Jean Balukas on "I've Got a Secret" -- 6 Years Old!

[Pushout]

At a BC Open (not BCA) one year, a male-dominated event, Jean Balukas defeated Keith McCready, who at that time was on top of his game, and Buddy Hall, another top-flight male pro at the same event. The crowd ate it up and loved it. She was quite popular with everybody except her fellow lady pros on the WPBA tour.

Was not only there and saw it, went to the Red Robin Diner afterwards with Keith, his backer, Mike Zuglan, John Wright, George Micheals, and a few others.
Keith's backer was put out, lost a bunch on that match, IIRC. Jean was the only woman, I think, who played in the mens' tournament. There may have been one other but I can't remember. There were both mens' and womens' divisions, every year. I think Loree Jon won the womens' tournament every year.
Buddy had no luck at that tournament more than once. The first year, he got soundly trounced by a local short stop, Cliff Boardman.

 

[Pushout]

Next time I see Robin I'll ask her about this. I think she might have a slilghtly different take on what happened.

That match was televised and I think JAM described it correctly. I saw the match on tv and I'm pretty sure that's how it went.

 

[Danny Kuykendal]

Even so, why not pay the fine but under protest?

Of course, I'm sure Jean probably feels ok about the way she handled it.

Maybe she was ready to retire?

 

[Pushout]

Even so, why not pay the fine but under protest?

Of course, I'm sure Jean probably feels ok about the way she handled it.

Maybe she was ready to retire?

I'm sure someone besides Jean knows, but I believe she was sick of the politics of the WPBA at the time. And, I'm sure that included the fact that she could play with the men and win much more often than any other woman at the time with the possible exception of Laurie Shampo. Loree Jon experienced the same kind of thing when she was winning all the time. I talked to several of the women at the BC Open over the years and believe me, they didn't like seeing one person winning all the time. It was a matter of fact that at the time Jean and Loree Jon were at the top of their respective games, most of the other women couldn't come close with any regularity.

 

[stick8]

sham

There's been a lot of threads about this particular topic in the past, and if memory serves me right, Robin slopped a ball in or something like that, and then Jean commented to Robin: "Beat me with talent, not with luck."

All of the WPBA pros at this time, from what I have been told and read, were sick and tired of seeing Queen Jean Balukas' name in the headlines year after year after year. In fact, it was a rare occasion that anybody could beat her on the tour because she was such a strong shooter. They say she broke balls like a man.

At a BC Open (not BCA) one year, a male-dominated event, Jean Balukas defeated Keith McCready, who at that time was on top of his game, and Buddy Hall, another top-flight male pro at the same event. The crowd ate it up and loved it. She was quite popular with everybody except her fellow lady pros on the WPBA tour.

I think the fine Jean got was a bum rap. So what if she said beat me with talent and not with luck. I don't blame her for not paying it, and today, I totally understand, 100 percent, why she quit the professional tournament trail.

i think it is a dam shame that every time JEANS name is brought up she is remembered by the fine!!! she quit for a reason , not because of the money!!! let it go!! i think she was a great player. so is EARL, segial, grady , keith,pretty boy , LET QUIT SLINGING MUD!!!!!

 

[Danny Kuykendal]

No one is slinging mud, we're only commenting on how a great career was interrupted, and whether it was the right thing to do or not.

Jean only knows whether it was the right thing for her.

 

[JAM]

:thumbup:

i think it is a dam shame that every time JEANS name is brought up she is remembered by the fine!!! she quit for a reason , not because of the money!!! let it go!! i think she was a great player. so is EARL, segial, grady , keith,pretty boy , LET QUIT SLINGING MUD!!!!!

I did not think anybody was slinging mud whatsoever. Rather, most responders to this thread were commenting on a great American champion named Jean Balukas.

But since you bring it up, I think it sucks a big weenie what happened to Jean Balukas. Thanks to the WPBA, American pool lost a great champion. Nice deal. Who in the hell made that decision anyway? I'd like to know exactly who it was.

As with everything, though, on this forum, the words in black and white will always be misinterpreted by one reader from time to time.

What a shame. I actually created this thread to pay tribute to Jean Balukas.

At any rate, it is fun to see Jean as a young'n. She was so serious about her pool even back then.

 

[Pushout]

JAM, did you get my PMs?

 

[JAM]

JAM, did you get my PMs?

