The player in a mask (the told stories from a billiards life) (№2 (20) from June, 09th, 2009)

Welcome in the world of not told stories. This month I will tell to you about Andrew Sant Dzhi-ne – one of the brightest almost champions of our most multi-coloured sports. In 1928 Sant Gin participated in competition for a title and was повержен only great Grinlifom. Сант gin was one of the players who have signed the contract with "Coca-Cola" on whom he put on a mask games and appeared in billiard rooms only in such kind. Players of "Coca-Cola" played anonymously as «the Miracle in a mask» that was the advertising tool.

 Following facts to us are known for certain. Сант Gin was the ex-Canadian origin, the son of simple immigrant workers. His parents spoke in French, and this language was, most likely, for it native. He was born in 1902, he has died in 1954 All life had passion to binge and gamblings, was perfidious in game, had extraordinary skills (hearings went that it can hammer one hand in 70 spheres), and in the last years of life played трехбортный billiards (the sphere jumped aside from three boards) one hand.

 He was killed by a cirrhosis. He has been buried in its native city of Lowell, Massachusetts. Fly a Diesel engine, one of experts on a life of Sant of Gin, spoke: «His father owned a billiard room in the city of Lowell, and … he liked to drink, and often arranged parties together with Grinlifom. Both of them loved bars and restaurants, and liked to be pumped up there by beer».

 Сант Gin was the senior from four brothers and sisters, sisters became nuns. In photos from archive: Сант Gin shows the best results in common clothes and in the Miracle suit in a mask. On one of few photos of Sant of Gin it is possible to see the person with a long nose, a light hair parting in hair and sleepy damp eyes. Its rigid dark hair are combed back. Unlike many modern players, Sant Gin did blows from крабовидной poses, on both bent feet. In a photo it seems quite skontsentri-rovannym and majestic though it is easy to present that somewhere pleated its elegant coat at it the bottle has been put by.

 As well as Grinlif, Sant Gin was in very big measure a product of the Epoch of the Jazz. Both these of the person enjoyed glory (though Sant Gin in this respect and nearby did not stand with Grinlifom), both of them were «показушниками» and «выпендрежниками». It is known, for example, that Sant made Gin entertainment, but ridiculous blows which any player respecting to do did not become. Сант Gin very much loved an applause, almost the same as he loved whisky, and it was obvious that at it dependence both on one, and on another. In the pool world there were very few players who could support speed of binge at level of Grinlifa, and Sant Gin was one of them. «I know it from people who were with it in Portlande, Main and in many other cities. I with them razgo-varival, and all of them spoke same: Сант Gin was the alcoholic … and it has spent on drink the talent», – tells the Diesel engine. Moscow horses has told the same:« Сант Gin was the best player in the world if not to take into account his head (was the best from a neck to heels). It had magnificent physical natural data ».

 Old residents, among them and Eddi Taylor, said that Sant Gin was the player of a world class among playing one hand, probably, even the best for all history. Norms Weber played with Sant Gin those years when the Second World War came to an end: «We together played a match in Poland tournament Dube’s Billiard Parlor in 1944 or 45 years. I have won against it. It was sober during game with me. I have won it only one sphere: 100 to 99».

 Taylor as it named, the Noksvilsky bear, has given even more proofs феноменальности Sant of Gin: «I did not know it, but know, who has told to me, what it was the magnificent player one hand? To me Fets has told about it, and one more guy, by name of Dayton Omsted, and it (Dayton) was the perfect player трехбортного billiards, its lines подери!». Сант gin has played once 70 spheres one hand. Anybody never such and could not repeat. «In the forties Sant Gin played трехбортный billiards for 4 dollars for game because nobody wished to play with it a pool. It was simply impossible, – told the Diesel engine. – it could tyre out 50 spheres in a billiard pocket from one hand. It needed to take кий from a rack and if you promised it beer, it easily did it».

