Vivian Villarreal

[bruin70]

Thanks for the feedback. Wow, there are some really strong opinions out there!


One question I meant to ask in my original post is if anyone else is under the opinion that Vivan would be more successful if she played a bit more conservatively and played a few more saves instead of going for spectacular shots? I love Vivan's aggressive style but I can't help but think she'd be winning more matches if she pulled back a bit. I'd appreciate others' thoughts on this.

Ed

villareal is who she is. she's a great shooter who doesn't think, and maybe if she held back she wouldn't be the same. i think she takes her time(at her own pace) and doesn't try going through a rack willy nilly.

and because i do think she takes her time, i HAVE to think she's a GREAT shooter with limited position skills.

there ARE those kinds of players you know

 

[vapoolplayer]

villareal is who she is. she's a great shooter who doesn't think, and maybe if she held back she wouldn't be the same. i think she takes her time(at her own pace) and doesn't try going through a rack willy nilly.

and because i do think she takes her time, i HAVE to think she's a GREAT shooter with limited position skills.

there ARE those kinds of players you know

good post, i tend to agree with you here. she is definitely a SHOTMAKER. you don't want to let her see the ball, she will find a shot.

and before someone hangs bruin out to dry, i'm sure he was comparing her to her peers in position play, not saying that she can't play postion, just that she comes up a little short when compared to some of the other top WPBA players. she has most of them in the shotmaking department though.

VAP

 

[X Breaker]

Pharaoh:

I am sorry to read about your unpleasant experience with Vivian.

In my opinion, Vivian is one very good shot maker with a lot of natural talents. I have the pleasure of talking to her and watching her play on several occassions, and I have to say I really enjoy her company.

She is the kind who speaks out her mind. I know some people may dislike her for that; on the other hand, this is also what makes her so popular among her fans--her being so honest with her feelings.

Vivian has come a long way and she has done a lot to promote our sport. I have never seen her acting unsportmanlike in any tournament I have watched. I wish eventually, you will be able to see Vivian under a different light and I hope you will appreciate her presence like I do.

Perhaps she was having a bad day when you last met her?

Peace,
Richard

 

[turquoisecrazy]

Pharaoh:

I am sorry to read about your unpleasant experience with Vivian.

In my opinion, Vivian is one very good shot maker with a lot of natural talents. I have the pleasure of talking to her and watching her play on several occassions, and I have to say I really enjoy her company.

She is the kind who speaks out her mind. I know some people may dislike her for that; on the other hand, this is also what makes her so popular among her fans--her being so honest with her feelings.

Vivian has come a long way and she has done a lot to promote our sport. I have never seen her acting unsportmanlike in any tournament I have watched. I wish eventually, you will be able to see Vivian under a different light and I hope you will appreciate her presence like I do.

Perhaps she was having a bad day when you last met her?

Peace,
Richard

UIHVBIWEBVIW CVQWA

 

[buddha162]

I would much rather watch Vivian or Jeanette play than Allison or Karen, heck I might as well watch a Ralph Souquet match.

Well, you might want to check out a Fisher, Corr, or Souquet match if you're interested in seeing 9-ball played at the highest level.

If you want to see otherwise respectable players engage in half-cocked commentary and phony excitement, I can see your point. Great pool in and of itself obviously isn't enough to hold your attention.

-Roger

 

[bruin70]

good post, i tend to agree with you here. she is definitely a SHOTMAKER. you don't want to let her see the ball, she will find a shot.

and before someone hangs bruin out to dry, i'm sure he was comparing her to her peers in position play, not saying that she can't play postion, just that she comes up a little short when compared to some of the other top WPBA players. she has most of them in the shotmaking department though.

VAP

thanks for the preemptive defense. i am a big fan of vv, and prefer watching her more than any other female. but after years of watching her continually hooking herself for no good reason, i've come to a rather FRUSTRATING realization that her position game keeps her from the top 4 more often than not.

and since there's been a few posts about vv and jl's similiarities,,,,,,i think vv is a natural showman and is very engaging. jl, however, tries real hard to work the crowd. this can be very off-putting, but i admire jl more for what she's done than the other gals. and how can i not like someone who loves 14.1 as much as jl does.

 

[evilmoody1]

Just something to think about--- Sometimes arrogance & cockiness seems to be an unfavorable trait in women and an admirable trait in men. Just wondering if any of the negativity about vv & jl supposed arrogance and cockiness would turn into admiration if they were men. ??

 

[bruin70]

Just something to think about--- Sometimes arrogance & cockiness seems to be an unfavorable trait in women and an admirable trait in men. Just wondering if any of the negativity about vv & jl supposed arrogance and cockiness would turn into admiration if they were men. ??

i don't see the men doing it on tv. i've seen all kinds of male players act surly, rude, an argumentative. don't like any of it. in many ways, the pool table is a great equalizer. no men, no women, just players. so annoying is annoying anyway you cut it.

vv pulls it off better than jl because she comes off as being naturally warner....and isn't it all in the presentation? i've never seen vv personally enough to know.

 

[drivermaker]

and because i do think she takes her time, i HAVE to think she's a GREAT shooter with limited position skills.

I think you're right on the money about the position skills. She gets out of line often or comes up either short/long and ends up having to fire at something to keep it going. I think her inconsistency in position play has hurt her in winning a lot more tournaments over the years. It also seems to me that she'll gag a key game up or two by just missing shots that aren't all that difficult. I don't know if the nerves get to her, her own chatter, thinking ahead of herself, not enough focus, or what. But she's done her share. When she's on, she can really be on though.

 

[Rickw]

.

Finally, does anyone know the status of Vivian's search for her daughter? Are US authorities still searching for her? I thought I remember hearing they suspected she may be in Mexico.

Thanks All!
Ed

The story as I remember it is that the little girl is actually someone else's daughter, a former friend of Vivian's. This lady evidently got into some type of trouble and had to go to prison for a while and Vivian and her mother took care of the little girl. During the time the real mother was in prison, several years, Vivian and her mom became very attached to the girl. When the real mother got out of prison, she evidently took her girl and ran off to Mexico. I don't know what has happened since either but I think Vivian took a hiatus from pool in her efforts to find this girl. Sad story for Vivian, her mother and the little girl.

 

[Kerry Impson]

That's about right, Rickw. I believe Vivian had custody but the mother had visiting rights, and during one of the visits abducted the little girl to Mexico. It's a very sad story and my heart goes out to Vivian.