Jean Balukas

Jean won the us open 7 years in a row(1972-1978),when she was 9 years old she placed 5th in the us open in 1969,and won over 100 pro tournaments and had 16 first place finishes in a row.
 
I'm more impressed by how she played against the men. The quality of female players then was lacking.
 
yes, she was in her era.........would have been nice if she didn't retire so young....:sorry:
 
trob...Agreed. She was a phenomena in her era. That said, the quality of women pro players has jumped considerably, especially in the last 10 yrs. Jean might have trouble with Allison, Jasmin, or any of several Asian women.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

trob said:
I'm more impressed by how she played against the men. The quality of female players then was lacking.
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Not as clear as it seems. I have played against both of them on a few occasions.

Allison Fisher has accumulated many more major nine ball titles than Jean and is, at least, Jean's equal in nine ball. If anything would have tipped the scale in Jean's faor, however, it would have been her break, which was comparable to the top men, but my inclination is to procliam Allison the greatest woman nine-baller ever.

In 14.1, the only other player in the conversation for best ever is Ruth McGuiness, who toured with Greenleaf. Ruth had a high run, if memory serves, in the 130's, which is the same as Jean. Jasmin Ouschan and Jeanette Lee are next in the pecking order and are not behind Jean and Ruth, and then comes the great Dorothy Wise.

All around, however, Jean is, without question, the greatest ever. She's a great player and a great lady, too.
 
trob said:
I'm more impressed by how she played against the men. The quality of female players then was lacking.
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I think that Jean was holding her own pretty decent against the men at that time. Hard to think even with many more women players today that Jean would not still be a force to be reckoned with. I dont see todays female players wanting to tangle with the mens side of pool.
 
hotrod said:
I think that Jean was holding her own pretty decent against the men at that time. Hard to think even with many more women players today that Jean would not still be a force to be reckoned with. I dont see todays female players wanting to tangle with the mens side of pool.
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I'd say that both Karen Corr and Jasmin Ouschan have mixed it up with the men every bit as much as Jean did in her career.
 
The truly great players, from any era, are all equal. There is no best imo.

The thing that separates women from men, is in the men's game a mistake can cost. The top women benefit from their peers not counterpunching. A top female player can afford mistakes. All this to say that the top women from all eras make few mistakes and they all can counterpunch. So if they were playing each other, the variable of choking on a shot is eliminated.

I think they would all play each other 50-50. Jeanette vs. Allison vs. Jean vs. Ewa vs. Loree John vs. Jasmin vs. Kelly vs. _______, all at their prime best? I mean, you can have a favorite, but put them all in a tournament and it would be insane to pick a winner. All I can say is, SOMEONE would have to win, yes? :) But I'll say the one who wins is the one with the most grit, and the one who is most emotional will not.
 
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Scott Lee said:
trob...Agreed. She was a phenomena in her era. That said, the quality of women pro players has jumped considerably, especially in the last 10 yrs. Jean might have trouble with Allison, Jasmin, or any of several Asian women.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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You may have a point Scott but I believe Jean was one of those rare Champions that, if she stayed with it, would have raised her game to meet the competition. Its really tough to get better when there's so few challengers.

Unfortunately we'll never know.
 
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