I am guessing that he quit playing pool a few years ago, I haven't even heard his name mentioned in about 8 years. Does anyone know if he did quit and why? How good of a player was he? Was he a top pro or was he just a trick shot artist? I can't find much info on him, I'm just curious.
Roger Griffis
- Thread starter cuetechasaurus
- Start date
I don't know why he quit, but Roger Griffis was a top nine ball player years ago. I'd say he played around Shawn Putnam speed.
He was among those that left the PBT for CJ Wiley's PCA tour in the late 1990's. If memory serves, on the PCA, he was one of the stars.
Last time I watched Roger play was in the 1999 National Straight Pool Championships in NYC, where he was impressive in finishing fourth.
He was among those that left the PBT for CJ Wiley's PCA tour in the late 1990's. If memory serves, on the PCA, he was one of the stars.
Last time I watched Roger play was in the 1999 National Straight Pool Championships in NYC, where he was impressive in finishing fourth.
cuetechasaurus said:
He played in the 2001 accu-stats 8-ball invitational, against a very strong (but small) invitational field of Roger Griffis, Johnny Archer, Mika Immonen, Francisco Bustamante, Troy Frank, and Efren Reyes. That's pretty elite company.
The format was round-robin, and he placed second, tying Efren's 4-1 record in the round-robin but losing to Efren in a play-off for first place. The only player in the tournament he didn't beat was Francisco Bustamante (he beat Efren once, but then lost in the play-off). Any time you beat Archer, Immonen, Frank, and Reyes in a single tournament, you're not just a trick shot artist. I did get the impression he was something of an 8-ball specialist, though.
-Andrew
Andrew Manning said:
I have all those tapes. His first match against Efren was outstanding.
I saw him play in one of the Camel tour stops about 6 or 7 years ago. He was most definitely a contender, but what really struck me about him was that he was just an extremely nice and friendly guy. He took time with the fans, and just seemed to be having fun being at the event.
Steve
Steve
i heard johnny archer ask roger at hard times "what are you gonna give me playing banks?"
this was around 92 or 93, johnny was playing real well then.
from what i know, very, very strong one pocket and bank player.... i think he could hang with almost anybody. also very good at nine ball as well.
i have a great story about him, i hesitated whether i should tell it or not.... anyway..... here goes
roger had a friend playing some other guy, and as it happened there was a basketball game on, the phoenix suns were playing somebody else. anyway, they had it worked out to where roger and everybody would start yelling "GO PHOENIX" every time his friend was about to take a bad shot. so, every few minutes this poor confused guy kept hearing 4 or 5 people yell out "go phoenix, GO PHOENIX!!" they werent playing for that much, and i think it was more of a joke, it probably messed him up more than it helped him. a freind of mine was there and he knoew what was going on and he said it was absolutely hilarious. again, i dont think roger was trying to really get one over on anybody.... it was more in a joking manner. ive always heard he is a really nice, lively and fun guy. a great asset to any poolroom.
this was around 92 or 93, johnny was playing real well then.
from what i know, very, very strong one pocket and bank player.... i think he could hang with almost anybody. also very good at nine ball as well.
i have a great story about him, i hesitated whether i should tell it or not.... anyway..... here goes
roger had a friend playing some other guy, and as it happened there was a basketball game on, the phoenix suns were playing somebody else. anyway, they had it worked out to where roger and everybody would start yelling "GO PHOENIX" every time his friend was about to take a bad shot. so, every few minutes this poor confused guy kept hearing 4 or 5 people yell out "go phoenix, GO PHOENIX!!" they werent playing for that much, and i think it was more of a joke, it probably messed him up more than it helped him. a freind of mine was there and he knoew what was going on and he said it was absolutely hilarious. again, i dont think roger was trying to really get one over on anybody.... it was more in a joking manner. ive always heard he is a really nice, lively and fun guy. a great asset to any poolroom.
Very nice guy and a very good player a few years back. He was in Orlando a few years ago, and I remember Charlie Williams and Max Eberle asking him for weight playing 9-ball, and I don't think they were chomping at the bits to play Roger. He was either 1st or 2nd (with CJ) on CJ's tour pretty consistently and played at a very high level. I was at Beach Club Billiards few years ago, and Roger was really struggling with his game. He asked Efren for advice, Efren worked with him (I remember Efren said he needed to lengthen his bridge), and I guess Roger pulled out of his slump. Shows what a nice guy Efren is, since they were competing in the same tournement. Glad his name came up because he was one of the nicest, most accessible pro's I've been around and should not be forgotten.
I stood with him a whole evening watching him shoot craps. He also loaned Alex and Busty some money...Busty had just won $10,000 in the tournament and was Busted. Alex was trying to scrounge up some money to feed him. 
Just a great guy all around. I know he took the death of his friend Tony Ellin pretty hard.
Just a great guy all around. I know he took the death of his friend Tony Ellin pretty hard.
One time at band camp.....
I was with Roger in Olathe, KS at Shooters, (I think that was the name of it).
We watched this guy lose $40K. He remarked well he sure has heart,,,he said he had played most of the Philipinnoes and they always pull up after a one set loss.
