Mike Massey - Part 3 (Marathon Runs, Mosconi Memories, and Pool School in Paradise)
In this third installment of our four-part conversation with Mike Massey—BCA Hall of Fame inductee, Artistic Pool Hall of Fame member, and the greatest trick shot artist of all time—we continue charting the incredible journey of one of the game’s most colorful and accomplished legends.
Mike takes us inside one of his proudest achievements: a grueling 24-hour marathon in Austria where he recorded an astonishing 330 break-and-runs in nine-ball, a feat witnessed live on national television that helped billiards gain recognition as a sport in Austria. From charity marathons pocketing thousands of balls to exhibitions that inspired young players like Jasmine Ouschan, Mike reflects on how endurance, creativity, and sheer love for the game have shaped his legacy.
We also revisit his early Mosconi Cup experiences—battling the likes of Jimmy White and a teenage Ronnie O’Sullivan—and hear how those high-stakes moments showcased both the rivalry and camaraderie between pool and snooker greats. Along the way, Mike shares vivid memories of iconic figures such as Minnesota Fats, Luther Lassiter, Steve Mizerak, Buddy Hall, and Earl Strickland, offering candid insights into their personalities, strengths, and quirks at the table.
The episode closes with a warm look back at Pool School in Paradise, the innovative training experience he co-created with Allison Fisher and Gerda Hofstätter that blended world-class instruction with unforgettable camaraderie in Hawaii and Vancouver.
From epic matches and world-class runs to bicycles in Vancouver and late-night storytelling, this chapter of Mike Massey’s life captures the spirit of a man who has not only mastered the cue but elevated the game for fans and players around the globe.
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Music by Lyrium.
About
"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”
Professional Pool Player
Mike Massey isn’t just one of pool’s great characters, he’s one of the sport’s rare crossover figures: a top-tier competitor, a world-class cue artist, and a globe-touring ambassador whose talent has put pool in front of audiences far beyond the billiard room. Known for decades by his unforgettable nickname “Tennessee Tarzan,” Massey’s story is equal parts grit, creativity, resilience, and purpose.
Born on April 9, 1947, in Loudon, Tennessee, Mike grew up with the kind of hard-nosed, self-reliant edge that shaped many of the great American road players. Long before the bright lights of television, he learned the game in the real university of pool: long nights, pressure-packed sets, and the constant demand to perform when it mattered. That early chapter, the “Tennessee Hustler” years, forged the foundation of a player who could handle anything: a tight match, a hostile room, or a do-or-die moment with reputation on the line.
But Massey was never only a gambler or a road warrior. He was a true all-around cueist, with serious competitive credentials in traditional pool as well as in the specialized world of artistic billiards. His résumé includes major tournament success and elite international recognition, highlighted by multiple World Artistic Pool Championship titles and a celebrated career that made him one of the most decorated artistic players of his era. That blend of “player” and “performer” became his signature: he could compete under championship pressure, then turn around and mesmerize a crowd with shots that looked like physics had taken the ni…Read More