Pro Rivalries
- Thread starter cuetechasaurus
- Start date
pharaoh68 said:
Corey and Mika are both very competitive when they are playing, but off the table they get a long with each other just fine. We all hung out and had drinks with Keith and Raj Sunday night after the Turning Stone tournament. Corey, Mika and I were laughing about the World Summit of Pool tournament when Mika kept running into Corey sitting in his chair and they got into it a little bit on TV.
sniper said:
Same as Corey and Mika, Niels and Bustamante are just big competitors at the table but they get along fine with each other. Bustamante was Niels's idol when he was growing up and now they both have alot of respect for each other. Niels, Bustamante and me have hung out a bunch a times together and we always have a great time.
IMO the top-echelon pool players are as decent and friendly a group as you will find anywhere, anytime. I would submit that their behavior as a group is a whole lot better than what I observe at most of the local pool leagues. I can't think of one rivalry (based on intense dislike) among pro players that I've ever seen or been made aware of. I do agree with Timberly: the WPBA includes the fiercest competitors on the planet, and they have some "friction femmes", shall we say, but are way too professional to ever let it show publicly. I haven't been flamed for awhile so here goes: IMO a much higher percentage of pro athletes are rich, spoiled, arrogant, jealous, condescending and vacuous (this is based on my experiences as a sportscard dealer for many years and meeting a lot of pro athletes away from their PR flaks...seeing them up close and personal, if you will). Pro pool players, for the most part, are none of these things (certainly not rich!). If one of my daughters said she was going to marry a pool player, I would just say "Thank God he's not a lawyer."
It seems like Pagulayan and Orcollo definitely have a rivalry going, stemming from their money matches in the Philippines. From what I've heard and read, Orcollo has gotten Alex's number gambling in PI. Both are extremely talented Filipinos and roughly the same age, so comparisons between the two are natural. I asked this a while back, but does anyone know if they get along with each other?
Grady and Billy
Well, I know of one rivalry/heated ego battle that's been going on for decades, and that's between Grady and Billy Incardona. In the accustats booth over the years they both love to say that the other ones opinion is wrong....And I've seen Grady get really steamed at Billy many times in years past when they gambled - Grady accusing Billy of sharking him etc.
Now I'm not in there heads, so I can't know for sure, ( and Grady, I apologise if you feel I'm speaking out of line ) but to me it always seemed like Grady truly, shall we say, disapproves of Billy, whereas Billy fights with Grady just because he enjoys aggravating him..........Any of you other long-time guys ponder this over the years ? - I'm sure fellow poolplayer-psychologist Freddy B. has.
Well, I know of one rivalry/heated ego battle that's been going on for decades, and that's between Grady and Billy Incardona. In the accustats booth over the years they both love to say that the other ones opinion is wrong....And I've seen Grady get really steamed at Billy many times in years past when they gambled - Grady accusing Billy of sharking him etc.
Now I'm not in there heads, so I can't know for sure, ( and Grady, I apologise if you feel I'm speaking out of line ) but to me it always seemed like Grady truly, shall we say, disapproves of Billy, whereas Billy fights with Grady just because he enjoys aggravating him..........Any of you other long-time guys ponder this over the years ? - I'm sure fellow poolplayer-psychologist Freddy B. has.
Quite right....it annoys me hearing everyone say Efren is the best....Gerry said:
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1 Pocket Ghost said:
Somehow I get the impression that Incardonna is not a likeable guy. I can't put my finger on it exactly but when I hear him commentating and arguing with Grady there's a feeling of Billy rubbing the wrong way. There's just an annoying way he makes his point about things. I also get the impression that Billy is a "locksmith" when it comes to playing for the cash.
Bobby
Pool Rivalries
Here's some news. Earl does not like the filipinos. Of course there are more than a few players who are not too fond of Earl either and maybe one or two T.D.'s.
As far as Grady and Billy, I won't get into that much. They have an on table rivalry that goes back many many moons. As far as off the table, it's mostly friendly banter.
Among pool's gamblers, there are many bitter rivalries that can and have turned violent. Raphael has pulled a knife on more than one player (P.S. He's alive in Mexico). And a couple of others have come to blows.
If you don't know who I'm talking about, I ain't tellin'.
Fong Pang Chao is a noted sharker in big events making him unpopular also. Oliver Ortmann has wanted to skewer him on an occasion or two,
and probably is quite capable.
For the most part, among pool's elite there is a mutual respect, if not genuine friendship.
I don't even want to go there about the WPBA pros. Let's just say they have their clicks.
Here's some news. Earl does not like the filipinos. Of course there are more than a few players who are not too fond of Earl either and maybe one or two T.D.'s.
As far as Grady and Billy, I won't get into that much. They have an on table rivalry that goes back many many moons. As far as off the table, it's mostly friendly banter.
Among pool's gamblers, there are many bitter rivalries that can and have turned violent. Raphael has pulled a knife on more than one player (P.S. He's alive in Mexico). And a couple of others have come to blows.
If you don't know who I'm talking about, I ain't tellin'.
Fong Pang Chao is a noted sharker in big events making him unpopular also. Oliver Ortmann has wanted to skewer him on an occasion or two,
and probably is quite capable.
For the most part, among pool's elite there is a mutual respect, if not genuine friendship.
I don't even want to go there about the WPBA pros. Let's just say they have their clicks.
T
Timberly
Guest
That's pretty much what I was trying to say. You verbalized it much better than I did.jay helfert said:
In the heat of the battle, best friends will argue. I've seen Szuter & Putnam disagree at the table but when it was over, they were roommates for that event and they're still good friends. Friend or no friend, they're all trying to make their living and at the table they're fierce competitors trying to win. Away from the table most really do have a mutual respect for the other person in all aspects from personality to their pool game.
The lifestyle is so different than any other profession. It takes a certain breed of person.... These guys get along way better than most of my former co-workers who all seemed to hate each other.
And...the women are women.
I am suprised that ANYONE likes Earl the Pearl lol. Expecially European's
And as for the WPBA having thier clicks, that might be a understatement considering a un-named source told me most of the WPBA ladies are um, playing for the other team
dave
And as for the WPBA having thier clicks, that might be a understatement considering a un-named source told me most of the WPBA ladies are um, playing for the other team
dave
sniper said:
What happen What happen, i want to know, i know his site he has some pics of him and Django together .
Flex
Not sure if you mean the statement or the face i put up there lol.
I guess i could have put that down for a face.
As for the comment, well when i first heard this person tell me, i was kinda shocked lol and it kinda made me laugh.
But oh well.
dave
Not sure if you mean the statement or the face i put up there lol.
I guess i could have put that down for a face. As for the comment, well when i first heard this person tell me, i was kinda shocked lol and it kinda made me laugh.
But oh well.
dave
How could anyone not like Jeremy Jones? Even Earl for that matter, Jeremy is just one of the coolest pros out there. Gabe Owen is one heck of a great guy too. I watched the finals of the US Open where Johnny Archer beat Jeremy in the finals, JJ showed so much heart and was making conversation with Johnny during the match, discussing what he was trying to do on certain shots. It was one of the most friendly and well played matches I ever saw. I think true heart shows when a player is gracious in defeat. I also have to give Johnny Archer credit, I personally think he is one of the greatest guys out there. There were some rumors about him not getting along with a Filipino at the last Us Open, but that was a bunch of bull. Johnny just got upset because the spectator kept talking loudly while he was shooting, even after Johnny asked him nicely to be more quiet.