Taken from the October 1995 Issue of Table Talk
Published by Tornado Table Soccer, Inc.

Terry Moore's meteoric rise to foosball stardom is the stuff of which legends are made. Known affectionately on the tour as "Big Terry", he has had a rapid ascent to the top of the foosball world, using what was at the time, the new "rollover" shot. His well documented yet sometimes controversial rise to the top is now a fact of foosball life that nearly every player from coast to coast is familiar with. Recently, I hooked up with the talented Mr. Moore on the phone, hoping the 27 year-old table soccer superstar would share more of his thoughts and feelings on life as one of the game's top pros on tour.

SM: Terry, for 3 straight years you've been rated the # 1 player in the world. How does that make you feel and do you think that you've earned that top ranking?

TERRY: Well, it definitely feels good to be #1. For the fact as did I earn it? I guess. I put my time in on the table. When I was coming up the ladder all I did was watch the good guys and try to do what they did.

SM: Yeah, I'd have to say, you've been dedicated. You've been touring ever since I've known ya', and realistically the only way anyone can become #l is to hit as many tournaments as possible. Playing on tour is what keeps your game razor sharp.

SM: Being the top player in the sport, and I've experienced this as well, it seems that everyone on tour is out to beat you and that the spectators tend to cheer against you, rather than for you. I'm certain it's nothing more than generally everybody is pulling for the underdogs. Does that affect you one way or the other?

TERRY: A lot of people ask me that and really most matches I don't notice it really, unless I'm not focused. As long as I'm playing good it doesn't bother me but there have been matches I've noticed. One in particular was '93 Worlds when I played Tommy. It was such an overwhelming crowd for him. It definitely didn't affect my play but I noticed nobody was cheering for me.

SM: Basically, he was the hometown boy and maybe people thought he was the underdog going' into that match and you know everyone pulls for the underdog; especially a hometown underdog, don't you think?

TERRY:I understand that, the fact I won the Worlds the year before probably had something to do with it, but I have noticed people don't cheer for me nearly as much as they used to, but...

SM: Well, if it doesn't bother you that's certainly a tribute to your concentration but, I got news for ya', you haven't been the underdog in a match for quite some time now, so maybe you should just get used to it. Ya' think?

TERRY: Yeah, I understand that.

SM: Your last world title was three years ago when you won the 1992 World Singles Championship. However, you have been in position to win many other singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles only to place second more often than not. Are you afraid you might be labeled "tour bridesmaid" or are you proud, as you should be, that you have been more consistent than most players in the last couple of seasons?

TERRY: I'm not worried about the fact that people think I get a lot of seconds or whatever. I win and I've won my share and expect to win as many more as I can. For as the fact as...I was happy last year when I got to the finals against Spear. I was happy to be in the finals 3 straight years. Whether I won or not, that was my goal last year and this year.

SM: That in itself is impressive, because anytime you reach the finals of any tour event 3 years in a row, ya' got to be doing' something right.

TERRY: This year my singles game wasn't as strong because I was more focused on doubles. I felt me and Bobby (Diaz) had a really good chance of winning, so I think it affected my singles game a little bit. I still got beat by good players, but I was more focused for doubles.

SM: Okay Terry, I have to ask you this even though you and I both know the true answer. Do you think you would have been as highly competitive as you have been for this length of time if you didn't shoot the rollover?

TERRY: Would I have been? That's a tough question. I don't know if I would have been as soon as I was or not. Now that's not saying if I would've put 5 years on a pullshot or another shot. I don't think my 5 bar would be any different I definitely had a big advantage shooting the rollover, especially when I started because there were no real rollover defenses out there. Now, the rollover "D"s have come around, and I'm not saying they're as good as the pullshot "D"s, but for the most part they're good. But yes I still think I have a little advantage, if that is what you're asking me.

SM: We'll touch on that point some n on down the line.

SM: We both know the answer to this as well. Do you know what you're doing with your shot as far as reading and timing the defense, before you pull the trigger? So to speak?

TERRY: Definitely. A lot of people still fight the fact you can compete with shot.

SM: Terry, while I do agree with that, there are a lot of people with the opirnion it's a lucky shot and should be banned.

TERRY: Yeah...but that's what I'm saying. Those are the people fighting the fact the shot is here to stay but they don't like it so they bad mouth it here and there. That's mainly because of new players that didn't start with another shot. When started I shot a pull so I wasn't clueless on how to shoot on a defense. It's definitely a little different trying to time the "D" with a rocking front pin, rather than a set pull, I will give people that.

SM: So it's all basically the same concept gettin' a good set and good read?

TERRY: Yeah, you still have to pick what guys gonna move, but I won't say I never guess. You know, we all have guess sometimes.

SM: Not me Terry. I never guess, know that.

TERRY: Well, I know I do. (haha)

SM: Yeah, ya' also know I'm being sarcastic, I'm the "King of Guess" !

TERRY: Yeah, once in a while ya' just got to let it fly!

SM: Absolutely. I agree 100%, when in that groove ya' just let it flow. There's no need to think about it too much cause everything's clicking. I know what ya' me I've been there once or twice.

