Jean Bulukas(spell)

Jean Balukas

Jean Balukas not only was banned from playing in the mens tournaments, her complete domination of Keith in a gambling game was the last time any of the men would play her. I met her in San Francisco a few years ago. A very nice person with a great stroke, great break, and still great shot making ability. Allison came through a few months earlier and played the top nine ball mens player at the time. She wiped him up. One of the local professional men said she should not have been played because it embarrassed the men.
As far as gambling against the women, I have known several of the women to hit the San Francisco area to play and they went home with the cash. Jennette is at the DCC every years and plays $30K sets all day long. Match up! I know a few of the top women pros are hitting the DCC, anyone interested in playing them should post a challenge on their web site.:wink:
 
Jean Balukas is hands-down the best female pool player to ever walk the earth. I'm convinced she could go back on tour tomorrow and win nearly every tournament. In her prime, I even think she could be a solid competitor on the men's circuit. She did have some wins over big names back in the late '80's (Buddy Hall comes to mind). However, in the short races that tournament play is based on, anyone with at least a "semi-pro" level of play can (and often do) beat a top player if the balls roll right. Bartram brought up playing for money because that venue is a much better test between players (longer races where the rolls even out and each player gets their chances).

I watch quite a bit of women's pool (Ga Young Kim is certainly not hard on the eyes!) and in my opinion where the women come up short is strategy and decision making. Rarely does 10 minutes of a match go by that I don't want scream over some mental mistake made by one of the top players. It's typically in position play, but shows up in many situations where an analytical decision is required. One of the top pros plays defensive pool so poorly that she usually not only fails to secure a hook, but sells out at an appalling rate. Many women play way too timidly as well. I often get the feeling they're more concerned about looking bad than with winning or losing. Not trying to be overly critical, because I really enjoy watching the women, but an experienced, knowledgeable player can't help but notice these errors. I actually use these matches as coaching material with my son because I can count on blatant mental mistakes that we can point out and discuss. There're some issues of physicality and gender norms that play a fairly big role as well. Pool doesn't require physical strength, but it does require the ability to generate speed and force with the cue (what is now commonly called explosiveness in other sports). Young girls typically don't spend a lot of time developing this ability by throwing a baseball fast and far, swinging a bat or tennis racket, etc.

This topic reminds me a lot of when tennis phenoms Venus and Serena Williams said they could beat any man ranked 200th in the world, and #205 came forward and destroyed both of them.
 
Johnnyt said:
I see no where in the OP where gambling is stated. I see 9-ball even. That could be a race to 9 in tournament play and many women have beat top men in that. As far as gambling, I have to agree with you. The top women can't beat the top men right now. But, but, it will only take one woman to do it and more will follow quickly. The women's game is still getting better every year while the men's game seems to have peaked. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

i they keep getting better?
why wont 1 of them play me or a player like shuff for big money?
prolly 100 guys around the world that would.
 
kybill9 said:
Jean Balukas not only was banned from playing in the mens tournaments, her complete domination of Keith in a gambling game was the last time any of the men would play her. I met her in San Francisco a few years ago. A very nice person with a great stroke, great break, and still great shot making ability. Allison came through a few months earlier and played the top nine ball mens player at the time. She wiped him up. One of the local professional men said she should not have been played because it embarrassed the men.
As far as gambling against the women, I have known several of the women to hit the San Francisco area to play and they went home with the cash. Jennette is at the DCC every years and plays $30K sets all day long. Match up! I know a few of the top women pros are hitting the DCC, anyone interested in playing them should post a challenge on their web site.:wink:
Click to expand...



Jeanette may play big sets but I know for certain she gets spots when playing decent players. And by decent players I mean players who would receive a handsome spot from someone such as JA, SVB, etc.
 
Whew!

Ky Boy said:
Jeanette may play big sets but I know for certain she gets spots when playing decent players. And by decent players I mean players who would receive a handsome spot from someone such as JA, SVB, etc.
Click to expand...

