*THE REAL* Pool's 15 most influential people/brands list

Is the most read book, The 99 Critical Shots?. Ray deserves some points for that.


Jeff Livingston
Hell, yes.

First book on pool that I ever read as a kid. I saw Ray in 2019 at Brass Tap in NC. I mis-spoke (nervousness) and said I love his book, 101 critical... he stops me there and says "it's 99, junior"

*Facepalm*
 
ask anyone that is not a regular player in pool rooms what diamond products are, or anything not related to fats, mosconi, black widow, mizerak , or brunswick are about and you will get a blank stare.
With the title of the thread being "Pools 15 most influential people/brands"....tacking on "not a regular pool player" is a bit odd.

Are we talking about pool people/things that influence people OUTSIDE of pool?
 
With the title of the thread being "Pools 15 most influential people/brands"....tacking on "not a regular pool player" is a bit odd.

Are we talking about pool people/things that influence people OUTSIDE of pool?
Great question, and the answer, of course, is that the parameters of the poll haven't been defined. No doubt, the posts to this point have restricted the matter to who has influenced pool, and not who within pool has influenced pool and things outside of pool.

For example, Jeanette Lee's influence, all of which derives from pool, extends far beyond pool. She has been a member of the Women's Sports Foundation, participating in their activities and charitable events. She has been national spokesperson for the National Scoliosis Foundation and has done charitable and humanitarian work on their behalf. She has been one of the major spokespersons for fishing/camping/hunting supplies giant Bass Pro Shops, so she's a player in many different circles.

For now, I think we're just focusing on who influences pool. Probably no-one will ever influence it to the extent Brunswick did, not even Matchroom, but more than a few have substantial influence over the game itself and they are the ones that have shaped the game and figured in its growth over the years.
 
Brunswick
Diamond
Valley
Simonis
McDermott
Meucci
Viking
Predator
APA
BCA
TAP
ACA
ICA
SBE
AZBilliards
 
That other thread that was off by a lot inspired this thread where we can share what we feel are the real 15 most influential people/brands in pool.

Here's mine in no particular order:

Efren

Earl

Walter Tevis

SVB

Greg Sullivan/Diamond

Pat Fleming/Accustats

Mark Griffin/CSI

Brunswick

Aramith

Simonis

Willy Mosconi

Jeanette Lee

Minnesota Fats

George Balabushka

APA

Barry Hearn/Matchroom

Barry Behrman

Who did I miss? Who shpuld be off? Replaced by who?

best,
brian kc
You can not leave out Mark Wilson. I can’t think of anyone else who has dedicated so much to the game. Top notch instructor, best you could find in the country
 
Mike Page's fargorate has had the biggest influence on U.S. amateur leagues and tournaments in the past several years. Fargorates are the gold standard of amateur pool competitions.
Predator's development of ld and cf shafts is another HUGE influence/change in pool this century.
And let's not forget Diamond tables, making pool more competitive with their tight and deeper pockets.
Those 3 factors have had the most influence on the game recently imo.
 
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