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Great pic Dave, thanks for sharing!
I have seen many of his trick-shot exhibitions but never have seen him play one pocket.
With all due respect, how is his game?
Mike's game went down a little when he started to concentrate on his trick shot shows (good career move) from what I was told, he used to be a monster in his day (before we met). In the last couple years he's been playing more tournaments and getting himself back in playing shape, well as much in shape as a 71+ year old can get. He still does many things really well and we may have split the games. So enjoyable to play Mike and he helped me with shooting over a frozen or near frozen ball.
I mentioned to him that he stays solid and down on shots, especially the long tough ones, better than most pros I've seen and executes those shots really well. He said well being 300 lbs helps you stay down. Hahahahaha. I'm not sure he's 300 lbs but I'm now loading up the calories to add a little weight. LOLOL
:lol
Great pic Dave, you look healthy! Stay well my friend!
Thanks, Bill. I'm pretty healthy these days and wish the same for you.
Here is a video of him playing Brandon Shuff at the 2015 Hardtimes 10 & 1 Open courtesy POV:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBI5IQdYjwA&t=1s
If I recall Brandon won the match, can't remember how Mike played. I do remember that it seemed like his ball striking abilities let him down some. I think Rodney Morris beat Raphael Martinez in the finals of this event.
Thanks for the video, Erik. His ball striking is fine now, but like I said, there was a time he didn't practice because of his trick shot shows. This is probably one of those times.
Mike is competitive in pretty much all the games, and I believe his one pocket would be the same. I know he finished near the top in some bar table tournaments in the last few years and I know he finished second in the US Amateur Snooker Championship some time back.
Like most of us old timers he plays all games and I look forward to seeing him in Houston next month.
John, before I moved from No CA (maybe 1998ish) Mike was around for like a month. He played in a one pocket tourney at CA Billiards where we were playing each other and asked me if he could use a jump cue, I said I don't think you can. He asked Chet and he allowed it. He hit the jump shot so badly that he opened the stack and sold out. I was laughing so hard and teasing him suggesting he could use the jump cue anytime, I missed my first ball so he ran out. hahahahaha
I hope he makes it to Houston, you all will have a ball.