Sarah Rousey comments on the Women's Worlds
- Thread starter Carolina Blue
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Okay, back on track...
I have been a sympathizer for women pool for some time now, especially in the saleability aspect, which we really have no control of. Sponsors put their money where mileage is, and nobody is about to teach sponsors how to maximize their exposure.
This problem was one that Tennis had to hurdle. But then again, it really depends on the individual player because the decision to do things lie entirely on them. If Shanelle or Jeanette did not want to show cleavage, nobody could force them to. I don't think any male player would agree (or volunteer) to wearing an undershirt in a world championship if Jockey was a major sponsor. The women have to work within a consensus among themselves as to the limits of the image they are going to be brought to as a group. If any of them wants to do her own stuff outside the group image, then it is her own choice. Jeanette has always packaged herself into what jives with what DP wants.
Edwin Reyes and I handled and tried to push the country's top lady players (Amit, Ranola, et al) way back in 2002 to get them funding to go out of the country and join international tournaments. Marketing them was very frustrating because they wanted to play as is, where is, and sponsors wanted endorsers.
But I believe that this problem will solve itself eventually because the ladies are getting better worldwide. Unfortunately, DP may have just made it harder for skill-based promotions with the direction it has taken in marketing the women's events. Men's pool crawled out of the "gambling" image and I have doubts as to where DP wants to lead women's pool to now. Regardless if the quality of sponsors, it would be nice to package tournaments basing things on skill. Maybe a little sexiness, but not this overplayed. Honestly, even if their showcase did not show sexy women, I think the audience turn-out would have been the same.
I think that from the flack this approach has gotten them to, DP will learn from its decisions.
I am sure that if Edwin were still around, he would have objected to anything outside of fairness - like TV table assignments, seedings, and bracketings and the other complaints. Edwin always placed his perspective in the players' eyes, from small details to huge issues. I think that all the snags in his absence now show how meticulous Edwin was when he threw himself in.
I have been a sympathizer for women pool for some time now, especially in the saleability aspect, which we really have no control of. Sponsors put their money where mileage is, and nobody is about to teach sponsors how to maximize their exposure.
This problem was one that Tennis had to hurdle. But then again, it really depends on the individual player because the decision to do things lie entirely on them. If Shanelle or Jeanette did not want to show cleavage, nobody could force them to. I don't think any male player would agree (or volunteer) to wearing an undershirt in a world championship if Jockey was a major sponsor. The women have to work within a consensus among themselves as to the limits of the image they are going to be brought to as a group. If any of them wants to do her own stuff outside the group image, then it is her own choice. Jeanette has always packaged herself into what jives with what DP wants.
Edwin Reyes and I handled and tried to push the country's top lady players (Amit, Ranola, et al) way back in 2002 to get them funding to go out of the country and join international tournaments. Marketing them was very frustrating because they wanted to play as is, where is, and sponsors wanted endorsers.
But I believe that this problem will solve itself eventually because the ladies are getting better worldwide. Unfortunately, DP may have just made it harder for skill-based promotions with the direction it has taken in marketing the women's events. Men's pool crawled out of the "gambling" image and I have doubts as to where DP wants to lead women's pool to now. Regardless if the quality of sponsors, it would be nice to package tournaments basing things on skill. Maybe a little sexiness, but not this overplayed. Honestly, even if their showcase did not show sexy women, I think the audience turn-out would have been the same.
I think that from the flack this approach has gotten them to, DP will learn from its decisions.
I am sure that if Edwin were still around, he would have objected to anything outside of fairness - like TV table assignments, seedings, and bracketings and the other complaints. Edwin always placed his perspective in the players' eyes, from small details to huge issues. I think that all the snags in his absence now show how meticulous Edwin was when he threw himself in.
You blew it in vegas, she was ready to meet up and everything. Next year youl HAVE to stay at the riv, wynn is overrated
What does ....and everything mean?
She knows how to get ahold of me.
I'll still be at The Wynn next year but have my lookouts at the Riv for girl1one.
And everything means, have a drink, shoot a few games of pool, pull on the slots, you know, just have a jolly ole time with pals.
Disco - I was literally sick the night she was available at the Riv. Two bottles of ginger ale for $18.00 room service at The Wynn and I still wasn't feeling better.
Next year: me, Disco, hilla hilla and girl1won - Vega$ baby.
And maybe girl1won could teach me how to jump a ball.
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I agree- that was an excellent, well-played match- Yu Ram Cha started strong with a break-and-run in the first rack.:thumbup:
Liu could have won it on on the hill when she sunk the 10-ball on a kick shot combo but didn't call it (which she should have done as it was obviously on and she had nothing to lose).
Unacceptable!
