Kevin The Great!

[8-ball bernie]

go to www.billiardsdigest.com and scroll down until you get to the new issue of billiards digest with kevin on the cover. the article is fantastic. you will gain new insight into this genius. he is driven,passionate, and will stop at nothing until his vision of professional pool is complete! i hearby from this moment forth, feel nothing but warmth and hope for the ipt, and believe our hearts are one in this quest to bring pool to the masses and not just the pool nuts, this is kevin's dream, and i see it too, bring pool to the masses through drama, and intrigue, i believe by december of 2006 pool will be bigger than golf or baseball, thanks to kevin trudue.

[JAM]

Hi, 8-Ball Bernie. Looking forward to meeting you in Orlando! :)

9-Ball Girl had posted the link to this article on Billiards Digest website a while back, and I read it at that time. I agree with you that it was well-written and truly provided a unique insight into the person, Kevin Trudeau.

The other night, a few of us were at a local tournament here in my neck of the woods. Kevin Trudeau's name came up on more than one occasion, and I told "King Kong" about this article. He pulled out his Blackberry and signed onto Billiards Digest and read this piece, and he too came away with a new understanding about the IPT Tour and the man who made it happen.

Those Blackberry doodads are pretty cool! :p

It was an excellent read, and for anybody who hasn't had the opportunity to check it out, it is very enlightening and awe-inspiring.

The world is made up of three kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who say 'What happened?'" Kevin Trudeau makes thing happen, and I'm sure glad he decided to bring pool to a higher level and make the IPT Tour happen. :)

JAM

[SPetty]

Being Kevin Trudeau (http://www.billiardsdigest.com/current_issue/nov_05/)

[Cornerman]

Being Kevin Trudeau (http://www.billiardsdigest.com/current_issue/nov_05/)

Ojai, CA? Where the Steve Austin, The Six Million Dollar Man was from?

HTH,

Fred

[justabrake]

I was reading the paper this morning and found this artical ( he's selling names! :eek:


http://www.nynewsday.com/other/special/amny/

[Gabber]

I was reading the paper this morning and found this artical ( he's selling names! :eek:


http://www.nynewsday.com/other/special/amny/

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-natural-cures-guy,0,5138777.story (you mean this one.)

G

[justabrake]

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-natural-cures-guy,0,5138777.story (you mean this one.)

G

here's another link !


http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/

or

By MICHAEL GORMLEY
Associated Press Writer

October 27, 2005, 8:38 PM EDT


ALBANY, N.Y. -- A New York consumer protection agency warns the infomercial star who wrote "Natural Cures 'They' Don't Want You to Know About" has something he doesn't want his customers to know about.

The state Consumer Protection Board warned Thursday that author Kevin Trudeau is selling their name and contact information to other telemarketers and junk mailers. Some of Trudeau's customers have also complained of unexpected charges for his newsletter and discount purchase programs, said state Consumer Protection Board Executive Director Teresa Santiago.











Trudeau isn't accused of breaking any law.

Instead, Santiago -- who in September lost an initial court battle to Trudeau -- said the retailer isn't abiding by the best and accepted practices of Internet retailers. She said those practices inform customers their name, address and other contact information would be sold to other marketers. Many Internet businesses also provide a way for customers to prohibit their name from being sold to other commercial interests, Santiago said.

She said customers who call one of Trudeau's toll-free numbers for sales have received "spooky junk mail" from Nevada claiming a secret society has personal knowledge about the consumer. The society is another book publisher selling a $150 book teaching people how to rule the world, Santiago said.

"We don't advertise or promote the fact that you can opt out of use of your information," said Trudeau's attorney, David Bradford of Chicago. "Certainly if someone called and requested that, we would be responsive to that."

He said there is no "best" or "accepted practice" in the industry to notify customers before selling their contact data to other firms.

"I think it's commonly understood (among) people purchasing on the Internet that their information is available for appropriate other offers," he said.

