Mika Immonen

RunoutJJ said:
Was at the Turning Stone for the final day and I was very excited to see Mika play live. Everything was great watching him get his arse handed to him by John Morra but the real trouble started after he lost. After some choice words to Morra he came back over to his chair to pack his cues. I asked him what type of cue he was using and he snaped at me..

"Where's my plastic case??"

I then realized that the girl I was with threw away a bunch of garbage that was in front of our chairs and not knowing it Mika's plastic case for his break cue. I apologize to him telling him that she didnt know any better and said to hold on and I will get it. I went to the trash can and saw that it was covered in crap so there was no way I was gonna dig for it. I then go to a cue vendor and explained what happened and he was nice enough to give me a plastic case free of charge.

I get back to the table and I again apologize to Mika handing him the case and guess what happens.... I get a smug look of how dare you and there was no thank you or its ok it was an accident comment. Nope!! Notta!!

Now don't get me wrong I know he was in a bad mood because of the Morra match but that doesnt mean you have to be a royal douche when all I tried to do was fix a situation that was an honest mistake. From what I remember the case looked mad beat up so it did look like trash. Why is a world class player carry around a break cue in a beat up plastic case anyway??? He just turned on his heel and left.

I don't know Mika and I do take into account that he was pissed off at Morra about the rack and losing but come on man.... Dont be a douchebag to people that had nothing to do with your state of affairs. Secretly I really wanted Shaw to put the screw to him and boy did he EVER!!!! 9-1 in 20 minutes was fricking epic!! Mika talking to himself and going buggy, throwing his cue and acting like a child was almost a pleasure to watch. Normally I dont wish ill upon others but be careful what you wish for... You just may get it ;)

Mika if you are reading this I want to apologize to you again for my friend throwing out your cheap ugly plastic case for your break cue. It was a mistake and I fixed it and you are welcome. I was upset for you and I made things right but you had to be ungrateful for it. I hope the next time we see each other you will take the time to apologize for your behavior. I doubt you will but prove me wrong... Prove me wrong.
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Well since you brought it up JJ, I will share my Mika story too.

About 5 years ago there was a celebrity pool tournament sponsored by Justin Tuck of the NY Giants. The BCA asked all the NY instructors to act as referees for the event, so I went. No pay but it was open bar....I had fun.

Anyway, I'm shooting around after the event was over, and Mika wanders by my table. Being that nobody seemed to recognize him, I began some small talk with him..... and he seemed nice enough. Next thing you know, other people recognize him too, and they want to play him challenge matches. I'm still supposed to be the ref, so I stand around and try to act like one. In reality, I just wanted to play Mika myself.

After Mika plows through about 5 or 6 challengers, the crowd disperses. Now its just me and him, so I ask him to play me a game. He says ok, and I rack the balls. Mika lays down a great break, but the table plays like absolute garbage. He breaks dry, and I proceed to start my run. I get close to perfect on the 8 ball, and then look up to find Mika. He's not there, so I think he went to the bathroom or something. Instead, he just left.....never to return to my area for the rest of the night.
 
Bambu said:
Well since you brought it up JJ, I will share my Mika story too.

About 5 years ago there was a celebrity pool tournament sponsored by Justin Tuck of the NY Giants. The BCA asked all the NY instructors to act as referees for the event, so I went. No pay but it was open bar....I had fun.

Anyway, I'm shooting around after the event was over, and Mika wanders by my table. Being that nobody seemed to recognize him, I began some small talk with him..... and he seemed nice enough. Next thing you know, other people recognize him too, and they want to play him challenge matches. I'm still supposed to be the ref, so I stand around and try to act like one. In reality, I just wanted to play Mika myself.

After Mika plows through about 5 or 6 challengers, the crowd disperses. Now its just me and him, so I ask him to play me a game. He says ok, and I rack the balls. Mika lays down a great break, but the table plays like absolute garbage. He breaks dry, and I proceed to start my run. I get close to perfect on the 8 ball, and then look up to find Mika. He's not there, so I think he went to the bathroom or something. Instead, he just left.....never to return to my area for the rest of the night.
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When you're trying to hook your mark, don't bowl hum over the very first rack!
 
The stories can relate to many pros. A friend was at a tournament and Allison Fisher was there and had a challenge charity table that cost $10 for a game of 9 ball if you lost. He was ready to pocket the 9 and she walked up to him and said "You know this is for charity". He pocketed the ball but still gave her the $10. He just wanted to be able to say that he played and beat her in a game.

He still thinks that it wasn't the money as much as she didn't want to lose to a no name.

🎱
 
I respect Mika's game and he has won some very important tournaments in his career but I am not a big fan of his personality from what I can see from afar. He came up here in Montreal to play some of our local pros in exhibition matches and most of the time he was texting, facebooking and tweeting during matches. They had set up a nice room with spectators that had to buy tickets to watch the games so the least you can do is act like you're enjoying it.

I read a few comments here saying that, you know, he is human so he has the right to be in a bad mood or grumpy, while I won't argue that the timing to ask him what cue he was playing with is off, I think that when you are sponsored and represent them in an event you have to have a good attitude even after a 9-1 loss back-to-back. He can be grumpy and diva or whatever he wants outside of tournaments but when the spotlight is on him, he gotta keep his act on.

Having his case thrown away is not cool though.
 
