From tragedy to triumph, Manuel Gonzales Jr. defied the odds—and changed what was possible.
In Vietnam, Manuel Gonzales Jr. lost his dominant right arm and right leg in a devastating explosion. He could have let that moment define the rest of his life. Instead, he chose to fight.
With faith in God, the unwavering love of his wife Lupe, devotion to his family, and an extraordinary determination to reclaim the game he loved, Manuel learned to play pool again—one-handed and standing on one leg. Then he did what many believed was impossible.
He became a legend.
From tragedy to triumph, Manuel Gonzales Jr. defied the odds—and changed what was possible.
In Vietnam, Manuel Gonzales Jr. lost his dominant right arm and right leg in a devastating explosion. He could have let that moment define the rest of his life. Instead, he chose to fight.
With faith in God, the unwavering love of his wife Lupe, devotion to his family, and an extraordinary determination to reclaim the game he loved, Manuel learned to play pool again—one-handed and standing on one leg. Then he did what many believed was impossible.
He became a legend.
From tragedy to triumph, Manuel Gonzales Jr. defied the odds—and changed what was possible.
In Vietnam, Manuel Gonzales Jr. lost his dominant right arm and right leg in a devastating explosion. He could have let that moment define the rest of his life. Instead, he chose to fight.
With faith in God, the unwavering love of his wife Lupe, devotion to his family, and an extraordinary determination to reclaim the game he loved, Manuel learned to play pool again—one-handed and standing on one leg. Then he did what many believed was impossible.
He became a legend.
Raised in a migrant family, Manuel learned early the value of hard work, family, perseverance, and responsibility. His passion for pool became part of a family tradition—and eventually, a defining part of his life.
When he volunteered to serve his country in Vietnam, everything changed.
A devastating combat injury left Manuel facing a future he never imagined. But with the support of Lupe, his family, and his faith, he began the long journey of rebuilding his life.
His comeback wasn’t just about learning to play pool again.
It was about learning to live again.
And ultimately, it became a lesson for generations.
From that story came more than a book. The Control the Rock apparel and hats were created to honor my dad’s legacy and carry the message of his courage, resilience, and determination forward.
Written by his son, Manuel Gonzales III, Control the Rock is more than a memoir about billiards.
It is a story about what happens when adversity meets courage, when faith meets determination, and when a family refuses to give up.
Through his father’s extraordinary life, Manuel III shares timeless lessons about:
Learning to control your actions and reactions.
Refusing to surrender when life knocks you down.
Building a strong foundation before reaching for greatness.
Facing what seems impossible and moving forward anyway.
Trusting God through life's hardest seasons.
Discovering strength in the people who stand beside you.
Control the Rock is a story born from a lifelong love of pool—and its message has earned the support of three well-known professional players.
A champion of the game who proudly supports the Control the Rock story and the legacy of Manuel Gonzales Jr.
A respected professional pool player standing behind a story of courage, determination, and an unwavering love for the game.
Supporting Control the Rock and honoring the legacy of a man who refused to let adversity define him.
Three champions. Three colors. One powerful story.
Control the Rock brings together the worlds of family, faith, resilience, and the game of pool to honor a legacy that continues to inspire.
