Years ago, I was a punk ass kid playing at a pool hall off Bears avenue in Tampa. This was before I ever had my own cue and I didn't even know what a safety was much less draw, follow, or any strategy at all. I put my quarters on the table and got in line to play. When it was my turn to play the guy I was to play got paid by the player before me.
I tried to get him to bet me (it was like $5 a game) and he said no. I kept trying to get him to bet (I wanted to see how good I was). he would not engage the bet. The entire game, he toyed with me. he let me make several shots but I found myself hidden time and time again. Somehow it came down to my last ball and the eight ball. He would put the cue ball three to four rails off the eight and right back behind the eight where I couldn't see my ball. This was bar rules so no ball in hand. I realized he was playing with me. The next guy up and him started to bet. So I asked him why he wouldn't take my money? He said I wouldn't understand or something.
A few years later I found him on the message boards for USF (Go Bulls!) as Howie P. On the message board he had told stories of playing big time and having a heart attack during a tourney. I just now realized he might have posted on this board. A quick search and I now realize that Howie P is Howe Pearl. Huh. No wonder he could toy with me.