where's mark tad???

[T411]

This is to everyone that thinks because they ask Mark Tadd (or anyone else) a question he has to answer it.

WHY DOES HE HAVE TO?

Ask anyone anything, if you get an answer fine, if not.....so what! There's alot more in life going on than just this forum and people expect a reply IMMEDIATELY sometimes, come on.

TAP, TAP, TAP
People on forums get on them for different reasons. People get on them to communicate (social chat), to find information, to give information, and to stir things up to different degrees, fun included. Some people like to start threads; some people like to jump in the middle. I think it is funny that some people welcome other people on here with their conditions, or expectations. With the exception of posts that get personal, rude or belligerent, I’m grateful for anything shared, be it humor, information, a chit or a chat.

 

[MrLucky]

TAP, TAP, TAP
People on forums get on them for different reasons. People get on them to communicate (social chat), to find information, to give information, and to stir things up to different degrees, fun included. Some people like to start threads; some people like to jump in the middle. I think it is funny that some people welcome other people on here with their conditions, or expectations. With the exception of posts that get personal, rude or belligerent, I’m grateful for anything shared, be it humor, information, a chit or a chat.

Could not agree with your philosophy / analogy more! .... Please reprint in caps for the hard of reading!

 

[drivermaker]

TAP, TAP, TAP
People on forums get on them for different reasons. People get on them to communicate (social chat), to find information, to give information, and to stir things up to different degrees, fun included.

After looking at Mark Tadd's posts, and especially some of the initial threads that he started, such as "Am I The Real Mark Tadd" what do you think his reasons were for coming on here?

 

[bruin70]

After looking at Mark Tadd's posts, and especially some of the initial threads that he started, such as "Am I The Real Mark Tadd" what do you think his reasons were for coming on here?

well,,,for one thing, people were always asking about him. he was/is a fascinating pure talent. that's probably why he would title a post "am i the real mark tadd". he probably wanted to address that issue right off.

 

[Williebetmore]

Well, just to stir things up, I've spoken to 3 veteran road players (of extremely high caliber), all of whom lump Mark Tadd in with the group of "just another good shortstop" (which is still certainly an admirable accomplishment). I have always wondered if the forum was overestimating his skills (and the skills of other regional "really good shortstops"). I have always felt that the top pro's are definitely at a noticeably higher level than the shortstops (part of the fun at DCC is observing the 2 groups competing). I think competing at a game like 9-ball tends to blur this difference, since even an A or B player can beat a pro the occasional game, and a shortstop can even beat them in a short race.

Having said that, I enjoy any posts that are informative, no matter the playing caliber of the poster. Should Mark ever compete anywhere around here, I would make it a point to observe.

 

[bruin70]

Well, just to stir things up, I've spoken to 3 veteran road players (of extremely high caliber), all of whom lump Mark Tadd in with the group of "just another good shortstop" (which is still certainly an admirable accomplishment). I have always wondered if the forum was overestimating his skills (and the skills of other regional "really good shortstops"). I have always felt that the top pro's are definitely at a noticeably higher level than the shortstops (part of the fun at DCC is observing the 2 groups competing). I think competing at a game like 9-ball tends to blur this difference, since even an A or B player can beat a pro the occasional game, and a shortstop can even beat them in a short race.

Having said that, I enjoy any posts that are informative, no matter the playing caliber of the poster. Should Mark ever compete anywhere around here, I would make it a point to observe.

i have almost zero experience watching tadd, but i know that in the mid 90's he was spotting frankie hernandez and ginky the 6,,,,,,,,,,and winning , i believe. a couple of other chelsea-ites who had more opportunities to watch him there said he was the best they ever saw.

what's the level of a shortstop anyway? sounds derogatory. i've heard it many times but it has never been explained to me what level that is.

 

[Williebetmore]

i have almost zero experience watching tadd, but i know that in the mid 90's he was spotting frankie hernandez and ginky the 6,,,,,,,,,,and winning , i believe. a couple of other chelsea-ites who had more opportunities to watch him there said he was the best they ever saw.

what's the level of a shortstop anyway? sounds derogatory. i've heard it many times but it has never been explained to me what level that is.

