Over the last few years I’ve met some really interesting people in pool halls around the country. For those of you who frequent pool halls, I’m sure you’ve met your fair share of characters in your time. For those of you not familiar with the pool hall subculture in America, suffice it to say that the American pool hall is a melting pot of sorts. It’s a place where you can meet people from all walks of life…and when I say all walks, I truely mean it. Over the last couple years, just in the pool room that I frequent on a regular basis, I’ve met former professional atheletes, movie stars, internationally recognized trick shot artists, professional pool players, road players (gamblers), a bum, an Assistant District Attorney, a nuclear engineer, a microchip designer, several corporate executives, people with multiple college degrees, people who never graduated from high school, and the list goes on. If you’ve ever seen the movie Pool Hall Junkies, you may recall the following quote: “The poolhall’s a great equalizer. In the poolhall, nobody cares how old you are, how young you are, what color your skin is or how much money you’ve got in your pocket… It’s about how you move.”
To pay homage to that glorious institution commonly referred to as the American pool hall, I’ve decided to kick off a new series of articles titled “What’s Your Story?” In each installment, I plan to share with you real stories of some of the very real people I’ve encountered. We humans are story telling animals, and I believe that we grow and learn a little more about ourselves everytime we meet and learn about someone new. Starting next week, I’ll introduce you to some of the people I’ve met over the years. I hope you will come back next week for a visit.
Angle of Reflection 