1982 Dayton Open - Earl's first big win

[TheEldonfitz]

Greatest 9 ball player in history. When in stroke NOONE can withstand his aggression. A legend.

[scsuxci]

even back then Earl looked like a faggot fuck.Dick with ears!

[ryanw1pool]

a yound Earl's face looks like Paul Jr but not the hair

[TrickShot1100]

Nice photos. Got a kick out of seeing the young up-start Earl.

And the established pros.

[roo7227]

Holy shit... There's Jimmy Reed!.. I watched that guy bust Tony Fargo playing one pocket, and I swear to God he didn't blink for 4 hours!..

[a1562z]

for those who don't know, here are some that I recognized: :8 Mike Sigel,:23 Buddy Hall 1:41 Jimmy Mataya, 2:51 Danny Dileberto, 2:18 Steve Cook, 3:04 the late St Louie Lou Roberts, 2:18 Steve Cook maybe Which one was corn bread Red? anyone? know?

[jamessquire1]

He looked retarded even at that age. Still has that same slack-mouthed empty stare.

[larrygt1]

I LOVE THESE OLD SCHOOL PHOTOS IS SO FUNNY ALL THE GUYS THERE IN THAT POOL HALL LOOK LIKE STRAIGHT POOL HUSTLERS JUST READY TO TAKE SOMEONE CASH PRETTY COOL

[GetMeThere1]

hehehe...nice to see Earl's smiling face...before the worms started eating his brain :)

[FleetwoodMax24]

Earls a tit but good entertainment

[parksat07]

lol this vid is awesome

[Zach014789]

Lol Earl looked kinda funny back then compared to now. Buddy Hall looked beastly.

[o0J4Y0o]

Strickland can be very well compared to Michael Jackson, who has done some very ambiguous personalities and both are people of controversy. Maybe when Earl passes away, people would remember what he has done to the world of pocket billiard, just like the death of Michael, which really realized by millions, what he has done to shape the entire music history.

[EnhydraLutris1]

so he became a fat a-hole before or after he developed bipolar symptoms?

[azteacher26]

i've seen a few videos on you tube like this. I wish someone would post one that has all the names inserted into the video.

[BillPorter1456]

This same video, with captions, can be found simply by checking my other videos. Thanks for watching.

[pigdisposal]

im only a little younger than this video, they make it look like its the 70's

[HID3ANS33K]

BUDDY HALL LOL

[ferret6677]

Earl looks like a fag.

[cuetec9baller]

How could you say that ? It was 1982 you fucking dumbass , being skinny and long hair was the style, earl has prolly had more pussy than you will ever see with your own eyes.

[ferret6677]

I never had long hair in 1982. He still looks silly.

[devindrabhagwandin]

Dumbass... no wonder you will never get pussy

[lnd3005]

He does look silly. He was probably an awkward, unpopular kid. But what does that matter now? He was a god on the table, and he made himself a small fortune there. He's been all over the world, and he's recognized by millions. He's lived a life most people can only dream of living. People will be using his name a century from now, maybe more.

[trueblu8]

Earl was probably the equivalent of a rock star in those days. He was skinny and good looking.  Probably had mad pussy being thrown at him left and right. ; )

[lnd3005]

Sure, probably at the tournaments. Pool was different then. Like a rock star, though? I don't know.

I was saying, outside of pool rooms, I can't imagine Strickland was very well liked.

[trueblu8]

Yeah maybe you're right. I keep forgetting that pool isn't really a mainstream sport. The majority of the populace that don't follow it most likely don't even know who these guys are. What a shame.

[naster123]

lol are u guys talking about the same earl? hes hated at the pool table more of a standup guy if u run into him outside a pool hall

[parksat07]

i agree, he is skinny but he was that kind of prodigy.

