Alex Higgins Calls
This story was posted recently (I couldn't find the thread)
A snooker playing Scotsman (Robert) here in the GTA area told the following story about Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins.
Apparently Robert was playing in the Embassy snooker championships at the CNE in Toronto and got to play Higgins. In their conversation after losing quite badly, Robert happened to mention that he was going to visit Niagara Falls the following day with his family. Higgins said he'd never been to Niagara Falls and could he tag along? "Well, OK..." says Robert, a little taken aback.
They picked Higgins up at his hotel the following morning. It's about a two hour drive and they had driven along the QEW past Hamilton and were continuing past Grimsby when Alex said, "I'm thirsty, lets stop for a pint..."
This was at 10:00am in the morning. So they find an exit sign on the highway that indicates a restaurant and get off. The eatery turns out to be a small family type establishment that serves alcohol and diner type food - and by lucky chance they have a couple of 8-foot pool tables in the back. So inevitably after a pint (or three or four in Higgin's case) and some breakfast, they decide to have a few games of 8-ball.
Apparently, Alex doesn't know the rules of 8-ball, so Robert starts explaining in his broad Scottish accent in some detail to the amusement of some of the locals who are standing around. They grab a couple of house cues and start casually knocking balls around so that Alex can get the feel of a pool cue and Robert can illustrate some of the finer points of the rules. This seems to quiet the 'gallery' and one of them comes over and says "Do either of you guys feel like playing a few games? Race to seven... Yes? Oh, and how about a buck a game just to make it a bit more interesting...?"
Alex says, "OK, but make it $10.00 a game... I don't think I can get interested for a buck." The local guy grins and nods. He says, "It's your money. House rules... you only have to call the 8-ball" and they lag for the break.
Alex Higgins wins the lag and breaks. According to Robert, it was a rather feeble break by North America standards but he does manage to scatter the balls widely and a stripe goes in. He says, "8-ball in the top right..." and points to the corner pocket. "Um, no, you don't have to call the 8-ball until you've sunk all of your stripes." says the local. "Nonsense." Says Alex, "you made the rules. 8-ball in the top right...". He bends over the table and moves effortlessly from stripe to stripe and then shoots the 8 ball in the top right.
I don't have to tell you the rest. He calls the 8-ball after every break and makes it in the called pocket. Robert claims he ran 7 tables in a row - even though he had never played 8-ball before. He thanked the local, took the $70 bucks and gave it to the bar-keeper saying, "Drinks are on the house..." And then they made a grand exit with Alex waving to the locals, as Robert said, 'like the bloody queen in a parade...'.
Never heard whether they made it to Niagara Falls or not.
