Jim Rempe - One of the Greats?

Danny Kuykendal said:
Rempe is in the Hall of Fame because of his prowress in the 70s. He won numerous tournaments back then, and gained the nickname "King James".


I attended a tournament in Irvine at the Regency Hotel in about 1978 or so. Rempe beat Sigel, Billy Johnson, Cicero Murphy, all of them and won the tourney.

He was definitely the man to beat for about ten years.

He had his day in the limelight in the mid 70s to the early 80s when he was beating everyone.

He is definitely one of the best players of all time, in all games.
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I wish you would put your real name on here. :D

Danny "King Killer" Kuykendal. In case you didn't know, this guy has beaten more "name" players than most anyone who posts on here. I'd like to see a hit list of your victims. The most "under the radar" player on the whole West Coast.
 
i agree he is definately one of the greats. now that i look at it, the way i made the title of the thread might've made it sound like it didn't:embarrassed2: ...but i most definately do consider him one of the greatest, and also my personal favourite player. the question i was wondering is why when people on the forum debate the best players of all time, its usually the same names...efren, bustamante, earl, sigel, buddy, and even varner who's also not mentioned as much as he should be, but i almost never hear Rempe's name mentioned. from what i hear, i'm assuming its b/c his best pool was before most people here would remember....
 
Lessons from Jim Rempe

Jim is giving lessons at his home in Lake Ariel, PA. Cost is $125/hr with a 2 hour minimum. Jim has a beautiful Connolly Ultimate table in his rec room...plays great. I have taken lessons in his home twice. We concentrated the first time on straight pool patterns and the second time on 9 ball. Jimmy probably has more straight pool knowledge in his head than anyone else on the face of the earth. Remember when he was playing they were playing on the old Mali cloth not the Simonis 860. You had to go into the stack two or three times to get the scatter you get with one breakshot in straight pool on the new cloth. PM me if you are interested in lessons with Jim and I will give you his home number.

PS: He still plays great

Wedge
 
King James

Here is a picture to remind a few folks why Rempe among the best. Largest cash prize ever offered to date...the Resorts Intl Championship and below the prize check is the 1984 One Pocket world champions trophy.

MVC-016F.jpg



Other points about Rempe are that he was the last winner of the Johnson City tournament. The last year that that tourney was completed, Rempe won overall, beating out Ronnie Allen in the final.

I believe there would be even more trophies, tournament wins and legendary victories like Johnson City that we all know about if Rempe had not traveled abroad so much. He won all Asia, he was the French national champion, he won in Poland, Japan and he defeated Maltese Joe Barbera to become English Pool world champion. Rempe never missed a shot in that final and won over the English crowd. He waved our flag atop the table to a standing ovation.

My point is that he is known as a master and champion throughout the world. Few if any can say that.

As for his first trophy, I believe 1963 was the year. Rempe is as great, if not the greatest, champion of our time.
 
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If you live in my area .....outside of Reading PA, and you know pool or play open events, you have seen or run into Jim Rempe! :D I got to watch him every year at our 14.1 event and he plays world class speed just like Sigel, Hopkins, Calovito, Varner etc.

I also think his 14.1 video is in my top 2 for learning the game, along with Sigels. I use what he teaches every day playing 14.1!

Pool aside, Jim is one hell of a nice guy to sit and chat with.
 
Jim Rempe

I own quite a few 9 ball and 1 pocket videos and one of my all time favorites in my collection is Jim Rempe vs Efren Reyes at the 1996 PBT Legends of 9 Ball Tournament.

I bought the video from Accu-stats, but Pat Fleming got the rights to it from Sports South and distributed it through Accu-stats. The commentators were Jim Kelly, Nick Varner, and Steve Mizerak and it started out with Efren Reyes running away with the match to a big lead. Jim Kelly kept talking about Efren and how good he was and then Jim Rempe started making a come back and it ended up with Jim having a chance to win the race to 11 after being buried. Jim shot a bank shot that hit the point on the side pocket and Efren ended up winning the match.

If you ever get a chance to watch that video don't pass it up. The crowd was pulling for Efren and Efren put on a show with some unbelievable shots, but Jimmy hung tough and almost pulled the win out at the end.

James
 
Drawman623 said:
Here is a picture to remind a few folks why Rempe among the best. Largest cash prize ever offered to date...the Resorts Intl Championship and below the prize check is the 1984 One Pocket world champions trophy.

MVC-016F.jpg



Other points about Rempe are that he was the last winner of the Johnson City tournament. The last year that that tourney was completed, Rempe won overall, beating out Ronnie Allen in the final.

I believe there would be even more trophies, tournament wins and legendary victories like Johnson City that we all know about if Rempe had not traveled abroad so much. He won all Asia, he was the French national champion, he won in Poland, Japan and he defeated Maltese Joe Barbera to become English Pool world champion. Rempe never missed a shot in that final and won over the English crowd. He waved our flag atop the table to a standing ovation.

My point is that he is known as a master and champion throughout the world. Few if any can say that.

