How to Pick a Pool or Table Tennis Table

Have you always wanted a game room, complete with a pool or ping pong table? Such tables can be a great investment as well as a good way to have fun with your friends and family, especially if you live in a part of the country where it's too cold to entertain outside during the winter. However, where do you begin choosing the table that's right for you?

We were a group of Americans (limited to a party of 25) who with spring in our steps were invited to China on a goodwill trip to celebrate the 35th anniversary of “Ping-Pong Diplomacy.” Sponsoring our carefully prepared (Mar. 26-Apr. 4) tour was Mr. Liu Weijun of the fashionable Hongshanshu clothing company, ably assisted by the charismatic Zhuang Zedong (Chuang Tse-tung), the famous 1961-63-65 World Men’s Singles Champion, the two supported by an abundance of obliging officials who feted us with friendship everywhere we went—in Beijing, Shanghai, Changshu, Zhouzhuang, and Suzhou.

GRAND RAPIDS -- Homer Brown of Birmingham, Ala., dropped to one knee Friday morning, as if he was about to propose or was a quarterback attempting to run out the clock.