Yes, I was looking for some photos to send to somebody, before I could respond. I have a kazillion photos, and sometimes I just can't put my finger on one particular one.

Very cool Syracuse pool history. I really like Upstate New York, even if it is in Yankee Country! :embarrassed2: :grin-square: :wink:

 

[TX Poolnut]

Thanks for the link Jennie.

 

[Pushout]

Yes, I was looking for some photos to send to somebody, before I could respond. I have a kazillion photos, and sometimes I just can't put my finger on one particular one.

Very cool Syracuse pool history. I really like Upstate New York, even if it is in Yankee Country! :embarrassed2: :grin-square: :wink:

Cool. I just wanted to be sure you got them.

 

[Pushout]

Very cool Syracuse pool history. I really like Upstate New York, even if it is in Yankee Country! :embarrassed2: :grin-square: :wink:

Maybe you'll like this one, though it's Triple Cities ralated. {Binghamton, Johnson City, Endicott}
There was, at one time, a room in Endicott, NY called Vivona's. Not sure where, I was never there and this story was told me by someone else. White Cannonball {mentioned in the Denny Searcy thread} walked in Vivona's one day in the late '60s or very early '70s. He announced: "The Ball's here, runs hundreds back to back! Who wants to play?" Understand, The Ball was a monster at this time. After an hour or so of continued woofing and no takers, a voice spoke up from the lunch counter. "I'll try you some!" The Ball turned to get a look at the speaker. At the counter, eating a burger, was a college age kid in cutt-off shorts, t-shirt, filp flops, with a blond crew cut. The Ball passed!
Any guesses? This one shouldn't be too hard
I should add that the player was not Gary Pinkowski, who lived in Binghamton.

 

[Danny Kuykendal]

Just one more thing about Jean. She could come out of retirement right now and beat anyone out there with some practice and seasoning. I hope she considers it. The same people aren't in charge of the WPBA and my guess is that she would be forgiven her fine and could start anew.

 

[Pushout]

Just one more thing about Jean. She could come out of retirement right now and beat anyone out there with some practice and seasoning. I hope she considers it. The same people aren't in charge of the WPBA and my guess is that she would be forgiven her fine and could start anew.

I asked her about this in a letter years ago and she refused to comment. I really don't think she cares anymore.

 

[Justlovecues]

Just one more thing about Jean. She could come out of retirement right now and beat anyone out there with some practice and seasoning. I hope she considers it. The same people aren't in charge of the WPBA and my guess is that she would be forgiven her fine and could start anew.

I saw Jean yesterday at her pool hall (Hall of Fame Billiards in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn) and mentioned this thread. She just laughed. She did mention her Brooklyn accent comes out every once in a while.

I agree, if Jean came out of retirement (which currently she won't) and brushed up, look out!!! She most certainly hold her own.

I have known Jean for over 20 years and she is, like she always has been, just a wonderful person.

 

[speakers]

There's been a lot of threads about this particular topic in the past, and if memory serves me right, Robin slopped a ball in or something like that, and then Jean commented to Robin: "Beat me with talent, not with luck."

All of the WPBA pros at this time, from what I have been told and read, were sick and tired of seeing Queen Jean Balukas' name in the headlines year after year after year. In fact, it was a rare occasion that anybody could beat her on the tour because she was such a strong shooter. They say she broke balls like a man.

At a BC Open (not BCA) one year, a male-dominated event, Jean Balukas defeated Keith McCready, who at that time was on top of his game, and Buddy Hall, another top-flight male pro at the same event. The crowd ate it up and loved it. She was quite popular with everybody except her fellow lady pros on the WPBA tour.

I think the fine Jean got was a bum rap. So what if she said beat me with talent and not with luck. I don't blame her for not paying it, and today, I totally understand, 100 percent, why she quit the professional tournament trail.

I don't remember if it was on a previous "Jean thread" here or if I ran across it in a google search, but I got the impression that there was an underlying current with the fine because although it was "from" the WPBA, it was a group of active women players that were the decision makers (Jean's direct competition that she had been whooping up on for quite some time). I can understand her frustration. I'd feel a little bullied and like I was being dealt a little revenge based on envy. (I'll never have to worry about that :smilewinkgrin I remember one article said she had fans and supporters offering to pay her fine, but she refused based on principle. I would imagine she made her decisions based on what was right for her at the time and that's always admirable.

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

That was nice. Reminds me of the 3 year old Tiger Woods when he did the Mike Douglas show.