[BibleBurnr]

earl is a badass

[dsterdster]

stuped statement of yours that is false!! Tell you what, just leave Louie and my family alone in your precious comments unless you can speak the truth...and it will make all of us very happy!! To read false items about your loved one who you miss daily and love so much, it is hard to bare, if you ever felt Louie was a friend, you would not go on rumors...you would search for the truth...and respect his memory

[dsterdster]

several tests done to prove it and there is a major suspect in the old woman's family who paid off the police. Those are the facts Big Guy!! If the news of his death didn't suprise you, does that make you a fortune teller??? You say, "I just tried to paint an accurate picture of one of the greats and a friend" With friends like you, who needs any enemies?? Also, our Mother, Esther does not need your condolences either, you idiot!! She is 90 years old and going strong...another

[dsterdster]

so keep your precious words to yourself!! As for as what happened to Louie, God, his family, the witch in Arizona, her relatives & the Mesa Police know exactly what happened to him. We know several things: HE DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGER, he couldn't have pointed a gun in the direction it entered according to the x-rays. The killer didn't know Louie was left handed so he put the gun in Louis's right hand....there was not a speck of powder residue on either of his hands & we had

[dsterdster]

Thanks for your name Jim Wirz -- I'll check you out w/Larry LaB, Mark and a few others. If you know Mark O'Brien, I'm surprised your original story on where Louie died & HOW HE DIED, was so inaccurate. I appreciate your explanation of your opinion, but who gave you the doctorate degree to call anyone an addict?? I DON'T GIVE A DAMNED ABOUT YOUR OPINION, especially when you have zero facts. Maybe it takes an addict to know one in your case. Anytime you call someone that it is offensive, so

[BillyJackets]

Great photo show Bill thanks, I have photos of almost everyone who ever picked up a stick in the last 30 years and some before. Joe Burns and Todd Recher were kind enough to let me copy their collections also. I need to get them out and share them

[darksinthe]

he is a great player that shamefully sucks ass. He gets too angry and gives up at the slightest mention of his loss. He needs to quit while he is behind.

[mattfarus]

I Hope BUDDY HALL HOWARD OR KENNY McCOY GOT THE CASH AND NOT CRY BABY "QUIT SOFT BREAKING" EARL

[BillPorter1456]

Guess you didn't read the title of the video.

[mattfarus]

I was talking about after the tournament....you know it gets circulated at those things...

[DojiSan]

@BillPorter1456 lol

[siuonm]

@DojiSan 

[jsand1957]

Hey mattfartonus, STFU, Earl is a great champion!!

[xjustxxl]

too bad he turned into an ol' jackass :)

[lnd3005]

Yeah, that five time US Open winner sure is a jackass, huh?

I'm sure he's very sad he's disappointed you.

[xjustxxl]

sorry about that comment. but have you seen him recently ? the way he dissrespects his better opponents ? how would you call that ?

[lnd3005]

He is a prick, but that does nothing to diminish his accomplishments.

That young guy you see in those pictures, he became one of the greatest shooters ever, his later indiscretions notwithstanding.

[gmctrucks19]

ahahhahahahahha

[morning3jack]

Earl looked bloody slick back then!

[dsterdster]

they know nothing about. I also want to remind everyone that reads this....before you pass crap you know nothing about and are not sure if it is valid...remember people like our beloved Louie has a family, a family who loves and misses him so very much and you are hurting innocent people with incorrect information posted on an open forum for all to read...in all situations with lies, there are always other innocent people hurt...remember that when you pass on your b.s. the next time!!!!!

[dsterdster]

was her relative who killed him and she won't give our family his last journal which would probably prove it!! Who do you think you are djjimmmy saying this and that about Louie as though you knew him so well from the Sports Center?? Your a leach as far as I can read, trying to associate yourself with one of the pool greats of his time. Get your own life and then write about it instead of bringing ours down! I will never for the life of me understand why people spread lies about crap they

[dsterdster]

bullet & third, there also was no gun powder found on either of his hands which would have been there if he had done the act himself!!! Someone also said he was married to some woman in Arizona and it was his first marriage...AGAIN ANOTHER DAMN LIE...You people need to get a life and quit spreading your narrow minded gossip around town about our beloved Louie!!!!! Louie was a love of a guy and I only wish that witch in Arizona and the local police out there weren't so corrupt!! She knows it

[dsterdster]

most humans!!! He tried lots of other drugs too, but who among you pool players has not? This guy Bones6966 says, "Louie killed himself in a hotel room with a single gunshot to the head" WHO THE HELL ARE YOU Bones6966??? You also don't know what the hell you are talking about!!! We, Louie's family, had investigators & forensics done on Louie. First, he died in some old ladies house in Arizona, not a hotel room!! Next, there was no way he could have shot himself given the angle of the

[djjimmmmy]

As for the circumstances surrounding his death, only God and Louie know what really happened, from conversations with Louie the news did not completely suprise me and that is all I have to say on that matter. My condolences for your loss when you lost Esther not long ago. Again I apologise if you think I was speaking bad of Louie and please believe that was never my intent. I just tried to paint an accurate picture of one of the greats and a friend.

