The Self-Confidence of Billy Thorpe

JAM

JAM

I am the storm
Silver Member
I've been hearing rumblings about this kid for a while now. The young man just turned 21 years old. From Trotwood, Ohio, he's already made a name for himself around the country. Billy Thorpe is a force to be reckoned with.

Every pool player has a streak at the highest level, some longer than other. Shane's strike is still going strong.

Sky is, believe it or not, still getting stronger, yet he's already winning almost every event he enters. I can't wait to see him when he hits his peak. Gotta love this Kentucky thorougbred.

Billy Thorpe reminds me a little bit of Sky when Sky first started out. I hope, like Sky, that Billy surrounds himself with strong pool minds, those who can steer him in the right direction. He's definitely a rebel when it comes to pool, showing no fear, but America needs this young gun. Billy Thorpe has my attention and is currently on my pool radar. I like the kid.
 

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Billy Thorpe....sometimes you get to see who a person is under heat.

Salt City Billiards....Wednesday night before the Stone...
...Billy is playing Bucky in the semis. down 2-1...makes a tough shot on the one...gets
on the two-ball too straight on the end rail...table layout looks like a dog's breakfast...
...he's fiddling over the shot...can't get a decent shot on the three.....
...a girl about four years old walks right up to him with a doll about as big as she is...
...Billy gets up with a movie star smile, pats her on the head, pats the doll on the head..
...and congratulates her on her possession....
....an embarrassed mother rushes over and picks her up, but Billy puts the mother
at ease also....the area clears...Billy gets back down on the shot and runs out...
...eventually wins the match.

This kid has grace under pressure....:bow-down:
 
pt109 said:
Billy Thorpe....sometimes you get to see who a person is under heat.

Salt City Billiards....Wednesday night before the Stone...
...Billy is playing Bucky in the semis. down 2-1...makes a tough shot on the one...gets
on the two-ball too straight on the end rail...table layout looks like a dog's breakfast...
...he's fiddling over the shot...can't get a decent shot on the three.....
...a girl about four years old walks right up to him with a doll about as big as she is...
...Billy gets up with a movie star smile, pats her on the head, pats the doll on the head..
...and congratulates her on her possession....
....an embarrassed mother rushes over and picks her up, but Billy puts the mother
at ease also....the area clears...Billy gets back down on the shot and runs out...
...eventually wins the match.

This kid has grace under pressure....:bow-down:
Click to expand...

What a cool pool story! I wish I had seen that. I like this Billy the Kid even more now! :cool:
 
pt109 said:
Billy Thorpe....sometimes you get to see who a person is under heat.

Salt City Billiards....Wednesday night before the Stone...
...Billy is playing Bucky in the semis. down 2-1...makes a tough shot on the one...gets
on the two-ball too straight on the end rail...table layout looks like a dog's breakfast...
...he's fiddling over the shot...can't get a decent shot on the three.....
...a girl about four years old walks right up to him with a doll about as big as she is...
...Billy gets up with a movie star smile, pats her on the head, pats the doll on the head..
...and congratulates her on her possession....
....an embarrassed mother rushes over and picks her up, but Billy puts the mother
at ease also....the area clears...Billy gets back down on the shot and runs out...
...eventually wins the match.

This kid has grace under pressure....:bow-down:
Click to expand...
I own the new Salt City Billiards.

Billy was a treat. I picked him up from the airport with Shane. Was nice to see SVB giving him,guidance on being a pro. They were getting ready to,head to Russia next.

Billy is a real phenom. Like seeing Skylar and Shaw come up. Traveling to big events, I have seen many come up the past 10 years. With,a level,head they can progress. Hate seeing guys self destruct.
 
SBC said:
I own the new Salt City Billiards.

Billy was a treat. I picked him up from the airport with Shane. Was nice to see SVB giving him,guidance on being a pro. They were getting ready to,head to Russia next.

Billy is a real phenom. Like seeing Skylar and Shaw come up. Traveling to big events, I have seen many come up the past 10 years. With,a level,head they can progress. Hate seeing guys self destruct.
Click to expand...

Thank you for sharing this. I am glad to hear Shane is spending time with Billy, showing him the professional pool ropes, so to speak. Good news and very cool of Shane! :cool:
 
SBC said:
I own the new Salt City Billiards.

Billy was a treat. I picked him up from the airport with Shane. Was nice to see SVB giving him,guidance on being a pro. They were getting ready to,head to Russia next.

Billy is a real phenom. Like seeing Skylar and Shaw come up. Traveling to big events, I have seen many come up the past 10 years. With,a level,head they can progress. Hate seeing guys self destruct.
Click to expand...

