The first time I had met Keith, he introduced me to Rafael Martinez, the two of them competing at a tourney in a hotel located in Maryland. I had been away from pool for a very long time and was not familiar with the pool players frequenting the tournament trail.
Rafael invited Keith and I to his hotel room and offered us "a drink." Keith was all for it, and off we went, up the elevator. As is customary with struggling pool players traveling the circuit, he was sharing a room with two other pool players in the tournament.
Keith and I planted ourselves on what available space there was for seating, and then Rafael went to his little refrigerator in the room, handing Keith and me a Coca-Cola. Keith looked at the can of Coke with his eyebrows raised up, but thanked him for the soda. Rafael was on the wagon at that time, stating he had given up booze for good.
Then Rafael walks over to a small boom box he had in his room, turns it on, and began to listen Mexican love songs in Spanish. He proudly stated these melodies were very meaningful in his country. What happened next was actually quite beautiful when Rafael broke out in song, singing along with the music in his native language. He knew all the words!
We've run into Rafael many times since my first encounter, and he's always been very reserved, a quiet-type guy, but there is a mystique about him that is intriguing. A very proud man, he seemed to be kind of melancholy at times, but on a mission for true happiness. He did tell me several years ago that he was sick, but did not expound on what it was that was ailing him.
I truly hope this is not true. He's one of the old-school road warriors. Before the Philippino Invasion, the Mexican champions were the tough contenders, and Rafael Martinez is one of those great Mexican players. I'm hoping he'll turn up soon.
Picture of Rafael Martinez, courtesy of Pool Pics by Hoppe
JAM
