To the best of my knowledge, I'm a first generation pool player. I'm also a first generation college graduate. I think all my ancestors were too busy surviving for pool or school.
Does pool run in your family??
- Thread starter Milo
- Start date
As far as I know, no one in my family ever played a very high level of pool. When I was about 5 or 6, I got a little table with the marble sized balls, and when my parents seen I stayed pretty interested, they bought a 4 foot table. When I was about 13, they bought a used 8 foot table with honeycomb top. Of course it was warped, but I still played a lot on it. My Dad played a few games every now and then, but he was just an average shooter and new nothing about English.
My older brothers used to rib me when I was about 19 and beating nearly everyone in the poolroom, about a local bar that had the best players around. Lots of action. They would tell my Mom, he'll see what pool players are when he gets old enough to go in the bars. Before I turned 22, I was hanging in that bar and beating nearly all the locals.
Both my kids can play a little bit. My 11 year old son, can run 3 or 4 balls in a row. I'd rather he take up Golf though. Sorry.. More future in it. LOL
My older brothers used to rib me when I was about 19 and beating nearly everyone in the poolroom, about a local bar that had the best players around. Lots of action. They would tell my Mom, he'll see what pool players are when he gets old enough to go in the bars. Before I turned 22, I was hanging in that bar and beating nearly all the locals.
Both my kids can play a little bit. My 11 year old son, can run 3 or 4 balls in a row. I'd rather he take up Golf though. Sorry.. More future in it. LOL
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My mom told me once her mother sent her to the pool room to tell her dad to get his ass home!
My grandfather used to play in Mexico and stayed on the road for about 5 years from what I was told. This was after he was married and had 2 kids, so I can't even imagine the pressure he was under. By the time I started playing, about 8 years ago, he would play me jacked-up one handed and proceed to run the table effortlessly. Unfortunately, he had a stroke when he was 80 and we had to put him in a nursing home...We were playing a match at the end of the season for 1st place, and my grandfather wanted to go watch us play. So in the middle of one of my matches, I look up and there's my dad and grandfather in a wheelchair, both watching me. That's probably one of the best memories I have of my grandfather. When the match was over, we played a few games but he was very weak and barely able to stand up, due to the stroke. Of course, that didn't stop him from running out on me in the first game. LOL.
My dad played for a long time, but was never serious about pool until a few years ago. Neither my dad, or myself, are close to the caliber of my grandfather but I hope to get there one day.
My dad played for a long time, but was never serious about pool until a few years ago. Neither my dad, or myself, are close to the caliber of my grandfather but I hope to get there one day.
Milo said:
Nope! No one else in the family plays pool, certainly not at the frequency I do.
Some of the family think I;m crazy to spend the amount of time I do but it's what I love doing. In fact, I'm giving up my fishing lodge (because it takes time and money to own, let alone use) so that I can continue to play pool. I figure I can always go back to fishing. My son has such incredible eye-hand coordination, I was actually scared that he might become a pool player and when he was young, I never let him know that I played pool. He didn't go into a pool hall until he was 18 and then it was for a brief visit. He enjoys playing pool a few times a year but has other interests like scuba diving, chasing the ladies and plenty of work. I have thought about sharing my pool knowledge with him but I think I'll save it for my grandchildren.
Some of the people who regularly play pool don't quite get it either. Everyone allocates time for whatever they do. I enjoy learning most anything but I enjoy the Academy of the Magical Spheres more than anything else. It has certainly proved to be a challenge.
JoeyA
Black-Balled said:
That is funny!
One of our pool degenerates was married and had a very young child. He gambled all of the time and would stay in the pool hall for days on end until he managed to blow all of his cash. The young wife with the two year old came into the pool hall with fire in her eyes and carrying the two year old like a sack of potatoes on her hip. The degenerate was playing one pocket for $50 a game, losing as usual and the wife came in as angry as a woman can be and placed the child right on top of the table, scattering balls everywhere. His opponent who was winning at the time was speechless and in a moment of complete clarity of thought, he kept his mouth shut and let the woman have her way. She left the child on the table who was now scrambling around playing with the balls on the table. The degenerate waited until she was gone and kind of looked around sheepishly and then replied to all of the onlookers with a kind of crazy grin and we all laughed. It was a special day.
