This is a landmark week for pool in the US as the Kings of Cuesports embark on their campaign to wrest the Mosconi Cup from the hands of their illustrious European adversaries. The eight man squad will travel to the UK at the beginning of December to complete a task that they have only managed to do once in the last eight years.
But first these cue maestros have a date with a special bunch of men. First encounter will see them link up with the able bodied men who are serving Navy SEALs. A day spent with them will toughen them up and teach them the value of team work.
Then they move on to their less fortunate colleagues, now destined to a life of hospitalization due to injuries suffered while on active service with the SEALs.
This visit was set up by former NS officer Lt Commander Amir Pishdad and as a result the players have adopted the NS Veterans Hospital in San Diego as their designated charity.
Mark Wilson, the US Squad’s visionary Manager/Coach sees this as a Win/Win situation believing that his players can boost morale with the vets, giving them some sporting heroes that they can follow while giving his young team a reminder of how much better life is firing balls into pockets than firing bullets for a living.
But they need to get in some practice and they will be linking up with La Mesa’s superb On Cue Billiards Club to launch Pool Awareness Week. This is a vehicle to get all the factions in pool to make a concerted effort to widen the appeal of this fascinating pastime.
Mark Wilson said: When I took up this job it was not just for the short term value of the Mosconi Cup Captaincy. That in itself is an honor. But I knew that this was an important time where the game could move forward (or backwards). It was a moment in time for the radical concept that is Pool Awareness Week.
An old friend of mine created what I think is a work of pure genius. My only regret it that I did not think of it myself. All the players in the team are supporting it and we plan to get them all underway this PAW this weekend as we set up our first Coaching Clinics at the La Mesa Club.
PAW creator Doug Gordon said: It is a very simple plan where one existing player only has to introduce one new player to the game. The new player replicates this process and the figures start compounding up. Already, pre launch, we have had nearly 500 people who want to get involved. It is not just players who will benefit. The Pool Rooms and billiards related equipment businesses can all expect fresh trade. Likewise, promoters, coaches, the media and plenty of others will feel the buzz. Things start off in San Diego and there will be events springing up all across the USA. Most of these will culminate in the actual Pool Awareness Week which runs from 2nd to 9th November
Team Player Brandon Shuff, fresh from snapping off a major title in New York, said: This could be massive. All the players can see long term benefits of getting behind this.
To round off the week on Saturday 24th May a team of San Diego All stars will take on Team USA in a Mosconi Cup style Challenge Match. This will kick off at 7.30pm and The PAW Clinics will run from 1pm to 4 pm. Both the Paw Clinic and the Challenge are FREE.
But on Sunday May 25th there will be a NSVH charity fundraiser at On Cue Billiards Club from 4 - 8pm.
These events will be the perfect opportunity for fans to come out, meet and play against America’s finest and you will get the opportunity to contribute to a very worthy cause
For more detailed information then contact the club.
On Cue Billiards is located at 8308 Parkway Drive, La Mesa, Ca. Tel: 619-463-8759
