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Pool is a bigger deal is Craig than one might suspect.

With close to 200 members in the American Pool Association, Sunday and Monday nights at the Popular Bar are dedicated to league play.

Sometime called billiards the game is something most everyone has played and some people find enjoyable.

Dan McIntire said he's been playing in this league for about 15 years and is proud of how good the local pool players are and what they have accomplished.

"We've been to the national tournament in Las Vegas twice," he said. "One time we did real well and the other not so good, but that is plumb amazing for a community our size."

Brenda LeBlanc and Dominic Colangelo called pool their sport of choice and agreed that one of the best parts of being on a league was hanging out with friends.

"It gives you something to do, gets you out of the house around other people," Colangelo said. "And it is just a lot of fun."

Susan Reeve, the APA organizer in Craig, said the fall and winter leagues play eight ball, and during the summer the league plays nine ball. Reeves said playing pool is addictive.

"Pool is one of those games the more you play the better you get, but there is also a certain amount of luck involved," she said. "And no matter how good or bad you do, it is always a lot fun."

She said she thought a lot of people had a bad perception of pool and pool players, and she would like to see that change.

"I think members here are just good people looking something to do and for a good time, but oh they can serious when it comes to competition and tournaments -- winning is also good."

She said league membership has grown a lot during the past few years in the region.

"We play Steamboat in tournaments regularly," she said.

Reeves said more women and younger people are taking up the sport.

"There are a lot of women -- I'd like to see more," she said.

Ray Wardlaw just completed his first session of league play and was pleased with the outcome. He played on two teams, and both took first place.

"So I took home two first place trophies my first time in a league," he said. "I really liked how that felt."

He said he wanted to go to Las Vegas for nationals this year.

"That would be sweet," he said.

There are two sessions, each lasting about 16 weeks. The first session starts in September. The second session begins in January.

Reeves said it was one of the least expensive forums of entertainment in the region. To play in the APA League, a $20 membership fee is paid to APA, and each week players pay $6.

"Some of that goes into a trophy fund, so when we have tournaments those teams placing first or second all receive a trophy," she said.

A league tournament is planned for April 1, 2 and 3. The big city tournament is in June.

"That where the winning team gets $2,500 and goes to Las Vegas," she said.

Open pool is until 5:30 p.m. at the Popular Bar every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are open pool tournaments on Wednesday nights, which costs each player $10 and all the money goes into the winners pots.