Make me a pool player

PoolSynergy Feb 15 2010.

Make me a pool player, please.
By Mike Fieldhammer

A friend of mine recently asked, “Mike, what’s your favorite flavor of salt water taffy?” My response was complex. You see, salt water taffy is my favorite candy finishing just ahead of candy corn. But within the realm of taffy there are so many delicious choices. Picking a favorite pool player is even more difficult. I want to build my own made of the best parts of many of the finest competitors on the planet.

I realize I’m probably breaking the rules G² set up, so I’m imposing some limits of my own. I can’t pick the player for a particular kind of shot —just body parts stitched together like I’m building Frankenstein’s Monster. Clothing, cue, and bankroll are as far as I’m allowed to stray from the genetics laboratory.

INSERT PHOTO HERE –Photoshop Pending. (Fingers crossed for February lightning storm)

Brain- Efren Reyes. He still amazes me with his imaginative shots. Aged 55 by some accounts, he’s got the wisdom, patience, carefree attitude, and smile of Yoda. “Lucky I get, hmmm?”

Right arm stroke- Corey Deuel. The Prince of Pool delivers the cue like a royal decree, straightforward and stiff. But he has a velvety touch for the soft shots and can still move the cue ball with amazing amounts of spin when required. He’s got the full range of shots with unquestionable accuracy.

Game Face- Jasmin Ouschan. The queen of cool. She has the steely expression that smacks of a Stepford wife.

Heart- This has got to be a two-parter. Ventricles- Nick Varner. The guy has probably won more matches coming from behind than any pro. A famous quote of his is, “I never worry ’bout the other guy’s score until he’s on the hill.”

Heart Atriums- Alex Pagulayan. He gets down for the money and seems to play better and better as the stakes go up. His comeback in the race to 100 TAR match vs SVB should be required viewing for any pool player. He also shows emotion of all sorts that come from that huge lion heart.

Stomach- Keith McCready. Anyone who can have a twelve pack of beer and play decent pool isn’t going to be phased by a few bad clams.

Hair- Kim Davenport. The California Kid has got the classic blow comb look that must have wowed ’em in 1982. The hair do is classic and probably brought the champ plenty of pool action.

Legs- Mika Imonnen. Sure he’s euro. Snappy dresser too. But he’s fit and has run marathons. A couple of years ago, this US Open champion had to play deep into the night and rise and shine for another grueling day of matches. I believe he won 13 matches to win his first open over Souquet in the finals after losing his second match of the tournament. I’d want this kind of endurance in the perfect pool playing human.

Left arm stroke- Mike Sigel. Captain Hook is the smoothest lefty I can think of. Handy if I had to shoot a southpaw shot. Except for the hand.

Left Hand- Shane Van Boening. I’ve got bridge envy and arthritis in my left thumb (CMC) joint. Shane’s got the coolest open bridge when he folds his thumb onto the first bone on his pointer finger. It works great off the rail and elevated too. You can’t shoot them in clean without a rock solid bridge hand.

Eyes- Johnny Archer. This hall of famer shoots them straight because he’s always seen them as hangers. His focus at the table makes him a dangerous ball maker.

Bankroll- Harry Platis. This fellow can and has bet more in a week than many people earn in a year. He’s just got into One-Pocket.org’s hall of fame for lifetime of action. Honorable mention to Allen Hopkins and Corey Deuel for their bankrolls, I’d just like to see them in action more often.

Cue and Wardrobe- Ralf Souquet. Sure, another European. Well,Sir Ralf is the ideal professional tournament player. Classy whether he wins or loses. Well dressed, fierce and friendly all at the same time, and one cool customer. He plays with a fabulous Joss cue that has got to be Danny Janes’ finest work.

I guess I don’t have a favorite player. There are bits of all kinds of players that I admire. This might be a work in progress. Drop me a line or submit a comment with a no-brainer that I may have forgotten.

This article is the fourth of a series of posts written in coordination with other pool bloggers entitled “PoolSynergy”.
This month’s theme is FAN FAVORITES.
To see others, go to: http://gailglazebrook.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/poolsynergy-volume-iv-fan-favorites/