Bradford called the state Consumer Protection Board a "renegade agency" that has no legitimate enforcement power.

"What's astounding is that this government bureaucracy would spend taxpayers' money to issue a press release about this subject," Bradford said, calling it "a very personal vendetta."

Trudeau began selling his book on his infomercial, but has gained additional exposure for the controversy surrounding it and his past federal ban from selling health products. He's accused drug companies, government and related interests of suppressing low cost, common remedies to diseases including cancer.

In August, the state Consumer Protection Board warned consumers Trudeau's book doesn't contain "natural cures" for cancer and other diseases. "From cover to cover, this book is a fraud," Santiago said.

A month later, Trudeau took the state agency to court. He obtained a temporary restraining order from federal court in Albany that stopped the state agency from contacting television stations to urge them not to carry ads or infomercials about the book. That case is now headed to court, said board spokesman Jon Sorensen.

"It is clear that certain government officials are threatened by this book because it exposes the government's misconduct and because it is a best seller that strikes a chord with Americans everywhere," said Neil Sant, president of Alliance Publishing Group that published the book, after securing the court order. "The government tried to censor this book in direct violation of the First Amendment."

In 2004, Trudeau was banned by the FTC from advertising his cancer cure and pain reliever products. He was fined $2 million for making false health claims for products, according to the federal settlement. The ban exempted infomercials for books, newsletters and other informational publications. That's how he's selling his new book.

"The cover of the book says it `includes the natural cures for more than 50 specific diseases,'" Santiago said. "But after 355 pages, Trudeau writes: `It's important to know that people who are looking for a specific cure for a specific disease are missing the point of this book.'"

* __

On the Net:

New York State Consumer Protection Board: http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/

Natural Cures: http://www.naturalcures.com

[SPetty]

I ordered from a catalog once. I get six or seven catalogs in the mail almost every day. Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but I do get several a day! From places I've never heard of. It's a common practice to sell your "live marks" to other marketers. I have no idea how to remove myself from these lists.

[catscradle]

Whether or not he helps pool or not is still an open question. However, there is no question that IMO he is a top grade snake oil salesman. :mad:

[Str8PoolMan]

Whether or not he helps pool or not is still an open question. However, there is no question that IMO he is a top grade snake oil salesman. :mad:

Considering everything I read about this man, I don't understand how the people on this forum can expect me not to be skeptical of this man and his motives.
This is supposed to be our savior?

[onepocketchump]

Considering everything I read about this man, I don't understand how the people on this forum can expect me not to be skeptical of this man and his motives.
This is supposed to be our savior?

Be skeptical, who cares? In a country that elected a moron as president why is so surprising that it takes an infomercial billionaire to be the one who actually elevates pool to the status we constantly say it should be at. For God's sake, find me ANY famous person in this country who doesn't have skeletons or some kind of issues. Especially, find me any billionaire who hasn't been involved in some kind of "shady" deals to get there.

I would love to see any of you who are standing on your moral pedastals be able to build a business without comprimising those morals in some way. I bet 99% of you would fail the test.

So, sorry that Joe Boy Scout didn't turn up with 15 million to help pool cross the street. I suppose that you ought to consider who is being saved as well. A lot of them wouldn't be allowed to play for you if they had to pass y'all's bible-thumping tests.

John

[cuesmith]

Be skeptical, who cares? In a country that elected a moron as president why is so surprising that it takes an infomercial billionaire to be the one who actually elevates pool to the status we constantly say it should be at. For God's sake, find me ANY famous person in this country who doesn't have skeletons or some kind of issues. Especially, find me any billionaire who hasn't been involved in some kind of "shady" deals to get there.

I would love to see any of you who are standing on your moral pedastals be able to build a business without comprimising those morals in some way. I bet 99% of you would fail the test.

So, sorry that Joe Boy Scout didn't turn up with 15 million to help pool cross the street. I suppose that you ought to consider who is being saved as well. A lot of them wouldn't be allowed to play for you if they had to pass y'all's bible-thumping tests.

