1995: Johnny ERVOLINO vs. Earl STRICKLAND - THE MAINE EVENT 14.1 CHAMPIONSHIP w/special commentators

Johnny Ervolino - age 59... Earl Strickland - age 34... Pool names that echo not just different generations, but different eras! Playing each other in the opening rounds of the 1995 "MAIN EVENT" 14.1 Championships, Ervolino has been around the block more than a few times playing straight pool. This was Earl's very first tournament match playing straight pool - ever! Here's your chance to see a true pool legend playing a future pool legend! With an interview at the end! Don't miss that!
Hosted by Billy Incardona and Danny Diliberto with special guests CJ Wiley and Cicero Murphy
- - - - - - - - - -
You can watch over 375 Accu-Stats Arena matches from the 2018 and 2019 INTL 9-BALL OPEN and 2017-2020 Derby City Classic, as well as other Accu-Stats Invitationals on Accu-Stats Vimeo Subscription service: vimeo.com/ondemand/asvod/
Website: www.accu-stats.com
Facebook: / accustats
Twitter: / accustatspool
Instagram: / accu_stats_pool
Vimeo: vimeo.com/ondemand/asvod/
International Open Website: www.international9ballopen.com
©1995, 2020 Accu-Stats Video Productions
#accustats #johnnyervolino #earlstrickland #straightpool #14.1

[@cantbreakdance2849]

That production looks just like a 2020 Accu-Stats production

[@rodconner9079]

Absolutely enjoyable!!!! Appreciate the "drop-back" recordings of yesteryear; to me, they have huge value. The commentary is epic and don't mind it one bit. Thanks Pat (again)! Be Safe

[@davids11131113]

‘Dad can we go to the pool hall and argue about pool?’ ‘No son we’ve got Danny Dilaberto at home’ Danny Dilaberto at home 🤪

[@5000rgb]

I don't know how Ervolino managed to run 80 balls while doing every single thing wrong. He must be really lucky.

[@johntallanger4036]

@@5000rgb Was thinking the opposite. The guy played beautiful and simple patterns. Most based off speed control. Modern standard pattern play can be great for a pro with the modern pro 9 ball stroke. Ervolino's stroke and game is based off of short positions and touch. It would benefit virtually all players to learn how to play this way. 7 foot bar 8 ball helps with this kind of stuff/simplicity.

[@5000rgb]

@@johntallanger4036 I was just being sarcastic about how they seemed to criticize every shot selection. Ervolino plays a beautiful game.

[@sethdel5337]

Love how Danny yells at Billy. "HE CAN'T DO THAT YOU DAMN FOOL"!!!

[@licoricesaffron]

Thumbs up because of incardona and danny. History, knowledge, and banter. Insert witty comment about how much of all three of those they have in their little finger vs. any one of us ->HERE

[@darrellmccall6100]

This commentary is priceless.......

[@ericpetersen8155]

Classic. If you know these guys personally it’s just next level. So good. Fatboy Approved

[@acedrumminman]

Johnny was one of the greatest straight pool players of his era...his knowledge of the game was massive...he just didn't have the fire at that age...

[@SQ_og]

He owed his bookies

[@DavidNYC83]

I always wish Earl went from an 8/9/10 ball specialist to an overall pool/billiard generalist. While Earl would later go on to play 14.1 more, imagine he put as much concentration into 14.1/1P as he did to 9 Ball.

[@believer4445]

Danny is backseat driver world champion...

[@Crazeyfor67]

I respect Danny, but he can get on your nerves. Know it all 101!

[@billwillis4402]

amen to that!

[@gino2033]

Well in his day everyone respected Danny D or they would after he caught then in the parking lot lol

[@Crazeyfor67]

@@gino2033 You have a point there. :0)

[@jerryjansen5325]

Man he hated earl!

[@billysikes1374]

He never liked Earl, everybody knows that

[@neuvocastezero1838]

"Hey, if you knew what you didn't know, you wouldn't not know it." A penetrating and succinct axiom for sure.

[@AccuStats]

One of Danny's favorite.

[@refiii9499]

I used to travel to nyc back in the early 90’s to learn from players like Ervolino. Johnny had a deep rasky voice that would carry throughout the hall. Johnny taught me a lot and was a fantastic guy. It was a sad day when he passed back in 05-06.

