What Attracted You To The Game?

my bro in law asked me if I wanted to play one night 3 yrs ago. We went up to the pool hall and he beat me out of $50 bucks! I said that shit is not going to happen again. I took 2 weeks off of work and played for 12hrs a day for those 2 weeks. Thats when I became addicted. We played again and I took $200 off him!!! I have played at least 5hrs a day for the last 3yrs. except for last couple months I have only been playing 3 days a week.
 
These are great stories. I could go on and on reading these. These stories have a way of bringing to mind and confirming why we play through the eyes of others. The added plus is this forum is a cross section of talent and different walks of life itself.

I would like to hear from others on this subject. Sort of a way to get a better understanding of the composition of the posters here. So I want to call out the following posters:

Yourself JLW, Christopher, Joe T, Road agent, Vagabond, Williebetmore, Ridewiththewind, CrossSideLarry, Roll off, Nostroke, Barbra, Tom in Cincy, and Snapshot just to name a few. I'm sure the stories will be entertaining and informative.
 
My story ...

My dad brought home a 6' table when I was 12, and set it
up in the basement. I played some, although not with passion.
When I was 14 (and had a restricted license), my favorite
teen spot, a family owned drive in where all the teenagers
gathered for mischief and fun, turned the back part of their
building into a Pool room. I had started going around town
(Dodge City ... yes, I am not kidding) and watching all the
best players play for money. We had a few guys going to
St. Marys of the Plains college from back east that could play
pretty well. They mostly played the best locals. I read 3 different
Pool books when I decided to learn. I picked up 2-3 shots from
each best player that they did real well. Then it happened.
Jimmy Caras came to town, and where at, my favorite spot
to give a demonstration in the new Pool room. There was magic
in the air that day. I was impressed with his ability, and his
demeanor. From that day forward, I was on a mission. I wanted
to learn, and I wanted to be GOOD. Being little growing up, and
having to fight every inch of the way in sports, I had developed
a tenacity about me, and proving to myself and the world was
part of that. I was on the honor roll in Junior High and High School,
and tried to use my noggin the best I could. I was good
mechanically and in math, so Pool held a certain fascination
to me, plus I just can not stand it when I can not figure something
out .... drives me nuts, but also motivates me too. I quickly improved.
I became known as one of the best in town although not really seasoned.
I snuck in bars at 15, all 5'2" of me, and played Pool, taking the dollars
from whoever would play me. I would always talk my folks into letting
me go to the balcony for church, then I would sneak out and go down
to Kline's to play pool until 10 minutes before church let out, and hurry
back so my folks wouldn't know. When I was 16, I went down to Liberal,
and played the 'best in town'. I didn't have much money, asked to play
for $5 a game. He would only play a $1 a game. I hardly thought the time
was worth it, but played him, and beat him 25 games straight before he
quit. I worked road construction when I was 18. I played pool at all the
towns we came across. 3 men in the early 40's took a liking to me, and
would back me and watch my back at the same time. I later went into
the Navy, went to Nam 3 times, and played Pool up and down the west
coast (from Ca. to Wa.), and overseas. I would have starved sometimes
if I had not made money shooting. I won a tournament in San Diego once,
and got to play Mosconi in an exhibition match. What an honor! He is
one of my idols. Went to Houston after the Navy. I went to college, and
worked parttime in a Pool room. Many more adventures down there ..
I love the game, only really been burned out 2 times in 44 years, but came
back to it. Half of the blood that flows through me is Pool blood, it is
ingrained into me, my name, and my personality. I want to give back to
the sport, but seem restricted to do so in small segregated ways. I would
really like to see a good youth program going for my area with good rewards
like scholarships, etc. for upcoming players.
 
Snapshot9 said:
My dad brought home a 6' table when I was 12, and set it
up in the basement. I played some, although not with passion.
When I was 14 (and had a restricted license), my favorite
teen spot, a family owned drive in where all the teenagers
gathered for mischief and fun, turned the back part of their
building into a Pool room. I had started going around town
(Dodge City ... yes, I am not kidding) and watching all the
best players play for money. We had a few guys going to
St. Marys of the Plains college from back east that could play
pretty well. They mostly played the best locals. I read 3 different
Pool books when I decided to learn. I picked up 2-3 shots from
each best player that they did real well. Then it happened.
Jimmy Caras came to town, and where at, my favorite spot
to give a demonstration in the new Pool room. There was magic
in the air that day. I was impressed with his ability, and his
demeanor. From that day forward, I was on a mission. I wanted
to learn, and I wanted to be GOOD. Being little growing up, and
having to fight every inch of the way in sports, I had developed
a tenacity about me, and proving to myself and the world was
part of that. I was on the honor roll in Junior High and High School,
and tried to use my noggin the best I could. I was good
mechanically and in math, so Pool held a certain fascination
to me, plus I just can not stand it when I can not figure something
out .... drives me nuts, but also motivates me too. I quickly improved.
I became known as one of the best in town although not really seasoned.
I snuck in bars at 15, all 5'2" of me, and played Pool, taking the dollars
from whoever would play me. I would always talk my folks into letting
me go to the balcony for church, then I would sneak out and go down
to Kline's to play pool until 10 minutes before church let out, and hurry
back so my folks wouldn't know. When I was 16, I went down to Liberal,
and played the 'best in town'. I didn't have much money, asked to play
for $5 a game. He would only play a $1 a game. I hardly thought the time
was worth it, but played him, and beat him 25 games straight before he
quit. I worked road construction when I was 18. I played pool at all the
towns we came across. 3 men in the early 40's took a liking to me, and
would back me and watch my back at the same time. I later went into
the Navy, went to Nam 3 times, and played Pool up and down the west
coast (from Ca. to Wa.), and overseas. I would have starved sometimes
if I had not made money shooting. I won a tournament in San Diego once,
and got to play Mosconi in an exhibition match. What an honor! He is
one of my idols. Went to Houston after the Navy. I went to college, and
worked parttime in a Pool room. Many more adventures down there ..
I love the game, only really been burned out 2 times in 44 years, but came
back to it. Half of the blood that flows through me is Pool blood, it is
ingrained into me, my name, and my personality. I want to give back to
the sport, but seem restricted to do so in small segregated ways. I would
really like to see a good youth program going for my area with good rewards
like scholarships, etc. for upcoming players.
Click to expand...