SM: Obviously Terry, the rollover has been a big factor in what has been a pretty darn good run as the #1 player in the world. One of the reasons for that particular shot's success is simply that there hasn't been a whole lot of time for players to get a good feel for the shot so they can develop a good defensive strategy. Do you think that it has been a factor or do you feel that it wouldn't have mattered?

TERRY: Oh, it's definitely been a factor, but now I believe it's becoming less of a factor. When I first started playing in San Diego with Evan (Stachelek), he was the first guy who worked with me, I told him I wanted to be different. I told him I thought the pull-shot was boring to me, so I thought about a push-shot. Then I saw a rollover and to me it looked great. So I fooled around with it for a while then it kinda' took over my game.

SM: So, do you think it's a spin shot, or possibly could promote spin shots?

TERRY: No way! I've always had the desire to win no matter what I shot. It's just that I picked the rollover for my signature shot.

SM: I got to be honest with ya' Terry, that's probably one of the better picks you made in your foosball career. Go with it.

SM: Do you resent the fact that some players might think you've gotten to where

you are solely due to your rollover?

TERRY: Not really, they can think what they want. It doesn't bother me I got where I am because of the rollover. Todd Loffredo got where he is because of a pull-shot.

SM: So, basically you're answer is no, it doesn't bother you?

TERRY: Well, let see how far Todd would get shooting a push-kick, it takes away from his best shot. The fact I shoot a rollover to me doesn't...I don't understand why people say it, maybe they're implying no one knows how to block it.

SM: How much of a difference has it made to your overall game and status on tour to have a close friendship and partnership with one of the game's all-time greats, Todd Loffredo?

TERRY: Todd is definitely the main reason I've gotten so good. Not because of motivation, because he's taught me so much. He has taught me more than anyone else and for that I'm extremely grateful. He kinda took me under his wing and taught me a lot.

SM: Well, you're one of the lucky ones to be smart enough to take advantage of it.

SM: If you and Todd were to entirely branch out and go your separate ways on tour, do you think that you would get the better of him or would he be dominant?

TERRY: It's tough to say. I definitely had a rivalry for him at Worlds, if you want it put it that way. I thought in my mind that me and Bobby were the only team that had a chance to beat him, and I wanted that more than anything. I know that any time a player plays with Todd and then wins it's because of Todd. I got that, and know Scotty (Wydman) gets a lot of it, but I don't agree with that at all. Scotty is great player and whatever he's won he deserved it.

SM: Whoever thinks that is clueless about what doubles is all about. Not taking any thing away from Todd or anybody else for that matter, I don't care how good ya' are nobody can win doubles by themselves.

TERRY: Especially the Worlds

SM: Any tournaments.

TERRY: Yeah, but he's my mentor and I want to beat him and I felt the same way when I played with Evan. One reason I like playing Todd is mostly cause he knows more about my game than any body. So, I feel if I can beat him, I can beat anybody. Because he knows so much about my game, he challenges me because he is just a great player.

SM: You're engaged to one of the game's great lady players, Tiffany Billirakis. Al though you both compete in the Mixed Doubles events on tour, you rarely, if ever, pair up together. Why is that?

TERRY: This is a good question. When I was playing mixed before I met her, people used to tell me husband & wife, boyfriend & girlfriend can't play well together. I never understood that because I thought I was the easiest person to play with but until you actually do it, you don't realize just how hard it is. I'm not taking anything away from her, she's definitely a great player, but we get emotionally involved...I mean, I see you & Gena play all the time and give you the extra credit for playing together, I now know how hard it is.

SM: Ya' might oughta' give her that extra credit, but I know what you mean, maybe we've been an exception to the rule. It's easier to be hard on people close to you, for whatever weird reason.

TERRY: The biggest problem is when we play, I think we're just partners and if she's doing something wrong I'll tell her about it, but she takes it the wrong way. She is still in love with me on the table and it conflicts. Sometimes it's a problem against each other too...like at World's, Stephanie (Dean) said there are no friends here, we're all enemies on the table.

SM: So I guess what you're saying is, the nature of competition can sometimes get nasty, so there's no room for weak emotions?

TERRY: Definitely. That's why we don't play tour events together. We do play a lot of like 2 granders and stuff in Open Doubles, and we only lost one because there is usually less competition and less pressure so we usually overwhelmingly dominate.

SM: During the decade of the 90's, your name has become synonymous with "world-class" foosball competition. Thinking back, it seems unlike most top players in the past who gradually climbed the ladder, eventually making a name for themselves on the pro circuit, you, seemed to have just come out of nowhere to make an immediate impact. As you think back, what would best have described the arrival of the Terry Moore phenomena?

