I'm actually surprised that no one has mentioned......ME!
People say I could have gone pro. I got a full ride to college but blew out my rotator cuff trying a behind the back jump shot with my regular cue. My horse at the time, Big Bucks Bobby Belkworth told me to play safe...don't attempt a behind the back shot like that, especially with a regular cue!!!
Well, you know the story, I was young, dumb and full of piss and vinegar. As soon as I jumped, I felt the cuff tear and it sent pain down to my finger tips. I knew from that moment, my career might be over.
As fate would have it, I did manage to leave it safe. I was playing against a short fellow with curly hair who went by the name of Cool Hand. He spent more time smoking than playing. Well, he tried a 3 rail kick, he missed and I took it down, with much pain. After the match he admitted that he had some work to do on his game and I suggested that he take up chewing gum instead of smoking and he said "sure thing"
After that day I realized that I had to find a real job like the rest of the bums out there. I tried selling cars and vacuum cleaners...not at the same time though. It seemed like everything I did took me back to those smokey rooms where the beer was cool and the ladies smelled like cooked cabbage and stale PBR.
I was in a room one afternoon when when I heard THAT sound. The sound of crashing balls that sent an echo throughout the room that seemed to make everyone stop and stare. I didn't want to turn around because I knew a PLAYER was in the room. I didn't want to be drug back into a game that almost literally took my right arm.
After another crushing break of balls, I couldn't stand it any longer and finally turned around and saw a large fellow with a bit of a beer gut who resembled Grizzly Adams. I can't remember his name now but it was something like Shooter or Shotgun or Rifleman.
He asked me if I wanted a game for which I said "no thanks ol' timer, the game has past me by" I told him that I had not seen him around these parts before and asked what he was doing here. He told me he was looking for action against a one time legend named Bic D. I told him that I had heard of Bic D before but thought he retired from the game years ago as a result of an old billiard injury.
The man looked dejected so I said..."I'll tell ya what ol' timer, I play ya a race to 3 just for funzies, okay" He said, sure thing.
I broke and ran a 3 pack and was walking out the door when the ol' timer said..,."Thanks for the lesson..... Bic D. I said...sure thing.