Now you don't wanna go spillin' the beans, do ya?
Maybe one of these good-hearted folks will put up some cash to see an unknown player play one-pocket sets against Jeanette even!!
Hell, maybe Jeanette will even spot'em if they're "unknown enough?";)
 
I thought the reason Jean left playing tournaments was because they enforced a dress code and she would not agree. As far as women vs men I think it has to do with the way men play position vs how women play thier shots. Watch women on TV and they do not try and push the cue ball around like the men do. I think there is a similar argument with snooker players too. They can pocket balls all day but when it comes to position in nine ball they just come up a hare short. Mitch
 
Mitchorama said:
I thought the reason Jean left playing tournaments was because they enforced a dress code and she would not agree. As far as women vs men I think it has to do with the way men play position vs how women play thier shots. Watch women on TV and they do not try and push the cue ball around like the men do. I think there is a similar argument with snooker players too. They can pocket balls all day but when it comes to position in nine ball they just come up a hare short. Mitch
Click to expand...

Pretty much...she also got fined a couple hundred bucks for talking during a match with Robin Dodson (Bell) and refused to pay. She took an attitude (her choice) and pretty much quit the game...terrible shame, she really was unique. She played her positions and stroked "like a man" and probably hasn't been equaled by any female player since. I say this advisedly, but the ladies on tour play mostly against other women, which has made their game evolve in its own direction; Jean was playing in exhibitions and on TV when she was 9 and was publicly thrown up against male pro players most of her life. I've always harbored this fantasy that she would spend a year secretly working in her pool room with a couple of world beaters, then show up at the U.S. Open and go deep into the money. Would definitely get a lot of media attention!
 
Although Jean played fantastic - I got to see her compete once at the 1987 Glass City Open; lets not forget Ruth McGinnis.

http://heatherbyer.com/outtakes/ruthMcGinnis.php

Back in the 1930's - she was the best. High run of 128! (and that is on old style balls and tables etc).

But I think it was a bloody shame that Jean felt she had to quit.
I think she was 'the missing link' for women and pool.

mark Griffin
 
No doubt, Ruth was awesome. I always saw parallels between her and Jean, both started doing exhibitions as a child, both playing a lot of the top players. The difference was that Jean actually had a tour she could play on, Ruth had to be content with exhibitions and doing trick shots. Definitely WAY ahead of her time!
 
I'm sure that few on this forum saw Jean more times in her prine than me. I do not concur with anyone who thinks Jean could have competed with the top men today. She had a big break, ran the balls decently, but was not a good tactician in rotation games.

I think that if Jean were playing in men's events today and playing the way she did in her prime, she'd have had even action against someone like Stan Tourangeau. Just like Stan, she'd have taken down some big names from time to time, but not consistently.

Jean, in her prime, would have been a slight underdog against someone like Mike Davis for sure.

PS These cross generational comparisons are tough! Reminds me of when someone asked the just-inducted Hall of Famer Dan DiLiberto whether he could have beat Ralf Souquet in his prime. Danny's answer was "Definitely. After all, when I was in my prime, Ralf was about three years old."
 
Last edited:
real bartram said:
here is what i think
any women can play me or shuff for 20 k or more.
this is an offer to any women.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input Chris,i ment no disrespect,when i asked it Jean could play you or Shuff or Wilke,i did mean a even up gambling match as you stated(i should of put that in the thread)so in your opinion,she played a little behind your speed,so maybe she could of play someone like Josh Roberts speed,i believe Josh would need some weight from Bartram,Shuff kind of players.as would Ms Balukas!
 
richiebalto said:
Thanks for your input Chris,i ment no disrespect,when i asked it Jean could play you or Shuff or Wilke,i did mean a even up gambling match as you stated(i should of put that in the thread)so in your opinion,she played a little behind your speed,so maybe she could of play someone like Josh Roberts speed,i believe Josh would need some weight from Bartram,Shuff kind of players.as would Ms Balukas!
Click to expand...

your welcome.
and yes thats how i c it.
 
I would play any woman race to 100 ten ball and then if they beat me ill let bartrum play em to get my money back. Yes Im serious
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top