st. Louis area pool hall scene

I lived out there a long time ago. Did any of you ever play at Brenden's Billiards in Fairview Heights? We used to live there basically. Loved that place.
 
Alex Kanapilly said:
I lived out there a long time ago. Did any of you ever play at Brenden's Billiards in Fairview Heights? We used to live there basically. Loved that place.
Click to expand...

I went in there regularly for a few months, years ago -- if that's even possible.

When Bob Hempel passed away a couple of years back I mentioned it:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=4324191&postcount=15

I was stationed at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois for 3 years around the turn of the millennia. At that point in my life, I had put down my pool cue. I was newly married and pool could barely even be seen in my rearview mirror. One day I was out and about with my new bride and I happened to be parked right near Brenden's Billiards in Fairview Heights, so I ventured inside to check it out. I just took a quick peak and all I saw were bar tables so I shuffled back out and left pool alone.

A couple of years rolled by and I was nearing the end of my enlistment and I started getting that itch. I decided to check Brenden's out again and low and behold there were a couple of 9 foot Diamond tables in the back. They were there all along! So I started playing pool again. After venturing in there a couple of times Bob saw me practicing some 14.1 break shots and he approached me, asking me if I enjoyed playing straight pool? I don't recall my exact response but I do remember seeing that he was interested in playing the game and so we began playing 14.1 regularly for the last couple of months of my Air Force career.

While we played he was always a gentleman. He was very kind to me and my young wife when she would come in there to get me. My wife even got to the point where she would come in and watch us play. She liked Bob. She hasn't done that with anybody else since.

He was really an interesting guy. We had some really thought provoking conversations about the game and about life. He taught me several things about pool in those couple of months that we played together. He didn't cram his knowledge about the game down my throat, but instead he just sat back and waited until he knew that I was puzzled about something. So at just the right point, he would give me a little tidbit about the game that would put me back on the right track.

At one point, I voiced how frustrated I was with the game and Bob with a slight smile and a calm voice told me something very simple yet profound. To this day, whenever I reach that boiling point where I'm ready to throw my cue against the wall I hear Bob's voice telling me, "Rome wasn't built in a day." I wanted to tell him that I was just trying to build a little village. I suppose he knows that now.

Thanks for the games Mr. Hempel and rest in peace.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for posting that, I went back and read the whole thread. I wasn't checking AZB too often back then.

I remember Bob. He helped coach my wife (girlfriend at the time) for a while when she was working there. Really good guy.
 
Travis Niklich said:
There's a new pool room in Colinsville just South of the ketchup bottle in the strip mall don't think they have a lot going on there. It's called "The Spot" all new diamonds with purple cloth.

Teachers in St. Peters would probably be the best bet for a tournament.
Cue & Cushion is a cool old time pool room.

I would meet up with you but I'm feeling under the weather today.
Click to expand...
I could be here for two months, but starting tomorrow I'm working night shift, I'll be driving your way every day towards lively grove. We will have to arrange a meet at your shop some afternoon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top