JoeyA
My dad and his father were players. They got a table when my dad was in his teens and of course my dad played a lot at the local bars as he got older. Dad is still pretty damn good for hardly ever playing anymore - he is a fantastic shot maker. He played around the Louisville area in the 70s and 80s, remembers playing Greg Sullivan a couple of times.
I grew up with a table in the house, and pool was always something we did. One of the only times I can remember my dad getting mad at me was when we were playing 8 ball and I was about 9-10. He had made the 8 and the cue ball was getting close to scratching, but didn't have the speed to really scratch, and I grabbed it and put it in the pocket. He was PO'd!
I grew up with a table in the house, and pool was always something we did. One of the only times I can remember my dad getting mad at me was when we were playing 8 ball and I was about 9-10. He had made the 8 and the cue ball was getting close to scratching, but didn't have the speed to really scratch, and I grabbed it and put it in the pocket. He was PO'd!
I remember going to the poolroom with my mom when I was maybe 3 or 4 to drop something off with my dad (money?) or tell him something while we were going out to do something.
When I was about 10 my dad had become a full-time working stiff for a few years, but would take me to the pool room with him on Friday afternoons after getting off work and picking me up from daycare. This was whenever I didn't have baseball practice or a game or something. Every Friday we would go to the poolroom (I was the only kid - but nobody said anything) and play. Usually he would put me on a 4 x 8 and I would shoot, and he would go off. I NEVER paid attention to what he was doing. I was too interested in hitting balls.
He never gave me instruction....I just watched others and hit balls. For hours. And I really had fun, while dad was off playing others (gambling? he never said). I remember being enthralled with the STOP shot. I thought just rifleing the ball into a pocket and stopping the cue ball on a dime was the coolest thing ever. Ok, it still might be the coolest thing ever.
After we would hit balls he would take me next door to the video store and we would rent some movies, and then to the comic book store. I was TRULY a spoiled kid. This was our routine every Friday. My dad isn't your typical dad full of traditionally fatherly advice. In many ways he let me do my thing without much more than common sense guidance. I've appreciated that, but, sometimes wish he had pushed me harder in other areas of life. My dad's dad died when he was 7, and his step-father beat the hell out of him until he was around 17 and able to kick his step-father's ass....so he never had a great role-model in that area, but he did his very best!
As I grew older (maybe 12) we were going to church a lot as a family. The church was big and had pool tables and they actually had pool tournaments. It was a lot of fun, and my dad won them all. We have stacks of church pool trophies at home. I actually placed 2nd in the only I ever played (I think I was 14), and that was to my dad. At this point, we only went to the pool room on Saturday mornings to play. Every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. when it was DEAD (and surprisingly open) and would play til' about noon, and that was it. Slowly I got better but wasn't really that interested in pool.
Once I turned 16, got a job, and a car I started going to the pool room on my own, during the late hours.....discovering action, etc. I then dedicated myself to becoming a better player. My dad, being supportive in his way bought me a Meucci (still have it), and a Schon cue as a graduation gift.
Anyhow, I would definitely say pool is in my family because that was the way I've always bonded with my father. We never had your "heart to heart" talks really. We did most of our communicating while playing pool together -- and I have a lot of fond memories playing against my dad.
Now he is on up and age. He's blind in one eye, and has been retired since 2000 (guess getting a job paid off). He plays guitar and goes to play pool daily (and can still run a few). He tells me that his hardest choice in a day is which guitar to play or which pool cue to use. I tell him that he has alzheimers and believes he is Elvis Presley.
I'm actually very excited as I'm driving to TN on Saturday to spend a week with my pops, playing pool...and whatever else we might get into.
Yep. Pool definitely runs in my family.