Great story!

Just like yourself I enjoy giving back to the sport. Am I a certified instructor? No. But I always begin my sessions by saying to the student, "Listen to the advice. Try it out for yourself and if it works use it. If it doesnt discard it." No advice is etched in stone as there are different stokes for different folks. Find what works for you. I also tell them that no matter how accomplished in the game we are we never know when we'll pick up a nugget of pool knowledge. Either from a pro to a guy who has trouble stringing together a 5 ball run.
 
Golly, my first recollection would have to be when I was like 5 or 6, I think. It was the 60's. My family had to go to Utica, NY to attend my grandfather's funeral. One of my uncles, can't remember which one, owned a bar there. He decided to take us kids over to the bar with him while he readied it for opening for the day. There was a pool table there. I entertained myself for a couple of hours on that table; I loved it.
As a pre-teen, my next door neighbors had a pool table in their den. I used to babysit for them quite a bit, and once the baby was down....I was banging balls around. Hell, I would have babysat for free just to get on that table!
Years later I got a job at a 'juke joint'....beer only. I had the daytime shift, and was told I could play as much free pool as I wanted as long as I could get the beer to the customer before their ass hit the stool...I got pretty good at both. :)
Then I had my own kids, and well, pool was out of my life for about the next 15yrs. However, whenever my husband of the time and I went out, I would pick up a stick and shoot. Used to play for beers alot, paid for very few.
Both my kids are adults now, and poolplayers...I taught them and they do pretty darn good. I met my current husband, who is most definitely a poolplayer...and well, I haven't looked back since! I actually met my husband while out playing pool one night. He tells me that the minute he saw me stretched across that table for the long reach, he knew he was gonna marry me!!
Now I play 3-5 times a week; captaining both a womens' league and 9 ball league team this year. I also hit local money shoots, and play on my table here at home, (yeah, hubby bought me a table :) ), usually on Friday and Saturday nights.
I have always done pretty well shooting, but in the last two years it seems that my game has exploded. Now I am playing some of the best men in the area, and while I may not always win; I make them work for every damn shoot they take! :D
Yeah....I love pool!!!!

Lisa
 
That's funny Lisa, I met my wife at a pool room when Mosconi was doing an exhibition. She lucked out playing 9-ball and won a game, at that moment I said, I'm gonna marry her!:) not to mention the Sergio jeans she was wearing did'nt hurt!;)...........G
 
It was like the balls were planets and I was God, rearranging the universe to my liking.

Bow down, mere earthlings....fear me!

But mostly it was just plain fun.

Jeff Livingston
 
chefjeff said:
It was like the balls were planets and I was God, rearranging the universe to my liking.

Bow down, mere earthlings....fear me!

But mostly it was just plain fun.

Jeff Livingston
Click to expand...

That's the best feeling in the world...eer universe I mean :D
 
Gerry said:
That's funny Lisa, I met my wife at a pool room when Mosconi was doing an exhibition. She lucked out playing 9-ball and won a game, at that moment I said, I'm gonna marry her!:) not to mention the Sergio jeans she was wearing did'nt hurt!;)...........G
Click to expand...

Yeah, according to my husband, it wasn't so much the jeans, but what they were 'framing' that did it for him...what can I say, he's a self-proclaimed 'ass-man'. ;)

Lisa
 
Circa 1989:
It was another Saturday night get-together with a group of friends.
As usual, we had no plans and we "cruised" Hollyweird blvd. Jimmy,
the oldest of the bunch took us to Hollywood billiards. The entrance,
stairway, reeked the smell of a bum. Downstairs was packed full of smoke
and people. We waited an hour to get a table, then we played til
2 am. We went often afterwards. Then i started going by myself.
It was pure love...
 
han said:
The entrance,
stairway, reeked the smell of a bum. Downstairs was packed full of smoke
and people.
Click to expand...

