How old were you the first time you saw The Hustler? Had you begun playing yet? Started because you saw it? ( If you HAVEN'T seen it, stop reading this, right now, and go see it. Now. No matter how far you gotta go, even if it's playing at some "art" theater in Shanghai. It's THAT important )
For me, I started playing summer going into first grade, bowling alley. Didn't see the film til probably 13 or so... It was a perfect storm of influence at the time; first began going in the pool room, first gambling, first realizing I had INSATIABLE hunger to learn everything possible abut the game. And the old man who owned the room when I first was in, Tony Proestus, introduced me the the movie. ( "Pay attention." ) It all took off from there...
"I don't rattle, kid. But just for that I'm gonna beat you flat. "
For me, I started playing summer going into first grade, bowling alley. Didn't see the film til probably 13 or so... It was a perfect storm of influence at the time; first began going in the pool room, first gambling, first realizing I had INSATIABLE hunger to learn everything possible abut the game. And the old man who owned the room when I first was in, Tony Proestus, introduced me the the movie. ( "Pay attention." ) It all took off from there...
"I don't rattle, kid. But just for that I'm gonna beat you flat. "