Who, is your pool playing hero, and why?

L

Lock N Load

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello AZB family members and visitors as well. Everybody likes someone who is their hero. This is a pool related hero, that we are talking about! Someone that you try to play like, or that you just like the way they play pool...
Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
I have a few. Earl just because when we would get a televised game up here, for some reason Earl would always be on. One of the first ones I saw was when Earl made his 10 rack or whatever it was for the money.
I never get tired of watching Earl play.

Cliff Thorburn. I played in a tournament with him.

Alex P, John Morra, and Jason Klatt. Fellow Canuckians and I hope the best for John and Jason. Nice to see a couple of the home town boys do well for themselves. Always enjoy watching a stream when they are playing, specially the Clash of the Titans was a real treat.

Joey A just because hes a nice guy and always have my fingers crossed for him when he plays in a tournament. I like reading about his games and exploits in NO.

And of course, our little AZ buddy Robley. A great little player and hope that someday he can fulfill his dreams of going Pro.

Trigger. I feel the same for her as I do Joey. Shes a die hard and contributes much toward the game.
 
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I do not have a poolplaying "hero". If I had to choose who I'd like to play like, it would be SVB (may as well dream BIG if one is going to dream :grin:).

Maniac (likes to look at soldiers, schoolteachers, firefighters, etc. as heroes)
 
That guy that Ronnie came in and picked up last night.... Plays real good and my consortium had no clue who he was. I give bonus points to ghosts..... Lol
 
Every time I've held a pool player in high regard they ended up disapointing me. As for players i don't know personally, Efren has been amazing. His game speaks for itself. But his manner throughout his career has been even more impressive. I believe he's earned hero status.
 
Efren, or many reasons, one his game , two just him being who he is.

He is funny and fun to be around. And helps out more people then most will ever know about.
 
I'm from Kentucky and my favorite player has always been Nick Varner. A world class player but always a true gentleman. I also admire Alex P. As an American I usually root for my countrymen, but I cannot pull against Alex. As great a player as he is I think he's an even better character. Flamboyant but not cocky.
 
Nick Varner.

Tenacity, class, great respect for the game and his opponents, and one of the greatest all-around players to ever pick up a pool cue.

Oh, and he's also from my home state.
 
No hero's and am not the "fan" type of person, everyone is just people to me, but as far as players I like to watch the most or admire their style of play Earl would be very top of my list. Not just for his natural ability or the way he plays (When he's not choking) but also because of his mental demons and weaknessess, which seem pretty severe to me more than simply a bad sport like some seem to think. Yet he still carries on and kicks some ass. And lets face it, it's always fun to see and hear him whether he's winning or completely loosing it and whining.

And at the other end of the mental spectrum I'd put Efren also, just seems like a cool friendly fun guy and has everything Earl doesn't. I've heard he helps tons of people back home but that doesn't suprise me.


Also love watching Allison Fisher and any of the WPBA ladies at that level, the ones that are easy on the eyes and younger I admire even more, but I don't think that is the kind of admiration you're talking about. :)
 
Blue Hog ridr said:
I have a few. Earl just because when we would get a televised game up here, for some reason Earl would always be on. One of the first ones I saw was when Earl made his 10 rack or whatever it was for the money.
I never get tired of watching Earl play.

Cliff Thorburn. I played in a tournament with him.

Alex P, John Morra, and Jason Klatt. Fellow Canuckians and I hope the best for John and Jason. Nice to see a couple of the home town boys do well for themselves. Always enjoy watching a stream when they are playing, specially the Clash of the Titans was a real treat.

Joey A just because hes a nice guy and always have my fingers crossed for him when he plays in a tournament. I like reading about his games and exploits in NO.

And of course, our little AZ buddy Robley. A great little player and hope that someday he can fulfill his dreams of going Pro.

Trigger. I feel the same for her as I do Joey. Shes a die hard and contributes much toward the game.
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WOW Blue Hog ridr! That's a very nice thing to say about me. I will put in a little extra effort and will be thinking about the nice words you had to say about me in the next tournment. Maybe that will put some extra juice in my tank at the end of the tournament if I am lucky enough to still be standing. :smile:

There is still a lot going on in New Orleans. CJ wiley sometimes talks about making a trip over here and he could certainly stir up some action. If something big happens, I will be glad to share the highlights.
 
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Hey JoeyA, Your tank is always full. You never run out of gas!

