Nick Varner

[Scratch85]

Today, being Nick Varner’s birthday, I have been watching Nick’s matches. What a player! What he did through the 90’s was impressive.

It was a time that rivaled the success of pool, that we are experiencing now. Varner, Sigel, Archer, Hall and others made it a great time. Great players and great competition.

No questions or concerns just wanted to recognize Nick. Hope he had a happy birthday. I think he is 76.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rusty in Montana]

Happy Birthday Nick party like a rock star !!!!!

 

[ghost ball]

Hal Mix introduced Nick to me back in the early nineties, I think at commerce casino. He was very friendly and kind and chewing gum. Happy Bday to him.

 

[sjm]

Nick is the best all-around player in US History, narrowly edging Sigel, Lassiter and SVB. Nick has won a world title in each of 9-ball, straight pool, banks, 8-ball and 1-pocket. He is also a perfect gentleman that brings positive attention to our sport.

Happy birthday Nick.

 

[smiling_Hans]

I started playing pool since I was 16 and didn’t get into professional pool for a long time. I couldn’t name you a famous player except Minnesota Fats.

One day, in my early 20’s, my local pool hall had a meet and greet with a famous pool player. I didn’t know who it was and didn’t care. During those days my main focus was on my game.

I arrived and the pool hall was dead. I went straight to bar and ordered a beer. While it was being poured some older curly hair gentleman walks up to me and slides a picture towards me. I looked at him and looked at the picture. I slid the picture back to him and said thank you but no thanks.

Years later I finally figured out who Nick Varner is and what he meant to the pool world.

I like the guy now. Very much so.

Happy Birthday Nick!

 

[Terry Aeschliman]

Happy Day Mr Varner, you're catching me.

 

[white1]

Nick is the best all-around player in US History, narrowly edging Sigel, Lassiter and SVB. Nick has won a world title in each of 9-ball, straight pool, banks, 8-ball and 1-pocket. He is also a perfect gentleman that brings positive attention to our sport.

Happy birthday Nick.

I ABSOLUTELY agree with you. You just don’t hear many people say it, and fewer believe it.

 

[L.S. Dennis]

I used to see Nick once in a while when he came into Dee Hulse's Executive Billiards in Redwood City Ca. years ago. He was always pleasant and very approachable usually with that smile on his face! Happy Birthday Nick, and what a year you had in 1989!

 

[smiling_Hans]

I ABSOLUTELY agree with you. You just don’t hear many people say it, and fewer believe it.

He deserves a lot more recognition that’s for sure.

Nick belongs on everyone’s top 5 list.

 

[Tin Man]

I can't say that Nick Varner is absolutely the greatest of all time. But he is MY favorite of all time. Every teenager needs a hero that inspires them daily and drives them to be their best. Nick did that for me. Happy Birthday Nick!

 

[book collector]

Happy Birthday Colonel Nick

 

[smiling_Hans]

For those unfamiliar with the man. Here is the man’s accomplishment. The longevity is amazing.

1969 ACUI Collegiate National Championship 1970 ACUI Collegiate National Championship 1974 Midwest Open 9-Ball 1975 Kentucky Open 14.1 Championship 1975 Texas Open 14.1 Championship 1976 Rockford 14.1 Championship 1976 Midwest Open 9-Ball 1979 Lexington All-Star Tournament 1980 PPPA World Straight Pool Championship 1980 Kentucky Open 9-Ball 1980 BCA National 8-Ball Tournament 1980 Illinois Open 9-Ball 1980 Billiards Digest Players of the Year 1981 Kentucky Open 9-Ball 1982 ABC Sports9-Ball Invitational 1982 Kentucky Open 9-Ball 1982 Bowling Green Open Bank Pool 1982 Prestonburg Open 9-Ball 1982 Owensboro Open 9-Ball 1982 National Billiard News Player of the Year 1983 San Jose Open 9-Ball 1983 Kentucky Open 9-Ball 1983 National Open 9-Ball 1983 Fresno Open 9-Ball 1983 Midwest Open 9-Ball 1983 McDermott Masters 9-Ball Championship 1984 Kentucky Open 9-Ball 1984 Tennessee State 9-Ball 1985 Chattanooga Open 9-Ball 1985 Tennessee State 9-Ball 1985 Zurich Open 9-Ball 1986 PPPA World Straight Pool Championship 1986 Charlotte Open 9-Ball 1986 Sacramento Open 9-Ball 1986 Midwest Open 9-Ball 1987 McDermott Masters 9-Ball Championship 1988 Glass City Open 9-Ball 1988 Scranton Invitational 9-Ball 1988 Tennessee Open 9-Ball 1988 Sands Regency 9-Ball Open 1989 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship 1989 Rak'em Up 9-Ball Classic 1989 Knoxville 9-Ball Open 1989 PBA World 9-Ball Championship 1989 Governors Cup 9-Ball 1989 Glass City Open 9-Ball 1989 Sands Regency 9-Ball Open 1989 Golden 8-Ball Invitational 1989 Scranton Open 9-Ball

