Episode 14 - Johnny Archer

In this episode with pool legend Johnny Archer, we discuss what led him to pool and how he escaped small town Georgia to become one of the sport’s largest stars. We also dive into the differences in the sport today compared to the 1990’s. Johnny shares his thoughts about what happened to 9-ball and the decline in popularity among spectators. I ask him specifically about his biggest rivals and whom he’d take on the road with him today. I think you’ll find his answer a bit surprising as well as his answer to whom I should interview for the show. Sit back and enjoy this discussion with Hall of Famer, Johnny Archer!
Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel. Great episodes coming up from top players including Scott Frost, Tony Chohan, Rodney Morris, and Kelly Fisher. Also, a special pre-Mosconi Cup interview with Emily Frazer! You won’t want to miss what’s in store!
Time Stamps
00:00 - Intro
00:33 - Episode Introduction
01:28 - Johnny shares how he got started playing pool
02:55 - When was the moment when he realized that he was good at the game
04:05 - When was the moment when he felt like he "arrived" at the professional level
05:08 - Johnny talks about his biggest rivals
06:06 - Some of his challenges competing against Earl Strickland
06:53 - Who were some of the biggest characters he encountered out on the road
08:27 - Some things that impacted the popularity of the sport over the years
09:30 - What was the most crushing defeat in his pool career
10:52 - Johnny compares the players of today with the players when he was in his prime
25:30 - Do the demands of players today keep pool from becoming a spectator sport
26:50 - What was his biggest tournament victory
27:48 - If he could go on the road again, which three players would he take with him
29:20 - How does Johnny feel about shot clocks and his pace of play over the years
31:13 - Tips and advice for aspiring players
33:30 - Johnny's observations about the United States in the last two Mosconi Cups
35:02 - Johnny shares a great story about Darren Appleton
39:58 - What's up with that invisible lint?
40:42 - Which sport requires more skill, golf or pool?
41:23 - Johnny talks about his plans for opening a new room
42:05 - Does Johnny Archer have any regrets from his pool career
43:00 - What would Johnny tell someone who is torn between a traditional career and trying to play professional pool
44:41 - Who would he like to see interviewed on Pool Player Podcast
47:37 - Final thoughts from Johnny Archer
Evolution (part 2) by Glitch | / glitch
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/...

[@Rubster760]

This is the Johnny Archer I grew up watching. Even though Efren and Earl were my favorites. It was always great seeing him giving them a run for the money. I hope everything is made right with the whole Oscar match. From an avid player and fan, not paying a bet is looked at really bad in this game. If he is really thinking about a comeback. I hope he makes it right so we can all move on. I wouldn’t be able to take him seriously if I’m watching him commentating or playing again.

[@Bahamaspete]

This is great for pool!

[@DogginIt]

Thanks!

[@yes2crypto]

You get the best people, Joey

[@excxmoody]

Such a treat to watch Archer play the 14.1 tournament years ago.

[@RyanFedora]

Wow so great to hear about the changes and progression of 9 ball breaking and racking. I never thought about it the way Archer describes the changes. Thanks for the awesome interview!

[@DogginIt]

Thanks Ryan

[@Otingocni]

I played mostly during the 90 s so I was a huge fan of Johnny. I remember him playing Buddy a race to 45 at JOBs in Nashville. Buddy gave him fits. Then many years later Johnny is the grizzle vet and beats Shane in that TAR match. He was definitely the beast in the 90s for sure.

[@coreyquante2616]

The pace that a novice player can get good at pool now is much faster then even in the 90s. This is how the game will grow! Because you won't have beginners quitting before they even get a chance to decent. I think thats how the game grows! And can be played year-round.

[@jacobjones5269]

My favorite JA story I heard second hand, but it was pure gold.. He was eating breakfast with my brother and another guy who is a really good guy, but kinda dense, right.. And this was maybe 2007, when Johnny was down on his luck, recently divorced, and venting about it.. So, when Johnny is done ranting my brother is kinda speechless, so the other guy, Tom, tell’s Johnny to cheer up, he was player of the decade in the 90’s.. bawahahaha!.. Johnny said “thanks,” and went back to eating his soggy cereal.. lol..

[@jamesgifford2390]

😊pp

[@guymanges3628]

My whole world is the Joy Chinese 8 Ball , Thank you Joey for any of their interviews .

