SPM Billiards Magazine Issue 32

Adam "Iron Man" Martin

By Keith Shaner

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I have only known Adam for a few years, and I’ve only gotten to know him better in the last year or two. Adam is one of the best examples of what a player can be on and off the table. He’s quiet and reserved and very respectful of himself, his opponents, and the game. He is a man of quiet control, and sometimes his stoicism can be intimidating for some, I think, but he is most certainly a true gentleman. He has a great work ethic, he’s always willing to help others, and he is a great role model for young players looking to do things the right way.

Adam is from Mansfield, Ohio. Northern Ohio has had a long, rich history of pool. From Youngstown to Canton to Akron to Toledo. He began playing for fun at first and then more seriously in his early twenties, first at home and then taking on his first tournament in a local establishment called Janna’s.

He credits his dad with getting a table for something to do and sparking his first interest in the game.

His father gave him his first lessons in the basics, and then he worked and practiced alone, honing his skills and developing his terrific work ethic. He played with friends Kevin Frontz and Randy Dininger, two fine local players, and then as he became more serious, he began playing with Shane Lykins. Shane is a very skilled player himself, and that work paid off, and Adam made his first significant jump in skill as a player.

Adam’s competitive nature has kept him motivated, and he keeps looking for better players to take on, relying on his own wits and keeping his eyes and ears open to learn whatever he could to add improvement to his game.

Adam loves the big table, especially for practicing, but he will play the bar box tables without hesitation if that’s the game. He plays with a Mezz cue and with a wood shaft, something not often seen these days with the rush of interest in carbon fiber. His preferred game is 10-Ball, but he is quite accomplished

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at both 8-Ball and 9-Ball, respectively. He has played in some high-profile events in the last couple of years, The Derby City Classic and the US Open, respectively, as well as some very fine showings in regional events like taking down the singles event in Fort Wayne, IN. He also recently matched up in doubles action with his partner Shane Murphy against Shane Jackson and Russian Kenny and in a head-to-head meeting with Shane Winters. Adam loves the challenge, and these types of matchups fuel his desire to get better and refine his game that much more. He is a player who understands the true context of wins and losses and uses that knowledge to his advantage in growing as a player instead of stagnating or backsliding because of ego and fear.

I asked Adam about the current state of pool, and he feels that drastic changes in the approach to marketing and promotion must happen, along with better standards

for players and tournaments. He thinks that players are too resistant to change and are holding back pool from growing as a sport and attracting the kind of support structure pool needs. We are in the insanity loop of doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.

Adam has experienced some very positive things from pool, traveling, and doing something with friends that they all love to do. Meeting new people and having new experiences, all while still being able to compete at the same time.

Adam is also a fan of watching pool; whether a local stream or a big national or international event, he will tune in and watch. Many great players watch pool, more so than many think, as it can be entertaining, and you never know when you can learn something new.

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His favorite rooms to play in these days are Buckeye Billiards, his homeroom in Mansfield, Ice Breakers in Youngstown, and Cushions in Westerville. He also would rather play in head-tohead matchups rather than the same old singles tournament formats being played these days. For tournaments, he would much rather go the doubles or team route. I know other players feel this way, too; they see them as more fun and challenging than a simple singles race-totwo type of event.

Like his friend and frequent road partner, Shane Murphy, Adam prefers team events to singles. He sees team events as a way to build interest for viewers and sponsors. Events like the Mosconi Cup and The Battler for The Border are prime examples, City vs. City, State vs. State, or Country vs. Country. It’s much easier to build a story and show rich characters in a team environment. Fans need teams and players to watch and root for; the game, whatever is played, will take care of itself.

Outside of the game, Adam loves competitive arm-wrestling. Once you see him, you will see why, lol. He is also a car buff, and as a guy who once restored a couple of old fastback mustangs and spent years traipsing around car shows, it makes me like this guy even more. Family and balance are also very important to Adam. He has his priorities in proper order and conducts himself accordingly. That may be the biggest lesson any of us can learn.

Pool needs faces, and Adam is one face I hope we see in the game for a long time. Thank you for sharing this time with us, my friend.

Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to read and support us!

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The photis of Adam Martin are from the VNEA Stste Championship. A challenge match with Shane Winters a doubles challenge match both at Buckeye Billiards oh and also a challenge match with Kevin Nazeer he won giving up quite a bit of weight also at Buckeye All photography by Keith Shaner

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A little about Keith Shaner:

I have been around pool & billiards since I was very young. I began playing with some serious thought when I was in middle school and made my first run of 50 at age 15, but by the time I was in college at OSU, I didn’t have as much time to play. With school and work and late a wife and children there just wasn’t sufficient time to devote to playing. I worked in software development for almost 35 years and in recent years was able to return to playing the grand old game with 3-cushion straight pool and one-pocket being my favorites. However, I remained a fan and viewer of the game for many years while I wasn’t active in it. I have recently turned my attention to photography and I’m combining that with my love of pool and billiards whenever an opportunity presents itself. My favorite times away from pool are with my grandchildren or shooting something interesting in front of my lenses.

Article and Photography by Keith Shaner

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