Has anyone heard of Jimmy Matz and are there any videos of him shooting
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Jimmy Matts Anyone on the forum heard of him
- Thread starter mreightball
- Start date
Sometime back someone posted a video of him shooting Jimmy Fusco. They were playing even, so that gives you an idea how strong he played. Unfortunately he died young, about age 40 (or less). Another drug casualty.
Do you know where that video can be seen?
Are you asking about a guy who had a steel plate in his skull from a motorcycle accident? He lived somewhere in Central PA. If so, Jay is correct.
Lyn
Lyn
Jimmy lived down here in South Florida for awhile. He was a really strong player. I have talked to som of the older players over the years and they said he played about Toby Sweets speed which was really strong. Between the accident and the drugs they said he was goofy, he would be in the middle of a set crushing somebody and he would just break his cue down and leave. It used to drive his backers crazy
thebighurt said:
Years ago, my road partner was playing Jimmy in York, PA. Julio had him several racks down. In the middle of a rack, Jim played Ron safe. Ron kicked and made a good hit. Jim walked to the table and picked up the cue ball
. Ron called the foul. Jim said it was a mistake, no harm done and replaced the cue ball. He couldn't understand what he had done. Jay's correct. Jim could play. I never saw him till after his accident. Perhaps someone out there is more familiar with his history.
Lyn
Jimmy played really, really strong. VERY high offensive gear. Before his accident, he could match up with anyone and beat anyone on any given day... after his car accident, well, he was just "really strong."
There's no doubt the accident and some drugs made him lose it. He would play and actually talk to himself (full conversations) after his accident.
Do a search for Jimmy Matz and you'll find a few good stories.
By the way, Jay--- he shot himself, it wasn't a drug overdose. Maybe you meant the drugs made him do that?
EDIT (HERE'S A REPOST OF A STORY I POSTED IN THE OLD JIMMY THREAD):
I heard a story about Jimmy Matz that goes back years. Something about he and two other guys walk into a poolhall in North Carolina looking for action. They're all hanging out for a while and there wasn't anyone to play so the two other guys decide to grab dinner at a nearby restaurant. Before leaving, they tell Jimmy he has the OK to play anyone who walks through the door - except for a young guy named Earl Strickland.
They disappear for an hour or two and come back to a packed poolhall-- with nearly everyone crowded around one table....
"WTF?" the guys think as they try to weave through the crowd to see what's going on. On the other side of a wall of people they see....yup, you guessed it... Jimmy Matz was playing Earl for $5 / game 9-ball--- and Earl is stuck something like $100. There was speculation to whether or not Jimmy KNEW he was playing Earl Strickland. Apparently, Earl asked him to play and stepped into a coma-stroke of a galactic magnitude.
I was told this story many years ago, so if someone knows the exact details - please chime in, and my apologies for any inconsistencies since it's been years since I heard it. I wonder if Earl remembers Jimmy Matz?
Dave
There's no doubt the accident and some drugs made him lose it. He would play and actually talk to himself (full conversations) after his accident.
Do a search for Jimmy Matz and you'll find a few good stories.
By the way, Jay--- he shot himself, it wasn't a drug overdose. Maybe you meant the drugs made him do that?
EDIT (HERE'S A REPOST OF A STORY I POSTED IN THE OLD JIMMY THREAD):
I heard a story about Jimmy Matz that goes back years. Something about he and two other guys walk into a poolhall in North Carolina looking for action. They're all hanging out for a while and there wasn't anyone to play so the two other guys decide to grab dinner at a nearby restaurant. Before leaving, they tell Jimmy he has the OK to play anyone who walks through the door - except for a young guy named Earl Strickland.
They disappear for an hour or two and come back to a packed poolhall-- with nearly everyone crowded around one table....
"WTF?" the guys think as they try to weave through the crowd to see what's going on. On the other side of a wall of people they see....yup, you guessed it... Jimmy Matz was playing Earl for $5 / game 9-ball--- and Earl is stuck something like $100. There was speculation to whether or not Jimmy KNEW he was playing Earl Strickland. Apparently, Earl asked him to play and stepped into a coma-stroke of a galactic magnitude.
I was told this story many years ago, so if someone knows the exact details - please chime in, and my apologies for any inconsistencies since it's been years since I heard it. I wonder if Earl remembers Jimmy Matz?
Dave
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I sure wish if someone had pictures or a video let me know
mreightball said:
I had a video of him playing Jimmy Fusco... poor quality. A friend of mine is borrowing it from me (it's a VHS tape). A nice guy here on AZB sent it to me, I forget his screename though. Matz played effortlessly.
