Personal Perspective and Value to Game and Life
As my hair continues to gray, I have been able to experience the joy of remaining “young at heart” in my billiard journey. It is in that context that I want to share my personal perspective of competition and the corresponding “titles”, “trophies”, and “victories” that are commonly illusive, sometimes achieved, and often forgotten.
Over the last couple of years I have noticed a recurring pattern of pool players seemingly not knowing the “greats of our past”. A rather shocking example of this occurred recently when I was playing a top flight player showing all the signs of a future world champion. After our casual match game was over I mentioned the great late Willie Mosconi with his 15 world titles and exhibition high run in straight pool of over 500 balls. A quizzical look from my new found friend caused me to ask him if he knew Willie and his amazing “title” accomplishments and his most remarkable high run shooting achievement. He had never heard of him and / or any such feats of billiard expertise.
In another eye opening moment, I was doing a show at a national junior championship with over 200 young stars of the game playing for “titles”, “trophies, and special “victories” from the special moments attached to them. I was doing a couple of special shots from the movie “The Hustler”, mentioning Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason and their roles as Fast Eddie and Minnesota Fats, respectively. Asking for a show of hands on whether these young minds knew the names just presented, Paul Newman took primary honors, while Jackie Gleason finished a close second.
The character of Fast Eddie was known by almost no one, and an even more remarkable revelation was that only 4 or 5 hands acknowledged hearing of Minnesota Fats. I found it very interesting that individuals as statistically and / or promotionally famous as Minnesota Fats (Rudolph Wanderone) and Willie Mosconi have appeared to lose their connection to a growing sport base of fans and players.
I am sure the power of TV and an expanding internet has much to do with this, since both mediums have provided massive promotional appeal vehicles to increased cue sport activity that is exciting and magnetic to many. “New” faces presenting unique and honed “skills” appeal in “new” ways to young, and not – so – young billiard interests…leaving those of the past on the back burner, so to speak, from any significant fan following.
In light of the recent ESPN Trick Shot Magic event, I want to provide some candid observations of what I feel the “titles”, “trophies”, and “victories” mean to me. May each person striving to achieve similar player goals benefit from their magnetic nature and hidden, yet uplifting values!
Back in December of 1984 I experienced a life transforming and heart felt vision called RACK – Recreational Ambassadors to Christ’s Kingdom. The term “victory” took on a whole new meaning as I realized that “victories” on paper would fade over time, but could be significant vehicles (while living) to garner attention and/or credibility. In this context others might listen to a special witness God allows and wants us to share in the journey of one’s game and life.
Each “title” and “trophy” I have won has provided a momentary joy, but then I realized the true “victory” lies in a further “equipping” of the heart, and how it might be used to pass along tidbits of emotional, psychological, and spiritual value to those pressing forward in their personal quest for a better game and life. Discovering that pool is an artful medium of expression and we are “just watching over it” using appointed “gifts and talents” continues to permeate my senses; therefore, the “titles”, “trophies”, and “victories” associated with the “art” have become tools for which I hope and pray leave a legacy of that special meaning to others. The beauty, promise, and vision of all cue sport activity are available to each of us once a personal heart “victory” is accepted.