By Dan Ninham
The Thunder Sticks pool team is captained by David Goodman, enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. He said, “I started the Thunder Sticks team in the cities in 2017, prior to that the name Thunder Sticks started in 2010 in White Earth where I lived for 10 years.”
“That team was called the All Natives Men but I’ve been playing on All Native Men’s Teams since 1994,” added Goodman.
The motivation to play pool at a higher level than only playing in bars drives Goodman with his team. He said, “For me it’s always to be Number 1 and to show these white guys that us Indian boys can shoot some pool while being sober and having fun.”
Goodman has been in organized Pool Leagues including M-8, International Billiards Association, Midwest Pool Players Association (MPA), and Northern Amusement. “I’ve won two State Championships with M-8 leagues in 2000 and 2007 and about 25 M-8 Leagues Championships since 1994. I took 1st place in Singles Tournament in White Earth on 11-25-2023 at the MPA Tournament.
“On January 16, 2024 we won the fall 2023 M-8 league Championship and won in 2020 through 2023 and we took ninth place in the Leech Lake MPA Tournament on January 19, 2024 out of 77 teams that entered the tournament,” added Goodman.
The Thunder Sticks were featured in The Circle about 25 years ago. Their story not only focused on the pool playing lifestyle but on the team’s sobriety. The team continues to choose living the Anishinaabe way which is the good life in the words “Mino-Bimaadiziwin.”
“I’ve always played with sober family members with my brother, nephew, ‘cuzzins’ and real close friends plus I get to see them on a weekly basis and for me it’s a family thing,” added Goodman.
Team member Patrick Brady, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, lives in St. Paul, MN and he’s been playing on his uncle’s team since 2018.
“What motivates me to play is to have fun and expand my pool game as a past time of learning and gaining skill,” said Brady. “I’ve been playing on and off ever since I was eight years old at the Eastside Boys and Girls Club or at a bar with family. I started playing leagues around 19 years old for a couple seasons and one season in 2006 I won my first trophy and that was the league/season MVP.”
Competition is also about getting close to being and being a champion. Brady said, “I just missed out on adding a championship along with that one and recently as a Thunder Stick won three season championships and a second MVP title and fourth championship with a different team.”
“It’s a blast to be with the Thunder Sticks as I get to play with family, my uncles Greg and Dave, cousin Bob Rice and good friend/brother Merv LaRose. We are the core of the team,” Brady added.
Greg Goodman is a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. He lives in South Minneapolis and has been playing pool with his brother David for 20-plus years.
“I have been sober 26 years on March 15,” said Greg Goodman. “In 2000 we won the M8 state championship. It was a proud moment in my life besides having my two kids and being sober.”
“Playing with family on an all sober team. Showing people that all natives are not drunks. I love my teammates,” said Goodman.
Robert Rice is a band member of the White Earth Nation. He said, “I play pool to hang out with friends and family. I have played pool in leagues since 1989 and with the ‘Thunder Sticks’ for a few years now. I just like to have a little competition and have fun.”
Mervel LaRose is an enrolled member of Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa. LaRose and his wife live in St. Louis Park, MN and has been playing with the ‘Thunder Sticks’ for a few years now.
“I first started playing pool with my late Grandfather, Harold LaRose Sr.,” said Mervel LaRose. “His work had a pool table down in the basement of the Anishinaabe Long House that was in North Minneapolis. Although I started playing pool at a young age.”
“I started playing with ‘Thunder Sticks’ a few years ago and we ended up having good team chemistry. Hopefully we can achieve another winning season,” added LaRose.
