Hey all! I visited my local pool hall yesterday and had a chance to speak with the owner. I asked him if he ever had any "traveling players" come through every now and then. Of course he said yes, but he used the term hustlers/sharks/gamblers to represent these people. Now I, in my own way, was trying to be "politically correct" concerning gentleman who do gamble. He just came straight out with it! LOL!
He explained that he did a lot of traveling himself when he played too. I asked him if he ever played professionally, he said that he didn't need too. Someone was always going to try and play you. He explained the importance of practicing by yourself before actually going out to play. (Note: He said the pros do this all the time...) Said that a game that'd be good to learn is 6-ball. Huh??? He explained that it would help you learn how to run balls. It's the same concept as 9-ball, but less balls...no biggie.
One thing I have learned to do with those who do gamble is respect them for who they are. I mean, I told him where I learned about one-pocket and nine ball in Mobile, AL at a place called the Neon Palace. From what I understand, it's been closed for a while now, but the owner name was Nick "The Greek" (can't remember his last name...), and he passed away a while ago, but I remember him actully taking the time to explain the game to me even when there was a big crowd around his "reserved" table.
He said he heard of Nick and that he remembered him being a good player. Now, in a way, I was suprised that he knew who I was talking about, but at the same time, I really wasn't. There is a well known black pool player in my area by the name of "Jackie Robinson". I don't remember his real name because everyone knows him by this name. From what I understand, he got the name because he favord the great baseball player back in the day. I understand that he's internationally known and has played professionally himself. Awesome 9-ball player and a great one-pocket player too.
Anywho, I guess I'm wondering how good are these guys...I mean really? How many cats out there could actually go pro and cause havoc among those cats who are on the tour. Yeah, I know that a lot of the tour player did and still do some hustling even while they are still on the tour. (Seen Parcia, Sambajon, "Ginky", and New York Frankie with my own eyes playing on the money tables at Valley Forge...) I know that this is nothing new, but I'm wondering, "Damn. How good do you have to be traveling player?"
I'm not asking this to say that I want to actually try it, because I really don't like gambling and if some players would want to play me based on paying for time if I lost, I could do that. Of course, I'm not saying I probably wouldn't try it either, I just remember having bad experiences gambling for $5 let alone wanting to set down $50 or $500!
Now, from what I've heard and seen in some cases, there are some cats out there that gamble like "gentlemen". Not trying to hustle anyone, just want a challenge and to do it, I guess, in the right way. (If I'm wrong for saying it that way, I apologize ahead of time...) Straight up, no tricks or anything like that, if we're on or about the same level of play, we go at it and may the best man win! I mean, I like to be competitive and I'd love to get good enough to compete on a high APA, BCA, and/or TAP level. That way you don't have to worry about whose shooting like a what.
I LOVE the game of pool and I guess I'm more fascinated by the whole nostalgia and mystery if you will of the travelling player. I know it's not a glamorous life and even if I tried it, it'd be a part time gig because I'm going to keep my 9-5...period! I guess I just like people that are real and some of these guys, depending on who you associate with (especially some of the older cats...) are some of the most down to earth people you are ever going to meet. Much respect to any and all pool players who have hustled like a gentleman in this game.
Daris L. Cotton
In rememberance of Chris Cass...
He explained that he did a lot of traveling himself when he played too. I asked him if he ever played professionally, he said that he didn't need too. Someone was always going to try and play you. He explained the importance of practicing by yourself before actually going out to play. (Note: He said the pros do this all the time...) Said that a game that'd be good to learn is 6-ball. Huh??? He explained that it would help you learn how to run balls. It's the same concept as 9-ball, but less balls...no biggie.
One thing I have learned to do with those who do gamble is respect them for who they are. I mean, I told him where I learned about one-pocket and nine ball in Mobile, AL at a place called the Neon Palace. From what I understand, it's been closed for a while now, but the owner name was Nick "The Greek" (can't remember his last name...), and he passed away a while ago, but I remember him actully taking the time to explain the game to me even when there was a big crowd around his "reserved" table.
He said he heard of Nick and that he remembered him being a good player. Now, in a way, I was suprised that he knew who I was talking about, but at the same time, I really wasn't. There is a well known black pool player in my area by the name of "Jackie Robinson". I don't remember his real name because everyone knows him by this name. From what I understand, he got the name because he favord the great baseball player back in the day. I understand that he's internationally known and has played professionally himself. Awesome 9-ball player and a great one-pocket player too.
Anywho, I guess I'm wondering how good are these guys...I mean really? How many cats out there could actually go pro and cause havoc among those cats who are on the tour. Yeah, I know that a lot of the tour player did and still do some hustling even while they are still on the tour. (Seen Parcia, Sambajon, "Ginky", and New York Frankie with my own eyes playing on the money tables at Valley Forge...) I know that this is nothing new, but I'm wondering, "Damn. How good do you have to be traveling player?"
I'm not asking this to say that I want to actually try it, because I really don't like gambling and if some players would want to play me based on paying for time if I lost, I could do that. Of course, I'm not saying I probably wouldn't try it either, I just remember having bad experiences gambling for $5 let alone wanting to set down $50 or $500!
Now, from what I've heard and seen in some cases, there are some cats out there that gamble like "gentlemen". Not trying to hustle anyone, just want a challenge and to do it, I guess, in the right way. (If I'm wrong for saying it that way, I apologize ahead of time...) Straight up, no tricks or anything like that, if we're on or about the same level of play, we go at it and may the best man win! I mean, I like to be competitive and I'd love to get good enough to compete on a high APA, BCA, and/or TAP level. That way you don't have to worry about whose shooting like a what.
I LOVE the game of pool and I guess I'm more fascinated by the whole nostalgia and mystery if you will of the travelling player. I know it's not a glamorous life and even if I tried it, it'd be a part time gig because I'm going to keep my 9-5...period! I guess I just like people that are real and some of these guys, depending on who you associate with (especially some of the older cats...) are some of the most down to earth people you are ever going to meet. Much respect to any and all pool players who have hustled like a gentleman in this game.
Daris L. Cotton
In rememberance of Chris Cass...
