Wow, this brings up a blast from the past. "The Hustler" came out as I was going off to college. Every kid in my neighborhood could recite all the dialog.

I came from a working class neighborhood where we shot a lot of pool in the poolroom connected to the local bowling alley. It was a time of Italian kids in white-on-white shirts and sharkskin pants who drove 57 Chevys with tri-power and played seriously. Always nine-ball or straight pool. Laughed at people who played on tables that took quarters. Pool room was the size of the poker room at the Mirage.

Went to a rich kid college on a scholarship with a lot of preppies who thought they could play because they had tables in their basements and could beat their cousins. I considered their hubris my "scholarship supplement" < g >

By sophomore year had a beautiful 21 oz Balabushka. Nothing I learned in High School did me much good in college - except writing a coherent English sentence, touch typing and making a bank shot when the money was right.

Haven't played in years - but now you're gonna have me digging in the attic for that black leather case ...

>>As far as American billiards -- anytime, anywhere, any game. I always have my cues with me in the car. I'm mostly a nine-ball and straight pool specialist, but will play the occasional eight-ball (usually with a group) or one pocket match, and ALWAYS snooker if given the chance and there's a table handy. I stay away from three-cushion (takes too much time to practice, and these tables are more scarce than snooker tables).<<