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06-19-2005, 06:45 PM
http://pittsburghlive.com/photos/2005-06-19/0619pool-b.jpg
Inside the pool hall where he has crafted his sharp-shooter skills for the last 22 years, Don Steele practices his skills on June 14. Steele has been a professional billiards player for the past 25 years.
S.C. Spangler/Tribune-Review
web page (http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/s_345568.html)
Local pool halls are dying breed
By Les Harvath
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Growing up in Greensburg, Don Steele, 69, remembers at least six pool halls in town. Now, there is one and Steele owns it -- the Q-Ball Billiard Parlor on South Main Street.
One of a shrinking number of professional pool players in western Pennsylvania, Steele, in his prime, played in tournaments throughout the U.S. and Canada. He still competes, but not in this area and mainly in Baltimore and Washington D.C.
"I'm past my prime now," Steele said.
Steele, who graduated from Greensburg High School in 1953, has played all his life, especially in Greensburg's pool halls but he didn't take it seriously until 1977. He bought the Q-Ball in 1983.
There used to be several pool halls in Irwin, Jeannette and Manor, but today they are difficult to find.
"There is not as much interest any more," he said. "When I was young, everyone didn't have a car and people weren't able to get around as much. People couldn't get out of town as easily, so more people went to the pool rooms. Plus, pool is a hard game to learn. It seems as though there aren't as many people who want to spend the time to learn how to play, and naturally there is also much more for people to do."
Steele said the number of bar leagues are growing and the size of the tables are shrinking.
In the Q-Ball, Steele has 10 tables that cost about $4,500 and are 4 1/2 feet by 9 feet. Bar-league tables measure 3 1/2 feet by 7 feet.
"Smaller tables leave more room for error," he said. "You have to be more precise with your shots with standard-sized tables. But on the smaller tables, with less distance to cover, a player can be less exact and still be successful. While there are some excellent players in bar leagues, you don't have to be as good compared to players 30-40 years ago."
As in years past, Steele's tables are full Friday and Saturday nights.
"It's guys mostly in their 20s, and some couples who come in," he said. They represent every occupation, white- and blue-collar, not just the T-shirt crowd from the '50s and '60s.
"Pool is definitely on the down-swing and I honestly don't see it picking up, especially in pool halls," Steele said.
Steele's son Jeff, 42, is one of the top players in the area.
"I grew up playing pool with my dad," he said. "We had a table in our basement and played all the time. But in the last several years, pool has gone from the basement and pool hall to the more popular bar leagues. There may be more players because of the bar leagues, where most players play for recreation, but the better players still shoot in pool halls.
He plays at level 7 in American Pool Players Association, the highest level for males.
Delmont's Chuck Zerebnick, who plays at Level 6, learned how to shoot pool in the Q-Ball shortly after Steele assumed ownership.
"Don Steele is one of the best I've ever seen," Zerebnick said. "He showed me more than anyone else how to play the game. A lot of players would like to be able to play as well as he does, regardless of his age."
Inside the pool hall where he has crafted his sharp-shooter skills for the last 22 years, Don Steele practices his skills on June 14. Steele has been a professional billiards player for the past 25 years.
S.C. Spangler/Tribune-Review
web page (http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/s_345568.html)
Local pool halls are dying breed
By Les Harvath
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Growing up in Greensburg, Don Steele, 69, remembers at least six pool halls in town. Now, there is one and Steele owns it -- the Q-Ball Billiard Parlor on South Main Street.
One of a shrinking number of professional pool players in western Pennsylvania, Steele, in his prime, played in tournaments throughout the U.S. and Canada. He still competes, but not in this area and mainly in Baltimore and Washington D.C.
"I'm past my prime now," Steele said.
Steele, who graduated from Greensburg High School in 1953, has played all his life, especially in Greensburg's pool halls but he didn't take it seriously until 1977. He bought the Q-Ball in 1983.
There used to be several pool halls in Irwin, Jeannette and Manor, but today they are difficult to find.
"There is not as much interest any more," he said. "When I was young, everyone didn't have a car and people weren't able to get around as much. People couldn't get out of town as easily, so more people went to the pool rooms. Plus, pool is a hard game to learn. It seems as though there aren't as many people who want to spend the time to learn how to play, and naturally there is also much more for people to do."
Steele said the number of bar leagues are growing and the size of the tables are shrinking.
In the Q-Ball, Steele has 10 tables that cost about $4,500 and are 4 1/2 feet by 9 feet. Bar-league tables measure 3 1/2 feet by 7 feet.
"Smaller tables leave more room for error," he said. "You have to be more precise with your shots with standard-sized tables. But on the smaller tables, with less distance to cover, a player can be less exact and still be successful. While there are some excellent players in bar leagues, you don't have to be as good compared to players 30-40 years ago."
As in years past, Steele's tables are full Friday and Saturday nights.
"It's guys mostly in their 20s, and some couples who come in," he said. They represent every occupation, white- and blue-collar, not just the T-shirt crowd from the '50s and '60s.
"Pool is definitely on the down-swing and I honestly don't see it picking up, especially in pool halls," Steele said.
Steele's son Jeff, 42, is one of the top players in the area.
"I grew up playing pool with my dad," he said. "We had a table in our basement and played all the time. But in the last several years, pool has gone from the basement and pool hall to the more popular bar leagues. There may be more players because of the bar leagues, where most players play for recreation, but the better players still shoot in pool halls.
He plays at level 7 in American Pool Players Association, the highest level for males.
Delmont's Chuck Zerebnick, who plays at Level 6, learned how to shoot pool in the Q-Ball shortly after Steele assumed ownership.
"Don Steele is one of the best I've ever seen," Zerebnick said. "He showed me more than anyone else how to play the game. A lot of players would like to be able to play as well as he does, regardless of his age."