John Schmidt, talented

[bfdlad]

I have been watching Mr 400 for a while now and I know that he is a very good straight pool player and maybe best known for that. However he has knocked off tourneys at Derby City just the other month and now the pro 10-ball event at Valley Forge and obviously a U.S Open 9-Ball Champ.

So it seems to me that John is not only a great guy and seems to be liked by all but he is also a very well rounded player who can compete with the best at any game. But which game is he the best at?

I would love to hear thoughts on this.

 

[selftaut]

His best game is 14.1 , BUT with firepower like that he can win any game at anytime. If you look back at history the great 14.1 players were a threat at any game. The great 14.1 players such as Luther Lassiter, Irving Crane , Miz , Sigel on and on, could win any game at anytime against anyone.

 

[bfdlad]

His best game is 14.1 , BUT with firepower like that he can win any game at anytime. If you look back at history the great 14.1 players were a threat at any game. The great 14.1 players such as Luther Lassiter, Irving Crane , Miz , Sigel on and on, could win any game at anytime against anyone.

Yeah, well it seems like he is kinda proving that this year. Thanks for your input, that makes alot of sense.

 

[juegabillar]

I have been watching Mr 400 for a while now and I know that he is a very good straight pool player and maybe best known for that. However he has knocked off tourneys at Derby City just the other month and now the pro 10-ball event at Valley Forge and obviously a U.S Open 9-Ball Champ.

So it seems to me that John is not only a great guy and seems to be liked by all but he is also a very well rounded player who can compete with the best at any game. But which game is he the best at?

I would love to hear thoughts on this.

I agree that John is a very well-rounded player. His strength seems to be Straight Pool but he has succeded at 9 Ball and 10 Ball. At this point we will have to wait a couple of more years to really get the whole picture. So far he is headed in the right path to Hall of Fame Glory.

 

[JoeyA]

I have been watching Mr 400 for a while now and I know that he is a very good straight pool player and maybe best known for that. However he has knocked off tourneys at Derby City just the other month and now the pro 10-ball event at Valley Forge and obviously a U.S Open 9-Ball Champ.

So it seems to me that John is not only a great guy and seems to be liked by all but he is also a very well rounded player who can compete with the best at any game. But which game is he the best at?

I would love to hear thoughts on this.

It wasn't that long ago right here on AZB that some anonymous yahoos had it in for John and caused a lot of trouble for him. AZB has matured as a forum and we now make attempts to keep the trouble makers off the backs of all of the professional pool players.

John Schmidt, to his credit has matured not only in his pool game but his forum presence as well. John is deserving of all of the good things the pool world can send his way. Schmitty can swing it and sing it so some of the people have felt the sting of his words while others laugh at his exaggerated humor ("I'd rather be eaten by a goat and s**t off a cliff than yada yada yada...") He's has been prone to an emotional responses from time to time but when he should and needs to, he will apologize.

John is a shining diamond to the pool industry, not just as a player but as a human being. He is fiscally responsible, is a taxpayer, a businessman, an entreprenuer and a fun guy to hang out with. Hot chicks think he is da bomb.

Me, I think he is just a regular guy who plays top speed pool (any discipline).

JoeyA

 

[sjm]

His best game is 14.1 , BUT with firepower like that he can win any game at anytime. If you look back at history the great 14.1 players were a threat at any game. The great 14.1 players such as Luther Lassiter, Irving Crane , Miz , Sigel on and on, could win any game at anytime against anyone.

Well said. So often, it has been argued how strong a basis of knowledge and skill the game of straight pool gives you, how well it prepares you to succeed at all the games. Two future BCA hall of famers, Jeanette Lee and Mika Immonen, practiced far more straight pool than nine ball as they were developing as superstars of pool.

John Schmidt is another great example of how strong a foundation straight pool can give a top player. John is, quite simply, one of the superstars of our sport today, and continues to mature as a player and as a professional.

The sky's the limit for John, whose (already impressive) resume of accomplishments will blow our minds by the time he retires from competition. Wishing him continued success.

Talented indeed!

 

[ShootingArts]

hard to call

Straight pool may be his best game because I think he enjoys it the most. If he has a weak game it may be banks just because I don't know of him playing it much. Of course I didn't know how strong of a one-pocket player he was until fairly recently, he may have played more banks than I know about too.

Bottom line is the best shot at John is to catch him in a gaff game. Barring that, there just isn't much to catch him at. He has done a little practicing on a snooker table and his runs would make him a pretty tough snooker competitor in the US too. Maybe three cushion? I'm pretty sure he couldn't pocket many balls playing three cushion.

Hu

 

[Gerry]

Well said. So often, it has been argued how strong a basis of knowledge and skill the game of straight pool gives you, how well it prepares you to succeed at all the games. Two future BCA hall of famers, Jeanette Lee and Mika Immonen, practiced far more straight pool than nine ball as they were developing as superstars of pool.

John Schmidt is another great example of how strong a foundation straight pool can give a top player. John is, quite simply, one of the superstars of our sport today, and continues to mature as a player and as a professional.