B70,
Actually I think a shortstop is a great local player, just not to the level of the top pro's. My goal in life (pool related that is) is to become a shortstop. The term "shortstop" to me is actually a compliment. I think it used in a derogatory fashion only by the top pro's (who feast on the shortstops).

The players I spoke to never related any knowledge of him handing out spots to anyone at a high level. They just related relieving him of some cash. They thought he would require weight from the best players. If he was giving such players weight, then he would probably be way above shortstop class. However, as was discussed in the DCC threads; large spots in 9-ball mean a lot less to the top players. When Lil John was getting the 6 and the last 3 from Marcus Chamat, it did not look like the spot made all that much difference - it looked like he could have given the same spot TO Chamat and had the outcome be fairly similar. I'm not sure 9-ball results are the best way to rank players. What I would like is for one of the top pro's to weigh in and say Tadd was better than they were - that would count for a lot (I've found 3 that don't think so - but then again, the top players never think anyone is better than they are, that's how they protect their ego's). I've never seen Tadd play, so I'll defer his classification to the posters that have (as long as they acknowledge that there is a difference in skill level between the top pro's and the average pro's - I really believe there is one).

P.S. - it is not a bad idea to consider all internet related tales of victories and spots as apocryphal (including the ones I've heard from the pro's).

 

[bruin70]

B70,
Actually I think a shortstop is a great local player, just not to the level of the top pro's. My goal in life (pool related that is) is to become a shortstop. The term "shortstop" to me is actually a compliment. I think it used in a derogatory fashion only by the top pro's (who feast on the shortstops).

The players I spoke to never related any knowledge of him handing out spots to anyone at a high level. They just related relieving ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, What I would like is for one of the top pro's to weigh in and say Tadd was better than they were - that would count for a lot (I've found 3 that don't think so - but then again, the top players never think anyone is better than they are,,,,,,,,,,,,.

yup,,,you'll never hear a complimentary word out of any player's mouth. i do know and did see tadd play hatch even. now,,,,,,,,,,tadd got his butt kicked because hatch just broke and ran the whole evening. nothing tadd could do but watch. on the ONE time that hatch didn't sink a ball on the break, tadd sprang up, ran the rack in less than a minute,,,,then broke,,,sank nothing,,,and once again was relegated to the chair.

well, tad thought he was good enough to play hatch even, anyway.

 

[drivermaker]

well,,,for one thing, people were always asking about him. he was/is a fascinating pure talent.

Oooh...that must have been before my time on here. When did that occur and how often was his name mentioned? Personally, I don't remember one until the self-aggrandizing started. Fascinating pure talent...I believe that wholeheartedly because a number of members on here in the know that I trust and respect have said so.

 

[Celtic]

The players I spoke to never related any knowledge of him handing out spots to anyone at a high level. They just related relieving him of some cash. They thought he would require weight from the best players. If he was giving such players weight, then he would probably be way above shortstop class. However, as was discussed in the DCC threads; large spots in 9-ball mean a lot less to the top players. When Lil John was getting the 6 and the last 3 from Marcus Chamat, it did not look like the spot made all that much difference - it looked like he could have given the same spot TO Chamat and had the outcome be fairly similar. I'm not sure 9-ball results are the best way to rank players. What I would like is for one of the top pro's to weigh in and say Tadd was better than they were - that would count for a lot (I've found 3 that don't think so - but then again, the top players never think anyone is better than they are, that's how they protect their ego's). I've never seen Tadd play, so I'll defer his classification to the posters that have (as long as they acknowledge that there is a difference in skill level between the top pro's and the average pro's - I really believe there is one).

A good shortstop? Your nuts if you think so man, Mark was WAY above that level, you can ask Kieth about that if you want. Who were these top road players you talked too? Seems if they are going to trash a guys pool playing skills online and claim to have beaten him for cash via you then they should at least be identified.

 

[bruin70]

Oooh...that must have been before my time on here. When did that occur and how often was his name mentioned? Personally, I don't remember one until the self-aggrandizing started. Fascinating pure talent...I believe that wholeheartedly because a number of members on here in the know that I trust and respect have said so.

his name wasn't OFTEN brought. just,,,,,,,,you know ,,,every once in a while. and usually that kind of curiousity is reserved for those very special players who disappear

 

[sjm]

Well, just to stir things up, I've spoken to 3 veteran road players (of extremely high caliber), all of whom lump Mark Tadd in with the group of "just another good shortstop" (which is still certainly an admirable accomplishment).