That line paints a picture in our minds that we all have experienced. Some would turn thier nose up of walking into a place with that description. Yet if your in love with the game of pool...it's all part of the decor.
 
renard said:
I would like to hear from others on this subject. Sort of a way to get a better understanding of the composition of the posters here. So I want to call out the following posters:

Yourself JLW, Christopher, Joe T, Road agent, Vagabond, Williebetmore, Ridewiththewind, CrossSideLarry, Roll off, Nostroke, Barbra, Tom in Cincy, and Snapshot just to name a few. I'm sure the stories will be entertaining and informative.
Click to expand...
I grew up with pool in my life. My father was a big fan of the game. And when I was a child, he played pretty much daily (9 ball) at one of the two poolrooms in town. I used to sit and watch him play for hours. And, he was an upholsterer. So in addition to playing, he sometimes recovered tables. Like a lot of the people on here, we had a table at home (when I was about 5). But my clearest pool memories are of playing 14.1 with him on the 9ft Brunswick tables at the bowling alley.

As an added bonus, there was a very fine player named Bobby Legg (now on the Senior Tour) who lived just down the block and played every day at the poolroom. I remember hearing about the Johnston City tournaments and being at his house when he had big money games. I also remember watching him play one handed against some of the better players in town. It was quite a treat to get to watch someone with that kind of ability play every day.

I got out of playing for about 15 years or so. I played a little in college, but I really only got back into it when I moved back home from living in Chicago. I bought a house a few years ago and decided to get a table and be more serious about my game. Since then, my game has really taken off, and I've devoted much more of my time and money to getting pool related tapes and books. I only wish my father was still alive to enjoy the table with me. He died of cancer in 1997. I've still got the Viking cue that he bought from Minnesota Fats. It's about 35 years old and still plays great.
 
ridewiththewind said:
Yeah, according to my husband, it wasn't so much the jeans, but what they were 'framing' that did it for him...what can I say, he's a self-proclaimed 'ass-man'. ;)

Lisa
Click to expand...

People ask me if I'm a leg man or a tit man or what. I say I must be an ass man cuz everbody's always saying, "Hey Jeff...you're an ass, man!" :D

Apologies to the late, great Rodney Dangerfield,

Jeff Livingston
 
When I was 5....

my dad bought a Brunswick snooker table.

Played that more and more as the years past.... didn't even play 8/9 ball once before I went to university.... thought it was stupid/too easy.

Started in 8 ball leagues around 25... co-workers asked me to come out ... first night I Ero'd 4 of 5 games.

34 now and still getting better and trying to get to the next level / learn more.

Later, Chris -> off to league night in a minute.
 
I have many times heard the expression that pool choses you, you dont choose pool. OHB's story reminds me something of my own, where you turn one way, and that changes your life. I used to play jazz trombone back in high school and was playing with my friend that played the baritone sax almost a good mile away from the pool room. The asst. manager who was outside swore he heard his good friend's sax, so he got in his car to where he heard the music coming from. Sure enough, it was Ward, (his friend) so he invited us to come to the place he was working, which was On Cue Billiards. On Cue, or College Billiards, had a lot of serious players back then. I watched them play and decided that I wanted to play as good as them. I never played recreationally, always to get better. I met Louis very early on, and would love to watch what he could do with the cue ball. He would help me with my stroke, having me shoot various difficult position shots.

Today, I am pretty sure I would have been a dentist if I hadnt walked into the pool room that day. I wouldnt have however all the great stories of this hustle, that room, or that player, which all together have made my life great.
 
I used to be a junior bowler, till my bowling ball got stolen. Video games I have always been good at, what else can you do at your usual bowling alley? Shoot pool. The rest is history.
 
I had not played pool for 20 years since the bar room scene, when my husband to be invited me to play on his APA team. When I objected, saying I was not good at it, he told me not to worry, they needed 'crappy women' players. Needless to say, it took awhile to overcome that 'sterling complement' and realize I really did like the game. ;)

Laura
 
JLW said:
With all the recent discussion about how to best market pool, I thought it would be interesting to hear how all of you AZBers got into playing. Was it your parents? The YMCA (or some other youth organization)? The college bar scene? Watching on ESPN? What was it that ignited your interest in playing and following the game? I know for me it was through playing pool with my father and going with him on an almost daily basis to the poolroom.
Click to expand...

I was working for 8 months in Rotterdam, Holland in 1991 and when I got back to Poland I was a rich man for sometime and I didn't know what to do with all that money, so I started to play pool all day untill I got bugged :D
 
The first thing that attracted me was the challenge, since I was completely lacking in eye-hand coordination.

The second thing was the guy who won my fifty cents the first time I played pool. I practiced and practiced until I could beat him...which I did. Unfortunately, while practicing, another guy beat me out of some money. So, I had to practice and practice to beat him, too. You guess it...while I was practicing to beat the second guy, another guy hustled me out of some money. It went on like this for years until I was pretty well able to defend myself. It's funny, because people say, "I wish I had a natural stroke like yours!" If only they knew how totally inept and bumbling I was when I first started.
 
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