The years pass and it is becoming more difficult to remember which year certain things happened but the memory of the events themselves remain intact. I played in two or three of the Roanoke One Pocket tournaments during the late 80s and early 90s and Dave was there as well. At least for one of them as I recall. This one episode I recall sitting in the bleachers with Dave as we watched Freddy Boggs and Dave White play a match. Dave was slated to play the winner.
I remember teasing Dave during this match as he was loosing patience with the slow progress. The first game took a lifetime, and the second game took eons. Watching the test screen on the early TVs after broadcast ended was more entertaining. White, in preparing for every shot would start his practice strokes, stop and turn his head to check that his elbow was in proper alignment. Freddy wore glasses, and when he got down on his shots his glasses would fall slightly down the bridge of his nose and with his free hand push the glasses back into position. And so, both he and Dave White had interesting idiosyncrasies which tended to slow things down all the more. I was laughing all the while at this exhibition of drying paint while Our friend D. B. was totally loosing control and wishing he were out playing golf somewhere, anywhere.
Dave wanted to go home and felt the whole thing just wasn't worth all this time and effort. The prize pool wasn't big enough or some such thing. He was complaining under his breath to me about the shot selection of these two players. Safety play being the overriding goal would be a gross understatement. I in turn, using my most upbeat tone of voice, explained to Dave how his living in Chesapeake Va. should allow him enough time to drive the short 150 miles back home, take a shower and a nap, and make it back to the tournament in plenty of time for his match with the winner of this nightmare. He would then be refreshed and eager to play.
He was not amused. God rest his soul.
Tom
Dave Bollman and Buddy Hall.JPG