TERRY: Me shooting the rollover definitely had to play a big part in that factor. The biggest thing to me...I was telling a lot of people about other players on tour that have always been consistently good players, but the reason they don't get to the top 10 elite I should say, even though they have the potential, somewhere in their minds, there's probably one thing they would rather be doing than say, playing a Todd Loffredo, a Johnny Horton, or a Steve Murray. When I first started playing when I didn't have all the skills and was a nobody and I would get to play Todd Loffredo or Johnny Horton, Steve Murray, or Tom Spear, just to get to play them was the ultimate. Even if they skunk me 15-0, just being there was what I wanted to do more than anything. That breaks down to the desire. There was nothing I would rather have been doing than playing Foosball. I think that had a lot to to do with who I am, what I am, and where I am.

SM: Being no stranger to the pro-tour myself (man that's an understatement!), as I recall, it's been most common for players to spend at least three or four seasons "paying their dues". Is there an explanation for your instant success on tour? What makes you an exception to this theory?

TERRY: Well, see I played in California 3 or 4 years locally, and as you well know Northern Cal and Southern Cal are loaded with top pros. So I was playing against great players all that time before I really went out on tour.

SM: So you were basically a seasoned player before you and Evan and the boys got in the van and traveled the tour for the 2 years that you did?

TERRY: My first year as a pro I didn't do that great but in '92 when I teamed up with Eddy (Gartman)...

SM: That was your cominout party so to speak?

TERRY: Exactly. You find real quick it's a different level on tour. Like you might play a couple of good pros in a local, but in a major you might have to play 6 or 7 top 20 pros in a row and that's where the seasoning and experience comes in.

SM: The sport of foosball has in recent years experienced a period of growth in terms of player participation, increased media coverage and overall quality of play among other things. Where do you envision our sport being 5 years from now?

TERRY: Well, some of the things I've seen on TV, some of the types of sports that get major coverage, I don't see any reason why we can't get up there with billiards or stuff like that.

SM: Yeah, some of the things I've seen on ESPN2, even ESPN for that matter...if the general public had any clue of what it took to be top dog out there on our pro-tour...

TERRY: And to actually see what's going on, on the table to not just see the ball getting shot around.

SM: Terry, do you feel any kind of responsibility to the hoards of young and up and coming players who idolize you and look up to you not only as a player but as a person as well?

TERRY: Most definitely. Sometimes I know I'm not the greatest person on the table as far as my attitude, but that's because it's an emotional sport. I always have a positive attitude towards younger players. I do a lot of pro clinics. I even, in my hometown, San Diego, took my own table to a Boy's Club and put on a 3 hour clinic. If we don't have anyone coming into the sport we're never going to go anywhere. I always try, like they say wear collared shins, I always try to follow that kind of stuff. It makes it look like you want to protect the image. If this younger guy sees you and he wants to be like you, you don't want to be like some total slob or jerk on the table. He thinks, why would I want to be like that?

SM: So you do feel you're dealing with that responsibility and you accept it?

TERRY: Yes. I feel the fact that people look up to me, I always try to return the favor and show them a positive attitude and teach them if they ask but as we said before, some people don't understand it the sport definitely has the potential to bring out the dark side in people.

SM: You and I have butted heads before and probably will again (no doubt) but I have always thought and said it to people that you've been good for the game as far as the big picture goes.

SM: Well, Terry, you should obviously be very proud of your career and accomplishments. Anyone who has done what you have over the last five years deserves all the credit in the world. It truly is nothing short of incredible. But, if you never played in another foosball tournament again, would you have any regrets?

TERRY: Yeah that I didn't play anymore. My only regret would be that I don't play anymore. I want to play as long as I physically can.

SM: One final question Terry, are you comfortable that the game is being played today the way you think it was meant to be played?

TERRY: Yeah, I definitely think that the game is growing in the right direction as far as variety of shots. Variety is good, like back in, I don't know, something like 85 or 98% of the shots on tour were pullshots. And if like, not to take away from pullshots, we want this to become a spectators sport it's good to have a variety of shots & styles of play so it won't be so tedious or boring. Our sport is not a discriminating sport that's easy to see. When ya' walk in a tournament room the variety of people. There's a lot of different styles from different area pros that new players have to choose from, so I think that could only be a good thing. The competition is also getting a lot harder so that just adds to it.

SM: I agree. In my opinion the compitition level is incredible right now, and gets better by the tournament and the tour itself is more exciting than its ever been. Terry thanks for your time, and good luck next year.

SM: Final thoughts, Terry. Predictictions, partners, goals, what's up in '96?

TERRY: Well, I'm playing with Boi Diaz all year long. So if anybody was wonderin', Diaz has got the key to me. (ha,ha) We play well together, if we stay consistent, I don't know if we'll win but I hope we do. Hopefully we can get there and knock some heads! I guarantee I'm gonna practice, big time and if I win thank God, if I don't I'll go home and practice some more.

In closing, after our lengthy phone conversation, I could easily tell Terry Moore's desire to remain the #1 player the world still burns. He certainly stands behind his belief in the controversial rollover shot, like it or not. To this day there are players on tour, that have been on tour seemingly forever, that will never acccomplish what "Big Terry" has already complished in his young foosball care so to label him "tour bridesmaid", I think would not only be unfair, it would be drastically inappropriate. If there is one thing that can't be disputed, the single most consistent pro player, on the pro tour, the last 5 seasons has been..."Big Terry" Moore.