As for his first trophy, I believe 1963 was the year. Rempe is as great, if not the greatest, champion of our time.
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He beat Efren in the finals to win that one at Resorts. Second prize was only $13,500. Jimmy was offered a "deal", but he turned it down. He said that every time he makes a deal, he plays bad. So no deals! They played for the 35K, and Jimmy played great! That was big money 20+ years ago. About like winning double or triple that today.
 
jay helfert said:
A Jim Rempe quote, "Your choice of shots is not always the most important thing. It's how you execute the shot you choose."

One other thing. If you're tall, you would do well to emulate his stance. He had the best (and most solid) stance of any tall player I ever saw.
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All of Jim's basics were great, including his stroke. Scott Smith always would comment on this when he announced Rempe's match.
 
I met Jim Rempe in the late 80's, he was with Lori John Jones doing an exhibition at the Cornhusker State Games in Nebraska.

He visited with us at length afterwards, he is a real class act.
 
jim Rempe is a great player I have been to his house im lucky he only lives 30 minutes away and rumor has it that he might be at cosmos on the 13th or 20th for the blaze tour stop and the qualifier for allens 1000000. shootout I hope he is I will post to inform everyone on that.:grin:
 
Wow that makes so much sense to ask that question - Not.
Is this rhetorical question or what? I'm sorry Macneil B but u need to get a clue and ask better questions than this, it goes without saying that Rempe is a stone cold Champ if there ever was one, I have a question macneilb -does a bear like honey I heard they did but was wondering your opinion? Ooh if your near the ocean you will probably find sand and salty water. He has World titles under his belt and I'm sure he has run over 300 in 14.1 (if u even know what that game is) more than once. I guess you either are clueless about Rempe or just wanted to give his name some attention, in the later stages of his career he won the Camel Pro Billiard series Championships in OK. Ohh I'm sure that was just one tournament win right, remember he mowed down the best players in the World - I finished 3rd in the event and was playing well but not as well as Jim. Please have more thought behind your questions before you ask the question if King James was one of the greats as he has more titles than I could list on this reply cause I would run out of space. He is also a strong Christian man which I respect as much as the illustrious career he's had in the sport of Pocket Billiards.
Sincerely, Danny
 
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The following list is just some of the titles that Jim Rempe has won in his illustrious career:

1971
Invitational 9 Ball
Arlington, Virginia

1971
U. S. Masters 14.1
Arlington, Virginia

1971
Hustlers World One Pocket
Johnson City, Illinois

1972
U. S. Masters 14.1
Arlington, Virginia

1972
Maine State 14.1
Scarborough, Maine

1972
Minnesota Fats Classic 14.1 and All Around
Arlington, Virginia

1973
Ohio Open 9 Ball
Cleveland, Ohio

1973
New York State 14.1
Newburgh, New York

1973
World's 9 Ball
Dayton, Ohio

1975
U. S. Masters 14.1
Arlington, Virginia

1975
U. S. Masters One Pocket
Arlington, Virginia

1975
Eastern Open 9 Ball
Elizabeth, New Jersey

1975
Eastern Invitational 9 Ball
Elizabeth, New Jersey

1975
World's 9 Ball
Burlington, Iowa

1976
Masters Invitational All Around
Norfolk, Virginia

1976
Indiana Open 14.1
South Bend, Indiana

1976
International Brunswick Open Rotation
Tokyo, Japan

1976
9th All-Prop Japan International Invitational 14.1 & Grand Champion
Osaka, Japan

