Hi AZ folks!
My mom moved recently and in the process tossed through a ton of old family photos. Amongst them she found photos of my first game.
The photos were dated April of1982, most likely taken Christmas of 1981 (I was 5 years old.) in my maternal Grandfather's basement, still the coolest place I've ever been.
The first photo is my Dad showing me how to bridge, the second must be my first game. :smile::embarrassed2:
Prior to finding these photos I'd have told you while my granddad always had a table in his basement, my pool career didn't really begin until 1989 or '90 when Joe Albero put a pool room across the street from my bowling alley in Crofton MD.
I was a tournament bowler from 5 years old until I aged out of the youth leagues at 18. I paid for my first year of college out of my scholarship winnings.
I fell in love with pool immediately. It was, and is still, far sexier than bowling. Within a year I was working in the pool room. The houseman offered me the job because I was there every day anyway.
When that room closed tragically in 1995 I went directly to work at Champions in Laurel, MD. My first position there was alongside Jackie Robinson at the Keno counter. USA Billiards became my new home room.
I played my first big tournament a month or so later when Sarah Underwood convinced me I was good enough to compete in the regional ladies events. The first was a McDermott tournament, I believe. It was in Sterling, VA at First Break. There were 20 some odd women and 80+ men playing side by side on 12 tables. I drew Sarah my first round (ironic only if you're a stranger to how random draws always seem to play you against your friends, or who you traveled with, etc.). I did't make 1 ball. Not 1 single ball. Sarah followed the cueball after the 9, just to try and give me some confidence (she was up 6-0 going to 7) and I missed ball in hand, 9 on the spot.
:rotflmao1: Suffice to say I went 2 and out.
I competed regionally for we'll over a decade. I was a regular at the Tuesday night tournament in Laurel, the Thursday night in Rockville, Friday in Alexandria. I played in regional ladies events that started as McDermotts, then became Texas express and then National 9 ball and then ultimately Planet Pool.
They last picture posted is a tournament at Cue and Cushion in Delaware. It was taken in the late 90's -early 2000's. I met Rob Saez for the first time at that tournament. Ginky (rip) was there and Frankie Hernandez, Neslie O'Hare, a whole crew from New York.
I have had my a** handed to me by some of the greatest players in the game. I'd list them but the list gets long really quick. Max Eberle beat me 3 times in 1 game. He made the 9 on the break, spotted it, combo'd the 9, spotted it and ran out. I never got out of my seat. That was at Action Billiards, in Salisbury.
For many, many years I worked anywhere that gave you free table time. After a good long stay in Laurel I went on to work at Fast Eddie's in Alexandria, Champion's in Rockville and eventually Jillian's in Annapolis.
For the record, I was (am) a mediocre player- but a player- metaphorically card carrying and a proud member of the community.
In 2005/6 I constructed Craig's Black Boar website. Undeniably, Craig owns and financed the production of the site. Also undeniably, I researched, wrote and created the content for the site. It is a body of work of which I am very proud.
These days I divide my time between an adult life and small business that will hopefully restore pool to my life. That's a story for another day.
I posted this today because I think it takes pool players to really appreciate how cool it is to find photos of your first game.
I told you my pool story so you'd understand how much they mean to me.
My mom moved recently and in the process tossed through a ton of old family photos. Amongst them she found photos of my first game.
The photos were dated April of1982, most likely taken Christmas of 1981 (I was 5 years old.) in my maternal Grandfather's basement, still the coolest place I've ever been.
The first photo is my Dad showing me how to bridge, the second must be my first game. :smile::embarrassed2:
Prior to finding these photos I'd have told you while my granddad always had a table in his basement, my pool career didn't really begin until 1989 or '90 when Joe Albero put a pool room across the street from my bowling alley in Crofton MD.
I was a tournament bowler from 5 years old until I aged out of the youth leagues at 18. I paid for my first year of college out of my scholarship winnings.
I fell in love with pool immediately. It was, and is still, far sexier than bowling. Within a year I was working in the pool room. The houseman offered me the job because I was there every day anyway.
When that room closed tragically in 1995 I went directly to work at Champions in Laurel, MD. My first position there was alongside Jackie Robinson at the Keno counter. USA Billiards became my new home room.
I played my first big tournament a month or so later when Sarah Underwood convinced me I was good enough to compete in the regional ladies events. The first was a McDermott tournament, I believe. It was in Sterling, VA at First Break. There were 20 some odd women and 80+ men playing side by side on 12 tables. I drew Sarah my first round (ironic only if you're a stranger to how random draws always seem to play you against your friends, or who you traveled with, etc.). I did't make 1 ball. Not 1 single ball. Sarah followed the cueball after the 9, just to try and give me some confidence (she was up 6-0 going to 7) and I missed ball in hand, 9 on the spot.
:rotflmao1: Suffice to say I went 2 and out.I competed regionally for we'll over a decade. I was a regular at the Tuesday night tournament in Laurel, the Thursday night in Rockville, Friday in Alexandria. I played in regional ladies events that started as McDermotts, then became Texas express and then National 9 ball and then ultimately Planet Pool.
They last picture posted is a tournament at Cue and Cushion in Delaware. It was taken in the late 90's -early 2000's. I met Rob Saez for the first time at that tournament. Ginky (rip) was there and Frankie Hernandez, Neslie O'Hare, a whole crew from New York.
I have had my a** handed to me by some of the greatest players in the game. I'd list them but the list gets long really quick. Max Eberle beat me 3 times in 1 game. He made the 9 on the break, spotted it, combo'd the 9, spotted it and ran out. I never got out of my seat. That was at Action Billiards, in Salisbury.
For many, many years I worked anywhere that gave you free table time. After a good long stay in Laurel I went on to work at Fast Eddie's in Alexandria, Champion's in Rockville and eventually Jillian's in Annapolis.
For the record, I was (am) a mediocre player- but a player- metaphorically card carrying and a proud member of the community.
In 2005/6 I constructed Craig's Black Boar website. Undeniably, Craig owns and financed the production of the site. Also undeniably, I researched, wrote and created the content for the site. It is a body of work of which I am very proud.
These days I divide my time between an adult life and small business that will hopefully restore pool to my life. That's a story for another day.
I posted this today because I think it takes pool players to really appreciate how cool it is to find photos of your first game.
I told you my pool story so you'd understand how much they mean to me.Attachments
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:blush: