The Springfield Flash: Danny Harriman

It was the 1994 U.S. Open. Once again, players from around the land came to play for the awesome title. Who was coming? Who was here? I looked to see the many faces that would be attracting the spectators during the week. Archer, Varner, Strickland, Sigel. Anyone new? I glanced around. Well, I'll be! Look who's playing right next to me, it's Danny Harriman. I had heard many stories from pool players about this young guy. He had just gotten on tour and finished 2nd in a major tournament that was televised. I actually first saw Danny at my first Junior Nationals in Kentucky, and later in Kansas City, but I never spoke a word to him. But I was definitely going to meet him now. I said hello and introduced myself to him and asked if he was playing in the tournament. With a wide eyed expression and strange mid western accent he replied, "Yep. I'm in like Flynn." I laughed at this strange phrase and walked away thinking he was a little strange.

It's three years later and I meet up with Danny again at the U.S. Open. I walked behind him and grabbed his shoulders and he instinctively turned around with a curious expression that quickly turned to a good ol' country boy grin. That is one of Danny's trademarks, he has this certain grin that gives you the impression that he's a good natured fellow(and he is). Of course, I had seen him and talked to him over the last three years at various tournaments and gotten to know him a lot better. I have gotten past those old memories of his strange phrases, unusual accent, and bewildering facial expressions to realize that this is what made Danny Harriman different and unique. He was a genuine character.

Charles(cool first name) Daniel Harriman was born on Nov. 1,1972 in Springfield, Missouri. He started playing when he was 5 years old and started taking it more seriously when he was 7. "My father said it best when he said, "I love the sound the ball makes when it hits the back of that pocket." His father took Danny to the poolroom and they played a lot together. Later, Hal Alloway and Dave Bowne, two local players, took it upon themselves to help young Danny learn to play.

Danny turned pro at 21 and the L.A. Open was his first event. He didn't cash in the money, but he said it was still a good experience because he got to play and defeat a living legend, Bill Staton (Weenie Beenie). But he says, "My proudest accomplishment in life is not beating a certain player or winning a tournament, but realizing that I am a professional." But don't let that fool you. Danny has defeated many great players in tournament play. He has wins over players such as Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, Kim Davenport and Rafael Martinez. And that's just in nine-ball. Danny is also an exceptional one pocket player who has defeated players such as the mighty Jose Parica.

But Danny Harriman not only does well in tournaments, but he is a great one on one match-up player as well. He is definitely one of the top young money players in the world. "But I would rather play in a tournament than match-up with somebody anyday," Danny comments. He told me he had a terrible experience on the road once. Danny was a well-known road player, and his partner advised him to disguise himself. So Danny put on a wig, mustache, and ragged clothes and tried to hustle a player he knew he could beat. But the player still recognized Danny and Danny's cover was blown. As he stood in front of the mirror, he realized what a horrible thing it was that he had done, and guilt rained on him. "It was a terrible experience. I felt like a dirty pool player."

Danny believes in God and he is a Methodist. He said this basically means that he believes in Jesus and that anyone despite their faults will go to heaven as long as they believe. Danny likes to stay open minded about things though he does seem to lean towards more conservative and traditional ideas. He says, "It bugs me when people say what a person can and can't do. I don't like putting limitations on people. Anybody can do anything they put their mind to."

As I talked more with him, I got the impression that he had good values and was close to his family. After the tournament, he called his dad up and talked to him for ten minutes telling him how he did. Danny's also close to his grandma who he told me he used to enjoy making her a glass of ice tea and sticking a flower in it. He also used to help his folks out when they owned a restaurant, and you could find him washing dishes everyday. He laughs and says that is what accounts for his strong grip and superb arm wrestling skills. And trust me, he sure can arm wrestle. One of the things you notice about Danny is his strong grip when he shakes your hand, and I once challenged him to a little arm wrestling. He warned me with his eyes widening and a confident grin, "Now, Charlie. I can arm wrestle." At the time I wasn't sure by his tone whether he was being cocky and trying to be funny. He wasn't being funny. I painfully learned that when Danny says something he means it from the bottom of his heart. Besides arm wrestling, "The Springfield Flash" was a high school cross country runner. His best time was 15 min. 35 sec. in the 3.1 mile run. When he's not running out on the table, he still runs and exercises by doing push-ups, sit-ups, and hand grippers(for arm wrestling).