Just so there's no misunderstanding between us....
...next time I drop down....and ask you for a toasted Danish?
...I don't mean I want a pastry...
...I want the Soren Sogaard....:)

Plugged in

IMG_4719.JPG
 
I first saw Billy in a local GSBT 9 ball event put on by Shannon Daughton. Billy shows up at 15, traveling with Brian White and Alex Ollinger. They all played well but Billy ended up beating Alex for the 1st place cheese. He also did well playing a local fella some 200/game one hole most of the night after the tourney matches finished.
Ironically, Billy the kid is exactly what all the locals here were calling him. Very impressive young man.
 
pt109 said:
Just so there's no misunderstanding between us....
...next time I drop down....and ask you for a toasted Danish?
...I don't mean I want a pastry...
...I want the Soren Sogaard....:)

Plugged in

View attachment 469813
Click to expand...

She s up and toasty. Only 5x10 heated billiards table in upstate NY...we have several men who play all day.
 
Great post JAM and story PT. Billy has always been that genuine, even as a 12 year in the pool rooms. With the mentorship of Shane, Billy could go all the way. The thing about Billy that separates him in my eyes, he seems to really love the game. He lights up like a school kid when he is at the table or sees one of his idols run out. At the derby you will see him excited sweating matches and action, just like all of us pool geeks.
 
Though still very young, Billy is a very experienced player. He is already used to playing in big spots. He played Albin Ouschan at the US Open while Albin was World 9-ball Champion and lost a hard-fought double hill match. Billy can, and has, held his own with the best. Sure hope he's on Team USA.
 
I had the chance to meet Mr. Thorpe when Shane invited him out to South Dakota to do some ice fishing early in the year. Very down to earth. He didn't seem to like the cold when he was out ice fishing but he and Shane would go hit balls every night. Absolutely fearless on the table.
 
Billy is from my area, Southwest Dayton. I first met him when he was maybe 10 years old, he was watching at one of the league state tournaments held in Dayton at that time. Billy stepped up and played in a mini tournament, played very strong for his age. Even at that age he was fast and loose. He beat plenty of older players that tournament. It was one of the few times that I've beat Billy, those days of giving him a strong battle is behind me I'm afraid. I'm happy for him.

He's grown up a ton, turned into a mature and very well mannered gentleman with nerves of steel, so it seems. He still plays a little locally once in a while when he's around but his obvious focus is on the big stage. We've seen a ton of super strong talent from the Dayton area, I'm suspecting Billy is going to go the furthest professionally if he has not already.

I'm thrilled to see this young man go after what he loves and wish him the very best. What an honor to represent your country while following your passion.
 
MOJOE said:
Billy is from my area, Southwest Dayton. I first met him when he was maybe 10 years old, he was watching at one of the league state tournaments held in Dayton at that time. Billy stepped up and played in a mini tournament, played very strong for his age. Even at that age he was fast and loose. He beat plenty of older players that tournament. It was one of the few times that I've beat Billy, those days of giving him a strong battle is behind me I'm afraid. I'm happy for him.

He's grown up a ton, turned into a mature and very well mannered gentleman with nerves of steel, so it seems. He still plays a little locally once in a while when he's around but his obvious focus is on the big stage. We've seen a ton of super strong talent from the Dayton area, I'm suspecting Billy is going to go the furthest professionally if he has not already.

I'm thrilled to see this young man go after what he loves and wish him the very best. What an honor to represent your country while following your passion.
Click to expand...

What a great background story! That really adds to the color of this thread. Thanks for sharing. I like Billy the Kid, if I may call him that, even more now! :cool:
 
terryhanna said:
Watch out team Europe... Team USA has a new young gun this year :clapping:

View attachment 469876
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That pic...You know, throughout the decades, many good character actors have made a great living playing bad guys. Billy could make it as big as Bruce Dern did in his day if he developed acting skills. He certainly has the look.
 
Jim Thorpe, PA...was named after a great competitor...

IMG_4737.jpg

Wouldn't it be nice if another town felt they should name their place after another Thorpe?
...Billy, you got a lotta work to do.
 
pt109 said:
Billy Thorpe....sometimes you get to see who a person is under heat.

Salt City Billiards....Wednesday night before the Stone...
...Billy is playing Bucky in the semis. down 2-1...makes a tough shot on the one...gets
on the two-ball too straight on the end rail...table layout looks like a dog's breakfast...
...he's fiddling over the shot...can't get a decent shot on the three.....
...a girl about four years old walks right up to him with a doll about as big as she is...
...Billy gets up with a movie star smile, pats her on the head, pats the doll on the head..
...and congratulates her on her possession....
....an embarrassed mother rushes over and picks her up, but Billy puts the mother
at ease also....the area clears...Billy gets back down on the shot and runs out...
...eventually wins the match.

This kid has grace under pressure....:bow-down:
Click to expand...

Nice story. He sounds like a really nice guy.
 
SBC said:
I own the new Salt City Billiards.

Billy was a treat. I picked him up from the airport with Shane. Was nice to see SVB giving him,guidance on being a pro. They were getting ready to,head to Russia next.

Billy is a real phenom. Like seeing Skylar and Shaw come up. Traveling to big events, I have seen many come up the past 10 years. With,a level,head they can progress. Hate seeing guys self destruct.
Click to expand...

That is super cool. Traveling all the way to Russia ? I wonder how the pool scene is there.
 
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