Mark Tadd

[jay helfert]

I added on to my post #54 to clarify things a little more, about the climate of top level money players when Mark Tadd was at his peak.

 

[Voodoo Daddy]

I didnt "call" you dumb...not once, I will not post on this subject again. I know opinions are a reflection of the person and I never meant to pizz in your cheerios. I'm done here...

 

[gulfportdoc]

Well, if you must know, DeOro was the better player...at all games! Bennie could handle almost anyone but him. Of course Greenleaf put them both to shame, when he came along. He may have been responsible for retiring Alfredo. But that's another story.

Thanks, Jay. I KNEW you'd remember...

Doc

 

[wahcheck]

the amazin' Earl

I AGREE. Dennis has that Big Game, where he can string racks for a while. He is one of the few American players that had that kind of game. I can probably name them on one hand.

Buddy is the first I saw like that, and then Earl came along. Then there was Mark Tadd and Dennis came along at nearly the same time. And now Rodney can do it too. Johnny too a lesser degree. And that's about it for the American side.

In tennis, they would call it the "Serve and Volley" players, like Pete Sampras, maybe the best ever. In Pool, it's the break and run out artists, and there was never anyone better than Earl at his peak. He used to string racks in EVERY match he played. Fours, fives and sixes went on all day. It was pretty hard to fade for everyone else.

You are right, Jay....I have maybe 4-5 Accustats tapes where Earl just runs out the match against players such as Buddy Hall, Steve Mizerak, and some others I can't remember....5 packs, 6 packs, and more....and who knows how many times he did it off camera? I also remember one Reno tournament match that I witnessed in person, when he beat Nick Varner 11-0.....total control of the table... I think Nick had 2 innings at the table ... once he was hooked, and the other time he had a long tough shot, and missed.....I think that was also the year that Nick won so many tournaments that he was BD's "Player of the Year"...

 

[jay helfert]

On an entertaining side note, I remember one Accu-Stats match from a Sands tourney where they had a guest in the booth who was a player in the tourney (a lesser known player, I forget his name). The conversation went like this:

Host: "So, you're out of the tourney now?"
Guest: "Yep, I'm out of the tourney."
Host: "Who beat you?"
Guest: "Well, I lost to Earl."
Host: "How did you play?"
Guest: "I put a six pack on him to start the match."
Host: "That wasn't enough, was it?"
Guest: "Nope, that wasn't enough."

I believe that was Jeff Carter. He was my roommate that year and got knocked out by Earl, after starting out ahead with a big lead as I recall. I think Earl hit him with a four, they split two racks, and Earl ran a six and out.

 

[Fatboy]

I believe that was Jeff Carter. He was my roommate that year and got knocked out by Earl, after starting out ahead with a big lead as I recall. I think Earl hit him with a four, they split two racks, and Earl ran a six and out.

as 9ball should be played this alternating break idea came from someone who cant play and dosent know ####-all about the game

 

[Fatboy]

Jay were you there night CJ beat Mark for 20,000 at cue club in 93?, when the BCA was in town. there was 75-100 players watching that match, it was like in the movie the hustler with seeing all the rail birds except that night the rail was full of strong players and big stake horses not bangers and nits.

 

[jay helfert]

Jay were you there night CJ beat Mark for 20,000 at cue club in 93?, when the BCA was in town. there was 75-100 players watching that match, it was like in the movie the hustler with seeing all the rail birds except that night the rail was full of strong players and big stake horses not bangers and nits.

I was not there, but CJ was another monster back then, playing everyone but Parica and Buddy and betting sky high. He beat Efren for big money too a couple of times, and Efren beat him at least once. He also had a big game and should have been included on my list. Mark was playing a lot of high stakes poker back then, and the word I got was that his game was a little off. Not bad, but not great either.

 

[Fatboy]

I was not there, but CJ was another monster back then, playing everyone but Parica and Buddy and betting sky high. He beat Efren for big money too a couple of times, and Efren beat him at least once. He also had a big game and should have been included on my list. Mark was playing a lot of high stakes poker back then, and the word I got was that his game was a little off. Not bad, but not great either.

exactly, that story i posted about mark in the poker room at the WSOP or the other big event the shoe had-they canceled it a few years back was at that time, but that night CJ was un beatable, Efren could have had the 5-out and lost. If you never get a shot you cant win, basically CJ broke and ran 23 to marks 3, I have never seen 9B played like he did that night, never ever by anyone on video or in a pool room. I wish there was a video of that match 4 out of 4 jump shots all with perfect shape, he didnt make 1 mistake hell he played 2000 on accu-stats. Mark was playing pretty good a week before that match-I watched him, but he was playing alot of poker and was getting ready for pool in a week isnt going to get you sharp.

he got soft after that, his girl friend was there that night too, wow she was hott and nice too, I spoke with her for a few minutes. Nice girl smart, pretty, CJ was on top of the world that night. I dont know why he got soft, i'm sure he still plays great but not like that. A one hit wonder.

 

[cuetechasaurus]

Thanks for the clarification Jay. Very interesting stuff! Like I said, the book sounded a little hyped-up on that story.

