Summer of '68
Found an old room downtown..maybe a half dozen tables with a sit-down
area at the front where they served draft beer.
The walls were old fashioned real plaster painted in that light green that
is found in schools and institutions.
Nothing going on at the time,just a few guys drinking at the front....so I
decided to hit a few before I moved on.
A big man walked in and approached my table..asked if I wanted to play
9-ball for $10 a game.
I was a skinny 6-footer trying to grow my first beard..but it came out a
goatee with zero side-burns.
This man was maybe 6 foot 6 with side-burns to die for...about 270 with
no fat.Worked in the bush,came to town on week ends and nobody messed
with him...kind of guy,if he was breaking the peace,they had to send the
whole force to bring him in.
We put $10 apiece on the light-shade and I got up 7 games on him real
quick.Next game I broke and ran and he picked up the cue-ball and threw
it at the wall...made a nice little indentation with cracks running away
like a spider web.Next game the same thing...the room got real quiet and
nobody would look at the pool area..including the owner.
....so I had to make a decision.If I let this man get even there'd be no
trouble but I would have to stop making games with tough guys....
..so I decided to bust him as quick as possible.
Every game the cue-ball found a fresh spot on the wall.
It was looking like a WW2 battle scene.
Finally he paid with a bunch of ones so I knew it was the case game.
Made the 9 on the break....and he's not picking up the cue-ball.
..crunch time...walked up real close and said "You're the worst #$%@*
9-ball player I've ever seen."
That's when he said "Don't get smart ,kid." And I said "Can't help it.I'm
just smarter'n a tree-full of owls."
And he smiled and let me live.
And the whole room relaxed.
He had about $7 left and insisted on buying the beer...
...I hate beer but I drank that one.....
Found an old room downtown..maybe a half dozen tables with a sit-down
area at the front where they served draft beer.
The walls were old fashioned real plaster painted in that light green that
is found in schools and institutions.
Nothing going on at the time,just a few guys drinking at the front....so I
decided to hit a few before I moved on.
A big man walked in and approached my table..asked if I wanted to play
9-ball for $10 a game.
I was a skinny 6-footer trying to grow my first beard..but it came out a
goatee with zero side-burns.
This man was maybe 6 foot 6 with side-burns to die for...about 270 with
no fat.Worked in the bush,came to town on week ends and nobody messed
with him...kind of guy,if he was breaking the peace,they had to send the
whole force to bring him in.
We put $10 apiece on the light-shade and I got up 7 games on him real
quick.Next game I broke and ran and he picked up the cue-ball and threw
it at the wall...made a nice little indentation with cracks running away
like a spider web.Next game the same thing...the room got real quiet and
nobody would look at the pool area..including the owner.
....so I had to make a decision.If I let this man get even there'd be no
trouble but I would have to stop making games with tough guys....
..so I decided to bust him as quick as possible.
Every game the cue-ball found a fresh spot on the wall.
It was looking like a WW2 battle scene.
Finally he paid with a bunch of ones so I knew it was the case game.
Made the 9 on the break....and he's not picking up the cue-ball.
..crunch time...walked up real close and said "You're the worst #$%@*
9-ball player I've ever seen."
That's when he said "Don't get smart ,kid." And I said "Can't help it.I'm
just smarter'n a tree-full of owls."
And he smiled and let me live.
And the whole room relaxed.
He had about $7 left and insisted on buying the beer...
...I hate beer but I drank that one.....
