What Players Have Heart?

[Playsome]

There are a couple guys here in Modesto that lose thousands and thousands matching up with various people, month in and month out. Everybody always tells them how much heart they've got as they're leaving the poolroom, broke! That's not the kind of heart I want.
Fatboy talked about a kid in Modesto that was wheelchair bound and although I never met him I knew right away that it was a kid named Timmy that is still talked about by the "oldtimers" as an example of heart and class.
To me the definition of heart is the person that you are never safe against, no matter how far ahead you are; the guy that just keeps coming at you until he's busted or beats you. My dads name is Len Swisher and I once saw him beat 5 champions in a row at the Reno tournament (Amar, Parica, Luat, Chohan, MacDonald) in route to a top eight finish, all this at the age of 55 and holding down a full time job. I always thought that took heart.
Speaking of Modesto boys, doesn't Kim have a lil' heart?.........Marc Swisher

 

[Stones]

this aint about pool, but i'm gonna brag a little. The day my mom died after 2.5 years of cancer I was with her the whole time, i'm an only child, she died a long crule battle with a disease that knows no boundarys. I got the call at 9:30 Am, I erased her number from my phone and went back to sleep-I was up for about 2 days and got to sleep at about 5am, I knew we had lost the battle, 30 minutes later I got up at 10AM and went to work like nothing had happened, as she wanted me to do, I didnt tell anyone for about a month. I did what she wanted, not skip a beat because she passed, thats heart.


As for pool the guys with heart never talk about it, I only made the other thread to see what people would say I was curious. I will let my peers judge me.

Happy Christmas,

RIP mom<-----thats the hard part the next few days, her anniversary with my dad is Jan 6. I lost dad in 2000. Now I'm alone, I lived for my parents, now you know a little about me personally.

Bud, you ain't alone!

Stones

 

[freddy the beard]

Lori Shampo, now you're talking!

Lori Shampo, God rest her soul, had the heart of a lioness. She would crank it up with any of the guys, just get the game close to right. Most feared woman cash player ever.

She had no peer! Played sets for 5 and 10k regularly. One of my life's regrets is never hooking up with her. There was always a little heat between us but it remained unrequited. We were both in action too much. Few women dared gamble with her, and if you were a guy you had better have a real good game before you got down. Broke the balls as hard as anybody.

the Beard

 

[hemicudas]

And Earl's never been the same since.

It's a joke folks! Just a joke! I couldn't resist.

Sure, it is a joke,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but you have to admit,,,,,,,,,,the timing is interesting.

 

[iba7467]

Roadman

Justin Cone, the kid doesn't play as good as the best, but he'll play them. I watched him play $100/game one pocket for over 36 hours. After grinding the whole time, he won about $1300.

 

[j_kronz79]

i once played matlock in olathe, kansas. he comes up dry and i hit him with 7. only 2 get kicked in the side going for 8. then he proceeds to hit me with 8 and puts me in alcatraz to win the set.

 

[raybo147]

> George Fels wrote an article back in the 80's very similar to the general point of this thread. In his article,one of the most notable examples he gave was a match Luther Lassiter played in 1940's Norfolk. He was playing a local player 100-60 in 14.1 for 5000. Luther was nearly defeated when his opponent caught a gear and ran 58 balls,leaving him stuck 58-8. Luther,risking a 10k turnaround every time the balls were broken or even leaving himself tough,simply ran 92-out for the cash. Adjusted for inflation,that would be close to 60k now. That is heart,period.

Another thing about heart that George noted correctly is that at some point,just about ALL of us have been or will be accused of not having any,along with 20 million other players.


The only players that have EVER accused me of not having an enlarged ticker are those that have never been in the box with me. I simply don't have the bankroll,or at the moment,the game to let it fully manifest itself.

I was a defensive back in high school football,and played late in blowout games for most of my 3 years on the varsity. Before an important district game my senior year,our best corner got arrested and kicked off the team,the other starter pulled a hamstring in warm-ups before the game. I started on 45 minutes notice,against an All-State receiver 6 inches taller than me and probably half a second faster in the 40. I held him to 2 catches for 24 yards,with no scores,and had 2 interceptions,a forced fumble,2 tips,and caused him to drop 5 other balls. He told me he licked his chops before the game,thinking he was going to pad his 178 yards per game average,and 19 scores. After the game,he said he felt like he was being double-teamed,because my heart was twice as big as any corner he had faced. He played in the NFL for 3 years. I'd say I have a little. Rib and a few others here have seen it too. Tommy D.

Tommy do you own a Corvette?

 

[Tommy-D]

> Sheeeit,I wish.........

> There has been some confusion about this before,Tom DiLorenzo and I are not the same person. Tommy D.

