What does Ronnie Allen think?

[rossaroni]

The argument between Efren or Ronnie always comes up- to which there can never be a resolution. However, I was wondering if anyone has ever heard Ronnie say anything about the game. Does he think he could beat Efren in his prime. Efren would probably say he gets lucky to beat everyone these days, and Ronnie would have beat him in his prime. Therefore, I think it would be interesting to hear Ronnie's take on the match-up.

[dmyroncox]

i heard a story i dont know if its true, but i think its pretty good

someone asked ronnie who would win if he and efren played one pocket

and ronnie took a moment and said, well efren probally would , but he would be too tired to spend it

[gulfportdoc]

That's a fairly accurate quote, Myron. Efren wouldn't have wanted any part of RA when Ronnie was in his prime. BTW, our man John Henderson is a close personal friend of Ronnie's, and he speaks with him frequently. I'm sure he could give us an occasional insight into Ronnie's extensive opinions...;)

Doc

[SactownTom]

We have our montly One Pocket tournament this Saturday, if we are lucky, John Henderson will be here.

Ronnie still plays every once-in-awhile at our Monthly, when he's in town or nearby.


That's a fairly accurate quote, Myron. Efren wouldn't have wanted any part of RA when Ronnie was in his prime. BTW, our man John Henderson is a close personal friend of Ronnie's, and he speaks with him frequently. I'm sure he could give us an occasional insight into Ronnie's extensive opinions...;)

Doc

[jrhendy]

We have our montly One Pocket tournament this Saturday, if we are lucky, John Henderson will be here.

Ronnie still plays every once-in-awhile at our Monthly, when he's in town or nearby. Ronnie will be in San Jose later this week & might be there Saturday. I'm not sure if I can make it, but will try.

[NH Steve]

I spoke to both Danny Di Liberto and Nick Varner today.

Danny was involved with a lesson so we are going to talk again, but he did say that Hayden Lingo should be in. Lingo was still coming to Johnston City when Danny started, and was still a strong player, even though he was getting up in years.

Danny also said, "Whatevery you do, don't put Fats in! He knocked every other player, he did nothing for the game, only for himself. If you put Fats in, you can take me out." Not that he had an opinion or anything :)

I'll add more from Danny in a few days.

Nick Varner really liked his mentor, Hubert Cokes as a candidate. Like Hayden Lingo, Cokes was one of the early players that helped popularize One Pocket. He also recommended Jimmy Fusco as a good candidate.

Nick had a couple of recommendations for the Bank Pool ballot as well -- Vernon Elliot and John 'Cannonball' Chapman.

[onepocket926]

...if ya ever saw Ronnie play when he was in his prime...you would'nt have to ask......I've seen both men play....and without a doubt....Ronnie is the best....Efern is a great player...probably the ....Best All around Player in the world....but ...if ya look in the dictionary under.....Onepocket....it'll be Ronnies picture ya see....lol....thats just my opinion...but if ya ever figure out how to go back in time.....I'm bettin' the Ranch....and maybe the Wife....on Ronnie....lol....never did like milkin' cows...and the Wife already left me over Pool....so I don't see how I can loose.....lol....

[LastTwo]

That's a fairly accurate quote, Myron. Efren wouldn't have wanted any part of RA when Ronnie was in his prime. BTW, our man John Henderson is a close personal friend of Ronnie's, and he speaks with him frequently. I'm sure he could give us an occasional insight into Ronnie's extensive opinions...;)

Doc

How can you say that Efren wouldn't want any part of Ronnie in his prime? Did you see the way Efren played at this years DCC one pocket? I don't know much one pocket, but I know a few people that were around Ronnie in his prime. As incredible as Ronnie was, they said, Efren would have the edge over Ronnie in every department except banking.

Efren in dead stroke playing one-pocket is untouchable. I don't care if Ronnie played perfect, Efren's cueball is so pinpoint when he is in stroke, he would leave Ronnie NOTHING.

Efren is an incredible chess player. He thinks alot of moves ahead. Ronnie drank alot, and I've discussed this with many old timers who have witnessed both of these players, Efren would simply outsmart Ronnie, hands down. And the longer Efren plays, the better he plays. He's got a ton of stamina, even in his 50's. The longer he keeps moving that stroking arm, the more in stroke he gets. This is not my opinion, it's alot of different opinions of players who know Ronnie VERY well when he was in his prime, players that hung around with him, and some that even went on the road with him. They said Efren would have the edge.

[LastTwo]

I forgot to add a quote from both Billy Incardona and Danny DiLiberto-

Billy: "This is for all those people- mostly the old-timers that think Efren couldn't beat so-and-so (probably speaking of Ronnie), I DONT THINK SO."

Danny, right after Billy said that: "I've been around the game for forty years, and he (Efren) plays the game (one pocket) better than I've seen ANYONE ever play."

You people really need to take what these guys say into account. Incardona is a champion one pocket player.

DiLiberto butted heads with Ronnie Allen, when Ronnie was in his prime, MANY times. And for Danny to say that Efren plays better than anyone he's ever seen, that speaks a ton about whether Efren could beat Ronnie. I think that too many of you are too caught up in the past, and you ignore the fact that Efren would suffocate Ronnie in one pocket. Sure it could be a close match, but Efren plays way too smart for a drunken Ronnie (no disrespect to Allen, but he was and still is a drunk).

Also, keep in mind that when we are talking about a player in his PRIME, the player is in dead punch. I've seen Efren play one pocket a few times where he is not entirely in stroke. He still plays great, but he can get beaten. But when Efren is in dead punch, there is no living human being that has ever walked the planet that can or ever could beat him playing one pocket. I think an in-stroke Efren vs an in-stroke Ronnie, Efren would demolish him just like anyone else.