Pool players can test skills against the best

Friday, July 13, 2001 | 10:16 a.m.

Rarely does an ordinary Joe get a chance to test his skills against a top performer in a particular field.

Few will ever know the thrill of swinging at and hitting a Randy Johnson fastball or catching a long bomb from Brett Favre.

However, the Billiard Congress of America is giving average pool players the chance to meet -- and perhaps beat -- some of that game's biggest names at a charity event Wednesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The event kicks off the three-day BCA International Trade Expo that is expected to draw 8,000 conventioneers to the Convention Center and the Riviera hotel.

The event, dubbed "Challenge the Stars," will take place 7-11 p.m. in rooms N259-261 on the second level near the Paradise Road side.

BCA spokeswoman Amy Long said local pool players and visitors will have to pay for the honor of facing some of the game's best with all proceeds going to the Billiards Education Foundation.

Admission is $10. For an additional $20, the BCA will assign a big name opponent. For $40, a player can pick the pro he wants to challenge.

Each player will get an autographed color certificate commemorating the event. A photo with the professional opponent will cost an extra $10, again with the money going to the nonprofit charitable arm of the association, Long said.

Among the players expected to participate are Hall of Famer Buddy Hall, this year's Hall of Fame inductees Robert Byrne and Raymond Ceulemans, top pro Jim Rempe, No. 1 ranked women's player Karen Corr and fellow women's stars Allison "The Duchess of Doom" Fisher and Jeanette "Black Widow" Lee.

The event is co-sponsored by the Women's Professional Billiard Association.