A sad day for me and pool in America

G

Grady

Pro Player
I'm ready for a good fight. Here's why. When European and Asian players began to come to the U.S. and compete I treated every one of them like royalty. Nobody had to qualify EVER. Now the WPA, the BCA and the UPA are banding together and it even looks like they're gonna make guys like me qualify for One Pocket and Bank Pool.
Let's take a hard look et the straight pool event being contested right now. Earl herring, Jim Mataya and four ladies over me getting an invite. Ok, I can live with that. Rhetorically though, I ask everyone on this respected forum, what has any of the aforementioed orgs. ever done for me or my ilk? Nothing, obviously. It just disgusts me. And don't tell me it doesn't smell of Charlie Williams.
Therefore, next year, I'm going to pick four dates and have "World Championships" at One Pocket, Bank Pool, Seniors and 14.1. Entry fees, UPA or WPA members, $1,000, everybody else $100.
All right, I'm ready. Go ahead and light into me.
 
So how do you know if a player is member of WPA or not?

Remember that all players who compete in for example the World Championships are WPA-players...

What am I? I am member of the Norwegian Pool Federation, which is member of the European Pool and Billiard Federation, which is member of WPA. Does this mean I have to pay 1000 $ to play in your event, even though I am not in any board and have never had anything to do with the desicions of either EPBF or WPA?

What about players as Thorsten Hohmann, Ralf Souquet, Shane van Boening? If they were consider NOT being members of WPA, they wouldn't be allowed to compete in the WPA World 9-ball Championship last year...

Looking forward to your reply
 
Grady said:
I'm ready for a good fight. Here's why. When European and Asian players began to come to the U.S. and compete I treated every one of them like royalty. Nobody had to qualify EVER. Now the WPA, the BCA and the UPA are banding together and it even looks like they're gonna make guys like me qualify for One Pocket and Bank Pool.
Let's take a hard look et the straight pool event being contested right now. Earl herring, Jim Mataya and four ladies over me getting an invite. Ok, I can live with that. Rhetorically though, I ask everyone on this respected forum, what has any of the aforementioed orgs. ever done for me or my ilk? Nothing, obviously. It just disgusts me. And don't tell me it doesn't smell of Charlie Williams.
Therefore, next year, I'm going to pick four dates and have "World Championships" at One Pocket, Bank Pool, Seniors and 14.1. Entry fees, UPA or WPA members, $1,000, everybody else $100.
All right, I'm ready. Go ahead and light into me.
Click to expand...
Grady, you don't know me and I don't know you either. I have nothing but respect for you and what you have done and accomplished for the sport. I am not going to give you a hard time either about your opinions which are probably correct. Here is what I do see, I think that you are angry at these organizations for one reason or another and you are going to cut off your nose to spite your face (as my mum used to say) Your last event was accepting everyone right? and it conflicted (I don't care whos fault) but it conflicted with another major event. You had 8 for that event. Now if you exclude, which is basically wat you are doing. If you exclude UPA, Members, WPA Members etc you will be the only one there. It is not good business right now to try and strong arm anyone. You are not in the right position to do that. If I was to hold a tourney and if I said "this is but if you have ever won a major title in your life the entry is $1,000 and all others $100. Would you come to the event?
Again, I have nothing but respect for you but you are angry right now and you should delete this thread, you are just pissing on yourself right now.
 
bfdlad said:
Now if you exclude, which is basically wat you are doing. If you exclude UPA, Members, WPA Members etc you will be the only one there.
Click to expand...

Then he will be 4 x World Champion in 1 year. New record
 
Grady said:
I'm ready for a good fight. Here's why. When European and Asian players began to come to the U.S. and compete I treated every one of them like royalty. Nobody had to qualify EVER. Now the WPA, the BCA and the UPA are banding together and it even looks like they're gonna make guys like me qualify for One Pocket and Bank Pool.
Let's take a hard look et the straight pool event being contested right now. Earl herring, Jim Mataya and four ladies over me getting an invite. Ok, I can live with that. Rhetorically though, I ask everyone on this respected forum, what has any of the aforementioed orgs. ever done for me or my ilk? Nothing, obviously. It just disgusts me. And don't tell me it doesn't smell of Charlie Williams.
Therefore, next year, I'm going to pick four dates and have "World Championships" at One Pocket, Bank Pool, Seniors and 14.1. Entry fees, UPA or WPA members, $1,000, everybody else $100.
All right, I'm ready. Go ahead and light into me.
Click to expand...

