My Friend Chad "Big Nasty" Pollman

JCIN

JCIN

TheActionReport.com
Gold Member
January 2007 I was at the Executive West for the Derby City Classic. I was running around with a young kid from Sioux Falls who later that year would turn into "SVB". We were talking about different match ups he might get into and he said "I kind of want to wait till Big Nasty gets here to play." I naturally replied "Who is Big Nasty?" and Shane said "He's my buddy from Sioux Falls." So being a normal and curious human being I asked the next obvious question "Why do they call him Big Nasty?" Shane smiled that goofy smile and just said "You'll see."

Chad or just "Nasty" as I usually called him (to this day his number in my phone is listed under one word: Nasty) was the perfect example of it being a mistake to judge a book by its cover. For anyone that never met Chad he was a very big man with a very serious look. He also was one of the nicest most caring and empathetic human beings I have ever had the luck to meet.

I can tell stories for hours about Nasty. Over the next few years after we met that week at at Derby we spent a lot of time together on the phone and on the road. We had some amazing times, a few sad times and one or two hairy times (see the tornado night at Duff's place in KC). One thing I am certain of is that for a couple of years we saw more world class pool from the rail than anyone else on earth. Without Chad's attitude and charisma none of it would of happened. I could get things done technically but Chad was the guy who could drum up a $20,000 action match with a couple phone calls or over a sandwich at the bar. I have seen people try to do what he did and to this day no one has come close. I have tried and and couldn't do it anywhere near like he did it. It never ceased to amaze me when I would get a call and it was "XYZ will play ABC...it will be great....we just got to go to Iowa (or anywhere but where we were at)." I smile thinking about those calls and that enthusiasm.

Chad's network in Sioux Falls with Chuck and Jason is the reason TAR went from podcasts on a $10 website to producing matches with the biggest names in the world (unfortunately still with the same $10 website). Our first big idea for a match with Shane and Corey had a minor problem in that neither of us had a number for Corey. After the first year you could ask Nasty for the number of damn near any player or backer in the country and he would pull it right out of that phone of his with buttons so small you wondered how the hell he managed to type on them with his giant fingers. The guy had a network in this game that was second to none.

Like I said I could go on forever talking about my friend Nasty. I was in a daze for the first few days after hearing that he left us far too soon. My sincere condolences go out to his family and especially his daughter. He touched many lives in a positive way and will be missed by more than I think even he knew.

I am so very thankful to have been able to know Chad. He changed my life and changed me for the better as a person. Together I feel like we built something that matters to a few people with the same love of this game as we had. When someone makes you want to do bigger and better things then helps you to reach your goals you form a special kind of bond with them. Chad did all of that for me.

He did it for others too. One in particular everyone here knows. Before and after every big match he played Shane Van Boening could be sure of one thing. Chad would be there to give him words of encouragement either in person or via text. During our matches Nasty tried his best to be impartial because he knew that was the professional thing to do but Shane was his man. Always was. I dont think too many people really know what a mentor about certain things in life Chad was to Shane. Chad was there to pump him up when he was down or let a little air out of his head if he started getting a little too cocky. It was fun to see how proud Chad was of Shane. What a pair they made.

I'll miss you big man and do my best to honor your memory. Thank you for all that you taught me and all of the experiences I have been able to have because of you. I'll never forget. Rest in peace.

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Well said Justin. As BB stated, thanks for sharing things @ Nasty that most of us surely didn't know. If the mood strikes you, perhaps you'll share more @ him and further honor a super person that was taken suddenly, and so soon.

RIP Chad. :(


(and BTW, for those that open this thread and have to scroll right and left to read each line cause the screen size is too large: if you hold down your control key and hit the "minus" key a couple times, it will reduce the screen size and you won't have to scroll. When done, hold control and the plus key to return to normal size.)
 
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Very well said Justin.

Things like this are some of the reasons I have so much respect for you.

Thank you for being and honest and good person. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there to the masses.

Chad will be severely missed in this community.
 
I suck at situations like this, except to say that I was in shock.

Anyway, well said Justin.

I think Watchez wrote somewhere that we should do a memorial tournament honoring Chad. I would love to get involved.
 
Michael-Hoang said:
I suck at situations like this, except to say that I was in shock.

Anyway, well said Justin.

I think Watchez wrote somewhere that we should do a memorial tournament honoring Chad. I would love to get involved.
Click to expand...

Mike I have been thinking about what to do for days. I posted an idea on my FB page and I am going to do it:

"I've been a daze for a few days but I have been thinking of something to do in memory of Chad. Two things he always wanted to do and I always said was to hard to put together...one was a partners game and the other was a ring game. Chad always loved the interaction in those formats but I always said "More players is more expense and work without more money."

I keep thinking about it and one thing keeps popping in my head: "The Pollman Trophy" Johnny Archer mentioned wanting to play a partners game with Shane against Darren and another European player. I think Chad would of loved something like that. Do it once a year with an American Team vs World Team. Winner gets the Pollman Trophy for that year. We PPV the event and give the profits to Chad's daughter.

