Let me start by saying, I was thrilled to run across Alfie on this forum. The internet really does make for a small world. Then, I found that he is living in Tucson and has a small shop maybe 10 miles from where I live.
Anyhoo, about a month ago I drove by with my wife. We visited with Alfie and traded stories of when we played at Click's Billiards back in the 80's. Of course he had waaaay more stories than I did. My wife and I were thrilled just to stand around and listen. Alfie gave my wife a copy of his other book which she promptly read and loved. It's about his travels in Morroco .....I won't give detail because I haven't read it yet.
I did however read his book "The Other Side of the Road". I enjoyed the stories and reading of the players that he ran across or traveled with. Alfie will tell you, first hand, that he was not a great player. He was however a really good player that knew his limits. I think that was his strong suit. Knowing your limits is what helped him match up well and keep his bankroll going.
The book is written pretty much how Alfie speaks. One minute he will be telling you about something that happened in the 60's, the next he is reflecting of a trip in the 80's. His book is just like that, some chapters are about the 80's , then he will jump back to a time in the 60's. Alfie will probably tell you, he is lucky to have survived some tight spots. He does not glamorise hustling pool, just tells it like it was. He traveled with some of the best players. Some days were very good and he was happy, others were not so good.
I think he made a good choice, getting out of the hustling business. He seems to be doing quite well dealing with Morrocan artifacts and such. Alfie is a man who doesn't seem to have any regrets, his book mentions his 1st wife, his son, his 2nd wife and many friends. He can write about all of them and it sums up his life, as it was. Not many people can look back without regrets, I think Alfie is one of the few. He did what was, or what he thought was, the best he could be doing at the time. Now he has written a book for all of us to read. It really is a good story.
One of these days Alfie, we'll have to move those rugs off that table and hit some balls.
Anyhoo, about a month ago I drove by with my wife. We visited with Alfie and traded stories of when we played at Click's Billiards back in the 80's. Of course he had waaaay more stories than I did. My wife and I were thrilled just to stand around and listen. Alfie gave my wife a copy of his other book which she promptly read and loved. It's about his travels in Morroco .....I won't give detail because I haven't read it yet.
I did however read his book "The Other Side of the Road". I enjoyed the stories and reading of the players that he ran across or traveled with. Alfie will tell you, first hand, that he was not a great player. He was however a really good player that knew his limits. I think that was his strong suit. Knowing your limits is what helped him match up well and keep his bankroll going.
The book is written pretty much how Alfie speaks. One minute he will be telling you about something that happened in the 60's, the next he is reflecting of a trip in the 80's. His book is just like that, some chapters are about the 80's , then he will jump back to a time in the 60's. Alfie will probably tell you, he is lucky to have survived some tight spots. He does not glamorise hustling pool, just tells it like it was. He traveled with some of the best players. Some days were very good and he was happy, others were not so good.
I think he made a good choice, getting out of the hustling business. He seems to be doing quite well dealing with Morrocan artifacts and such. Alfie is a man who doesn't seem to have any regrets, his book mentions his 1st wife, his son, his 2nd wife and many friends. He can write about all of them and it sums up his life, as it was. Not many people can look back without regrets, I think Alfie is one of the few. He did what was, or what he thought was, the best he could be doing at the time. Now he has written a book for all of us to read. It really is a good story.
One of these days Alfie, we'll have to move those rugs off that table and hit some balls.
You put out a good book and the amazing thing is, I could read and picture you in all those places. That must have been an awesome time to play pool. Unfortunately, I was born 20 years too late. :frown: