1989 9-ball STRICKLAND-Varner-Mathews-Mataya 

Is that Doyle "Ten Two Hand" Brunson sitting at the rail?

That first rack between Earl and Nick, with Earl's miscue, was that a foul? It looked like a double touch . . . 47:17

I knew Grady for decades. He, like Lassiter and a more than a few other odds-on winning-est money players would tell you privately *what a distinct advantage a road player has when his genes have provided him with a premature "senior citizen" appearance* . Most lifelong followers of our beloved sport know about the "weight" advantage it gave them when it was time to "make a game." Grady was only 46 years-old here, but he himself judged that he looked like 65+ and for his purposes, didn't mind that in the least. And you're right -- regarding good physical shape -- he had the vigor, stamina and strength of a 25 year-old. Very important for long sets and high mileage driving trips scouting for ripe target towns.

Thanks for the kind words Kevin. Glad the vital USPS is in the capable hands of a fellow pool lover like yourself.

Glad you liked it, Ronbo. Thanks for the comment.

Mataya had a 6 second cameo in "The Color of Money." "I got no problem with it," he said sarcastically. Glad Eva came to her senses and dumped him. He could shoot, but Earl's the Man, maybe GOAT?

Speaking of the Greats having total confidence, Nate, you've reminded me of an unwittingly amusing (and more than a little arrogant) response that the *supremely-confident Willie Mosconi* gave to a sports reporter during a Straight Pool final's pre-match interview. He was asked whether he felt some pressure at the moment. Mosconi replied: Oh no, I leave that feeling for the other guy . . . I only have to play *pool* -- he has to play *Mosconi* .

@@raycarltonbilliards5798 Being the best requires one to think their the best. A common response to Willie's comment would be that he would jinx himself and would get beaten. What's so incredible is Willie was above that and said what he meant. It would be much more difficult to say something along those lines in the internet age, where everyone seems to be a critic. Thank you for sharing what Willie said, I plan on printing this quote out and taping it under my table. He's a timeless man who was the best. America needs a few more people like Mosconi.

I sure miss Grady. You may know he passed away in 2013. He and I were in a production/writing business together 18 years ago and he traveled up north to play on my new home rec 9-foot Diamond with 4 1/2" corner pockets. We played Straight Pool (our mutual favorite game) for three consecutive days with some business talk mixed in. He shot 118 break shots by my count and made *117* of them -- *missed only one of them* ! He was raining 70- and 80-ball runs every day. It was just astonishing to see up-close how good he really was when he was loose and relaxed and loving the equipment.

@@raycarltonbilliards5798 That's incredible! Sounds like a dream to me. I'm new to the game and am so impressed with players of Grady's level. I can watch the same match over and over and notice new aspects of the game I hadn't noticed before. I find it so fascinating how pool player's skills are virtually hidden to those who do not play the sport. It's really amazing that you worked with Grady for so long and enjoyed playing with him. I hope to find another person to play with that will help me with the nuisances in this game. Thank you for sharing these videos and your stories, they will certainly help me on my pursuit of pocket billiards.

Join a pool league, Nate, if there's one convenient to your home and work schedule. They all accept every skill level -- from raw beginners up to very experienced players. If their handicapping system works well, you'll get to meet, play against, and observe the experienced ones. A percentage of the experienced ones who don't have a home table will readily appreciate a cost-free offer extended by you to play and practice with you occasionally (or regularly) on your own table. And any of them will thereby continually give you plenty of tips about what they have done to build a strong game and are doing, as they are shooting on your table. No need to invite more than one or two who want to visit you often and help your progress and understanding of the game's nuances. And every couple of years or so, you'll hugely benefit from travelling to any recognized professional pool instructor in your region for a paid assessment and upgrade to your skills. Great instructors notice things that other people would miss. *And be sure to install a shelf or fixture in your rec room that can rigidly hold a camcorder or smartphone to record your vital solo-practice sessions* from time to time. The camera is an objective observer (a coach of sorts) that will privately see (and upon play-back, "report" about) strengths & weaknesses in your alignment, aiming, eye-movement ,stance, bridging, and all elements of your stroking, position play ,and the quality of shot choices you make.

