Johnnyt, you sound like a guy I knew back in NY who was an ex-bookie. I've referred to him in another post as the guy I used to give the 8 ball to and couldn't beat, and didn't play him for several years. Then, one day, I gave him the 8 and beat him and he never asked me to play again.
Anyway, he died of a heart attack, in the pool room, playing 9 ball. In his obituary, his wife stated that playing pool was his favorite thing to do in life.
Well, I'm from NY, my Dad booked out of his room on LI, and I booked and laid-off to Joe Cumming's of Rockville Center. I ran numbers for the boy's for awhile until I got busted a second time. They took my route away and gave me something else to do. But I'm still kicking, so it can't be me. Johnnyt