Playing pool  consumed my life. Even when studying or working my mind was on pool. My best friend Paul VanderVennet, who I nicknamed “Al” as in Einstein due to his infinite fountain of knowledge and I.Q. would frequently play with me. Perhaps largely to discover why I was so willing to sequester all of my attention towards playing pool, especially when I was a mediocre player. After “Al” had shared my passion first hand and investigated the pool world. He came to a conclusion...which he gave to me as a friend, and I will never forget what he said.

"Mark, there is nothing at the top". Which is as true today as it was then, if money is your motivation as a career path. While I was already aware of "Al's" conclusion I had long before moved past money as the goal and simply chose playing excellence as my destiny. I loved playing pool and few others understood this. The reputation of the sport was poor and this I could not understand as it was such a great game.  Mothers would give their children a baseball glove or a basketball but never a pool cue, as if it led to the same effects of a syringe and a gun. This left me to conclude that people around the sport had created a negative image that still exists.

With this realization I made a promise to set an example to be an ambassador and role model of the sport and never further give our fine sport another "black eye".

Armed with limited ability, single-minded focus and unlimited optimism I have arrived and survived more than 30 years. My parents taught me work ethic and an appreciation for quality. I have been blessed with help and guidance from them and many others for which I am grateful.