Mike Massey - Part 4 (Hall of Fame Honors, Life Lessons, and Lasting Impact)
In this concluding episode of our four-part series with the incomparable Mike Massey, we journey through a defining chapter of his extraordinary life in pool. Already recognized as the game’s premier trick shot artist, Mike reflects on the mid-2000s when his career transitioned from peak competition to enduring legacy.
We begin with his collaboration with noted author Phil Capelle on Mike Massey’s World of Trick Shots, a groundbreaking instructional book blending precision diagrams, insider tips, and colorful travel stories. From near-miss train rides in Europe to unforgettable exhibition moments, Mike brings his adventures vividly to life.
The discussion turns to honors befitting a master: induction into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2005 and, more recently, the inaugural class of the Artistic Pool Hall of Fame alongside Tom Rossman and George Middleditch. Mike shares candid reflections on what those accolades meant, the pioneers who paved the way, and the responsibility of carrying pool’s entertainment tradition forward.
Yet, beyond titles and trophies, Mike reveals his other passions—music, poetry, and faith. A self-taught country singer with a catalog on ReverbNation, he describes storytelling through song as both a creative outlet and a spiritual calling. He also speaks openly about challenges, redemption, and the lessons he hopes others might learn from his journey.
As always, we close with our signature three questions, where Mike offers timeless advice to young players, contemplates the “do-over” shots that still linger in memory, and reflects on how he would like the pool world to remember him.
This episode is not only about one man’s remarkable career but also about resilience, integrity, and leaving a legacy that transcends the table.
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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