Very true Billy ! None of the champions are perfect, everyone shoots ill-advised shots at one time or another. I think it comes down to the frequency and skill. A gifted player may tend to shoot the wrong shot possibly more often, because he knows he can get away with it more often, either by making the shot a lot of the time, or making up for it, in other stages of the game.
I think bad shots are also highlighted more in great players. We expect more of them, that they are great because they know what's right and wrong. There may be lesser skilled players that tend to hardly ever shoot the wrong shot, and that may bump them up a notch or two and be able to allow them to play better players tough on a regular basis. But a great player can and does win in spite of shooting the wrong shot at times. Not saying all the time, but enough to keep them at the top of the pack.
I don't think just because a player is great, that he does not have some "shooter" in them at times. How many times do we also see a great player shoot the wrong shot, but get away with it because of their superior cue ball control, where controlling whitey saved them from a disaster.
There is a lot to be said with Efren still winning major onepocket events against the younger top champions today, at his age. We all agree he's lost a few balls over the years, but yet he is a threat to win any tournament he gets into. Not just onepocket, but bank pool or 9/10 ball too. It's not often that he is not near the top at the end of the tournament.
Also, the "shooters" we all know are going to shoot the wrong shot, because we know they are relying on their straight shooting ability. We know that the "movers" are going to plod along in the game, relying on shooting the right shot and being patient, to get them thru the offensive firepower of the shooter. Reyes is the champion he is, still today, because of his incredible ability to excel at so many areas of the game. Very few players are as well rounded as him. If someone has a high degree of skill in so many different areas, as Efren does... they make it very difficult to be beat.
It's tough to deal with someone who has exceptional talent at so many areas... his billiards experience helping him with his kicking, his caroming, and being able to go multiple rails with the cueball with uncanny precision. Or his experience at gambling to make his heart right, or his complete understanding of the cueball and the ability to make it do anything he wants, or his finesse game, or his imagination that allows him to get out of the toughest of predicaments. He excels in so many different areas, that he can decline in certain areas, and still be a top player.
I think the ratio of times we hear this....
"Why did Efren shoot that shot, that's not a good shot at all"
to this one...
"Wow, did you see that!" How did he do that? That was a incredible shot he just made.
is overwhelming in the 2nd area.
EDIT: I see Freddy is addressing a point I may be guilty of here too, but I think every player has weaknesses and always will have, but some players are special because they can overcome those weaknesses with their many strengths time and time again.