Cmon Grady, you know that wont accomplish anything. If you do have it, who will play? I am surprised that a man of your ILK would try this.
 
NCS (National Championship Series)

Grady,

You were just contacted about these events. The whole problem is the process. We are attempting to have a logical process in the US. The winners (hopefully) will be able to represent the US at the World events. You and CW can go out and call any event the "Worlds Championship" - but that does not make it true. These events are NOT INVITATIONAL - everyone MUST QUALIFY.

CSI will have several press releases over the next few weeks. If you have any questions, please contact Holly@cuesportsintl.com or call 702-791-7665. Input is encouraged.

The NCS (National Championship Series) is a method to establish 5 National champions in 5 different games. The US has never had true National Champions. Each state will be offered at least one qualifier-with a total of 64qualifers to be scheduled. We hope to help establish several State Championships through these efforts. These events will be help in pool rooms throughout the US.

The first event is 8-Ball. The regional qualifier winners will receive $500 entry to Nationals. The National winner of the 8-Ball will be allowed to represent the US at the WPA world's 8-ball event. The winner will receive an ALL EXPENSES trip - including air fare, hotel, and food. The remaining money will be paid to other high finishers - or to help fund more US players to other World events.

These are all low entry (under $100) events. These events are about 'titles and recognition'-not prize funds. They will look good on a player's resume. The pool rooms, players and the events will get substantial exposure. This becomes a win-win for everyone involved.

CSI will provide current info on the upcoming events and eventual winners of all qualifiers. Hopefully everyone can help support this concept. The original press release can be viewed here: http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?storynum=5638.

Mark Griffin
CSI
BCAPL
Diamond Billiard Products
 
The NCS makes sense. Good luck to you guys.

To Grady, stop being bitter and life will be better.
 
I can see Gradys POV....it's the politics screwing a guy that likes to speak his mind! Does Gradys pool accomplishments outweigh some of the "invitees" at the 14.1 championships?...I'd venture to say YES. How many years has the guy done exhibitions and ran 100's almost every time?.....he constantly pushes for 14.1 and is in the top 4 in the world on commentating the matches IMO.....

so he gets on some peoples nerves......don't we all at times?...
 
Mark Griffin said:
<snip>The NCS (National Championship Series) is a method to establish 5 National champions in 5 different games. The US has never had true National Champions. Each state will be offered at least one qualifier-with a total of 64qualifers to be scheduled. We hope to help establish several State Championships through these efforts. These events will be help in pool rooms throughout the US.
Click to expand...
I like where you are going with this. It's something different, and is more in line with other major sports and olympic type qualifications. One thing I would suggest is dropping the whole state thing though, UNLESS you are going to enforce it by requiring that the representative of that state be an actual resident of that state (provable by a valid and current state ID in addition to a utility bill or something like that). If you do not enforce the residency, the whole state thing is just silly and meaningless and shouldn't be used in your qualifying process for the National Championships.
 
Hey if you can get some added money together and make the purse decent everyone would play. A pissing match over which is the real world championship is needless, just put on a good tournament and everyone will appreciate it. My grandma once taught me that money talks and bullshite walks.
 
I feel titleless

I wouldn't really do that with the entry fees for the rank and file players of the WPA and the UPA. I just get really frustrated when none of the players will take a stand against groups like the UPA and the WPA. They are really awful and so is Charlie Williams. All I'm asking is to be treated like I've always treated other players and my beloved sport.
I see that, as usual, the internet cockoos completely missed the nice posts I made about Greg Stevens and accuse me of whining all the time.
I think Mark is wrong in the way he's doing this but at least he has a long history of loving pool and putting his money where his mouth is.
 