John

Tap Tap Tap!

just a little warm wind!

Sherm

[straybullet]

This is the biggest kiss ass thread I have ever seen. :rolleyes: You guys are pathetic. Praise the man when there is something to be praised. Right now, its all speculative.

oh wait.. I forgot...
Great post John.., Tap Tap Tap
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[catscradle]

Be skeptical, who cares? In a country that elected a moron as president why is so surprising that it takes an infomercial billionaire to be the one who actually elevates pool to the status we constantly say it should be at. For God's sake, find me ANY famous person in this country who doesn't have skeletons or some kind of issues. Especially, find me any billionaire who hasn't been involved in some kind of "shady" deals to get there.

I would love to see any of you who are standing on your moral pedastals be able to build a business without comprimising those morals in some way. I bet 99% of you would fail the test.

So, sorry that Joe Boy Scout didn't turn up with 15 million to help pool cross the street. I suppose that you ought to consider who is being saved as well. A lot of them wouldn't be allowed to play for you if they had to pass y'all's bible-thumping tests.

John

John, don't be silly. The point people are making has nothing to do with bible thumping. Just suggesting that people see the man for what he is. If he helps pool I applaud him for it, but it doesn't change his past and we're not just talking about a few "skeletons in the closet". I do agree with you that very few people get rich without screwing some people along the way, but that doesn't make it right. You know better than to say that. I think we skeptics just don't want to say the way he makes his money is cool, no matter what he's doing for pool. If John Goiti (sp?) were a big benefactor of pool would you overlook his murderous past? This is the same principle. I have little tolerance for people who take advantage of dumb peoplel. I guess that is a way of life for a some (maybe many) pool players and a lot of others think it cool, but I don't, I think it is low.

[onepocketchump]

John, don't be silly. The point people are making has nothing to do with bible thumping. Just suggesting that people see the man for what he is. If he helps pool I applaud him for it, but it doesn't change his past and we're not just talking about a few "skeletons in the closet". I do agree with you that very few people get rich without screwing some people along the way, but that doesn't make it right. You know better than to say that. I think we skeptics just don't want to say the way he makes his money is cool, no matter what he's doing for pool. If John Goiti (sp?) were a big benefactor of pool would you overlook his murderous past? This is the same principle. I have little tolerance for people who take advantage of dumb peoplel. I guess that is a way of life for a some (maybe many) pool players and a lot of others think it cool, but I don't, I think it is low.

Okay, using your criteria, of seeing the man for what he is. What is he? A convicted criminal, yes. A snake-oil salesman? Perhaps. A promoter, certainly. A patron of pool, right now for sure. Is he a better person now than when he was convicted? All you or I know of him is his criminal conviction, which he does not deny, that he settled out of court with the FDA, which he addresses in great detail and does not deny, and that some consumers are unhappy with the content of his book.

So let's address the criminal conviction. Do you believe that a conviction makes a person a criminal for life, that they are then only going to act criminally and be of no benefit to society? Surely not. Is Kevin reformed? We don't know do we. He is not in jail, and he is definitely high profile so I guess if he were breaking the law he is either doing a damn good job of it or the feds are inept. The man says he lives a clean life dedicated to improving himself. Until I see otherwise I have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Now let's address the snake-oil salesman part. We all know of the placebo effect. We also know that belief in something goes a long way. People want to believe in miracle cures, or at least alternative cures for any number of ailments. If Kevin didn't sell it then someone else will. But that still doesn't make it right if he is deliberately misleading the public does it? Well, I have read the book and I believe that Kevin believes everything in it. Now you and I know that there are preachers out there that believe every word in the Bible. Does that make them snake-oil salesmen for selling faith? I have a very good friend who swears by magnets. He uses them and sell them. They don't work for me but he plays tennis and does a bunch of other things that he couldn't do and was told he would never be able to do by his doctors because of his knees and back. Is he a snake-oil salesman because of it? Have any of you even read the book? One very good point that Kevin makes in it is that what is accepted now as fact was thought to be impossible 20 years ago and things that seem impossible now will be accepted as fact 20 years from now. Discoveries happen every day. So, he is selling a book filled with his opinions, some of which may be valid and some which probably are not. Go to any bookstore and you will find hundreds of similar books for sale. It is up to the consumer to do their homework before purchasing anything and it is easier than ever with the advent of the internet. Don't you think that if Kevin wanted to simply defraud the public then he would have written the book under a different name and made someone else the frontman? Someone who didn't have any past that is easily accesible on the net? I would venture to say that before the book most people would have no clue who Kevin Trudeau is. So, he has more to lose by being the pitchman, essentially putting his whole reputation on the line for his beliefs. That's some really good snake-oil brother. I think it take some really big balls to go up against the FDA and the "establishment" making the claims he is making. As far as taking advantage of dumb people goes - Kevin offers a 100% money back guarantee on the book. How dumb is that? I guess I am one of the dumb people because I bought the book, I read it and I am not asking for my money back.

