Criteria applicable to event invitations should/could be established and followed, IMO, EH...:smile:
Since you asked
- Thread starter Grady
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Criteria applicable to event invitations should/could be established and followed, IMO, EH...:smile:
LOL
Just LOL
Just LOL
Proffesional Pool, atleast outside America, has proper organizations, with rules how to qualify for events like the World Pool Masters, World Championships etc.
If you play good, you qualify, if you can't hold your position on the rankings you better stay home.
The big majority of the Europeans that have entered the World 14-1 Championship have done so because of their rankings on the Eurotour, or results at European Championships, like for example Jasmin Ouschan and Dominic Jentsch.
I know that the organizer/host of big tournaments are always granted some wildcards, and one year Charlie Williams/Dragon decided to invite the Cha-sisters. Could they invited Grady instead? Of course, but that's not my point.
I believe that there should be absolutely no invites at all, at tournaments like this. I am glad that the European Pocket and Billiard Federation choose to hand out ALL their given spots to players based on how they play now.
When EPBF receives like 15 spots to the World 14-1 Championships, they could of course always give a spot to Tom Storm, former European 14-1 Champion and runner-up in the World 9-ball, but they don't. To get a spot, you have to qualify through the ranking or the European 14-1 Championships.
I noticed that Grady played in one of those qualifiers in America, for the World 14-1 Championship, but he didn't make it. I am sorry he failed.
Btw, since no one answered on one of my previous posts. Should Daryl Peach always be invited to every upcoming World 9-ball Championship, because he is a World 9-ball Champion?
Even in golf they have a 10-year limit for champions. If you haven't won in 10 years you are no longer automatically given a spot, you need to qualify...
LOL
Just LOL
I am an amateur poolplayer from Norway. My goal is to become a Norwegian Champion, and this is a blog/diary about my weekly practise-routines, tournaments I attend and other poolrelated things I experience on my way to achieve my goal.
I don't think any of the above is funny including you Blogg, but at least it clearly shows your qualifications, now I understand exactly what Vet was talking about concerning your qualifications and all you have done for Pro Billiards and AZ Billiards!!!!!!!!
Thanks for clearing this up for me.:smile:
Oh and by the way, I did enjoy you Website.
Respectfully
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I am an amateur poolplayer from Norway. My goal is to become a Norwegian Champion, and this is a blog/diary about my weekly practise-routines, tournaments I attend and other poolrelated things I experience on my way to achieve my goal.
I don't think any of the above is funny including you Blogg, but at least it clearly shows your qualifications, now I understand exactly what Vet was talking about concerning your qualifications and all you have done for Pro Billiards and AZ Billiards!!!!!!!!
Thanks for clearing this up for me.:smile:
Oh and by the way, I did enjoy you Website.
Respectfully
So because I am an amateur player I have no right to voice my opinions?
I don't understand why it is so important for you to know what I have done for pro-billiards or AZ Billiards, but I'll give it a shot.
I have been vice-president of the Norwegian Pool Federation.
I have been national-coach for the Norwegian Youth Team. Been their manager on the European Youth Championship in Ukraine. I have been manager of the Norwegian Men and Women when playing in Brandenburg, Germany and in Chezk Republic.
I have owned Norway's biggest poolhall, the ElbowRoom, with 22 Brunswick Gold Crown IV. A room that Mika Immonen, Oliver Ortmann, Niels Feijen and Tony Drago, to name a few, called one of the most beautiful poolrooms they have ever been in.
I have put on the Norwgian 9-ball Challenge, first time won by Mika Immonen 9-4 over Oliver Ortmann ($ 10,000 in first pice). This tournament was aired live on Norwegian TV btw, and available on ppv on internet through the website of the Norwegian tv-channel. 28 matches were also sent live on betandwin.com, so people could bet on the outcome of the matches. The second Norwegian 9-ball Challenge was won by another player from Finland, Markus Juva.