[@ronniegraham895]

At about the 10 min. mark Johnny mentions his worst defeat as the 92' US open loss to Tommy Kennedy . Indeed he was blown away by Kennedy . I've watched it more than once and it Was brutal ! Johnny seemed "lost" at the table. Going forward to minute 25 or so of the interview he mentions a recent race to 30 with Earl. That match was this past October 12 & 13 in Charlotte NC.... As a strong statement to Mr. Archer's character , that two day event was a charity money raiser for.....yep ! Tommy Kennedy .... Seems Kennedy had fallen on some tough times . You got to be a good person to put aside your most disappointing defeat and take part in what by his own words was a grueling event for that same person. I traveled 200 miles to the 2nd day of that match to get to see Earl and Johnny , (won by Archer 30 to 28 ) ; and had an occasion to speak with Johnny and Earl. Johnny was gracious, friendly, and down to earth. Earl was Earl.

[@jaroslavcech225]

Man these podcasts are just getting better and better, thank you so much, all these guys are so inspirational!! I would also really be interested in hearing from a Chinese player!) Take care

[@Bahamaspete]

I can't wait for Earl's interview. I won't know what to do with myself. 😃👍 Another player I would like to see interviewed is Tony Chohan.

[@DogginIt]

Tony has recorded. Probably in two weeks. Working on Earl.

[@Bahamaspete]

Thank you. I'm telling you honestly, I have been waiting and searching all over youtube for top player interviews from all around the world. I really like your questions as you hit all the key ones. Respect to you brother.

[@Bahamaspete]

A super duper find would be Ga Young Kim and Zoa ting Pan. James Aranas and MOST OF ALL JUSTIN BERGMAN. I wanna know their practice regimen. All of it. ALL!

[@DogginIt]

@@Bahamaspete noted. I’ll work on those.

[@danny_5283]

@@Bahamaspete Pan Xiao Ting?

[@guymanges3628]

Joey thats the best interview with Archer I've ever seen. Thank you.

[@barbarasteed3966]

Totally agree with you great interview. Johnny is my favorite player to watch and really nice person..

[@backyardbilliards101]

The one game that I watched of Johnny versus Efren really helped my game out because I used to get upset when I would lose a game and I couldn't concentrate the rest of the match. It was the one where Johnny lost a lag and everyone ran three games he finally missed then Johnny ran four. But the whole time Johnny's just sitting there he's keeping his composure and when I started doing that myself my game increased 10 times because I stay focused.

[@DogginIt]

That’s awesome!

[@danny_5283]

Totally agree. If there was an award for sportsmanship in pool, Johnny would be the first person to come to mind

[@ianniess4832]

@@danny_5283 you should of been in Chattanooga 😂

[@danny_5283]

@@ianniess4832 what happened there?

[@flipbookproductions1407]

When I turned 12 I got a pool stick and one of the first people I got to play with that pool stick was Johnny Archer I still have an autographed 9 ball

[@Rubster760]

Awesome interview Joey 🤩👍. I definitely agree with Johnny on the way the game is played today. The invisible lint cracked me up 😂. Every time I need to move the chalk while I’m shooting, it reminds me of Johnny. Keep them coming bud 👍.

[@DogginIt]

Thank you. I do the same with the chalk.

[@anthonystone2168]

Great interview with Johnny, thank you.

[@Snookerwayne]

Great interview and Johnny had some very interesting view points. Some ideas to get the game more toward spectator sport that I liked are the shot clock to speed up the game. Another one would be a time limit on the match, like in basketball and football. Also I like how in snooker you can’t jump the the balls and have to kick at it. The last part about interviewing Chinese player, there used to a good player in the AZ community that was a ASU student from China and he also ran tournaments at Kolbys.

[@DogginIt]

Great idea. I remember that guy at Kolby’s! I’ll look into that.

[@RushNCrush]

Great stuff

[@backyardbilliards101]

Love Johnny always have he's my top 10 of all time. I'm actually from South Carolina I grew up playing at a pool hall called rainbow billiards in Easley.I just want you to know I'm like you just trying to get started.

[@DogginIt]

Awesome. Thanks for watching!