This is an unacceptable post! It's so mean-spirited that it defies explanation. Sarah is an extremely nice person and has been completely professional when representing the sport of pool. She has dedicated so much of her time to become a professional pool player. This is a forum for people who appreciate pool and this kind of remark has no place here. If you knew anything at all about her; you would retract this statement and issue an immediate apology.
I'm appalled by your absolute thoughtlessness. What on earth does she have to be jealous over? She plays better than most people I know and is as cute as ever. If anything, let's get it right. She seemed more passionate about the fact that Kelly was over-looked at the press conference and that the tournament conditions weren't to the standards for such an event. For you to make that kind of assumption based on what she wrote is only a reflection of your character or lack thereof.
Code Red for you!
sarah blog great topic
about
1 condition lousy
2 weather hot & rain no good, dont no which one better
3 table crap
4 cusion crap
but that country is third world poor country,
5 J.lee,shanelle,yu,
and some beauties from europe always on TV, front page of newspaper
but
SARAH never show on TV or newspaper
maybe
SARAH is fat & ugly
and feel jealous
sorry sarah you ugly
hehe:grin:
This is an unacceptable post! It's so mean-spirited that it defies explanation. Sarah is an extremely nice person and has been completely professional when representing the sport of pool. She has dedicated so much of her time to become a professional pool player. This is a forum for people who appreciate pool and this kind of remark has no place here. If you knew anything at all about her; you would retract this statement and issue an immediate apology.
I'm appalled by your absolute thoughtlessness. What on earth does she have to be jealous over? She plays better than most people I know and is as cute as ever. If anything, let's get it right. She seemed more passionate about the fact that Kelly was over-looked at the press conference and that the tournament conditions weren't to the standards for such an event. For you to make that kind of assumption based on what she wrote is only a reflection of your character or lack thereof.
Code Red for you!
How many of you know that you can also flag posts as "bad" and that will go to the moderators? Right next to the rep button is a "report post" button. Hit it and tell the mods why the post is bad and it will probably go away soon if enough people flag it.
Community diligence works! Constantly quoting it doesn't.
Thank you.
I know it and it's been sent! First time, I've ever felt the need to do so...
I know it and it's been sent! First time, I've ever felt the need to do so...
Some tables are in the dark there !
Well a good thing is that poor player Shanelle will not be seen in to the next round. I saw Karen Corr today, now that's a player ! Very powerful game she has.
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While I appreciate Sarah's candid comments about the events she's participating in...
Who amongst us has not traveled to an event that turned out to be ca-ca? Bad equipment, bad venue, rotten scheduling, no practice tables, favoritism to certain players, skullduggery on the draw, questionable accounting on the payouts.
When it comes to pool, isn't that all par for the course? Frankly, we only have ourselves to blame -- we put up with it all and keep going back for more. And collectively, we let some promoters get away with murder over and over again. Each and everyone of us has to make decisions about what events we go to and support. Take for instance the Galveston event that's suppose to come off. About the only thing we know for sure is that, with Diamond providing the tables, the equipment should be good. But everything else is up for grabs. And everybody is going to have to make a personal decision on whether they want to roll the dice and go to the event.
Good events are few and far between. Personally, I won't go to certain tournaments because I don't want to put up with their particular brand of baloney -- you get burned once or twice and you have to decide whether a tournament is for you, or not. The amateurs amongst us have the luxury of making that call of freely picking and choosing where and when we will go to spend our pool dollars.
But, if the road you've chosen is that of a professional pool player, then it's a bit different. Part of your road will be rocky and crappy and suck (hopefully along with wonderful stretches of scenic tranquility I'm sure Allison and Karen and Gerda have seen it all -- and much worse -- traveling down the professional pool player road. But I'm thinking that they've probably come to realize that dealing with all the crap is part of the deal and that it takes a certain mental strength, discipline, and focus to zero all that out and just play pool. By the same token, it takes skill and technique to play under less than optimal conditions on dubious equipment. That part doesn't come automatically, and learning to play with different balls, on different clothes, with different rails, is part of the professional player's tool kit.
If Sarah wants to be a professional player, she does herself no favors by trashing a major promoter. Oh yeah, we can do it and the CW floggings should continue here until everyone's arms cramp up. But Sarah needs to learn to be more diplomatic, if her desire is to be "a professional."
Lou Figueroa
Who amongst us has not traveled to an event that turned out to be ca-ca? Bad equipment, bad venue, rotten scheduling, no practice tables, favoritism to certain players, skullduggery on the draw, questionable accounting on the payouts.
When it comes to pool, isn't that all par for the course? Frankly, we only have ourselves to blame -- we put up with it all and keep going back for more. And collectively, we let some promoters get away with murder over and over again. Each and everyone of us has to make decisions about what events we go to and support. Take for instance the Galveston event that's suppose to come off. About the only thing we know for sure is that, with Diamond providing the tables, the equipment should be good. But everything else is up for grabs. And everybody is going to have to make a personal decision on whether they want to roll the dice and go to the event.
