Through the annals of time the green baize of the pool table has acted as a battle ground as warriors young and old have locked both cues and wits in combat. We at Q-Tip magazine, pool's number one periodical, are proud to announce that we are inaugurating the official Pool Hall of Fame, which will see those great warriors remembered and honoured for their achievements.
These inductees will be selected on a number of criteria, ranging from their on-table success, to their impact on the sport, and taking into account each aspect of what makes a great pool player.A new inductee will be announced every few weeks, along with a brief biography of their career, and an abridged version of the induction.
The second inductee into the Pool Hall of Fame played an integral role in the worldwide growth of the industry. He made his reputation as one of pool's nice guys, both on and off the table, and through his endless charity work he continues to use his gift for the benefit of others. For bringing a new sense of style and grace to the common room, and for his huge impact on both the doubles and singles scenes, this man truly deserves to take his place in the Q-Tip Magazine Pool Hall of Fame.
The second inductee into the Q-Tip Magazine Hall of Fame is the Big Ukrainian Potter, Andrej Kaminskyj.
Life was hard for the young Andrej Kaminskyj, toiling under the harsh regime of Communist Russian. But unlike so many of his countrymen who have ended up dead, or close to it, Kaminskyj had a gift that would see him leave the poverty of the Soviet Union behind, and start a fresh life in England. It all started when he sent a promo video of himself to Nick Billinge, a video that he filmed on a camera he managed to buy for a loaf of bread. Billinge was uneasy about bringing over an untried youngster from another country, but there was something about Kaminskyj's table manner that he liked.
Once in England, Kaminskyj set about proving to his new boss that he was capable of being a top star, and was a stand-out in the pool training facility, The Corner Pocket. After only a few weeks of training, and coming to terms with the English lifestyle, Billinge decided to give Kaminskyj his big break on television. On the August 7th 1998 edition of Saturday Night That Bag, Kaminskyj debuted as The Big Ukrainian Potter. The fans were at first unsure of what to make of this newcomer, who spoke very little English, but when they saw his potting ability, they soon took to him.
While Kaminskyj's potting ability was impressive, his lack of killer instinct and charisma made it difficult for him to reach the top, and made it hard for Billinge to find a suitable role for him. He had an entertaining run as Jagjit Dusanjh's partner in The Foreign Fanatics, but when Dusanjh joined up with his relatives in The Family, Kaminskyj was back on his own. Things took a turn for the better when he won the rumble match at the second Thy Royale Rumble pay-per-view, last eliminating Darren Hibbert, but he never seized on the opportunities the win created. He finally decided to call it quits on his career when Billinge pitched the idea of playing a Communist character, and being the head of a new faction, The Communist League of International Terrorists. As the supposed founder of CLIT, Kaminskyj filmed a number of vignettes, but he was opposed to the angle from the beginning and informed Billinge that he wanted a release from his contract. The request was granted.
Andrej Kaminskyj inducted into the Hall of Fame by Jagjit Dusanjh.
JD: It was a surprise and an honour to be asked to induct this man into the Hall of Fame. Some people get recognised for talent. Drive. Determination. Will to succeed. This man loved the game. He loved the fans. He gave so much to the world of pool, and took so very little. He wasn't a guy who was going to make it to the top, no matter who he stepped on. He was a guy who made it by being respected by his peers, and by just simply playing good pool. People say he squandered his talent, but you measure a man not by what he achieves, but by what he gives to others. I think back to the time when we were partners, and I wonder how far we could have gone if he'd have just cared more about winning, just had a little bit of fire inside of him. In many ways I'll never forgive him. But nevertheless, I'm proud to introduce to you, the newest inductee into the pool Hall of Fame, Andrej Kaminskyj.
AK: Thank you, Jagjit. Thank you, Q-Tip magazine. This is truly an honour. Excuse my tears of joy, I beg you. What can I say? I look back on my career with so many fond memories. Nicky Billinge, God bless you. Thank you. You took a chance on a kid from the Ukraine. I tried my best for you, always. People say I never tried to win, but I've been a fighter all my life and I've seen things that make you realise winning a pool match isn't that important. But I tried my best, Nicky. To all my great opponents, I thank you for the memories. And the fans especially, I thank you. I came to this country with nothing more than the clothes on my back, and a pool cue, and because of the way you took me into your heart, I now boast an ample wardrobe, and three pool cues. You welcomed me as one of your own and I only hope I didn't let you down. God bless you all.
What the stars say:
Darren Hibbert: He brought things to this game that people hadn't seen before. He was just one of the most amazing potters you'll ever see. But his real legacy lies in how willing he was to give, to impart his knowledge. We're in an industry where people are afraid to help the other guys, in case they became better than them. But with Andrej, maybe it was because he knew that Adam and I were already better than him, but he was always happy to give us advice.
