Hal Mix
Laura Friedman
> In article <384f...@news.compuvar.com>, "sam" says...
> >
>
> I find this interesting. I ask a question about HAL MIX to learn more
about the
> man you are mourning (which I fully understand), and the extent of the
feedback
> is Fred's comment (which I appreciate). By reading other posts, I
find that he
> wrote a book, but either no one really knew him very well, or no one
wants to
> share with us who this man was. He had a life. He was obviously
accomplished.
> I admitted that I have never heard of the man, as I AM SURE many of us
newer
> players have not. Care to share, or will his life just be known to
the few of
> you who posted your condolences? Sincerely, Sam
Hal Mix was my friend and coach for many years.
I met him several years ago when I was playing in a tournament somewhere
in the
midwest. It was one of my first tournaments, and I didn't know anyone,
was very
intimidated, and all alone. I was playing a WPBA board member who was
quite
popular. A bunch of the pro women were watching the match and rooting
for my
opponent. I was feeling quite overwhelmed.
Then I noticed this old man sitting up in the bleachers watching the
match
intently. He was wearing a pale pink suit, had gray hair, and looked
quite tall and
distinguished. He saw me looking and gave a little smile and a polite
nod. He
somehow looked encouraging. I did something - made a nice shot or ran
out - and I
snuck another look at the old man. This time he made a fist and pulled
it down as
though to say "nice shot." He became the one person in this crowd of
strangers
rooting for me. He was so encouraging, nodding and smiling like a proud
pop when I
did something right.
After the match I went over and thanked him for his support, and told
him how much
it meant to me. In an old fashioned Western accent he said something
like: "I know
a little bit about this game, and if you don't mind, I can give you some
advice."
Eagerly, I nodded.
"You're about the most pitiful thing I've ever seen in a pro
tournament."
Oh.
My face falls.
He continues: "But you look like you don't just want to win, you want
your opponent
to drop dead of a heart attack so you can dance on her grave."
Hmm. Is this a good thing?
"I coach a few of the players, why don't you go ask Varner about me and
we'll talk
later."
As I walk away, one of the male pros (the men and women played in the
same events in
those days), told me "Hey, that's Hal Mix. Listen to *whatever* he
tells you. That
old man knows a shit load about pool!"
The next day Hal invited me to travel to Kansas to take intensive
private lessons
with him. He warned me that if he were to teach me at some point he
would make me
cry (he never did), and that he had sent more than one player home with
the advice
they get themselves a bowling ball. He said he liked my attitude, and
thought he
could turn me into a champion (he was wrong about that one). There
would be no fee
for his services, but I was to give him 10% of my winnings at the
tournaments he
attended only.
Sounded more than fair.
Of course, being a pool player, I was immediately suspicious. What's
the angle?
But I spoke to Nick Varner and a few other people, and with their
encouragement and
reassurance, I went off to Kansas.
In the frozen town Dighton, population 1000, I spent a week with Hal.
He turned my
game inside out, taught me the fundamentals of stance and stroke, and
also how to
practice with intent and focus. We also met his friend the buffalo
farmer, ate at
the American Legion, and drove an hour to Dodge City so that I could
have a salad
(Hal to buffalo farmer: "Laura here's a vegetarian." Rancher friend:
"Yup, I met
one of them once."). When I admired a neighbor's horses, Hal knocked on
their door
and asked them if I could go riding. They happily agreed. Later I
found out that
Hal didn't even know these people. We went to the local bar, which was
swollen with
pheasant farmers from hundreds of miles. We got on the table playing
doubles eight
ball and played all night without being beaten. Hal almost got into a
bar brawl
with some drunken cowboy who wanted to take me back to "the bunkhouse."
It was one of the best weeks of my life. I always looked forward to
seeing Hal at
tournaments. As I played less, and he got too old to drive around the
country, I
saw him less and less. Last year he called and told me that he didn't
think he had
much time left. He was heading off to Kuwait to teach a long time
student and
didn't know if he'd be coming back. I laughed and told him that he'd
outlive us all
(he was in his early '90s, but still spry). I should have gone to see
him. I feel
horrible.
I'll love Hal Mix forever.
Anyway, that's my experience of Hal Mix. If anyone wants to know
anything specific
I'll do what I can to answer.
Laura
--
To reply, replace "nospam.net" with "worldnet.att.net"
emerci...@my-deja.com
I found your comments about the WPBA tournament and the women pros
rooting visably for the other pro quite interesting. I've heard the
same thing from other women who have played in these tournaments back in
those days. In fact a friend of mine was beating one of the top pros,
and all of a sudden a whole cheering section came out of the woodwork to
cheer on their friend.
While it was from another era entirely, I find these stories very
troubling. It seems to me that this partisan type of behavior had to
contribute in some way to Jean Balukas deciding she had had enough.
IMHO
Ed Mercier
President
http://playpool.com
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Laura Friedman
> Thanks Laura this was a great message. We really miss you around here.
>
Thanks.
>
> I found your comments about the WPBA tournament and the women pros
> rooting visably for the other pro quite interesting. I've heard the
> same thing from other women who have played in these tournaments back in
> those days. In fact a friend of mine was beating one of the top pros,
> and all of a sudden a whole cheering section came out of the woodwork to
> cheer on their friend.
>
> While it was from another era entirely, I find these stories very
> troubling. It seems to me that this partisan type of behavior had to
> contribute in some way to Jean Balukas deciding she had had enough.
Well, the way I feel is that while I'd like to see the players behave in a
more sportsmanlike manner - there isn't a moral obligation on their part to
do so. And if a new player is really tough enough to make it, they'll do so
regardless of any sharking.
The WPBA board, on the other hand, is a different story. They should be
obligated to be neutral and also welcoming & encouraging to new players. Of
course, being human, this isn't always the case. That is one problem with
having your competators make up your board.
Laura