1989 Lexington All-Star 9-Ball 1989 Akron Open 9-Ball 1989 Billiards Digest Players of the Year 1990 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship 1990 Al Romero Classic 9-Ball 1990 West End All-Around Shoot Out 1990 Challenge Match Race to 60 vs. (Efren Reyes) 1990 Philippine 9-Ball Series 1991 Rak'M Up Classic 9-Ball 1991 Billiards Digest Best 9-Ball Player 1991 Billiards Digest Best All-Around Player 1991 PBA Sportsperson of the Year 1992 International One Pocket Championship 1992 Super Bowl 9-Ball Open 1992 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame 1993 Lexington All-Star 9-Ball 1994 International Challenge of Champions 1994 PBT SeaGateEight-ball Championship 1994 Lexington All-Star 9-Ball 1994 Billiards Digest Players of the Year 1996 Sands Regency 9-Ball Open 1996 Roanoke One Pocket 1997 Mosconi Cup 1997 Music City 9-Ball Open 1997 Sands Regency 9-Ball Open 1998 Music City 9-Ball Open 1998 Mosconi Cup 1999 WPA World Nine-ball Championship 1999 Derby City ClassicBank Pool 1999 Senior Tour Tulsa 9-Ball 1999 Senior Tour Player of the Year 1999 Billiards Digest 6th Greatest Living Player of the Century 2000 Derby City ClassicOne Pocket 2000 Music City Classic 2000 Senior Masters 9-Ball Championship 2000 Legends of One-Pocket Championship 2001 Superman Classic 9-Ball Tournament 2001 Mosconi Cup 2001 Sunshine State One Pocket Tour CM's Place 2001 Sunshine State One Pocket Tour Kiss Shot Billiards 2001 Sunshine State One Pocket Tour Capone's Billiards 2001 Sunshine State One Pocekt Tour Sharp Shooters 2001 Hard Times One Pocket 2002 Border Battle, Team USA Vs Team Canada 2002 Jacksonville 9-Ball Open 2002 Glass City Open 9-Ball 2002 Music City Classic 2003 Seminole Pro Tour 2004 Border Battle, Team USA VS Team Canada 2005 One Pocket Hall of Fame 2007 Great Southern 9-Ball Tour 2011 Bank Pool Hall of Fame

 

[Charlie Hustle]

View attachment 758352
For those unfamiliar with the man. Here is the man’s accomplishment. The longevity is amazing.

1969 ACUI Collegiate National Championship 1970 ACUI Collegiate National Championship 1974 Midwest Open 9-Ball 1975 Kentucky Open 14.1 Championship 1975 Texas Open 14.1 Championship 1976 Rockford 14.1 Championship 1976 Midwest Open 9-Ball 1979 Lexington All-Star Tournament 1980 PPPA World Straight Pool Championship 1980 Kentucky Open 9-Ball 1980 BCA National 8-Ball Tournament 1980 Illinois Open 9-Ball 1980 Billiards Digest Players of the Year 1981 Kentucky Open 9-Ball 1982 ABC Sports9-Ball Invitational 1982 Kentucky Open 9-Ball 1982 Bowling Green Open Bank Pool 1982 Prestonburg Open 9-Ball 1982 Owensboro Open 9-Ball 1982 National Billiard News Player of the Year 1983 San Jose Open 9-Ball 1983 Kentucky Open 9-Ball 1983 National Open 9-Ball 1983 Fresno Open 9-Ball 1983 Midwest Open 9-Ball 1983 McDermott Masters 9-Ball Championship 1984 Kentucky Open 9-Ball 1984 Tennessee State 9-Ball 1985 Chattanooga Open 9-Ball 1985 Tennessee State 9-Ball 1985 Zurich Open 9-Ball 1986 PPPA World Straight Pool Championship 1986 Charlotte Open 9-Ball 1986 Sacramento Open 9-Ball 1986 Midwest Open 9-Ball 1987 McDermott Masters 9-Ball Championship 1988 Glass City Open 9-Ball 1988 Scranton Invitational 9-Ball 1988 Tennessee Open 9-Ball 1988 Sands Regency 9-Ball Open 1989 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship 1989 Rak'em Up 9-Ball Classic 1989 Knoxville 9-Ball Open 1989 PBA World 9-Ball Championship 1989 Governors Cup 9-Ball 1989 Glass City Open 9-Ball 1989 Sands Regency 9-Ball Open 1989 Golden 8-Ball Invitational 1989 Scranton Open 9-Ball

