Who are the nicest and most friendly pro pool players in the US?

Jaden said:
There are so many pros that are nice and approachable. As you stated, Johnny, Shawn, Hunter Lombardo, Kim Davenport are just a few. I mean I could literally probably name a couple of dozen that are approachable and nice without taking a breath.

Really the douches are the exception, not the rule.

Jaden
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^^^THIS^^^

Most players are nice and accommodating to all fans!

As Jaden said, it is mostly a few that are the exception! AND, it also depends on when you approach them during a tourney. Doing so right after they lost a match is not the right time. But rather the moments they appear to be hanging out and shooting the bull with someone.

I've met a lot of them and for the most part the experience was cool. I did play one pro player one year that was a DICK. But maybe that was because he nearly got his ass beat by me in the first round of DCC banks. :cool:

It seems many times they are not as kosher with you when they have to really try to beat you!:wink:


Gary
 
It is a pretty cool sport that we are in, getting to sit and chat with the big dawgs, even compete (not really:eek:) for a small entry fee...
 
YEah right...

Black-Balled said:
It is a pretty cool sport that we are in, getting to sit and chat with the big dawgs, even compete (not really:eek:) for a small entry fee...
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You modest guy you, Mr. I've beaten everybody on my home table except Max Eberle...

I'm gonna come back there and add another to the list...:thumbup:;)

Jaden
 
one stroke said:
I'm with ya on this of course I'm bias ,, I'll add Morra , Oscar and Sky who I think is the best I've seen of the young crop all great young men and a pleasure to talk to



1
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I would second Sky and also add Landon Shuffet
 
I have met the following pro players several times, and chatted with them. In no particular order, the US players that stick out to me as really nice down to earth people are:

Oscar Dominguez
Brandon Shuff
Rodney Morris
Shawn Wilkie
Tommy Kennedy
Mike Massey
Dr. Cue Tom Rossman
Tony Robles
Tom D'Alfonso
Joey Gray
Skylar Woodward
Eva Lawrence
Robb Saez (sorry bud, I had to go back and edit my post cause I left him out. He has been extremely friendly talking to me on several occasions over the years, he talks to me like I'm his old friend although we barely know each other lol. Very very nice guy).


Some other nice people who may or may not qualify based on their citizenship, but that I'm pretty sure are living in the US are:

Thorsten Hohmann
Jayson Shaw
Karen Corr
Alison Fisher


I feel like there are a lot I am forgetting. FYI definitely not american, but Francisco Bustamante is a hell of a nice guy in person, as is Alex Pagulayan. I hung out with the crowd from England a couple years ago at the BCA (Karl Boyes, Chris Melling, Shaw, Darryl Peach...all a great group of guys, very approachable and funny.)

KMRUNOUT
 
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I think being a pro pool player can be a little overwhelming in that you have so much contact with amateur fans. As a pro in most sports, your contact with fans might be limited to autographs. At a pool tournament, you're totally intermingled, hanging out with and competing against amateur enthusiasts. They all want to talk to you and/or hit some with you, because it would be a noteworthy experience for them, even if it isn't for you. You just don't have time to get drawn into a real conversation or play some pool with them all. You're forced to politely brush many of them off.

So I think the pros that seem nicest are the pros you meet a lot of times, to where they know you and you're not just some random fan that wants some of their time.

The exception might be Shaun Wilkie. I think he's one of those rare people who can be immediately at ease with practically anyone, laughing and joking and talking about pool with anyone and everyone at tournaments. I'm sure he's not the only one who's like this, but I don't think he knows my name, and yet when I've talked to him it seems like we're friends.

-Andrew
 
I'm not sure if Stan Tourangeau has been mentioned, but he is about as nice and approachable as it gets. I've talked with him a few times and sweated a couple matches with him. He's also an underrated player imo. He can play pretty sporty on the big or little table, but his barbox 8ball game is about as good as it gets. I mentioned Brandon Shuff earlier, but I'll add Justin Bergman and John Morra too.
 
Nicest folks

I'd have to say, I've met Johnny a few times....nicest guy. Also, I second Robb Saez. So down to earth and grounded...Oh yeah, and Mike Massey is really nice too.
 
My favorite and the nicest I've ever played in a tourney was Mike Davis Jr.

I played him at the Derby this year, he handed me my first loss. He was a total gentleman and I think very highly of him.

Nick Varner is another that is very nice man, I've met and played him as well and have nothing but kind words for him.

A few others that I've come across, not so much. Names are not important.
 
Shannon is probably my favorite. Being from the south and playing in his tourneys makes me biased, I know. There are too many good choices to pick just one.
 
I haven't read the whole thread.
But the nicest pro I've met so far is Jimmy Fusco.
After 5 minutes he made you feel like you have been best friends for 20 years.
 
Brandon Shuff has my vote. He was at our little pool hall here in Somerset, Ky once with a buddy of his that was playing our local monster and he took a friend and me off to the side and pretty much gave us a couple hour lesson for free. Super cool and really nice guy.

But I will say that for the most part every pro that I have meet from the US has been very nice. The only snub I got for an autograph was from Mika once.
 
The Ladies are very friendly also, met many of them over
the years at SBE and they were super nice.
 
Robles and Barouty....guys don't get much nicer. Gene Nagy too, when he was around.. Those guys would play anybody just for the love of the game.
 
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