Article from the PensacolaNewsJournal.com dated January, 12, 2007.
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070112/SPORTS/701120343/1002
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Pensacola's Pool Shark
By Danny Aller – Pensacola News Journal
Published - January, 12, 2007
Should you wander into an area pool hall looking for a game, only to find the unassuming smile of John Schmidt staring back across the table, here's a little advice: Unless you want an autograph -- walk the other way.
It's not that Schmidt, a Pensacola resident who has played pool professionally throughout the world the past decade, won't take a challenge from anyone, at any time and for nearly any amount of money.
It's just that these days, after winning the 31st annual U.S. Open Nine-Ball Championship on Oct. 1 -- the oldest and arguably most prestigious title in all of pro billiards -- he has slightly bigger fish to fry.
"I'm down to the final eight, and it's looking pretty good right now," Schmidt said Wednesday from Louisville, Ky., where he reached the finals of the Derby City Pool Classic straight pool event.
"There's still some great players left, so we'll see what happens."
The tournament is one of the many stops on the professional billiards tour of which Schmidt fast is becoming a star.
But what has happened to Schmidt, 33, during the past four months -- especially the moment after he sunk the final ball against Rodolfo Luat of the Philippines to win the U.S. Open -- has been nothing short of great.
Schmidt has appeared on the covers of national pool magazines, was one of five Americans who competed in Amsterdam for the annual Mosconi Cup (pool's version of the Ryder Cup) in December and is nearing a lucrative endorsement deal.
"I'd made several blips on the radar before the U.S. Open, but this time, I really stuck the flag in the ground," said Schmidt, who earned $40,000 for winning one of pro pool's six majors.
The victory is comparable to winning The Masters in golf or Wimbledon in tennis. The difference, however, is the prize money in pool is much smaller because of the lack of sponsorship.
"It's a huge deal to win a tournament like this, but I still won't be known outside of pool halls across America," said Schmidt, who started playing when he was 18.
"I'm actually friends with (NASCAR driver) Tony Stewart -- a huge pool fan -- who came up to me after the win and told me, 'It's amazing: When I win a race, no matter which one, it's a million-dollar payday. Yet, you win the U.S. Open in pool, and you get $40,000. Something's wrong with this picture."
But for Schmidt, who once was a small-time pool hustler in his home state of California, the win meant validation.
"People already knew (Pensacola's) Jerry Pate before he won the U.S. Open in golf because he played on the PGA Tour, but his notoriety soared after he won such a big event in his sport," said Johnny Coburger, owner of Pensacola Billiard Sales who plays regularly with Schmidt.
"And now the same thing's happening to John since he won (the U.S. Open) in pool. That's what makes it even more phenomenal. John would never say this himself, but he's widely thought of as the best straight pool player in the world."
The U.S. Open, a double- elimination, nine-ball tournament, featured a field of 256 of the world's best players in Chesapeake, Va.
Schmidt won his first five early matches but lost to Dave Broxson, forcing him to the loser's bracket. He then won an unprecedented 15 consecutive matches -- including a rematch with Broxson -- to set up a finals showdown against Luat.
More amazing than his victory was his preparation. In the year leading up to the event, Schmidt had all but taken a break from pool.
He had been working less on his cue stroke and more on his golf swing, which is how he met his girlfriend, Pensacola native Racheal Henley.
"It's such a feat to come out of the loser's bracket, play and win double the amount of matches as anyone on the winner's side -- and all with very little practice," said Henley, who arrived in Virginia just before Schmidt reached the finals.
"It's scary to think how good he could be if he was playing more."
Maybe.
Three years ago, Schmidt was a full-time touring pro, playing 10 hours a day in nearly 40 tournaments a year. In 2003, shortly after he won the Reno Open, Schmidt's career hit a wall.
He met a woman from the Bay Area during a tour stop and relocated to Pensacola to get married. A pool hall in Milton wanted to sponsor his career, and things began looking up.
But in just two years, the deal and Schmidt's marriage fell apart.
"We all go through difficult times. It's really just how we react to those times that define who we are," said Schmidt, who plans to open a pool hall off Nine Mile Road.
"Now that I've won a major, the pressure's off. I can just enjoy playing pool again, look toward the future and make sure this isn't the last of my success."
Hall of Fame pool player Johnny Archer, winner of four world championships and the 1999 U.S. Open, said Schmidt's future is bright.
"It's such a big boost for John's self-confidence, not to mention his career, to win a tournament as big as the U.S. Open," Archer said. "He's got a great game, and he played exceptional pool to get the win. And now the offers and sponsors should start pouring in.
"Right now, John just needs to realize that what an accomplishment this is and stay on his game. But most importantly, he should just savor his moment in history."