I want to do something to honor Chad and what he brought to people who loved the game as much as he did. A good way to do that is a match he would want to see and would get people excited. What do you think about the idea ?"

I talked to Watchez about it and he liked it, posted the above on Facebook and got a great response. It was a mistake to not try something like a partners game when Chad was here. I'm going to fix that now and put Chad's name on it because it was something he would of really loved to see. I know I'll have a lot of help doing it too. When some things are firmed up I'll be in touch. Thank you.
 
Pollman Trophy

JCIN said:
Mike I have been thinking about what to do for days. I posted an idea on my FB page and I am going to do it:

"I've been a daze for a few days but I have been thinking of something to do in memory of Chad. Two things he always wanted to do and I always said was to hard to put together...one was a partners game and the other was a ring game. Chad always loved the interaction in those formats but I always said "More players is more expense and work without more money."

I keep thinking about it and one thing keeps popping in my head: "The Pollman Trophy" Johnny Archer mentioned wanting to play a partners game with Shane against Darren and another European player. I think Chad would of loved something like that. Do it once a year with an American Team vs World Team. Winner gets the Pollman Trophy for that year. We PPV the event and give the profits to Chad's daughter.

I want to do something to honor Chad and what he brought to people who loved the game as much as he did. A good way to do that is a match he would want to see and would get people excited. What do you think about the idea ?"

I talked to Watchez about it and he liked it, posted the above on Facebook and got a great response. It was a mistake to not try something like a partners game when Chad was here. I'm going to fix that now and put Chad's name on it because it was something he would of really loved to see. I know I'll have a lot of help doing it too. When some things are firmed up I'll be in touch. Thank you.
Click to expand...

Justin,

This is the best post I have ever read on AZB, brought tears to my eyes. A lot of people want to help, and this is a great way to aggregate a lot of small donations that add up to something meaninful for Chad`s daughter.

And Nasty would have really liked the match format. I know he liked out-of-ordinary matches like partners or ring games.

As you get closer, let me know if I can help.

RIP Nasty. We all miss you already.

Will Prout
 
Pollman Trophy

It's a great idea Justin.

Thank you for sharing some of Nasty with those of us who never had the opportunity to meet him.

You have my check for $150 - please cash it and use it as you see fit.

RIP Nasty
 
Nasty!

Justin, awesome post from the heart. I know for sure Chad will smile down on you as you carry TAR on with great pride. Personally I love watching all your streams, as most do. So keep up the good work for your friend!
RIP-Nasty.
 
I was sorry to hear the news. I'm sure Chad will be happy with whatever you do with TAR. You guys have always put together awesome matchups and have a high quality product.
 
Well said Justin. Chad (and you) have given me countless hours of entertainment - along with a few instances of profit to fill my action cravings - and I cannot be thankful enough for what you two have accomplished since 2007.

Chad was more of an aquaintance to me - Justin I call a friend. Just the way things are in this world. Not to hijack but I always hate it when someone dies that they all of a sudden had all of these best friends that they didn't know they had. I don't have Chad's number in my phone. I'm sure he had mine. :smile: We were friends on Facebook and would chat on there late night if we saw each other on and something occurred in the pool world worth talking about. Chad and I even had a difference of opinion on here that we settled by PM. He didn't tell me to fvck off - he listened to what I had to say and vice versa. I also tried to set someone straight that owed Chad a large chunk of change and Chad made sure to thank me for my efforts, albeit it went no where cause sometimes you just can't fix people. That is what friends do so maybe we were friends after all.

Anyways, like I posted earlier, what I like best about these two men of TAR is that they have always understood how it should be when two people are dealing with each other and the respect we should have for one another as human beings. Chad and Justin have never sugar coated this in their business.

I was reading thru some posts of Chad and one of his last posts seems to fit what I am saying - he was responding to someone that is a 'known name' in the pool world. Again, Chad didn't back off when he was telling it like it is, like it should be.

bignasty said:
and you like to go back on your word also, guess the KARMA cought your ass this time....this post i s me as a backer nothing to do with TAR or justin on anyway...found out what your word is worth mike...
Click to expand...

Everyone should do theirself a favor and read some of Chad's posts - they are enlightening if you missed them the first time around.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/search.php?searchid=8707011

Justin - get ahold of me when you get the players / people in place for the Pollman Trophy. You know you have me behind you on this for sure.
 
JCIN said:
January 2007 I was at the Executive West for the Derby City Classic. I was running around with a young kid from Sioux Falls who later that year would turn into "SVB". We were talking about different match ups he might get into and he said "I kind of want to wait till Big Nasty gets here to play." I naturally replied "Who is Big Nasty?" and Shane said "He's my buddy from Sioux Falls." So being a normal and curious human being I asked the next obvious question "Why do they call him Big Nasty?" Shane smiled that goofy smile and just said "You'll see."