The sky's the limit for John, whose (already impressive) resume of accomplishments will blow our minds by the time he retires from competition. Wishing him continued success.

Talented indeed!

don't forget to add Corey to that list!

 

[Klink]

I think he is playing better than anyone in the US at this time. Who else has won major 9 ball, 10 ball and 1 pocket touraments lately? And just think, none of them are his specialty of 14.1

I also don't see other top players calling him out, or offering up any kind of spot.

I would love to see him take on DA for the cash!

 

[enzo]

john's best game is 9ball, i dont think there is much doubt about that. i think he'd say the same thing.

why do you guys think hes a 14.1 specialist?? he went around the country playing everything but 14.1 (9ball and one hole).

 

[bfdlad]

john's best game is 9ball, i dont think there is much doubt about that. i think he'd say the same thing.

why do you guys think hes a 14.1 specialist?? he went around the country playing everything but 14.1 (9ball and one hole).

The ycall him Mr 400 for a reason. Thats where I get the 14.1 from, maybe its my mistake that I just took it that that was his game but as I said and others have also said "It seems like everygame is his game" . I also think that sometime, maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow but soon he will break the Mosconi record. Again JMO. I hope to be honest he gets within 1 point short of Mosconi and I think Willie should remain in his own class.

 

[sjm]

why do you guys think hes a 14.1 specialist?? he went around the country playing everything but 14.1 (9ball and one hole).

Guess you don't read the 14.1 forum much. Marop has recorded and shared a lot of John's 14.1 play, so those reading that forum have a sense of just how much and how well John plays it.

 

[9ball mike]

I still cant figure out why everyone is so much more impressed with Mosconi's record on an eight foot with big pockets than the players now days. There are a few guys that have run over 400 on tough 9 foots. That to me is a lot more impressive.

 

[bfdlad]

I still cant figure out why everyone is so much more impressed with Mosconi's record on an eight foot with big pockets than the players now days. There are a few guys that have run over 400 on tough 9 foots. That to me is a lot more impressive.

I am not sure about anyone else I just look at mosconi as one of those legends in the sport that I would hate to see de throned. I have a soft spot for things like that, I felt the same about Ali and Mark Spitz (however you spell it) . Hey I don't think so bu I may be the only one who feels like that about Legends.

 

[john schmidt]

hi

you guys have said some very nice and complimentary things.

to hear people say i play good feels great .
more importantly when im thought of as someone who treats people right,do what i say im gonna do and basically treat people like i want to be treated that feels good.

basically i want to thank some people who have been instrumental in shaping me over the years. bob hunter explained the importance of acting like a gentleman win or lose.

my best friend bill marop many times has taken me off to the side much like a father figure and said look you need to handle a situation like this.this might be a time when my high strung ,emotional self might have done or said something i regret.

my sponsors royce bunnell, don and anita owen and their daughter jessica of obcues also dick clark of 6pocket have treated me like family and its the greatest feeling in the world when i do well because i feel like im doing well for them too.

believe it or not you guys at azb have sent me words of encouragement.
or made me realize sometimes that im acting like a jackass and maybe you will feed me to a goat to be shit off a cliff if i dont straighten up.
we all know how much i hate being shit off a cliff by a goat so i will do my best to fly right.
i know sometimes ive let people down including myself but pool is stressful and im going to do my best to represent myself ,my sponsors,the sport and my country the best i can.
i will make mistakes but it wont be from lack of effort.



basically what im saying is there alot of people who are helping me and without all their support who knows how things would turn out for me, and i want to thank them all.


take care



sincerely john schmidt

 

[enzo]

Guess you don't read the 14.1 forum much. Marop has recorded and shared a lot of John's 14.1 play, so those reading that forum have a sense of just how much and how well John plays it.

i (and we all) know he plays well in 14.1, that is a given. you think he is a 14.1 specialist and i dont. that's fine. 14.1 specialist would mean, to me anyway, that he always plays 14.1, that's his game and he knows every little trick and shot in the game. that is just not the case, ask him if you want id bet he'd tell you he's no specialst, but he may say he is who knows. note: to me it is much more complimentary what i am saying (that he's NOT a specialist), as well as he plays.

 

[john schmidt]

hi

you guys are both trying to compliment me you just mean it in different ways.

to me to be called a specialist in a certain game actually just means thats all you chose to play or can play,which in pool terms is not what i consider a great player. we all know how harriman and i get along but i will be the first to admit that hes a great player because hes great at like 5 different poolgames.

sometimes it bothered me when people would say johns this world beater at 14.1 but they seemed to talk like i was below world class at other games.

its just that i like 14.1 and its a game that has numbers attached to it so when i run 400 something twice im thought of as a great 14.1 player and thats very flattering.

others will say yeah hes great at 14.1 but lower level at other games which i dont thinks the case.

if anything 14.1 is a game ive played and gambled at the least i just seem to have a special knack for it.


i think its because its a shooting game and i play fast etc.


actually people i think are starting to notice that i play all the games about the same .

im good enough at any game to defend myself.

im not head and shoulders above the world in any game but again i can defend myself on the pooltable at anygame and thats fine with me.

anyway just to diffuse an argument enzo and blfdad both meant it in a good way ,thanks guys.

