Grist for the mill

G

Grady

Pro Player
I've always been a golf fan, although not a very good player. I caddied for Ken Venturi, Gary Player, Carol Mann, Patty Berg, Bud Ward and a few other notables.I especially enjoy the British Open as I can begin watching early in the morning.
Guess who was leading this star-studded affair this morning with a stellar first round of 65? Tom Watson, age 59, that's who. Can he win? Probably not but who cares?
This is why I should receive a lifetime invitation to what they refer to as the world straight pool championship.
 
Grady said:
I've always been a golf fan, although not a very good player. I caddied for Ken Venturi, Gary Player, Carol Mann, Patty Berg, Bud Ward and a few other notables.I especially enjoy the British Open as I can begin watching early in the morning.
Guess who was leading this star-studded affair this morning with a stellar first round of 65? Tom Watson, age 59, that's who. Can he win? Probably not but who cares?
This is why I should receive a lifetime invitation to what they refer to as the world straight pool championship.
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No doubt, Grady. You definitely have a 65 left in you at some 14.1!
 
I agree that this sport does not honor its previous generations very well. Hell, it doesn't treat its current combatants very well. I'm hoping your new project will make some headway in that regard. Care to spill any details yet (all I know is Accustats will be involved & it will be "revolutionary")?

<---Hopes for a day when A SINGLE, STRONG entity takes over pool and develops it into the sport it could be. One that properly showcases its talent, encourages the youth to play, & honors traditions & past champions.
 
Grady said:
I've always been a golf fan, although not a very good player. I caddied for Ken Venturi, Gary Player, Carol Mann, Patty Berg, Bud Ward and a few other notables.I especially enjoy the British Open as I can begin watching early in the morning.
Guess who was leading this star-studded affair this morning with a stellar first round of 65? Tom Watson, age 59, that's who. Can he win? Probably not but who cares?
This is why I should receive a lifetime invitation to what they refer to as the world straight pool championship.
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FWIW, Cowboy Jimmy Moore was still tearing it up and running hundreds at age 80. Age is only a number.

This is a chance to have Grady Mathews in the Accu-Stats arena playing for a World Championship - and quite possibly calling the action for PPV livestream. It's a win/win situation for the game of pool.

You know you have my support, Grady - and I'll lobby for you until their ears bleed.

r1p-10l.gif
 
Blackjack said:
FWIW, Cowboy Jimmy Moore was still tearing it up and running hundreds at age 80. Age is only a number.

This is a chance to have Grady Mathews in the Accu-Stats arena playing for a World Championship - and quite possibly calling the action for PPV livestream. It's a win/win situation for the game of pool.

You know you have my support, Grady - and I'll lobby for you until their ears bleed.

r1p-10l.gif
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I like the changing pictures of Billy and Grady's one pocket match. I have that Accu-stats video and it's a classic. I wish you the best of luck Grady.

James
 
Thanks more than I can put into words, gentlemen

I'm going to prodce a show that will be better than anything ever done about pool. If it flies like I know it will, I'll do world class tournaments, with zero attached politics, no favortism and solid prize money. I shall also attack the status quo because I seem to be the only one who isn't scared to do so.
The haughty WPA has decided in their infinite wisdom that no world championships do they recognize unless these were won in their sanctioned events. I mean, the sheer unmitigated arrogance of these people makes me really angry. It should make pool lovers worldwide mad as hell,too. Well, here's a news flash from this old pro: "I DON"T RECOGNIZE ANY OF THEIR SANCTIONED TOURNAMENT OR THEIR CHAMPS."
I don't wish to seem negative because most of my show will be postive and industry changing.
As far as Hall Of Fames go, Steve Booth's One Pocket and Bank Pool HOF puts the BCA's to shame. Steve's inductees aren't selected because some magazine editor picks them. I'm very proud to have been the first player to be selected by qualified voters to be in the One Pocket HOF.
To finish this off about the BCA HOF, it hurts my feelings quite a bit that Nick, Buddy, Sigel and a few others haven't lobbied to get me in the BCA HOF, like what was done for the great Eddie Taylor. Personally, I wouldn't walk across the street to plead my case for induction by that Org.
 
Grady said:
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To finish this off about the BCA HOF, it hurts my feelings quite a bit that Nick, Buddy, Sigel and a few others haven't lobbied to get me in the BCA HOF, like what was done for the great Eddie Taylor. Personally, I wouldn't walk across the street to plead my case for induction by that Org.
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You certainly deserve to be in the BCA HOF Grady. I'm thrilled to hear you are fighting to make some much needed change in the sport. My hats off to you sir!! :thumbup:
 
Love ya or hate ya Mr Matthews, you're a real pisser! I admire that you say it like you feel, all the while knowing you're going to piss people off. It's an easy industry to take many exceptions to; so many worthy targets for disdain and change.
It's no secret many people view you as a negative ole chap, and you get ostracized by some as a result, but you quite often tell "it" with much straight-up wisdom and lift the veil others can't and/or won't touch.

Good luck in your next endeavor.

Matt
 
I get a kick out of people who say "I value your opinion, please share it with me." And then if your opinion doesn't match their own they say "Oh, you're always so negative!"

Well, your type of "negative" attitude can have a very positive effect on pool. Keep swinging, Grady.

Roger
 
What the BCA really needs, Grady, is for you, or Pat Fleming, or someone like you to be in charge of it.
The BCA could be a great organization, like the USGA or R&A are for golf, if only it were run with the right priorities and vision.
 
There are over 150 players in the British open which is why they are able to give several exemptions. It's great to see the stars of the past play and occasionally catch a gear and take the lead.