[@williamrichins4908]

Its nice to see older players included

[@davmets86]

I recall Ervolino as a young player in Brooklyn being with Mosconi at an exhibition at Collegiate Billiards c.1965. Mr Mosconi was his mentor

[@gino2033]

I always thought I Erving Crane was the best 14.1 straight pool play in the world.

[@SQ_og]

Interesting

[@tgh223]

thank yall so much for these great videos

[@AccuStats]

Our pleasure!

[@kaivonweymarn2897]

Nice comments from Dany if he says Earls a rookie here be sure, he knows why. Its the ableness of Johnny. Playin a 272 in NYC Chelsea, just for training at me, at 1991!

[@frontdesk6225]

its like my teacher MR MARK R TOLD ME ITS ALWAYS EASY FROM THE CHAIR LOL

[@sixcues]

Wow that shot @ 29:55 that's an old school master showing how you get out of a bad situation!!!

[@johntallanger4036]

His run was awesome. The patterns are ones amateurs and even pros could learn from.

[@FloridaRaider]

you're killing me Danny

[@HUKIT.]

Danny was insufferable back then too.

[@5000rgb]

the way they were talking, I'm surprised Strickland and Ervolino didn't both lose.

[@MonkTorius]

He really is. I find myself exceptionally annoyed by him the entire. His attitude and words were just unnecessary

[@Daveco82]

a different kind of match and commentary. keep em coming!

[@AccuStats]

More to come!

[@gino2033]

LoL Earl Strickland is hilarious I looked at the ref rack for his first break he didn't touch the cue ball Earl thought he could not only intimidate the ref but it appeared to shake the older dude up from the missed shot like he did after running 80 balls.

[@splotbang8296]

Danny thinks that Earl is over his head in straight pool! He doesn't know what Earl knows.

[@dumdum67ful]

Funny how peoples don't understand that you need insurance ball and good patern to play Straight pool. Danny Diliberto is a 100% right on his assessment of Earl's games. Even Earl himself said later that he didn't know how to play Straight pool when he started

[@gino2033]

Billy was correct that was a push shot the cue ball was shoved and dam near beat the 7 ball to bottom rail when it was going in the pocket he pushed through the cue and directed the combo lol

[@neuvocastezero1838]

42:35 - fantastic shot. And 1:23:00. 1:38:26 - "I didn't leave you much" "You left enough."

[@danielpincus221]

It's fascinating to watch such a contrast of stroke styles. Johnny uses mostly stun action, which resembles throwing punches, like boxing. Earl's flowing style uses mostly follow, and every other kind of action, as needed.

[@gino2033]

This is a first TV match playing 14-1 straight pool for Earl Strickland.

[@cjr3559]

Will these Maine Event and/or the Cleveland 14.1 Invitational ever be available as download from the website? 😎

[@AccuStats]

They would be on KZbin, but not downloaded on our website.

[@CAL7A]

The Velvet Foghorn aka Mr. 91 Degrees Break Ball aka Mr. Johnny Ervolino

[@unclequack5445]

I heard Earl Runs 5 or 6 miles a day this year(2020) so hes obviously in great shape for his age. The Record books say Earl has several big straight pool runs two three four hundred balls.

[@johntallanger4036]

I always thought that if he got rid of his gut his game would go up a notch. The main thing that hurt his game as he got older is how fast and careless he would play on "easy" shots. Think it was because he didn't have the energy to focus.

[@unclequack5445]

@@johntallanger4036 Get rid of what guy?

[@johntallanger4036]

@@unclequack5445 typo should have said "gut"

[@unclequack5445]

@@johntallanger4036 Got it sir.

[@johntallanger4036]

@@unclequack5445 Just an idea.

[@CuriosityCapsule]

The level of disrespect from the commentators toward Strickland at the beginning is laughable!

[@danielpincus221]

This is a terrific spectating experience, but I wish the score tally were continuous.

[@pommac10]

You must show the match with CJ Wiley and Buddy? -93 ? 9-ball. Wiley is shooting like 985 or something ! His first main event too..?

[@alistairs8495]

2:59 dafuk?

[@AccuStats]

😀

[@chrisbryant1836]

If Ervolino had given Strickland one as suggested, I'm certain the outcome of this match would have been different.