 

[enzo]

you guys are both trying to compliment me you just mean it in different ways.

to me to be called a specialist in a certain game actually just means thats all you chose to play or can play,which in pool terms is not what i consider a great player. we all know how harriman and i get along but i will be the first to admit that hes a great player because hes great at like 5 different poolgames.

sometimes it bothered me when people would say johns this world beater at 14.1 but they seemed to talk like i was below world class at other games.

its just that i like 14.1 and its a game that has numbers attached to it so when i run 400 something twice im thought of as a great 14.1 player and thats very flattering.

others will say yeah hes great at 14.1 but lower level at other games which i dont thinks the case.

if anything 14.1 is a game ive played and gambled at the least i just seem to have a special knack for it.


i think its because its a shooting game and i play fast etc.


actually people i think are starting to notice that i play all the games about the same .

im good enough at any game to defend myself.

im not head and shoulders above the world in any game but again i can defend myself on the pooltable at anygame and thats fine with me.

anyway just to diffuse an argument enzo and blfdad both meant it in a good way ,thanks guys.

told you he'd say himself he wasn't a specialist no, im really just having fun messing around, cool of you to comment by the way john.

in all seriousness though, if you have ever seen a video of say miz in his 14.1 prime..... the way he ran the balls was evidentely very "specialist," whatever that really means. miz would run 100 and literally be strait in 1 foot away on every shot. then he'd get a slightly tough shot and miss it by 3 feet. while im not saying anybody is better or worse, john will run the balls very well also, perhaps with the slightest bit of lesser cueball control (of course this is arguable), but he will moe down that "tough" shot that miz dogged almost everytime, and do it in like 2 seconds too. what style is better? who knows, thats why we have tournaments

 

[KoolKat9Lives]

you guys are both trying to compliment me you just mean it in different ways.

to me to be called a specialist in a certain game actually just means thats all you chose to play or can play,which in pool terms is not what i consider a great player. we all know how harriman and i get along but i will be the first to admit that hes a great player because hes great at like 5 different poolgames.

sometimes it bothered me when people would say johns this world beater at 14.1 but they seemed to talk like i was below world class at other games.

its just that i like 14.1 and its a game that has numbers attached to it so when i run 400 something twice im thought of as a great 14.1 player and thats very flattering.

others will say yeah hes great at 14.1 but lower level at other games which i dont thinks the case.

if anything 14.1 is a game ive played and gambled at the least i just seem to have a special knack for it.


i think its because its a shooting game and i play fast etc.


actually people i think are starting to notice that i play all the games about the same .

im good enough at any game to defend myself.

im not head and shoulders above the world in any game but again i can defend myself on the pooltable at anygame and thats fine with me.

anyway just to diffuse an argument enzo and blfdad both meant it in a good way ,thanks guys.

Awesome to hear directly from you John! You make a lot of people proud and it's great to see it come thru in these posts of yours.

You mention "actually people i think are starting to notice that i play all the games about the same."

That's strong. Stronger than goat's breath in an acre of garlic! I wonder how many people would be willing to step in the box with you in a match even up playing multiple disciplines for the cheese, like straight, 1P, 9 and 10b. That would be something... No, I'm not instigating. Actually I don't think you'd get more than a couple woofs, and in the end they would probably sound like "ahhh, ahhhh" <---- insert goat noises here).

Great playing John, keep 'er going!

 

[JB Cases]

Well stated John and it's good to hear that from a top player. I have long maintained that a top player is a top player period. I think a top player can learn new "games" on the pool table very very quickly and handle themselves well in any of them. How quickly to not be thought of as "weak"? I think that is unique to each player and situation. John has proven himself to be well rounded as a player through his accomplishments these past few years.

I don't know about you all but to me the Cinderalla story is when he came to AZ to ask for sponsorship and one of our own stepped up to put him in the event and he goes and wins it. At that time, to be brutally honest, I had John pegged as a top shortstop and he totally blew me away with his command of the game and showed me that he is upper echelon all the way.

And one last thing John, just to let you know that we are watching. John impresses me with his willingness to experiment and find new shots and his willingness to share them.

Last year or the year before in Valley Forge John was at the OB Cues booth and showing some shots to fans. John you had one shot where you would shoot the ball in the side I believe and make the cue ball come back the opposite side rail and reverse spin down for position on a ball on the bottom rail. I can't remember the exact shot because I was only stopped for just a minute but it looked incredibly useful and showed me your inventiveness and love for the game. Sometimes I wish I could stop and be just a fan and absorb those gold nuggets that you are willing to share. So, tap tap on your career so far and your good attitude towards the game and your fans.


Edit: I think I remember it - you would hit the cueball hard and it would go two rails back and forth from side to side and then the spin would catch on the second rail and spin down for position. Does that sound anywhere close to right????