Besides the effort involved in winning, it was a struggle to get time off simply to compete in the U.S. Nationals. He was only able to do so by getting his brother, David Lee, winner of the Juniors Championships, to substitute for him in the first show of the evening at the Hacienda. Lucas himself was back at the hotel after the competition in time for the second show.

However, after winning the event, he received a congratulatory call from the chairman of the board, Paul Lowden. "Next year, I think they'll be more understanding," he said.

Watching from backstage before the U.S. Nationals, having already competed in two joggling events and five numbers events, Lucas was tired - and a little nervous.

He was clearly the favorite to win the event, which only added to the pressure. Frequent drops by other competitors eased the pressure as he watched, scheduled as the next to last competitor.   Seasoned from 18 years of professional appearances, Lucas was able to distance himself from the rest of the competitors with a flawless routine. No drops. A feat born of 2,500 tosses in seven minutes of show, at the rate of two shows per night six nights per week.

Though he doesn't drop often in professional appearances, he made five in a recent Hacienda show. It was his worst performance since 1974. He was so devastated and embarrassed that he appeared for his final bow at the end of the show with a bag over his head!

Even for a man accustomed to regular applause and appreciation, the standing ovation which followed his act at the U.S. Nationals gave him a unique and wonderful feeling - the thrill of victory in legitimate competition with his peers.

"I've been in tough situations professionally, but I was really on the ragged edge by the end of the U.S. Nationals," he said. "I had to reach way down to pull it out. Nobody gives you a U.S. Nationals championship, you have to earn it. It was the hallmark of my career.

"I never wanted to be the world's greatest juggler," Lucas said. "But I would like to be remembered for opening doors. I hope I showed other pros that it's not easy to win in the IJA, and that winning here is something to be proud of.

At age 16 Lucas faced a crossroads when he questioned where the grueling practice sessions were leading. His older brother, Douglas Martin, faced the same question after flirting with a performance career and decided on another course. Today he is a neurosurgeon in Boca Raton, Fla., thankful to his early juggling for the dexterity he uses in his delicate line of work.

As with Douglas, the father left the decision up to the son, saying, "Albert, you've got to find your own level of ability where you'll be happy and adapt it to whatever you want to do."

Albert has stuck with it to this day. He can't really imagine still juggling 20 years hence, but it's what he enjoys most and does best today.

He counts his blessings every day. "I had it easy," Lucas said. "Juggling has allowed me to enjoy life." He has visited much of the world and most of the U.S.A., and now spends his spare time playing tennis, skiing or doing underwater photography.

"Most of the jugglers I meet haven't had that kind of luck," Lucas confessed. True enough, but most haven't worked at their juggling as Albert Lucas either!