Adam Russell: Two words; Black Magic.
Alan Gillingham: It was such a pleasure to commentate on his matches, because he was always capable of pulling out a new shot that you've never seen before.
Nick Billinge: I always look at Andrej as a missed opportunity. He had the natural ability to be a multi-time world champion, and to have great rivalries with the likes of Appleby and Apno, but it just never quite worked out. I wish he'd have given the CLIT thing a chance to be honest, because I think that could have really been a good storyline. But I suppose if he wasn't feeling CLIT, there's nothing you can do about it.
Konrad Nowacki: I'm very grateful to him. I was going to be a part of CLIT, but thanks to him retiring they held my debut back a couple of months and I never looked back. I was pissed off at the time though.
Andrej Kaminskyj: CLIT was a low point. But it was probably the only one. I had a great time teaming up with Jagger. It was perfect because he was such a character, yet lacking in talent, whereas I had the talent, but lacked charisma. I enjoyed the rumble match, and the subsequent matches against Darren (Hibbert). I think we put on some great matches. I'm very proud. And of course, I still like to make an appearance now and then. But I'm happy with my charity work. Now my biggest adversary is global warming, and the only thing I'm trying to pot is cancer.
There will be a new inductee shortly.
Wednesday 18 April 2007
Saturday 7 April 2007
Pool Player's Cribs
Q-Tip Magazine has the privilege of being invited into the homes of the great and good in the world of pool, and getting exclusive access to the stars on their own turf. From stunning mountainside villas, to majestic country estates, the superstars of pool certainly know how to live in luxury. In this month's edition of Pool Player's Cribs our reporters get the guided tour of the converted Gurdwara that Jagjit Dusanjh calls home.
Dusanjh is probably best known as the man who lost the famed umbrella match to Adam Russell, but during a long and storied career, the man known to some as 'Bad Ass' Jag captivated millions with his antics, and his infamy certainly helped to pay for this beautiful home, which he shares with his wife and daughter. As we arrive at Chez Dusanjh, we are greeted by Jagjit himself, who is quick to point out the two bronze panthers which guard his property. 'Wedding gifts' he says with a smile, as he leads us into his home.
The first room we enter is the living room, spacious yet homely. On the wall are a number of souvenirs from his pool playing days, including a framed copy of Q-Tip Magazine, on which his face adorned the cover. 'This is where my family and I like to relax. It's good for me to have these reminders of my career around me. It helps me to remember what payed for the beautiful furniture we sit on, the food we eat, the tigers we breed'. Walking through the corridors to our next room we ask Jagjit to reflect on his favourite memory from his career. 'I was lucky enough to team for a while with my cousin, Gurjit- one of the best pool players in the world. That was a fun time. We even managed to win a match.' Crazy times.
The next room we're shown into is the dining room. The centre-piece of the room is an eighteen foot dinner table, 'for entertaining', as Jagjit explains. Dusanjh is known for his elaborate themed dinner parties, and we encourage him to regale us with an anecdote. 'I had a reunion party, for all of my old pool buddies. The theme was Sikh deities. Anyway, myself, Dan Clearup, Martin Kirkley and Butch Dingle were enjoying a pleasant game of scrabble with a glass of wine when Konrad Nowacki burst in. He'd clearly overdone it on the wine, as he was stark naked, apart from a turban, and proceeded to wave his penis in Paul McFarlane's face'. Jagjit bursts into laughter as he remembers the scene. 'Every night was a party in those days'.
As we enter the master bedroom, Jagjit tells us an interesting fact about the house. 'This house used to be the actual Gurdwara where I got married'. As he shows us the wedding photos displayed proudly on the walls we notice a few familiar faces. 'Yes,' he says, 'Adam Russell, Darren Hibbert and Martin Kirkley all came to my wedding. And for a reasonable fee'. The bed, he tells us, is made from elephant tusks, elephants he killed himself.
The next room we enter, strangely enough, is completely empty. Jagjit bows his head in sadness. We probe him for an explanation and finally he admits to us that this used to be the umbrella room. 'I had a collection of over 12,000 umbrellas at one time,' he says. 'Umbrellas from all over the world. I even had the umbrella that Gene Kelly dances with in Singin' In The Rain. But after losing the umbrella match with Adam (Russell) I couldn't bear looking at them anymore. I gave them all away.' Apparently, Jagjit also had a collection of over 900 rests, which he also gave away after losing a rest match to Adam Russell. After that rest match, Dusanjh wept a single tear on live television. 'I wasn't crying because I lost,' he protests. 'That day happened to be the anniversary of Gert Frobe's (the man who played Goldfinger) death. It was a sad day indeed.'
