the first place i learned anything was milford rec in milford ct. but i didn't really play, my friends did. i was simply a banger. but around that same time we also played at cool breeze about a half mile down the post rd., in milford. the felt forum in fairfield ct., there was diamond billards in downtown bridgeport and another place on main st. i can't remember some of the names, it's been a long time. there was a small room in danbury we went to a few times (saw allen hopkins shooting there - f*ckin blew my mind to watch him play 9 ball). there was a place in new haven i wish i could remember the name of because a few of my friends swear they watched ct. johnny vivas beat earl strickland - allegedly with a broom stick - i absolutely will not vouch for that story as i was not there, but it makes for good legend. and of course being so close to new york city we made regular pilgrimages to chelsea billiards. that place will always be magic in my mind because it was the first place i saw what real action could look like. milford rec will always be close to my heart as well because i saw everything. how people match up, how they win, loose, laugh, cry, get along and not in the game of pool. the cast of characters was also something to behold some of the people i knew thier real names and some just what they were called. so a roll call to the not so soon forgotten, jimmy dinegris, herb cables, chris wheeler, mike sweeney, ct. johnny vivas, bo, paulie, stalker, bob cleary and his brother, preacher, fat chris, black ron a.k.a. nino brown a.k.a. i'm so black i'm purple, jay "the born loser" and so many more i only have faces and not names for. if you played at milford rec anywhere between 87 and 91 you will know a few of these guys and probobly more send me a pm or post here i love to reminiss about the good old days.