Dick set the standard for pool in western South Dakota and the whole state.Shane benefited from this high standard and its effects on a core group of people who lived the game for a long time.Shane's constant exposure to the game via his grandfather,grandmother,his mom and her sister and various pool hall rats were his biggest influences.Shane had to fight for position in the pecking order like everyone else except he was always the little kid in the room.
Shane's biggest strength---he is a HUMAN SPOUNGE.He picks things up visually faster than anyone I have ever known.
That is truly a good trait to have in any endeavor. Pool takes a lot of concentration to execute shots proficiently.
Another trait I have noticed that most champions have in common is they're smart. I mean "high IQ" smart, not book smart. They seem to be able to digest things faster.
Jimmy Reid once told me that he had the highest SAT score in the country one year when he was in high school.
Also, some pool players seem to do well in other sports, such as tennis, golf, bowling, and baseball. I guess they pick up the techniques and strategies faster than most.
No matter how smart anyone is, there's one thing for sure, and that's in pool, you must hit balls over and over again. It is like learning how to play a musical instrument, and to play sweet music, one must practice, practice, practice. There are no shortcuts to success.