When I was about 10 my dad had become a full-time working stiff for a few years, but would take me to the pool room with him on Friday afternoons after getting off work and picking me up from daycare. This was whenever I didn't have baseball practice or a game or something. Every Friday we would go to the poolroom (I was the only kid - but nobody said anything) and play. Usually he would put me on a 4 x 8 and I would shoot, and he would go off. I NEVER paid attention to what he was doing. I was too interested in hitting balls.
He never gave me instruction....I just watched others and hit balls. For hours. And I really had fun, while dad was off playing others (gambling? he never said). I remember being enthralled with the STOP shot. I thought just rifleing the ball into a pocket and stopping the cue ball on a dime was the coolest thing ever. Ok, it still might be the coolest thing ever.
After we would hit balls he would take me next door to the video store and we would rent some movies, and then to the comic book store. I was TRULY a spoiled kid. This was our routine every Friday. My dad isn't your typical dad full of traditionally fatherly advice. In many ways he let me do my thing without much more than common sense guidance. I've appreciated that, but, sometimes wish he had pushed me harder in other areas of life. My dad's dad died when he was 7, and his step-father beat the hell out of him until he was around 17 and able to kick his step-father's ass....so he never had a great role-model in that area, but he did his very best!
As I grew older (maybe 12) we were going to church a lot as a family. The church was big and had pool tables and they actually had pool tournaments. It was a lot of fun, and my dad won them all. We have stacks of church pool trophies at home. I actually placed 2nd in the only I ever played (I think I was 14), and that was to my dad. At this point, we only went to the pool room on Saturday mornings to play. Every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. when it was DEAD (and surprisingly open) and would play til' about noon, and that was it. Slowly I got better but wasn't really that interested in pool.
Once I turned 16, got a job, and a car I started going to the pool room on my own, during the late hours.....discovering action, etc. I then dedicated myself to becoming a better player. My dad, being supportive in his way bought me a Meucci (still have it), and a Schon cue as a graduation gift.
Anyhow, I would definitely say pool is in my family because that was the way I've always bonded with my father. We never had your "heart to heart" talks really. We did most of our communicating while playing pool together -- and I have a lot of fond memories playing against my dad.
Now he is on up and age. He's blind in one eye, and has been retired since 2000 (guess getting a job paid off). He plays guitar and goes to play pool daily (and can still run a few). He tells me that his hardest choice in a day is which guitar to play or which pool cue to use. I tell him that he has alzheimers and believes he is Elvis Presley.
I'm actually very excited as I'm driving to TN on Saturday to spend a week with my pops, playing pool...and whatever else we might get into.
Yep. Pool definitely runs in my family.
billiardbrain
What the deuce?!?
My grandpa played as long as I can remember. My mom, brother and sister all play with me in league. My aunt and uncle are quite good as well.
My dad played a little and all my uncles played. One of my uncles I never got to see but they tell me he was very good and another uncle who passed away a few years ago was also very good and he used to tell me how he played Joey Speath for 13 hours one time and he watched Gary when he was 11 or 12 years old beating everybody.
My mom taught me first and my dad was my punching bag when I was in high school. My mom actually got a lot better since then and currently plays at the senior center near where she lives 
I'm hoping to continue the tradition. My wife is pregnant with a boy and believe it or not she came to me and asked me if I liked the name "Efren"
So after I stopped laughing I said yes that's perfect... my son will be named Efren Nichols
I'm hoping to continue the tradition. My wife is pregnant with a boy and believe it or not she came to me and asked me if I liked the name "Efren"
So after I stopped laughing I said yes that's perfect... my son will be named Efren Nichols
Nice story
Thats a great name!!!! I like the sound of it.
A
Hierovision said:My mom taught me first and my dad was my punching bag when I was in high school. My mom actually got a lot better since then and currently plays at the senior center near where she lives
I'm hoping to continue the tradition. My wife is pregnant with a boy and believe it or not she came to me and asked me if I liked the name "Efren"
So after I stopped laughing I said yes that's perfect... my son will be named Efren Nichols
Thats a great name!!!! I like the sound of it.
