Playing off the Rail Book

At just 17, David McCumber was gripped by road fever—that relentless itch for the fast-lane life of a professional gambler. More than two decades later, he finally got his shot—not as the one sinking the balls, but as the “stakehorse” for Tony Annigoni, a one-of-a-kind pool hustler with a Zen-like demeanor, a macrobiotic diet, and a deadly stroke that danced on the edge of perfection. Armed with $27,000 in backing money and a hunger for the unknown, McCumber and Annigoni set off on a wild four-month ride across the American landscape. From dimly lit, smoke-stained dives to upscale snooker lounges and high-stakes pro tournaments, they chased action and adrenaline through the gritty back alleys and neon-lit heart of America’s underground pool scene. Their journey—stretching from Seattle to Miami and countless hustler haunts in between—is a rich, riveting dive into a shadowy subculture where myth meets money, and where every game is a test of nerve, wit, and deception. Part road trip, part character study, and all heart, this true story captures the raw poetry of life on the edge—where hustlers play for keeps, and the perfect hustle is always just one table away. By Dave McCumber 384 Pages Paperback