Great guy to talk to and laughed his ass off.
Ken
I was with Roger in Olathe, KS at Shooters, (I think that was the name of it).
We watched this guy lose $40K. He remarked well he sure has heart,,,he said he had played most of the Philipinnoes and they always pull up after a one set loss.
Great guy to talk to and laughed his ass off.
Ken
cute story on Roger
A few years back when everybody went to q-masters on Norview Ave. during the Open Roger was trying to get a game of 1 pocket with anybody. Nobody was willing to jump in with him. Cliff Joyner was there and said he would play anybody in the house except Roger. Roger, being the rather large in stature gentleman that he is, asked Cliff if he really meant anybody and Cliff yelled yes. Anybody. So Roger took 2 or 3 steps to 1 side and who was standing behind Roger, which Cliff could not see. Jose Parica. Cliff almost fainted. But, Cliff, being true to his word played Jose a race to 3 which i believe Jose won. If i am wrong about who won and you were there please correct me cuz i did not stay to the end and was told the next day that Jose had won.
But imagine being so large of a person, not fat mind you, that you can hide a whole person behind you. I know. Jose is small in stature. but it was funny at the time.........................mike
A few years back when everybody went to q-masters on Norview Ave. during the Open Roger was trying to get a game of 1 pocket with anybody. Nobody was willing to jump in with him. Cliff Joyner was there and said he would play anybody in the house except Roger. Roger, being the rather large in stature gentleman that he is, asked Cliff if he really meant anybody and Cliff yelled yes. Anybody. So Roger took 2 or 3 steps to 1 side and who was standing behind Roger, which Cliff could not see. Jose Parica. Cliff almost fainted. But, Cliff, being true to his word played Jose a race to 3 which i believe Jose won. If i am wrong about who won and you were there please correct me cuz i did not stay to the end and was told the next day that Jose had won.
But imagine being so large of a person, not fat mind you, that you can hide a whole person behind you. I know. Jose is small in stature. but it was funny at the time.........................mike
Where's Rog
My take on him and his situation, he realized the road ahead, choose the rewards of family work and a way of life that had a predictable future. If there were ever anyone to do a movie of Minnesota Fats, Roger and his personality are a perfect fit.
My take on him and his situation, he realized the road ahead, choose the rewards of family work and a way of life that had a predictable future. If there were ever anyone to do a movie of Minnesota Fats, Roger and his personality are a perfect fit.
He won the ESPN Ultimte 9 Ball in the late 90's.
He was the top player in AZ. I think he moved...
I mention his name a couple weeks ago in the one hit wonders thread or something similar.
I know he ran ads in a local rag for exterminating services. I think he owned the company. Maybe that is what he is doing.
I also heard he moved to Texas to work with his inlaws who own a billiard magazine. I think it was Pool and Billiards - All that may be a rumor. I don't even remember who told me that.
He was/is a hell of a player. Top speed for sure.
He was the top player in AZ. I think he moved...
I mention his name a couple weeks ago in the one hit wonders thread or something similar.
I know he ran ads in a local rag for exterminating services. I think he owned the company. Maybe that is what he is doing.
I also heard he moved to Texas to work with his inlaws who own a billiard magazine. I think it was Pool and Billiards - All that may be a rumor. I don't even remember who told me that.
He was/is a hell of a player. Top speed for sure.
CaptiveBred said:
CaptiveBred...The people who own Pool & Billiard Magazine (Harold Simonson) are from Chicago, and moved the magazine to SC a couple of years ago, when he retired...not Texas.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Back in 1990 Roger had decided to start playing pool full time. He practiced for free at a poolroom a bit and went to Reno to play in one of the two Sands 9ball events. This was the June tournament. He won his first two matches against less known opponents and then Earl sent Roger to the loser side. His next opponent was J Archer. Roger beat him 11-4. Then Roger beat David Howard 11-9. Then he drew Mike Massey who was playing good. Beat Massey I think 11-8. Next up Steve Mizerak. Beat Miz 11-8. After that it was a breeze. He beat Jeff Carter 11-7 then Efren Reyes 11-9. And then Kim Davenport went down 11-10. Went to the finals and lost again to Earl. The finals that year was two out of three sets. Racing to nine, each set. Roger said that he had trouble playing with Earl because Earl was sort of like an idol to him. Roger got over that. He beat Earl later on without too much trouble
JimmyB500 said:
Shortly thereafter we had a 30K guarantee event at Hollywood Billiards in Los Angeles. Almost all the top players came. Roger won that tournament beating Efren in the finals.
A funny Roger story. During the Los Angeles All Around tournament in 1993, Roger needed a ref to watch a shot where he was jacked up. I stood behind him and watched. He made a great shot and jumped back with all his massive weight landing on my big toe. One broken toe later I limped around for the rest of the tournament and for a few weeks after it was over.
He did play in the AccuStats 8 Ball invitational in 2001. He would have won it except Bustamante beat him in the final match throwing him into a tie with Efren, who then beat him in a playoff. That's the last I saw of him.
Not to long ago I spoke with Harold Simonsen who said he was working and doing well. In Texas I believe he said.