I have put on the Scandinavian 8-ball Battle, won by Niels Feijen ($ 8000) over Artem Koshovyy. Artem beat Ralf Souquet in a very exciting semifinal, which people could luckily watch live on betandwin.com. Here we also had a special 9-ball event, won by Roberto Gomez from Philippines.
I managed to get the Norwegian 9-ball Championship on TV (not live). I helped the TV-company with editing and the commentary for this, since they had never done it before. I also managed to get an inivitational 9-ball event on tv in Norway, staring Hohmann, Chamat, Nick van den Berg etc. Won by Norwegian Roger Lysholm.
I've been tournament director for tournaments with almost 200 players.
I put on the first Norwegian Team Cup, broadcasted on TV, won by Jasmin Ouschan and Line Kjorsvik.
I have travelled to compete at many Eurotours, tournaments in Philippines and also the DCC. I normally write summaries/reports from my trips here on AZ, and I believe that many readers appreciate them.
I have paid hotelrooms for many pro-players at events over the year, and I always do my best to support the players rights when it comes to incidents like not being payed by the promoter. Since you checked my blog you can read back to January, and notice that I was the FIRST to publish that Chia Ching Wu was still unpaid from the World Ten Ball Championship.
I have managed to finish 3rd and 5th in Norwegian Championships, after I made my goal of becoming a Norwegian Champion. I have had the pleasure of playing Efren Reyes, Ralf Souquet, Thorsten Hohmann, Nick van den Berg, Niels Feijen, Roberto Gomez, Jasmin Ouschan etc., and I have the pleasure of calling them friends.
Remember that I have only been involved in pool for 7 years, and that I am 28 years old. I think it's not that bad.
I could go on and on, but I don't see the point. In fact, I regret why I even wrote this at all, because it shouldn't matter.
People should be allowed to have opinions no matter what they have done in pool.
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And all this is true and the way it should be. And IF the so-called "14.1 World Championships" did not have UNQUALIFIED players in it's field who were there ONLY by invitation then Grady wouldn't have a leg to stand on with his rant.
But in fact, the promoters invited several FORMER top 14.1 players such as Mike Sigel and snubbed Grady Matthews. Then to add insult to injury they filled the event with other players who have NEVER done anything in 14.1 at all.
That's what this is about. If you are going to have a "World Championship" then treat it as such and give the spots according to how the WPA rules says that they should be allocated. IF the USA has no national championship or other way based on PERFORMANCE to determine who gets the allocated spots then at least make it SOMEONE else's decision OTHER THAN the promoter as to who gets the spots.
To me that would preserve the INTEGRITY of a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP and prevent any threads like this.
Grady, I have a suggestion.
Who would be better at starting a new Senior Pro Tour. Take up where Steve Mizerak left off and start a Senior's 10 ball, One Pocket, Banks, Straight Pool. Almost like a DCC solely for seniors! 6 events per year would be pretty cool too. You could use the old Mizerak rules for age requirements, etc. I mean, his tour was quite successful so following or adhering to those criteria would make sense.
Anyhow - just a suggestion. A good senior tour ran by you is exactly what is needed. That tour was a blast to watch and I have quite a few of those matches from Accu-stats in my collection today.
You are a top notch representative of billiards Grady. You've continuously put time and effort into a sport obviously out of love for the sport and not just the money. If more were like you billiards would be in a brighter spotlight.
Please don't take this wrong because I do have a good deal of respect for you, but it seems to me that this may have you heartbroken a little. You seem like a man who has earned your place in billiards and you're probably proud of that fact. Because of this it strikes me as odd that you expected to be given a spot in a world championship. If you want it that bad get out there, earn your spot and knock em dead.
Please don't take this wrong because I do have a good deal of respect for you, but it seems to me that this may have you heartbroken a little. You seem like a man who has earned your place in billiards and you're probably proud of that fact. Because of this it strikes me as odd that you expected to be given a spot in a world championship. If you want it that bad get out there, earn your spot and knock em dead.