[djjimmmmy]

BTW my name is Jim Wirz known in pool halls as DJ Jimmy Mark Obrien and Louie gave me that nick name.

[dsterdster]

Before I begin this comment, Let me say that it will be in a few sections because I have a hell of a lot more to say then what I can in 500 characters!!! OK, to this Djjimmmy character....you claim you know Louie! Either you are a misguided groupie or you don't know Louie at all!!! I am his closest relative & I can tell you Louie came from a loving Italian Family who helped him whenever we could! He had NO "DEMONS" as you call it, he simply got addicted to valium & alcohol which is toxic to

[djjimmmmy]

Sir or Madamm, I in no way intended to speak ill of Louie. I stated the information which I had and that I witnessed. When I mentioned Louie's drug addiction it was not meant as a slam on his family in no way and never mentioned any failures by his family so I'm a little confused by your outrage. Louie was a great guy and an addict, being an addict does not make you a bad person and does not mean your family failed you......

[cyruseven]

yeah...the baby. I don't particularly like Earl's personality, he comes across ignorant with an excuse for everything when he's not getting the rolls.

The guy is one of the greatest ever without question. Earl I think your a prick on the table, but you are one of the greatest ever.

[xxxkarloxxx]

the crying baby...

[djjimmmy]

I worked and lived at Louie's home pool hall "The Sports Center" in Saint Louis back in the late 80's and early 90's working for Larry Labarbera and Mark "the shark" Obrien and had the job of driving Louie home in the morning. First off Louie did commit suicide unfortunately, there have been rumors about a murder but that was just not the case. Louie moved to Mesa AZ I think it was the Fall of 01 and hooked up with a woman who had some money and married for the first time(her name was Beverly)

[djjimmmy]

) Louie was an unbelievable shot maker and had intense desire to be in action, he used to tell me "DJ, sometimes you have to give up the nuts and then just outrun em" That was Louies philosophy. It made for exciting pool but led to some tough losses. Louie was a Nam vet and was discharged honorably as a Sergeant. Louie had way to many demons and resorted to drugs and alcohol to escape them

[mixedaznkiddrifter]

i do chuck 1220

[jimjones90]

pearl looks like a hippie and buddy hall was once skinny!

[worldalvin]

Earl Strickland is the master.

[bone6966]

anyone know where i can find a story on Louie Roberts? St. Louie Louie. i heard he comitted sucide after a tourny in vegas, but cannot locate anything on the net?

[bone6966]

louie roberts He was the best pool player ever to come out of the St Louis area, U S Open champion, many believe he was the best shotmaker ever. Those who saw him play when he was "in stroke" never forgot it, he could bring a pool hall to life. Unfortunately he had personal demons in the form of alcohol and drugs, and his life ended at the age of 40 in a hotel room with a single gunshot to the head

[DarkHorse7692]

Louie didn't commit suicide; he was murdered. The investigation was very badly botched thanks to the local police. (It happened in New Mexico)

[BPG24]

Call high pockets in Memphis TN

Ask for bob Prater

[djjimmmy]

I worked and lived at Louie's home pool hall "The Sports Center" in Saint Louis back in the late 80's and early 90's working for Larry Labarbera and Mark "the shark" Obrien and had the job of driving Louie home in the morning. First off Louie did commit suicide unfortunately, there have been rumors about a murder but that was just not the case. Louie moved to Mesa AZ I think it was the Fall of 01 and hooked up with a woman who had some money and married for the first time(her name was Beverly

[djjimmmy]

His longtime friend Larry Labarbera would bring Louie "home" get him sobered up, get him a stake and turn Louie loose doing what he was born to do. But without fail Louie would always show back up at the Sports Center busted and strung out. Not many people know this but Louie actually owned one third of the amateur pool league Busch League (now known as APA) He had that stolen from him from another local pro in Saint Louis in a drunken stupor.

