TB:" anecdotal evidence "
tuly, a bizarre trading session today, Berney...
>Looks like the decision to keep the Phleet in port was the right one. I sure anguished over that one.
...indeed.
did I ever tell you this story ?
Many years ago my father and some of his pals became interested in pool/billiards. They got a nice table and some fine 'sticks, practiced together and took up the sport in earnest. After awhile they hired a "real" pool pro, a grizzled old dude who had made his living in the game, been a nationally ranked "name" at one time - to come over once a week, teach these gentlemen the finer points.
They'd shoot pool and drink brandy and bullshit (kinda like what we do here :) The old pro was truly gifted. Watching him move around the table, rhythmically sinking shot after shot, was like listening to music.
One day my old man asked him, "What is it that separates you, the best - from the rest of the pros and players ? "
He thought for a minute and said, "I can't make no hard shot, Doc."
What ?
"I can't make no hard shot," he repeated, taking a seat near the little bar. My father glanced at me, and I poured everybody another round.
"I been shootin' pool with youse guys for several weeks now, and I seen some o' youse guys make some incredible shots; you're good pool players, Doc, even da kid here. But youse guys put $100 on da table and I be takin' it home wid me. Now whadda youse guys see when you see me playin' dis game ?"
well, you've been playin' a long time...
"Naw, Doc! That ain't got nothin' to do wid it. Lemme ask youse guys dis: whatizzit dat youse guys don't see me do? Well now, youse don't see me makin' no hard shots.
"I don' wanna make no bank-shots, no kiss-shots, caroms or combinations, 'cuz I wanna win that dough, Doc. Alls youse guys ever see me do is makin' easy shots. An' alls I'm thinkin' about when I make dat easy shot is, what's da next easy shot after dat; pop pop pop", he said, punctuating his words with his stick.
"I don' gots ta prove ta no body dat I can shoot pool, Doc; there's a lot o' better pool shooters in da league than me. But I got their dough, Doc; I got their dough right here in my back pocket! I got their dough because: I can't make no hard shots ! " he said with a belly-laugh, winking at all of us.
-Steve (^_^) |
