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Why I play pool............

In a word...................it's INTOXICATING.

It provides a challenge that NEVER ends. To get the balls to dance, the banks, the caroms, the 8' tightrope under the gun. Finding a route from where you are to where you want to be. A chance to solve the puzzle. That ever changing puzzle that gets exponentially more difficult with every increase of your expectations.

At any hour or place, in any weather or season, any age I have been it has given me respite from the world. A place where I could live IN the moment and forget all the worries, my only thoughts transformed onto the field of green.

From the first time I saw someone play 5 rail position on a barbox to a spot the size of a quarter to complete a run, until that day that I first went "unconscious", hit "the zone", found "deadstroke" and my 2 consecutive opponents just got to sit in their chairs, the mental side of the game has never stopped fascinating me. I've said it before when you are in your bubble and you just 'know' without thinking and you see without looking, words fall away and 'try' only becomes 'do' that time of pure thought is the absolute 'zen' of pool. If you've been there you will always want to go back.

The camraderie, the acquaintenances and the friendships that occur from a chance meeting on a pool table will always be the icing on the cake for me. Showing that newbie what pool really is, and how it can be played, nurturing their skills and watching them grow and learn to love the game themselves is now my favorite part of the game. If and when I can give that to my daughter.....then my journey will be complete.

Thanks for listening.

td
 
I could delve into several psychological reasons for why I like to play, or like others I could throw in some sentimental stories about how I got into pool, or I could list off the reasons I prefer to play pool over doing other things, but I won't.... I'll take the "honesty is the best policy" approach -

I play simply for the competition. That's what it all boils down to for me, and it's the reason that I like to do most of the other things I do too.
 
Pool and me.

My bio: I am 22 years old, been playing for 8 years and my best finish to date was 5th place @ the blaze tour www.blazetour.com.

First off - The reason I love the game pool and I consistantly play is because the arena in which you play. Typically as I was first falling in love with the game I was the youngest person in the pool room. It is odd - but I was welcomed like family and soon became one. The pool room that you play in is a family and there is absolutely no discrimination. Growing up with friends who were 25, 35, 55, and some even 75 when I was 15 was somthing extremly unique. Playing 3-cousin, chicago, 8-ball, 1-pocket, 9 and 10-ball it was just extremly fun.

Luckily at a young age I had a father who was willing to travel to pool halls around the area so I got to play in a lot of events and improve fast. Having the friends and support that I got at a young age I was able to start enjoying the next aspect of pool and that is the competition. It was a unique game in the regards that the competition is fierce. One of the only games that you can play some of the best in the world within an hour drive.

I've competed against Corey Duel, Johnny Archer, Jose Parica, Danny Basavich, Joe Frady, Eddie Hodan, Jack Colavita, Allen Hopkins, Chavez (the mexican), and many many more - and these guys are some of the best players around. I get to see world class and/or top caliber players play and I get to experience the fight. I'm a 22 year old nobody - if I was stuck in a lineup 0 out of 100 people could identify me :).

Unlike team sports, this event solely relies on your ability to play. It's a challenging sport with obstacles every time you get up to the table. I think one thing I say very often about the game and why I continue to do it "no 2 shots are the same".

Just like other sports, the conditions change. The weather in the room, the equiptment you play on, the enviornment is always changing so you have to be on your toes.

All in all it's a great game, sport, and hobbie and I'm glad to be apart of it! Thanks for the oppty to explain why I love my game!
 
The Sport Has Been Very Good to Me!

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This is going to be one long story! :)

Four years ago (2004), I was arranging the trophies and
countless medals that my beautiful kids have garnered in school.
Truth be told, I love arranging and cleaning them on my own.
Looking at them is like staring at an aquarium - relaxing and all.

As I was arranging my children's achievements, I got this idea of
inspiring them to also do good in sports.
But how? Honestly, I had no idea, then.

After about a week, I found myself inside the Makati Cinema Square
mall in Makati City. One of the companies that I work for decided
to initiate an annual sports fest, and I found myself competing in billiards!

And I instantly fell in love with the game at first stroke! And I kid you not!
Though I failed to score a respectable finish, I knew I have found
the sport of my life. And it hit me! I can possibly excel in it, too!

I spent my first month playing almost everyday (Mondays to Saturdays).
And there were more losses than wins! I spent hours practicing alone,
and hours playing with friends, but still more losses than wins!

I decided to get pool lessons. However, it didn't turn out too well. The instructor
showed up for my first two lessons - and that was it. He was a no-show after
the first two lessons, particularly after paying in full for the entire module
he supposedly designed for me (about 10 lessons).

I knew I've been had, but I let it go. The so-called instructor
may have had his reasons for cheating me. And that was that for me.

Still, more losses than wins for the next few days. :(

Then one of my billiard buddies introduced me to one of the instructors
of Pool Players Academy (PPA). He saw my Predator P2 - (I was
actually the first one at the club to have one). He asked if he could
play with it - and I readily obliged.

After shooting with my P2, he asked, "That's one hell of a cue! I love it!
And you're new into the game, you said? And yet, you bought
yourself a P2!" I replied, "I just want to have the best equipment and
take out one variable in winning. No excuses on why I missed or
will miss - it will all be about me and my skill, not the equipment."

