The Magician lost his magic?
- Thread starter ballball
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mykel37
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no! not yet! because even at his age right now there are still a lot of pros'
that are young and at their prime that doesn't wanna match up with efren
definitely in money game. And some are going to beat efren, but they'll
bleed to death and have a hard time before they do.
He's a well respected man here, mostly in the world of pool!
that are young and at their prime that doesn't wanna match up with efren
definitely in money game. And some are going to beat efren, but they'll
bleed to death and have a hard time before they do.
He's a well respected man here, mostly in the world of pool!
Johnnyt said:
I played him for less than 6 months ago, so you better listen to me now
Efren still plays pool at One Side, almost every day, in money matches against Ronnie Alcano, Dennis Orcullo, Lee Van Corteza etc... Still without asking for weight
And the matches are mainly 10-ball and rotation... He is still the very best in rotation in the Philippines. Alcano plays Efren without handicap in rotation, but is not making much money on doing so.Most of the pros doesn't have the passion and joy for pool as Efren do. During my visits to Manila I was actually surprised over the fact that when a moneymatch ended, and the table was free for a couple of minutes while a new match was arranged, Efren would be the first to run to the table, grab a cue and do a shot or three, even if he wasn't supposed to play on that table. You can often see him walking around at One Side between tables, with his cuestick, ready to play a game if someone wants. The problem for him is that not so many Filipinos wants to play him, cause it is still not a good matchup for them...
Story about Efren loving pool:
My first visit to Manila I played him some cheap one-pocket for 4 hours, till 8 in the morning. He then asks me to play some more. I couldn't, but agreed to play him sometimes next week.
On the following day he has a rotation match for 20 000 pesos against Alcano, race to 11. While Efren is warming up, he sees me in the crowd and says: Let's play one-pocket after my match! So we played that night too.
The next day an old man walks into the poolhall, sent by Efren, to ask me if I wanted to play one-pocket with Efren that night too. Of course I would, so Efren came to the poolhall just to play pool with me. A nobody from Norway, who just happen to share his passion for pool.
Then, the next day Efren was at the poolhall when they opened, cause he had heard I was there normally around opening time. And he sat there waiting for 3 hours for me to come. When I entered the door he smiled and said "Roy, let's play one-pocket!"
After those 2 weeks with playing pool in Manila, I realised that there are few people in this world who has the same passion for pool as Efren. I think he could have played pool 18 hours a day, if he just found someone willing to play him for money without having to give the nuts.
He really loves to play pool, and because of that he still learn new shots, new patterns, safeties etc., and will continue to be the man to beat for the rest of the pros for many years to come.
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ballball said:
I wish I could play as BAD as Efren.
Efren is aging, as do we all, his accomplishments speak volumes, is he done? I dont think so, Im sure he will win a few more titles, then he might retire, doubtfully, but he might. He is a living legend of the game and deserves all the respect we could possibly show.
Efren might try some low deflection Shafts, and if he does and likes it, I truely feel sorry for his opponets in the comming years.. Even a magic wand can be upgraded ya know????
SPINDOKTOR
Efren might try some low deflection Shafts, and if he does and likes it, I truely feel sorry for his opponets in the comming years.. Even a magic wand can be upgraded ya know????
SPINDOKTOR
ballball said:well his last memorable win was the 2007 Derby Classic , after that it's all downhill, i like him to be remembered as the "great one" not playing in bar rooms just to earn money , i hope he can open a billiard academy in the Philippines to help Filipino pool players
Huh????????
Most Definitely
He needs to pack his bags and MOVE TO MY BASEMENT where he can give me lessons every day.
I think Efrin will still play better than most after he is dead and gone.
I would imagine that when he gets to heaven, GOD will finally be able to get some answers to some serious questions regarding his wonderful creation of Geometry and Physics.
Like- HTF did you do this?
and, HTF did you do that?
And, what did you put on that ball to make it do what it did.
Stuff like that..
JMO
ballball said:
He needs to pack his bags and MOVE TO MY BASEMENT where he can give me lessons every day.
I think Efrin will still play better than most after he is dead and gone.
I would imagine that when he gets to heaven, GOD will finally be able to get some answers to some serious questions regarding his wonderful creation of Geometry and Physics.
Like- HTF did you do this?
and, HTF did you do that?
And, what did you put on that ball to make it do what it did.
Stuff like that..
JMO
ironman said:
it's not a joke , i think the past tournaments he had been lacking in enthusiasm maybe from his BAD experienced when he won the "biggest money" or biggest fraud ..lol (forgot the tournament) and didn't get it all and an automatic $100,000 win or lose as king of the hill
anyway Efren deserve what the 1st "king of the hill"( forgot his name) had a sure and cool $100,000 even playing w / a woman
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ballball said:it's not a joke , i think the past tournaments he had been lacking in enthusiasm maybe from his BAD experienced when he won the "biggest money" or biggest fraud ..lol (forgot the tournament) and didn't get it all and an automatic $100,000 win or lose as king of the hill
anyway Efren deserve what the 1st "king of the hill"( forgot his name) had a sure and cool $100,000 even playing w / a woman
I agree with you that he does deserve it, but, that subject has been beaten to death/ I do not doubt though that it had an effect on him,just as it did . many others.
No matter where his headi s now, in my mind the man has played some of the greatest pool ever played.
This game can and has done funny things to many different people.