Now, Kevin the promoter. - All we know is what he has done and what he says he will do. So far he has put on successfully, the largest, exhibition match ever played in the United States with the most glitz and pomp and real media attention. In a month he will stage the largest pool tournament in United States history. He will honor the hall of fame players with $30,000 appearance fees. Not only has no other promoter ever done anything like this but no one has ever attempted to show the level of respect to the hall of fame players that Kevin is doing. Is there an ulterior motive? You bet your ass there is, which is what any good promoter has. To further the cause and the business. So, as a pool promoter, right now he stands leagues above all others. Barry Behrman has done the US Open for 30 years and it pays out a paltry $40 grand to the winner and not even enough fo expenses to the 17th place finisher. Barry is a convicted criminal and he gets applauded for putting on the US Open on this board. Barry gets a chance that Kevin doesn't get. So, yes Kevin Trudeau is an ambitious promoter who is willing to put up more money, time and effort than ANY promoter has in our lifetimes. The next closest in my book is Barry Hearn and Mark Griffin/Greg Sullivan of Diamond and they both run a distant second to what Kevin plans to do.

In conclusion, you have a successful marketer, whose past is an open book, who is putting more money in the professional side of our sport than anyone ever has before.

I don't know if any of you remember the boom that followed the Color of Money. It was fantastic for everyone in the industry. If this thing hits then pool really will be everyone's game AND it won't be because of anything the BCA did.

John

[Nostroke]

Okay, using your criteria, of seeing the man for what he is. What is he? A convicted criminal, yes. A snake-oil salesman? Perhaps. A promoter, certainly. A patron of pool, right now for sure. Is he a better person now than when he was convicted? All you or I know of him is his criminal conviction, which he does not deny, that he settled out of court with the FDA, which he addresses in great detail and does not deny, and that some consumers are unhappy with the content of his book.

So let's address the criminal conviction. Do you believe that a conviction makes a person a criminal for life, that they are then only going to act criminally and be of no benefit to society? Surely not. Is Kevin reformed? We don't know do we. He is not in jail, and he is definitely high profile so I guess if he were breaking the law he is either doing a damn good job of it or the feds are inept. The man says he lives a clean life dedicated to improving himself. Until I see otherwise I have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Now let's address the snake-oil salesman part. We all know of the placebo effect. We also know that belief in something goes a long way. People want to believe in miracle cures, or at least alternative cures for any number of ailments. If Kevin didn't sell it then someone else will. But that still doesn't make it right if he is deliberately misleading the public does it? Well, I have read the book and I believe that Kevin believes everything in it. Now you and I know that there are preachers out there that believe every word in the Bible. Does that make them snake-oil salesmen for selling faith? I have a very good friend who swears by magnets. He uses them and sell them. They don't work for me but he plays tennis and does a bunch of other things that he couldn't do and was told he would never be able to do by his doctors because of his knees and back. Is he a snake-oil salesman because of it? Have any of you even read the book? One very good point that Kevin makes in it is that what is accepted now as fact was thought to be impossible 20 years ago and things that seem impossible now will be accepted as fact 20 years from now. Discoveries happen every day. So, he is selling a book filled with his opinions, some of which may be valid and some which probably are not. Go to any bookstore and you will find hundreds of similar books for sale. It is up to the consumer to do their homework before purchasing anything and it is easier than ever with the advent of the internet. Don't you think that if Kevin wanted to simply defraud the public then he would have written the book under a different name and made someone else the frontman? Someone who didn't have any past that is easily accesible on the net? I would venture to say that before the book most people would have no clue who Kevin Trudeau is. So, he has more to lose by being the pitchman, essentially putting his whole reputation on the line for his beliefs. That's some really good snake-oil brother. I think it take some really big balls to go up against the FDA and the "establishment" making the claims he is making. As far as taking advantage of dumb people goes - Kevin offers a 100% money back guarantee on the book. How dumb is that? I guess I am one of the dumb people because I bought the book, I read it and I am not asking for my money back.

