Spherical arts (pool, billiards, snooker etc.)

[Mudcat]

I am a lifelong patron of the spherical arts and have seen them go through many changes. I wasted a huge chunk of my formative years at "Louie's." That would be the 70's and 80's. The ratio of tables was about 12-2 in favor of snooker over pool.

Then there was the big boom of about, I dunno, 8 years ago (??). TV coverage exploded. Pool halls opened. The ratio of tables flip-flopped as everything was about 8-ball and 9-ball.

Somewhere in there I switched from mainly playing snooker to 8-ball.

And now it seems like the boom is over. The big ~50-table pool hall where I had my regular Tuesday night game went out of business recently. I hardly ever see pool on TV any more.

Perhaps this is destined to be the shortest thread in SBR history but I'm just wondering what is going on out there with my fellow players of stick. Are pool halls closing down? Is it still possible to follow the pros? Are the same guys still prominent? (Souquet, Reyes, Bustamente.)

Had any 8-ball runs lately?

[fiveteamer]

I've been meaning to go to a pool hall, I've never been stabbed before so this would be something to look forward to.

[Mudcat]

I can't recall ever witnessing a stabbing.

I remember the time we went to Louie's all wasted, and my brother passed out cold with a pretty loud crash, bringing the place to a standstill.

Come to think of it, I recall a few drug-related temporary bannings.

And there was an incident of a kid breaking the glass on a pinball machine in a fit of rage over the unfairness of it all.

But weaponry? Not so far.

[fiveteamer]

Well in my old hood, there were frequent stabbings, and it was at the time, the only dry area in Toronto.

I used to go as a kid, I liked pool, it was fun.