Plenty of pool players in those days (not all) weren't very healthy people -- staying in pool halls most of their days and nights smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, and eating questionable bar food. Also, substance abuse was not uncommon to some of them. There was an early-aging syndrome amongst quite a few of the advanced-skill-level players. Today, many of the younger champions worldwide do now athletically keep themselves fit and healthy . . . and by viewing the appearance of older aging professionals, have learned the cost of not doing so. A lot of the new pros run, workout, play other sports moderately -- beyond pool -- and in general, religiously avoid those anti-health negatives cited above.

I think he was only 5 years older than Nick. Must have been a rough 5 years.

Nick. i agree. you actually had to have a stroke to be able to play. now anybody can gently poke a ball 5 rails. with super fast cloth and balls, magic racks, jump cues etc. 9 ball at the pro level today is an absolute joke.

Thanks for the comment, Alan. I know you'll equally enjoy many of these other ones of mine that feature plenty of great pool: *

Different smokes for different folks :)

David: I knew Grady Matthews (so-called "old man") for decades. He, like Luther Lassiter and a more than a few other odds-on winning-est money players would tell you privately what a distinct advantage a road player has when his genes have provided him with a premature "senior citizen" appearance . Most lifelong followers of our beloved sport know about the "weight" advantage it gave them when it was time to "make a game." *_Grady was only 46 years-old here_* but he himself judged that he looked like 65+ and *_for his purposes_* didn't mind that in the least. Regarding physical shape -- he had the vigor, stamina and strength of a 25 year-old. Very important requisites for long wagering sets and high-mileage driving trips scouting for ripe target towns.

I was 16 when I met Nick, Steve, Grady and Fats in Nashville, this is when I loved pool and still do. U just don't like it as much because when you were good and nobody can beat you, it's hard when you stop playing and then think u can do what u user 2 do but I remember watching these matches live, Varner was my favorite and I guess he always Wil be, good story and memories. Grady was also in the color of money, if u ever watch it

And what Grady could accomplish with that ultra-abbreviated stroke was remarkable. He and I were in a production/writing business together 18 years ago and he traveled up north to play on my new home rec 9-foot Diamond with 4 1/2" corner pockets. We played Straight Pool (our mutual favorite game) for three consecutive days with some business talk mixed in. He shot 118 break shots by my count and made *117* of them -- missed only *one* of them. He was raining 70- and 80-ball runs every day. It was just astonishing to see up-close how good he really was when he was loose and relaxed and loving the equipment.

@@raycarltonbilliards5798 What an experience and a great memory....don't think they're making them like Grady anymore. I guess time will tell. It seems conditions in our world sort of conspire against personages like Grady, Efren, Earl, etc. I'm all for more money in the game and I hope it does not hurt the game like it has in some major sports and NASCAR.....Keep the Faith, Tom

@@tomnekuda3818 well let's see what happens after the us open this year with that 300k added.

You're exactly right, Whet. I was in the audience for this match and folks around me were shaking their heads at that gratuitous "question" -- a very bizarre moment. Did he expect that Grady was going to call a safety.

He wanted to follow the shot to more easily to see which way he was going to watch for a foul. Nothing to do with calling the ball but rather to help the ref watch for the hit.

Thank you for sending those kind words, Ronnie. I''m very pleased that you're enjoying all the videos. Makes my time and archiving efforts worthwhile.

I love when he misses his shot and manages to lock his opponent up tight.

Fredo, That's one of the reasons he got to be a BCA Hall of Fame inductee. Much shorter in stature than most players, Nick was/is a giant at any pool table. In1989 he set an unprecedented record for major wins in a single year. No player in the 170-year history of professional pool had ever accomplished a one-year record like this: 1989 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship 1989 Brunswick World Open 9-Ball Championship 1989 Rak'em Up 9-Ball Classic 1989 Knoxville 9-Ball Open 1989 Governors Cup 9-Ball 1989 Glass City Open 9-Ball 1989 Sands Regency Reno Open 9-Ball 1989 Golden 8-Ball Invitational 1989 Scranton Open 9-Ball 1989 Lexington All Star Open 1989 Akron Open 9-Ball ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ And given the growth of our game worldwide -- with so many international *world-class heavy hitters competing against each every year*, I don't think it will ever even be possible for any player to have a single-year total like that again.