Good events are few and far between. Personally, I won't go to certain tournaments because I don't want to put up with their particular brand of baloney -- you get burned once or twice and you have to decide whether a tournament is for you, or not. The amateurs amongst us have the luxury of making that call of freely picking and choosing where and when we will go to spend our pool dollars.
But, if the road you've chosen is that of a professional pool player, then it's a bit different. Part of your road will be rocky and crappy and suck (hopefully along with wonderful stretches of scenic tranquility
I'm sure Allison and Karen and Gerda have seen it all -- and much worse -- traveling down the professional pool player road. But I'm thinking that they've probably come to realize that dealing with all the crap is part of the deal and that it takes a certain mental strength, discipline, and focus to zero all that out and just play pool. By the same token, it takes skill and technique to play under less than optimal conditions on dubious equipment. That part doesn't come automatically, and learning to play with different balls, on different clothes, with different rails, is part of the professional player's tool kit.If Sarah wants to be a professional player, she does herself no favors by trashing a major promoter. Oh yeah, we can do it and the CW floggings should continue here until everyone's arms cramp up. But Sarah needs to learn to be more diplomatic, if her desire is to be "a professional."
Lou Figueroa
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Thank you all for reading my blog. I will clear things up here. I didn't post it to get a huge reaction or sympathy. I felt it was right to do that because I was sponsored by people all over the world rather than one single sponsor. I feel that everyone has a right to know. I was wrong in not sending Charlie a message before posting, I admit that. I have since done so but I have not seen him around to talk to him. Concerns by myself and other players were said to many, many people. I do not regret speaking my mind.
As for Jay and his comments, thanks Jay for explaining what you see. Tomorrow I will take pictures that show what the sunlight does to the players seated facing the window half of the dome. I never said that there were not lights over the table. I said that the lights in the early rounds the first day were not turned on and we were using the daylight. As for the table quality compared to last week, I disagree and so do many others. We brought those concerns to those in charge, including you at the players meeting. We were assured they would be fixed. I did say that it was leaking on the table, that was true and you did handle it. It was also leaking all around the tables...that is something that is not a promoter problem. It is a brand new venue. I also understand the little dig that you had there...I played horribly so I will pass on my TV time this year since I didn't make it to the elimination rounds. Thank you for pointing out that I could have had my turn.
Keep in mind, I understand the business side of things as well. I understand that you have to get sponsors and you have to make money back and the way to do that is to promote the pretty girls. I have no problem with that at all at any tournament other than one deemed a world championship. But hey, whatever works. The stands are filled each day so that is a good thing.
As for who said their friends are having a great time, I agree, I'm having a great time in the Philippines since the day I got here. It is cool to meet people from other countries and learn about what it is like for them there.
I am not mad at the girls that were mentioned. I met Zarah and she is a very nice, humble, smart person. She is taking advantage of an opportunity and I don't blame her. I don't expect them to say no to such an opportunity because they feel they don't deserve it.
As for the person that said perhaps or that I am fat and ugly and jealous. Very funny sir. We each have our own opinion and I have never claimed to be beautiful, thin, or anything else. The only thing I have ever claimed is to be a pool player that wishes to be treated as an equal to the men and only seen as a pool player. Unfortunately, it is questionable if that will happen.
I am happy that someone decided to put on this type of tournament. I just wish that more effort was put into things besides setting television records and firsts. I have to say the TV area is very nice with a lot of seating for spectators including many levels of the mall looking down. The only complaint I have heard is of the floor being a bit slippery and it is a little bit humid. So not all things are bad.
As I warned on my blog, that was a rant and as I said, the forums have been my sponsor to this event and I am sorry that I have played awful and not represented well. I am disgusted by that as well, don't worry.
Thank you again for the support and sorry if I offended anyone. If you feel this is unprofessional, sorry, but I would rather tell the truth. If it ruins my 'career' as a pool player, then I guess it wasn't meant to be. Like I said, we should be treated as pool players, not men or women.
Sarah
As for Jay and his comments, thanks Jay for explaining what you see. Tomorrow I will take pictures that show what the sunlight does to the players seated facing the window half of the dome. I never said that there were not lights over the table. I said that the lights in the early rounds the first day were not turned on and we were using the daylight. As for the table quality compared to last week, I disagree and so do many others. We brought those concerns to those in charge, including you at the players meeting. We were assured they would be fixed. I did say that it was leaking on the table, that was true and you did handle it. It was also leaking all around the tables...that is something that is not a promoter problem. It is a brand new venue. I also understand the little dig that you had there...I played horribly so I will pass on my TV time this year since I didn't make it to the elimination rounds. Thank you for pointing out that I could have had my turn.
