You-“I have some Black Friends “!
Why are there so few black pro players..?
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I had less of a choice than Tiger Woods did. My parents didn't have the means and his parents did. Are you intelligent enough to understand that difference?
I'm purty stupid, but I'm familiar with their struggles. Somehow they overcame them, but yet in 2025 black people can't play pool because of the color of their skin. Is that your theory? Would that be your grand theory about baseball too? You think baseball is less welcoming now than when Jackie Robinson played? Or maybe, just maybe, there's more than just one variable at play here.
What statement? I'm starting to wonder if you're new to the world wide web.
With today's pool world, "discrimination" based on class is more demonstrable than your race based theories. Especially when your only present day example is Josh Roberts.
You could maybe just scrap the name calling BS, as I'm actually conversing in good faith because I believe the two of us probably have way more in common than you would believe.
Who cares that you don’t Care??
14 year old BasementDweller calls up the local country club...
"Prestige Country Club. Graham speaking. How can I help you?"
"Hey Graham, this is BasementDweller. Would you mind driving out here to give me a ride, buy me a set of clubs, give me some lessons, and throw in a free membership?"
"That's hilarious. I'll talk to you later."
"Wait...wait...I'm WHITE"
"Please accept my apology fine sir. I'll be there promptly. "
"Prestige Country Club. Graham speaking. How can I help you?"
"Hey Graham, this is BasementDweller. Would you mind driving out here to give me a ride, buy me a set of clubs, give me some lessons, and throw in a free membership?"
"That's hilarious. I'll talk to you later."
"Wait...wait...I'm WHITE"
"Please accept my apology fine sir. I'll be there promptly. "
There is no discrimination or racism, the World is perfect, and America doesn’t need to make any changes. You actually described Golf, as if it is a welcoming Sport! Wow. Yes, Baseball has less American Black players than when Mays and Aaron played. The majority of players of color in Baseball
are coming from overseas and the Islands. Baseball doesn’t want Black players to dominate the sport as they have in Basketball and Football. The emphasis in the inner cities is obvious, there aren’t many clean fields, baseball equipment, Coaches available to teach kids how to play, no clear white lines for base paths, and no other teams playing! We had Adults playing on teams all over the city, sometimes sponsored by Bars, and stands full of families.
What started out as an interesting thread has become something else. The black players I grew up around, played the game for the same reasons I did. They just loved it. And, action settled up for the cash was how we measured a players worth. Maybe I'm delusional but to me the CASH was the reason we competed. I loved getting anybodies cash cause it all spent the same way. I hated losing my cash cause it hurt no matter who got it. So, being around Marvin and JC Cannonball watching them conduct their business on the table was amazing. Marvin maybe a top five all around player could really bring it. Alcohol abuse was his devil. And JC could bank the ball like no one else during his time. These guys lived their lives their way. No excuses for the hands they were dealt as they did the best they could. Pool was a tough way to survive and most great players died poor.
That 's cute. It's also a straw man.
No I didn't. You just ignored my portrayal because it doesn't fit into your narrative.
Just an unfounded assertion. Why would the MLB not want more players like Bonds, Gwynn, and Ken Griffey Jr.? You think they don't like filling stadiums and making boat loads of cash?
Now you're actually stumbling closer to the problem and maybe it's solution. I wonder if those that think complex problems only have one variable in play, would have fun playing pool with just a cue ball.
I donated $20 bucks to Ciscero more often than I care to recall playing pool living in Bklyn, N.Y.
After awhile, and a lot of donating, he laughingly revealed his approach to pool after I asked him.
It was simple. Let your opponents think they can win so remember to always give them a little hope.
Now we weren’t discussing tournament pool. This was just his shucking and jiving approach to pool.
I don't see a connection there...
My original question was why there are so few black pro players in pool (which is a fact) , what is there to be deemed superior on my side?
You did ask how many Black players are playing today. You seem to want to ignore the history of the game. You assumed that the players would be playing, if they were capable of playing, as if no other barriers existed except the will to learn, play, Win, and get Paid.
Who cares what you don’t care about
Sir, you need to put down that crack pipe every once in a while or/and learn how to read...here is what I wrote
''Is there an explanation why so few black players seem to have interest pool at professional level..?''
So, neither did I ask how many black players play nor did I assume anything.Comprende..?
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Sure, professor Racebait...
Pool does not have a color, except for the money and the balls.
Playing high-level pool requires an OBSESSION with the game, THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of hours on the table, and lots of playing and interaction with players of a higher caliber than yourself.
Very FEW players have the option or commitment to make pool their SOLE focus for years and years in an environment that will take their game to the highest possible level.