Gambling in a casino? I'm shocked, shocked.

@@raycarltonbilliards5798 love your docs..

Worked perfectly for him (and Hopkins as well). Either of them could run Straight Pool hundreds all day long with that zero-backstroke, abbreviated-forward technique. Not for the faint of heart among us to emulate, but it is a workable solution for the rare players with an *_incurable_* hitch in their stroke.

Thanks for the kind words of appreciation, Bic.

It was indeed a slow napped cloth rather than the much faster worsted ones that are virtually standard today.

Plenty of pro pool players (not all) who came up during most eras of the 20th century *would readily admit that they weren't especially healthy people* -- staying in pool halls most of their days and nights smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, and eating questionable bar food. Also -- as with all sports -- substance abuse was not unheard of. *There was an early-aging syndrome amongst quite a few of the advanced-skill-level pool players* . Today, many of the younger champions worldwide do now athletically keep themselves fit and healthy . . . and by viewing the appearance of older aging professionals, have learned the cost of not doing so. A lot of the new pros run, workout, play other sports moderately -- beyond pool -- and in general, religiously avoid those anti-health negatives cited above.

I sure do also, Corey. A truly generous, intelligent, wonderful man -- so full of life -- humorous and exciting to be around. He and I were in a billiards-related TV production/writing business together 18 years ago and he traveled up north from SC to play on my new home rec 9-foot Diamond with 4 1/2" corner pockets. We played Straight Pool (our mutual favorite game) for three consecutive days with some business talk mixed in. He shot 118 break shots by my count and made 117 of them -- missed only one of them. He was raining 70- and 80-ball runs every day. It was just astonishing to see up-close how good he really was when he was loose and relaxed and loving the equipment.

Glad you enjoyed it, Searingold. Thx for the feedback.

Luck in a 9-ball game? Who would ever have imagined such a thing!

One of the most consistently great players ever. I'll never forget the record-breaking year he had in 1989. *He entered 11 major tournaments and won 10 of them* . Still plays superbly today --- *30 years later* .

@@raycarltonbilliards5798 I agree 100%. They asked Eferen who he would pick as a partner outside of the Philippines & he said Varner. Imagine that team!!!. Whew

Few people pick up on the fact that Efren and Nick have *nearly identical personalities and character traits;* Men of few words; uncannily modest about their powerful game; never a public bad word about their opponent; extricate themselves from virtually any situation; both typically quiet and soft-spoken; not an ounce of "give up" in either man; near-instantaneous strategy decisions.

He didn't hit the green 6 ball. He legally hit the yellow 1 ball, pocketed it, then legally shot at the blue 2 ball.

9-footers (4 1/2 x 9).

Glad you think so!

No, they weren't customized in any manner. Seasoned road players -- as Grady was, before turning pro -- wanted to pass as ordinary, amateurish folks in a variety of pretended occupations.

I do, they sit up higher so you don't look over them when you get down.

Can you elaborate on what you're referring to?

Everybody does... lol

Jimmy was married to Eva. He had all the game anyone could ask for :-)

@@physicsguybrian She's a fox!

Jimmy's then-wife, Ewa, (pronounced as Eva) was -- and is -- not only physically attractive but a beautiful person as well, who has contributed greatly to our beloved sport via her instructional efforts and her enthusiastic organizational abilities. She was a popular fashion model in her native Sweden before moving to the U.S

제 동영상을 즐겨 주셔서 기쁩니다

헤헷! 당연하죠

Q q 11

For more than a hundred years of MAJOR billiards tournaments starting in the late 19th century and during about 3/4 of the 20th century, *_no player in history was ever comfortable playing in a tuxedo_* but whenever deemed necessary, sensible players did it in willing compliance with sporadic efforts to enhance the general public's sometimes negative perception of the sport's image. The players generally had a shot at substantial money (for the times) and quite willingly cooperated (wouldn't anyone?) with any promoter's dress codes whenever that's the look the production company (and appreciative sponsors) wanted. It was "their dime", (the funding that made certain major events possible -- to delight of fans of quality pool events. In former days, tuxedos were often contractually required either for the entire tournament (or sometimes only for closing matches) by promoters of many high-stakes, televised major tournaments.