fred bentivegna
Verified Member
My final, final word on it
My final, final word on it
Here are a couple of emails I sent out to people asking my opinion on the Concept of One Pocket a few years back.
Check out Grady's Baton Rouge Legends tournament in the 90's on Accu-stats. Buddy is playing Marco Marques in the semi or quarter finals. Ronnie, Incardona and I are doing the commentary. Somewhere in the course of the match Ronnie remarks, "These guys just don't know the game like you and I do." It was one of the greatest compliments I ever received, since Ronnie extended few kudos to anyone regarding One pocket expertise. Buddy's One pocket weaknesses show up quickly, and are pointed out by Ronnie, Billy and I throughout that match (which he lost by the way).
What probably confuses people about Buddy's One pocket game is that everything he chooses to shoot, he executes perfectly. That in itself is good enough to beat almost anybody, especially in short sets like tournament matches. However, stretched out into a long session, having to do everything the hard way would eventually bear bitter fruit.
If you think I'm being sacrilegious about Buddy, the guy Hubert Cokes used to call "The Little Gorilla," Nicky Varner, who can also beat just about everybody, could use a One pocket Indian guide also.
Opinionatingly yours,
The Beard
OK, I'll put a qualifier on it. I am going to forfeit the last 15 years, opinion wise, since I have not been really mainstream for that period. The times I mentioned at North Shore Billiards occurred in the 80s when Buddy was the best Nine-baller on earth. Also, I never said anything about accuracy, touch, or skill, that has little to do with One pocket knowledge.
One last thing, I have spent time in the Accu-stats booth with Cecil Buddy Hall critiquing One pocket matches. And another last thing, Cecil and I are blood-brothers, and have been close friends for years. I can talk as bad as I want about his One pocket game and believe me, he wont get the slightest bit mad at me. He knows I talk bad about everybody. If you watch the Fusco/Rempe match you will see me rip Rempe unmercifully and we are still pals. While he won't pick up my lunch check (they are still looking for someone he's done it for), he will allow me to split it.
the Beard
My final, final word on it
Here are a couple of emails I sent out to people asking my opinion on the Concept of One Pocket a few years back.
Check out Grady's Baton Rouge Legends tournament in the 90's on Accu-stats. Buddy is playing Marco Marques in the semi or quarter finals. Ronnie, Incardona and I are doing the commentary. Somewhere in the course of the match Ronnie remarks, "These guys just don't know the game like you and I do." It was one of the greatest compliments I ever received, since Ronnie extended few kudos to anyone regarding One pocket expertise. Buddy's One pocket weaknesses show up quickly, and are pointed out by Ronnie, Billy and I throughout that match (which he lost by the way).
What probably confuses people about Buddy's One pocket game is that everything he chooses to shoot, he executes perfectly. That in itself is good enough to beat almost anybody, especially in short sets like tournament matches. However, stretched out into a long session, having to do everything the hard way would eventually bear bitter fruit.
If you think I'm being sacrilegious about Buddy, the guy Hubert Cokes used to call "The Little Gorilla," Nicky Varner, who can also beat just about everybody, could use a One pocket Indian guide also.
Opinionatingly yours,
The Beard
OK, I'll put a qualifier on it. I am going to forfeit the last 15 years, opinion wise, since I have not been really mainstream for that period. The times I mentioned at North Shore Billiards occurred in the 80s when Buddy was the best Nine-baller on earth. Also, I never said anything about accuracy, touch, or skill, that has little to do with One pocket knowledge.
One last thing, I have spent time in the Accu-stats booth with Cecil Buddy Hall critiquing One pocket matches. And another last thing, Cecil and I are blood-brothers, and have been close friends for years. I can talk as bad as I want about his One pocket game and believe me, he wont get the slightest bit mad at me. He knows I talk bad about everybody. If you watch the Fusco/Rempe match you will see me rip Rempe unmercifully and we are still pals. While he won't pick up my lunch check (they are still looking for someone he's done it for), he will allow me to split it.
the Beard