"Since the movie The Color of Money, the resurgence of Fast Eddie's have worn me thin with the secrets of the game which will make me the player I aspire to be. Along with this statement, I can truthfully say that I have purchased every tape available put on the market by a named player of past or present..

The reason I have done this is so I can objectively view and compare products. So to follow the trend I started for myself, I purchased the tapes by Jimmy Reid, "No Time For Negative"

and was pleasantly surprised. First off, I'd like to mention that I truly didn't expect much at all, I read the quotes and all that stuff. So I tuned in Jimmy on the wide screen and waited for the disappointment of the same old thing , only to,find myself at the edge of my seat listening and rewinding the tape to try and absorb this man's knowledge and incredible stroke.

The stories of Jimmy Reid have lingered on since he won the 1974 Southwestern Open 9-Ball Tournament in Corpus Christi, Texas. A tournament put on by Floyd Baxter and one in which the names of Mike Sigel and Buddy Hall graced with their presence. At any rate, since I reside in the sparkling city by the sea, he had become a legend of sorts in this area. For both his ability on the felt and with the winners' lifestyle. Yes, blondes and Cadillacs are as much a part of this player's being. Now this has nothing to do with his tapes, yet when you do business with anyone, you should know a little about the person you're dealing with.

The kind of guy who truly can play, a man who has earned his stripes in the old way and who I sense made these tapes to truly try and show the public the correct way to play the game.

I say this because the format of the tapes is an easy-to-follow overview of some of the most helpful tips about the game of pocket billiards.

So what is it I was so excited about? Well, how about a tape that made you feel you were in a room with someone who was down to earth. By this I mean that Jimmy speaks to you in a language that makes sense to you. Like when a friend shows you a new shot in the pool room, or gives you advice on what size cue to choose. Since I have researched this and all I've been told is pick the one that feels good, I was impressed with his theory of selection. Also, the way to grip the cue and why! Now the first section covers a lot of fundamentals, yet even for the most seasoned player it would not hurt to review this segment of the set. The second section picks up with the addressing the ball. Curious? Well, the man has some very valid facts to share, no I'm not going to go into it, but,

Also, exercises that truly help your game. Still wondering?

Now, fact of the matter is, if you are like the rest of consumers on the pool scene market, you probably own this tape, but if you don't own one at all, I can honestly say that this is the one you should own. Now, in the world of make believe, one can talk about past accomplishments and such, but rarely can a person actually show how he did it in such a way that you gain personally. Jimmy Reid is growing in years and like many of the masters, he is giving all he has left to give, or maybe he is trying to prove a point about the game itself. In closing I'd like to say that you don't

have to believe me, but the next you match up against a guy and he is approaching the table with confidence, stroking the ball, instead of punching it, or he kicks at a ball successfully when you had him locked up, remember, I told you so!