there is a whole lot of money to be made. just imagine after 5 years or so of intergrating pool in the school, all the kids who will be wanting to invest in pool cues, tables, cases. I know mother and fathers who spend thousands of dollars for soccer, baseball, football, golf, pool is just the red headed step child who just never got a chance to shine in school. I am by no way a excellent pool shooter...C+ and maybe a B+ on a really good day...ha ha ha. I can remember when i was young and hanging out at my local pool room. I could shot light years past anyone who went to my school. Kids from the my highschool would come in and just want to play just to see me shoot. The competetor in some of them made them want to learn the game just to try and beat me. I think some organization should really crunch the numbers or do a test run in a major school area and see how it works..oh..Mr Wu in China seem to have benefited from pool being in the school....let see..world nine ball and eight ball champ..some one should give it a whirl.
 
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