I know some might argue with me, but if they were each in top-gear mode, I'd have to bet the Matz side of the action in that one (pre accident).
Is there anyway to post it to you tube or another way to put it up on the Internet?
One more, compliments of Joe Kerr, who just passed away. He used to put on a big tourney every year in Akron at Starchers. So one time, someone brought Jimmy over to play, except they arrived too late. Jimmy couldn't get in the tournament and wanted to leave. But he asks Joe Kerr who the best player was. Joe points out Jack Hynes playing on a nearby table, and says "He'll give you a game".
So Jimmy starts watching Jack's matches, sitting in the front row. Jack notices him there and asks him why he is watching him every match. Jimmy says he heard that Jack gives lessons and he wants one. Jack says sure, after the tourney is over for the day he can get a lesson for $40. So they get together later and Jimmy says the best lesson for him is if he gambles while he's learning. Jack's ears perk up and he says okay, how much. How about $10 9-Ball Jimmy says. Jack is ecstatic and quickly puts his cue together.
Two hours and $200 later, Jack Hynes is fit to be tied. He still thinks this guy was trying to learn from him and just got very lucky. Finally he quits in disgust telling Joe "The guy asks me for lessons, and ends up making me pay for them".
So Jimmy starts watching Jack's matches, sitting in the front row. Jack notices him there and asks him why he is watching him every match. Jimmy says he heard that Jack gives lessons and he wants one. Jack says sure, after the tourney is over for the day he can get a lesson for $40. So they get together later and Jimmy says the best lesson for him is if he gambles while he's learning. Jack's ears perk up and he says okay, how much. How about $10 9-Ball Jimmy says. Jack is ecstatic and quickly puts his cue together.
Two hours and $200 later, Jack Hynes is fit to be tied. He still thinks this guy was trying to learn from him and just got very lucky. Finally he quits in disgust telling Joe "The guy asks me for lessons, and ends up making me pay for them".
Too funny...
That made my day. Thanks... lmao
jay helfert said:
That made my day. Thanks... lmao
That is one of the best Hustle's I ever heard.
lol....good stuff.
do a search for Jimmy...I had a few posts about playing him years back, and a great AZ'r sent me the vid of Jimmy playing Jimmy Fusco a little 9ball up in northern PA.
G.
The man had a VERY scary high gear.....!
MANY top pros have said he had a gear like no other unknown player.
G.
The man had a VERY scary high gear.....!
MANY top pros have said he had a gear like no other unknown player.
Jimmy's last name was spelled Matz.
He had something a lot of players lack. Charisma. He could have you feeling like you were friends forever in a couple of minutes.
He was a monster player before his accident, in 1980, and afterward, though he developed many inner demons later in his life.
I was at Baker's, in Tampa, February or March, 1979. The event was the Citrus Open. All the players were there. Sigel, Hubbert, Roberts, Cook, Howard, Hall. The day before the tournament was to start, Jimmy got into a ring game at $40 a man, with Handsome Danny Jones, Terry Bell and Bob Osbourne. I do not remember who broke the first game, but it was Handsome Danny who won the rack. After a dry break, it was Matz's turn at the table. Jimmy runs out, break and run, break and run, break and run. Game over. Everyone quits. Jimmy had trouble getting any legitimate action over the course of the next few days, as everyone was leary of matching up with him.
Steve Cook was the eventual Champion of that tournament.
Allen Hopkins once said Jimmy had the best 9-Ball break. Pretty strong compliment from another stakes player.
In his prime, he was something to behold.
Wedge has the video, although you may have to bribe him with tons of kindness for a copy!!
He had something a lot of players lack. Charisma. He could have you feeling like you were friends forever in a couple of minutes.
He was a monster player before his accident, in 1980, and afterward, though he developed many inner demons later in his life.
I was at Baker's, in Tampa, February or March, 1979. The event was the Citrus Open. All the players were there. Sigel, Hubbert, Roberts, Cook, Howard, Hall. The day before the tournament was to start, Jimmy got into a ring game at $40 a man, with Handsome Danny Jones, Terry Bell and Bob Osbourne. I do not remember who broke the first game, but it was Handsome Danny who won the rack. After a dry break, it was Matz's turn at the table. Jimmy runs out, break and run, break and run, break and run. Game over. Everyone quits. Jimmy had trouble getting any legitimate action over the course of the next few days, as everyone was leary of matching up with him.
Steve Cook was the eventual Champion of that tournament.
Allen Hopkins once said Jimmy had the best 9-Ball break. Pretty strong compliment from another stakes player.
In his prime, he was something to behold.
Wedge has the video, although you may have to bribe him with tons of kindness for a copy!!
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