By Ronnie
Speight
New Zealander,
Rocky Lane,
commonly known
as "Jump Shot
Rock", recently
responded to a
written
invitation from
the Organisers
of the Orlando
Open, in
Florida, USA to
represent New
Zealand at this
world event,
held from August
4th to 8th,
2005. Check out
his website to
see exactly how
this magician
got his name
www.rockylane.org.
Rocky won one of
the 9 Ball
events at the
Opens, during
which he had an
exhibition match
with Earl
Strickland, the
many time World
Pool Champion.
It was a race
two frame match,
ending with the
result of 0/2 to
Rocky.
When asked, "It
seems you have
done another
"Michael
Campbell" for
New Zealand, Mr
Lane?" Rocky
humbly replied,
"Oh no, it was
just a lucky
match, besides I
feel that in an
exhibition match
the Pro's are
inclined to
lower their
guard, as I do
when in practice
with other
players at the
Pool hall. I
think , if it
was a formal
match, I would
have had my work
cut out, to beat
a player of
Earl's world
standing. After
all, he is the
Tiger Woods of
our sport. The
main thing is to
get out there
and try to take
them on. Unless
you try, how
will you ever
know where you
stand with your
game? " says
Rocky.
So who is this
man? And where
is he from? His
real name is
Royce W Lane, he
was born in
Suva, Fiji and
his family
migrated to New
Zealand when he
was the tender
age of 6 months
old. He was
raised in a
"Walton style
Family"
environment in
the farming
community of Hot
Water Beach,
Whitianga. Here
his father was a
share milker and
with seven
mouths to feed,
his 40% share of
the butter fat
equating to ten
pounds per week
didn't go far.
But, they had
taken a five
year contract
and had to make
it work. Rocky
was educated at
Whenuakite
School, a mile
long walk down
the dusty road
to the bus stop,
then it was onto
Glenavon
Primary,
Blockhouse Bay
Intermediate,
Lynfield College
and the
University of
Auckland, New
Zealand.
Following his
military service
for his country,
came a Police
career during
which time he
acquired legal
studies,
graduated and
was elevated to
a Prosecutor. He
pursued many
hobbies
including
Martial arts,
and as a 4th dan
black belt
acquired a gold
medal for New
Zealand in the
heavy weight
karate division
of the 1986
Highland games.
Following his
retirement from
active service
as a Prosecutor
in the late
eighties, Rocky
began a new life
in Hong Kong in
1989 serving as
a Legal
Consultant for
Immigrants,
pursuing a
better life in a
better place; he
also extended
his expertise to
multinationals
seeking legal
services.
The world of
American Pool
has risen far
above other Cue
Sports, and has
become a world
craze, which
began to take
off in NZ in the
mid 90's. It's
now included in
the World games,
the Asian games
and hopefully,
soon to be
included in the
Olympic Games.
The Sport is now
turning very
professional
with greater
prize money
given out.
Winners are
getting up to US
$200,000 and the
top 32 players,
in an
international
tournament with
a 256 playing
field, receiving
US $5000 each.
"Like Golf and
Boxing, Pool
players can now
become
millionaires
inthis
professional
sport," says
Rocky. The
mistaken social
attitude of Pool
being something
one does over a
drink at the Pub
or something
kids do whilst
wagging school,
is long gone.
Rocky trains
three days a
week, doing
around 20 hours
per week on the
table, and can
be seen live at
Star Billiards
at the Highland
Park Mall at
Pakuranga,
Auckland.
Rocky runs
coaching classes
for beginners,
every Wednesday
from 8pm to
10pm, which is
FREE to the
public. For
those, who can't
make it to the
coaching clinic,
you can order
the public
movie, "POOL -
From Beginner to
Champion @
2004", an
instructional
DVD for
beginners from
Rocky's website
www.rockylane.org.
Rocky is now in
training and is
making his way
to the US Opens,
to be held in
Virginia USA, on
September 19th
to 26th, 2005.
We hope to keep
you
Informed of
Rocky's
performance
while he is
away.
Congratulations
Rocky for being
another Kiwi,
getting out
there and taking
on the big
names!!!
