SPM Billiards Magazine Issue 34

from SPM Billiards Magazine Issue 34

SPM Billiards Magazine Issue 34

Nathan Wallace Renaissance Road Man

By Kieth Shaner

The image of the “Road Man” in pool is steeped in legend, myth, glamor, and seediness. In his iconic book The Hustler, Walter Tevis gives us the young Fast Eddie Felson, a young talent hustling in California until he is ready for the road, taking on bigger and bigger opponents until he hits Chicago and takes on Minnesota Fats.

Today, while there are remnants of that life here and there, they are few and far between. Those who try to hide in the shadows and move from town to town to pick the pockets of the local champions usually have a short shelf life. The internet and cell phones make it a lot more complicated. Unless you’ve stayed in the sticks, out of major rooms, tournaments, leagues, and money matches, somebody knows you. Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Maybe it’s time to look at the road in a different kind of way. As pool seems to be resurging and having growth, especially among younger players, perhaps the idea of the Road Man has a renaissance as it transitions from the idea old hustler/conman into the modern traveling player.

Let me introduce you to a man who embodies the spirit of that transition, Nathan Wallace. Nathan is a strong regional player, and he has had some terrific finishes in the last few years, including a GSBT Amateur win to a top 20 finish at The Derby City Classic Banks event, third place behind Dennis Orcollo and Sky Woodward Nathan in an Ohio event and a top 20 finish at the 2022 Texas Open. He was kind enough to take the time for an interview this month; here is our conversation:

KS: So, tell me a little bit about your background, where you’re from, and how you got started in pool?

NW: I was born and raised in rural southeastern Ohio. When I was around ten years old, I would go camping on the Ohio River with my grandfather. Up the road from our campsite was a small bar with good food and a couple of pool tables. We went in to eat one day, and a couple of guys were playing

pool and invited me to join. I jumped on the opportunity. Every week that summer, I would save quarters, and we would go camping on the weekends. I’d make sure my grandpa took me to the bar to play. I asked for a pool table that Christmas and my parents bought me a Sportcraft table. My father and I played on it for a few months, but my excitement for the game eventually dwindled. When I turned 15 or so, I went to my friend Kalen Patterson’s house down the road to hang out. He had a pool table, and we played a bit. I had a knack for simply pocketing balls. He told me that our local bar had a Tuesday night tournament and that my dad should take me. I think it was a week or two later that my dad took me to the tournament, and I got second place, making about $25. From that point, I was super intrigued. Around six months later, I went to a few bigger tournaments and was drawn for a break and run. I broke and ran out a 9-ball rack for $3,500; from that moment forward, I was hooked for life!

KS: Who gave you your first bit of instruction in the game, and in what room did you first begin to play seriously?

NW: My first bit of instruction was certainly from my father. Before I was born, he played in the Busch League and was a mid-level player. He quit when I was born and only started to wield a cue again when I found my interest. My father quickly realized that I had some natural ability and started taking me to more small weekly tournaments. From there, I met a couple of local guys named Matt McCormick and Matt Whiteman. They started taking me to bigger tournaments and introduced me to Sportsmen’s Billiard Club in Columbus, Ohio. My father would drive me a couple of times a week—three hours round trip—to the pool room for practice, where Jerry Conkel and some others would help me further my practice. My father has always been older; he retired when I was young. I was very fortunate to have that freedom and extra time with him. I would take advantage of every opportunity that I had to play. My father, McCormick, and Whiteman would take me places to play whenever they could. Eventually, I turned 16 and obtained my driver’s license. Even after that, though, we found ourselves going together from place to place.

KS: Who are some of the players whom you admired and followed when you first took an interest and did any of them have an early influence on your approach to the game?

NW: One local player I certainly admired was Dee Adkins. I knew Dee was a professional player; whenever I saw him, I would observe him from a distance. I was a shy kid and didn’t say much, but I was a great visual learner. I didn’t ask “why” often. I just knew that it had to be the right way if professionals were doing things a certain way. My biggest influence was definitely Allison Fisher, who is now a friend of mine. She dominated the women’s tour, and I recorded every match of hers on ESPN that I could. I would watch and rewatch those matches many times, learning her stance, stroke, approach, and anything else that I could soak up and use in my own pool game. Of course, the “Matts” also played a role in influencing me because I was around them so much, and they took me to and from so many different places.

KS: What is your favorite game to play, and has that changed over the years?

NW: My favorite game to play is short rack banks. I’m not saying it’s my best game, but it is my favorite! While growing up, I often could not afford to play 9 ball and pay for quarters all day and night. So, the buddies I’ve mentioned, another best friend of mine, Jayson Canter, and I would play bank pool to make our money last longer. Even to this day, that’s the game we find ourselves playing the most. For being guys who do not play much pool anymore, they still play banks pretty well, and when we all hang out, that’s what we gravitate toward.