 

[freddy the beard]

Efren/Buddy ten ball match at Red's

Joey, there was side betting, but by now, most of us had gotten "the cure" from betting against Efren/Caesar. I doubt there was more than a thousand or two on the side. And I didn't see the filipinos so anxious to side bet either. One more clue that something was amiss here.

Jay, while I was at Red's the whole tournament and I too bet against Efren until I couldnt take the punishment anymore. I didnt watch his match with Buddy, but like you, my hustler's nose told me something smelled snarky. After having heard him offer Allen Hopkins the 15 ball playing rotation (did you remember that, Jay? Hopkins fancied himself the best rotation player at that time), Efren gettin pummeled by Buddy, WITH NO REMATCH, made no sense to me. Incidentally, I dont think they ever played 10 ball for money again, ever! A possible motive for the alleged (at least in my mind) dirty deed was the chintzy way Efie's backers had treated him when he won. He got nowhere near 50% of the winnings. My poor memory seems to recall that he was only getting 15 or 20% from his entourage. The next time I see Buddy or Efren I am going to force the real story out of them. Of course once I know the real truth I will lock it in the vault and quit speculating in print on the event. Sorry.

the Beard

 

[Pushout]

After having heard him offer Allen Hopkins the 15 ball playing rotation (did you remember that, Jay? Hopkins fancied himself the best rotation player at that time)
the Beard

Also for anyone who doesn't know, Efren gave Hopkins that spot at the Pocket Billiard Lounge in Binghamton, New York in September of 1985. I sat and watched with Efren's backer. Allen got the 15 ball right after the break, regardless of who broke. IIRC, Hopkins lost $1800-$2000 and quit. He had no chance, at least not that day. $200 a rack.

 

[jay helfert]

Jay, while I was at Red's the whole tournament and I too bet against Efren until I couldnt take the punishment anymore. I didnt watch his match with Buddy, but like you, my hustler's nose told me something smelled snarky. After having heard him offer Allen Hopkins the 15 ball playing rotation (did you remember that, Jay? Hopkins fancied himself the best rotation player at that time), Efren gettin pummeled by Buddy, WITH NO REMATCH, made no sense to me. Incidentally, I dont think they ever played 10 ball for money again, ever! A possible motive for the alleged (at least in my mind) dirty deed was the chintzy way Efie's backers had treated him when he won. He got nowhere near 50% of the winnings. My poor memory seems to recall that he was only getting 15 or 20% from his entourage. The next time I see Buddy or Efren I am going to force the real story out of them. Of course once I know the real truth I will lock it in the vault and quit speculating in print on the event. Sorry.

the Beard

Save your breath. I've talked to both of them about that match. Buddy just smiles and says he played good. That's Buddy. And Efren just frowns and says "I no play good". You are absolutely right about Efren getting shafted by the guys who brought him there. He was lucky if he got 10%. They totally screwed him. Thats why we never saw them again. After that Efren hooked up with Rolando Vicente to guide him around and then Lebron got in his corner too.

I suspect "after" Efren had WON the tournament, and knew he was getting shafted, he had little heart to play Buddy, or anyone for that matter. He was probably glad to get away from these guys.

 

[Russ Chewning]

Save your breath. I've talked to both of them about that match. Buddy just smiles and says he played good. That's Buddy. And Efren just frowns and says "I no play good". You are absolutely right about Efren getting shafted by the guys who brought him there. He was lucky if he got 10%. They totally screwed him. Thats why we never saw them again. After that Efren hooked up with Rolando Vicente to guide him around and then Lebron got in his corner too.

I suspect "after" Efren had WON the tournament, and knew he was getting shafted, he had little heart to play Buddy, or anyone for that matter. He was probably glad to get away from these guys.

One wonders would they have been so quick to screw Efren had they known how long he was going to be a champion, and that he would start playing better in the decades to come. I'm pretty sure even with the money they stole from Efren, they threw away money long term.

I would think backing Efren would be a profitable undertaking long term.

I'd imagine the American pros are EXTREMELY lucky that Efren and his backers decided not to "hustle" them. Before Efren was known, people would have lined up for DAYS to back the American pros for big money spotting "Cesar Morales" the 6 ball.. Then the 7 ball.. then the 8 ball.. Then with Cesar giving 2 games on the wire... Then 3... Then 4... Efren had to go and win that tournament.. If he had laid down in that tournament and got a few noses open the correct way, he probably would have made 100K over a few weeks there. If he could finagle the breaks out of a few guys at first, he probably could have kept everyone wondering how good he was...

Russ

 

[Scott Lee]

Buddy is the first I saw like that, and then Earl came along. Then there was Mark Tadd and Dennis came along at nearly the same time. And now Rodney can do it too. Johnny too a lesser degree. And that's about it for the American side.

Jay...Don't be too quick to count out younger players, like Shane VanBoening and John Morra. Both show incredible skill and staying power, and although both have yet to win a big tournment, they have placed high, and gamble high all the time.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[Bayawak]

Mark was ready to play ANYONE then! No one was barred! The only players who may have had a chance of beating him at his peak were Busti and Buddy, the two big B's.

