I guys, this is Christ "Spike" Aiardo. It was very touching to look at all of your comments about my dad. I appreciate all you for responding. I am doing well in school, I have 6 A's, and one C. But the C is in chemistry so it dont matter. But anyway, I have a girlfriend now. Yes, I know (awwwah) lol. But I would love to hear more stories about my dad. So, thanks everybody for posting. Oh yeah, I made a little under $1,000 in the last 3 weeks.
Hi Spike,
I"m glad to see you here on az. I think that pic of me, Scott and CC was from 2002 or early 2003, shortly after I got the Diamond table. CC had read on the CCB that I was looking for help with my game. He had just "rebuilt" his stroke and volunteered to drive to Galesburg to help me out.
He didn't want any money... just the opportunity to pass on what he had learned. I guess he made the trip to the house 5 or 6 times and didn't want any money but I was successful in making him take some gas money. I think I drove him crazy with emails bemoaning my lack of stroke.
He recommended that I hit table length, diagonal... straight-in shots and NOTHING else, potting at least 100 balls daily. I was a good student and I potted up to 600 a day... with my average after several months, being over 200 a day. It paid off. Thanks to CC's help I got better.
It seemed like I was bad luck for his game. Every time I tried to watch him play in a tournament he'd play poorly. It was that way at the first tournament I saw him play in.. at Whitey's, then again at Pheasant Run in St. Charles, and the last time we spoke was in Burlington, at Whitey's. He had just started his match, missed a shot or two, got pissed and told me I was a black cat to him. Then he looked me in the eye and loudly told me he meant it. Since he was looking me in the eye when he said it... twice (!)... I took it personally.... I got hurt and pissed so I got up and left. I left with the intention of not speaking to him again. Sadly that's the way it turned out... it was to be the last time we spoke. Bummer.
He didn't like playing poorly and the anger had to go somewhere. That's the way anger is.
That has always been a really sad memory for me. It stuck with me. I can still clearly see the table we were at...etc. I stayed pissed and hurt for several years. We were friends and I should have understood that he was just venting some steam that had built up from the competitive spirit of playing in a match. I wasn't a big enough man to do that.
That's on me. He vented some steam, I got burnt and should have just let it dissipate... that's what a friend is supposed to do. Instead of letting the hurt dissipate, vanish into the air, I held on to the hurt/anger/sadness. That was on me. I let the negative out-weigh the positive and I held on to the hurt. Truth is... I'm not such a good man. I let my hurt feelings get in the way of our friendship. That was immature on my part. Principles are supposed to rule... not emotions.
The lesson I learned is that we owe it to each other to not leave on an unhappy note.... anytime could be the last time and sometimes it's just too late to make amends.
Truth is... I'm not such a good man... I blew it. I let my hurt feelings get in the way of our friendship. That's immature on my part. Principles are supposed to rule... not emotions. Raised emotions should be allowed to vanish into the ether while principles/ethics/love remain to rule.
Chris and I talked many times in the few short years we were friends and he was a good man who sure loved his son a lot!!!! He talked about you in every conversation we had and he fought his ass off trying to not have to leave you and pass from this world. He really hated having to leave you and Heide.
Please say hi to your mother for me. I know the Justis and the dynamite SW are in good hands.
:thumbup:
Regards, Jim
and across from Grady and Randi (who are fighting their own battle now - see http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sc-randi).
He was embarrassed and flustered and ran around and found some paper towels to clean it up, but by the time he got back, the beer was gone! Rip called it the Riviera's magical Mexican Beer Sucking Carpet, as it had sucked up all the beer and there was nothing left to clean up. We were laughing so hard and acting the fools, that Christ had to walk away or die of embarrassment! It was a lot funnier than it sounds here.
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