BARBADOS BILLIARDS AND THE "FLYING FISH"

The beautiful Caribbean opened its doors to Tom “Dr. Cue”® Rossman and his traveling entertainment/education “crusade” of billiardology shows and clinics recently. In a continuing journey of world tour stops, “Dr. Cue”® visited the pleasant and romantic island of Barbados…located in the southern part of the magnetic Caribbean “resort” chain. After a rather “stormy” and “shaky” series of plane transfers via Chicago and Miami, he arrived safely at Grantley Adams International Airport on July 2, 2002. The immense runway of this island landing strip can accommodate the Concorde, as international travelers frequent the sandy beaches…attached to the clear blue/green water. After a short drive on the “other side of the road”, the western coastline became a residence and base of operation for “Dr. Cue”® at the Barbados Beach Club. This magnificent lodging facility offered bodyboarding, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, jet skiing, swimming, and many other water attractions too numerous to mention. Full amenities within this paradise hotel were evident with each step taken. The evening was spent resting and in preparation for the weeklong agenda of billiard activities.
NOTE: A special thanks to Felix for hosting the stay and being the type of manager and owner everyone would want…for doing everything just right. This special treatment of guests is one of the main reasons tourism has become the #1 income source in Barbados…with sugar cane now #2. Barbados invites and welcomes all!!
The brisk sea air gently caressed each beach club resident at a breakfast venue overlooking the rolling waves. Kathy Allen, the primary contact for “Dr. Cue”® prior to this trip, and pioneer in the promotion of “pool” in Barbados via organized leagues, became a tour guide of sorts for the “doctor” on this second day. A tour of Bridgetown (the largest city), an evening welcoming party, and a press conference at Casablanca…a billiard club right across the street from the Beach Club…filled the gaps in a busy schedule. A short 30 minute show for the press and many interested fans of the game, plus a few select challenge matches helped to “wet the appetite” of each billiard enthusiast and those not knowing what to expect. The unique tabletrotter blend of comedy and skill on the pool table that evening set the stage for things to come.
The next 3 days would be quite a test to “Dr. Cue”® in show endurance, clinic knowledge presentations, and player challenge matches. The bulk of this work would be done in 2 distinct rooms. Paul Newbury, the primary sponsor in getting “Dr. Cue” to Barbados, was the “key” person in offering the finest of billiard venues on the island in these rooms – The Casablanca near the coast and The Pool Hall downtown. These names have a unique way of drawing interest to his businesses, but show no signs of “pool hall” image once inside. Both facilities were perfectly laid out for maximum enjoyment to player comforts, and social interaction. High quality, well maintained equipment was the norm. An openness of billiard pleasure and hospitality made the heart grow very fond of these settings.
Kathy Allen and Leon Truss, another billiard pioneer and league promoter had made arrangements prior to “Dr. Cue’s”® visit for elimination tournaments…to see who would play him for prizes and the glory of victory. On day 3 (July 4), the fireworks became quite evident in these challenge sessions, as “Dr. Cue”® ran rack after rack, jumping balls, doing the “masse” to perfection, and creating run outs reminiscent of years past.
This of course followed the fireworks of the “starburst shot”, “bridge over troubled table”, the “just show‘in off shot” and “wing shots”…in a live “Dr. Cue”® show early that evening.
Challenge results posted a score of 3 – 0 in favor of “Dr. Cue”®.
The 4th day included touring the island, lunch on the beach, and a quick stop at a mini-mall, similar to our smaller strip shopping centers. Prices ranged 3 to 4 times higher in this market, due to high tariff duties, but the products offered made a direct parallel to what we see everyday. A return evening performance to Casablanca found “Dr. Cue”® in dead stroke, winning 3 more matches against some of the islands best players. Score to date: 6 – 0, “Dr. Cue”® in the lead!
Day 5 brought with it some private instruction sessions. One of these was with an individual named Jeremy. His family operates a computer training school on the island, and offers hardware, software, consultant, and networking services. After a brief email check at his business, we headed for the local pizza shop named Melnabios. Little did “Dr. Cue”® know that he was in store for one of the best culinary experiences of his life!! An order was made for a specialty pizza called the “Neptune”. A fish called the “flying fish” and prawn was prepared and served on cheese and a chewy crust. What a culinary delight it was!! Jeremy has assured me that on my next visit I would taste the Barbados mainstay of Pudding and Souse. Doesn’t that sound delicious!! He guaranteed me it is, so I look forward to that treat.
NOTE: The “flying fish” actually is a fish that comes out of the water, flutters through the air for a rather lengthy flight, and takes a nosedive back to wetter pastures. There is rumor that the fish does a 2 and one-half gainer, with a 3 and one-half forward twist, while singing the national anthem of Barbados. I think “Dr. Cue”® started that rumor. No kidding…the fish actually does fly and is known throughout the world for that talent.
The evening show at The Pool Hall was filled to capacity, in anticipation of the challenge matches afterward…to see if “Dr. Cue”® could maintain his undefeated record from the 1st two sessions. By the end of the night, the score stood at 10 – 1, after “Dr. Cue”® lost a game…with a scratch on the 8 – ball.
The 6th day started with more lessons, and an additional session with Jeremy, as he discovered some vital game benefits to the mechanical “tuning” in a player’s form. After the lessons, Paul Newbury took “Dr. Cue”® for a short walk in the downtown area, passing the Jolly Roger ship and other famous Barbados sites. On the ship, a band of over 25 musicians were playing “barrels”…cut to various lengths…with their tops molded into a curved shape to create the unique “calypso” sound of the Caribbean. These “barrels” were remnants of salvage from centuries ago, when vast ships traveled west with oil for their final destination. As this trading decreased and stopped eventually, the “oil barrels” were abandoned for a future of musical presentation and listening pleasure. What a beautiful sound with that unique rhythm and beat!! God surely has a way of making one person’s junk another person’s treasure!!
On to the show and a final night of challenges. The Pool Hall was all a hum and in amazement during this last show, taking special attention to the skill in each shot now. The demonstration of challenge match performances over the last 3 days had drawn attention to the beauty of pocket billiards also, in the entertainment mode of “Dr. Cue”®.
This night would prove more difficult for the “doctor” as 2 of 3 games were lost. The final tour tally was Dr. Cue®: 11 Barbados: 3 A great time was had by all. Arriving back at the beach club at 2:00AM, “Dr. Cue”® prepared for the return flight home, leaving Barbados at 7:05AM, and arriving back in Indianapolis at 8:30PM. “Ms. Cue” was there to welcome him home, and begin the next logistical project for his world tour.

Stay tuned….

Special Note: Billiards in Barbados is growing everyday through the efforts of Kathy, Leon, Paul, and the skilled players within their system. Currently they are orchestrating trips to various Caribbean islands to teach “ball in hand” rules, promote challenge matches, and create a camaraderie among the entire Caribbean contingent of pocket billiard players and nearby continental venues. Keep up the good work, Barbados!!!!