Bump...anyone have any pics or stories to share?
Sure. Chris Cass was a great human being. And I'm a better person for knowing him. As an internet poster, he was one of the early "real pool players" that was posting on the web-base forums. He wasn't an armchair player, nor did he talk in theories. As much as I appreciate technical theories, the internet pool forums which were born from techincal participants woudn't be the well-rounded discussion groups that we have today without early participation from Chris Cass and his real-world experiences and humble discussion style.
Chris "Cass" Aiardo was a pool player friend that I met through the internet. He was a great human being and a hell of a player. We (the internet pool playing community) watched agonizingly for a couple of years as he fought pancreatic or stomach cancer. It was amazing that he survived his first bout and was cancer free for a year or two. When it came back, it swiftly took him away. He is one of my heroes:
After his first round of his ultimate battle, he went into closely watched remission for several months. During that time, I gave Heide this:
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To the Warrior
(for Chris Aiardo Jr.)
With graying hair and steely eyes
The warrior rests from fight
His mission to defend himself
With cunning, heart and might
His weapon held in leather case
Of wood, instead of steel
‘tho no true harm befalls the foe
The battles are for real
The latest struggle, worst by far
For the enemy will always hide
The champion strong and shows no fear
His courage will abide
And when the conflict comes to end
Defending the final blows
He will return to his wife and his son
And home, the warrior goes
-Fred Agnir 5/3/03
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That's my story. This his poem. Those were my tears.
Fred
and across from Grady and Randi (who are fighting their own battle now - see 