Now, Kevin the promoter. - All we know is what he has done and what he says he will do. So far he has put on successfully, the largest, exhibition match ever played in the United States with the most glitz and pomp and real media attention. In a month he will stage the largest pool tournament in United States history. He will honor the hall of fame players with $30,000 appearance fees. Not only has no other promoter ever done anything like this but no one has ever attempted to show the level of respect to the hall of fame players that Kevin is doing. Is there an ulterior motive? You bet your ass there is, which is what any good promoter has. To further the cause and the business. So, as a pool promoter, right now he stands leagues above all others. Barry Behrman has done the US Open for 30 years and it pays out a paltry $40 grand to the winner and not even enough fo expenses to the 17th place finisher. Barry is a convicted criminal and he gets applauded for putting on the US Open on this board. Barry gets a chance that Kevin doesn't get. So, yes Kevin Trudeau is an ambitious promoter who is willing to put up more money, time and effort than ANY promoter has in our lifetimes. The next closest in my book is Barry Hearn and Mark Griffin/Greg Sullivan of Diamond and they both run a distant second to what Kevin plans to do.

In conclusion, you have a successful marketer, whose past is an open book, who is putting more money in the professional side of our sport than anyone ever has before.

I don't know if any of you remember the boom that followed the Color of Money. It was fantastic for everyone in the industry. If this thing hits then pool really will be everyone's game AND it won't be because of anything the BCA did.

John

Pretty good post man!

Have you ever considered being a Defense Attorney?

I am pretty impressed with kinder gentler Onepocketchump.

[onepocketchump]

Pretty good post man!

Have you ever considered being a Defense Attorney?

I am pretty impressed with kinder gentler Onepocketchump.

Thanks! And yes, I did consider becoming an attorney. I just couldn't get to class after matching up all night :-))

John

[jay helfert]

Considering everything I read about this man, I don't understand how the people on this forum can expect me not to be skeptical of this man and his motives.
This is supposed to be our savior?


I'd rather have him than Don f-----g Mackey!

[jay helfert]

Be skeptical, who cares? In a country that elected a moron as president why is so surprising that it takes an infomercial billionaire to be the one who actually elevates pool to the status we constantly say it should be at. For God's sake, find me ANY famous person in this country who doesn't have skeletons or some kind of issues. Especially, find me any billionaire who hasn't been involved in some kind of "shady" deals to get there.

I would love to see any of you who are standing on your moral pedastals be able to build a business without comprimising those morals in some way. I bet 99% of you would fail the test.

So, sorry that Joe Boy Scout didn't turn up with 15 million to help pool cross the street. I suppose that you ought to consider who is being saved as well. A lot of them wouldn't be allowed to play for you if they had to pass y'all's bible-thumping tests.

John

Right on John. Trudeau is a businessman who sees an opportunity to own a sport, much like Lyle Berman did with the World Poker Tour. I give the guy a lot of credit for going for it. I like someone who will put their money where their mouth is.

