Lost another player
- Thread starter wincardona
- Start date
Very Very Sad News!!
I just met George this past summer in one of the weekly tournaments at Masters. I watched him play unbelievable pool match after match against the local guys.
On my next trip to NY in October 2010 I made sure I went back. While waiting for my next match I stepped outside to get some fresh air. Shortly after he came outside as well. He asked how I was doing and introduced himself. He told me, "I like how you approach the table, like you are going to attack it. It shows you are hungry to win." We shared a laugh and I thanked him for noticing my game.
I was lucky enough to play him later that night in the 3rd place match after he got beat by Bobby. I stayed ahead most the match but couldn't make a ball on the break needing 1 game and he ran out the last 2 racks. He shook my hand and told me I should have beat him. I was very happy to even be at the table let alone have a chance to win.
Very sad news! He will be missed!
I just met George this past summer in one of the weekly tournaments at Masters. I watched him play unbelievable pool match after match against the local guys.
On my next trip to NY in October 2010 I made sure I went back. While waiting for my next match I stepped outside to get some fresh air. Shortly after he came outside as well. He asked how I was doing and introduced himself. He told me, "I like how you approach the table, like you are going to attack it. It shows you are hungry to win." We shared a laugh and I thanked him for noticing my game.
I was lucky enough to play him later that night in the 3rd place match after he got beat by Bobby. I stayed ahead most the match but couldn't make a ball on the break needing 1 game and he ran out the last 2 racks. He shook my hand and told me I should have beat him. I was very happy to even be at the table let alone have a chance to win.
Very sad news! He will be missed!
The only Camel event that I attended in 98 was that one that George won. The level of play was incredible. Players were training and practicing in a real serious way, thinking that this tour would prevail and lead to bigger things. The top guys were paying their entries for every Camel event for the whole season in advance. They did not dare want to get shut out for even one tournament, because of the overall bonus points system, and it was rigidly enforced. I remember getting free packs of cigs from those girls.
I remember driving 3 hrs by myself to get to that Charlotte Auditorium. The first match I sweated was Earl vs. Shannon D, and they were shooting lights out. Later all the crowd was on table 1 2 and 3 where Efren, Earl, Buddy had matches going, but I was down at table 7 or 8 with only a half dozen spectators were. I sat down right beside Jeanette Lee who was watching George Breedlove. I slid down a couple of feet away from her, just so she wouldn't think I was being too forward. She was in the stands at this mens Camel Tour event just like a regular customer, so I had to sit beside her and clap when George B ran out, and believe you me, he made some awesome outs. Later after winning that match I talked to Jeanette and got her to sign a 100$ bill. So nice she was that it was hard to believe, but she was...
Then George Breedlove had to play Reid Pierce. You talk about two guys who came to an event prepared and ready to bear down on each and every shot. Some of the runouts that I witnessed that day, I still think about.
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Everyone who wants to know Ginky, must watch this video! What a great legacy. I wish we had this for all the pros.
As the song says, "Only the good die young", and Ginky was definitely one of the good ones, on and off of the table.
I never met the man, but what a tribute to who he was, as their is not one negative post in the 10 pages of a very sad thread.
We can only strive to have the same reputation when we meet our maker.
Ginky, you was a master of your trade, and you will be missed, sir. RIP!
I never met the man, but what a tribute to who he was, as their is not one negative post in the 10 pages of a very sad thread.
We can only strive to have the same reputation when we meet our maker.
Ginky, you was a master of your trade, and you will be missed, sir. RIP!
I first met Gink back in 1990, I was on my way out to Colorado and had never been to Chelsea. A NJ guy told me to watch out for this kid with a baseball hat they call Ginky.
As I turned away from the counter with the balls just in my hands there’s this kid with a baseball hat standing right there.
“Hey looking for a game?”
Ah you must be Ginky, “Ginky??
My name is George”
Well George I go to 3 and you go to 6 trying to sound like I didn’t know what I was doing (which wasn’t hard for me back then) After negotiating and playing cheap he gave me 2 to 7 and I made him show a little speed and paid my donation.
What a rush though as we went to the table, ALL THE SWEATERS grabbing chairs to sit ring side. I was like what the hell is this?
A year later I return home and here’s this Ginky at the first tournament I go to in New Bedford MA, with his cousin Robb
From there the storm started, he started training and doing everything right.
Daily schedule;
Breakfast, Gym, practice, lunch, practice, dinner, nightly action, tournament or night off and then repeat but also making sure to stay rested.
Come Friday he would head out somewhere between Maine & Maryland to absolute heist another regional event, I mean did you see that resume?? He was playing so good that whenever one us thought we had him we would dog it or give him that small opening he was looking for, he was winning matches on the table AND from the chair!