I grew up and worked in a REAL, old-school pool hall that served alcohol when I was a kid. Other kids were out somewhere playing kid games or sports while I was in a place that I wasn't even allowed to be in. I watched pool for thousands of hours, I played for thousands of hours, and I interacted and gambled with everybody who wanted to play. I played EVERY day, six days a week, for HOURS and HOURS and HOURS. By the time I was 16, I could beat everybody in town and for miles around and the owner of the pool hall would back me against anybody coming in.
Everybody thinks they can beat a kid, but that isn't necessarily the case when the KID has played more pool in a year than they have played in their life.
FWIW, TIME and EXPERIENCE is the KEY.
It does NOT matter what COLOR you are.
I lived in the Philippines for three years. Pool in the Philippines is like pool was in the USA decades ago. The Philippines is still a POOR country compared to many countries around the world. LOTS of the kids are POOR growing up and have nothing to do except go to pool halls and spend LOTS of time. That evironment produces better players than countries that have better opportunities and things for the youth to spend time doing.
the world is made up of different cultures and races. and they tend to hang out together. as like kinds generally do.
and years back there were tons of black players and good ones at that. they all gambled as that's what pool players did then.
the black people mostly grew up in inner cites and had lots of pool rooms. as pool died out so did the pool rooms so nowadays there are far less.
the inner cities have basketball courts everywhere. so young blacks learn that game and that game is where the money is. and they gamble all the time against each other playing.
they dont have large empty fields or baseball diamonds to play on so less get good at that sport. same with golf.
never in the past did any of us have black white issues in pool. we played each other when we came together and gambled as well.
never fights or problems as it was gambling and pool we had in common and that was it.
at the race track we sat near or with them talked and bet horses. we had gambling on horses in common, no black white issues.
and still today as back then, good players at any sport are looked up to no matter who they are if their character is solid.
and years back there were tons of black players and good ones at that. they all gambled as that's what pool players did then.
the black people mostly grew up in inner cites and had lots of pool rooms. as pool died out so did the pool rooms so nowadays there are far less.
the inner cities have basketball courts everywhere. so young blacks learn that game and that game is where the money is. and they gamble all the time against each other playing.
they dont have large empty fields or baseball diamonds to play on so less get good at that sport. same with golf.
never in the past did any of us have black white issues in pool. we played each other when we came together and gambled as well.
never fights or problems as it was gambling and pool we had in common and that was it.
at the race track we sat near or with them talked and bet horses. we had gambling on horses in common, no black white issues.
and still today as back then, good players at any sport are looked up to no matter who they are if their character is solid.
I heard Left-Handed Kevin makes goes to Q-Ball's room in Capital Heights. Left-Handed Kevin and I were buddies. He spent many a late night at Champions in action. I miss him.
Silver Hill was THE action place for many years.
I love your Bus Driver Ronnie story. I hadn't seen him in a long while because I took a hiatus for pool when I was working downtown DC, but I ran into him at my first U.S. Open in Virginia about 2002, and we started chatting and picked right up. I miss him too. He's 82 years old.
Found this little nugget here: Famous Pool Sharks
The best Black players during the bad old days of racial segregation when they couldn't compete in the major billiards tournaments: "Lucky Charms" aka "Sizzle" Adams, Fat Albert, Arizona Slim, Joey Barnes, "Patcheye" Basheer, Melvin "Strawberry" Brooks, Ace Brown, Eddie Brown, "Bus Driver" Ronnie, Johnny "Cannonball" Chapman, Detroit Slim, James Evans, Andrew "The Gent" Gentry, George "Rotation Slim" Hairston, "Marvelous" Marvin Henderson, Buffalo Jerry, Cliff "Spotmaster" Joyner, Henry "Lotsa Poppa" McCloud Jr., Willie Munson, James "Cisero" Murphy, Leonard "Bugs" Rucker, Ike Runnels, Mark "Tadd" Tademy, T-Bone, Cecil Tugwell, Javenly "Youngblood" Washington, Edgar "Shake and Bake" White, Robert "Rags" Woods
According to Jay Helfert, James Evans was "one of the best pool players that ever lived. PERIOD!" Helfert ranked "Youngblood" Washington, Cisero Murphy, Marvin Henderson, Bugs Rucker and John "Cannonball" Chapman as "the great ones." Helfert's honorable mentions include Cliff Joyner, Robert "Rags" Woods, Cecil Tugwell, Mark Tadd, Black Nate, Strawberry and Gabby. Helfert also mentioned that the only player he ever saw beat Ronnie Allen even at one-pocket was Marvin Henderson.
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I think somebody here said there's no money in pool. <==== If not, then there it is. Given that, black - um Humanoids of African ancestry seem to have the genetics for activities that offer a better shot at better money; often for starting pay. Football, Ball ball, Boxing, even running promises a good payoff for hard work. Compare to pool anytime...