Danny also likes to sing. When you hang around him, you'll always hear him hum a tune, and if he's comfortable he'll sing you a whole song(especially oldies). And if you ever get the chance to ride a roller coaster with him (I did at Busch Gardens in VA) he's also got the knack for saying some of the most colorful phrases I ever heard, making you laugh so hard you can't breathe!

When you watch Danny Harriman play, you witness some of the greatest form and technique in pool. His stance, posture, stroke, and form is incredibly precise and flawless. His build is slender at 6'1and weighing only 145lbs. He has a unique face from English and Indian backround, and it is always expressionless during play with the only constant being his eyes always open with alertness and his small lips pursed together forming a seemingly straight line. That is why some people have dubbed him The Android (or the Robot, The Mannequin,etc.) He also has a powerhouse break that is one of the best I have ever seen. Every once in awhile he'll open up and say something like he did against Earl Strickland. The nine was going in the hole off the break and Danny shouted, "Howdydoody!!" (strange thing to say, right? He won the match)

An interesting fact about Danny is that he doesn't hope his opponent plays bad. "Don't pull against your opponent. Before my match, I always tell my opponent to hit'em good. And I mean it." He later tells me, "I see the future of pool in the Olympics. It's getting better, but we still need to improve our image. Things like calcuttas(player auctions) might not be a good idea for instance. All professionals, whether you are a man or woman, and all amateurs as well...I mean everybody! We all need to work together."

To a lot of people, Danny Harriman may seem like a robot, a strange fellow, a quiet loner, or other things that might prevent someone from talking to him. But I'd like to share this one story that sums up what kind of person Danny is. I remembered an article in which Mike Sigel commented that he thought that no one would be able to touch Danny Harriman in 2 or 3 years. I told Danny that that was quite a compliment coming from Sigel and asked Danny how it affected him. Danny simply said, "It didn't." I asked why and he told me this story. "I was at a trade show and this 12 year old boy came to my booth and asked for my autograph. I said sure and signed it (a hat) and asked him if he had Mike Sigel's signature. He said no, Sigel wouldn't sign his hat. I said, "What? He wouldn't give you his autograph?" The kid then explained that Sigel would give it but the kid had to pay $35. Well, I thought there was a little misunderstanding here and I told the boy let's go see him and I'll get your hat signed. When Mike saw me he said "Hey Danny! I didn't know you were here?" I said hello back and I asked him, "Hey, is it true that you told this boy that he had to pay $35 for your autograph?" Mike said yes and I asked why. Mike said Shaquille O'neal gets $100 for his autograph, so I should get paid for mine. "So you won't sign his hat for free?," I asked. Mike said no and I turned around and told the kid sorry I can't get you Mike Sigel's autograph. And I still respect Sigel as a player, but I lost my respect for him as a person. That's why that compliment he said about me didn't mean as much anymore."

I had a good time the whole week at the U.S. Open with Danny. We both did well in the tournament, and if I had won my last match we would have had to play each other. But instead we went to Busch Gardens and I listened to him yell on the roller coasters. I asked Danny if a person who didn't know you saw you play at a tournament and asked what kind of person you were, what would you like to be said about you. He replied, "Danny is a stand up guy...he doesn't sit much when he plays."

Epilogue: that was from 1997 and now it is more than two years later. Danny has gone into pool seclusion the last two years. He told me there was a lot of things that he had to fulfill that would put pool on hiatus for awhile. Personally I thought that it was a shame, especially when he had been playing so well, but I knew he had to have had good reasons. But I recently saw him in the Camel Tour stop in Tulsa and he played. He didn't do well, but it was most likely from his lack of play in two years. But I heard from his girlfriend that he plans a comeback next year. Good luck Danny, I look forward to seeing you!

Archive of columns