I believe it's all about age factor. when you do get old, you just get tired of traveling too often. not to mention the mental and physical stress that goes along with it. you'll just be contented being at home, playing the local boys. but I do think that Efren would greatly appreciate it, if foreign players would come to his home turf playing him. like why should I go to travel just to get some action when I got plenty of action coming to me?
Efren is not getting any younger. what seems to be a simple trip to younger players, is a big burden to shoulder on his part. 20+ years of constant travel by a 55 year old man to and fro the U.S. and other parts of Asia and Europe. don't you think that is too much already?
I believe it's time for other players to return the favor and pay him a visit.
Efren is not getting any younger. what seems to be a simple trip to younger players, is a big burden to shoulder on his part. 20+ years of constant travel by a 55 year old man to and fro the U.S. and other parts of Asia and Europe. don't you think that is too much already?
I believe it's time for other players to return the favor and pay him a visit.
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Of course, he should keep playing. So his game isn't what it was, big deal. It isn't like baseball or football, where when a guy reaches a certain point he hurts his team or gets demoted and has to play for chicken feed or quit. In pool he can keep making a decent living indefinitely with his talent. His game is still better than most and will remain so as long as he wants it to.
he offered me the 6 at the Derby, LOL I didnt play.
no one will ever play like him, i watched him run 14 balls in Rotation this year while he was waiting for the guy wh was going to play he won 7-0, he only ran 14 because thats all there was on the table, it looked like a 1P game they were all bunched up tight, he shot in the 1 and then the 2 DUH, I looked at the balls and said to the guy next to me hae has no shot at running the rest of them....he did, he came with thing I never saw in my life. I said it 20+ years ago he is the best, most people disagreed with me. then I find AZ 15 months ago and I saw that enough people saw what I saw at Hardtimes and reno in the Mid 80's. I'm glad he gets the recoginization he deserves, He did appear to be somewhat board this year at the Derby gazing around the room looking like he is thinking "Why am I here?" I saw this more than once, can he still play sure, does he want to play i'm not so sure.
no one will ever play like him, i watched him run 14 balls in Rotation this year while he was waiting for the guy wh was going to play he won 7-0, he only ran 14 because thats all there was on the table, it looked like a 1P game they were all bunched up tight, he shot in the 1 and then the 2 DUH, I looked at the balls and said to the guy next to me hae has no shot at running the rest of them....he did, he came with thing I never saw in my life. I said it 20+ years ago he is the best, most people disagreed with me. then I find AZ 15 months ago and I saw that enough people saw what I saw at Hardtimes and reno in the Mid 80's. I'm glad he gets the recoginization he deserves, He did appear to be somewhat board this year at the Derby gazing around the room looking like he is thinking "Why am I here?" I saw this more than once, can he still play sure, does he want to play i'm not so sure.
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Efren's back was bothering him at DCC. So was his bursitis.
IF he comes back healthier next year, he'd be the favorite to be overall champ at DCC imo.
IF he comes back healthier next year, he'd be the favorite to be overall champ at DCC imo.
Knit 1 - Pearl 2- Eat A Moon Pie - Knit 1 - Pearl 2
I have it on good inside information that Efren has enrolled in a knitting course.
Doug
( rocking & knitting )
*Question sent in to Pearl's Knitting School forum by Efren: "Hi everyone, I just have a quick question. When you're pearling, is it supposed to look anything like the knit stitch, because my pearl stitch is looking a lot like my knit stitch and I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or not. Thanks for all the help."
I have it on good inside information that Efren has enrolled in a knitting course.
Doug
( rocking & knitting )
*Question sent in to Pearl's Knitting School forum by Efren: "Hi everyone, I just have a quick question. When you're pearling, is it supposed to look anything like the knit stitch, because my pearl stitch is looking a lot like my knit stitch and I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or not. Thanks for all the help."
"Old pool players never die. They just lose their balls". JH
I'm not going to get into an evaluation of Efren's game, his mood, his health, his enthusiasm or anything else. I have only this to say about the E God of pool. If you think he's slipped a notch, you're in for a surprise. He can still play as good or better than he ever did!
Efren ain't done yet, by a long shot! JMHO
I'm not going to get into an evaluation of Efren's game, his mood, his health, his enthusiasm or anything else. I have only this to say about the E God of pool. If you think he's slipped a notch, you're in for a surprise. He can still play as good or better than he ever did!
Efren ain't done yet, by a long shot! JMHO
JoeyInCali said:
i can relate to that, i cant even play now, in the past month i noticed that i was playing worse and worse, the past week I havent been able to play period. I'm in such bac shape I havent left the house in 6 days, I'm going to Germany very soon to see my Dr and new Dr's. i might have MD in my back, all the orthopedic problems have been solved. i wouldnt wish what I have on anyone. Back to Efren I believe he has a good solid 10 years of high level competitive 1P left and Rotation. I ont think he will be competitive in 9 ball or 10 ball anymore, rotation takes alot of creativity and I dont see that in SVB....yet so thats why I pick Efren in rotation. 1P I dont see any problems for him for along for a long time. SVB will be long remembered too but there is only one Efren-I have yet to see anyone that can turn lemons into lemonade like he does.
I'm not knocking SVB he is a friend and I respect him more than I can express here on a post and am not knocking him, I believe he will be the next Efren for many years to come, but he dosent have the "Magic"....yet. I hope he gets it, SVB is without a doubt on the right track and it will be great to watch him keep improving.