Willie, I'm guessing that Keith McCready wasn't among those you spoke to. In October in a thread about Tadd in McCready's Ask the Pros forum, Keith posted the following, referring back to the early 90's, when he and Tadd matched up more than a few times.

.....On a 9-footer, we'd play even......

Anyone who could gamble playing even with Keith McCready in the early 90s is something more than a shortstop.

 

[frankncali]

If you spoke with 3 high caliber Road Players and they all would label
Mark Tadd as another SHORTSTOP I would figure they were pulling your leg.

At one time he played everyone even or gave up weight. Thats no shortstop.
I watched him with my own eyes offer Archer the eight and Archer said no.
I watched him give the 8 to Scotty Townsend and beat him. Scotty is above a shortstop level and was playing very well then. And that was on the bar table.
I would love to now who the three guys were that labeled him a shortstop.
But I feel that they might have just been understating how he played
on purpose. Like saying Jordan or Bird was pretty good at basketball.

Hopefully he will get back to playing to the same level he once was.

There are always guys that are not known nationally that can really really play. A few that come to mind
CJ Wiley -- no one had ever heard of him but he had already been across
the US a couple times busting everyone.
Craig or Greg Stephens -- I have heard he was one of the best ever.
Not many have ever heard of him.
Brian Atchley -- He played Pro level and very few then or now know of
him. As Snap Magazine stated he was "Baron of the Bar Boxes"

Will Pay-- goes by several names but is a true road dog. Plays great and
stays low even better. He has made several trips across the country and
usually ALWAYS gets the money.

Mark Tadd-- was more known in the southwest but was really only known in name. Not alot of pictures or TV then. He could go across country with very
little risk of being spotted. Did not matter. What I liked when I saw him was that he was not only about getting easy action. I saw him give up
weight even to low level players. He gave up the 6-out to a guy in a bowling alley for $5 a game. They had started even!! My buddy was the crazy one on the losing end of that one. Mark kept offering the spots even when not asked. It was on a bar table and that was probably the most racks I have ever seen ran from the break. Not in a row but over a period of time.

Well, just to stir things up, I've spoken to 3 veteran road players (of extremely high caliber), all of whom lump Mark Tadd in with the group of "just another good shortstop" (which is still certainly an admirable accomplishment). I have always wondered if the forum was overestimating his skills (and the skills of other regional "really good shortstops"). I have always felt that the top pro's are definitely at a noticeably higher level than the shortstops (part of the fun at DCC is observing the 2 groups competing). I think competing at a game like 9-ball tends to blur this difference, since even an A or B player can beat a pro the occasional game, and a shortstop can even beat them in a short race.

Having said that, I enjoy any posts that are informative, no matter the playing caliber of the poster. Should Mark ever compete anywhere around here, I would make it a point to observe.

 

[Teddy Harris]

Well, just to stir things up, I've spoken to 3 veteran road players (of extremely high caliber), all of whom lump Mark Tadd in with the group of "just another good shortstop" (which is still certainly an admirable accomplishment). I have always wondered if the forum was overestimating his skills.

Just another good shortstop? Not hardly.

 

[thebigdog]

Who called him a shortstop?

Well, just to stir things up, I've spoken to 3 veteran road players (of extremely high caliber), all of whom lump Mark Tadd in with the group of "just another good shortstop" (which is still certainly an admirable accomplishment). I have always wondered if the forum was overestimating his skills (and the skills of other regional "really good shortstops"). I have always felt that the top pro's are definitely at a noticeably higher level than the shortstops (part of the fun at DCC is observing the 2 groups competing). I think competing at a game like 9-ball tends to blur this difference, since even an A or B player can beat a pro the occasional game, and a shortstop can even beat them in a short race.

Having said that, I enjoy any posts that are informative, no matter the playing caliber of the poster. Should Mark ever compete anywhere around here, I would make it a point to observe.

