May have messed up spelling but keep hearing how great this gentleman was and wonder if there are any videos of him playing; 14.1 preferably. Any ideas folks; iunderstand he died recently.
Guru
Guru
Jack Colavito
- Thread starter COLLECTION GURU
- Start date
He died about a year ago. For the last several years there has been a straight pool tournament in Parsippany NJ at Comet billiards. Jack helped run it and he usually played in it. I had the pleasure of seeing him play although he was not in his prime. After Jack passed away the owner of Comet, Bill Haley, renamed the tournament to the Jack Colovita memorial New Jersey Championship. Jack was always dressed like a professional business man. He was friendly to all. He has been missed by all in the pool community.
By the way Comet billiards is a beautiful pool hall. I only go there to watch the straight pool tourny or the Joss Northeast tour. I live about and hour away. Everyone especially the pros say what a nice place. The people who run are also very nice people.
By the way Comet billiards is a beautiful pool hall. I only go there to watch the straight pool tourny or the Joss Northeast tour. I live about and hour away. Everyone especially the pros say what a nice place. The people who run are also very nice people.
The amazing thing I heard about Colavita was that he began playing pool at the advanced age of 30 and quickly became a champion. You don't hear of this happening very often. Maybe someone can confirm.
I didn't know him real well but he would practice at The Clifton Billiard Lounge a lot with Ray Martin and would talk to the regulars and answer questions. He was a really nice soft spoken guy. Beautiful flowing stroke.
I think he worked as a machinist or printer after his military service. He seriously damaged one of his arms in a work accident. There was a massive scar as a result of skin, muscle and flesh loss and obvious movement restrictions but somehow it was not a factor when he played. And you would never know it unless he wore short sleeve shirts.
He struck me as a natural for the game. Just a beautiful player to watch. My best memory was Jack and Ray would play a lot on table 16 (super tight pocket) in the far left rear corner.
They played so often we kids sometimes didn't watch every match. This one time it was 2 other kids and me. They played 125 point games. I think best of 3 or 5. Ray runs 116 from Jacks opening break and Jack gets up and runs 125 and out and I mean that table was a TIGHT pocket table. Not a bank or a tough shot just 14.1 by the book by both of them. Amazing!
Cue Ball Kelly once said he is as talented as anyone but that he was very hard on himself and lost matches because of it.
A nice man that played beautiful pool.
There is footage out there somewhere of the entire match of Jack playing Mike Sigel 14.1 years ago. There is also a commentary that Jack does on a 14.1 match he had against (I think)Alan Hopkins. Pat Fleming at Accustats would know. I'm sure there is more out there also.
I think he worked as a machinist or printer after his military service. He seriously damaged one of his arms in a work accident. There was a massive scar as a result of skin, muscle and flesh loss and obvious movement restrictions but somehow it was not a factor when he played. And you would never know it unless he wore short sleeve shirts.
He struck me as a natural for the game. Just a beautiful player to watch. My best memory was Jack and Ray would play a lot on table 16 (super tight pocket) in the far left rear corner.
They played so often we kids sometimes didn't watch every match. This one time it was 2 other kids and me. They played 125 point games. I think best of 3 or 5. Ray runs 116 from Jacks opening break and Jack gets up and runs 125 and out and I mean that table was a TIGHT pocket table. Not a bank or a tough shot just 14.1 by the book by both of them. Amazing!
Cue Ball Kelly once said he is as talented as anyone but that he was very hard on himself and lost matches because of it.
A nice man that played beautiful pool.
There is footage out there somewhere of the entire match of Jack playing Mike Sigel 14.1 years ago. There is also a commentary that Jack does on a 14.1 match he had against (I think)Alan Hopkins. Pat Fleming at Accustats would know. I'm sure there is more out there also.
I was lucky enough to play Jack twice at the annual Pete Sinkler invitational 14.1 event in Downingtown PA.....now D&D Family billiards in Thorndale PA. We didn't have stellar matches throwing 20's/30's at eachother, but He was the coolest to be around.
after beating me the 2nd time we sat watching Allen Hopkins playing a match. It was me, Jack, Florida Bob Maidhoff, and Don Polo. I felt so very out of place, but they just treated me like any other player explaining patterns, and telling me to keep at it. Jack knew every pattern Allen was going to play, and told me Allen had the best tight positon game in the world. I didn't doubt him watching Allen run 100+. I'll never forget that afternoon!
Gerry
after beating me the 2nd time we sat watching Allen Hopkins playing a match. It was me, Jack, Florida Bob Maidhoff, and Don Polo. I felt so very out of place, but they just treated me like any other player explaining patterns, and telling me to keep at it. Jack knew every pattern Allen was going to play, and told me Allen had the best tight positon game in the world. I didn't doubt him watching Allen run 100+. I'll never forget that afternoon!
Gerry
COLLECTION GURU said:
There is a video of him playing Ray Martin 14.1 in the 1989 US Open and one of him playing Mike Zuglan 14.1 in the Cleveland Open 1993. Both Accustats.
I don't know of any other 14.1 but if there were I'd be interested in obtaining a copy.
Thanks As I Thought I Had All 14.1 Accustats
I WILL GET TO ACCUSTATS SITE AND ORDER NOW.
dmgwalsh said:
I WILL GET TO ACCUSTATS SITE AND ORDER NOW.
I often practiced with Jack Colavita at the Golden Q in Queens NY in the early 1980's. He was a great influence and mentor to me, and never charged me a penny for his counsel. He used to spot me 125 - 40 in straight pool and ran 125 and out a couple of times on me.
Jack owned a win over virtually all the big names of his era in World Championship play, but I suspect his greatest accomplishment was when he beat Mike Sigel in the 1986 PPPA World Straight Pool Championships in Philadelphia, an event that more than a few feel singalled the end of the straight pool era. If memory serves, Jack had two different sixth place finishes in the World Straight Pool championships.
One thing I liked a lot about Jack during his days as a pro fessional was that he always dressed nicely when he went to any poolroom. It made a big impression on me and I've tried to do the same ever since.
For my money, Jack had as good a stroke as anyone not named Mizerak in the last days of the straight pool era.
Jack owned a win over virtually all the big names of his era in World Championship play, but I suspect his greatest accomplishment was when he beat Mike Sigel in the 1986 PPPA World Straight Pool Championships in Philadelphia, an event that more than a few feel singalled the end of the straight pool era. If memory serves, Jack had two different sixth place finishes in the World Straight Pool championships.
One thing I liked a lot about Jack during his days as a pro fessional was that he always dressed nicely when he went to any poolroom. It made a big impression on me and I've tried to do the same ever since.
For my money, Jack had as good a stroke as anyone not named Mizerak in the last days of the straight pool era.
"The Player"
Jack was the star of the movie, "The Player", with Minnesota Fats that had a limited release in 1971. Donovan and I have been trying for ages to find any link to this forgotten film with no luck. The film was shot in the Greenway in Baton Rouge. Any of you guys find anything on this film please post a link here, thanks.
Jack was the star of the movie, "The Player", with Minnesota Fats that had a limited release in 1971. Donovan and I have been trying for ages to find any link to this forgotten film with no luck. The film was shot in the Greenway in Baton Rouge. Any of you guys find anything on this film please post a link here, thanks.