Tommy Kennedy

In the 1986 movie The Color Of Money, "Fast Eddie" (Paul Newman) asks Vincent (Tom Cruise), "What do you know about this Kennedy fella?" as he's getting ready for his upcoming match with the guy, in the big Atlantic City tournament.

It's not exactly coincidence that the movie script writers should use the name Kennedy for a pool playing character in a New Jersey tournament, because that's where real-life pool champion, Tom Kennedy, was born.

Tom (he prefers "Tommy") Kennedy is a man on a mission. Actually, he has two missions in mind wherever he goes. He wants to play pool and he wants to help people. He can usually accomplish one or the other nearly every day. You see, Tommy is a Christian who believes that God has given him a talent intended to be used for meeting people and setting a different example for them to witness. He doesn't try to force his spiritual beliefs on anyone, he merely avails himself to people who want to play a little pool, get a little advice on their games, or maybe even get a little advice on their lives.

The "missions" that God has assigned Kennedy to are not the easiest. At 5' 4" in height, and weighing a whopping 115 pounds, this 33 year-old husband and father is not the most imposing figure of a pool player you'll ever meet. That's an important matter, too, in a game where psychological advantages play big roles in almost every serious match. His small stature can also be a handicap if he is to be considered as a role model. It's doubtful that John Wayne would have achieved the same image he did, if he had been a foot shorter.

What Tommy Kennedy lacks in size, he more than makes up for in talent and personality. He is a happy-go-lucky man who has beaten almost every world champion he has come across. He has beaten legendary players like Johnny Archer, Allen Hopkins, Steve Mizerak, Buddy Hall, Ray Martin, Lou Butera, Danny DiLiberto, and many others. He's a fierce competitor with the uncanny ability to make players like him, even while he's beating their brains out on the pool table. Win or lose, after his matches, he always tells his opponents how great they play, and then usually asks them if they would like to go and get some dinner.

In 1996, Kennedy was named as the player with "The Best Rapport With A Crowd" by Billiards Digest magazine in their annual "best of" survey. Last year, he was given Viking Cues "Sportman Of The Year" award.

Tommy regularly competes on the Florida Circuit, Many champions have made their homes in Florida, and play on this circuit. Tommy credits the Florida Circuit with keeping him tournament tough, and ready to compete anywhere in the world. He has won the Florida Circuit "Player Of The Year" title a record five times. Tommy has won many local and regional titles, as well. He has competed all over the country, and has even traveled to Sweden and Japan, just to play in tournaments, All of this travel has allowed Kennedy to meet thousands of people and make thousands of memories.

Kennedy tells of the time, at a tournament in Reno, when he almost had to forfeit his match to "Machine Gun Lou" Butera, because he had overslept. Tommy says he awoke at the last minute, and had to run downstairs to the tournament room. He was still half asleep and only half dressed but he arrived just in time to be allowed to play. He then proceeded to beat Butera 10-0; and this was against a man who had earned his nickname by winning a 14.1 World Championship title match in record time! Later, in the same tournament, Kennedy had to play Butera's son, Sal, and that match was the one he really dreaded, because he figured the younger Butera would be looking to get revenge (Tommy won the match with Sal, too).

Tommy also tells a story about a match that took place in the same tournament where he beat the Butera's. He was playing the great Ismael Paez. Paez had Kennedy down 9-1 in the race-to-ten-games format. When Tommy finally got an open chance, he showed everyone present why he is called a champion. He came roaring back out of that huge hole to defeat Ismael 10-9!

Kennedy's greatest moment came in 1992, when he made pool history by being the only unranked player to ever win the U.S. Open. The title of U.S. Open Champion is the most coveted of any in the game of 9-ball. Tommy beat Johnny Archer (the #1 ranked player in the world at that time) in the final match by a score of 10-1, in what is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in pool history.

Kennedy also likes to hold challenge matches because it gives spectators an opportunity to see world class pool, and learn how the game is supposed to be played. Challenge matches may be the only way some people will ever get to see pool played at its highest level. And since almost all professional tournaments are now played in large hotels and convention centers, challenge matches give the smaller sponsors and host sites a chance to bring their clientele a top-notch performance.

Tommy has nothing against trick shot exhibitions. As a matter of fact, he has his own repertoire of trick shots he performs whenever the occasion arises. For the most part, however, he would rather leave trick shot exhibitions to specialists like Mike Massey and "Sarge".