Who would you pick to watch?

frankncali

frankncali

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
If you could pick any three people to watch either alive or passed on who would you pick. I was asked this a couple days ago and my answers
surprised a few people.
These would be people that you NEVER got to see play. Past or present
but you get to see them in their prime.

For me I choose

Luther Lassiter -- One of the best ever and was so silky smooth that I
would love to watch him play.

Eddie Taylor -- I have seen him and met him but never really seen him shoot. He did a few exhibition style shots that amazed me. I would love to see more.

Greg Stevens -- I have heard so many stories about the guy that I would just ahve to see for myself. Two people I know have told me that he was
one of if not the best pure offensive players ever. Of course I have been told to watch him early in his week long sleepless journeys.

I thought about Mosconi but balked. Jean Balukus came to mind.

Most all the good players today I have been fortunate enough to watch.

Recently it was a real pleasure for me to be able to see Dennis Orcullo in
action as somewhat of an unknown. The guy is awesome and goes about it so quietly. He could be the next Efren but I am not sure if he likes all the games. Seemed like a nice guy as well.

Who would you pick??
 
Jimmy Mataya playing Keith Mccreedy.One will get more than his money`s worth of entertainment.
 
Willie Mosconi (unbelieveable pocketing and position skills; apologies to Efren)

Lou Butera (sheer entertainment; and you don't have to wait long to see it)

George Breedlove (you want to see circus shots and someone who will tackle the "impossible" runout in pressure situations??)
 
I will dispense with my usual style of saying Efren, Efren and Efren.
My three would be:

Efren Reyes
In my forty years around pro pool, there is nobody even close to being as interesting to watch. Efren is the most creative and imaginative player of this era. If I'll see a more creative player than Reyes in my lifetime, all I can say is, "I can't wait."

Willie Mosconi
The ultimate power player. A great pocketer, and being the best position player that ever lived gave him some pretty long trips to the table.

Jimmy Caras
Phenomenal straight pooler who had a reputation for taking on extremely difficult shots in competition.
 
Toby Sweet...I have seen him play countless times and I was always in awe of his gift and demeanor. When you look up smooth in Webster's, Toby's picture is there.

Steve Mizerak...tremendous knowledge, as pure a stroke you'll ever find, a great showman and a class act.

Steve Cook...he didnt look like he could hit the end rail with a 12 gauge but was HE talented. R.I.P.
 
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Buddy for textbook pool. He works the rack perfectly.

Keith for the sheer ease at which he executes difficult shots. Makes them look like they're hangers.

Sigel for making the one super tough shot to win the match. He could really come with it when he had to.

Efren for the best cue ball control ever.

Harold Worst, who had more 'heart' in his little finger than most players in their whole body.

Denny for his amazing shot making ability. He could make shots over and over again that other players would not even attempt.

And finally, LOUIE, the greatest shot maker EVER! No one before or since could cut balls like Louie. And from distance!
 
jay helfert said:
Buddy for textbook pool. He works the rack perfectly.

Keith for the sheer ease at which he executes difficult shots. Makes them look like they're hangers.

Sigel for making the one super tough shot to win the match. He could really come with it when he had to.

Efren for the best cue ball control ever.

Harold Worst, who had more 'heart' in his little finger than most players in their whole body.

Denny for his amazing shot making ability. He could make shots over and over again that other players would not even attempt.

And finally, LOUIE, the greatest shot maker EVER! No one before or since could cut balls like Louie. And from distance!
Click to expand...

Just had to add Eddie Taylor. To see him bank balls when he was in full swing was awesome. They were flying in from everywhere. He could dust off a full rack in a few minutes. And everything was going in at warp speed!
 
Bustamante-When he's on, he is like some kind of alien robot with that silky smooth although strange stroke. I've seen him in high gear live, and it seems unimaginable to play better 9-ball. And the BREAK. Lord, the break!

Whimpy-I hear so much about how great he was-never saw him live.

Mosconi-Ditto for him (with the exception of the cameo in "The Hustler"), I would love to see what he could do.

I like watching Efren too, but for some strange reason, in person his game seems exactly like it does on video. Whereas someone like Bustamante seems like he is from another planet in person. (His game and persona at the table).

KMRUNOUT
 
I would love to be able to see Ralph Greenleaf when he was in his prime. Of course Luther Lassiter, Denny Searsy, Louie Roberts, Eddie Taylor and other legends from the past.
 
