My brother and I shot pool last night in Durham and we had the pool hall all to ourselves. I loved it. We played straight pool, which in my opinion is the best way to play pool. I learned from my grandfather, Ray Cool
Ray Cool grew up in a hotel in Evans Mills, NY that was owned by his dad, Jasper Cool, for part of his childhood. There was a pool table, and family lore has Ray whipping grown men as a 6 year old, barely tall enough to see over the table, holding the butt end of the pool cue above his shoulder and shooting overhand.
Reportedly my great grandfather would bet on him, goading grown men in the bar with “my 6 year old can take you”.
By the time I got to play with my Grandpa Ray he was in his 60s, and complaining about how is eyes didn’t work they way they used to, but still whipping our butts handily.
He taught us all the tricks of the trade: drawing the cue ball, setting up your next shot, playing defensively, combos, bank shots, rail shots, how to call and sink a ball on a break, and more.
In his final years, in his 80s, I’d still play with my Grandpa. My grandma had passed away and he had moved back up North from Florida to be with family. I’d pick him up at his little apartment and we’d go play pool at Cap’s Cue Club in Syracuse. We both had membership cards. Straight pool always. He still complained about his eyesight. He’s push his glasses up his nose and juggle them with his forefinger to try to optimize his view of a shot, and he still kicked my butt.
I miss him, he’s gone now. Been gone for years. But everytime I play pool I remember him fondly. He’s with me. Both of my kids play too, so the family tradition carries on, and Ray Cool is with us whenever we pick up a pool cue.