Keep in mind, I understand the business side of things as well. I understand that you have to get sponsors and you have to make money back and the way to do that is to promote the pretty girls. I have no problem with that at all at any tournament other than one deemed a world championship. But hey, whatever works. The stands are filled each day so that is a good thing.
As for who said their friends are having a great time, I agree, I'm having a great time in the Philippines since the day I got here. It is cool to meet people from other countries and learn about what it is like for them there.
I am not mad at the girls that were mentioned. I met Zarah and she is a very nice, humble, smart person. She is taking advantage of an opportunity and I don't blame her. I don't expect them to say no to such an opportunity because they feel they don't deserve it.
As for the person that said perhaps or that I am fat and ugly and jealous. Very funny sir. We each have our own opinion and I have never claimed to be beautiful, thin, or anything else. The only thing I have ever claimed is to be a pool player that wishes to be treated as an equal to the men and only seen as a pool player. Unfortunately, it is questionable if that will happen.
I am happy that someone decided to put on this type of tournament. I just wish that more effort was put into things besides setting television records and firsts. I have to say the TV area is very nice with a lot of seating for spectators including many levels of the mall looking down. The only complaint I have heard is of the floor being a bit slippery and it is a little bit humid. So not all things are bad.
As I warned on my blog, that was a rant and as I said, the forums have been my sponsor to this event and I am sorry that I have played awful and not represented well. I am disgusted by that as well, don't worry.
Thank you again for the support and sorry if I offended anyone. If you feel this is unprofessional, sorry, but I would rather tell the truth. If it ruins my 'career' as a pool player, then I guess it wasn't meant to be. Like I said, we should be treated as pool players, not men or women.
Sarah
After seeing pictures of the venue and judging from Jay Helferts account, we can conclude that things are all messed up out there ... Well no we can't.
Races to 5 a joke? ... Well, actually they are a minimum of 5 races to 5. The WPBA gives each player a minimum of 2 races to 9. Out of line? I'm not sure.
Only 5 tables at the venue? ... Well at the recent Viejas tournament, they only had 7 (I think), for a 64 player field. They have 48 in this event.
Pulling referees from the audience? ... I'm not sure that's a real big offense. I'm sure if Jay Helfert were short of refs at one of his events, he can look no further than the stands for a replacement. Certainly many of you reading this thread could take over those duties in a pinch.
Calling this a World Championship? ... Well, the winner will have to do better than Alison, Kelly, Jeanette, Jasmin, Karen and others.
Only hot babes getting all the exposure? ... OK, maybe not totally right but these folks are trying to promote pool beyond the regular pool audience. The top players will likely get their time as the tournament progresses.
I'm not trying to defend CW or DP. I just thought there must be another side to this argument.
Races to 5 a joke? ... Well, actually they are a minimum of 5 races to 5. The WPBA gives each player a minimum of 2 races to 9. Out of line? I'm not sure.
Only 5 tables at the venue? ... Well at the recent Viejas tournament, they only had 7 (I think), for a 64 player field. They have 48 in this event.
Pulling referees from the audience? ... I'm not sure that's a real big offense. I'm sure if Jay Helfert were short of refs at one of his events, he can look no further than the stands for a replacement. Certainly many of you reading this thread could take over those duties in a pinch.
Calling this a World Championship? ... Well, the winner will have to do better than Alison, Kelly, Jeanette, Jasmin, Karen and others.
Only hot babes getting all the exposure? ... OK, maybe not totally right but these folks are trying to promote pool beyond the regular pool audience. The top players will likely get their time as the tournament progresses.
I'm not trying to defend CW or DP. I just thought there must be another side to this argument.
What I'm wondering (offtopic) - in the past I know that the person who got red-repped gets to read it. I guess it also gets reported to the moderators/admin? Both things happen for sure? Was it always like this, or did it change since the upgrade?
Sarah is one of the most professional people I have met in the game. Player or otherwise. The whole "Keep your mouth shut so you don't piss off a promoter" is one of the things that got us where we are in the pool world today.
I applaud her for her honesty. Those that know her know it must have really been bad for her to speak out publicly like she did. Sarah is a smart, tough woman that has spent more time on the road making a living than many here ever have. She is savvy. To me it basically sounds like she made a decision that if this event was what the future of international women's pool looks like, she isn't interested.
Sometimes you just have to speak your mind and let the chips fall where they may. Sarah is way to smart not to have thought everything out before she posted that blog entry.
I agree generally speaking on all points. Pretty much business as usual in the world of pool. I do think the pulling a ref out of the crowd is a bit much. They should have had refs lined up ahead of time.
The table cushions are a problem that should have been taken care of ahead of time also.
I also think CW should have given the players a couple of days to get some rest (many had just left the "Empress Cup" and other events). The pics of players falling asleep during matches show that.
I can say that I have never traveled 3000 miles (?) to play in a 'World' Championship that is being broadcast on ESPN. I don't think this is fair to compare it to a local regional bar table event.