We complete our tour in the prayer room, where we find Jagjit's wife. It is at this time that we ask Jagjit about the different doubles partners he's had; Andrej Kaminskyj in The Foreign Fanatics, Gurjit Sanghera in The New Age Inlaws, and 'No Shit' Martin Kirkley in The Rebellion, during which time he was known as 'Fuck That' Jagjit Dusanjh. 'I don't think The Rebellion were really given a chance,' he whispers, so as not to disturb his wife. 'We could have been great'. He goes on to tell us that despite all his partners, he'll always consider himself simply a member of The Sanghera Family.
Jagjit shows us out as we thank him for his hospitality. He is certainly a man who likes luxury, be it the soft touch of his hand-woven satin bedspread, or the cold hard carcass of one of the dead African rhinos he has hunted to near-extinction, but on this tour we feel like we have gone beyond the man who so famously wiped his feet on the English flag at Poolamania, and found a loving family man, and generous host.
Dusanjh is probably best known as the man who lost the famed umbrella match to Adam Russell, but during a long and storied career, the man known to some as 'Bad Ass' Jag captivated millions with his antics, and his infamy certainly helped to pay for this beautiful home, which he shares with his wife and daughter. As we arrive at Chez Dusanjh, we are greeted by Jagjit himself, who is quick to point out the two bronze panthers which guard his property. 'Wedding gifts' he says with a smile, as he leads us into his home.
The first room we enter is the living room, spacious yet homely. On the wall are a number of souvenirs from his pool playing days, including a framed copy of Q-Tip Magazine, on which his face adorned the cover. 'This is where my family and I like to relax. It's good for me to have these reminders of my career around me. It helps me to remember what payed for the beautiful furniture we sit on, the food we eat, the tigers we breed'. Walking through the corridors to our next room we ask Jagjit to reflect on his favourite memory from his career. 'I was lucky enough to team for a while with my cousin, Gurjit- one of the best pool players in the world. That was a fun time. We even managed to win a match.' Crazy times.
The next room we're shown into is the dining room. The centre-piece of the room is an eighteen foot dinner table, 'for entertaining', as Jagjit explains. Dusanjh is known for his elaborate themed dinner parties, and we encourage him to regale us with an anecdote. 'I had a reunion party, for all of my old pool buddies. The theme was Sikh deities. Anyway, myself, Dan Clearup, Martin Kirkley and Butch Dingle were enjoying a pleasant game of scrabble with a glass of wine when Konrad Nowacki burst in. He'd clearly overdone it on the wine, as he was stark naked, apart from a turban, and proceeded to wave his penis in Paul McFarlane's face'. Jagjit bursts into laughter as he remembers the scene. 'Every night was a party in those days'.
As we enter the master bedroom, Jagjit tells us an interesting fact about the house. 'This house used to be the actual Gurdwara where I got married'. As he shows us the wedding photos displayed proudly on the walls we notice a few familiar faces. 'Yes,' he says, 'Adam Russell, Darren Hibbert and Martin Kirkley all came to my wedding. And for a reasonable fee'. The bed, he tells us, is made from elephant tusks, elephants he killed himself.
The next room we enter, strangely enough, is completely empty. Jagjit bows his head in sadness. We probe him for an explanation and finally he admits to us that this used to be the umbrella room. 'I had a collection of over 12,000 umbrellas at one time,' he says. 'Umbrellas from all over the world. I even had the umbrella that Gene Kelly dances with in Singin' In The Rain. But after losing the umbrella match with Adam (Russell) I couldn't bear looking at them anymore. I gave them all away.' Apparently, Jagjit also had a collection of over 900 rests, which he also gave away after losing a rest match to Adam Russell. After that rest match, Dusanjh wept a single tear on live television. 'I wasn't crying because I lost,' he protests. 'That day happened to be the anniversary of Gert Frobe's (the man who played Goldfinger) death. It was a sad day indeed.'
We complete our tour in the prayer room, where we find Jagjit's wife. It is at this time that we ask Jagjit about the different doubles partners he's had; Andrej Kaminskyj in The Foreign Fanatics, Gurjit Sanghera in The New Age Inlaws, and 'No Shit' Martin Kirkley in The Rebellion, during which time he was known as 'Fuck That' Jagjit Dusanjh. 'I don't think The Rebellion were really given a chance,' he whispers, so as not to disturb his wife. 'We could have been great'. He goes on to tell us that despite all his partners, he'll always consider himself simply a member of The Sanghera Family.
Jagjit shows us out as we thank him for his hospitality. He is certainly a man who likes luxury, be it the soft touch of his hand-woven satin bedspread, or the cold hard carcass of one of the dead African rhinos he has hunted to near-extinction, but on this tour we feel like we have gone beyond the man who so famously wiped his feet on the English flag at Poolamania, and found a loving family man, and generous host.
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