And the conversation led to my being his student. I didn't haggle with
his fees - i just asked one thing from him - "Make me a better player.
I will try to absorb and comprehend all your teachings - all to the
best of my abilities. I only ask one thing from you, please help me
become the best player I can be."

I took up one lesson once a for week. 10 lessons make up each module,
and there are 3 modules under PPA. I wished I could have taken 2-3
lessons per week but my work sched did not allow me to do such.

On my 5th week under PPA, I found myself playing in the finals of a 9-ball competition
of the Makati Square Billiards Association!

My friends from the two offices that I work at were there - cheering me on.
My new-found billiards pal were also there, encouraging me.
And most importantly, my two beautiful daughters - My Closeness - were there -
inspiring me to be at my best - the best I could be that day!

I won my very first trophy in less than 4 months of playing billiards
(just 4 weeks of being under the PPA)! And I won it playing one class
higher, too! And lest I forget, I won it with My Closeness watching - intently.
My Closeness clapping silently each time I pocket a shot!
And clapping loudly each time I won a rack! And I kid you not!

Indeed, the sport that i have learned to love has loved me back and
more! It has been very good to me and continues to be so in
more ways than one! And my love for the sport has turned into
a passion that I hope, and pray, I may be able to channel and
put into good use. Someday. Somehow.

AnitoKid

P.S.

My beautiful children have added to their achievements sports medals
and trophies. Some notable wins include:

My eldest daughter, Agi, holds the distinction of being her school's
first-ever ping-pong champion, and 1st runner-up in badminton!

My twins, Levin and Kevin, are very good in playing chess - both
have placed 1st in their school's chess competitions!


*Edit for pic info:

Pictured above is the very first sports trophy I have ever won in my life.
With me are My Closeness, Agi & Patis, who received the trophy on my behalf :) ;
Lito de Castro (who has become one of my closest friends in billiards.
He is also my money game, winner-take-all, and tournament sponsor. He is
now the able president of the Makati Pool Players Association). And last
but not the least is Jun Diamante, then president of MSBA.

:)
 
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My dad was a pool player and I loved to go with him. My mother and father divorced when I was about 2 and so that was how I spent most of my time with him...at the pool room. I liked the game and had a knack for pocketing balls. But the drive behind my pool game at such a young age was that people would give me money just to see me stand on a pop crate and shoot.

I would shoot just long enough to get money to play 'Donkey Kong' in the back. THAT was the game that lured me in. I would play that as long as my old man was playing pool. When I ran out of quarters I would hop on that milk crate and play more pool. The older guys really got a big kick out of it. They fed me quarters one right after another. Then I would drag my crate to the machine and play until I was broke again. I guess I would go through $10-15 dollars a night playing 'Donkey Kong'. Those were the days.

Then I got older and the video games were gone. I would bang balls around for a while but didn't actually take the game serious until I was in my early 20's. I used to go to pool tournaments to watch the better players. Like the one that used to be at Steepleton's in Lexington, Ky. That was only an hour drive from the house. That was the first time I saw Corey Deuel. He was young and had eyes like an eagle. He was the talk of the tournament. I was really impressed with what I saw from him and Denver Barger. Denver won that tournament too many times to remember.

I have played seriously ever since I really saw how the game should be played. I am 33 now and still feel like a kid every time I play and am around anyone who loves the game as much as I do. I guess I will forever need my fix on a regular basis. Sometimes when my old man and I run out of things to say I can pick up the phone and talk about pool...and that is what's cool!

Gary
 
i play because i love the game. knowledge, skill, mental challenge and learning something knew every time. i can play hours over hours and forget everything around me, all the problems and issues.

if billiards were easy it would be known as soccer...
and also the physics are very interesting. ball movement, masse and spin astonish me again and again.

and besides that billiards is one of the few things i'm not a lame duck at ;).
 
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Repost from yesteryear:

I think I was 9 or 10. I went with my Dad to pick up my sister at the Masonic Temple. She was waiting at the Temple in a rec. room playing 8-ball on this 9' table. I'd never really played before but was fascinated by the click of the balls. Neither my sister nor her friend had a clue as to what they were doing, but occassionally, one of them would catch a ball just right. The ball would hit the leather pocket with that wonderful *thwap* sound.

My sister let my father and me play a bit before we went home. For a guy who never plays, my dad has some obvious natural talent. My father only knew one game: rotation. So that was the first game that I knew as far as rules go.

In that first magical rack, I couldn't make a straight shot to save my life.
I was able to make all of two balls: a bank on the 5, and a kick on the 13. My father apparently feeling no need to praise his young son on these accomplishments rewarded me with "lucky shot" on each.

And such was the spark that lit my burning desire. I never wanted to hear
him tell me "lucky shot" again. Gee, dad. Thanks.

Fred
 
I play because ...

My grandfather was a real man and a ladies' man. I grew up idolizing him. He could build anything and everything. He was not a large man but when necessary was the strongest, toughest man I have ever seen (even at 70 years old). As a child, my grandparents kept me while my parents worked and we were always very close. My grandfather had a pool table ever since I was little. He always gave me a chance to beat him yet always acted extremely competitive in both pool and cards.

