While Halloween might provide students with treats, last night gave students the chance to be tricked instead.
Tom “Dr. Cue” Rossman, a professional billiards trick shot artist, performed for about 20 students in the billiards area of Stamp Student Union’s TerpZone last night. From 6 to 10 p.m., students watched as Rossman performed moves such as the “starburst,” “bridge over troubled table” and “wing shots,” and he went head-to-head with several students in individual games of pool afterward.
“I graduated from [East Illinois University] with a degree in billiards,” Rossman joked. “Well, actually, my degree was in business management, but it might as well have been.”
Though Rossman’s performance caught the attention of several passersby who stopped to watch him last night, the event wasn’t his first success in capturing the eyes and ears of university students: Rossman has been performing the art of trick shooting since 1987 and began hosting shows at the university in 2005.
“Normally, Dr. Cue comes to perform at the [Stamp] All-Nighter,” said TerpZone Program Coordinator Andre Adams. “But by having him come now, we are giving him the opportunity to be the only game in town and get the focus of his audience.”
Judging from the laughter that filled TerpZone last night, Rossman didn’t have much difficulty being the center of attention.
“His performance is really exciting,” said graduate student Eli Tung. “He’s showing a lot of stuff that you normally wouldn’t see.”
Junior computer engineering major Peter Myers said the show was engaging because the shots Rossman performed were out of his league.
“It was awesome and hilarious because they are fantastic shots that I can’t do,” Myers said. “He had new trick shots this year that were great.”
Adams said Rossman’s shows have routinely drawn students to TerpZone and kept them returning to attempt tricks of their own.
“Almost instantly, students try to do the tricks Dr. Cue performs,” Adams said. “It’s similar to a seeing magic performed. I see students come out the next day and get a table because they see it and want to try and mimic what he does.”
Rossman said he has made having a sense of humor about the game part of his career.
“I’m trying to let students know that they can enjoy playing pool without being champs,” he said. “They need to learn to take a miss as growth in the game. When I miss a shot in a performance, I just make a joke of it.”
In response to one audience member’s laughter, Rossman just smiled.
“Don’t laugh too hard, sir — we have a long show,” he said.
Although mostly a performance, the show was also interactive. Rossman asked students to participate in trick shots, talked to attendees and acted as an audience member himself.
While he admitted he enjoys the “emotional attachment” one can have in winning the game, Rossman said his biggest goal is to emphasize the game itself.
“I want to educate students in the entertainment value of the game, not the victory,” he said. “It’s all a matter of perspective.”
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