Is Ginky gone??

[Bobby]

He had back surgery 3 or 4 years ago and it seemed after that he never placed as high in tourneys as he did before that.

There's a lot of New Yorkers at the CCB that know him. Perhaps they could shed some light on this.

Yes it's true that after his back surgery he didn't
seem to have the same drive as before. Someone
mentioned that he was a "minor" player, not true,
in one year '98 or '99 he won 3 major events in
3 seperate games; He won a Camel tour 10 ball event,
the BCA 9 ball event and the '99 National Straight
pool championship.
He said he is giving up competing but he still
plays almost daily and gives lessons at Amsterdam
Billiards. He still plays damn good, still the best in
NYC in my opinion, but the fire is gone.

Bobby

 

[catscradle]

Hold on a minute...you said in your previous post that Ginky was not in the top 29. Now all of a sudden he has to reach #1 to get any respect from you. He was on his way to #1...but his back surgery threw him off! His focus wa right where it should have been. How does that equate to "not using his talent correctly?"
Methinks that sometime in the past Ginky must have beat on you or won your money!

No I'm not say he doesn't deserve respect for his abilities and what he has done. Hell he could probably beat me with his back to the table, I only wish I were good enough to have been smacked around by him. I'm saying there is a reason he can't make it in this business. If he were in another sport where you didn't have to be in the MOST ELITE to make a living, it would be different. I don't think I'm implying disrespect by saying I don't consider him to be in the elite. If you're not elite in this game, you're not going to make a reliable living doing it. If Ginky should read this thread and feel like I'm treating him with disrespect, then he has my apologies.
Before you said he "lost his focus" which is a lot different than physical injuries interferring. The "lost his focus" was what I was responding to.
Actually I'm losing focus on this topic.
No disrespect meant to Ginky or to you Ted for that matter.

 

[catscradle]

Sounds like you just don't really care for the guy. Like him or not, to say he was a "minor leager" is an ignorant statement.

No, I think reflects more the inadequacies of the written language and interactive forums as a communication medium.

As I said in a previous post "minor leaguer" is a relative term. Meaning it reflects a life style the way I was using it. A huge number of minor league ball players are good enough for the majors talent wise, but they just are not getting there and it's no way to make a living. I'm referring more to the fact that if you're not in the very few who make it big in pool ($$$$ wise) you're in the minors. It is a s****y lifestyle from all I hear and maybe he didn't want to do it more. Several post mentioned how well he did in various tournament, fine that speaks to his ability to play, but not to the lifestyle he has to live even being that good. I'm just saying he is most probably sick of that lifestyle.
BTW, I'm not convinced that he'll find be a professional poker player much better even if he's good. My guess is that the majority of them aren't living that high on the hog either.

As I said in response to Ted Harris's post no harm meant to Ginky, more the harm meant to the pool life style. Being in the top hundred doesn't neccessarily get you in the "majors".

 

[Johnson]

If a guy wins a major tournament that would make him a bonified pro(major leaguer) don't think you could call him a minor leaguer after that, if you want to be rude you can call him a burn out, but you can't take back what the guy did. That's like a guy playing one year of baseball, leading the league in one batting category then retiring, no matter what he's always gonna be a bonified major leaguer, you can't take that away from him. You make a good point about the lifestyle, because no way this would happen in baseball/basketball/football. Too much money in other sports, but there was an interesting story on espn about a former college football player, who was garunteed to make millions in the nfl, but got burned out and decided not to play, i think he's a high school coach now or something else. It is pathetic that a guy with great talent decides to quit and pursue a different career. But it's good to hear that he still plays, maybe you are right an he just doesn't like the pool players lifestyle, but still loves the game.
________

 

[Teddy Harris]

Being in the top hundred doesn't neccessarily get you in the "majors".

Why do you keep making references like this? I really don't understand why you would be so adamant about Ginky's record and ability?
...well, this thread is about Ginky, not the lifestyle. Good thing Ginky won several majors and was in the top 10! Ginky made an excellent living from pool, when he was healthy.

