By VIC MARTINEZ May 3, 2021 at 2:44 PM The author playing 8-Ball at the Berkeley Heights pool table. The author playing 8-Ball at the Berkeley Heights pool table. Credits: Photo courtesy of the VFW Rec Room staff. Ad May 3, 2021 at 2:44 PM A business associate told me upon learning of our common interest in the game of pocket billiards or pool that having proficiency in the game of pool is a sign of a misspent youth. Playing pool meant time spent inside pool halls or recreation halls trying to master a game of sinking multi-colored balls with a long skinny stick in one of six pockets on rectangular tables covered by usually green cloth instead of doing homework, reading books, or preparing for an exam. I agreed with him and we proceeded to share stories of wins, losses, embarrassments, triumphs, lessons learned and interesting people met along the way while wasting time playing pool.