I just heard that Larry Price won the "amateur" event at SBE. Is this the same Larry Price that won the banks division at Derby City in 2008. Kind of makes it impossible for us true amateurs to have a prayer..... Must have slipped under the Hopkins radar.
Larry Price....amateur????
- Thread starter vaplaya
- Start date
i think he has won the banks division twice at the dcc.
It's a moot point, really. A true hack amateur (i.e. APA level 6 or something) will never win that event. There are too many strong shortstops and other under-the-radar runout artists who will beat the living death out of the true amateurs and win the amateur event (or any event like it).
Therefore, to say guys like Larry ruin the amateur "dream" of winning that thing is inaccurate. If it's not Larry, it's some other unknown monster who plays like God.
People should start considering their $75 entry as a $75 self-assessment test to see how they hold up against strong competition.... not as a money-making investment.
Therefore, to say guys like Larry ruin the amateur "dream" of winning that thing is inaccurate. If it's not Larry, it's some other unknown monster who plays like God.
People should start considering their $75 entry as a $75 self-assessment test to see how they hold up against strong competition.... not as a money-making investment.
Yeah, he got tested along the way too. (but he did prevail overall)!
This is what makes pool 'great'. Some people want to list Pro Players being such as Syler Ochoa, Ryan McCreesh, etc. while the next day Larry Price, etc. are amateurs. Four years ago, right before they were finishing in the top 10 of IPT events - Darren Appleton, Mick Hill were playing in the BCA amateur events.
Without ever defining what a 'Pro' is, there will always be an issue.
Without ever defining what a 'Pro' is, there will always be an issue.
Manny Chau played as an amateur and I guess got beat.
I spoke with Manny recently and he said he was playing like an amature these days...!
I watched the end of one of his matches and he just blistered his opponent. His opponenet gave him a look like "yeah, you're an amateur".
But he told me he wasn't playing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:grin-square::grin-square::grin-square:
Just because someone won a bank tourney (or two or ten of them) does not make them a "professional" player. If someone wins a "Long Drive" tournament in golf does that make them a professional on the PGA Tour? No. How many people would like to play Brian Gregg some bank pool? Two, maybe three.... Well there are at least 4 or 5 people in Central Indiana alone (where he lives) that would beat him playing 9 ball. Of the good bank pool players, Larry is one of the better of them playing rotation pool but given the players that they have let in the ameteur tourney at SBE in the past Larry fits the bill.
I really disagree with this statement. Yes a APA level six will never win that event, but alot of amateurs play well above APA level 6.
I consider myself an amateur player that would love to win that event. I work 60 hours a week at an engineering high stress job and love to play pool. I live 20 mins from the expo and for me it is the event of the year. Pros in this event spoil it for guys like me, and trust me I am not mad about it or crying. My $75 dollars is not a donation or self assessment, I have made alot higher donations than $75 playing this game.
There are plenty of events at VF to support all levels of play. Pro, Pro-AM, Open. Sure Pros like Larry Price, Jason Klatt, Matt Clatterbuck all of which were in the open amateur don't have to like it playing that format, but going into the event I would have taken 12 players and would have bet I would have picked the winner. These guys should be in the Pro or Pro-Am.
Matt Clatterbuck WON the pro am last year. All of this happens while other local players are BANNED from playing that do not play as good as the players listed above. I am sorry, but if you WIN anything at derby city TWICE you are not an amateur.
Well, it's like this... you make valid points; however, what is a pro? You can't define it because it'd only be your opinion since there's no official system that clearly defines amateur status and defines transition into professional status.
In golf, you can't just play in a pro event as an amateur by paying an entry fee (like you can in most pool tourneys).
There's just no structure in pool nor is there one professional organization like the PGA.... there's no PGA for pool.
So, in conclusion and for the record, I couldn't believe Larry was in the amateur open either... but there are tons more who shouldn't have been in either--- but who am I to think/decide when pool has no structure.