 

[catscradle]

Why do you keep making references like this? I really don't understand why you would be so adamant about Ginky's record and ability?
...well, this thread is about Ginky, not the lifestyle. Good thing Ginky won several majors and was in the top 10! Ginky made an excellent living from pool, when he was healthy.

I give up, I'm just trying to make a point about why the guy would want to leave pool.
Good luck to Ginky with poker.

 

[Cardinal_Syn]

First and only time i've seen him play was on espn 7ball....heck of a player.....awesome break too...one of the hardest i've seen.

 

[jjinfla]

The worst baseball player in the Majors most likely makes more money than the best pool player.

But I hear everyone say they are playing pool for the "love of the game", they are "following their dream". So quit complaining about no money in it already. You all knew that going in. You want to have money then do something else.

And a few years down the road when you are destitute and the baby is crying for food and milk keep telling yourself you did what was right for "you" rather than working hard and going to school and making something of yourself.

Pool is nothing more than a game. A passtime. Something to kill time with while you enjoy a few beers. Nothing more.

Last time I saw Ginky, in Tampa, he was bald. In Keith's picture he is blonde.

One last point to consider. There are reportedly over 200,000 people who play in the APA. How many of them would have a chance against Ginky? Probably none.

Jake

 

[cuewhiz189]

first off i would like to say hello to ted....hope you are doing well and keeping busy......juston

now to the topic......as far as ginkys game goes i feel 99 percent of his wanting to get out of the game is health related only....and the guys that like to ridicule or be-little his ability and say thats the reason hes getting out is due to the lack of abilty,wish they could kiss his ass and have half his game........ginky had the ability to compete and play with anyone out there .....maybe the young man made the choice to not puy his face for everyone to see.......people should really think before they speak......even me at times......but hey just recognize and realize we have lost another great in the game due to health reasons and not try to talk shit about him.....cause if you did meet him on the table you would be made to feel like a idiot........ginky is a great player and a great human being and has a really big heart......ill bet it was harder for him to quit than it is for most of the clowns that wanna talk junk to be able to play........so you guys lay off him,hes doing what he feels is necessary to have a good life......money in pool doesnt play a factor when you cant walk around and bend over to play.....cards are another avenue to keep money in his pocket.......i know health reasons are hard....i have a permamnent lung damage that has made me cut back about 80 percent of my playing time but doesnt mean i dont wanna play any less......those that ridicule others should be glad it isnt them that have to make our choices and live our lives.......to all that understand i wish you the best and those that dont be careful in what you look for cause you might get it........juston coleman

 

[drivermaker]

Ginky said that all of his health problems are behind him and he's feeling great again. From his quotes in BD, he just seems like he might have lost the "eye of the tiger" when it comes to tournament play. He said that he still loves the game and one day would like to open his own room, but tournament play doesn't turn him on and he's going into poker.

 

[poolmouse]

If you want to compare to baseball, Ginky was NOT a minor league player. He might not be in Reyes' class, but then again, who is? Ginky won some big tournaments, not just "minor tournaments".

A little dated but a good reference for Ginky's pre-2000 tournament results:

http://www.tedharris.com/ginky_18.htm

PoolMouse

 

[Celtic]

He had other things happen in his life that took away from pool. I guess at this time it is just not in his destiny.

You can really quote some shit out of context Ted. Maybe you should read whole messages and not pick out parts that do not at all cover the actual point of a post just to make a stupid point that does not even diverge from the person you actually quote.

 

[Teddy Harris]

You can really quote some shit out of context Ted. Maybe you should read whole messages and not pick out parts that do not at all cover the actual point of a post just to make a stupid point that does not even diverge from the person you actually quote.

This is real simple for me. Ginky is my friend and I am going to defend him in a forum where he cannot defend himself. Fact is, I quoted what YOU said...and the information you possess is wrong. Sorry.

 

[yobagua]

New York, New York

Living part of the time in New York I can tell you it is a real tough city. The expenses are real high. 450 sq. feet is an average size apartment and twice expensive. Then you see people making exhorbitant salaries in NY. 6 figures is easy for some guy with the right connections in Wall Street, Broadway, or a Ivy League Law degree. How do you feel when you are one of the best in your profession and some mediocre putz is being limo'd around town while you are taking the subway. You see these guys coming in with their entourage and they couldnt run 2 balls yet everyone is kissing their ass. I know this goes on everywhere but it is so magnified in NY. I dont mean to sound so pessimistic and negative but Ive been there. Thus the statement "If I could make it there, I can make it anywhere".