Chad or just "Nasty" as I usually called him (to this day his number in my phone is listed under one word: Nasty) was the perfect example of it being a mistake to judge a book by its cover. For anyone that never met Chad he was a very big man with a very serious look. He also was one of the nicest most caring and empathetic human beings I have ever had the luck to meet.

I can tell stories for hours about Nasty. Over the next few years after we met that week at at Derby we spent a lot of time together on the phone and on the road. We had some amazing times, a few sad times and one or two hairy times (see the tornado night at Duff's place in KC). One thing I am certain of is that for a couple of years we saw more world class pool from the rail than anyone else on earth. Without Chad's attitude and charisma none of it would of happened. I could get things done technically but Chad was the guy who could drum up a $20,000 action match with a couple phone calls or over a sandwich at the bar. I have seen people try to do what he did and to this day no one has come close. I have tried and and couldn't do it anywhere near like he did it. It never ceased to amaze me when I would get a call and it was "XYZ will play ABC...it will be great....we just got to go to Iowa (or anywhere but where we were at)." I smile thinking about those calls and that enthusiasm.

Chad's network in Sioux Falls with Chuck and Jason is the reason TAR went from podcasts on a $10 website to producing matches with the biggest names in the world (unfortunately still with the same $10 website). Our first big idea for a match with Shane and Corey had a minor problem in that neither of us had a number for Corey. After the first year you could ask Nasty for the number of damn near any player or backer in the country and he would pull it right out of that phone of his with buttons so small you wondered how the hell he managed to type on them with his giant fingers. The guy had a network in this game that was second to none.

Like I said I could go on forever talking about my friend Nasty. I was in a daze for the first few days after hearing that he left us far too soon. My sincere condolences go out to his family and especially his daughter. He touched many lives in a positive way and will be missed by more than I think even he knew.

I am so very thankful to have been able to know Chad. He changed my life and changed me for the better as a person. Together I feel like we built something that matters to a few people with the same love of this game as we had. When someone makes you want to do bigger and better things then helps you to reach your goals you form a special kind of bond with them. Chad did all of that for me.

He did it for others too. One in particular everyone here knows. Before and after every big match he played Shane Van Boening could be sure of one thing. Chad would be there to give him words of encouragement either in person or via text. During our matches Nasty tried his best to be impartial because he knew that was the professional thing to do but Shane was his man. Always was. I dont think too many people really know what a mentor about certain things in life Chad was to Shane. Chad was there to pump him up when he was down or let a little air out of his head if he started getting a little too cocky. It was fun to see how proud Chad was of Shane. What a pair they made.

I'll miss you big man and do my best to honor your memory. Thank you for all that you taught me and all of the experiences I have been able to have because of you. I'll never forget. Rest in peace.
Click to expand...


Well said, Justin. Whether we knew him or not, as pool fans we all took a hit with Chad's passing.

Lou Figueroa
 
Justin,

I look forward to any stories you can tell about Nasty. I didn't get the chance to meet him, just chatting with him once after a ppv, and always wanted to know more about him. Regrettably I never will now, myself, but I still do want to know more about him albeit thru his friends.

Thanks

Give em sh1t upstairs Mr. Pollman and you'll have some good matches for us, when we get there.
 
Great post Justin. I will miss you Nasty.

I want to share a short story about the first time that I met Chad. I was setting up the table for the TAR match between Danny Harriman and John Schmidt at the Qlympics in Louisville.

We had just gotten the table flipped over and in place, when everybody left except me and Chad. To put this into perspective, I am about 5'4" and Chad was just huge! The Diamond Pro Am tables have a nail inserted in the leveling blocks in the legs when we flip them down off from the table carts. Sometimes, these nails get in a bind when the table is down, due to the weight of the table.

The easiest way the get the nail out is to have someone put some upwards pressure under the skirt next to the corner pocket nearest to the nail. Since Chad was the only one there besides me, I asked for his help with this. He was talking on his cell phone at the time (big surprise there!)

While I am under the table, he walks over to the side pocket and puts his right paw (I can't bring myself to call it a hand - it was that big) under the skirt of the table. He proceeds to pick up the entire side of the table off of the ground, while never pausing his phone conversation! What struck me the most was that never even grunted or gave his caller any indication of what he was doing. I was so dumbstruck that for a few moments I did not tell him to put the table back down.

Then I began to wonder how long he could hold it like that. Eventually, I told him that I was finished and he could set the table back down. Later, during the event I had the opportunity to talk with him. I was surprised at how nice and friendly he was. I finally concluded that he was a "Gentle Giant."

I hope that they have plenty of french fried taters for him in heaven. I will miss you man! You were truly one of the greatest people to hang out with - ever!
 
You're a good friend. He'll walk again. I hope you and Shane feel better soon. I was moved by what you wrote.
 
I only talked to Nasty a few times and when I did I was always left laughing. I wasnt aware how integral he was to TAR. Im loving the stories about a man who helped bring many hours of enjoyment into my life. Thanks for the thread JCIN.
 
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