**Nathan Wallace Racking Balls for 9 Ball**
Photo by Kieth Shaner

KS: Do you prefer a big table or bar box, and do you have a preference for tournaments or head-to-head challenges?

NW: When I turned 16, my parents helped me get a 9-foot Olhausen. For years, I preferred a big table over a small table. Nowadays, unfortunately, most of my events are on bar tables. I certainly think I play bar table better, but my heart is definitely with the big table. There’s nothing like letting your stroke out and sending the balls in with authority on the big table. I’m a firm believer that the only game that is really meant for the small table is 8 ball. As a player, though, we just have to adapt.

KS: When did you enter your first tournament, and how was that experience?

NW: I was 15 when I entered my first tournament. It was at Club Vinton in Allensville, Ohio. That place is still open and as friendly as ever. When I set foot in the place, someone almost always greets me with a warm welcome. I appreciate those folks to the fullest! My first tournament there was, like most, as fun as could be, and I couldn’t wait until next Tuesday for the next one! My father paid for my entry to those events for a few weeks. Shortly after, I started placing or winning and paying my own way. The three top guys around were Kess Nixon, Shorty Walls, and Wayne Baker. Those guys gave me some trouble on the table for a bit but also introduced me to ring games, where I learned quickly that I could double or triple my profits even faster than in tournaments.

KS: What was the first “big” event that you entered, and what was it like compared to how you felt in that first time in any event?

NW: My first big event was in Sandusky, Ohio. It was a Fury Tour Stop. My parents took me four hours up north to play. I went two and out. I remember Art Rivera was my firstround draw, and he sent me to the one-loss side very quickly. It was the longest four-hour drive home. I was absolutely crushed and embarrassed. I knew then that I needed to keep improving and working on my game.

KS: What are some of the events you have played in over the last few years, and which have been your favorites? Also, what rooms come to mind as personal favorites?

NW: For time’s sake, I’ll just list my top three: Derby City Classic Bank, US Open, and the Texas Open. No, I never won these events. These are major events and players from all over the world attend. Nevertheless, in these events, I performed pretty well and was able to sneak by or play well against a few of the champions from other countries. I was also narrowly defeated by some, and that left me humbly proud. We learn more from the losses than we do the wins. Maybe that’s why they come to mind first.

My favorite pool rooms are certainly The League Room from Parkersburg, WV which sponsors me, The Poolhall in West Virginia,

Q-Masters Billiards in Virginia Beach, Michael’s Billiards in Cincinnati, and Mad Apple Billiards in Appleton, Wisconsin.

KS: You have had some great finishes in recent times with some very big names in the mix. What has that been like, competing with some of the best in the world and being competitive with highlevel players?

NW: I’m an oddball pool player. I like to win the money, but even after playing in a couple of big-money matches, my favorite wins and losses come in tournaments against true, proven champions. For instance, the last winner of The Texas Open was Vitaliy Patsura from Ukraine. He beat me in that event 9-7 and went on to win the tournament. That 9-7 loss means more to me than going undefeated in a regional event. I’ll never forget that match. It definitely stung, but I know I played some of my best pool ever. One mistake in a key rack kept me from prevailing. Vitaliy was a true gentleman in that match,

and I’ll always enjoy that memory overall. I’ve played Johnny Archer in an event and won, and somehow beat legendary Mark Jarvis in derby bank a few years back, but still, some of my losses are my favorite matches. I lost 9-8 to Roberto Gomez a couple of years back and learned more from that than from my wins as well. A great guy, Roberto! I must admit, I did defeat him in a bank tournament a year or so later, and we still pick on each other about both of those matches! He is one of the coolest top-tier players out there. He represents the Philippines with pride!

KS: What types of relationships have you developed in pool over the years with players around the country and the world?

NW: I truly have made friends and acquaintances all over the world. Almost all of my friend’s stem from pool now, in some way. I have best friends who live fairly close by to friends across the world in, let’s say, the Netherlands, who I would also trust with my last dollar. I can’t imagine not playing this game and developing the relationships I have. It has allowed me to get out of my small town, see the country, and meet people from all over the world. I’ll forever be thankful for pool, in general. There’s nothing like gathering in a pool room with players from all over the world who speak different languages but still being able to communicate through the game of pool. It’s a common interest and passion that overcomes any language barrier. It’s a feeling like no other, and it has helped me grow as an individual.

KS: As a player, do you still enjoy watching pool as a spectator? Live and on streams?

NW: I absolutely love watching pool. I probably watch more pool online and in person than almost any player my level that I know. I’m the oddball who can sit for 15 hours to watch a match and enjoy every second. Again, being a visual learner comes into play here.

KS: What are some things that can be done to make the viewing experience better for spectators?

