Thank you for sharing your thoughts..........
wish i had the time and the freedom Geno, i would love to join you on this journey!!
Hi there Champ,
I know the feeling. Many of us old road players know that the road has changed alot. Years back I used to drive just 100 or 200 miles and get another game. Now someone just takes your picture with their phone and goes on the internet and knows exactly how you play. Want's a spot.
With me teaching and playing, survival on the road doesn't depend on getting a game and only booking winners. This will give me an opportunity to go places and play in tournaments. I just have to work my way there just like in the old days except I'm not tryng to beat people out of their money but helping them by teaching them how to improve their own game more than they ever imagine. And I really have something special to teach.
My trip to Minot was the first one that I took the camera. I'm trying to document what's going on and kind of make a short little reality movie about what goes on out here on the road.
One incident in Minot would have been kind of fun to have on camera. I'm washing clothes at the Dakota Inn and someone has theirs in the dryer yet. It's 2:00 AM. I set their clothes on the washing machine and put my clothes in the dryer. When I came back my clothes were on the washing machine still a little damp and 2 guys were standing there that hardly spoke English, Spanish I think, and the short stocky guy acted like he wanted to kick my ass. He went about 240 and looked pretty tough. As I went to leave this small space where the washer dryer was he stepped in the doorway. I had already told him that the dryer had stopped but he didn't seem to care. He looked like a guy that was just looking for a fight.
I'm in a space of about 3' by 6' with him, like I said,blocking the doorway.
I'm sizing up the situation and trying to figure out how this is going to turn out. It doesn't look good. The taller guy is younger, I'd say around 25, and looks like a good guy but you never know when the fists start flying.
Thoughts of my surgically repaired shoulder that still bites me from time to time and 4 broken ribs that need about 4 or 5 months to really feel normal agian, so the Doc says, are surfing though my mind. I was in Karate school for 6 years when I was younger but now I'm 59 years old.
The thought of even throwing a punch almosts hurts me let alone doing it.
I set my clothes basket down on the washer and square around to get ready for what I tought was going to be like the Alamo. I just stood there solidly and glared right straight into his eyes. We're about 4 feet apart right now. A bluff on my part knowing he has no idea about my banged up body.
It seemed like forever, the staring at each other, but was only about 15 seconds. By now I was ready to fight if that was going to happen. My heart was pumping and I was getting kind of angry inside. And for a split second during the stare I actually thought about rushing him. I really felt trapped in this little room.
Finally he moved to the side so I could go by. I was relieved but still need to squeeze by. There's not much room.
As I walked down the hall I turned around to make sure they hadn't changed their mind.
Who would have thought washing your clothes could be so dangerous.
But this is the ROAD. It can be fun and it can be treacherous. All your survival skills need to be honed to the max to handle situations that arise.
Minot is my first attempt with the camera. Got some great footage and dropped it off to be editted in Minneapolis on my way to the Black Bear Casino. It's all real. The way it is.
Got to go. I'm going to Mr Luckys right now to see if I can stir something up there. Maybe a lesson or you never know, maybe some action.
I'm takng the camera with me. Mr Luckys is pretty cool. I little slice of heaven for the pool players up here in Superior. It will be kind of fun sharing these poohalls with everyone.
See ya later. Need to go have some fun with The Road............