Legendary Stars of Pocket Billiards?

Question

A while back on ESPN Classic, they showed some of the matches from a tournament held back in the early 80's with a bunch of straight-pool era players. At the time, the players were all in their 60's and 70's. I guess my question is in regards to the effects of aging on your pool game. The only two players that really struck me as playing well for their reputation were Arthur "Babe" Cranfield and of course, Wille Mosconi. I repeatedly saw other BCA Hall of Famers like Joe Balsis, Wimpy Lassiter, and Jimmy Moore missing fairly easy shots (forgive my arrogance), go back and forth commiting fouls, scratching the cue ball, getting way out of position, etc. It was kind of hard to watch. These guys were world-beaters earlier in their careers. I have to wonder if it could've been the fact that the tournament was more of an exhibition than a real championship. That didn't seem to phase Willie at all. He still dominated like he always did. Your thoughts. M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.

Answer 1

I recall seeing that tournament and your right, it was hard to watch at times. I guess time has a way of catching up with everybody. I know it won't be long and I'll have to get me some glasses or laser eye surgery or something. My eyes just don't work right anymore. If I had to play in one of those long, grind it out, tourneys I'm not sure how well I could hold up anymore. Oh well , thats probably not gonna happen anyway. I was glad my son got to see those legends playin' on TV. Wish he could of seen them in their prime though. h**l, I wish I could of seen them in their prime , lol.

Answer 2

How do you think Ali would do in the ring today??

Age does have an effect on every thing and every body We need a viagra type med for pool players it just made me shoot harder ok ok enough of that

My life long hero was Eddie Taylor last time i saw him play hestill ran 11 in banks inc a 5 rail kick shot against Grady Mathews from SC and yes that was way off for him but still better than most well up in years

If Willie was playing a player that was on his level 30 years before would he have still won ??

   Good one Straight           Later Johnny

Answer 3

A persons physical and mental make-up has a lot to do with how well they perform later in life irrespective of what sport they play.

Examples: Warren Spahn threw two no-hitters over the age of 40. Nolan Ryan pitched to age 47 and threw three no-no's and setting strikeout records while over 40. There are five active pitchers over 40 in the majors today pitching well. George Blanda in football, Michael Jordan from basketball, and many from other sports. Some of those senor golfers don't do too badly.

Of course there's a lot of luck involved for those guys, while others may have physical problems that prevent them from maintaining their AAA rating.

As far as billiards... Willie Mosconi I believe could have played at 100. He had that kind of attitude that he was the best and wouldn't let up on you if he was ahead 99-0.

Pool is 75-80% mental (I've always been told) so other factors for them would be "eye sight" or, lack of same. It's a real b*tch when you can't even see the end of the table clearly. Or the balls look fuzzy even with glasses.

All things being equal... I do believe that pool players can play their sport much later in life than any other sport and maintain a modicum of success.

Anyway, I hope some of this makes sense.

Answer 4

I'll forgive your arrogance if you'll forgive my ignorance...Had the legends been playing regularly up until the exhibition?  I'm probably stating the obvious here, but if they hadn't been playing, I wouldn't expect much out of them no matter their ages.  If Willie and Babe had both laid off as well, perhaps they're just the type of players who can get back into it without much work.  Or perhaps, as you suggested (I think), it was the lack of pressure or adrenaline that kept them from playing the way they were capable of playing.

As to the effects of aging, I would say they definitely have to appear at some point...I imagine that most of us, if we try, could be or possibly are improving our games.  Then at some point, we reach a plateau (due to mental or physical limitations).  And after we're there for awhile, we can only decline.  But it does seem like players could work at it and fend off that decline for quite some time; it seems like things happen so gradually that they could work with it and get used to things as they come (easy enough for a 28-year-old to say!).

--Lea