Today was a very interesting day for me. I woke up as I normally do next to my girlfriend who woke me up with the alarm to drop her off at her college for the day. I then went to my local cue maker to check the status of an upcoming cue and to drop off some cash. I then went to my local pool hall and this is where the inspiring part comes in. Now before we get into that let me give you some brief background.
As some of you prob know as I have said it a thousand times I am running a small league out of Levittown NY. It is a 14.1 league with about 15 players and we are having a ball. There is one gentleman and I use that term because he is of a certain age and with that age comes certain practices and mannerisms you may not see on a man less chronologically advanced. Well any way this man has played in the league since the beginning and his thirst to learn is like nothing ive ever seen. He plays constantly and soaks up any knowledge or advice like a sponge. I told this man that if he loves pool to go to valley forge as I did last year for the first time and it changed the way I look at pool forever.
While down at Valley Forge this year we met up and let me tell you this was the inspiring part. The awe on his face was picture perfect. Kid in a candy store giddiness swept over him in a matter of moments. From the titans of our sport showing the goods in the arena of which he was there for all of it, to the cues on display, and the seminars and teaching expos going on within the expo area to say he was hooked is an understatement.
Now back to the beginning. It wasn't till today that I realized how profoundly this experience affected him. He came at the game with a vengeance and said to me he cant wait to go again next year. All day I heard him laughing and regaling tales of his adventures at the Expo. From his ten dollar action to his shaft purchases to the professionals he met along the way. He would tell anyone who would listen and sat there gleefully sharing his experience as though around a camp fire and he was the guy with the flash light shining on his face.
This is what pool should be. Inspiring. This is what pool should be. Life Changing. For most of us it is or it has been in one way or another. In this one unwavering truth there is a calm to be had knowing that this game still has wonders in store for us at any age or skill level. Who knows next year he may end up squaring off against one of the titans he has come to admire.
Thank you to whoever reads this and doesnt have me banned for babbling lol
As some of you prob know as I have said it a thousand times I am running a small league out of Levittown NY. It is a 14.1 league with about 15 players and we are having a ball. There is one gentleman and I use that term because he is of a certain age and with that age comes certain practices and mannerisms you may not see on a man less chronologically advanced. Well any way this man has played in the league since the beginning and his thirst to learn is like nothing ive ever seen. He plays constantly and soaks up any knowledge or advice like a sponge. I told this man that if he loves pool to go to valley forge as I did last year for the first time and it changed the way I look at pool forever.
While down at Valley Forge this year we met up and let me tell you this was the inspiring part. The awe on his face was picture perfect. Kid in a candy store giddiness swept over him in a matter of moments. From the titans of our sport showing the goods in the arena of which he was there for all of it, to the cues on display, and the seminars and teaching expos going on within the expo area to say he was hooked is an understatement.
Now back to the beginning. It wasn't till today that I realized how profoundly this experience affected him. He came at the game with a vengeance and said to me he cant wait to go again next year. All day I heard him laughing and regaling tales of his adventures at the Expo. From his ten dollar action to his shaft purchases to the professionals he met along the way. He would tell anyone who would listen and sat there gleefully sharing his experience as though around a camp fire and he was the guy with the flash light shining on his face.
This is what pool should be. Inspiring. This is what pool should be. Life Changing. For most of us it is or it has been in one way or another. In this one unwavering truth there is a calm to be had knowing that this game still has wonders in store for us at any age or skill level. Who knows next year he may end up squaring off against one of the titans he has come to admire.
Thank you to whoever reads this and doesnt have me banned for babbling lol
. All these years later I find myself hitting balls, working on my game, trying to capture some long lost glory. I'm a sick puppy but what else am I going to do. 
