1966, to a pool hall in Springfield, Illinois. On a trip to Pennsylvania to visit family, we stopped there and my dad introduced me to the game of pool.
I'd like to go back in time to that old, musty-smelling room playing again with Pop. :angel2:
A great road trip that is forever etched into my memory bank.
Maniac
Being in Michigan, I'm going to say -- I'd like to go back and see Harold Worst play. He died so young and I can't help but wonder if this added to his legend. Would love to see him play with my own two eyes.
Harold was something to see. He was rock solid at the table. The only one who I could compare him with is Raymond Ceuelmans, the great Three Cushion player. Harold went about his business quietly and efficiently, making the balls and getting position with no visible stress or strain. He was not demonstrative in any way, his stoic expression not changing while he was at the table. He rarely needed to make any spectacular shots because he stayed in line so well. But if needed he had a very powerful stroke. Like in the other thread about what makes champions better players, he just didn't miss any balls, played pin point position and was consistent from start to finish. Plus he had no quiver in him at any time during a match. He played the same whether ahead or behind (which was rare in itself). He was our "Efren!"
Harold may have been 5'11" or thereabouts, but was thickly built, a solid 200 pounds plus I'm sure. He had big strong hands, that I also remember because he shook my hand once. Our conversation was pretty much hello and that's it. I was too young and timid to approach him to chat. He was an early hero to me. I watched him take on the top hustlers on their terms and hand them their ass. He would look them right in the eye too. Harold had no back down in him! He gained the respect of everyone in the pool world in the span of less than ten years, and then he was gone. You couldn't find one person who would say anything bad about him!
He was only getting better at all games before he died, even winning at Johnston City only months before his death. I saw him play in that last event and was surprised how thin he had become. I had no idea he was ill. Harold was not the kind of man to complain publicly about his health. He would never use that as an excuse. He was a man's Man! And we all knew it.
I would go back to 1986 and make sure someone other than Tom Cruise was cast in COM...….
Being in Michigan, I'm going to say -- I'd like to go back and see Harold Worst play. He died so young and I can't help but wonder if this added to his legend. Would love to see him play with my own two eyes.
Harold was something to see. He was rock solid at the table. The only one who I could compare him with is Raymond Ceuelmans, the great Three Cushion player. Harold went about his business quietly and efficiently, making the balls and getting position with no visible stress or strain. He was not demonstrative in any way, his stoic expression not changing while he was at the table. He rarely needed to make any spectacular shots because he stayed in line so well. But if needed he had a very powerful stroke. Like in the other thread about what makes champions better players, he just didn't miss any balls, played pin point position and was consistent from start to finish. Plus he had no quiver in him at any time during a match. He played the same whether ahead or behind (which was rare in itself). He was our "Efren!"
Harold may have been 5'11" or thereabouts, but was thickly built, a solid 200 pounds plus I'm sure. He had big strong hands, that I also remember because he shook my hand once. Our conversation was pretty much hello and that's it. I was too young and timid to approach him to chat. He was an early hero to me. I watched him take on the top hustlers on their terms and hand them their ass. He would look them right in the eye too. Harold had no back down in him! He gained the respect of everyone in the pool world in the span of less than ten years, and then he was gone. You couldn't find one person who would say anything bad about him!
He was only getting better at all games before he died, even winning at Johnston City only months before his death. I saw him play in that last event and was surprised how thin he had become. I had no idea he was ill. Harold was not the kind of man to complain publicly about his health. He would never use that as an excuse. He was a man's Man! And we all knew it.
If you could travel back in time, even just for a day, a week, a month, or a year, to any era in pools history of the game, and to any specific pool room, where would you want to travel to, and why?
For me, I would wish to travel back to the early to mid 80's, and see Keith McCready in his prime.
I do not know where specifically he is from, or if he had a specific pool room that he often frequented, but that is where I would love to travel back to, and to visit the pool room that he frequented most often.
He was such a great character, and a great player.
Would still love to meet him, and maybe even have a chance to shoot with him someday.
I would go back to 1986 and make sure someone other than Tom Cruise was cast in COM...….
I certainly would not go back before the dawn of modern medicine (say circa 1975)