I agree that IF there is a large field of players then it would be great to see Grady, Ray Martin, Danny DiLiberto, Nick Varner, Bob Jewett, Mike Sigel etc. get exemptions into the field. If it's a small field and you start handing out a bunch of exemptions then it's hard to sell it as a legitimate event.
 
Grady said:
I've always been a golf fan, although not a very good player. I caddied for Ken Venturi, Gary Player, Carol Mann, Patty Berg, Bud Ward and a few other notables.I especially enjoy the British Open as I can begin watching early in the morning.
Guess who was leading this star-studded affair this morning with a stellar first round of 65? Tom Watson, age 59, that's who. Can he win? Probably not but who cares?
This is why I should receive a lifetime invitation to what they refer to as the world straight pool championship.
Click to expand...

Grady I totally agree you should be invited just like all the other great players with accomplishments similar to your's. However, Professional Pool is as political as our Government, and without the proper amount of blatant ass kissing many people like yourself who are not ass kissers will never come up on the Radar Screen.

The politics is one of pools biggest problems, no matter what your skill level may be unless you play their game you will never be considered. I wish personally that the BCA and other such organizations would just dry up and blow away because in my opinion all they are is antiquated and serve no purpose other than self gain for those in positions within the organization.

Tournament play or invitations should solely be based upon a players accomplishments not upon their ability to kiss ass or because they are considered adequate by people who can't even play themselves.

In closing, I hope the BCA disappears soon, they have added nothing of value in years, even the so called Hall Of Fame is based upon Politics, which taints the entire process and kicks sand in the faces of those more deserving

Just my thoughts
 
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alstl said:
There are over 150 players in the British open which is why they are able to give several exemptions. It's great to see the stars of the past play and occasionally catch a gear and take the lead.

I agree that IF there is a large field of players then it would be great to see Grady, Ray Martin, Danny DiLiberto, Nick Varner, Bob Jewett, Mike Sigel etc. get exemptions into the field. If it's a small field and you start handing out a bunch of exemptions then it's hard to sell it as a legitimate event.
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Truth is, the winner of the British Open gets a "lifetime" exemption (really it runs until the age of 65) as does any Masters and PGA champion. US Open champs get 10 years exemption into the US Open, I think.

If only pool's "ruling bodies" had as much organization and strength as golf's, we would see the same "majors" year after year, and they would be able to do the same things to honor their past champions.
 
Grady...I have admired you since I started playing pool after I got back from Desert Storm. I would watch your instructional videos every night after I practiced all day long at the Rec Center while I was at Ft Benning Ga. I think its ashamed that people dont recognise you like I think they should. You are truely a class act and I respect you very much. No matter what you do for pool, I think it will be a hit! I support you all the way!:thumbup:
 
JohnnyOzone said:
Truth is, the winner of the British Open gets a "lifetime" exemption (really it runs until the age of 65) as does any Masters and PGA champion. US Open champs get 10 years exemption into the US Open, I think.

If only pool's "ruling bodies" had as much organization and strength as golf's, we would see the same "majors" year after year, and they would be able to do the same things to honor their past champions.
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That's true and I see nothing wrong with it as long as the size of the field is large enough to accommodate all the past champions. If you have a limited number of players and you hand out a bunch of exemptions then you have an old timers game, not a legitimate competition.
 
ftgokie said:
Grady...I have admired you since I started playing pool after I got back from Desert Storm. I would watch your instructional videos every night after I practiced all day long at the Rec Center while I was at Ft Benning Ga. I think its ashamed that people dont recognise you like I think they should. You are truely a class act and I respect you very much. No matter what you do for pool, I think it will be a hit! I support you all the way!:thumbup:
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ftgokie,
THAT was a nice post! First, thanks for serving our great country and also, thank you for the gracious words you gave the Professor. I've praised him so times on these "hallowed forums" and posted so many compliments to him that it's been questioned if he's paying me by the post! :D

While I'm slapping the backs, Manwon's post made lots of sense to me and I concur with him also.

JohnnyOzone also got rep for his great idea of Pat, Grady or someone else who really devoted their life to pool to have a say in how the BCA is ran.
I also like Jerry Forsyth for that capacity. He's a good man who does love our great sport and he's got some good connections as well.
 
Hi Grady,
Good luck on your new project. You probably don't remember me but you came to Tony Cattucci's poolroom in Jersey back in the late 80's and you were getting ready for a 14.1 tourney and Tony had me practice with you for about 3 hours. And i think it was the next day you played Joe Frady some 9 ball. I remember it well, we had quite a battle.
 
Grady, while I've only seen you play live once and met you, I don't have anything in common with your game. You're a master and I'm a banger copared. But what we do have in common is we both smoke or smoked Camel regulars. I smoked them for over 50 years. Let me add, you are a very down to earth gentleman to meet in person. Good luck to you in any forthcoming venture you may have and I hope the wife beats a big "C". You have done tons for the the game over many years. Johnnyt
 
alstl said:
There are over 150 players in the British open which is why they are able to give several exemptions. It's great to see the stars of the past play and occasionally catch a gear and take the lead.

I agree that IF there is a large field of players then it would be great to see Grady, Ray Martin, Danny DiLiberto, Nick Varner, Bob Jewett, Mike Sigel etc. get exemptions into the field. If it's a small field and you start handing out a bunch of exemptions then it's hard to sell it as a legitimate event.
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Which is why putting in people who can't SPELL straight pool as was done in previous so called World Championships makes it EVEN HARDER to understand why they keep out someone like Grady Matthews.

Previous recent iterations of this tournament have been somewhat of a joke as to some of the INVITED participants.

But as par for the course in pool EGO trumps REASON and LOGIC.
 
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