While everyone was running around trying to get Allison, Karen, and The Black Widow autographs no one noticed that Jean Balukas was sitting by herself in the stands. I went over and sat down and asked if she would sign my program.She did, and was just as nice as she could be.While I know that she did not want to take any attention from the current players i thought it strange that no one seemed to know who she was. It would be kind of like people running past Palmer to get Tiger to sign something. The tournament was great and I hope they are able to have it on a yearly basis.Those girls can play!
Met best woman player ever
- Thread starter dontscratch
- Start date
dontscratch said:
Not that surprising, really. Jean retired in 1989 and was almost completely absent from the pro scene for the entire decade of the 1990's. Now, she goes to some WPBA events, but frowns on the spotlight. That's just her nature. Being out of circulation all those years and being low key in general explain why Jean won't be recognized by many. I think she likes it that way.
As for the best of all time matter, this is far from clear. Yes, Jean won all those world championships and titles but did so in a period when women's world championship fields sometimes consisted of as few as eight players. I think Allison Fisher has had a comparable, though not superior, career to Jean.
I'll bet there aren't ten people alive that have seen more of Balukas' matches in the World Championships than me, and I've been to over 40 WPBA events live, so I've seen more than my share of Allison Fisher. I have also played pool with both on several occasions.
To me, Fisher vs Balukas is a dead heat.
Gremlin said:
Thanks Grem,
Might just do that one day. I'd love to talk to the lady about her views on what could move billiards ahead as a prosperous sport as I think the ladies and getting kids involved (more family oriented) is the best course but by no means the only course.Think she might have some good insights.
Terry
Vivian, Balukas, Tiffany
Talked to Vivian briefly during the finals today.
She was ok, just still tired from the ordeal. Felt ok enough to talk, sign, photo's, etc.
She also tried to get 20% of the $100,000 "break the nine" for Tiffany Nelson, who almost made a lucky fan $100k!!
Unbelievable break, the place went nuts. Just missed the side pocket.
Jean Balukas was there today, recognized and acknowledged a couple of times. While there were many there who didn't know her, there were enough to know they were in the presence of greatness.
Great tournament!
Talked to Vivian briefly during the finals today.
She was ok, just still tired from the ordeal. Felt ok enough to talk, sign, photo's, etc.
She also tried to get 20% of the $100,000 "break the nine" for Tiffany Nelson, who almost made a lucky fan $100k!!
Unbelievable break, the place went nuts. Just missed the side pocket.
Jean Balukas was there today, recognized and acknowledged a couple of times. While there were many there who didn't know her, there were enough to know they were in the presence of greatness.
Great tournament!
Gremlin said:
I AM a billiards historian. I was among the first ever serious fans of women's pro pool, and first saw Jean play when she was 12 years old. When women's matches at the world championship were being watched by crowds consisting of less than ten people, I was among them.
I saw both Allison's carrer and Jean's career up close, and both are close friends with whom I've played pool on multiple occasions. Like yours, mine is no more than an opinion, but it is a rather well-researched opinion by somebody who is certainly considered a serious billiards historian by both Jean and Allison.
Finally, as you suggest, the competition certainly isn't what it used to be. In the early 1980's, the number 2 ranked player was Billie Billing. I have the gravest doubts that Billie would have been good enough to crack the top 16 today.
I certainly respect your opinion and maybe you're right, but believe me, the comparison is far closer than you think. Finally, in view of how many big names Karen Corr, whose title count is still far short of Fisher's, has knocked off, how could anybody doubt that Allison is capable of knocking off the giants of men's pool on a similarly occasional basis?
How would they compare to the Katsura sisters? Of course, it's not pool, but...sjm said:
Bob Jewett said:
I didn't know Masako Katsura had a sister that
played. How did she play compared to Masako?
I heard Masako ran something like 10,000 in
straight rail, if that's true then I'd put her
as equal to or probably better than Fisher or
Balukas as best female cueist.
Jean Balukas
I agree that Jean is the greatest women pool player of all time. Just look at her history, she was a child prodigy. She wanted to play in the world open at age 7, but they would nt let her. At age 11 she placed high. She won the world chamionships in straght pool and 9 ball many times in a row. I talked to Jean for ahile at the event and she told me even though she hasn't been playing much, she can still run 100 balls in practice.Gremlin said:SJM,
I am sorry like I have typed in the past I am not an Allison fan. I was taught to respect my elders even billiard historians. What has Allison done in the WPBA except beat up on a bunch of 9-5 ladies who don't play pool for a living. Allison is the champion of Swiss Cheese.
Jean is the best!!!!!
In 1982 in Rochester New York. Jean defeated, in there prime mind you, Keith McCready, Buddy Hall and the Miz all in the same evening. Allison's own words " The competition isn't what it used to be" So lets see? Well, let Dear Allison defeat John Archer, Rodney Morris, and John Schmidt all in the same evening at 9 rack 9-Ball. Would be interesting would it not? Then maybe I will
think about elevating her to Jean's status.It may not be clear to you but is to me. Enjoy your evening.
"Gremlin"
That probably only took a few hours. Tom Reece's record run against Joe Chapman took five weeks. Reece was said to have asked Chapman a week or two into the run, "How are you finding the table today?"sjm said:
For the whole story, see:
http://www.eaba.co.uk/articles/tomReeceRecord/cradleCannonRecord.html
sjm said:
SJM,
I think you forgot to mention to GREMLIN, that Karen Corr has knocked off alot of top men players at the Joss NE tour events (which consisted of alot of "pro" players) and has consistantly placed in the top 10 in alot of events over the last couple of years and did fairly well against Earl Strickland.
To compare careers from 2 different eras is fruitless, but interesting to speculate at best.
In the case of Balukas, Pat Fleming has a lot of stats from when she was playing in the men's tournaments. I think she had several TPAs that were near the top for some tournaments.JustPlay said:
What about Gloria Walker as number two behind Jean at that time -- or had she already retired by then? Maybe it was the 70's when, IIRC, she came in second to Jean quite a few times.sjm said:
Just curious, because you are clearly knowledgeable about the period.
Too bad Jean didn't stay with the competition. If she had, I wouldn't be surprised if Karen and Alison would both be chasing her. But with the way Karen and Alison push each other (and the general improvement in women's play all over) I'd say these two may go down as right near the very top all time, because they both fully developed their talent in competition for nice long careers (if they stay with it of course
).