NW: Personally, I would like to see more of a focus on the players and their backgrounds and more interviews before and after matches to make them more relatable to the public. Interviewing spectators about who they are there to watch and why they like them would also be interesting!

Certainly, building relationships between the players and their fans would help gain interest. As far as the games go, even though the players may not like it, I think missing has to be forced upon us. Fans like emotion and suspense in all sports. Watching us run out again and again, is not suspenseful enough. We need misses to be involved more often at a higher level, whether this is with shot timers, tighter pockets, or tougher equipment. I also think the alternate break format is must. Trust me, I love running a few racks in a row, but it’s just not fair for players to travel across the world and never get to show their skill while their opponent runs out. I don’t believe it’s good for pool, as a sport. In tennis, for instance, every player gets their serve. The best things to bring more interest and fans to pool might not be what the players want, but we will just have to deal with that for the longevity and success of the sport. Let’s grow the game to better it and to make it more rewarding for the up-and-coming juniors. An example would be the shootout in the Predator Pro Billiard Series. When tied in sets, the players face off with a single shot over and over to decide the winner. As a player, we don’t enjoy this much. However, from a fan point of view, the crowd loves it and gathers around. They engage with that more than any other part of the event. It’s a great success, overall.

KS: How do you think pool as a sport can grow? Do you think it lies in youth programs and building not only players but a fan base from the younger generation?

NW: I think players of all ages should be engaging in social media professionally and trying to grow a following. Bringing others from outside of pool into the game is one way of growing it and making it more profitable for everyone. You can follow me on TikTok and Instagram, NathanWallacePoolPlayer, if you’d like! I love posting the journey. It’s a relatively random lifestyle that many people ask about and find intriguing!

I think pool, as a sport, is on the rise. With larger events from Predator and Matchroom, players are given a future to look forward to, which is increasing interest from the juniors, as well. I can only hope that the sport rises to its full potential and, one day, allows the great players to plan for some sort of true retirement. It is no longer a “bar sport.” Pool is as professional as golf and tennis on the larger stage. For those who are unaware, tune into the Predator Pro Billiard Series events or Matchroom events and see what I mean! Everything is done professionally and it’s a great thing to witness. I believe it’s better now than it has been in my entire career.

KS: What do you think can be done to promote the faces of the sport to the public? Pool is a niche sport and like other niche sports, it needs a public face to help connect people to the sport. Skateboarding is not skateboarding without Tony Hawk, snowboarding had Shaun White, so who are some people who can be that for pool and how do you think they should be marketed? Someone established like SVB or someone coming up, getting ready for that big breakout, or both?

NW: I absolutely think sports fans get excited about the youth. When those young players evolve into champions, they have a following for their entire careers. Right now, I believe players gaining a following online is 100% the best way to promote the faces of our sport. For instance, Joe Burrow, quarterback for the Bengals, was a name we all heard in high school, college, and now in pro football. He will have a following forever.

There are many youth players that are exciting and unique in their own ways. I have to mention one of my best buddies, Kashton Keeton, from Kentucky. Just recently turned 16 and on the rise, Kashton is as rural and country as they come. He’s entertaining both on and off the table, from being 6 feet tall to having the deep voice and country twang. He has tons of potential and plays well beyond his years. There are so many other great junior players. Joey Tate, for instance, shows a professionalism like you wouldn’t believe. Then there’s the super exciting and fun, Savanah Easton! She’s currently 12 and nicknamed “the Road Runner.” She truly plays very well for her age, and everyone loves to see her come into the pool room. Our biggest ambassadors of the sport need to be promoting these junior players’ names and faces! Give the fans someone to latch onto and create a buzz around. These players also need to be promoting themselves and giving the fans some content to relate to and follow along with. Savanah and her family do excellent at this and should certainly be applauded for it.

KS: When you’re not on the road traveling and playing, what are some things you like to do outside of pool?

NW: Outside of pool, my main hobby is definitely fishing. I keep tournament fishing to a minimum; I get my competition from pool! Fishing is more of a leisure activity. I am country born and raised. Everyone likes to comment that I’m a “pretty boy” and it makes me laugh. At home, behind the scenes, you’d be surprised! You’ll find me elbow-deep in grease, working on cars, boats, or building something—dressed in stained clothes and loving every second of it. I love being outdoors, whether 90° F or 30° F. I am not the type to sit inside all day. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that lifestyle. It’s just not for me. Those who find this out are usually pretty shocked. I credit my mother and father for this. They are extremely hard-working, blue-collar folks who’ve had me outdoors from the time I could crawl. I’ve been blessed my entire life to have, what I consider to be, the best parents anyone could ever ask for!

KS: Thank you, Nathan!

Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about Nathan Wallace. He’s a genuine positive face in pool.

All photos in artice on Nathan Wallace by Kieth Shaner

SPM Billiards Magazine Issue 34

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