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070112/SPORTS/701120343/1002
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Pensacola's Pool Shark
By Danny Aller – Pensacola News Journal
Published - January, 12, 2007
Should you wander into an area pool hall looking for a game, only to find the unassuming smile of John Schmidt staring back across the table, here's a little advice: Unless you want an autograph -- walk the other way.
It's not that Schmidt, a Pensacola resident who has played pool professionally throughout the world the past decade, won't take a challenge from anyone, at any time and for nearly any amount of money.
It's just that these days, after winning the 31st annual U.S. Open Nine-Ball Championship on Oct. 1 -- the oldest and arguably most prestigious title in all of pro billiards -- he has slightly bigger fish to fry.
"I'm down to the final eight, and it's looking pretty good right now," Schmidt said Wednesday from Louisville, Ky., where he reached the finals of the Derby City Pool Classic straight pool event.
"There's still some great players left, so we'll see what happens."
The tournament is one of the many stops on the professional billiards tour of which Schmidt fast is becoming a star.
But what has happened to Schmidt, 33, during the past four months -- especially the moment after he sunk the final ball against Rodolfo Luat of the Philippines to win the U.S. Open -- has been nothing short of great.
Schmidt has appeared on the covers of national pool magazines, was one of five Americans who competed in Amsterdam for the annual Mosconi Cup (pool's version of the Ryder Cup) in December and is nearing a lucrative endorsement deal.
"I'd made several blips on the radar before the U.S. Open, but this time, I really stuck the flag in the ground," said Schmidt, who earned $40,000 for winning one of pro pool's six majors.
The victory is comparable to winning The Masters in golf or Wimbledon in tennis. The difference, however, is the prize money in pool is much smaller because of the lack of sponsorship.
"It's a huge deal to win a tournament like this, but I still won't be known outside of pool halls across America," said Schmidt, who started playing when he was 18.
"I'm actually friends with (NASCAR driver) Tony Stewart -- a huge pool fan -- who came up to me after the win and told me, 'It's amazing: When I win a race, no matter which one, it's a million-dollar payday. Yet, you win the U.S. Open in pool, and you get $40,000. Something's wrong with this picture."
But for Schmidt, who once was a small-time pool hustler in his home state of California, the win meant validation.
"People already knew (Pensacola's) Jerry Pate before he won the U.S. Open in golf because he played on the PGA Tour, but his notoriety soared after he won such a big event in his sport," said Johnny Coburger, owner of Pensacola Billiard Sales who plays regularly with Schmidt.
"And now the same thing's happening to John since he won (the U.S. Open) in pool. That's what makes it even more phenomenal. John would never say this himself, but he's widely thought of as the best straight pool player in the world."
The U.S. Open, a double- elimination, nine-ball tournament, featured a field of 256 of the world's best players in Chesapeake, Va.
Schmidt won his first five early matches but lost to Dave Broxson, forcing him to the loser's bracket. He then won an unprecedented 15 consecutive matches -- including a rematch with Broxson -- to set up a finals showdown against Luat.
More amazing than his victory was his preparation. In the year leading up to the event, Schmidt had all but taken a break from pool.
He had been working less on his cue stroke and more on his golf swing, which is how he met his girlfriend, Pensacola native Racheal Henley.
"It's such a feat to come out of the loser's bracket, play and win double the amount of matches as anyone on the winner's side -- and all with very little practice," said Henley, who arrived in Virginia just before Schmidt reached the finals.
"It's scary to think how good he could be if he was playing more."
Maybe.
Three years ago, Schmidt was a full-time touring pro, playing 10 hours a day in nearly 40 tournaments a year. In 2003, shortly after he won the Reno Open, Schmidt's career hit a wall.
He met a woman from the Bay Area during a tour stop and relocated to Pensacola to get married. A pool hall in Milton wanted to sponsor his career, and things began looking up.
But in just two years, the deal and Schmidt's marriage fell apart.
"We all go through difficult times. It's really just how we react to those times that define who we are," said Schmidt, who plans to open a pool hall off Nine Mile Road.
"Now that I've won a major, the pressure's off. I can just enjoy playing pool again, look toward the future and make sure this isn't the last of my success."
Hall of Fame pool player Johnny Archer, winner of four world championships and the 1999 U.S. Open, said Schmidt's future is bright.
"It's such a big boost for John's self-confidence, not to mention his career, to win a tournament as big as the U.S. Open," Archer said. "He's got a great game, and he played exceptional pool to get the win. And now the offers and sponsors should start pouring in.
"Right now, John just needs to realize that what an accomplishment this is and stay on his game. But most importantly, he should just savor his moment in history."
