2017 UMB World Cup Cheongju

The Things We Say

A compendium of laments, explanations, excited utterances, alibis and excuses

There are sighs, monosyllabic grunts and groans, breathless mutterings. There are references to God. There are curses, of course, and sometimes long vituperative whisperings, best said in a foreign language, questioning the heritage of the table or the balls, or questioning why fate has turned cruel or why we ever took up this infernal game. The vernacular of the billiard world is rich in the things we say when we miss or when others miss.

“Hole,” “in the hole,” “found the hole” or “around” are expressions that need no explanation to anyone who has played, or watched, the game for five minutes. Of all the expressions, the only one sadder than “in the hole” is “in the hole again.” “I couldn’t do that if I tried” explains a hole where none seems to exist (but does).