 

[LastTwo]

Ginky is a pretty jam-up all-around player. If he was on the "B" side of the professionals, I don't think he would have played on ESPN. The guy can beat anyone on any given day. Tournaments aside, the problem with gambling in pool for a living is one day your up a few thousand, the next day you lose it all. You can be the best gambler in the world and this can happen to you. It's like an ongoing cycle. Most experienced players will tell anyone the same.

 

[Steve Ellis]

Ginky is a pretty jam-up all-around player. If he was on the "B" side of the professionals, I don't think he would have played on ESPN. The guy can beat anyone on any given day. Tournaments aside, the problem with gambling in pool for a living is one day your up a few thousand, the next day you lose it all. You can be the best gambler in the world and this can happen to you. It's like an ongoing cycle. Most experienced players will tell anyone the same.

So just how is switching to being a professional poker player going to improve that situation for him (or anybody else)?

 

[Rickw]

Steve

Haven't you been watching poker on TV? When they do win, they win over a million. When's the last time anyone in pool had a chance to win a million? The answer is Earl the Pearl and he didn't get the whole million. Besides that one time, the money made in pool tournaments is rediculously small!

I for one don't blame Ginky for trying to find another way to make a living. How many of us on this board have jobs other than playing pool? Even if the money was pretty good, the travel would have been out of the question during the time I was raising my family. When the money gets up to the 6 or 7 figures, more people will be willing to take a chance at making it. Until then, it's a pretty tough way to make it.

So just how is switching to being a professional poker player going to improve that situation for him (or anybody else)?

 

[Celtic]

Exactly, it is easy to get action in poker as well, even if you are great. Just go into any casino in Vegas, or Atlantic City, or any poker club and you can get a game where making over $1000 a night or even alot more is possible. Rather then a pool player who is good enough that he scares all of the action but the best players in the world who then claw at each other due to noone else to play, everyone loses in that situation. Pro poker players have no problem getting action against people they can beat, the game is different in that alot of people think they can beat the pros (unlike pool), and those players are willing to gamble thousands along with the 5 or 6 other guys at the table also willing to bet thousands (very unlike pool) to try and beat the pro and the other guys. Alot of people are willing to lose large money playing poker, these same people are often too tight to play a $20 race to 7 in 9-ball. Don't ask me why, Ginky if he is even half as good at poker as he is at pool will likely make way more cash doing that.

PS: Somehow I will likely get flamed and quoted as a Ginky hater for the above paragraph.

 

[senor]

6 figures is easy for some guy with the right connections in Wall Street, Broadway, or a Ivy League Law degree. How do you feel when you are one of the best in your profession and some mediocre putz is being limo'd around town while you are taking the subway.

Everyone makes their own decisions with how they want to make a living. Just because I'm the best ditch digger in the south doesn't mean I'm going to get paid off for it.

Also, this is just my opinion, but I find it hard to call pool a profession. Now, there are those in the industry that make a profession out of the different opportunities available, and most are not pool players. However, pool is a lifestyle, a culture to itself, and you either live it or you don't. I am a professional, I have a career, but my career is not my lifestyle.

 

[Teddy Harris]

Read my whole f****** post you retarded gimp. I was praising him and you are a royal jackass for not seeing that and then trying to defend your misguided angst. Seriously I dare you to quote my whole post and show me where I was in the least saying anything bad about him. Bloody moron.

Celtic, you have a lot of class...NOT!!!
How can this be taken as a compliment, in any context?

Yep, it is pretty lame. He was just not good enough to make a decent living at the game.

I mean, seriously, don't try to backpedal. You said it, so don't get mad at me for pointing it out. Maybe you used the wrong wording. If you didn't mean it, retract it. If you did, then stand by it and be wrong. As pointed out in that same post, it is the sport that does not provide for it's participants compared to others such as golf.