I'm editing this to include Johnny back then. I really shouldn't have left him out. He was at his top speed when Mark was peaking. Dennis was certainly one of the rising stars in Pool at the same time, but I don't think he would have wanted to play Mark back then. Just like he would have avoided the other three on here.

It's hard to gauge their relative speeds, but Dennis was right there in the elite circle of players from an early age on. Buddy, Busti and Johnny were a little more seasoned as high stakes gamblers, and perhaps more consistent as well. They would have been my picks if they were to match up with Dennis in the early 90's. And Mark was almost in another world, his game got so strong so quick. EVERYONE was a little wary of him! And he was fearless. No doubt he would have played any of these guys, even woofing at them on occasion. Only around Buddy did I see him dummy up. He had a lot of respect for the old man.

And by the way, Parica was still THE MAN! NO ONE challenged him back then! Not Johnny, not Busti, not even Buddy. They just said hello to each other and went on their way. As good as Mark was, he would give Parica a wide berth.

Jay,

Thank you for setting the record straight for Amang Parica. We all know that he is the MAN but a lot people refuse to acknowledge that fact because he does not win a lot of big tournaments.

I know for a fact that if you get on the table with Amang, you better have a wide repertoire of shots, strategy and a big heart if you are planning to win. I guarantee that it would not be easy. We were backing him one time and his opponent hit a gear right away, and before you know it, he was on the hill. Unfortunately, he missed a crucial shot and let Amang back on the table. After that miss, the other guy never came back on the table. Oh, he went bact twice; to kick, and to push once.

That is Jose "Amang" Parica!!!!


bayawak aka tirador

 

[Matt_24]

I've had the good fortune to see Parica play in person on numerous occasions. His style of play just makes pool look so easy and effortless...it is just amazing. Phenomenal all around player!! He was the first pro I asked for an autograph when I was about 16. He just smiled and signed my flyer (at a Camel Pro Tour event at JOBs many moons ago). Years later I had him sign my INSTROKE case when he came through Champion Billiards in Shirlington.

I also got to see Leonardo Andam play when he came through VA. He just sat in the pool room discretely.....someone asked him to play one-pocket who didn't know who he was. Fortunately the guy who asked is a gentleman gambler...and they set the amount, the guy got dismantled quite effectively...and everyone laughed at his expression when he found out he was playing a worldbeater (Andam). The same guy I'm talking about played Parica even for $20 a game getting just 9-6 for the experience. He didn't win a game...and he is a "solid" one pocket player - but not a champion. He did make one great shot during the session, and Parica even said, "Great shot." He said that made his decade. LOL

 

[mark tadd]

I staked Mark to play in the Reno tourney last December. He finished something like 17-24th for $500. I told him to keep the money and I would stake him at Derby City in January. He just had to show up. He was a no show, and we have only talked one time since.

Just to clarify a little if i may Jay , I won 275.00 I called you and told you that I would give you 150.00 and I would take 125.00 and you said just keep it and use it to get to the DCC tourny and i will put you in those events . Now though you staked me and took care of room and transportation , It still was very expensive to stay meaning 30-40 dollars a day for food for the week i stayed there . So when I got back I had to think about it more and told you that I had enough for air fair but thats it .

You said just get here we will get you fed and you stay with me . Now since this was a long tourny and more expenses addind up I had to think about this . Because I don't want to put you more in the hole . Now its not that i did not think I would do well but the fact is i was not playing well and it didnt look like I was going to in such a short time frame . I called you and told you this .

 

[mark tadd]

I staked Mark to play in the Reno tourney last December. He finished something like 17-24th for $500. I told him to keep the money and I would stake him at Derby City in January. He just had to show up. He was a no show, and we have only talked one time since.

I would stake him at Derby City in January. He just had to show up. He was a no show, and we have only talked one time since.[/QUOTE]


Just to clarify a little if i may Jay , I won 275.00 I called you and told you that I would give you 150.00 and I would take 125.00 and you said just keep it and use it to get to the DCC tourny and i will put you in those events . Now though you staked me and took care of room and transportation , It still was very expensive to stay meaning 30-40 dollars a day for food for the week i stayed there . So when I got back I had to think about it more and told you that I had enough for air fair but thats it .

You said just get here we will get you fed and you stay with me . Now since this was a long tourny and more expenses addind up I had to think about this . Because I don't want to put you more in the hole . Now its not that i did not think I would do well but the fact is i was not playing well and it didnt look like I was going to in such a short time frame . I called you and told you this .

 

[mark tadd]

I staked Mark to play in the Reno tourney last December. He finished something like 17-24th for $500. I told him to keep the money and I would stake him at Derby City in January. He just had to show up. He was a no show, and we have only talked one time since.

And also just wanted to say that I realy appriciate you did that for me Jay and I will give you another shot in any tourny if you like . I didnt perform well and still not sure if I want to play pool . So if you want to pick a tourny Give me a few weeks I will practice . mark tadd