From Library Journal
This work by Shamos (The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards, LJ 11/1/93) and sports photographer Bennett is less a how-to text than a photo album replete with over 100 polished images of pool halls and the people who frequent them. These are not the sort of scenes a reader steeped in stereotypes might expect. In contrast to seedy tavern-type hangouts, we see ornate halls in which stylish proprietors and players ply their trade. These halls are indicative of the growing number of upscale settings nationwide, as the men's and women's tours gain popularity and further exposure. They also are the kinds of places where a patron might expect to find a showcase item like this lying about. Recommended for complete collections.AWilliam H. Hoffman, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., FL
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
From Minnesota Fats to Fast Eddie, pool has always been associated with a fringe scene. Not anymore. More than 30 million Americans--men and women--play pool. EPSN covers the professional men's and women's billiards tour nightly, and the sales of pool tables has skyrocketed in the last five years. Shooting Pool documents this hot sport, from the slick, exclusive, upscale rooms that are popping up all over the country to the magic of the fast-disappearing funky pool halls of yesterday, from the glamorous women's professional tour and its televised matches to the tavern leagues of northern California. Text by pool expert Mike Shamos and evocative black-and-white and color photographs by George Bennett highlight it all, as well as the current crop of top American players, the legendary older hustlers, and the places to play. They explore the life of the professional player and offer lessons on perfecting the game.
From the Inside Flap
Until the 1990s, pool wore its less-than-savory reputation like a badge of honor, a sport for men who were serious about their cigarettes, their liquor, and their betting odds. It was a world populated with characters--many of them colorful, some of them even likable. In today's nicely appointed, family-oriented settings, the game seems more a pastime than a passion. Don't be fooled. Today, the classic smoke-filled halls are vanishing, and fashionable upscale establishments are popping up across the country to accommodate the more than 30 million Americans who are playing the game. The professional circuit, covered nightly by ESPN-TV, is attracting richer purses and bigger crowds than ever. Even pool paraphernalia is hot: Cue sticks have become prized collectibles and pool table sales are soaring. Shooting Pool is an evocative, admiring photographic record of this fascinating game. In atmospheric black-and-white and color photographs, sports photographer George Bennett and pool expert Mike Shamos profile the infamous hustlers at the fringes of the game, the new crop of captivating stars on the men's tour, and the magnetic women players who dominate today's scene. Here are some of the best players in the world, from glamorous Jeanette Lee (aka the "Black Widow") to Earl Strickland and Steve Mizerak, who helped usher in pool's renaissance. Master instructors such as Fran Crimi share their secrets, and the artisans and entrepreneurs who are taking the sport to the next level are captured in sharp detail. It's the story of pool today, and it's brilliantly told in Shooting Pool.
About the Author
George Bennett's photographs have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Esquire, Vanity Fair, Time, and many other publications. His books include Mannequins, Fighters (with text by Pete Hamill), and Inside Track: A Photo Documentary of NASCAR Stock Car Racing (with text by Benny Parsons). He lives in New York City.
Mike Shamos is a computer scientist, attorney, and pool fancier. In 1983 he formed The Billiard Archive, a nonprofit historical foundation organized to preserve the history of pool, billiards, and snooker. A contributing editor of Billiards Digest magazine, he writes a regular column on billiard history and has authored two previous books: Pool and The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards.
Mike Shamos is a computer scientist, attorney, and pool fancier. In 1983 he formed The Billiard Archive, a nonprofit historical foundation organized to preserve the history of pool, billiards, and snooker. A contributing editor of Billiards Digest magazine, he writes a regular column on billiard history and has authored two previous books: Pool and The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards.
