Home Town : East Bridgewater, MA

Current Residence : Port Republic, NJ

Date of Birth : Jun 12, 1960

Year Turned Pro : 1990

First Pro Event : 1984 US Open

Sponsors : Viking Cue Mfg. Allen Hopkins Productions

What is your greatest strength?

I never give up, can usually think my way through a problematic situation and am able to accept my weaknesses so I can try and fix them.

What is your favorite memory of the sport?

When I played in the historic finals of the ESPN Ultimate 9-Ball Challenge. It was the first ever live competition for the women. Even though I didn’t win, I was very proud of getting there and experiencing live tv. Also, a great memory was when the players gave me a baby shower. There were more than 32 women with me while I opened all those gifts and it was very heartfelt. A little different than when on the table!

How did you get started playing the sport?

When I was real young, about 10, I used to go to the car races and there was a midget race that had a car painted like an 8-ball. I always rooted that car on, but it wasn’t until I was 23 that I really started playing. Charlie Lambert from Aurora Billiards in Florida gave me lessons and that lead me to work part time at a pool room, the Golden Cue where a lot of good players would come by for tournaments. I was hooked! A year after starting I played in the US Open and actually won a match!

What advice would you give an aspiring player?

Set goals for yourself and then create steps, on paper, to get yourself there. Don’t just do it in your head. We all need a little accountability for ourselves so we don’t get lazy. So for example, if your goal is to play on the WPBA, create 3 steps to get you there (play on regional WPBA tours, take lessons, practice) Then break those 3 steps down into 3 more steps for each one. Give a time-line for them all including your goal.

Places you have travels or explored?

My favorite trip was driving with Tammy Wesley after Allen won the Challenge of Champions, to Tucson for an event. We stopped at Grand Canyon overnight, watched the sun rise there, then passed through the Painted Desert at sunset and Tucson was just beautiful. There are so many places. San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle area, Oregon, New Mexico, Maine, Canada, New England, Hawaii, Taiwan, Sweden, Germany, Spain. The list goes on and on, and great experiences at every one. This is one of the things I love about pool. I may not have been there if it weren’t for pool. I have a few states left that I haven’t been to and its my plan to get to all before my time is up! My sister and I took my Dad to France, I loved that also. My next dream vacation is a trip through the South of France into Italy, stopping at Switzerland too! I’d like to spend a month with that trip!

Other hobbies/activities?

Music has always been my first love. I play guitar, some piano, have been writing songs for many years. I went to Berkley School of Music for a couple semesters until an opportunity in pool came up. I’d love to have a room with every instrument in it as I love learning it all. Tennis seems to have taken over me lately, it’s a great cross over game for pool and keeps me in shape. I do golf, not great, but in the one summer I played I went from a 38 or so handicap to a 20. It just doesn’t move fast enough for me, maybe I’ll take it back up in my 70’s!

Why do you love pool?

No doubt it’s the competition and the mental rewards I have gotten from it that have helped me in life situations.

What are your goals?

To enjoy life. Whether that is playing pool, tennis, hanging with family and friends, painting, music, whatever. It changes from day to day but that’s okay because I get a lot out of the life I am living. My goal has never been to be the number 1 player because I never wanted to sacrifice all the other things I love to do that. If I happen to do well along the way then great!

What can't you live without?

Food, shelter, water, and…. love and happiness. (didn’t Al Green write a song about that)?

Who is your biggest influence?

For life in general, there are so many people that have great qualities that I would have about 100 people and piece them together to have that perfect influence, so I try to take those pieces and do the best I can to incorporate them into my personality (not always successful!) In my pool game it has to be my husband Allen because he really has it all. In all the years I have been around pool, I think Efren is the only other player I respect as much as Allen for knowledge of the game. There are many that are close, don’t get me wrong, but these two have it all in my opinion.

What is your most treasured possession?

The love I have from my family and friends. Other than that, there really isn’t anything else that important.

Favorite movie?

Comedies, espionage and chick flicks. I just can’t do violent movies or scary ones no matter how good they are. I’m the one hiding my face through the whole thing. I guess my visualization techniques are too strong, I really feel what they are feeling. So, I loved “Meet the Parents”, “What About Bob”, “The Illusionist”, the humor of “Finding Nemo”.

Favorite shot?

The ones that go in, especially the winning 9-Ball!

Favorite pool hall?

I hate to name just one, there are so many that have done the sport well and so I appreciate all of those that help portray our sport in a positive way.

What are five songs on your iPod?

Al Green “I’m so in love with you”, John Mayer “Good Love is on the way”, Marc Broussard “Let me leave”, Tyrone Wells “Jealous Man”, Coldplay “Green Eyes”. There’s lots more, this is just what my favorites are this week!

What was your first car?

It was a Chevy Chevette. I used to call it my “Poor mans Vette”.

What living person do you most admire?

There are so many people I admire for different reasons. Like my Dad for his intelligence, Mom for kindness, Allen for thoughtfulness, my children for their innocence, my grandmother for her compassion, my good friends for their support, etc.

Titles Won

Numerous State Championship Titles in all games, 9-ball 8-ball and 14.1 as recent as 2006, Runner Up in WPBA Nationals 1993, Runner Up in ESPN Ultimate 9-Ball Challenge 1996