JoeyA said:
WOW Blue Hog ridr! That's a very nice thing to say about me. I will put in a little extra effort and will be thinking about the nice words you had to say about me in the next tournment. Maybe that will put some extra juice in my tank at the end of the tournament if I am lucky enough to still be standing. :smile:

There is still a lot going on in New Orleans. CJ wiley sometimes talks about making a trip over here and he could certainly stir up some action. If something big happens, I will be glad to share the highlights.
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Blue Hog, is just telling it like it is! Plain simple and to the point, you are a nice guy, and you play pool, and commentate very good! The Lock said that!
Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
I pick Efren for many reasons. I've always been a big fan of boxing and my all time favorite boxer was Alexis Arguello. He was a champion for sure but never stopped being a gentleman. Even after he would knock a fighter out he would go and check to make sure the fighter was okay after the fight.

Efren is a champion and a gentleman and is modest also he doesn't think he's God's gift to pool, even though he is.

I met Efren in the mid 80's and got to play a lot of pool with him so I'm talking through experience.
 
My friend Paul.

I'm sure nobody on here knows who he was, but he was my mentor and a good friend. I met Paul when I was about 6 and never knew he played pool. He was a family friend, owned a barber shop, and cut my hair as a kid. I moved all over the states while growing up but eventually moved back to my home state during high school and my parents bought a house right next door to Paul. I use to do little odd jobs around the neighborhood for money and he hired me to help him add a room on to his house one summer that was big enough for the 5x10 snooker table he had in storage. When the room was finished I helped him move the table in and set it up. After that we began to play...day after day. Mostly snooker, but he had snooker-size pool balls too and taught me how to play 8-ball and 9-ball as well.

He played very well and, as I learned later on, was an old school road player. The more I came over and subjected myself to his torture, the more he spoke about his past. He NEVER let me win, ever, but he seemed amused by the fact that I wouldn't quit trying to beat him and began to teach me things here and there. Not so much in the technique department. He taught me more about gambling and matching up than anything else. The first thing he ever taught me about making money is to be honest with yourself and know YOUR true speed first and foremost. He always said, "Until you can do that, you'll never be able to make any money and keep it in your pocket." One of my favorite road stories/lessons from him was on that subject.

He told me he was very cocky starting out on the road and that his attitude cost him a lot of money. In particular, one day while on the road in Texas. He was breaking a ring game in some pool room and was convinced nobody in the area could beat him. The ring game dwindled down to just a couple guys and him and a big fellow asked if he could get in, to which Paul responded, "Your moneys as good as everyone elses guy." The two of them cleaned up the ring game and matched up head to head afterwards. Paul lost it all. Not just the money from the ring game, but most of his bankroll as well. Paul, tail now firmly between his legs, asked the man's name, to which the gentleman responded, "UJ Puckett".

Unfortunately Paul passed on a couple of years ago but I'll never forget him. Sorry for the long winded post, but I just wanted to share a little bit in memory of my good friend. :smile:
 
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Peper, Thank you very much for your story...

peppersauce said:
My friend Paul.

I'm sure nobody on here knows who he was, but he was my mentor and a good friend. I met Paul when I was about 6 and never knew he played pool. He was a family friend, owned a barber shop, and cut my hair as a kid. I moved all over the states while growing up but eventually moved back to my home state during high school and my parents bought a house right next door to Paul. I use to do little odd jobs around the neighborhood for money and he hired me to help him add a room on to his house one summer that was big enough for the 5x10 snooker table he had in storage. When the room was finished I helped him move the table in and set it up. After that we began to play...day after day. Mostly snooker, but he had snooker-size pool balls too and taught me how to play 8-ball and 9-ball as well.

He played very well and, as I learned later on, was an old school road player. The more I came over and subjected myself to his torture, the more he spoke about his past. He NEVER let me win, ever, but he seemed amused by the fact that I wouldn't quit trying to beat him and began to teach me things here and there. Not so much in the technique department. He taught me more about gambling and matching up than anything else. The first thing he ever taught me about making money is to be honest with yourself and know YOUR true speed first and foremost. He always said, "Until you can do that, you'll never be able to make any money and keep it in your pocket." One of my favorite road stories/lessons from him was on that subject.

He told me he was very cocky starting out on the road and that his attitude cost him a lot of money. In particular, one day while on the road in Texas. He was breaking a ring game in some pool room and was convinced nobody in the area could beat him. The ring game dwindled down to just a couple guys and him and a big fellow asked if he could get in, to which Paul responded, "Your moneys as good as everyone elses guy." The two of them cleaned up the ring game and matched up head to head afterwards. Paul lost it all. Not just the money from the ring game, but most of his bankroll as well. Paul, tail now firmly between his legs, asked the man's name, to which the gentleman responded, "UJ Puckett".

Unfortunately Paul passed on a couple of years ago but I'll never forget him. Sorry for the long winded post, but I just wanted to share a little bit in memory of my good friend. :smile:
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It is people like you that make AZB, a Wonderful place to be a part of! A good post is just that, a good post!! Thanks again. I know you miss Paul....
Regards,
Lock n Load.
 
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