Marcus used to come to the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship each year, but I have not seen his name on the player roster in a long while. Last I heard, he met a lady from Philippines, and they had a close bond. :smiling-heart:
One year at the DCC in Louisville, Keith and I both came down with a horrible flu. I got sick the very first day we arrived, with a fever, cold/hot sweats, body aches, and that Executive West hotel lobby was absolutely FREEZING. Keith got sick the second day. :frown:
It was not a good DCC for either of us, as we were both so ill. We'd been sick in the room much of the time, and all of a sudden, it was the last call for action, the last day of the DCC. Next to the bar, they had some bar tables, and every table was busy. Marcus and Keith were jaw-jacking away, when this little chubby Kentucky kid comes up to Keith and asks if he wants to play some bumps. After the negotiation, the Kentucky kid wants 2 balls.
Well, anybody who knows anything about pool understands that if you hail form Kentucky, you know how to play bumps. Needless to say, I didn't like the game at all, ESPECIALLY spotting a kid from Kentucky, no less. Gimme a break! Marcus whipped out 500 bucks and told Keith to go for it. The place was standing room only, and all eyes were on Keith and the Kentucky kid. Well, just as I had thought, this young'n was a genuine Kentucky bank mechanic, and he beat Keith with the spot pretty handily. :frown:
Keith goes up to Marcus and says, "I know I can beat this kid. Let's do it again." Marcus, without hesitation, gives Keith another $500. Keith proceeds to lose Round 2. I look over at Marcus, and he's looking in the opposite direction, as if he wants to avoid eye contact with Keith.
Then in front of a packed house, Keith says to the Kentucky kid, "Double or nothing." Keith is famous for doing this, making a game before he has the money lined up for the stake. With every eyeball in the joint glued to Keith, he proceeds to come up to me -- not Marcus -- and puts his hand out, "Gimme a thousand." I looked at Keith like he was crazy. I was furious with Keith for putting me in this spot, but I was too weak and tired to put up the good fight to hang onto our dough. :embarrassed2:
I handed Keith the money and stormed out of the room. I couldn't stay away long, though, and returned to see what was happening. Keith proceeded to hit a gear and pulled out ahead of the kid in the race to 5. He asks the kid to go again, and the Kentucky kid goes for it. Keith then went on to win a second set. The Kentucky kid unscrewed his cue. That was enough for him. Keith went over to Marcus and gave him $1,500. I was kind of not liking that arrangement, but since I was up $500, I was cool with it. Keith said Marcus was loyal to him in the past, a good friend throughout their years together, and Keith felt like he owed it to him.
The very first time I met Keith, Marcus put up his visa for ID, so Keith could get a hotel room in Baltimore. That's what friends do, I guess. There is a camaraderie between action players like Keith and Marcus. They've been through a few battles together. I miss seeing Marcus. :smile:
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