 In 1927, in one of its best years as professional, Gin has once again shown to Sant this physical ability. It was that year when he two times won against Grinlifa from 1250 points to 1232. Next year Sant Gin has won the championship of East states which will be considered subsequently as the most prestigious national tournament.

 Here a fragment from newspaper article of The New York Times from April, 4th: «bil-jardnyh matches of the present season of Sant Gin has won Vudsa one of the most sensational and has won the championship on лузному to billiards in Billiard Academy Kreuter's. St Jean has won with account 125 to 71 only from two approaches and has received 9 victories and 1 defeat in the championship». «Sant to gin should be observed of game of Vudsa which has received 65 points from the first approach in this match. Сант Gin has answered with 118th points as soon as it has approached to a table. Вудс has received only 6 for half-seconds, and then Sant Gin was pulled out forward about 7th». Article notices that 118 points of Sant of Gin were the culmination of this tournament, it has passed through 10 games, having tired out 90 percent from the blows.

 In The New York Times newspaper in article published on several weeks later, it has been told that Grinlif very much wished to meet Sant Gin in the national championship. Гринлиф so strongly worried because of those two defeats that knowing people did impressive rates on a victory and that, and other player. It meant that defeat would cost to Grinlifu much more, than its arrogance. On April, 23rd, 1928 The New York Times has written that Grinlif then already national champion, should sign the definitive papers confirming participation by Sant of Gin in tournament as the competitor. «It is known that it especially liked to meet Andrew Sant Dzhinom who has won it last season in a match among invalids» twice, – has informed Times.

 Сант Gin has begun game against Grinlifa excellent and зрелищно, letting know that he is not one to be trifled with. Again the citation from Times:« Andrew Sant Dzhin who has twice won Ralfa Grinlifa, the sixfold champion of world matches on billiards among invalids, has begun the fight with Grinlifom in Academy Strand and has received a separation in 75 points, despite the fact that what it has divided blocks with Grinlifom. The Joint account 252:177. It is attempt of Sant of Gin to put itself ahead of applicants for a world title … to Sant Gin conducted invincible game to win opening block, 131 to 30. So Sant Gin is effective has shown that he has won the block with 9 under-courses ». Сант gin has lost a six-day match, 1058 to 1500 which has ended on May, 19th. This result was the best, allowed most close to come nearer to the summit American лузного billiards. The diesel engine has told that Sant Gin had больший success as the hazardous player, but even then it could punish itself(himself). It простонапросто did not have not enough discipline to restrain from risky blows:« For example, it has got advantage before other player in 40 spheres, but then it has spent some foolish blows and the opponent has won ». Сант gin did not recognise refined game, it simply"rumpled"the opponents and"moved"through them. And any swindler will tell to you that sometimes it is worthy of it to lose money.

Here, for example, history of Sant of Gin and two букмейкеров. Under the Diesel engine stories, all three have arrived to a small town, were registered in hotel, and then букмейкеры have left to organise game. They had a talent for a cheating, and they with ease gained money. They have told: «Andrew, remain in hotel, order to itself something to eat and do not worry! We will return!». But as Sant gin was restless, it has gone to city centre and has passed pair of wine-glasses in a bar. Then has gone out of doors and has come across one more bar. Thus, it has got drunk and has arranged the present representation, playing a pool. The guy who should take part in the game organised букмейкерами, has seen it and has refused to play. The match has been excellent ».

 Company "Coca-Cola" for many years concluded contracts with the best players, they should play anonymously, in masks, in billiard rooms for a pool, anonymously throwing down to a challenge to the best local player. «A miracle in a mask» also showed trik-shoty. After game representatives of "Coca-Cola" distributed free soft drinks, and «the Miracle in masks» disappeared imperceptibly. "At" Coca-Cola »were a little« Miracles in masks »– I do not know how many, but they paid in it the grant, and Sant Gin was one of such people». To Andrew Sant Dzhinu never would be to become «By miracle in a mask», do not possess it phenomenal talent of the player ».

R. A. Dyer, Billiards Digest