Sport Today

>It all began on a dark and stormy night...........
>    Actually, it was late in the afternoon last Sunday, and I was shooting
>around
>on the shitty tables that they have in the student recreation center on the
>Texas A&M University campus.  I was nearing the end of my 3rd hour on the
>tables, and just about to bring my practice session to an end, but for some
>reason (ever get this feeling?) I thought it might be to my benefit to shoot
>another game of equal offense.  I don't know what compelled me to stay, but I
>did.  While in the middle of my game, I saw a middle aged gent watching me
>shoot.
>    "You wanna shoot a game?"  he asked.
>    "Why not?" I responded, and then proceeded to rack.
>    I knew from the moment he broke that I was in deep shit.  I could tell
by
>his
>smooth stroke on the break that he was a fairly decent shooter.  He didn't
>make
>any on the break, and I managed to knock a few (2 to be exact) balls in.  I
>figured I'd get another chance to shoot later, so I wasn't too worried.
>After
>all, I am the dude who managed to keep a table for about 10 games the other
>night.  It turns out I was as wrong as that dumbass weatherman who says it
>isn't going to rain the day I plan to ride my motorcycle.  He ran the table,
>lights out, end of story.  Lucky positioning of whitey, I thought.
>    I racked again, he broke again.  I tried to make casual conversation to
>detract from the fact that he was kicking my ass.  I figured he was
>definitely
>a player, probably had a table at home.
>    "How often do you play?"  he asked me.
>    "Every now and again," I responded, hoping that he would figure the
only
>reason I wasn't kicking his ass was lack of practice.  (Yeah, right).      
>    "What do you do for a living?" I asked, figuring him to be a father
visiting
>a
>child going to the school, or a kindly professor looking to kill some time
>before his next class (it was Sunday, I don't know why I thought this).
>    "I run a traveling pool school," was his response.  NOW I felt like an
even
>bigger chump.  It turns out the "professor" who was schooling me was Scott
>Lee,
>who was in town with "road partner" JACK WHITE!  Now let me clarify, the odds
>of a serious pool player, especially one of his caliber, coming in and
>shooting
>where I play are akin to the odds of the Dutchess of York (former Dutchess)
>Sarah Ferguson preforming in a low-class, run down, seedy little strip joint
>just outside the city limits.  The tables are shit, poorly maintained, the
>house cues have been beat to hell and back, and NO ONE (except a pee on like
>me) would ever come in to practice.
>    The next hour turned out to be the most valuable time I have ever spent
on a
>pool table, by far.  His professional eye allowed him to see the fact that I
>suck at pool and need all the help I can get.  He spent his valuable time at
>the table teaching a punk kid like me how to shoot, and for that I will
>always
>be grateful.  
>    Aside from books and the occasional tape, I haven't had any formal
billiard
>instruction (there ISN'T a HOUSE PRO IN THIS WHOLE ENTIRE GODFORSAKEN TOWN!).

>But he was willing to help.  He and Jack would be conducting an exhibition
>the
>next day, he informed me.  I asked what time it would be.  From 11 to 1 was
>his
>response.  Damn it!  I've got school I thought.  
>    I made him aware of the fact that my scholastic endeavors might prevent
me
>from being in attendance, and we joked about the fact that perhaps I should
>skip.  The more time I spent on the table with him, the more reasonable a
>proposition cutting class sounded.  As he was just about finished making me
>his
>billiard ***, I informed him that I would cut class tomorrow to watch the
>exhibition.
>    Let's put it this way, after 2nd period today, I had a Piano Recital to
>attend
>(at least that's what the note I forged says).  It was worth it!  I talked a
>little more with him today, and enjoyed the magnificant display of billiard
>prowess displayed by both he and Jack White.  This dude could easily get away
>with charging 100+ dollars for a private lesson, but he tutored me for free.
>(Jack White charges 100 per 1/2 hr.)  Say what you will about Jeanette Lee or
>The Miz, but it's world class players who are willing to promote billiards at
>a
>"grass roots level", and take time out to help out hackers like me who have
>made this game what it is today.  
>    Scott, you told me you monitor RSB occasionally (which is why I'm
posting on
>both groups BTW), so if you're out there, thanks a lot pal!!

>Eric Sagong

> The Battle of the Asian Erics.  I can see the Pay Per View orders coming
in
> already.  I'd love to make a game with you sometime, but I'm afraid you'd
just
> kick my ass.  Anyhow, whenever you've got some free time, don't hesitate
to
> "Come on down!"

> Eric Sagong