John Schmidt - How high will he go?
- Thread starter jason
- Start date
The world free throw record, as it appears in the Guinness book of records, is EXACTLY what you're describing -
someone setting up to do it in practice, and hammering away at it for hours.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Amberry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtvRN5S7m_U
This is the record people know and care about, over 5,000 in a row.
The fact that some guy on the Timberwolves made 97 over the course of a season is a footnote
that nobody cares about.
There is no 'natural' context for most world records.
What is normal and natural about doing 6000 pushups in a row, or throwing darts from 20 feet away?
Mosconi's record is outside any natural context too, because it wasn't in a game.
Outside of a tournament, it's all contrived.
All of you guys chiming in with your I don’t cares and no one gives a hoot must think the world of cue sports revolves around your haze-enshrouded noggin.
This isn’t 1954 any more, boys (and gals).
This is a different world we live in with news traveling in mere milliseconds around the globe - and while I’m certain you know that, it doesn’t come across like you’re aware of that in the things you put out here on AZB. Perhaps it’s the circles you dabble in that don’t really care about such things - but the other
7,692,952,001
folks tuning into the news world just may.
It’s a world of promotion and showing people what they don’t know YET.
Imagine for 1 minute what an onslaught of media coverage around this planet would do for the cuesport games if such a feat were promoted in a humble and historic limelight. Encouraging others to pick up a cue and embrace the challenges. Like the one we’re all witnessing.
So how about we all encourage the naysayers to stop showing everyone around them NOTHING and start sharing and telling and showing people things they don’t know with the www access at our fingertips - and promoting the games of cuesports we supposedly love - and do our collective part to support a great game at the very least by NOT spreading doubt and vitriol.
Or do we all need a grand money prize to make it worth our time?
Come on folks.
~ K.
This isn’t 1954 any more, boys (and gals).
This is a different world we live in with news traveling in mere milliseconds around the globe - and while I’m certain you know that, it doesn’t come across like you’re aware of that in the things you put out here on AZB. Perhaps it’s the circles you dabble in that don’t really care about such things - but the other
7,692,952,001
folks tuning into the news world just may.
It’s a world of promotion and showing people what they don’t know YET.
Imagine for 1 minute what an onslaught of media coverage around this planet would do for the cuesport games if such a feat were promoted in a humble and historic limelight. Encouraging others to pick up a cue and embrace the challenges. Like the one we’re all witnessing.
So how about we all encourage the naysayers to stop showing everyone around them NOTHING and start sharing and telling and showing people things they don’t know with the www access at our fingertips - and promoting the games of cuesports we supposedly love - and do our collective part to support a great game at the very least by NOT spreading doubt and vitriol.
Or do we all need a grand money prize to make it worth our time?
Come on folks.
~ K.
Thanks for the post. So true.
I get excited if I can get someone to play straight pool, which is usually never. What's interesting is that about 50% of the time I *can* get someone playing they really like it. The other 50% "hates" it if they aren't able to find some sort of instant gratification from the experience.
Everyone is free to respect any statistic they choose, including those in the Guinness Book of World Records. Personally, when it comes to world records, I prefer those made at the highest organized level of the specific sport.
The free throw records that I prefer, those made during the highest level of competition, the NBA: "Aim high, you just may make it" https://www.nba.com/history/records/regular_freethrows.html.