[@Noejjkkkj]

It’s not what it looks like

[@0Caracalla]

@35:35 Earl #1

[@jadezee6316]

hard to believe Earl never played a straight pool match in his life.....because it is really the only game that shows ones real talent....thats why the biggest names in pool all come from the era when straight pool was the game....

[@mikeryan5856]

the players today would destroy the straight pool era players and its not even close.

[@jefferyskelly3769]

@@mikeryan5856 you're out of your mind,there was no better straight pool player than Alfredo de Oro and Jerome koehe

[@mikeryan5856]

@@jefferyskelly3769 thats a joke I hope

[@dumdum67ful]

Steve Mizerak , Mike Siegel, Mike Zuglan would beat any of the modern day players. 150 añ out so many times.

[@Ram-xz3dv]

Mute button plz..🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@Jack-rg6xf]

As early as 34, Earl was a jerk. The ref did not move the cue ball. This man has the worst attitude of any player in the game.

[@alwssofy7748]

fats was the worst

[@andrewcalamari4589]

I agree that earl had a poor attitude, but dont forget that the ref missed a completely obvious foul against johnny. One foul in a straight pool game could mean the match. Earl carried that sour attitude all the way to the end because he didnt believe that the ref was qualified after that. Even the guys in the booth knew it was a foul.

[@nickelassr1857]

Danny was annoying this match!

[@matiasbruno9550]

Agreed. Too focused on completing with the other announcer

[@wombra8314]

40:03 😂😂😂

[@wombra8314]

"9 ball straight pool" 😂😂😂

[@lefty9419]

Have you watched a match where he wasnt annoying? Mute button was made for him

[@deananderson2143]

Walked right into the other players

[@poolmagic2023]

I have old matches of accustats what they dont have today in offer...a tones of them

[@groovygrover190]

Does anyone have the closed circuit matches from the casino in Winnipeg in 2000 or 2001 where Jumpin' Joe Lawrence beat the field including Pags, Earl, Busty and Deuel

[@maineframe9885]

That's gotta be Richard Marks playing referee at the Maine Event

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

i don't think the cue-tip hit the cue-ball twice, it kinda rolled right up onto the ferrule a little, then dripped off the tip onto the leaving 2-ball.

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

101:58:00 replay...

[@Mikebauero]

Remember Danny this is a foreign game to Earl

[@jamesburnette3468]

These commentators make me want to rip the speakers out of my computer.

[@tgh223]

hit mute dummy

[@NetPwn]

1:00:00 definitely a foul.

[@OrrosGG]

Yeah the follow through is to be avoided in shots like those..

[@2869may]

Did Earl stroke Danny's woman or something.... lol Damn..!

[@suewoo5]

Grady Mathews is great at straight pool

[@frontdesk6225]

hey strickland the ref never touched the cue ball you just left the opening shot too straight

[@Mohammed-ps5ie]

I do like the commentary. Good to get some tips and inside info :-)

[@slerk9]

That shirt is so tight. Great player. RIP

[@arungcahyoramadhan1755]

1:15:03 when your opponent scratch you have ball in hand behind the line but u can't shoot the object ball behind the line?

[@alistairs8495]

Correct. That is a general rule for any game where ball in hand is taken behind the head string.

[@arungcahyoramadhan1755]

@@alistairs8495 what if all the balls is behind the line

[@alistairs8495]

@@arungcahyoramadhan1755From the Official Rules of Straight Pool: 7. When a player has the cue ball in hand behind the head string (as after a scratch) and all the object balls are behind the head string, the object ball nearest the head string may be spotted upon request. If two or more balls are an equal distance from the head string, the player may designate which of the equidistant balls is to be spotted.

