Who's the most intimidating player you've ever seen?
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Maybe he did not mean 'You play like a machine.' as a compliment. :wink:
Just kidding, Joey.
Best 2 Ya,
Rick
Talk about stalking around a table, Marco Marquez had one of the best walks around the table I have ever seen. Fierce competitor for the cash but his walk around the table just exuded "this table is mine, MINE!! And you're not going to take it from me!!".
Intimidating, hmmm... Normally I wouldn't find the Pros intimidating because there's reasonably little chance that I'd ever actually play them and even so we all know what the result would likely be, so no intimidation, just a learning experience. But if I were picking one I think I'd have go with Tony Robles. On the surface, away from the table he always appeared friendly enough, but at the table, silent, deadly... I think the unwillingness to engage and just that look like "I can take you out whenever I want but maybe I'm feeling charitable a little today..." the dark eyes that look cold and piercing, then the proud arrogance that isn't arrogant. It would be like walking down a Chicago street in the bright sunlight of a summertime day and suddenly feeling the barrel of a .38 pressed up against the back of your head and anticipating... suddenly *BANG*, you're dead
I guess that's why they call him Silent Assassin. That's what I find intimidating
I guess that's why they call him Silent Assassin. That's what I find intimidating
I've never met Earl, but I can't imagine a more intimidating player if he is in his "zone". I think Earl could produce more firepower than anybody real quick. Some people can grind you down and get up even when they are behind in a set, but Earl could run racks upon racks when he got going.
His style of play and demeanor at the table messes with you, whether you admit it or not...even if you are better.
His style of play and demeanor at the table messes with you, whether you admit it or not...even if you are better.
He talks as much as he shoots these days, I played him 3 times and almost got into it with him twice and I don't say anything besides "push" and "foul" to my opponents.
I've met Earl and Sigel and watched them play/practice. I agree Earl was and is an intimidating player, and I guess he'd be my vote for all time intimidator. But for sheer explosive fire power, I'm surprised no one's mentioned Tony Watson. That guy had (sometime still has) a gear that's really nuts; he'll shoot at virtually anything and will pull shots out of a hat that frankly seem impossible. When he was on and at the speed he ran tables, you'd just have to stand there and watch the beads fly across the string.
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I like that Earl talks when he shoots...that is what makes him entertaining...and intimidating.
When you hear Earl talk to himself and "tell" himself what his options are and what he plans on doing...and then DOES IT, it leaves no doubt as to how incredibly well he plays. Sometimes when you are playing people and feel they are getting "lucky" or "rolls" you can't determine if it was a roll or actually intended exactly like it occurred..
For example, you hear something like "if I go three rails with a lot of spin, I'll catch the 7-ball with the cue ball and it'll stop it just enough to give me straight-in position on the three ball in the side". Then Earl jumps up and WHAMMO! That's what happens!
That is INTIMIDATING! Whether he got lucky or not.
Aloha.
I've played Archer, Varner, Chris Melling, Monroe Jones (Vernon Elliott's last apprentice).....among others.
The one that really intimidated me so much that it felt smothering.....was playing CJ Wiley. At times he was stone-faced. Emotionless. It was as if he held no regard that I was even sharing the table with him. Then I'd occasionally see a slight smirk. Almost imperceptible. It made me feel he had found my jugular and was toying with the idea of when to rip it out.
He's spooky to play.
We get along off the table just fine. I would call him a friend. Didn't enjoy being his opponent.
The one that really intimidated me so much that it felt smothering.....was playing CJ Wiley. At times he was stone-faced. Emotionless. It was as if he held no regard that I was even sharing the table with him. Then I'd occasionally see a slight smirk. Almost imperceptible. It made me feel he had found my jugular and was toying with the idea of when to rip it out.
He's spooky to play.
We get along off the table just fine. I would call him a friend. Didn't enjoy being his opponent.
Well when he's looking to you to agree with him about the conditions, people, their antics, the room owners, the tournament promoters, the table makers, the cloth installers and berating them all it kind of takes away from the game and it's focus.
I like what John Schmidt said about Earl
"Its like having sex in front of John Holmes"
"Its like having sex in front of John Holmes"
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I think this is the best question of all. All records would be hard to chase down, but I don't think anyone would have an overall winning record against Mike Sigel in his prime. In straight pool, Mizerak occasionally beat him, and almost nobody else did. Mike won exhibitions I saw in the 80s, without much contest. In nine ball, Earl Strickland probably came close to him, and it would be close between the two. In all, I believe Sigel won over 100 professional tournaments, and he stopped playing quite a long time ago. It's interesting fodder, but I think Mike dominated against his opponents in his prime.
oh my gawd that's funny
Bob Dickerson (best player in my hometown) and Buddy Hall.
Very similar in styles, seldom seen them make a difficult shot because they played "old school" of controlling the cue ball.
Buddy and Bob both knew what was the "right" shot and always seemed to get pinpoint perfect position. Bob was helping his wife Christie Dickerson one day and being on the next table, I was trying to learn as he helped Christie. Bob said, "There are several shots available, but there is only one correct one." I never forgot that.
Buddy was helping me on some shots, and he said, "Make that ball, and position the cueball to exactly this spot." I said, "If I could get to that spot and make the ball, I wouldn't need your help!" He didn't understand that most of us are just humans.
I don't think any of the top current players play the "old school" pool of perfect position. Keith McCready, Louie Roberts, Mike Siegal, Earl, Shane, etc. are great shot makers, but as far as moving the cueball minimum distance and perfect placement, Buddy has them all beat. The only one that is even close is Nick Varner.
LOL
Ken
Very similar in styles, seldom seen them make a difficult shot because they played "old school" of controlling the cue ball.
Buddy and Bob both knew what was the "right" shot and always seemed to get pinpoint perfect position. Bob was helping his wife Christie Dickerson one day and being on the next table, I was trying to learn as he helped Christie. Bob said, "There are several shots available, but there is only one correct one." I never forgot that.
Buddy was helping me on some shots, and he said, "Make that ball, and position the cueball to exactly this spot." I said, "If I could get to that spot and make the ball, I wouldn't need your help!" He didn't understand that most of us are just humans.
I don't think any of the top current players play the "old school" pool of perfect position. Keith McCready, Louie Roberts, Mike Siegal, Earl, Shane, etc. are great shot makers, but as far as moving the cueball minimum distance and perfect placement, Buddy has them all beat. The only one that is even close is Nick Varner.
LOL
Ken
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and that is why he was never a champion champion-He was/is too interested in juicing the ball every possible shot.
John Schmidt is hilarious, I wish he would commentate for big events he's one of the best