1989 Lexington All-Star 9-Ball 1989 Akron Open 9-Ball 1989 Billiards Digest Players of the Year 1990 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship 1990 Al Romero Classic 9-Ball 1990 West End All-Around Shoot Out 1990 Challenge Match Race to 60 vs. (Efren Reyes) 1990 Philippine 9-Ball Series 1991 Rak'M Up Classic 9-Ball 1991 Billiards Digest Best 9-Ball Player 1991 Billiards Digest Best All-Around Player 1991 PBA Sportsperson of the Year 1992 International One Pocket Championship 1992 Super Bowl 9-Ball Open 1992 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame 1993 Lexington All-Star 9-Ball 1994 International Challenge of Champions 1994 PBT SeaGateEight-ball Championship 1994 Lexington All-Star 9-Ball 1994 Billiards Digest Players of the Year 1996 Sands Regency 9-Ball Open 1996 Roanoke One Pocket 1997 Mosconi Cup 1997 Music City 9-Ball Open 1997 Sands Regency 9-Ball Open 1998 Music City 9-Ball Open 1998 Mosconi Cup 1999 WPA World Nine-ball Championship 1999 Derby City ClassicBank Pool 1999 Senior Tour Tulsa 9-Ball 1999 Senior Tour Player of the Year 1999 Billiards Digest 6th Greatest Living Player of the Century 2000 Derby City ClassicOne Pocket 2000 Music City Classic 2000 Senior Masters 9-Ball Championship 2000 Legends of One-Pocket Championship 2001 Superman Classic 9-Ball Tournament 2001 Mosconi Cup 2001 Sunshine State One Pocket Tour CM's Place 2001 Sunshine State One Pocket Tour Kiss Shot Billiards 2001 Sunshine State One Pocket Tour Capone's Billiards 2001 Sunshine State One Pocekt Tour Sharp Shooters 2001 Hard Times One Pocket 2002 Border Battle, Team USA Vs Team Canada 2002 Jacksonville 9-Ball Open 2002 Glass City Open 9-Ball 2002 Music City Classic 2003 Seminole Pro Tour 2004 Border Battle, Team USA VS Team Canada 2005 One Pocket Hall of Fame 2007 Great Southern 9-Ball Tour 2011 Bank Pool Hall of Fame

Look at 1989

 

[tim913]

Yeah I remember practicing at RJ’s, Racks on the Rocks today, years ago in Peoria, IL and a gentleman walks by my table but then stands there. I look up and I was shocked. I remember saying, “Mr Varner!”, and shook his hand.
He wanted an intro to the owner and then laid out a display, I believe Falcon cues, and then spent the rest of the night having fun and playing all the guys. Great gentleman, Happy Birthday!

 

[bbb]

Belated happy birthday, Nick
I got to meet him twice at Bogies billiards in Houston where he played and I did too at the senior OnePocket tournament
Super nice guy /very easy to talk to /willing to share his knowledge
and still plays strong

 

[mikemosconi]

Nick is truly a study in striving for excellence. The type of person that accepts nothing but working to get the best out of themselves. Yet competes with the highest level of sportsmanship. Humble in victory and gracious in defeat - yet a tiger in the ring.

 

[kling&allen]

Nick is the best all-around player in US History, narrowly edging Sigel, Lassiter and SVB. Nick has won a world title in each of 9-ball, straight pool, banks, 8-ball and 1-pocket. He is also a perfect gentleman that brings positive attention to our sport.

Happy birthday Nick.

Stu, I’ve always liked how Nick went from a student a Purdue to running around with Daddy Warbucks and Johnson City. Do you know the story behind that switch?

 

[Podunker]

I saw Nick Varner run 120 something. This was within an hour of jumping off a plane, riding to the venue, and screwing his stick together. He was playing Grady Mathews. Not some local Joe Dub. Very low key gracious man. A silent killer.

 

[sjm]

Stu, I’ve always liked how Nick went from a student a Purdue to running around with Daddy Warbucks and Johnson City. Do you know the story behind that switch?

Before my time. That would be around 1969, which was the year I first played pool. Jay Helfert and Island Drive would both know the story for sure.

 

[mikemosconi]

Stu, I’ve always liked how Nick went from a student a Purdue to running around with Daddy Warbucks and Johnson City. Do you know the story behind that switch?

I think that with Nick it was simply a love of the game and a belief that he had enough talent to follow his number one passion rather than take a desk job somewhere after college. Mizerak eventually gave up an academically trained vocation for full time pool as well. Going to any high level pool events would have been a natural step for Nick once he made his decision.