[jay helfert]

This is the biggest kiss ass thread I have ever seen. :rolleyes: You guys are pathetic. Praise the man when there is something to be praised. Right now, its all speculative.

oh wait.. I forgot...
Great post John.., Tap Tap Tap
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I wouldn't exactly call a 16 million dollar commitment specualtive.

[Sweet Marissa]

I think anytime you type your email address into a PC, it becomes available to open parties. I have several email addresses for different things: personal correspondance, business, and a yahoo account for the little boxes on forms that ask for your email address, because I know my email address is subject to receive offers from other companies. And btw, since I have signed up for updates on the IPT website with the latter, I've only received emails regarding the IPT... nothing from Natural Cures or anything else.

[straybullet]

I wouldn't exactly call a 16 million dollar commitment specualtive.

Jay
Until the first event is run - its success is speculative. That's what I meant by that. Wait until the event HAPPENS and then say how great he is. There was a lot of hope for the XFL but despite all of the money behind it - it crashed and burned and had a horrific death. I view this thread as premature ass kissing because nothing has happened yet. Once the IPT is launched he has to keep it afloat. The hard work has not begun for the IPT yet. It's a process and there is a risk of failure involved. Anyone that says that there isn't is only fooling themselves. That $16 Million commitment is also a $16 Million gamble. You of all people know that better than anybody.

[onepocketchump]

Jay
Until the first event is run - its success is speculative. That's what I meant by that. Wait until the event HAPPENS and then say how great he is. There was a lot of hope for the XFL but despite all of the money behind it - it crashed and burned and had a horrific death. I view this thread as premature ass kissing because nothing has happened yet. Once the IPT is launched he has to keep it afloat. The hard work has not begun for the IPT yet. It's a process and there is a risk of failure involved. Anyone that says that there isn't is only fooling themselves. That $16 Million commitment is also a $16 Million gamble. You of all people know that better than anybody.

There is definitely a good bit of ass-kissing going on as well as a fair bit of persecution. And, in fairness, this board would be useless if only one opinion were allowed.

As far as praise goes though, Kevin definitely deserves more praise than condemnation for what he has committed so far. The Invitational will be a success, because it will have 100% participation, 100% payout and is 100% guaranteed. What is a more fitting way for pool to spring into the national spotlight than for a controversial billionaire to gamble his pocket change on it?

3 million books at $30 bucks apiece gives him enough profit to fund this puppy for a couple years. Not to mention how much more he will sell when the book is on TV in primetime.

John

[straybullet]

3 million books at $30 bucks apiece gives him enough profit to fund this puppy for a couple years. Not to mention how much more he will sell when the book is on TV in primetime.

John

This where you lost me.. I really like what you said in your post.. before this.. why would anyone care about his book? What does it have to do with pool? Maybe I'm still missing something. Am I? I understand he has a lot of money, but is the success of the IPT depending on whether or not a book sells? I spoke with someone about this the other day and they brought up Lorenzo Fertitta who bought into the UFC. That was an interesting deal where they found money attached to political connections within the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It might be apples and oranges, but if you do a little research on that deal, you will see that they covered all of their bases. Less than 10 years ago they had no platform and they were trying to shut them down. Look at them now. Compare that to what Mr. Trudeau is doing with pool. It is an excellent comparison to what is going on with pool right now. Building anything on shaky ground could be very dangerous. I'm not persecuting him, I'm just being realistic. I think its great what he's doing. I just don't see how he is going to make money from this. That's what business is about - making money - not giving it away.

