John… it’s truly been too long.
I know the character witnesses have been abundant… but I fall in to a special category… let’s back up a few years… to when I was 23, a little more immature than I am now, knew nothing of pool, the spectrum of skill, nor how to analyze it. Put succinctly, I was green.
My name’s Truman, I play in Southern California, and I’m about as “C” a player gets. It was 1997, and I was staking this guy named Scotti Morgan, a bonefide goofball by any standard, but, quite a capable player at times nonetheless. Anyway, this guy I had never seen before offered Scotti the 7 ball. At the time, I was “well funded” and thought, “gotta see this.” After all, Dave Hemma had just tried to give this game to Scott and lost. Scotti won their first match up. We laughed as we drove home together feeling as though we stole the $200. The player, whom I later learned the name of, didn’t have much money on him, and swapped numbers with us so we could play again. Four days later on table 8 at hard times, I witnessed some of the best f*cking pool I had ever seen. I didn’t have to see much to know that it was THIS guy I wanted my money on. After all, Scotti is a goofball quite prone to finding a way to not take the money off the light.
Before I continue… I should be candid… I’m more than just an unusual guy – I’m a bit self-righteous, arrogant, and intelligent too. Thus, when I want to make my point, even if it’s not valid, it can still be a difficult argument for my opposition. Not that I don’t have good traits to counterbalance those, but those are some that can definitely annoy people.
For the next three years I staked John. In fact, it was with me, and my B.R. that John first went through Alabama. I had been involved in much of the action he took on over those years, and believe it not ladies and gentlemen, he normally invited me in on the SOFT action, and gave me his best and most candid advice when the action was tough, for instance, some of his earlier matches with Moro. In spite his advice, when I had the cash I normally wanted to experience the thrill of being involved.
I have handed John amounts of money I can’t recall, but certainly up to $5,000, he’s stayed at my house for however long he could tolerate me, and has taken down the cash more times when a critical shot was needed than any other player I have watched first hand. In fact, although this is unrelated, I think John is the most “get there guy” I have ever watched, a testament to not only his skill, but his heart and pressure management.
If ever there was a guy worthy of dumping… it’d be ME. And in all that time, winners and losers, it never even crossed my mind.
Although we live quite far apart, John will always be regarded as one of my most cherished friendships. He’s a GOOD GUY. He says what he believes, and his loyalty is almost self sacrificing… (I’m referencing his relationships with women, too).
I know my bias may be in question, but please let me assure you… my bias would become prejudice had I even a single instance to recall where this man’s integrity was questionable.
John, all the best from California…