State championship residency

Poolplaya9,

I appreciate your comments on State residency. However in all the previous state events I have seen (over 40 years) there has never been a requirment to live in that state etc. I am sure some have occurred - so maybe this is a good topic to discuss.

In fact, many players would schedule a trip to a 'weaker' event to try and win a qualifier. Remember the old US OPen 14.1 qualifiers. There were 10 or so of them back in mid l970's. The rest of the field was invited (I believe).

Players would travel all over the place. Also I don't think residency would be enforceable. I like the ideas of having State events. I brings a higher level to the event. It gives a guy (or girl) some 'real bragging rights'. And it looks good on a resume. Hopefully this concept will get some traction and give us a national event with players from all over the country.

Mark Griffin
markg@playbca.com
 
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Consider The Source Of These Suggestions

Grady is well liked and admired by his peers and fans for his accomplishments and contributions over his lifetime.

Sadly, that is not enough for Grady. He seeks respect and recognition from players and organizations that will never give it to him. I wish that I, or some of the people here at AZB could change that, but we can't. He is tilting at windmills.

He might be better served to simply attend the functions and tournaments where he feels that he was overlooked and cast aside and do some of the following:

1.) Light a cigarette and insert the fuse of a cherry bomb in the end of the cigarette and hide it somewhere. When the cigarette burns down, the fuse is lit and the cherry bomb explodes, scaring the bejeezus out of everyone.

2.) Put Super-Glue on all the toilet seats.

3.) Loosen or unscrew the cap to all the salt shakers at tables where his enemies sit.

4.) Wait until the later stages of a pool tournament and casually walk by the tournament chart with a small can of white spray paint and .............whoosh, create havoc.

5.) Take a small bag of raw fish into the room early on and hide it where noone can find it. 2 or 3 days later.... VIOLA !

6.) Stink bombs and stink bugs........ self explanatory.

7.) Find a well built brick wall and bash your head into it repeatedly.

8.) Enjoy your poolroom, hold your tournaments, count your friends, love your lovely wife Randi, enjoy your remaining years... imo

your friend,
Doug


.
 
Dave Nelson said:
That was rather vicious. Do you generally enjoy kicking people who are down?

Dave Nelson
Click to expand...

It wasnt a nice thing to say, but Grady is down a lot lately, eh?

I personally have nothing against with the UPA or Charlie Williams... but on the other hand, Im not a professional pool player so it doesnt matter what I think. But when you feel your getting the short end of the stick, a lot of people sit down and take it.... Grady doesnt. For that, I admire him. But I think he could approach things differently and he could end up with a better result. You get more bees with honey than vinegar. Grady only digs the hole deeper.
 
Wouldn't make more sense to hold a National Championship Series (CSI) Qualifier for the State of (fill in state name here) to cover each state that wants to have representation rather than call it a State Championship?

I really like the idea of introducing a player as winning a State Championship



Mark Griffin said:
Poolplaya9,

I appreciate your comments on State residency. However in all the previous state events I have seen (over 40 years) there has never been a requirment to live in that state etc. I am sure some have occurred - sop maybe this is a good topic to discuss.

In fact, many players would schedule a trip to a 'weaker' event to try and win a qualifier. Remember the old US OPen 14.1 qualifiers. There were 10 or so of them back in mid l970's. The rest of the field was invited (I believe).

Players would travel all over the place. Also I don't think residency would be enforceable. I like the ideas of having State events. I brings a higher level to the event. It gives a guy (or girl) some 'real bragging rights'. And it looks good on a resume. Hopefully this concept will get some traction and give us a national event with players from all over the country.

Mark Griffin
markg@playbca.com
Click to expand...
 
Grady-

You can't get pissed at something that can't be changed. He who has the gold, makes the rules. I hate calling a cop "sir" when I get pulled over.... it makes me sick, but it is what it is.

If you wanna play in that event, you're gonna have to qualify. It makes you sick, I know, but it is what it is. Just go qualify--- or bring peace to yourself and say f-it and don't play in them.

I feel your pain brother. I'd rather watch you in that event than a bunch of those people.

Dave
 
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