Missing Pros

[Tommy-D]

> I wouldn't think age has much to do with it,Johnny Ervolino had a run of 360-something,at 66,a little older than Sigel,Hall,Varner or anyone else I can think of that still played at that age. If he played 14.1 that speed,chances are unless he ran into a player that simply outbroke him,even playing 9-ball he would have still beat the brakes right off them. Even with the money not being what it should be,I can't imagine giving up the game if I had Ginky's talent,unless it was simply a matter of being stuck in a being a champion/paying the rent situation,but living in NYC,that might have been the case. Tommy D.

 

[B.J.the bandit]

C.j.

i remember back in the early 90,s when i first start hitting the bigger tourneys that cj and his sweet wife were always present. Havent heard from him in a long time, i know he has a pool room and night club in texas. Other than that he bleeped off the radar. I watched a few older accu stats and cj was a fast paced shooter, he was in position for the next shot before the cue ball arrived. He ran tons of racks but when the tuff shots were there his speed hurt him. Thats only my opinion.

ANY ONE KNOW WHERE CJ IS.

He is doin fine, He still plays some at HIS OLD ROOM, I talked to him few mo ago he has irons in the fire,he is a class act. He is a very smart man & player!!!! Always has time for his friends.

 

[sjm]

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!

Maybe, but I'd argue that the four most prestigious titles you can have on your playing resume today are:

1) World Championship 9-ball
2) BCA Open 9-ball
3) US Open 9-ball
4) Derby City Classic 9-ball

Ginky won two of them, namely the BCA open and Derby City. I don't think anybody has won all four. Unless I'm forgetting somebody, living legends Archer and Souquet are the only ones that have won three of them.

 

[Black-Balled]

Bollman also played some great pool at the Carolina's Open last year. Dont remember where he finished tho

 

[recoveryjones]

Maybe, but I'd argue that the four most prestigious titles you can have on your playing resume today are:

1) World Championship 9-ball
2) BCA Open 9-ball
3) US Open 9-ball
4) Derby City Classic 9-ball


I agree with you SJM.If pool had four MAJORS like golf and Tennis, the afformentioned four that you listed would probably be the ones.They attract the biggest fields with the most $$$.RJ

ps. Hohmann has won the WPC,The BCA and came second at the US Open.Whats Earls best finish at the Derby and BCA?

 

[JAM]

Bollman also played some great pool at the Carolina's Open last year. Dont remember where he finished tho

Y'all Virginians do stick together!

BTW, Black-Balled, don't forget that the Carolinas Open at Fast Eddie's in Goldsboro, NC, is coming up first week in September, the 6th through 11th, $20,000 added, one-pocket and 9-ball, right before the U.S. Open!

Veteran Dave Bollman is the house pro at Q-Masters in Virginia, the room where all the action takes place during the off hours of the U.S. Open.

Speaking of Q-Masters, another great tournament, the 2005 Masters 9-Ball Championships, July 26-31, 2005, $10,000 added, $200 entry fee, is coming up at Q-Masters [where Dave Bollman is house pro] right after the Virginia State 9-Ball Championships, July 23-24, at The Playing Field in Richmond, VA.

We've got quite a few tournaments coming up in our neck of the woods, Black-Balled!

Somebody told me, and I don't know how true it is, that Dave also used to dabble in golf and was considered in some circles a pro.

About 30 years ago, I remember traveling through Virginia Beach and checking out a pool room. I cannot remember the name of it, and I don't think it exists anymore, but it had about thirty 9-footers. The building was yellow and brandished a huge banner which stated it was the BIGGEST pool room on the East Coast and that Luther Lassiter was the house pro.

Picture taken at last year's Carolinas Open of two veteran pro players, Dave Bollman and Buddy Hall, and make no mistake about it, both of them still got game!

JAM

 

[bud green]

I wasn't talking about the nine ball US OPEN. They recently started advertising for an event in Vegas in October 25-30 that includes nine ball, ten ball, the US OPEN in one pocket, and also a bank pool event.

It's the 5th BCA National championships for nine ball and the 9th US OPEN for one pocket.

Nine ball and ten ball are on 7' tables and it costs only 50-75 for the nine and ten ball except for teams, which are 150. The one pocket and banks are 175 with a 25 green fee.

Only 32 entries for banks and 64 for one pocket so interested parties might want to start signing up.

The ad is on page 2 of the June/July edition of Professor Q-Balls National Pool and Carom news. Website is www.professorqballs.com but I don't know if the ad is online- I saw the hard copy.

