What current pro player embodies what a pool player should be both on and off the table?

Question

For me, it's Ralf Souquet. Ralf is such a consistent player. He's not always on top, but he's usually not far off. He's the kind of player who has the mental strength and character to come back from a huge deficit. He never gives up or loses focus. You can see how much he loves the game. He's a true gentlemen off the table and cares about his family very much. M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.

Answer 1

The Black Widow

Answer 2

Have to go against the grain and pick a "lady"......Alison Fisher.....she always seems to be focused when ever on the table....never it seems have I seen her shoot what I call a "pretty boy shot".....she stays in position always it seems and will methodically run a rack it seems by following the old saying...."keep it simple stupid".....nothing fancy just at the right place it seems every single time.......her tournament championships speak for themselves......Alison Fisher is my choice!........and then we have Earl Strickland at the other end of the spectrum....can you imagine his game with Alison's temperament......who would even come close to matching that individual!

Answer 3

Hard to pick just one shooter. Iv'e met several of the pro players at tournaments over the years , both male and female, and they have always been very nice folks. I have to agree with you about Ralf. My wife and I were just 2 rooms down from him at the Arlington Heights Hilton hotel during an APA world nineball tournament in Chicago. We ran into him in the hallway and after a little chat he invited us to come to his room for a drink. My wife is pretty shy , she had no idea who he was , so we declined. Later on at the tourney he spotted us and went out of his way to come over and say hello. He even remembered our names. And to top it all off the next day he came to our room and gave us an autographed picture, autographed cue ball and a list of tournaments he was going to be playing in. A genuine great guy on and off the table. I have a buddy who was a tournament director back in the 90's on the camel 9 and 10 ball tour. We caught up with him in Milwaukee once and he invited us to lunch. Little did I know that Earl Strickland , Kim Davenport and Johnny Archer would be eating lunch with us. It was pretty cool shooting the breeze with these guys. Some of the nicest and definitely the funniest people you ever want to meet. They talked a lot about golf , which I know nothing about , but it was still pretty neat. Seems like they love golf almost as much as pool. As far as the Women players go They have all been very nice too. Vivian Villareal is a blast to be around. I asked Allison Fisher to sign my cueball at a tourney in Peoria. She signed it and then she noticed that Jean Balukas and Karen Corr had also signed it. She looked at me very seriously and said '' If I knew they signed it I surely wouldn't have''. At first I thought she was serious and I didn't know what to say. Then she looked at me and just started laughing. Had me fooled there for a minute. I sat next to Jean Balukas at that tourney for a while and she is just great. I asked her if she ever played against Allison or Karen , She said that they came to her pool room in Brooklyn ( i think ) and they had played a few games but nothing serious. She wouldn't tell me who won though. Man I need to shut up.......

P.S. your right Johnny , Archer is a good old boy, but his woman will talk your dang ear off if you let her. May be his x woman now , not sure.

Answer 4

Efren Reyes.  Not only do i consider him to be the best pool player of all time (just watch the shot against earl the pearl on youtube) but he is a very soft spoken and well behaved guy.  But god this man is god of pool.

Answer 5

Man they are just getting better all round but Im going with 2 local players

Ladies first -Kim White

Then Jeremy Jones

I dont know much about many pros away from the table not that I know much about beating them on the table  Johnny Archer always seems like a pretty good old boy

                                     My 2 points worth Later Johnny

Answer 6

i happen to like ralf souquet also...but the one i thought of when i saw your question is Mike Massey..i met him when i went to the tournaments in Vegas, and he's such a cool dude on and off the table..he's not cocky either...the ******** player, to me is Earl Strickland..he's so sure of himself that when he misses a shot, he obviously gets angered, and that aint something inspirational for the younger pool players..the person that has me going with his unbelievable shots is Efren Reyes..man, that dude can pull off shots outta no where, as if there's some little ghost or something pushing his balls around, lol...

Answer 7

I can't speak for how they are after their matches... except for two. One: Buddy Hall. The matches I've seen him in he conducted himself like a gentleman, and afterwards as well.

Two: The female I have known for years. Julia Gabriel. Win or lose she is a lady (a competitor, but a lady as well).

Answer 8

I am a Mike Siegel fan.  He is a great shot, and a class act.

Answer 9

Ralf Souquet gets the nod from me as well Straight, but a honorable mention would have to go to Robin Dobson. What a career! Wins to many to mention a gracious winner and a wait til next time good attitude after a loss. All good ambassador to the game. PS keep your wallet in your pocket during a money game with this chick!

Luck

K

Answer 10

buddy hall met him in a tourment in tenn placed was very crowded he came over and ask if he and a friend could sit at our table he was very friendly and talk to us like he new us for a long time he was like a regular guy no aires made me even more of a fan