Jorgen Sandman - Part 3 (Building World Pool: The WPA, America, and the Junior Pipeline)

Jorgen Sandman - Part 3 (Building World Pool: The WPA, America, and the Junior Pipeline)

In this powerful third episode of Legends of the Cue, Jorgen Sandman pulls back the curtain on the creation of the World Pool-Billiard Association, the importance of American participation, and the youth development systems that helped Europe and Asia catch up to—and eventually surpass—the United States in world pool. Jorgen recounts the late-1980s conversations that led European leaders to look beyond their own borders and imagine a true global structure for pool. He explains why the WPA could not succeed without the Americans, how the BCA became involved, and how a late-night fax helped confirm that the United States would join the first WPA World Championship. It is one of the great behind-the-scenes stories in modern pool history. The discussion then turns to conflict, politics, and the fragile nature of professional pool. Jorgen shares his account of dealing with the Men’s Professional Billiard Association and Don Mackey, while Mark Wilson adds perspective on the long-term impact those years had on American men’s professional pool. The result is a frank conversation about structure, missed opportunities, and why the U.S. lost ground internationally. But this episode is also about hope and development. Jorgen and Mark discuss junior training camps, disciplined coaching, European youth championships, and the pipeline that helped produce generations of elite players. Jorgen also tells the remarkable story of bringing pool to Russia, staging a European Championship in a state circus, donating the first twelve nine-foot pool tables, and helping seed a movement that would eventually produce world-class Russian players. A must-listen for anyone interested in WPA history, American pool, European pool, junior development, Fedor Gorst, international nine-ball, and how world pool was built. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2510864/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2510864/support] Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com [https://www.legendsofthecue.com] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1] Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

Jorgen Sandman - Part 2 ("Learning by Doing": Teaching Pool, Running Rooms, and Selling the Sport)

Before Jorgen Sandman became one of the most influential administrators in world pool, he was first a student, teacher, pool room operator, promoter, and believer in the power of simply getting started. In this second episode of Legends of the Cue, Jorgen explains how “learning by doing” became the motto that guided his journey from young instructor to international leader in billiards sports. The conversation begins with the games that shaped Swedish pool in its early years, especially straight pool, five-and-nine, and later eight-ball. Jorgen reflects on what coaching looked like in Sweden in the 1970s, when there were no established systems, few instructional resources, and most players learned by watching others. Drawing on lessons from ice hockey, volleyball, and his own curiosity, he built a teaching philosophy based on fundamentals: how to hold the cue, how to stand, how to observe, analyze, and communicate. Jorgen also shares candid insights from the business side of pool, including owning and operating rooms, selling products, writing about the game, and using creativity to attract new players. One standout story centers on The Color of Money, when he persuaded the Swedish film world to help promote pool by placing offers on cinema tickets—an idea that helped fill his room and generate remarkable media attention. From the Challenge Cup to early professional tournaments, this episode reveals how Jorgen used journalism, promotion, and sheer initiative to raise pool’s profile in Sweden and beyond. Essential listening for fans of pool instruction, billiards coaching, pool room history, straight pool, sports promotion, and the business of cue sports. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2510864/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2510864/support] Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com [https://www.legendsofthecue.com] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1] Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

Jorgen Sandman - Part 1 (From Swedish Ice Hockey to the Pool Hall Door)

Jorgen Sandman’s extraordinary life in cue sports begins far from the bright lights of world championships and Olympic committees. In this opening episode of Legends of the Cue, Jorgen takes us back to Sundsvall, Sweden, where a childhood shaped by ice hockey, discipline, outdoor play, and multi-sport development laid the foundation for a lifetime in pool, billiards, coaching, and sports leadership. Jorgen recalls learning to skate before he could walk, being taught fundamentals before being allowed near a puck, and later carrying those same lessons into cue sports. Alongside Allison Fisher, Mark Wilson, and Michael Gonzalez, he explores why early sport specialization can limit young athletes and why the world’s best competitors often benefit from a broad athletic background. The story then shifts to 1968, when a young Jorgen first encountered billiards while watching his uncle play in Stockholm. What began with laughter, missed balls, and a humbling first attempt soon became a lifelong calling. Back home, Jorgen found his way into a local billiard club, a basement room with coin-operated table lights, strong carom influences, and a mentor, Rolf Larsson, who would change the course of his life. This episode also touches on Sweden’s pioneering role in putting pool tables into schools, Jorgen’s early exposure to players and entertainers like Paul Gerni and Jimmy Caras, and the first signs of the teacher, promoter, and organizer he would become. A rich origin story for anyone interested in pool history, billiards culture, Swedish pool, youth sports development, or the roots of modern cue sports governance. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2510864/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2510864/support] Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com [https://www.legendsofthecue.com] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1] Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

Jeanette Lee - Part 9 (Hall of Fame Reflections, Pool Legacy, and Life Beyond the Table)

In the final chapter of our conversation on Legends of the Cue, Jeanette “The Black Widow” Lee reflects on legacy, recognition, and what it all means after a life spent chasing excellence in pool. This episode shifts from the climb to the view from the top, as Jeanette shares her reaction to receiving the sport’s highest honors: induction into the WPBA and the Billiard Congress of America Halls of Fame. She talks about what that moment meant to her personally, how she viewed the road that got her there, and the people and experiences that shaped her along the way. The conversation also explores the business side of her career, including the promotional instincts, league involvement, and long-term vision that helped her think beyond tournament wins and losses. Jeanette was never just playing matches — she was helping expand the reach of the game. What makes this episode especially powerful is its reflective quality. Jeanette looks back on the coaches, mentors, competitors, and turning points that influenced her growth, while also speaking candidly about how she hopes to be remembered. There is gratitude here, but also honesty, humor, and the unmistakable fire that made her such a singular force in pool. This closing episode is more than a look back at trophies and titles. It is about impact. Jeanette Lee changed how pool was seen, who it reached, and what a female star in cue sports could become. For longtime fans and new listeners alike, this is a fitting conclusion to an extraordinary conversation with one of the most important figures in billiards history. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2510864/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2510864/support] Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com [https://www.legendsofthecue.com] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1] Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

Jeanette Lee - Part 8 (Efren Reyes, Global Fame, and the Making of The Black Widow)

In this penultimate episode of her Legends of the Cue interview, Jeanette Lee shares the stories that transformed her from champion pool player into one of the most famous figures in cue sports history. The conversation begins with her unforgettable trip to the Philippines to play Efren Reyes, a match that became far more than a contest. Jeanette talks about meeting her idol on his home turf, seeing firsthand the conditions that shaped one of the greatest players of all time, and realizing just how deeply pool could connect people across cultures. That experience also gave Jeanette one of her first true glimpses of her own international fame. Away from the familiar tournament trail in the United States, she encountered a level of fan passion and recognition that opened her eyes to how large her name had become. It is a fascinating look at the difference between being a successful player and becoming a global symbol for the sport. From there, Jeanette reflects on image, branding, and the complicated perception that followed her throughout her career. She addresses the idea that she wanted fame more than greatness, and explains in her own words why being the best player she could be always mattered most. She also revisits the development of “The Black Widow” persona, how that identity took hold, and why her rise felt so meteoric at the time. This episode blends pool history, personal honesty, and behind-the-scenes storytelling in a way only Jeanette can. If you’ve ever wondered how a world-class competitor became a household name in billiards, this is the chapter that tells the story. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2510864/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2510864/support] Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com [https://www.legendsofthecue.com] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1] Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”