Years later ... while in college a class mate mentioned playing pool. Of course, after years of "playing" pool, I felt certain I must be better. He and I played on campus and he used english and strokes that I had never seen - not saying much considering that I had never even drawn the ball. I began to learn the game from my new friend. I continued to visit my grandfather and we would usually play pool or cards. My pool play was getting much better and by this time I was giving him a chance to beat me while still acting extremely competitive.

Six years ago my grandfather had an onset of severe Alzhiemers. We could no longer play cards as he couldn't remember what had been played or when it was his turn what he was supposed to do. We could however still play pool as I could tell him whether he was solid or stripes each shot and he could function. This was one of the few things he was still physically capable of doing. Through the next two years his disease and health got progressively worse. My grandmother sold the pool table to help pay some of the expenses as well as all his antique cars, metal working equipment, farm machinery, and travel trailers/motorhomes.

My grandfather passed away four years ago and my grandmother has since remarried and left our family area (we all lived on the same road for my entire life). Almost everything of my grandfather's is gone. I purchased my grandfather's old pool sticks and keep them in my game room now. I think of him everytime I am in there. My father is extremely concerned that his health will take the same turn my grandfather's did. Now whenever I am home, my dad and I always play a few games. As much as I enjoy the competition, the sport, the characters, and the gambling; nothing compares to the memories that I have of spending time with my childhood hero.


BTW My pool infatuation has brought about 4 life-long friends, 3 marriages (mine and two friends traveling with me) and 3 children; by all accounts the most fruitful returns of any activity I could imagine. I met my wonderful wife when I went into a bar once to hustle a little pool and the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on was able to make me completely forget where I was. My wife and I now love pool together. We went to Derby City last year and my wife enjoyed it so much she wanted to stay while I went back to work.
 
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This is some really great stuff! Thanks everyone! Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the business of selling pool stuff that I forget how much I really love to play. I am gonna let this contest go for a few more weeks until we have delivered all the initial orders. Then I will award the two free cases. Thank you so much to everyone who is participating. These are really really inspiring, creative, funny and heart-warming.
 
I play pool because I have an innate desire to compete and have found that pool continuously challenges me on every level of my being no matter how well I play or how well my opponent plays.

JoeyA
 
I play pool because the dance of the balls fills my being with peace and takes the rest of the world away.
 
Great offer John,sometimes I dont know why I play pool but it sure is addictive like a bad relationship. :smile:
 
I signed up with AZB in April of this year looking for info about my grandmother, Grace Medina. She started playing when she was 11 yrs old in Santa Barbara, CA around 1926. (her father owned a pool room)
She lived her entire adult life in the LA area, and played the game until she died in 1984. My dad has always told me, "pool is in your genes".
And I think he may be right.Grace was a one of kind lady. She played when women didnt really play. I have always been proud to follow in her footsteps. And I know she would of been very proud to know I picked up the game. I definately think she had something to do with me "getting the passion".
I would give ANYTHING to hit some around with her today.
Even though she is gone, she will always be watching over me.
When I make a great out or win a tough match,
I can feel her presense. She is my angel on my shoulder.:angel2:

Very generous offer John.
Thank you,
Andrea
 
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I started at 5 when my father brought home an 8 footer from Montgomery Wards tent sale; plywood bed, 1/2" think bumpers meant you had to learn to shoot hard to make a ball. And you didn't have to learn a masse; just which way the table curved. I remember beating one of my dad's friends when they were over visiting and seeing them abuse him unmercifully for losing to a little kid. I couldn't wait to do it again.

During the summer of my 10th year, I would ride my bike to a pool room about 2 miles away. The owner, who turned out to be Bill Staton (Weenie Beanie) would let me sweep the floors for table time. I remember watching the elderly black men, dressed to the nines, playing straight pool and one hole, learning from their movements how to control the rock. I learned how to shoot softer from them. To this day, I can close my eyes and remember the sounds of the game and the smells of that room like it was yesterday. I learned only recently what a big "players" room that was and how much money changed hands across the green cloth.

Fast forward to 2 years ago. I finally got to buy a table for my home. I found an old Brunswick Anniversary just like the ones I used to play on in that old room in Arlington so many years ago. I wonder if it spent time in that room. Now, I'm the "elderly" guy playing softly, trying to control the rock. I hope that some younger player will watch what I do and learn from what I do, from the game that I love.

And the circle will be completed and begin again.
 
Okay I have been asked when the contest will end. I will end it on Sunday night and the winners will be picked.

Here is the first case that was made in this new line for a customer:

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So get your entry by simply telling me why you play pool.
 
I play pool because it's the perfect escape from the "real" world. No matter how bad a day I'm having I can always go hit some balls around and forget, at least for a little while, everything that is wrong.

Through pool I have met some of my closest friends. I met a wonderful woman and, in a few short weeks, we will be having our first child together. I know that my daughter is going to grow up around pool and hopefully she'll experience all the wonderful things that I have from the game.

-Patrick
 
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