Regular Season Records: Free Throws
Through the 2004-2005 season
Most free throws made per game, season
31.9-New York, 1957-58 (2,300/72)
Fewest free throws made per game, season
14.9-Boston, 1998-99 (745/50)
Most free throws made, game
61-Phoenix vs. Utah, April 9, 1990 (OT)
Fewest free throws made, game
0-Toronto vs. Charlotte, January 9, 1996
Most free throws made, both teams, game
116-Syracuse (59) vs. Anderson (57), November 24, 1949 (5 OT)
Fewest free throws made, both teams, game
7-Milwaukee (3) vs. Baltimore (4), January 1, 1973
Most free throws made, one half
36-Chicago vs. Phoenix, January 8, 1970
Golden State vs. Utah, March 29, 1990
Seattle at Denver, April 7, 1991
Most free throws made, both teams, one half
62-Golden State (33) vs. Sacramento (29), January 26, 1996
Most free throws made, one quarter
26-Atlanta at Milwaukee, March 3, 1991
Most free throws made, both teams, one quarter
41-Milwaukee (22) vs. L.A. Lakers (19), March 21, 2001
Free-Throw Percentage
Highest free-throw percentage, season
.832 -Boston, 1989-90 (1,791/2,153)
Lowest free-throw percentage, season
.635-Philadelphia, 1967-68 (2,121/3,338)
Most free throws made, none missed, game
39-Utah at Portland, December 7, 1982
Lowest free-throw percentage, game
.000-Toronto vs. Charlotte, January 9, 1996 (0/3)
Highest free-throw percentage, both teams, game
1.000-Atlanta (1.000) vs. Toronto (1.000), December 22, 2000 (16/16)
Lowest free-throw percentage, both teams, game
.405 - Miami (.370) at Charlotte (.467), February 11,2005 (17/42)
Free-Throw Attempts
Most free-throw attempts per game, season
42.4-New York, 1957-58 (3,056/72)
Fewest free-throw attempts per game, season
19.8 - New York, 2002-03 (1,620/82)
Most free-throw attempts, game
86-Syracuse vs. Anderson, November 24, 1949 (5 OT)
Fewest free-throw attempts, game
2-Cleveland vs. Golden State, November 26, 1994
Most free-throw attempts, both teams, game
160-Syracuse (86) vs. Anderson (74), November 24, 1949 (5 OT)
Fewest free-throw attempts, both teams, game
12-Los Angeles (3) vs. San Diego (9), March 28, 1980
Most free-throw attempts, one half
48-Chicago vs. Phoenix, January 8, 1970
Most free-throw attempts, both teams, one half
79-Golden State (43) vs. Sacramento (36), January 26, 1996
Most free-throw attempts, one quarter
32-Vancouver at L.A. Clippers, November 11, 1997 (4th qtr.)
Most free-throw attempts, both teams, one quarter 50-New York (26) at St. Louis (24), December 14, 1957
50 - Cincinnati (29) at Baltimore (21), December 27, 1964
Most seasons leading league
8-Karl Malone, Utah, 1988-89-1992-93, 1996-97-1998-99
Most consecutive seasons leading league
5-Karl Malone, Utah, 1988-89-1992-93
Most free throws made, career
9,787 – Karl Malone, Utah, 1985-86 – 2002-03; L.A. Lakers, 2003-04
Most free throws made, season
840-Jerry West, Los Angeles, 1965-66
Most consecutive free throws made
97-Micheal Williams, Minnesota, March 24-November 9, 1993
Most free throws made, game
28-Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia vs. New York, at Hershey, Pa., March 2, 1962
28 - Adrian Dantley, Utah vs. Houston, at Las Vegas, January 4, 1984
Most free throws made, one half
20-Michael Jordan, Chicago at Miami, December 30, 1992 (2nd half)
Most free throws made, one quarter
14-Rick Barry, San Francisco at New York, December 6, 1966 (3rd qtr.)
14 - Pete Maravich, Atlanta vs. Buffalo, November 28, 1973 (3rd qtr.)
14 - Adrian Dantley, Detroit vs. Sacramento, December 10, 1986 (4th qtr.)
14 - Michael Jordan, Chicago at Utah, November 15, 1989 (4th qtr.)
14 - Michael Jordan, Chicago at Miami, December 30, 1992 (4th qtr.)
14 - Johnny Newman, Denver vs. Boston, February 10, 1998, (4th qtr.)
Free-Throw Percentage
Most seasons leading league
7-Bill Sharman, Boston, 1952-53-1956-57, 1958-59, 1960-61
Most consecutive seasons, leading league
5-Bill Sharman, Boston, 1952-53-1956-57
3-Rick Barry, Golden State, 1977-78; Houston, 1978-79-1979-80
Highest free-throw percentage, career
(minimum 1,200 made)
.904-Mark Price, Cleveland, 1986-87-1994-95; Washington, 1995-96; Golden State, 1996-97 (2,135/2,362)
Highest free-throw percentage, season (qualifiers)
.958 -Calvin Murphy, Houston, 1980-81 (206/215)
Highest free-throw percentage, rookie, season (qualifiers)
.902-Ernie DiGregorio, Buffalo, 1973-74 (174/193)
Most free throws made, none missed, game
23-Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta vs. Chicago, December 8, 1992
Most free-throw attempts, none made, game
11-Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers vs. Seattle, December 8, 2000
Free-Throw Attempts
Most seasons leading league
9-Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia, 1959-60-1961-62; San Francisco, 1962-63-1963-64; San Francisco, Philadelphia, 1964-65; Philadelphia, 1966-67-1967-68; Los Angeles, 1968-69
Most consecutive seasons leading league
6-Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia, 1959-60-1961-62; San Francisco, 1962-63-1963-64; San Francisco, Philadelphia, 1964-65
Most free-throw attempts, career
13,188 – Karl Malone, Utah, 1985-86 – 2002-03; L.A. Laker, 2003-04
Most free-throw attempts, season
1,363-Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia, 1961-62
Most free-throw attempts, game
34-Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia vs. St. Louis, February 22, 1962
Most free-throw attempts, one half
23-Michael Jordan, Chicago at Miami, December 30, 1992
Most free-throw attempts, one quarter
16-Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati at Baltimore, December 27, 1964
16 - Stan McKenzie, Phoenix at Philadelphia, February 15, 1970
16 - Pete Maravich, Atlanta at Chicago, January 2, 1973 (2nd qtr.)