[@MrJdsenior]

The shot @ 50:57 was DEFINITELY a foul. if a double cue ball hit is a foul. That cue ball did not even START to go in the tangent direction, which it MUST on a legal hit...forget about the damned thing bouncing, THAT was just the elephant in the room. That ref was really flat on his ass there. That was beyond pathetic. I'm really surprised Earl didn't challenge that. He gripes all the time about nothing, and when he REALLY gets screwed, like he did then, he's a church mouse. I DON'T get it. I wanna tell ya, though, if that's ALLOWED, I can sure see situations where it could be useful. Did they let you shoot through the cue ball to put an object ball in directly with the stick, TOO??? WTH? I would be furious if I were the opponent. Who the hell needs a ref if THAT is the kind of call they make, on such an OBVIOUSLY miss hit, double contact, shot? Doesn't make me think much of the guy who did it either, cause he SURE AS HELL knew what he'd done....you can't do that without SO feeling it in the stick. That's just plain bad sportsmanship, actually CHEATING when you really get down to it, on Ervolino's part, and he would have to have been brain dead not to know it. I completely lost interest in anything he did after that (since it was all crap anyway, since he should have been in his chair), and forwarded to Earl's next turn. I guarandamntee you, if Efren had done that, he would have called it on himself, as would a lot of others.

[@nickp4793]

I believe they were playing by the rules: "if you jack up, there is no foul no matter what happens".

[@pytonn]

50:57? Earl is playing at that moment

[@MrJdsenior]

@Kasra Saddad "Don't see discomfort or anything in his body movement at all after the shot" LOL, quite practiced, I imagine, consciously, or not. Kind of like when you make a shot where it could be construed as possible purposeful intent with excellent conversion, like say a perfect clearing carom off a ball in close proximity to the direct path to the pocket, and far away from it, that was all accidental. NEVER let on!!! ;-) But cheating is QUITE different than that. I had a guy jump a ball one time in a pickup game at the pool hall by 'scooping' it. I told him that was a foul in every league and rule book I've ever seen, because it occurs from a double hit, and that is illegal. He said, "Prove it". I said "I don't HAVE TO because that is the reason the rule is there, everywhere. I also told him he could go the the Dr. Dave YT channel and probably see slow motion of exactly that disallowed shot, or 'google' the fact that the rule IS in all those 'books'. He finally gave up the ball in hand. Knowledge is POWER! Not that it mattered, we were only playing a grand a game (kidding). ;-)

[@dfynt1G]

Maybe he means the shot right at the 1 hr mark

[@wombra8314]

pytonn we'll work on his timestamping lol. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[@napochulo]

35:37 Earl he didn't touch it.

[@5000rgb]

I love Earl's playing but some of his actions off the table kind of suck the fun out of things.

[@Dancindazed]

These two arguing over what's about to happen in 5 seconds. Jesus.

[@lambertainment9618]

Commentary is like....

[@stevestewart6287]

Danny is so biased for the old guy playing Earl it almost ruins the match, he thinks none of the young 9 ball players can beat the old veteran straight pool guys, it's ridiculous. And his math is terrible, at 81 to 30 Danny said Earl was down by 49, except he was down by 51.

[@CuriosityCapsule]

100% correct! What an ignorant man!

[@gino2033]

Yes Danny was a boxer more than a pool player at his begining of playing pool and in those days he could intimidate lesser fighters then Danny. He used it you can still hear it in his commentary still this late not saying 95 is late in tge tine line compaired to 2022. In a few years Danny mellows but Billy continued his prejudice of many players mainly American players. I believe shortened his commentary time.

[@TheMistacrazybones]

Billy and Danny's contempt for Earl was evident, and they probably lost commensurate amount of money for it.

[@gino2033]

Not Danny as much as Billy did lol

[@Augustus99100]

Ervolino should've called a foul on himself. Billy should quit arguing about everything.

[@NoName-ge6wc]

The comments are funny. Like Earl is a novice.

[@tonyjonty8030]

Where's fast Eddie 🤔

[@gino2033]

California in 95

[@hizzyson]

Why do I have to wait 6 days for this match?

[@MrDinoboy1]

Right, I clicked on it and now I feel stupid

[@poolmagic2023]

That match was on my channel and idiots remove it....

[@patrickfleming1256]

@@poolmagic2023 Idiots?

[@poolmagic2023]

@@patrickfleming1256 Not you Pat, youtube idiots...

[@bertcundle3777]

Jonney let him win...

[@gino2033]

You mean Johnny?

[@JohnSmith-en8vx]

These comments are so disrespectful as if Earl just fell off the straight pool turnip truck. The snobby straight pool crowd thinks they know better. It ain’t that hard. You need a break ball and a set up ball.

