European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sharp shooters Ilion Cue by David Tarrant stall writer in Perkins could t resist a verbal swipe at his opponent yeah you can stick a Oik in him. He s  poo is played Vilh Slicks and clones and words that can Hurt in you let them. But when Perkins met Tony Sofia in a recent Pool tournament in Heidelberg the two men seemed to enjoy giving with each other As much As they did playing the match. After All the two friends had olten played each other in previous tournaments. Although the atmosphere of this double elimination tournament seemed Laid Back the camber of play was As Sharp As Ever. Some of the Best Pool players from Germany England and Northern Italy came to Heidelberg March j7-19 to participate in a Usa eur wide Pool tournament. But this Lour Namel had one essential difference. Until Thia year the tournament had been sponsored by Usa eur. But cutbacks in recreation funding forced Angelyn Womack director of Heidelberg military Community recreation centers to organize the tournament herself one of my players Here in Heidelberg was hoping one Day to play Well enough to go to Trie Usa eur finals said Womack explaining Why she decided to continue the tournament after in was cancelled last August. When Usa Reuh cancelled in he was 30 disappointed thai he would t have the  she said. And i knew there were probably hundreds of soldiers with the same dream. So i did in for them Womaek j tournament was an abridged version of the one Usa eur sponsored for Many years this year As in the past the game was Points. The first player to sink 75 baits wins the match players who lost two matches were eliminated. Formerly there were regional qualifying tournaments at the unit and corps Levels whore players competed Lor he Chance o participate in the finals in Heidelberg. This year however there were no regional games Twenty men and one woman entered the tournament which was open to All me mews of the military and government civilians. Players paid a �50 entry fee to cover the costs of food. Lodging and trophies. And they also had to pay their own Way to the tournament. Still the Louina enl managed to attract Many Veteran Pool players including Solta. An airman first class in Wiesbaden and Perkins an army staff sergeant in Frankfurt. Ii s he Only time that All the players can get together Sotta said the players corns to Check out each other s game to see who is playing better who in to and to compare noles on everything from equipment to Pool Halls. Style of play and equipment can vary As widely As a fashions in Paris. Spec 4 Charles Gault of Mannheim Lor example listened to tap and disco music on earphones to help him relax while he shot Pool. He also wore a Blue Cotton Glova to absorb the sweat on his let hand this Way you get he same stroke every Ime lie Sard Perkins does t use a Glove. He rubs his Cue Slick with leather to keep Down Iho friction. Some of 1he players use expensive co Slicks thai took expensive. Others prefer the sneaky pole style. Made to look like an Ordinary House Cue thai Way in you walk into a Pool Hall no one can Tell right away thai you May be a Good player said Jack Dixon. A Veteran Pool player from Speyer West Germany who came to Walch he tournament. Dixon White watching Sotta and Perkins is explaining each player s style including strengths and weaknesses in a voice soft enough not to disturb the players. Other players wailing the Starl of to their matches stand nearby to observe. Sofia the sleeves of his while sweater pulled u5l above his wrists is pacing Back and Lorah looking at a clump of balls Between the Whilo Cue Ball and the seven Ball he was tying to hit. Pm going to have to jump Over this mess and got Ine seven Ball in the Side he said letting out a sigh Perkins pretending to have fallen asleep because Sofia is taking too Long to shoot starts to chuckle. You re going to have to jump Over those balls and curve it  Sotta held his Pool Slick vertical to the table As if he were the Oil in his car and smacked the Cue the Ball bounced Oil the Green Felt spun Over the clump of balls and smacked the seven Rue. Bui to Ball Only ricocheted harmlessly Olf the Corner of the pocket and Solta walked away muttering to himself. But Sofia s shot was one of the hardest in Pool Dixon noted. When the Cue Ball leaves the surface of the table it gets a Back spin. It s hard to control and he almost made  in the end Perkins boat Solla. And Ihen went on to win the tournament. But for Womack the Reaf winners were those volunteers who ensured that the tournament continued to be played including Coke Berry director of the Mainz military Community recreation centers they made it possible Lor the participants la meet each Olhorn again share some laughs and play so Equality Pool. Berry and Izreo others from Mainz volunteered to help Womack with everything irom refereeing some of the matches to making lunches. In an Era of cutbacks the Only Way dec real