[@Arthur-nr5ci]

I feel the need to push back here. The rules are not the catalyst of the game changing. What has caused the game to change is that players are simply more informed than they were before, especially now that 9-ball has become a global sport. Making the one in the side is not a product of hitting it hard or soft, but at the CORRECT speed and cut. Most players in the 90s simply weren't thinking in that precise a manner, they were just trying to squat the rock, hit it hard and hopefully make the wing. Let's keep in mind that these were the same players who mostly just frammed at kick shots and hoped for the best. The game now has evolved so much more, and technology has had a lot to do with it. Technology has had a huge role not just in equipment but through media. The ability to watch great players, freeze frame, rewind, slow-mo, etc. It's afforded the ability for younger players to have the knowledge in just a few years that would've taken decades pre-internet. Now combine that with great equipment and the same obsessive mindset that has driven great players for centuries and you are going to see a much different game.

[@DogginIt]

These are great points that I can’t really argue. I respect Johnny’s assessment since he’s lived through the evolution of the game, but I do agree with your points as well. The game has changed and Europeans and Asians are now the gold standard for training and treating it as a sport. Thank you for watching and the feedback.

[@Arthur-nr5ci]

@@DogginIt Thanks again for the podcast, always been a fan of Johnny. But sometimes, the old guard has a little too much pride to recognize that things evolve. That was especially telling to me when Johnny said something like (paraphrasing), "Players now don't have as much heart as we did back then.." Because they're playing to get a shot on the one after the break?? I'm a big fan of MMA as well, and like pool, has become immensely more global and competitive in the last 20 years (starting out as mostly an American sport dominated by high quality amateur wrestlers), and you hear similar rhetoric like, 'oh, it's not as exciting as it once was, everybody is too technical, guys were tougher back then..etc' To which my response is typically an eye roll followed by a, 'No, maybe the sport has just left you behind...'

[@DogginIt]

@@Arthur-nr5ci you’re welcome. Good one coming out tomorrow. Stay tuned.

[@ibanez33150]

Wish they would get rid of the jump cue.

[@SQ_og]

Archer has the skin in the game.

[@For_Cruyff_Sake]

I don’t know how to reach Jasmin Ouschan but would love to see another female interviewed for the podcast 😍

[@guymanges3628]

Amen Johnny

[@michaelgrayrn4579]

Johnny, in 1993 I was at a BCA tournament in Vegas and you were in the elevator with me. I was in awe and transfixed to the gold chain scorpion necklace. If I could go back in time, I'd say, "wassup brother".

[@DogginIt]

Haha. Missed opportunity

[@chrispafrieddreams9118]

I played craps with him in Reno, I commented on the way he threw the dice, he looked at me like I had 2 heads!!

[@AlexM-tc7ch]

Would be awesome to interview Jim Rempe.

[@DogginIt]

Do you know how to connect with him?

[@AlexM-tc7ch]

@@DogginIt I know someone who knows him...I will see if they can reach out to him.

[@AlexM-tc7ch]

@@DogginIt what would be the best way for him to contact you

[@josephesparza4280]

Great videos, Keep it up.

[@DogginIt]

Thank you!

[@imranramjewan6470]

Interview Naoyuki Oui 😄

[@michaelyoung2217]

Glad u got to interview Johnny. Do u think u will ever b able to get a female pro to interview? IE Monica, Lee Beretta etc

[@DogginIt]

Yes. Episode 10 was Kristina Tkach and I was able to interview Kelly Fisher today. Kelly will probably be Episode 22 or so. Stay tuned.

[@mikethomas3385]

"Spectator sport" -- how about a shorter shot clock with 2 time outs -- like speed chess!

[@Warren_Flatt]

I might already know the answer, but I would like to ask Johnny what his opinion is AGE in cue sports? at what age do your skills begin to diminish? does age matter in pool?

[@GavinBurts-eg3vs]

In tournaments, 9 ball and 10 balls should be loser breaks. With a speed gun, you have to break at least 18 miles an hour. Otherwise it's a foul. Gambling, you can make your own rules. Winner break alternate break loser break. But tournaments are short races. Winner breaks not really Fair to the other player or the game. Or the fans.

[@danny_5283]

If soft breaks were such a problem, why didn't they use radars to detect the speed of the cue ball and force players to break above a certain speed?

[@bradleyburton2664]

Because you can't... the 3 balls past the head string is the only thing that's fixed it or control passes.

[@williamdesalmeii3632]

INTERVIEW Vivian Villareal

[@DogginIt]

Totally! She was my childhood pool crush! :)

[@williamdesalmeii3632]

@@DogginIt a great talker and entertaining

[@davidlinder8954]

Hell No. She is sorry as hell

[@aidanconnor1134]

Is he no longer married?

[@DogginIt]

Apparently not

[@joebillings4812]

Rack the 9 on the spot. Break from the other spot. Problem solved.