Last I heard, Mars was on a wheelchair after he got sick.
"In a 2007 Hollywood Reporter interview he revealed that he has had serious health problems when doctors found a tumor in his right kidney. He lost his right kidney, his right adrenal gland and has been in and out of a wheelchair for years"
Source, Wikipedia.
Yes he had health problems, but does this mean we should sympathize for someone's dishonesty? And, isn't it worse when a handicap or illness is used to sell sympathy? This sounds like the case being made in this passage from the same 2007 article that you are sourcing from the 'Hollywood Reporter'.
FULL ARTICLE HERE
Excerpt Here:
After enjoying an early look at "Love," I asked Callahan what prompted him to take his big plunge into film distribution. "I found a big tumor in my right kidney about five years ago," he explained. "I lost my right kidney, my right adrenal gland and I've been in a wheelchair for three out of the last five years of my life. I figured, 'You know, it's about time you don't wait around to ask permission for somebody to give you the opportunity to live.' Anyone who's ever dealt with anything like that knows the immediacy of life and death. I figured, let's do things now. Let's do things the way they need to be done -- cleanly and with integrity and honor.
I used to know Mars a long time ago. He had a lot of charisma. I actually liked him and enjoyed our days, hanging out at The Hollywood Athletic Club when Bobby Cotton was the house pro. Contrary to what people may think, he was actually not the greatest pool player, but he was a good hustler. He learned to get the best of most action that he got into (including with me). When Hollywood Athletic Club closed, people parted ways and he and Chris Corzo went on to continue the Poolhall Junkies project. I was really happy for those guys when the film got made. In a sense, it was a inspiration to me that big things can happen in the world if you strive for them.
Maybe Tate is right, though! Maybe the pool hustler and hollywood producer are perfect for each other. Water seeks its own level and misery loves company.
Maybe I'm just angry with the 'Pool Hustler Mentality!'
A mentality which is adopted by dishonest, greedy sociopaths who think that they have to win at all costs, have no respect for the game itself and no regard for anyone else's well being but their own. That mentality of: "How can I get this guys money out of his pocket and into mine?"
Out of survival - there was a time that I looked up to people like this; wanted to be like them... mostly because I always saw them winning. But behind all of that, I also saw a lot of pain, deceit and dishonesty. I guess we all have our demons and I'm not denying my own, but I think today, I do my best in this world when it comes to looking out for others. If I could pay all my debts today, I would, but I make barely enough to register my car on time. Sure, I like to gamble and get into a pool game once in awhile, but it's usually a negligible or friendly amount. Enough to get the adrenaline going... But I always try to play an honest game.
For me, if the allegations are true, I'm sad to see another soul follow their dreams in the pool world and leave it with another blemish because they decided to run with this 'pool hustler mentality'.
