Recent content by Casual Observer

I've had this https://www.gigtown.com/artists/patrick-fleming playing in the background as I work this morning. He was a very talented guy. God Speed, Patrick!

Since it's online, I kinda like: Bandwidth Billiards

Lock the door and throw away the key. There's someone in my head, but it's not me. But in the space between the Heavens And the corner of some foreign field I had a dream, I had a dream.

Robin is a wonderful woman.

For those who think the trade organization should be doing more to “help” pro players instead of manufacturers, you likely won’t have to worry about the latter much longer. The BCA shares something in common with the industry in whole: it grows weaker by the day. The trade show, now called...

I'm having another guitar built by Martin. I've already paid for it (it's a $4,000 guitar) and am now in a prolonged sit and wait mode. The ETA keeps changing due to the intricacies of building a fine instrument (securing necessary tonal woods, climate/humidity considerations, craftsman's...

Just watched the video on Youtube. A few observations: 1) On one hand, Mark laments the state of the industry, which EVERYONE acknowledges is a small one, then on the other hand, he sets out to question the integrity/motivations of several of its most influential figures? 2) He talked at length...

I was in the navy when the movie "Top Gun" came out. It resulted in a recruiting heyday as recruiters told high tons school seniors that they "could be doing that too". Funny what some folks will fall for. Your point is well-taken though.

No one ever asks a movie theater owner how much he makes per ticket, but I can't count how many time I've heard a pool player bi*ch about a room/bar owner making "too much money"! I've been around pool all my life and I'll NEVER understand why so many players complain about somebody trying to...

Well said...

As Mike said, The Steak House (which is also the name) at Circus Circus is surprisingly (given how crappy the hotel is) good. I've eaten their many times. I even use it as a place to entertain biz folks when we don't want to leave that end of the strip.

I can’t believe some people wouldn’t be too embarrassed to complain about a $1 bottle of water at a pool room (or any business for that matter). I have a buddy that pays over $15k a month lease on his room. How the hell do you think he pays that rent? And, if some fool was so classless...

Understood. And agreed...

These days, I watch more pool than I play (looong story). After all these years, I still enjoy watching two folks match up- irrespective of their level of play. It's the greatest game on the planet and, if the right people would ever take control of the it, could be as mainstream as any other...

Over the years, I’ve spoken to a number of household names from the pool world (including some Hall-of-Fame’rs) and a ton of business owners (mostly pool rooms) about the condition of the industry. There are (at least) a handful of reasons why the sport has suffered since its heyday (assuming...