Pool trivia

Ok, cool stuff in the world of pool is forthcoming.

Did you know that George Washington (as in, the Father of Our Country) was a billiards gambler? According to Steve Mizerak, Washington kept a diary that documented his affinity for billiards and the amount of money he won while playing. The most he ever lost in one day's play was one pound, ten shillings, and his largest winning was about $1.75.

John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States, was also a pool fanatic. On the taxpayer's dime (remember what I wrote earlier about pool players being hustlers?), Adams slipped a billiard table, cues, and billiard balls into his $14,000 Congressional furnishing appropriation for the White House. His political opponents were enraged, jumping on the new prez for loving things (ie. pool) "which lead to destruction." Ouch.

Comments

Trouble, oh we got trouble,
Right here in River City!
With a capital "T"
That rhymes with "P"
And that stands for Pool,
Nicole Bradshaw said…
Boyd, you are priceless. PRICELESS. I had a good talk with
Denise this week. Must . . . write . . . letter. (Sorry to say that I haven't gotten my butt in gear on it yet.)
Brogan said…
Nicole...google up "Kid Delicious", Don Willis, Titanic Thompson, and Hubert Cokes. You'll learn a little something about the pool world