[@neuvocastezero1838]

They seemed pretty respectful to me. He was relatively inexperienced at 14.1, and running a lot of balls requires a lot of finesse, and seeing patterns for 14 clustered ain't the same as a 9 ball table. Efren's skills transferred to straight pool so effectively probably because of his carom experience. And what they said about Earl was nothing compared to how they were talking to Cicero.

[@jgallagher1359]

Agreed. There's something to both sides. A powerful and accurate stroke and good mine can overcome inexperience. At the same time knowng the tricks of the trade with a different kind of style has merit too. But in general...yeah...most people overcomplicate most things. Especially when they take pride in them.

[@henryroloy3872]

Ref was no good.

[@goboy6882]

Interesting game but I would rather watch Cisero Murphy play using his beautiful slip-stroke.

[@KimbrellBrad]

Only Topsy Marlow could slip-stroke better! I grew up around Topsy when he was about 40yo and I was 20yo. That was all back in Shreveport at Guys and Dolls...later Pockets Billiards. Wild place in the old days! And since it was the early 80's it was pure chemical warfare! LOL

[@iejcwejheiowcnlwekn]

More Cisero! More Cisero!

[@Noejjkkkj]

@@iejcwejheiowcnlweknmore Cisero more Cisero

[@capoman1]

Danny spends the whole time analyzing the players.

[@gino2033]

This dude looks alot older then 59 in my perception seeing his manorialism like his moving about the table that 80 ball run looks like was all he had. Sad situation but he looks more like 75 then 59.

[@capoman1]

Man is Danny a know it all.

[@deananderson2143]

The old man acts like he's the only one in shooting bumps everybody

[@5000rgb]

29:15 "How is Earl feeling, He's never played a straight pool event before...?" He still hasn't.

[@thomastessier4529]

These two announcers are arguing like a couple of little school girls.

[@jaddison3027]

That what to expect with danny commentating especially with his hatred towards Earl. I'm usually not one to be so negative but he really rubs me the wrong way

[@neuvocastezero1838]

Contentious commentators make the match that much better.

[@billwillis4402]

@@jaddison3027 me too!

[@jeffbelcher3427]

Worst announcers in the history of sports. I have heard them more than once and they are nincompoops'.

[@physicsguybrian]

These commentators are just terrible. They are wrong most of the time and won't stop talking!

[@CAL7A]

Of course they won’t stop talking - they’re doing commentary.

[@KTHKUHNKK]

That Danny guy sure does irritate me he acts like he knows it all

[@SQ_og]

He really does not everything about this game. He explains very complex decisions.

[@roncerelli6841]

I don't know who the announcers are but they talk too much and say he should do this and he should do that, shut up!

[@tarlkudrick1174]

When Accu-Stats started, their products were considered instructional videos. The debates over what shot to shoot next and why were the point of the videos, just as much as watching the play.

[@jasonparker6138]

You can always mute. I do that sometimes depending on mood. But generally, I'm trying to learn what I can from Billy I and Danny Di.

[@gino2033]

Haven't watched much Accustats video broadcasts then huh? LoL

[@The1Away]

Ervelino and Danny ought to get a room together in the old age home and talk about The HAS BEEN Days. He Got tired and he's wore out. Go to bed Danny.

[@robdetuinman2]

You're only 26 years late lol

[@SQ_og]

Ervalino ducked this match.

[@Salty80556]

Lassiter had so much more talent tha earl, it should not be mentioned....... Class vs Ass.......

[@51Dss]

thumbs down on the vide-o because of Incardona. Irvolinos run in the beginning of the vid was great - old straight pool players love to see those long run...but I just can't take Incardona - he talks non stop. Takes all the pleasure of watching out of the video.

[@wombra8314]

51Dss omg seriously?? than we MUST AGREE about the current jeremy jones karl boyes darren appleton etc etc overbearing garbage state of pool commentary

[@sixcues]

When I saw that it was Incardona & Diliberto doing commentary I hit the Mute button and just enjoyed watching an old master run some balls!!

[@capoman1]

This is the mot annoying commentating you can get, Billy Incardona and Danny Diliberto... I don't expect Earl to whine much in straight pool.

[@michaelbrandel7193]

How did they allow Danny to commentate for so long? He's just awful!