If Allen turned them away and others squeaked in.... there'd be turmoil about that as well. I think it's setup like DCC in many ways.... any can enter and all can play for $75.
Truthfully, I wish I would have played Larry the very first round for my $75 entry fee. But that's just me.
The "amateur" debate will always be there....Locally Jesse Bowman won a tourney, and he plays/has played lots of top pros. He'd have a shot at taking down ANY barbox tourney regardless of the field. I'm sure he's heard the complaints about entering amateur tourneys too, but I don't see a problem with it at all. How much better would a win be if that kinda competition is in the field???
Professional...it ought to be a four letter word!
Dictionary.com's definition pertaining to a professional in a sport:
"a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs: a golf professional."
My understanding of this...If you have a job and get a paycheck at the end of your pay period you are not a professional pool player.
This can be debated to no end and will be until a governing body is accepted within the sport. It's the only place where a true "monopoly" has a purpose and is needed, but unfortunately that isn't ever going to happen...
I'll just leave it at that since I don't wanna see this turn into the thread that never ends and start a debate on "what's wrong with pool" like so many have tried to debate before.
Dictionary.com's definition pertaining to a professional in a sport:
"a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs: a golf professional."
My understanding of this...If you have a job and get a paycheck at the end of your pay period you are not a professional pool player.
This can be debated to no end and will be until a governing body is accepted within the sport. It's the only place where a true "monopoly" has a purpose and is needed, but unfortunately that isn't ever going to happen...
I'll just leave it at that since I don't wanna see this turn into the thread that never ends and start a debate on "what's wrong with pool" like so many have tried to debate before.
Larry Price is w/out a question NOT a professional pool player. He does not play pool for a living, as simple as that.
Of course, he is an extremely strong player, but that does not make you a professional.
He's also probably old enough to play in the seniors division, but won the amateur, so let's give him some credit.
If pool paid out like golf or tennis, then you'd have several hundred more players with the status of "professional". But since pool's not that lucrative, you'll continue to see these guys playing in amatuer events. And if you win a bank pool event once or twice amongst a full field with the likes of all the top pro's, you should be considered a pro.
Funny but a couple years back, Kirkwood and company were playing a three man event in the APA. I've seen other open/pro caliber players in the APA, with manipulated rankings. Some at level 7 in 9 ball.
And $75 is not bad to play up to three sets in that forum.
Christian (Mr. One out of the cash again)
Funny but a couple years back, Kirkwood and company were playing a three man event in the APA. I've seen other open/pro caliber players in the APA, with manipulated rankings. Some at level 7 in 9 ball.
And $75 is not bad to play up to three sets in that forum.
Christian (Mr. One out of the cash again)
When I entered my first professional event (golf), I had to declare and sign that I was either Pro (I could get the cash if I win), or entering as an amateur (tough crap and good job on the win and here are some pro shop gift certs for ya). There is no middle of the road when competing in golf. Example US Amateur winner Danny Lee won the Johnny Walker open this year (and took down quite a few big names in the process), unfortunately he got NADA for the win because he had to declare his status when he entered. If he would have declared Pro status he would have lost his exemption to play in the Masters this year.
Maybe they should do the same at the pool events, this would clear up some of the confusion.
Sounds like Larry would be considered a semi-pro player.... Shannon Daulton's (Great Southern Billiard Tour) has came up with a great handicapped system that makes both the Amatuer and Semi pro have to play top notch pool to come out on top.
This is his 1st season of this system and he has had anywhere from 60-90 players at each event...
Check it out on the tournament forum...=)
This is his 1st season of this system and he has had anywhere from 60-90 players at each event...
Check it out on the tournament forum...=)
Sweet Marissa
www.Bella-Muse.com
What about pool players who are considered professional that actually have jobs? It's hard to make a living just playing pool unless you're Jeanette Lee and have the sponsors. Since there is no one umbrella governing body for men's pool, this is always going to be an issue.