For me it would be the double spot shot to win a big game of One Pocket.
A hush comes over the darkened pool room as Tramp Steamer slowly walks to the table.
His opponent, Joe Bill Priff, a well known One Pocket player from Calumet City, Illinois, has scratched on a made shot and must now spot two. The third ball on the table lies near the corner pocket along side the head rail. Steamer needs two to win. His opponent, all three.
The Trampster bends over and checks the spotted balls. He knows that it's important for them to be frozen one against the other in order for the back ball to throw. They look to be properly spotted.
Tramp sets the cue ball on the head string precisely four inches to the side of the table center line. His goal is to strike the nose ball on a line that runs directly through the second ball. The actual target.
He stands there, visualizing the shot as he chalks his cue tip. He's come a long way with his Merry Widow cue stick, custom made by an ingenious, yet extraordinarily eccentric cue maker, but tonight is the night that it will all pay off.
Gazing around the room Tramp sees his fans, as well as his detractors. Over in the corner, Wally Bushman gives him the finger. He beat Wally a couple of weeks ago in a tight race to three. Carolyn Sue Maryweather sits in the front row by the Coke Machine, whose real name is Tom Johnston. Carolyn Sue is Tramp's on again, off again, bookkeeper and traveling companion. Tom is Carolyn Sue's cousin.
He looks at the table one last time, then bends over and sets up for the shot.
Tramp knows that a bit of draw is needed to get whitey out of the way when the first ball is struck. He takes a couple of deliberate practice strokes, looking at the object ball, then back to the cue ball, then to the object ball again, then makes his stroke. Speed of the cue ball is everything. Not too soft. not too hard.
The cue ball strikes the nose ball slightly off center but on line with the target. The second ball goes to the bottom rail and comes off on a straight line racing for the head rail. As it comes off the head rail the nose ball slowly drifts in the direction of Tramps's pocket.
Coming off the head rail the second ball is now making a beeline toward his pocket and looks as though it might collide with the other ball, but it doesn't. At the last moment one ball follows the next into the pocket, and our man Tramp has won the match.
Pandemonium erupts throughout the pool hall. Once again Tramp Steamer has shown the pool world what a fine champion his truly is. And a modest one, at that.
Good night, all. :grin:
