Pool Players in Airports?

[Ken_4fun]

I was in the airport again this week on business. I look around waiting at my gate and hope that I might see someone I know, or someone I might recognize, seldom do, and the people watching keeps a simple mind like mine occupied.

As I watch, I thought I would sometime see a professional pool player going somewhere. I have never seen a pro player in an airport. I giggled to myself and thought maybe I would be better at a bus station , but thought that was kinda mean.

Anyone see a pro out somewhere other than a pool function? In the picture above, my wife and I where wondering in Vegas and bumped into Cliff Joyner.

Ken

 

[JAM]

I was in the airport again this week on business. I look around waiting at my gate and hope that I might see someone I know, or someone I might recognize, seldom do, and the people watching keeps a simple mind like mine occupied.

As I watch, I thought I would sometime see a professional pool player going somewhere. I have never seen a pro player in an airport. I giggled to myself and thought maybe I would be better at a bus station, but thought that was kinda mean.

Anyone see a pro out somewhere other than a pool function? In the picture above, my wife and I where wondering in Vegas and bumped into Cliff Joyner.

Ken

Pool is so obscure in the States. It is truly unusual for a player to be recognized anywhere here, unlike Philippines or elsewhere in the world.

Several years ago, we went to a PGA golf tournament in our area. I was not prepared for the amount of walking that's involved. Wow! :embarrassed2:

Like the typical tourist that I am, I was in the gift shop looking to purchase baseball caps and shirts for this event, and I drug my partner with me to shop, which he hates. :grin:

He got recognized twice at this tournament, much to my surprise. One guy even asked him for his autograph.

After a while, I couldn't take all that walking, so we advanced to the 18th hole and found ourselves a nice grassy knoll to sweat the final rounds. Keith went over to the sidelines where the players stop after they turn in their scorecards and then proceed to give autographs to the crowd of fans. Keith was right there in the mix with the rest of the tourists, holding his baseball cap out, hoping to get an autograph. It was a funny sight to see. :grin:

On the road at one of the hotels we stayed at for a pool tournament, I picked up a book about Estoban Toledo, a Mexican golfer who came from poverty and moved to the United States. His life story is said to have been the story in the movie "Tin Cup Dreams." I went over to the sidelines when I saw him giving autographs, and I managed to get his. I stated to him that I read his book, and he stopped what he was doing to chat with me. What a thrill! He told me his mentor has passed away the year before. I told him I adored his book. It was a memory I will never forget, meeting that man. :smile:

In the end, golf pros, pool players, celebrities, they're just like you and me. I'm not sure why it's such a thrill to run into them and share a few words, but it is thrilling. In pool venues, my other half is giving autographs, having his picture taken, speaking to hundreds of pool fans and enthusiasts. Out on the street, he's just a regular Joe, like you and me. It's a rare occasion he gets recognized, but that's because we pool fans are in the minority when it comes to pool as a sport in America.

 

[JB Cases]

I was in the airport again this week on business. I look around waiting at my gate and hope that I might see someone I know, or someone I might recognize, seldom do, and the people watching keeps a simple mind like mine occupied.

As I watch, I thought I would sometime see a professional pool player going somewhere. I have never seen a pro player in an airport. I giggled to myself and thought maybe I would be better at a bus station , but thought that was kinda mean.

Anyone see a pro out somewhere other than a pool function? In the picture above, my wife and I where wondering in Vegas and bumped into Cliff Joyner.

Ken

Did Cliff ask you to let him hold a hundred? I ran into Cliff at one of the casinos at about 5am and he talked me into giving him the last cash in my pocket to go play poker with, about $200. I watch Cliff lose it in a low stakes game in about 30 minutes and wander outside and end up falling asleep on a fountain. I wake up and this dude who looks like a die hard gangbanger is sitting near my feet and crying about a girl. I dig in my pockets and have like .75cts left and hand it to him and say "go call her".

I have seen players in airports a lot but it's mostly because I am in airports going to pool events as they are also.

 

[hotrod]

wimpy lassiter, Norfolk international airport around 63 ,64. Had a chance to strike up a conversation. I was a young teenager at the time and in too much awe to hold a conversation with him. Standing shoulde to shoulder, noticed the cue case, looked up and saw who he was. Very polite and humble speaking man.

 

[Ken_4fun]

Did Cliff ask you to let him hold a hundred? I ran into Cliff at one of the casinos at about 5am and he talked me into giving him the last cash in my pocket to go play poker with, about $200. I watch Cliff lose it in a low stakes game in about 30 minutes and wander outside and end up falling asleep on a fountain. I wake up and this dude who looks like a die hard gangbanger is sitting near my feet and crying about a girl. I dig in my pockets and have like .75cts left and hand it to him and say "go call her".

I have seen players in airports a lot but it's mostly because I am in airports going to pool events as they are also.

LOL, something like that. Cliff told me he was in action with a guy and he couldnt lose, but needed a stakehorse. I knew it was a clumsy attempt for a dump but I was aware of Cliff and rather enjoyed listening to the story and the setup.

No, I didnt stake him against his partner. But he is stilling "holding" a hundred for me.

LOL

Ken

 

[sammylane12]

wimpy lassiter, Norfolk international airport around 63 ,64. Had a chance to strike up a conversation. I was a young teenager at the time and in too much awe to hold a conversation with him. Standing shoulde to shoulder, noticed the cue case, looked up and saw who he was. Very polite and humble speaking man.

What a memory that must be. Almost like meeting God.

 

[spanky79]

What a memory that must be. Almost like meeting God.

No, just another human that does a different job. I have been fortunate enough to be at Efren's birthday party once, it was a blast but he and all the other Pinoy pros are all just big kids like most of us. LIke to drink and sing. You would never know he is like a hero in his country.