He had the whole weekend scripted, when he was going to eat, leave the room and come back, even when he was going to change his clothes before certain matches. The man was on a mission and nothing was stopping him.
He won by doing ALL THE RIGHT THINGS
My friend Ray Mc and I were also doing the tournament trail at the same time which was both good and bad for us but to both of us he was like an idle.
Billy I was at that tournament in Clemsford and remember you playing Gink then going back to the book and adjusting the upcoming line between George and Rempe to close to even and your partner said what are you doing? You’re reply was
“Well I didn’t miss a ball and lost, does Rempe play better than that?
I also remember the line in the finals and could not believe what I was seeing?
Race to 13 finals Earl and Gink, Gink has to EIGHT! You took my bet, every penny I had and said, “SHHHH, they’re all betting Earl” Gink won 13-8
Earl left that day not to happy but no too hot either saying kids gonna be a great player.
And that’s exactly what happened.
We will all miss you and thanks for everything you did for many of us.
JoeT-
Wonderful tribute.
Thanks for the story.
I am still in shock from receiving the news this morning. I have known George for almost 20 years now. He was absolutely brilliant at the table. While most people remember him for his exquisite cueball control the thing that sticks out for me was his defensive genius. He would play a safety only after knowing what his opponent would do and then what he would do next (and so on). You combine that with his control of the cueball and he was, in my opinion, one of the top 5 players in the world in his prime.
Everyone I know is saddened by this loss. We were rooting for him to overcome his demons and retake his rightful place as one of pool's greatest champions. RIP George.
Everyone I know is saddened by this loss. We were rooting for him to overcome his demons and retake his rightful place as one of pool's greatest champions. RIP George.
SweetPea
Pug-n-pool lover
:sad:I am so sad to hear of his death. I have lost quite a few very important people in my life in the past few years and it is hard. I am sending my thoughts and prayers to his family and all that knew him. May he rest in peace. :grin-angelic: and be hugging his daughter as we grieve. (loved watching him shoot)
Ginky spent time at my booth, cute story. He finally gave into the jump cue (players were using it on him) but he didn't know how to use it. I think it was VF, anyway he needed to learn how fast, I taught him with the Tadpole. He was like a kid in a candy store, I wanted to give him a new one but he said "NO I want this one"!!!
He carried it back and forth from his room to his match, he stopped by my booth each time to confirm everything was still working right. Last time I seen him...he was laughing.
Just saw the Alice in Chains rocker passed, too me Ginky is more special not because of how well he played our game, but ''how'' he played, it stood alone.
I do not know the alice in chains person, and he ''easily'' could and probably is as great a person as the ''gink'' but definitely not ''BETTER''
I'd make the gink 8-5 when he's hittin' em.
Humor....Reality
I do not know the alice in chains person, and he ''easily'' could and probably is as great a person as the ''gink'' but definitely not ''BETTER''
I'd make the gink 8-5 when he's hittin' em.Humor....Reality
This is such awful news. A couple of years ago, I'd bring my young daughter into Master's during the day on occasion and run into Ginky practicing. He'd come over and chat with her while she fiddled in her portable playpen. Months later, he'd be asking me at a tourney how she was doing. This was a little after the time he had been posting about how he imagined teaching his son (on the way, but lost in miscarriage) how to play and such. I thought sometimes of asking him about that (and even of the others before) and wishing him luck in that direction, but I thought it might be too painful for him to talk about. But he never showed any of the pain he must have been feeling ... plenty of things I would have liked to have asked him, about pool and otherwise. Sad day.
I walked into Amsterdam Billiards one day back in 1991 and told the guy at the counter that I was trying to get better at the game and so wanted to play very good players. He pointed to a table near the front where a young kid wearing a hat was hitting balls, and said, "that kid may be the best player in New York."
So I walked over and explained that I was hoping to improve my game by playing better players, but that I didn't have a lot of money to gamble with. George is one of only two top players I have ever met willing to play me regularly for what I could afford, and George gave me a spot as well to make the game more fair.
George gave me the 7 that day and beat me soundly. I learned a lot about the game from playing him and from watching him play, and I got better over the next year or so to where eventually the spot was just the 8. Although he still won more than I did my game dramatically improved just from being able to play someone of his caliber. George was always a gentleman on and off the table, and always a pleasure to play.
I was shocked and terribly saddened to hear of his passing, and I offer my sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
Thank you George, I am very grateful to you for your generosity. You will be missed.
So I walked over and explained that I was hoping to improve my game by playing better players, but that I didn't have a lot of money to gamble with. George is one of only two top players I have ever met willing to play me regularly for what I could afford, and George gave me a spot as well to make the game more fair.
George gave me the 7 that day and beat me soundly. I learned a lot about the game from playing him and from watching him play, and I got better over the next year or so to where eventually the spot was just the 8. Although he still won more than I did my game dramatically improved just from being able to play someone of his caliber. George was always a gentleman on and off the table, and always a pleasure to play.
I was shocked and terribly saddened to hear of his passing, and I offer my sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
Thank you George, I am very grateful to you for your generosity. You will be missed.
Very sad news indeed. His wife and family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Rest in peace George.
Rest in peace George.
The news of Ginky's passing like many others is truly tragic for me. I first met George when I was thirteen years old. By fifteen we were going on the road together. I stumbled into the poolroom with my father to knock balls around, and noticing I had a little bit of talent and a lot of passion for the game Ginky quickly began teaching me, for free. I was so fortunate to be mentored by him and Steve Lipsky coming up in pool, and life really, and him being gone is a real shock.
We all know how talented he was. Well, I think we do. The man was as close to perfect on a pool table I've ever seen in his prime. Effortless, smooth, careful, truly a sight to see. I remember once when I was 15 playing a game of straight pool with him. I broke, and naturally, he ran 150 and out, then nonchalantly unscrewed as if nothing was odd. I practically begged him to keep shooting, and he looked at me and said, "kid, it's not the first 150 I've run and it sure won't be the last." And off he went.
I remember leaving the poolroom one night with him at closing to grab a late night snack. He saw a homeless man who lived on the block of the poolroom and gave him $100. I think Gink had $200 on him. Stuff like that he never thought twice about.
One time I was driving back from a tournament with him where he came in 2nd, and wasn't too pleased. This story may not cast him in the best light, but it's a vivid memory for me and truly a testament to his dedication. It was nighttime, not another car on the road, headed back to the city from Glen Falls New York. I was probably 14 at the time. After twenty or thirty minutes of silence he reached into the backseat and handed me his 2nd place trophy. "Kid, I want you to keep this, and when you get home throw it in the garbage." "Huh? Cmon Gink, 2nd isn't SO bad! I didn't even cash." "2nd place is just the first loser," he said, and we drove for another four hours practically in silence. He dropped me off at my place and said, "noon tomorrow kid?". I told him I'd see him there and when I got there he was practicing the shot he missed at 6 - 5 in the tournament that cost him the match. He said he'd been practicing for hours.
I could go on and on. I'm sitting on a plane from LA to NY with not much to do but think about him. I suppose cherished memories is all I have left of him, but cherished they are, and I';; have 'em forever.
Thank you Ginkster
R I P my brother.
Nick
We all know how talented he was. Well, I think we do. The man was as close to perfect on a pool table I've ever seen in his prime. Effortless, smooth, careful, truly a sight to see. I remember once when I was 15 playing a game of straight pool with him. I broke, and naturally, he ran 150 and out, then nonchalantly unscrewed as if nothing was odd. I practically begged him to keep shooting, and he looked at me and said, "kid, it's not the first 150 I've run and it sure won't be the last." And off he went.
I remember leaving the poolroom one night with him at closing to grab a late night snack. He saw a homeless man who lived on the block of the poolroom and gave him $100. I think Gink had $200 on him. Stuff like that he never thought twice about.
One time I was driving back from a tournament with him where he came in 2nd, and wasn't too pleased. This story may not cast him in the best light, but it's a vivid memory for me and truly a testament to his dedication. It was nighttime, not another car on the road, headed back to the city from Glen Falls New York. I was probably 14 at the time. After twenty or thirty minutes of silence he reached into the backseat and handed me his 2nd place trophy. "Kid, I want you to keep this, and when you get home throw it in the garbage." "Huh? Cmon Gink, 2nd isn't SO bad! I didn't even cash." "2nd place is just the first loser," he said, and we drove for another four hours practically in silence. He dropped me off at my place and said, "noon tomorrow kid?". I told him I'd see him there and when I got there he was practicing the shot he missed at 6 - 5 in the tournament that cost him the match. He said he'd been practicing for hours.
I could go on and on. I'm sitting on a plane from LA to NY with not much to do but think about him. I suppose cherished memories is all I have left of him, but cherished they are, and I';; have 'em forever.
Thank you Ginkster
R I P my brother.
Nick
i don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but those close to him know,,,that ginky had another talent besides pool. he was a VERY VERY VERY good teller of jokes. he had a terrific sense of timing. i would repeat a joke ginky told me and it would fall dead flat.
Nice post Nick. You've got a lot of class buddy. Sorry I missed you at the Commerce and the Bike, but I was off doing pool gigs. I always like to see you cash big. :thumbup2:
P.S. I did cash (near the bottom) in one of those Commerce tourneys with a zillion players. :wink:
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