Career
He is best known for the extremely challenging game of one-pocket, which Cook described as "the pool game for strategical and creative abilities." He was nicknamed "Cookie Monster", and due to his unassuming appearance hiding world-class talent, "the Clark Kent of one-pocket". Cook was inducted into the One Pocket Hall of Fame in 2005. As a child, born in Lima, Ohio, Cook suffered debilitating bone deterioration in his right hip, from ages 5 to 10, preventing him from playing running sports, and leading to a focus on hand–eye coordination games.
He did not begin playing pool until age 14, but soon focused all of his sporting attention on the game.
By 19, Cook had attracted a pro, Danny Jones, to play him in an exhibition match, and went on to place 23rd at his first Stardust Open tournament at the titular casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. In that era the premier one-pocket event.
He competed in other events throughout the 1970s, including the United States Open. Aside from competing professionally, Cook served as the manager and house pro at Varsity Billiard Room in Tampa from the early 1970s to 1996, In this capacity, Steve did as much as he could to promote the game of pocket billiards.
Most other professional players would charge $1000.00 a session for lessons.
Steve really did what he could to help anyone improve their game. Cook was also one of a number of contributing authors to the one-pocket book Shots, Moves and Strategies: As Taught by the Game"s Greatest Players (edited by Eddie Robin), now a highly sought-after collector"s item. In 1996, Cook returned to Lima, Ohio, to care for his mother after she suffered a stroke.
He continued playing in the Midwest, and occasionally in major events in Las Vegas and elsewhere.
At the age of 56 he died in his sleep on October 21, 2003 in his hometown of Lima, of causes that were not disclosed in his obituary.
