Jack Cooney
- Thread starter J. Learned Hand
- Start date
JB Cases said:
One word - BARRED! He's no professional singer anyway, not anymore than you are.
huckster said:
He plays okay, as in so so. He might be considered a low level shortstop by some, or a high level amateur by others. I will take Mark over him even, anytime anywhere.
huckster said:Kevin Trudeau is on T.V all the time and isn't he a 200 ball runner in straight pool
He can definitely get played, as long as he posts!
androd said:
HUHHHH??? Good shortstop? Are we talking about the same Mike Massey? The one I know, who has been doing amazing exhibitions for years, is a championship level player capable of winning matches with anyone!
When he was around Houston and Ft.Worth in the 70,s I think? maybe earily 80,s he was beaten by every good second level player there. maybe I dont know what a good shortstop is ? He sorta went nuts and quit playing. He dried out and got relegion. I guess he later became a better player. I never meant any insult to him, I like him. My partner and I both played him in Little rock when he was a young man and Bojack was staking him.jay helfert said:
Cooney In Tucson
Approx 4 or 5 years ago, Jack Cooney walked into a pool room in Tucson, Arizona. Being a semi-late middle aged guy, I recognized him immediately but from what I could see, no one else in the place knew him.
Even though I had some business appointments and was just about ready to leave when he walked in, I blew that business stuff off just to wait and see if Cooney would get into any kind of game.
He sat around for a while and didn't end up playing.
I caught up to him in the parking lot and we chatted briefly. He was headed to the golf course. I had my golf clubs in the trunk and was hoping for an invite to play. He had a foursome but I gave him my number.
He said he'd call but he'd need strokes as he hadn't been playing much
jay helfert said:
Approx 4 or 5 years ago, Jack Cooney walked into a pool room in Tucson, Arizona. Being a semi-late middle aged guy, I recognized him immediately but from what I could see, no one else in the place knew him.
Even though I had some business appointments and was just about ready to leave when he walked in, I blew that business stuff off just to wait and see if Cooney would get into any kind of game.
He sat around for a while and didn't end up playing.
I caught up to him in the parking lot and we chatted briefly. He was headed to the golf course. I had my golf clubs in the trunk and was hoping for an invite to play. He had a foursome but I gave him my number.
He said he'd call but he'd need strokes as he hadn't been playing much
don't know
I played Mike on a bar table back in the seventies. He was pretty strong then and was tuning for a big bar table tournament. I also watched him playing the audience for charity a couple years ago. Playing eightball on a soft table he would run his balls off the table and "accidentally" hook himself behind one of the other player's balls on the eight. I only saw him fail to run out his seven balls on his first try a couple times in several hours and he made the safety every time. Mike isn't one of the elite competitors but he isn't very far behind. I'd say he does play shortstop level, maybe a tad better.
Hu
androd said:
I played Mike on a bar table back in the seventies. He was pretty strong then and was tuning for a big bar table tournament. I also watched him playing the audience for charity a couple years ago. Playing eightball on a soft table he would run his balls off the table and "accidentally" hook himself behind one of the other player's balls on the eight. I only saw him fail to run out his seven balls on his first try a couple times in several hours and he made the safety every time. Mike isn't one of the elite competitors but he isn't very far behind. I'd say he does play shortstop level, maybe a tad better.
Hu
JAM said:The Tennessee Tartan, they used to call Mike Massey. He got the nickname, Tennessee Tarzan, when he was 20 while Bob Graves and he were hustling pool in bars, and arm wrestling as well.
Most young'ns today know Mike Massey as a trick shot artist, but in his heyday, before he settled down, I guess you could say, he was a very strong tournament competitor. He used to be ranked in the top 10 on most tours when he was actively competing on the American tournament trail.
Today, he is a very religious man and takes his faith very seriously. He and his lovely wife travel together most times, and even bring their two pooches with them. Mike's good people!
Here's Mike's Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Massey
I just may have to contribute some additions to his article when time allows. I have many pool mags from the '80s that feature Mike's accomplishments.
Good stuff Jam
Did Keith ever play Massey for the cash or in a tourney?
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Dead Money said:Good stuff Jam
Did Keith ever play Massey for the cash or in a tourney?
Keith said that Mike Massey was always a very tough tournament player.
They gambled many years ago for chump change, but nothing major.
Keith said Mike used to take a walk on the "wild side," so to speak, and he soon realized that lifestyle was not for him. Mike Massey, like myself, grew up in the Woodstock generation. He soon came to a crossroads in his life and decided that Woodstock-type activities were not what he wanted for his future. So he did a 180-degree turn for the better.
Keith said Mike has one of the strongest strokes he's ever seen. He said it was the second-best stroke he's ever seen, aside from Jimmy Moore. When it came to tournaments, though, Mike didn't go for it, utilizing his powerful stroke, and played very conservatively in competition.
Because of his stroke, being able to warp balls with long strokes, Mike Massey was a natural to be a trickshot mechanic, and that is what he does today around the world. He's made a comfortable living playing pool, unlike many of the peers from his era. :smile:
Very cool info Jam! Thanks for sharing
Mike started doing his exhibition thing in the '70s, but before that he was becoming one of the better players in the country.
His focus on exhibitions has probably kept him from fulfilling his potential as a player. Nowadays, pool players really have to give up almost every other profession to make any sort of a living.
Mike definitely has all the talent to be a top pro, even though he's a little older now, but he's in the HOF as the top trick shot artist possible ever. I don't believe he would trade that for anything.
His focus on exhibitions has probably kept him from fulfilling his potential as a player. Nowadays, pool players really have to give up almost every other profession to make any sort of a living.
Mike definitely has all the talent to be a top pro, even though he's a little older now, but he's in the HOF as the top trick shot artist possible ever. I don't believe he would trade that for anything.
Danny Kuykendal said:
He could have probably been as good as anyone to ever play the game if he had chosen to play all games instead of being a trick shot master, he's got the finesse and and an unbelievable stroke, he's got more stroke than any one ever, he can spot Earl Strickland the 7 stroke for stroke. JMO
If you check the records, Mike Massey has MANY top five finishes in major 9-Ball tournaments, big tables and small. And I mean many! Terry may have some of those stats. Mike was a contender when he played. He won a few too by the way. :wink:
Rare Cooney/Barbara pics
Here are some of the pics I dug up that I am going to bring to DCC for Jack's induction.
The first is Barbara when she was young and smoking hot.
Then Jack in my car with my 2 yr old daughter Catherine.
Next is Jack and Barbara in front of the Show Lounge in Johnston City in 1972.
the Beard
Here are some of the pics I dug up that I am going to bring to DCC for Jack's induction.
The first is Barbara when she was young and smoking hot.
Then Jack in my car with my 2 yr old daughter Catherine.
Next is Jack and Barbara in front of the Show Lounge in Johnston City in 1972.
the Beard
Attachments
Terrific pics, Freddy!freddy the beard said:
It should also be mentioned that both Jack and Barbara are coming to the Hall of Fame dinner for his induction (and of course you are, too, Fred.) Those of you fans of Jack (and fans of pool action in general) should really try to get yourself to this event -- it will be a blast! About half the tickets are already gone. You can get yours here:
Click for 2009 One Pocket Hall of Fame Dinner info & reservations
9BallBanger
Member
What did you mean by: " his "lemon man" act is legendary"? Does that mean he acts like he's a noob or a fish?