 

[Cue Crazy]

David Howard has a poolroom in Jacksonville Fla called "Lil Davids". Last time we talked, he'd scrapped his plans of going back on the tour. He didn't feel that the present state of Mens Pro Billiards, warranted his taking the time away from his business.

David and I are old road partners and have been friends for a long time. We had some great times back in the 80's along with Gary Spaeth, Chris MacDonald, Earl, Buddy, Blud, Swannie and several others. Oh, the memories! lol

just more hot air!

Sherm

You are correct Sherm, I use to go up to his place every once in a while. Very nice guy. a couple of times, me, and My father went in there, and as he was walking out the door, he would get to his car, turn around and come in to take the time to talk to us. My dad always liked that about him. I have an autograph he gave me years ago that still hangs with the other current pros I have. always will.
My lil women's father was in the hospital up there some years back, and I would take her and her mother up there. To waste time I would hang out in davids place during the day with him and rick. helped them work on the tables in there a couple of times, shot some pool, and just chewed the fat with them. They were Very down to earth, and really enjoyed the time there. I watched rick putting what may have been his first fullsplice together in the back of the place. either that, or he was gluing a titlest back together or something, been a while, just remember he was having fun with It.

A friend of ours bought the 9f table out of there that they called the bitc- table, because the pockets were so unforgiving on It. We use to practice on it for tournaments, and it would get you ready for one. All other tables seemed to have large pockets after playing on that one .

From what I have heard there are several reasons he does'nt play it anymore, the bussiness being part of that, but in all, it's a shame, because I would love to see him back in there. I'm sure many others would also.

Greg

 

[axejunkie]

Maybe, but I'd argue that the four most prestigious titles you can have on your playing resume today are:

1) World Championship 9-ball
2) BCA Open 9-ball
3) US Open 9-ball
4) Derby City Classic 9-ball

Ginky won two of them, namely the BCA open and Derby City. I don't think anybody has won all four. Unless I'm forgetting somebody, living legends Archer and Souquet are the only ones that have won three of them.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Souquet has won all four: WPC in '95 or '96 (Ortmann won it the other year), BCA in '03, US Open in '02 and DCC in '04. I don't believe Archer has won the DCC, so that would give him three. Of course, Efren has won 3 except the BCA to my knowledge.

 

[sjm]

ps. Hohmann has won the WPC,The BCA and came second at the US Open.Whats Earls best finish at the Derby and BCA?

I beleive that Earl's best at the BCA Open was third, Derby city I can't say. Another near miss for three of the "modern majors" is Corey Deuel, who won the BCA Open and the US Open and came third in the WPC.

 

[sjm]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Souquet has won all four: WPC in '95 or '96 (Ortmann won it the other year), BCA in '03, US Open in '02 and DCC in '04. I don't believe Archer has won the DCC, so that would give him three. Of course, Efren has won 3 except the BCA to my knowledge.

No need to correct, you're absolutely right. Wow, Souquet has won all of:

US Open 9-ball
BCA Open 9-ball
Derby City 9-ball
World Championship 9-ball
US Open Straight Pool
Intl Challenge of Champions 9-ball

That's awesome! What a career Ralf has had! Truly one of the greatest ever!

 

[Island Drive]

Where Too?

> I wouldn't think age has much to do with it,Johnny Ervolino had a run of 360-something,at 66,a little older than Sigel,Hall,Varner or anyone else I can think of that still played at that age. If he played 14.1 that speed,chances are unless he ran into a player that simply outbroke him,even playing 9-ball he would have still beat the brakes right off them. Even with the money not being what it should be,I can't imagine giving up the game if I had Ginky's talent,unless it was simply a matter of being stuck in a being a champion/paying the rent situation,but living in NYC,that might have been the case. Tommy D.

Players have not lost their interest, the cost does not justify the time and energy spent. One can lay a better lifes groundwork (financially) in the long haul being a manager of a Burger King. With out all the great players gaining the financial and social recognition, they can't survive. Our players parallel all the greats in golf but till it becomes a sport it only offers a dead end street in the big picture. Here in the states the true driving force behind billiards is the game itself. As the cost of living keeps going up the lure of the road goes down. Ever wonder why all the great players in the USA are on such a tournament roller coaster, no structure to keep going up on the skill ladder.

 

[Black-Balled]

Y'all Virginians do stick together!

We've got quite a few tournaments coming up in our neck of the woods, Black-Balled!

JAM

Well, we better have some good ones soon, coz there haven't been any around here for a while!
I do want to play in Carolina's Open this year, again, but honestly, I am really hoping to get to the USOpen this year, as the AZB rep. My wife and job aren't going to get behind both, so I will have to hope for the best, AZB- wise