You hear commentators mentioning Efren's 3-cushion abilities all the time, and how they contribute to his magical level of cue ball control. Similar comments are often made about Ga-Young Kim on the womens' side of things, and Jeannette Lee to some extent as well.
What I'm getting at is that it seems to be a no-brainer that 3C knowledge is a helpful thing to have while playing pool. Everyone seems to agree on this.
But do any of the top players spend any time studying the game, or do they ever compete at it? I never hear about it, besides Efren's (and Ga-Young's) past. Maybe some of you know other high-level pool players that also enjoy some 3C from time to time. If not, I wonder why not?
-Andrew
Is I've previously said, I'm a big fan of cross-training when it comes to pool. About 10 years ago I had the chance to play in a national 3C qualifier, with my dear buddy, John Lavin, of Red Shoes fame up in Chicago. Here's an excerpt from that discussion on RSB at the time:
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...Well, was there was some brief toe tapping, but I didn't exactly get the
chance to do a polka. The tables just ate me up. They were heated Sogaards
that played totally different form the ancient Brunswick I practiced on the
week before. (The first time I put my hand on the table I was momentarily
transported back to my youth as I recalled the last time I said to myself
in surprise, "But it's so warm... ")
Also, they were putting secret sauce on the balls, so that didn't help me
either. It went something like this (round robin flights of seven):
Lou loses 20-15
Lou loses 20-17
Lou loses 20-9 (George Ashby can still play some
Lou wins 20-5 (a quick soft shoe behind the scorer's table)
Lou loses 20-19 (ouch, had two swings at the game ball, er point)
Lou Lose 20-12
Everyone was very nice and gentlemanly and all, but the next time there is a
pool player vs billiard player argument here, I collected MORE than enough
ammo in what I saw and heard there. Not only all the petty back stabbing on
the rail I heard (as well as tales from previous events
but also, from
personally playing genuwine 3C players.
A quick story: I was warming up with a gentleman who would eventually make
it to the final round. This fellow was clearly getting agitated that a mere
"pool player," playing with a fat old pool cue no less (ohmegod), fresh off
the street, was beating him to death. Halfway through the game, all the
gentlemanly chalk tapping stopped. And as I peeled off the last two points
to beat him 25-23, the look on his face left absolutely no doubt that he was
ferverently wishing my head would explode mid-stroke.
All in all though, it was a nice event and a great experience. The owners,
Susan and Todd Farthing, were very warm and cordial hosts. The tables were
immaculate and I think with a few days practice on them, I'd grow to like
them. I also had a chance to talk to Bill "The Hawk" Hawkins, who due to
deteriorating health, was in a wheel chair. I introduced myself and told
him that I had refereed one of his matches at the "Rocket City Open" in
Lompoc, CA back in 1977. Mentally, he's still sharp as a tack, and we
talked about that event and players we knew. He shook my hand and
thanked me for coming up and reminiscing with him.
George Ashby was also a pleasure to talk to. Very knowledgeable and happy
to answer any question. I talked to him for quite a while about the tables,
players, and St. Louis.
Of course for me, the highlight of the trip was seeing my old bud from
Chicago, Monsignor Lavin. We killed many a Michelob after hours, but I
told him, as we left the tournament venue, "The next time I suggest going to
a billiard tournament: "Just kick me in the teeth."
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Lou Figueroa