Harold Worst, playing anything.
Eddie Taylor, playing rotating 1P and banks with
Bugs Rucker

Also, would have loved to see Jersey Red play 1P on a 5x10...he was supposed to be unbeatable on the big table.
 
Rickw said:
I would love to be able to see Ralph Greenleaf when he was in his prime. Of course Luther Lassiter, Denny Searsy, Louie Roberts, Eddie Taylor and other legends from the past.
Click to expand...


Ralph was one that I thought of for a while. From all that I hae read he was a great player and was fun to watch.
 
jay helfert said:
Buddy for textbook pool. He works the rack perfectly.

Keith for the sheer ease at which he executes difficult shots. Makes them look like they're hangers.

Sigel for making the one super tough shot to win the match. He could really come with it when he had to.

Efren for the best cue ball control ever.

Harold Worst, who had more 'heart' in his little finger than most players in their whole body.

Denny for his amazing shot making ability. He could make shots over and over again that other players would not even attempt.

And finally, LOUIE, the greatest shot maker EVER! No one before or since could cut balls like Louie. And from distance!
Click to expand...


Jay
I was thinking about players I have not seen. In your lifetime is there a player that you wish you have gotten to see?
I would imagine that you have gotten to watch quite a few players.

I am friends with Junior Goff and we were talking once. He is 80 and until I
had really never thought about the amount of legendary players that
he had been able to see. Some of the guys around his age have just
about seen it all.
 
The Greatest Match ups Ever

Here are the 3 Match Ups I'd Like to See the Most

I would love to see Ralph Greenleaf vs. Willie Hoppe Any Game for the Title of Greatest Clay Ball Shooter

Keither with the Either VS. David Matlock (Both in their Prime)
for the Title of Greatest Barbox Robbers of All Time

And myself Vs. Minnesota Fats for the Title
Biggest Pool Ego of All Time

Love this thread
Rpm:D
 
frankncali said:
Jay
I was thinking about players I have not seen. In your lifetime is there a player that you wish you have gotten to see?
I would imagine that you have gotten to watch quite a few players.

I am friends with Junior Goff and we were talking once. He is 80 and until I
had really never thought about the amount of legendary players that
he had been able to see. Some of the guys around his age have just
about seen it all.
Click to expand...

Yes, Ralph Greenleaf. All the old timers worshipped him. Even Mosconi gave him accolades, and he was not one to compliment anyone.

They say Ralph could beat anyone at any game for the cash or a trophy.
And was a good guy that everyone liked. Friendly, outgoing, personable and handsome. His pictures don't do him justice. All the old guys said he was a very handsome guy and the ladies loved him too.

The only other old time player I would have loved to see play was Johnny "Rags" Fitzpatrick. He was also considered the best by his peers in his day and was well liked and also a nice looking guy. Died way to young at 40 in 1960. Greenleaf made it to 50 (died in 1950), but was a falling down drunk his last ten years.

Other notables I heard reverence for were Hayden Van Lingo, the father of One Pocket, whom many condsidered the equal of Greenleaf. And James Evans, the great black champion. Most of the old timers gave only grudging acknowledgement to Mosconi. None held him in the same regard as Greenleaf, and most felt that for the cash he had no chance with Ponzi either.

Mosconi was known for ducking challenge matches with players like Caras and Crane, beating lesser players for several of his "World Titles". Many old timers even considered Cranfield to be a better 14.1 player.

I did see Mosconi play several exhibitions and even played one with him. What I remember was how easily he ran the balls and how much he griped about every little thing.
 
Without a doubt it would be Ralph Greenleaf. I'd love to see just how good he really was. Some other notables would be Alfredo de Oro, Willie Hoppe, and Jake Schaefer (Sr and Jr).

Though I've seen Luther Lassiter and Willie Mosconi, I would've love to have seen them in their prime.

Jim
 
When I saw this thread there was no question who my choices would be.

Ralph Greenleaf
Willie Mosconi
Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter

The three greatest of all time.
 
Lou Butera --- If you never saw him play, in his prime, you wouldn't understand. It was like a triple time ballet around a pool table.

Keith McCready --- If you have to ask why, you have never seen Keith play.

Efren Reyes --- You watch and see the impossible.
 
I'd want to see Greenleaf. I'd trade in my other two picks if I could follow Ben Hogan, in his prime, around for 18 holes.
 
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