Why don't you ask some top players on this board that knew him if he was a shorstop? Keith has already vouched for him. Do you consider Keith a shortshop? Because 10 years ago they would play even, and Keith didn't have to like that at all. He was not just a shortstop, he played anyone willing to play him and most champions would not step up to him. I can tell you right now he was not a shortstop, and having basically grown up in a pool hall, and having a dad who you would probobly consider to be a "really good shortstop", I think I know the difference between the two. Guys like Ernesto and Raphael who were not shortshops eiher would not play this guy without weight. You mentioned the DCC, in 1993 the Los Angeles Open was held, it had the exact same format as DCC, a nine ball tournament, one pocket, and banks. All the legendary one pocket players attended, and just about all the great nineball players where there also, Efren included. Mark Tadd took first place in 9-ball, first place in the Banks, and 2nd place in the one pocket. Has anyone ever had a run like that at the DCC?

 

[jay helfert]

Where is Mark Tadd?

He is in Arizona playing poker.

hope i won't start a shitstorm here.........lol...........but what happened to mark? he was posting here, and was even talking of playing in some tourneys.

anyone know if he started playing seriously again?

thanks

VAP

 

[jay helfert]

How good was Mark Tadd?

Mark Tadd was no shortstop.
Mark was a top player! One of the best in the world at 9-Ball. He won two of three divisions in the 1994 Los Angeles Open (9-Ball and Banks). Only Steve Cook beat him in the One Pocket final. He won 26K in that tournament.
Mark had a big game. He could string racks and keep his opponents in the chair. Unfortunately he was temperamental and often rubbed people the wrong way. You might say he got out of line once in a while, to his own detriment. He can still play, but has sworn off pool (or at least gambling at pool). You never know, if the tournaments ever got big enough, I wouldn't be surprised to see him.

B70,
Actually I think a shortstop is a great local player, just not to the level of the top pro's. My goal in life (pool related that is) is to become a shortstop. The term "shortstop" to me is actually a compliment. I think it used in a derogatory fashion only by the top pro's (who feast on the shortstops).

The players I spoke to never related any knowledge of him handing out spots to anyone at a high level. They just related relieving him of some cash. They thought he would require weight from the best players. If he was giving such players weight, then he would probably be way above shortstop class. However, as was discussed in the DCC threads; large spots in 9-ball mean a lot less to the top players. When Lil John was getting the 6 and the last 3 from Marcus Chamat, it did not look like the spot made all that much difference - it looked like he could have given the same spot TO Chamat and had the outcome be fairly similar. I'm not sure 9-ball results are the best way to rank players. What I would like is for one of the top pro's to weigh in and say Tadd was better than they were - that would count for a lot (I've found 3 that don't think so - but then again, the top players never think anyone is better than they are, that's how they protect their ego's). I've never seen Tadd play, so I'll defer his classification to the posters that have (as long as they acknowledge that there is a difference in skill level between the top pro's and the average pro's - I really believe there is one).

P.S. - it is not a bad idea to consider all internet related tales of victories and spots as apocryphal (including the ones I've heard from the pro's).

 

[Rude Dog]

Mark Tadd was no shortstop.
Mark was a top player! One of the best in the world at 9-Ball. He won two of three divisions in the 1994 Los Angeles Open (9-Ball and Banks). Only Steve Cook beat him in the One Pocket final. He won 26K in that tournament.
Mark had a big game. He could string racks and keep his opponents in the chair. Unfortunately he was temperamental and often rubbed people the wrong way. You might say he got out of line once in a while, to his own detriment. He can still play, but has sworn off pool (or at least gambling at pool). You never know, if the tournaments ever got big enough, I wouldn't be surprised to see him.

Hey Jay, how ya been? Saw you on tv recently, I'm sure you know what show. Hope you're doin' good, peace, John.

 

[vagabond]

Mark Tadd was no shortstop.
He won two of three divisions in the 1994 Los Angeles Open (9-Ball and Banks). Only Steve Cook beat him in the One Pocket final. He won 26K in that tournament

Howdy Toupee Jay,
How are you? Are u sure it was in 1994? I thought that it was in Aug/Sep 1993.I know that you were the producer/promoter of that tournament.i am getting old and can`t remember the things anymore.cheers
Vagabond

 

[jay helfert]

Mark Tadd

I believe he is in Arizona playing poker.

hope i won't start a shitstorm here.........lol...........but what happened to mark? he was posting here, and was even talking of playing in some tourneys.

anyone know if he started playing seriously again?

thanks

VAP