16 - Michael Jordan, Chicago at Miami, December 30, 1992
16 - Willie Burton, Philadelphia vs. Miami, December 13, 1994
16 - Johnny Newman, Denver vs. Boston, February 10, 1998, (4th qtr.)
I admit I didn’t read all the comments on this thread so hopefully this hasn’t been asked already but John is trying for several hours a day and several weeks to break this record. Does anyone know how many times it took Mosconi to reach 526 on the day he did it?
Yes, several hours per day for several weeks. Mosconi came off the street and did it and quit without missing.
Yes, he walked into the pool room, warmed up with a couple of racks, his opponent ran three and missed, and that was it for two hours and ten minutes.
But the run did end because he missed.
Lou Figueroa
I stand corrected then. I always thought he stopped on his own.
He stated that in some interview, but there are accounts of the missed ball, a six ball.
This is what I was thinking and in my opinion it’s alot more impressive than what John is doing even if he ends up running more than 526
Yes, I think in at least one interview he said he just quit.
But keep in mind that Willie died of complications of Alzheimers.
Lou Figueroa
This is day 6 and I've watched most racks every day. I voted 450+ but I think he may just give up trying before 4/18. I admire him trying and wish him luck. This is just my opinion of what I'm seeing.
He's already talked about it on facebook that maybe he will stop and try to break the record on an easier 8-foot table instead. And then once he breaks the record, he could then try again on a 9-foot table.
_______
99% of all amateurs would have given up long ago.
Having said that, 99% of all pro would've already given up as well.
John may never break the record. The thing is, if John dont, I highly doubt ANY active pro today will get close so, in my book, John is a winner considering the sheer number of 400+ runs he has on video.
I'm like you, I'm pulling for him but have my doubts.
We never know, he may have that burning "GRIND" in him right now to stat with it.
If John catches "his" highest gear and stays there for a couple hours, lol....bye bye record. Thing is....I've not seen him stay in "his" high gear for more than a ~30 minutes at a time with a big slump in between.
All that just makes it so damn hard for even the biggest of beast.
Rake
I heard about that.
If he does move to an easy 8' table, I would almost bet that he pulls it off. I said "ALMOST" bet.... so..... all the NUT HUNTERS (people that are scared to actually gamble) , stay in your seat and dont get excited.
I don't like losing money (like most) but, I absolutely HATE losing money to what most consider a "PROFESSIONAL GAMBLER".........., which is just another way of saying a "NIT".
Are we talking prime/peak Mosconi? No. I think we can use Earl as kind of a link between generations. He still cuts the mustard today at 57, and beat Shane in a couple of challenges a few years back. And we all know Earl is probably 60% of the player he used to be, even when he beat Shane.
Prime Earl was on the same level as prime Mike Sigel, who Efren even admitted is the toughest opponent he ever played and looks up to him as the player to emulate. Prime Mike Sigel had no advantage over prime Steve Mizerak in 14.1. Prime Mizerak played against many of the players (Balsis, Lassiter, Crane) of Mosconi's era, and had his hands full. Some more evidence is 70 year old Ray Martin (at the time) beating peak Corey Deuel in 8 ball at the IPT.
Don't know how good Mosconi would be, but he wouldn't get eaten alive and no doubt be a top player after an adjustment period to modern equipment (which plays easier, actually).
Even old timers who aren't full time pool players like Ernesto Dominguez can occasionally snatch a money finish in fields with top US players.
I don't think play and players in cue sports have evolved over the last century like athletic sports. They're certainly a bit better, but not on the level of Steph Curry vs. Bob Cousy. What's evolved more than anything is the equipment. Low deflection shafts, magic racks, Simonis felt.