I hear you are a man of good...taste

By SDTMinSTL

November 14, 2017

This story got featured & frontpaged on November 14, 2017


6 years ago

Nice to meet you.  Thanks for stopping by. 

Just for clarification, despite my pinside name, I am not affiliated in anyway with the SDTM show (which is great) or the team.  I picked it because it illustrates my struggles as quite possibly the worst pinball player on planet earth, especially given my love for it.  Well, I am sure there is a child in new guinea somewhere that has never played pinball before that I could school in a game of BSD, but, that is only if he has two house balls.  I wish you could change your username to prevent any potential confusion, but I can't.  

I began life on this rock with a penchant for anything electronic.  Pong?  I played it and it was a fixture in our home till we finally "upgraded" to the Atari 2600 and every home console after that it seems.  I went to school, and I did well, but it was just a necessary evil that took time away from some high score or challenge that I was chasing.  I took over a small family business and I continue to find that being a hurdle to my passions, but I do it well I am told.  Besides pinball, I love motorcycles, dogs, videogames, F1 Racing and the St. Louis Blues.  

I am now 41 years young.  I act like a person a quarter of my age usually and I fortunately have a significant other that not only embraces my ways, but encourages it.  I have a young son who is too much like I was for my comfort level, but he is smarter, more handsome and better at most everything than I am.  I couldn't be more thankful.

The first game I remember playing was fireball at a seedy KOA campground in SE Missouri many moons ago.  I would alternate between plopping quarters in it and playing Berzerk the arcade game while my parents tried, in vain, to get me outdoors by camping.  As long as there was a gameroom and I could commandeer quarters, I was in my happy place.  

My pinball-at-home addiction started with a Getaway.  I look back and think I should have went into something slightly more cost conscious like space travel or quantum physic research but here I am.  Like a lot of pinheads out there HS2 was my gateway drug.  I still play it a lot and I still suck at it but I can't see ever parting ways with it.  It is like the girl you "dated" first.  Only you can keep this girl in your house, and when you get bored with your current, you can go back and give her another go here and there.  I can't decide which road leads to more maintenance, but I am guessing I picked the lesser of two evils.  My collection continues to grow (the pins, not women of course).  I am not wooed by the bells and whistles of the latest Sterns for some reason thankfully.  I do lust after Wizard of Oz, but most of my taste is nostalgia based.  I love the community and the people I have met playing pinball.  It is why I am here.  

I am not well versed enough yet to offer any knowledge that several hundred users on pinside can't, but I look forward to the day when I can contribute something.  In the meantime, I will enjoy the opinions, the camaraderie and priceless knowledge that is so common here.     

Story photos

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Comments

6 years ago

Welcome to Pinside! Is that a photo of Amsterdam hanging on the wall in one of your pictures?

6 years ago

Thanks Robin! I'd love to give some exotic answer like "Yes, I picked it up there while meeting a wise old man who sold me a pin untouched by human hand and sprinkled with gold dust before enjoying the local wonders" but the truth is bland. My wife got it at Ikea and I have no idea where it is. :-D

6 years ago

Love the Bell's sign, went to School in K-Zoo and played pinball all over that town.

6 years ago

That and Founders are my two favs! Great spot. Wish they were closer. Made it part of a craft beer travel summer a few years ago.

6 years ago

Fantastic story. Your 40's are a great time to be a kid! I'm the same way about another Steve Ritchie title - F-14 TomCat. Welcome to Pinside.

6 years ago

Thanks @SkaterVet. F14 is one I would love to have at some point.

6 years ago

Welcome to Pinside. I love the pictures of your dogs, one reminds me of my child hood pet. Welsh Terrier or Airedale Terrier?

6 years ago

Sweet GS #LGB

6 years ago

I like your story you remind me a lot of me. My wife supports my addiction too. The new machines are nice but I love the older ones.

6 years ago

@ericc123 Yes! She is an Airedale. Enzo, the idiot sitting on her is a Viszla.

LGB brother! @waveb67

6 years ago

Love this story ! Nice family and pins...and nice hockey arcade game, is'nt it? My wife supports my addiction too, but no more that two pins at home :-(.
Be proud of still being a kid at 40, I met in my life lot of teenagers they were old yet.....

6 years ago

Love this story ! Nice family and pins...and nice hockey arcade game, is'nt it? My wife supports my addiction too, but no more that two pins at home :-(.
Be proud of still being a kid at 40, I met in my life lot of teenagers they were old yet.....

6 years ago

@giulio Thanks! Yes, it is a bubble hockey table. Another passion of mine.

6 years ago

Nice story/introduction..cool to see another pinhead w similar likes. I once had a bubble hockey game, but sold it and got another pin..the blues huh? I like Tarasenko, he’s a pure sniper..are u old school w the blues? Do u go back to the Federko days? Welcome to PS..

6 years ago

@hwyhed Federko is godlike in this town, no matter the age of fan. I'm 41 and I don't remember watching him play but I respect the heck out of the guy and love his current game work.

6 years ago

All we really have is our family and our friends and pinball adds to the special times with both. My pins are part of my family and are definitely good friends. Go get some more friends brother! Pinball for life!

6 years ago

"I picked it because it illustrates my struggles as quite possibly the worst pinball player on planet earth"

I thought that was me. But if we ever have a chance to meet, we can have a go at the un-official and trophyless title of "Worst Player on Planet Earth.", LOL

And the "child in new guinea somewhere" beat me.

BTW, good story!

6 years ago

Great story, I loved it :)

Looks like you have a lovely family.

I am 42 and I have 2 kids who are both smarter than me so we've got that going for each other. And I am really not impressed by new Sterns either -- good for you :)

6 years ago

Thanks for sharing . Cool story. Love the game room! Made a small mame cab over xmas to relive those retro days (which I actually missed out on haha). Everyone should experience that arcade feel though :)

6 years ago

It is always a pleasure to read about others who cannot grow up (like myself). Makes me feel less weirdo :)

I like your game room, and I do hope that at some day I can also find the place for one. Currently I am working on a MAME cabinet, and planning to buy my first pin, but I have no idea, where to put...

5 years ago

Saw the TNA next to the Metallica for sale, so decided to check out your profile. Similar story here and my wife is amazingly tolerant. Started with arcades but bought an Aerosmith and WOZ in the last few months. I’m hooked and hope to add 5 or 6 more this year. If you ever sell any more games, let me know, I’m just over in Lebanon, IL.

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