What Top Name Pros have Normal Jobs?
- Thread starter SteveH
- Start date
I would doubt it. I'm sure a lot of them have jobs as house pros etc... but I doubt any of them pull a 9 to 5 Monday through Friday. I would also guess that the really high level players get paid making appearances. I know Rodney Morris is getting 1500.00 to show up at our pool room next week, not to mention the 100 dollar challenge matches which there will probably be at least 20. It's my understanding that he's on a tour of Japan right now so if he goes to 10 or 15 different places he's pulling in some serious coin. Oh, the posters also say that gambling is allowed so he'll probably make some extra scratch that way too. No disrespect to Rodney but he's not a huge name like Efren or Earl, at least not here in Japan, and he's making this type of cash. God only knows what the real huge names pull in. When Efren was invited here about 10 years ago I heard he was getting paid 5 grand just to show and then there were all the challenges etc...
Grady could probably answer this one though. Grady, do any of these guys work at McDonald's on the side?
MULLY
the room owner where I play said he'll pay my challenge entry. Looks like I'm getting backed. Woohooo!!!
Grady could probably answer this one though. Grady, do any of these guys work at McDonald's on the side?
MULLY
the room owner where I play said he'll pay my challenge entry. Looks like I'm getting backed. Woohooo!!!
I read here a while back that Steve Mizerak was a school teacher.
I would imagine nowadays that at least the very top echelon of pool makes enough that they wouldn't have the need for a regular 9-5, so there wouldn't be too many top players with normal jobs.
I would imagine nowadays that at least the very top echelon of pool makes enough that they wouldn't have the need for a regular 9-5, so there wouldn't be too many top players with normal jobs.
He might not be considered a "top" professional, but Frankie Hernandez out of NYC works a regular 9-5. Has for years now. He drives a school bus. (this was the last information I had. People who actually know Frankie can verify this for me). Most of the other professionals that I know, if they have an actual job, its related to the billiard industry in some way. Either running a pool hall, cue repair/building, billiards photography or journalism.
The best player that I can remember that worked a full time job was Bob Vanover. He was in the furniture business. Of course that is going back a ways... but IMO Bob played awesome. Despite working 12 hours a day, and not having 8 hours a day to dedicate to practice, Bob played like he practiced 8-12 hours a day and was the Texas State 9 ball champion more times than I can remember.
Blackjack said:
Are you familiar with his bro, Tom?
Who was the better player (tourney and $)?
History Teacher
The Miz was a history teacher for many years.
Masayoshi said:
The Miz was a history teacher for many years.
The Deacon
Irving Crane was a Cadillac salesman.
Irving Crane was a Cadillac salesman.
Joe Balsis
Don't forget about Joe "The Meatman" Balsis, who was a butcher.
I'm not sure how his pool career coincided with his pool career, but I do know he was a butcher at one time.
Don't forget about Joe "The Meatman" Balsis, who was a butcher.
I'm not sure how his pool career coincided with his pool career, but I do know he was a butcher at one time.
It is absolutely impossible to work and maintain the level of play needed to make a living playing pool. Even someone playing 8 hours a day still has to try to beat the Filipinos and the Asian players who really do make a living make a living playing pool.
It might not be impossible to work and keep playing at the top level, but it is certainly impossible to work a regular job and travel enough to be recognized as a top player. I suspect that Balsis, Crane, Miz, etc. weren't working those jobs while they were busy being famous champions.gulyassy said:
Historians?
There is an interview with Joe Balsis on AZBTV where he talks about his work and how it related to pool.
Black-Balled - I have only met Vanover. I took quite a few ass-whoopins from him on the McDermott Tour, and I enjoyed every second of it. Bob is a class act.
Black-Balled - I have only met Vanover. I took quite a few ass-whoopins from him on the McDermott Tour, and I enjoyed every second of it. Bob is a class act.