1977
Mako Invitational World's 9 Ball
Irvine, California

1977
Q Master's Invitational All Around
Norfolk, Virginia

1977
Miami Open 9 Ball
Miami, Florida

1977
World International Invitational 9 Ball, 14.1 & Grand Champion
Osaka, Japan

1978
Swedish Invitational
Stockholm, Sweden

1979
Dorf International Challenge Series Tour, Australia vs. U.S.A.
Australia, 22 cities

1979
All-Pro 9 Ball
Tokyo, Japan

1980
PPPA Invitational World 9 Ball Championship at Resorts International
Atlantic City, New Jersey

1980
Hemeling World Poll Masters 8 ball
Manchester, England

1980
King of the Tables Snooker & Pool
Wellington, New Zealand

1981
Tournament Games, Inc. and Atari World Championship 8 Ball
Chicago, Illinois

1981
Swedish Open (Handicap) 8 Ball
Gotenburg, Sweden

1982
Switzerland 9 Ball
Bern, Switzerland

1983
World Straight Pool
Tampa, Florida

1983
All Around Champion of the World
Tampa, Florida

1983
World One Pocket
Tampa, Florida

1983
B & I World Masters English Pool Championship
London, England

1985
Yugo Cars, World English Pool Championship
London, England

1985
Yugo Cars, World Pool Challenge - vs. Snooker World Champion Steve Davis
Essex, England

1986
Resorts International Jack Johnston's - Last Call For 9 Ball Riches Tournament
Atlantic City, New Jersey

1986
New York State 9 Ball Champion
Binghampton, New York

1987
B-C Open 9 Ball
Binghampton, New York

1987
Sands Hotel & Casino Pro-Am 9 Ball
Reno, Nevada

1988
Aspen Invitational 9 Ball & 8 Ball
Aspen, Colorado

1989
National Straight Pool 14.1
Cleveland, Ohio

1990
U. S. Invitational Straight Pool 14.1
Rochester, New York

1991
New York State Straight Pool 14.1
Binghampton, New York

1991
Sands Hotel & Casino 9 Ball
Reno, Nevada

1992
New York State 9 Ball
Binghampton, New York

1993
Rack'm Up Classic 9 Ball
Columbia, South Carolina

1994
New York State 9 Ball
Binghampton, New York

1995
McDermott Tour Eastern States 9 Ball
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1995
Pro Billiards Tour Player's Championship
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

1997
Mizerak Senior Tour
Tulsa, Oklahoma

1997
Camel Pro Billiards - Serious 9 Ball
Tulsa, Oklahoma

1997
Mosconi Cup, USA vs. Europe Team 9 Ball
London, England

1998
Joss Tour 9 Ball
Franklin, Massachusetts

1998
French Open 9 Ball
Paris, France

1998
Mosconi Cup, USA vs. Europe Team 9 Ball
London, England

1998
World Pool League 9 Ball
Warsaw, Poland

1998
Open Senior 9 Ball - Maine Event
Portland, Maine

1998
Ocean State 10th Annual 9 Ball - (Eastern States)
Providence, Rhode Island

1999
Mosconi Cup, USA vs. Europe Team 9 Ball
London, England

1999
World Pool League 9 Ball
Warsaw, Poland

2000
Joss Tour 9 Ball, 1st stop
Glenn Falls, New York

2000
Mizerak Senior Tour
Kansas

2000
4th Annual Nick Vlahos Memorial Open - (The New Englander Championship)
New Bedford, Massachusetts

2000
Joss Northeast 9 Ball
Bristol, Connecticut

2002
9th Annual Mary Cappotto Memorial - (St. Valentine's Day Shoot Out (9 Ball))
Syracuse, New York

2002
Joss 9 Ball Tour
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
 
macneilb said:
i agree he is definately one of the greats. now that i look at it, the way i made the title of the thread might've made it sound like it didn't:embarrassed2: ...but i most definately do consider him one of the greatest, and also my personal favourite player. the question i was wondering is why when people on the forum debate the best players of all time, its usually the same names...efren, bustamante, earl, sigel, buddy, and even varner who's also not mentioned as much as he should be, but i almost never hear Rempe's name mentioned. from what i hear, i'm assuming its b/c his best pool was before most people here would remember....
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why don't you try reading my second post before you start insulting me...i know who he is and i'm very aware of how great a player he is, all i asked was why he doesn't get as much credit as he deserves and isn't mentioned as much i think he should be. thanks for the comments though, you're a real class act...
 
Great listing Wedge, I thought the tournament in Tulsa was 10 ball - I could definitely be mistaken but I played in it and still can't remember. Maybe it was 9 ball and I just want it to be ten ball cause I enjoy the game so much more than 9 ball.
 
Your right macneilb, you have my apalogy I was out of line. It was the title that I found offensive not the fine print. What an attention getter imagine Rempe reading through the forums after all he has done for pool and there it is " Rempe one of the greats?" Please keep in mind after a title like that he might be so digusted as to not read the fine print, I think a more appropriate title would have been "What about Rempe" or something like that. I do commend you for being a fan of Rempe's and I did read your whole post prior to my last post. Yes people are fixated on names like Efren cause of his incredible talent and when he wins he just says he got lucky, I realize Rempe does not walk on water but to answer your question in a more delicate way yes he's the real deal and a champion in every form of the word. I was a little harsh and again I apolagize for that, I had to turn down my invite to the World 14.1 as I had no sponsor for the event and am in kind of a bad mood - did'nt mean to take it out on you. God Bless
 
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no worries;) everyone has 'those days.' you're definately right about the title, like i said in my 2nd post i really didn't mean for the title to sound like it did and i only realized it after. i'm sorry to hear you can't make it to the World 14.1 - it must be harsh to work so hard and not be able to attend b/c of something as trivial as sponsorship. I wish you the best of luck.
 
After reading all the post here. I agree with the term most used here to describe Jimmy. " A Class Act " Aside from all his tournament wins, for me, this is most important. We need more like him.

That's quite a list of accomplishments that were listed here of his tournament wins. Most of us would happy just to have a third or fourth in any one of them.
 
Danny Kuykendal said:
Thanks for the compliment Jay. This post is about King James, and he is all that everyone is saying about him in this thread.

Danny
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I think I like Danny "The Dragon Slayer" Kuykendal better. I'll use it next time you play in one of my events.

So where's that hit list? C'mon fess up! You can come out from undercover now. You're old and rich!
 
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