Like many before me, I can't really call pool players I admire heroes, I reserve that title for much more special people than those that are good with a pool stick. I don't have any real sports heroes either although those like the Olympic gymnist Kerry Scruggs who knew when representing her country that her ankle was damaged and had the guts to run and try to stick a landing after a vault come very close.
The first two are pretty cliche, Willie Mosconi and Efren, because they both expanded my understanding of what was physically possible on a pool table, in Willie's case taking my game to a whole 'nuther level just seeing what was possible. Efren might have too had his feats not been thirty years too late for me to try to copy!
The third is the last owner of Shopper's pool hall in Baton Rouge. His first name was Jessie, spelling uncertain, and I have been told his last name was Mills. I don't remember ever asking him. Jessie was the closest thing I had to a mentor in pool and he respected a young man's pride when pride was all I had. Jessie seemed pretty special in other ways. He wasn't making a killing at a rundown pool hall in a rough part of town but he also opened a youth pool center about twenty miles up the road that had to be a money loser.
JoeyA makes this list for several reasons. One is his unswerving or is that unsquerving dedication to the game. The other thing is that he has always seemed willing to help anyone and I have never seen him do something cheap or small in a pool room in the years that I have known him. That does stand out in a pool room. While others may have accomplished more in the pool world few if any have devoted the time and effort he has put into trying to benefit pool or the time and effort he puts into constant improvement of his own game. Joey, you are in some pretty fancy company!
I could name a double handful more from the forum but one more that I respect a great deal that seems to often be working quietly to benefit pool is Mark Griffin. I respect him a great deal without really knowing him. I also know he is a lucky man, Sunny has to be a joy as life's companion.
Hu