I don't really know Mika Immonen. I said hi to him once 10 years ago or so, and that's it. However I do think that this thread is pretty unfair. First, everyone knows that losing at pool sucks. Some pretty dark thoughts enter your mind in those moments. I'd be pretty careful about approaching people seconds after they lose, especially with questions about equipment. It could be misinterpreted as a sarcastic remark, you know..And then throwing away his equipment, even if it wasn't your fault, is not going to make his day either.

Yes, he could have handled it better, but he is only human. Live and let live, I say.
 
I really like to watch Mika.....LOSE! He is the biggest baby in the world. Will these two matches be available to buy because I would love to see them? Every time he gets beat, I'm thrilled.
 
Here's a picture of Mika in 1996, he finished 1st Runner Up to Jose Parica

Straightpool_99 said:
I don't really know Mika Immonen. I said hi to him once 10 years ago or so, and that's it. However I do think that this thread is pretty unfair. First, everyone knows that losing at pool sucks. Some pretty dark thoughts enter your mind in those moments. I'd be pretty careful about approaching people seconds after they lose, especially with questions about equipment. It could be misinterpreted as a sarcastic remark, you know..And then throwing away his equipment, even if it wasn't your fault, is not going to make his day either.

Yes, he could have handled it better, but he is only human. Live and let live, I say.
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I've known Mika for 30 years and he's always been intense and very competitive. He is human and we are not perfect, no, not one of us on earth (at this time). ;)

Here's a picture of Mika in 1996, he finished 1st Runner Up to Jose Parica at our 2nd PCA even at SHOOTERS in Olathe Kansas. Thanks to Dan Tull for this picture.

923067_654796584546381_561131079_n.jpg
 
DTL said:
So you've known Mika since he was 12? I know you got around a lot back in your hustling days but didn't know you spent time in Finland.
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I think he meant "20 years". 20..30..the memory fades...


Eric >A Calculator Is The Teacher
 
Not talking about his interactions with fans and his behavious here is not isolated case.
What is not acceptable is his "sharking" antics, tantruming his opponent, throwing cues which is pretty common in matches that he is losing if you guys watch his matches
Mika apologists saying that his bad behavior after he had lost is excusable have to ask why 99% of other pro pool players do not behave badly when they lose or are losing.
Mika is one of those pool players in the minority who think they are God's gift to the world.
:D:D


Bambu said:
Well since you brought it up JJ, I will share my Mika story too.

About 5 years ago there was a celebrity pool tournament sponsored by Justin Tuck of the NY Giants. The BCA asked all the NY instructors to act as referees for the event, so I went. No pay but it was open bar....I had fun.

Anyway, I'm shooting around after the event was over, and Mika wanders by my table. Being that nobody seemed to recognize him, I began some small talk with him..... and he seemed nice enough. Next thing you know, other people recognize him too, and they want to play him challenge matches. I'm still supposed to be the ref, so I stand around and try to act like one. In reality, I just wanted to play Mika myself.

After Mika plows through about 5 or 6 challengers, the crowd disperses. Now its just me and him, so I ask him to play me a game. He says ok, and I rack the balls. Mika lays down a great break, but the table plays like absolute garbage. He breaks dry, and I proceed to start my run. I get close to perfect on the 8 ball, and then look up to find Mika. He's not there, so I think he went to the bathroom or something. Instead, he just left.....never to return to my area for the rest of the night.
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Nice story, cracked me up LOLOL
Moral of story:
-Never challenge a pro when there are no witnesses
-Never be last in bar unless bartender is a hottie
:)
 
I sense that this post has become nothing more than an opportunity for those who dislike Mika to "dog pile" their rants.

I tend to take a contrary perspective when it come to the way Pros act. Keep in mind that to reach the pro level requires a tremendous commitment of time and effort to reach and maintain such a level of play. I doubt that many of those offering a rant here have made such commitments to the sport and it may not be easy for them to understand the level of frustration involved.

With so much effort invested, it's easy to understand that performing below expectations is the worst of scenarios.
If you lose because you didn't get a shot....that's just part of the game.
If you lose because of factors that were out of your control then it's just bad luck but...
If you lose because you didn't play at the level you know you're capable of.....then the frustration is always 10 fold.

I don't think Mika's frustration is really anger focused at the casual players who happen to be in the wake of that frustration but simply Mika's way of getting the frustration out of his system.

Some players just get quiet when frustrated and keep it inside...others verbalize their anger and some go out in the hall and throw things. We are all different people and we handle frustration in different ways.

If behaving badly was so bad for sports, then why is John McEnroe the spokes person for professional tennis. Why is Earl Strickland one of the most popular pool players?

If you felt slighted by Mika's behavior while he was getting a little frustration out of his system, it might be more about you than Mika.

All honors wounds are self inflicted.
 
I've known Mika for a few years now and I can say he honestly is a good person. Always pretty quick to respond to a text or a call and will go out of his way to help you out. Not everyone can be Ralph Souquet and keep everything down inside themselves when they play. Mika may not take losing as well as others due to being very hard on himself and wants perfection in every aspect of his game and when that doesn't happen, he isn't happy. Think of him as the Gordon Ramsay of Pool.

As some people have said, it's usually best not to bother people especially pros when they lose. Shane isn't very nice when he loses either but overall he is a really great guy and has a lot of heart. Just my opinion. Haven't had any issues with Mika but that's just me.
 
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