Was brought up on one pkt. Haven't seen it posted here, worth the watch, with Grady and buddy commenting but the match is a classic
Mike sigel vs Nick varner 9ball must see
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Was brought up on one pkt. Haven't seen it posted here, worth the watch, with Grady and buddy commenting but the match is a classic
Is this the one where Nick missed the 9B into the side pocket for the match?
I see why nick is a legend now, he was before my time and I've never seen this side of him also tremendous respect for Nick with what Grady and buddy were saying about his mental approach and highly competitive nature
Showed here like I've never seen
Showed here like I've never seen
According to Pat Fleming, Sigel maintains that he had no safe and tried a four rail bank. I agree with you and think his body language and the way he approached it and ultimately shot it tells a different story though.
Not sure that the final shot Sigel played was off the wall. The three cushion gurus on AZB will confirm that, at high speed, he had a chance to make both the two rail bank and the four rail bank.
There was a safety here. Graze the nine crazy thin, moving it just an inch or two and put the cue ball near the foot rail. It doesn't look like the cue is heading into the side, but if so, a hair of right masse is needed. Send the cue ball to the foot rail and Nick will have to come with a long, missable shot. It can be argued that this was his best chance, but maybe yes and maybe no.
The shot that Mike chose, creaming the nine, may have looked ridiculous because he sent the nine off the table, but it was not that far fetched, and I am inclined to declare him "not guilty" of recklessness here. Surely, he felt that shot to be his best chance.
There was a safety here. Graze the nine crazy thin, moving it just an inch or two and put the cue ball near the foot rail. It doesn't look like the cue is heading into the side, but if so, a hair of right masse is needed. Send the cue ball to the foot rail and Nick will have to come with a long, missable shot. It can be argued that this was his best chance, but maybe yes and maybe no.
The shot that Mike chose, creaming the nine, may have looked ridiculous because he sent the nine off the table, but it was not that far fetched, and I am inclined to declare him "not guilty" of recklessness here. Surely, he felt that shot to be his best chance.
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The ugly finish to a great match! I agree with Stu that Mike had a safety, where he could leave the cue ball on the end rail and distance, lots of it. Nick had to be feeling weak after missing that easy shot in the side. Mike just framed that nine ball like he didn't care. Makes me think they were chopping the money. They were best buddies after all.
This match was the most influential force in my teenage years.
I grew up playing as a teenager in the early 90s. There were no pro level players in my area so I learned all I could watching Accu-Stats VHS tapes. There were maybe 8 of them and I had seen them all multiple times.
This match I probably watched 10 times. I knew every shot, every line of commentary. And Nick Varner became my hero. He was among the greatest of all time but didn't do anything other worldly like Earl or Efren. He was just an ordinary guy that through sheer heart had turned himself into something extraordinary.
The ending is beyond criticism. Both players played inspired that set. Many racks were run, many amazing shots and kicks were made, and tremendous adversity was overcome. I know Jay knows better but the idea of a chop is absurd. Anyone that watches the match can see they were both playing their heart out. The gaffe at the end wasn't because they didn't care. He cared all too much.
It is clear Sigel was rattled by Nick's comeback. The first half of the match he made everything and ran 3 racks an inning. But the last 3-5 chances he had at the table he seemed just a hair off. He had ball in hand on an open table on the hill and rushed a few shots, hooked himself, and one stroked a kick shot. And he leaked off chances in other opportunities. Totally out of character. So the whole 2 rail/4 rail bank thing is fine, IF he had studied the table for a while, considered alternatives, and confidently proceeded with the best one. Instead he was stone tilted, confused, and already resigned to a loss when the unexpected opportunity arose. He was absolutely unprepared for that opportunity and it showed on his body language. He was no longer the confident, chirpy, bouncing, strutting, Mike.
The moral of the story on this shot and match is simple: Results flow from outlook. Mike started off with a great outlook and played great pool. Nick didn't let Mike's performance or the score impact his outlook. The comeback followed. Then Mike's outlook succumbed. Nick needed Mike to buckle to win this but that is what happened. As a result Nick won another US Open.
To this day when I play pool I try to follow in the footsteps of Nick Varner in this match. Tough footsteps to follow and I'll never keep up, but I've come a long ways following that trail.
I grew up playing as a teenager in the early 90s. There were no pro level players in my area so I learned all I could watching Accu-Stats VHS tapes. There were maybe 8 of them and I had seen them all multiple times.
This match I probably watched 10 times. I knew every shot, every line of commentary. And Nick Varner became my hero. He was among the greatest of all time but didn't do anything other worldly like Earl or Efren. He was just an ordinary guy that through sheer heart had turned himself into something extraordinary.
The ending is beyond criticism. Both players played inspired that set. Many racks were run, many amazing shots and kicks were made, and tremendous adversity was overcome. I know Jay knows better but the idea of a chop is absurd. Anyone that watches the match can see they were both playing their heart out. The gaffe at the end wasn't because they didn't care. He cared all too much.
It is clear Sigel was rattled by Nick's comeback. The first half of the match he made everything and ran 3 racks an inning. But the last 3-5 chances he had at the table he seemed just a hair off. He had ball in hand on an open table on the hill and rushed a few shots, hooked himself, and one stroked a kick shot. And he leaked off chances in other opportunities. Totally out of character. So the whole 2 rail/4 rail bank thing is fine, IF he had studied the table for a while, considered alternatives, and confidently proceeded with the best one. Instead he was stone tilted, confused, and already resigned to a loss when the unexpected opportunity arose. He was absolutely unprepared for that opportunity and it showed on his body language. He was no longer the confident, chirpy, bouncing, strutting, Mike.
The moral of the story on this shot and match is simple: Results flow from outlook. Mike started off with a great outlook and played great pool. Nick didn't let Mike's performance or the score impact his outlook. The comeback followed. Then Mike's outlook succumbed. Nick needed Mike to buckle to win this but that is what happened. As a result Nick won another US Open.
To this day when I play pool I try to follow in the footsteps of Nick Varner in this match. Tough footsteps to follow and I'll never keep up, but I've come a long ways following that trail.
The way Nick shot it - absolutely!
It is an exceptionally good video not only of the shot making but of overcoming pressure.
Nick was fabulous.
It can be found on youtube.
Nick was fabulous.
It can be found on youtube.
I usually shoot the 9 with firm outside the way Varner stroked it, but that shot was a bit too far and had a bit too much cut to shoot it like that for my comfort. You can see that he actually overcut it, but because the ball was so close to the pocket he still made it. Looks like the ball swerved on him. If the shot was another foot away from the hole, he would have missed. I shared the same reaction as Buddy.
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Though he'd have to call it in bank pool, he doesn't need to call it in nine ball.
I got to meet Nick through Hal Mix, who was in his corner (coaching) at one of Jay Helfert's event in LA (maybe in 92?). He was such a nice guy and he was chewing gum.