[djjimmmy]

Make no mistake, Louie was THE best at one time and one hell of a guy to hang around with. I still miss him.  I have one of only 3 existing pictures of Louie making the winning 9 ball at the 79 US Open which hangs in my office framed and with it the obits from the local news paper here in Saint Louis and from Billiards Digest which ends their story talking about Louie playing Allen Hopkins in a televised match(losing of course)

[djjimmmy]

"Where he joked with the crowd and mugged for the camera's......it was vintage Louie, there should have been more" I still carry a piece of chalk that Larry Labarbera gave me in 92 that came from Louies table in his parents basement. That piece of chalk is still with me in my pool case.

Louie was 41 when he died and the date was December 22, 1991

[djjimmmy]

Forgive the multiple posts, but the life of Louie cannot be limited to 500 characters. If you have any question feel free to contact me.

[bigredbunny]

I just joined you tube so i could reply to your post. My boyfriend and I have been searching the internet for hours on multiple search engines trying to find info on St. Louie Louie! I started trying to find info b/c my boyfriend has a Meucci pool stick with

"St Louie Louie" printed on it. We live in Southaven Mississippi just a few miles from the orginal Meucci factory. Years ago my boyfriend spoke to Bob Meucci about the cue and was told it was an actual cue that Louie Roberts played with.

[bigredbunny]

The more we have found out about this man, the more interested I am. Seems he lived a very tragic life.

[bigredbunny]

My boyfriend was told that Louie was a pro for Meucci at one time and that there were cues made for selling and then there were cues made for him to use personally. The differnce being: the ones for sale has a cursive signature on the bolster, and the ones made for him to use personally had his name printed "in type" on the bolster. My boyfriend actually has a que with his name printed, in type, on the bolster. He has had the cue since 1989. We were excited to find your post.

[bone6966]

thanks 4 the great answer, and background info on Louie:) there is a couple instructionals on ebay which have him on it. play with the best, and jimmy matay's 8 ball (miss spelled)i watche learn from the best over 15 years ago. i would love if anyone had any video of him, to post it on youtube, thanks again

[bone6966]

sorry the videos on ebay are called Learn from the best, and Jimmy Mataya's 8 ball (mataya?)miss spedded? a bunch of learn from the best are on there with louie, but i only see 1 mataya 8 ball at the bottom of at a ebay store 4 buy it now. if someone buys them, please try to post them:) there vhs, i can convert to dvd if needed. i live near st. louis, thanks

[kasusknaktus]

its the pearl!

[ParadoxLT]

watch?v=sH0YGyxHOVA

[BlackjackDSapolis]

Excellent photo of Louie, Bill. Thanks a lot. That brings back a lot of memories for me and makes me feel extremely old (not as old as you though) lol.

[chuck1120]

Does anyone have info on Norman "the Jockey" Howard

[poolguyjason]

Lots of greats in there. Sigel, Hall, Hopkins, Ursetti, and I'm sure lots more that I don't recognize. Hell this video IS 5 years before I was born lol

[1stPlaceDirector]

Yes, so many of the all time greats were there... amazing to see them so young. That's Howard Vickery at 2:33, who was a great player too. He's the one with the glasses and pony tail. He had a cameo in the famous pool cult classic movie "The Color of Money". I also see several others that I know there from the old days like Nick Varner and the young guy with the Braves shirt (Jimmy Mataya) who went on to win the US Open and marry the women's pool champ Eva Mataya.

[1stPlaceDirector]

Jimmy married Eva Lawrence. She was from Sweden--very tall and beautiful. I see in the photos the following: Buddy Hall, Mike Sigel, Alan Hopkings, Jimmy Fusco, Jimmy "King" Rempe, etc. There are several others that I know, but I have to recall their names by looking at some of my old pool videos. I have all the greats on tape here from Masconi and Minesota Fats (Walderone) onward.

[mjantti]

Wow. Very nice slideshow ! More of these please :)

[Pburgerme]

Very good, lol earl looks so funny