 

[WheatCues]

What players are considered to have heart and why? I was reading the definition of "heart" on another thread and Im curious for examples of heart that have been displayed in the last ten years that the forum members identify as truly showing "heart." I'll post a few examples that Ive witnessed myself that I think identifies heart... Ljon

That's an interesting question and the answer is what separates the front runners from the true player's...

As a gambler and tournament player, I find myself leaning more torward the tourny scenario simply because there is more pressure and it's balls-to-the-wall as far as getting it together in one set... and what sets the typical players :front runners" aside from the ones who have heart is this : Knowing what you can do in a losing situation and being able to turn it around and win regardless... those of you who know me know what I mean !!!

I'ts believing in your talent and game and never giving up until the final 9-ball is pocketed...

I have been on the road numerous times myself and in one particular instance was playing for 40.00 a game and down 700.00 with 20.00 left in my pocket 400+ miles from home paying after every rack and came back and got even then offered my opponent the last 3 if wanted to bet 50.00... and he quit.

This is just an example of heart and never giving up, I myself have been in those situations several times, and not to brag.. but self confidence and knowing who your are and what kind of player you are under extreme unfavorable conditions and when it's absolutely neccessary, being able to sieze the opportunity and win.. and that is heart....

Anyone can front run 80% of the pros. have that down to a science.... but what defines heart is never giving up no matter what and then coming back and winning, it takes a strong mind and alot of cynicism to be like that and your own best friend in this game, because when your are frozen to the rail on the nine ball and it's in the middle of the table in a straight line to the corner pocket, and your stuck too many sets and this is do or die, you have to be able to compose yourself and convert the negative energy into positive and not just pocket the ball but fire it in.. just to see the expression on your opponents face becasue he thought he had you beat, and observe the pain and disaapointment in your opponents face becasue he would have bet the farm you would have missed it....

Those of you who know me, have seen me in thoses situations many of times.... but this isn't about me... I'm just giving you the definition and examples of "heart".

Plain and simple heart is about never giving up and proving to yourself and your opponent that you will win no matter what the score is and grinding it out unti the end when you make him say uncle and showing him/her that you are are willing to goto hell and back and run out of money before you ever give up becasue you believe in yourself and know beyond the shadow of a doubt about what you can do when everything is against you and you don;t give up becasue you know in the back of your mind that you WILL win, even when the game is staring you directly in the face and daring you to choke !

I didn't mean to go off on a tangent but I just wanted to define heart and give and example of one of many personal experiences I have turned from losing everything to winning becasue I never gave up !!!!

Just remember.... the mind is a terrible thing !!! so the less you think and the more reflexive you are in this game then the better off you are !


I hope this is the definition you were looking for !

if not here's a more concise definition: heart is about never giving up on yourself no matter how far behind you are because you know what you can do and then you make it happen regardless !!!

So given that example now you decide what players fall under that catagory !


SIncerely - Eddie Wheat

 

[pooldawg1]

My votes for John Drew Hager. His favorite saying used to be "I like the nuts but I will sure play without them."

 

[aagreer]

Jon Hennessee he knows he can get there but when he doesn't he's just torn down

 

[Snapshot9]

Heart

yeah, when a player keeps on playing until a railbird turns to the guy next to him and says, 'You remember that movie, They shoot horses, don't they?'.

 

[smashmouth]

I'm gonna agree with the person who said road players

I'm not sure if there's any real ones left, but if there is, Godbless them

any top pros, or anyone else for that matter that put up their own cash against the best also have huge heart imo, especially those pros that do not ask for weight from other pros

a pro that GIVES weight to other top pros and bets his own cash is rare indeed, that's ridiculous heart, not too many of those, I know Efren and Orcullo give crazy spots but I don't think they use their own cash

I know Alex P used his own funds regularly, America AND Phillipines

 

[jay helfert]

I'm gonna agree with the person who said road players

I'm not sure if there's any real ones left, but if there is, Godbless them

any top pros, or anyone else for that matter that put up their own cash against the best also have huge heart imo, especially those pros that do not ask for weight from other pros

a pro that GIVES weight to other top pros and bets his own cash is rare indeed, that's ridiculous heart, not too many of those, I know Efren and Orcullo give crazy spots but I don't think they use their own cash

I know Alex P used his own funds regularly, America AND Phillipines

Hopkins has been doing it for over 30 years. Present day, probably Chris Bartrum and Little John and a few others.

 

[Matt_24]

I heard HOPKINS was one of the strongest gamblers in the country in his day. Thoughts Jay??

 

[Rick S.]

Justin Cone, the kid doesn't play as good as the best, but he'll play them. I watched him play $100/game one pocket for over 36 hours. After grinding the whole time, he won about $1300.

"Grinding the whole time".... you hit the nail on the head with that one.

Rick S.