A
JoeyA said:That is funny!
One of our pool degenerates was married and had a very young child. He gambled all of the time and would stay in the pool hall for days on end until he managed to blow all of his cash. The young wife with the two year old came into the pool hall with fire in her eyes and carrying the two year old like a sack of potatoes on her hip. The degenerate was playing one pocket for $50 a game, losing as usual and the wife came in as angry as a woman can be and placed the child right on top of the table, scattering balls everywhere. His opponent who was winning at the time was speechless and in a moment of complete clarity of thought, he kept his mouth shut and let the woman have her way. She left the child on the table who was now scrambling around playing with the balls on the table. The degenerate waited until she was gone and kind of looked around sheepishly and then replied to all of the onlookers with a kind of crazy grin and we all laughed. It was a special day.
JoeyA
Maybe that degenerate was my dad?!??
I have never talked to my dad too much about his pool playing days. He and my mother were divorced when I was only a year old. The biggest reason according to mom was his gambling problems he had. According to the stories I have heard, he was a 2 time Minnesota State Snooker champion, but I have never researched it. He also was huge into the husting side.
My mom told me one of my dad's less than successful nights. They had moved to Portland, and Dad had found a nice bar a couple miles away he liked to play at. He drove down there after work, and was hustling a couple guys. These guys figured out they were being hustled, and were none too happy. He had to run out of the place so fast he left his cue, and ran all the way home, as he did not have time to get into the car and drive away. Then he was pissed because the next day he had to walk back down there to get the car, before he could go to work. She didn't say if he got the cue back or not.
He got his life on track later, and now we play once in a while. My game has improved a lot over the years, but any time I think I am getting good, I just go play Dad, and he puts me back in my place.
soulcatcher said:Maybe that degenerate was my dad?!??
I have never talked to my dad too much about his pool playing days. He and my mother were divorced when I was only a year old. The biggest reason according to mom was his gambling problems he had. According to the stories I have heard, he was a 2 time Minnesota State Snooker champion, but I have never researched it. He also was huge into the husting side.
My mom told me one of my dad's less than successful nights. They had moved to Portland, and Dad had found a nice bar a couple miles away he liked to play at. He drove down there after work, and was hustling a couple guys. These guys figured out they were being hustled, and were none too happy. He had to run out of the place so fast he left his cue, and ran all the way home, as he did not have time to get into the car and drive away. Then he was pissed because the next day he had to walk back down there to get the car, before he could go to work. She didn't say if he got the cue back or not.
He got his life on track later, and now we play once in a while. My game has improved a lot over the years, but any time I think I am getting good, I just go play Dad, and he puts me back in my place.
No, it wasn't your dad but I think the mold is passed from city to city and each city has at least one serious pool degenerate.
JoeyA (passing example of a pool degenerate)
Oh Yeah
My Pops was probably a B- player at best, but one of his brothers had a 5x10 in his garage for years.
Both of my sons were killer players, but chose an education instead, im very proud of them and when they visit me at my pool room, we have family ring 9 ball and have a blast.
I hope to live long enough to teach my grand kids how to play the correct way while they are young.
My x wife was pretty good too !
highrun55
My Pops was probably a B- player at best, but one of his brothers had a 5x10 in his garage for years.
Both of my sons were killer players, but chose an education instead, im very proud of them and when they visit me at my pool room, we have family ring 9 ball and have a blast.
I hope to live long enough to teach my grand kids how to play the correct way while they are young.
My x wife was pretty good too !
highrun55
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My dad is the one that got me started playing pool when I was a little kid. He used to put me up on a chair and let me hit balls around the table. From what I can remember he played pretty good, but I'd have my way with him if he was still around. hehe!! He passed away in '91 at the ripe young age of 49. He was my best friend. I wish he was around today so we could shoot some pool together.
MULLY
MULLY
nineballfanatic
Banned
A Mans game in my family
Is a man thing in my family my dad does my uncles do so I do to:thumbup:
Is a man thing in my family my dad does my uncles do so I do to:thumbup: