Random Thoughts
Dave,
Some random things that come to mind:
Something people may not know is he never taught his children anything about pool. I never played pool with him, ever. I'd play, he'd be nearby but we never actually played a game. No pointers, ever. I think he felt our lives would be better being away from the game, for whatever reason.
Something people may also not be aware of is his father Steve Sr. was a minor league baseball player/manager in the late 20's, 30's and early 40's. When baseball season was out, all the baseball players played pool. After his baseball career was over was when he opened his pool room in Perth Amboy, NJ. My father had always been around the pool room (picking up his first stick at age 4) but my grandfather always encouraged my father to play baseball as well and I would say baseball was my grandfather's first love, more so than pool. The night he announced his engagement to his wife Sonya, he went out and hit three HR's in the game the same night (I have the newspaper clipping. He would ask me what position I would like to play as a kid in Little League. I told him Second Base. I must have been 8 or 9 years old. He told me, "You can't play second base, you're a lefty-you won't be able to throw to first base fast enough"). I forget the story but something happened while playing baseball, I think it was a line drive he hit that knocked out the pitcher, that turned my father off from playing baseball and put him full time into pool. My grandfather was insturemental in the development of his game.
Had it not been for a game of pool, it's possible he may never have been a father. His first wife, Linda (my mother) is the sister of another tremendous pool player, Pete Margo. They were buddies back in the day. I always tell people that if it were not for a game of pool I probably would not be here today. My brother, ironically enough, recently married and met his wife over a game of pool (of all things) as well! Apparently it must be in the genes!
Thanks for asking Dave. Don't know if this is the kind of stuff you might be interested in. I'm sure I can come up with more in time....
Steve
P.S. If anyone has anything they'd like to ask, please don't be shy.