[onepocketchump]

This where you lost me.. I really like what you said in your post.. before this.. why would anyone care about his book? What does it have to do with pool? Maybe I'm still missing something. Am I? I understand he has a lot of money, but is the success of the IPT depending on whether or not a book sells? I spoke with someone about this the other day and they brought up Lorenzo Fertitta who bought into the UFC. That was an interesting deal where they found money attached to political connections within the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It might be apples and oranges, but if you do a little research on that deal, you will see that they covered all of their bases. Less than 10 years ago they had no platform and they were trying to shut them down. Look at them now. Compare that to what Mr. Trudeau is doing with pool. It is an excellent comparison to what is going on with pool right now. Building anything on shaky ground could be very dangerous. I'm not persecuting him, I'm just being realistic. I think its great what he's doing. I just don't see how he is going to make money from this. That's what business is about - making money - not giving it away.

Kevin has stated that he is doing this to promote his book and companion website. So far the book has reportedly sold 3 million copies and this info was over a month ago. Kevin has also stated that other businesses are interested in getting in on the action and that he sees no need to share the avenue since if the vehicle is lucrative for them then it is better to use it for
his businesses. So it's simple math to figure that he's already made enough off of the book sales to fund the tour for the first couple years at least. The tour by itself is not what is intended to make money at the beginning. Right now it is intended to help sell more books.

If all goes well then the tour will be a self-sustaining entity after two years. And if not, then hopefully the sales will continue to be enought to fund it. You can be sure that Kevin is not just giving money away. He is investing it iinto building what he thinks will become a viable property. If he builds a tour which proves that it can generate signifigant viewership then he will have a self-sustaining entity which will draw other big time investors to it.

Just like anyone else who starts a venture, this one has a plan and a model for success. It's funded to a point and then the market will decide if it can flourish or not. Better than the pipe dreams that so many other ventures in pool have been built on.

You would probably agree that there were those who wondered if Walt Disney wasn't nuts to spend the money he did building Disneyland. But your paycheck is proof enough that it took a man of vision and means to do it.

Hell, my boss employs 18 people because he thought it woud be cool to put a laser pointer in a pool stick and invest in that.

I don't know about the UFC, but I think it is a pretty good comparison in that it took entrepeneurs with vision and means to take a marginal sport with little recognition and low payouts and turn into a profitable and attractive property with well compensated stars. And, as far as I know, the IPT isn't under the jurisdiction of any state's athletic commission's rules because pool is not really recognized as a sport in the good ole' USA. The WPA/BCA woud know about that. :-)

John

[straybullet]

Listen here, Onepocketchumpsters... you leave my pay check out of this discussion...(didn't you read the occupation thread??? here comes the IRS.. Thank you John)

The reason I brought up Lorenzo Fertitta is because his family owns Casino's in California and Nevada which took care of the UFC in regards of having venues to showcase their product. Fertitta had held a position on the Nevada State Athletic Commission as well and had connections to get the sport recognized and approved. Connections in the gaming commissions didn't hurt either. However, the people within their sport had to do a lot of work to change things. It didn't happen overnight, and it certainly didn't happen just because of the money. Everyone from the top to the bottom had to be committed and they had to adapt to the changes that were being made. That is why I brought up that comparison. Do a little research on that and you will see amazing parallels to what pool is going through.

[onepocketchump]

Okay. I am not sure where the discussion is at right now. I trust that you are satisfied with the business model that Kevin has outlined. Kevin isn't saddled with the need to get permission from the states to run his tournaments, as far as I know. He isn't concerned with getting or buying the blessing from any existing pool organizations, as far as I know. From what I hear he has been closely cooperating with the UPA and the WPBA to make it as easy as possible for their players to play inthe IPT. Some there is definitely effort on Kevin's part to work with organizations who bring something to the table.

I am not sure what I should be researching. I can see where pool is going. I used to watch it every Wednsday night on the travel channel. Now I know who Chris Ferguson, Annie Duke, Phil Helmuth, Phil Ivey, Chris Moneymaker, Doyle Brunson, and other poker players are. When I am channel flipping I will stop and watch a poker match. And I don't play poker, not recreationally, for money or onine. Once in a while I will play some on yahoo for a little while until I get bored. So I imagine and hope that pool attains that status, where it is interesting enough to enthrall and make people who don't play care about who wins.

John