Back in about 1990 the MPBA had a Straight Pool World Championship in Vegas, and they invited me to play in it. I think they needed 64 players to fill the field and they were short. The entry fee was something like $300 and the Added money about 20K. I think it was Pat Fleming (the Pres. of the MBPA back then) who invited me. He saw me practicing one day and I ran a couple of racks and he thought that qualified me. 
Naturally I turned him down. I refused to go to that tournament. I wouldn't attend any Straight Pool event that would invite me to play in it. I know something is wrong there.
Bob Hunter won that tournament. It was played on Gabriels, I remember that much. Afterward I saw Bob somewhere and I told him how lucky he was that I decided not to play. He just gave me that crooked smile of his and walked away.
Some day I'll tell you the story of how I played Bob THREE times in a row at DCC. The computer malfunctioned that year and everyone kept playing the same players back to back. I told Greg S. that I was going to write a story about DCC that year, and he smiled. Then I told him I was going to call it, "My tourney with Bob Hunter." He didn't smile! :thumbup:
Naturally I turned him down. I refused to go to that tournament. I wouldn't attend any Straight Pool event that would invite me to play in it. I know something is wrong there.
Bob Hunter won that tournament. It was played on Gabriels, I remember that much. Afterward I saw Bob somewhere and I told him how lucky he was that I decided not to play. He just gave me that crooked smile of his and walked away.
Some day I'll tell you the story of how I played Bob THREE times in a row at DCC. The computer malfunctioned that year and everyone kept playing the same players back to back. I told Greg S. that I was going to write a story about DCC that year, and he smiled. Then I told him I was going to call it, "My tourney with Bob Hunter." He didn't smile! :thumbup:
Grady, I never said you were not an intelligent, hardworking pool player. I know you are. Although I could, I have not said anything nasty about you. I have only stated the facts, with respect. I guess if I don't post things you agree with, I must be nasty.
You can ignore me and the facts. You can stick your head in the sand if you wish. In the end, you have not provided a good reason why you should be given an invitation to the 14.1 World Championship.
You and your followers think you should be invited to any and every pool event in the world. I happen to disagree. I don't think either of us will change our positions, so I'm done with this thread, until next year, when I'm sure it will come back again.
raymond ceulemans, master billiards champion, still gets invites to all 3C events. it'd be an honor for any federation or promoter to have him on the player list.
when reyes or i should say if reyes cant win a tournament in the next 5-10 years who wouldnt want him in any pool tournament? no matter what discipline.
if i had %10 of earls accomplishments, i'd act cwazier than him and enjoy it big time. if i had half of gradys accomplishments, id definitely expect an invitation and feel sour when i didnt receive one, regardless of the reason.
grady, i saw you for the first time in my life yesterday, only for 5 minutes, i walked in your poolroom with my friend and you made me coffee, i wanted to shake your hand and introduce myself but couldnt.. you are a pool legend in my book and always will be.
like you said, its their loss to not have you on the player roster.
these people might understand how you feel when they get older and some disrespectful people disregard their accomplishments and value; that is IF they earn any, as much as you, throughout their pool career..
when reyes or i should say if reyes cant win a tournament in the next 5-10 years who wouldnt want him in any pool tournament? no matter what discipline.
if i had %10 of earls accomplishments, i'd act cwazier than him and enjoy it big time. if i had half of gradys accomplishments, id definitely expect an invitation and feel sour when i didnt receive one, regardless of the reason.
grady, i saw you for the first time in my life yesterday, only for 5 minutes, i walked in your poolroom with my friend and you made me coffee, i wanted to shake your hand and introduce myself but couldnt.. you are a pool legend in my book and always will be.
like you said, its their loss to not have you on the player roster.
these people might understand how you feel when they get older and some disrespectful people disregard their accomplishments and value; that is IF they earn any, as much as you, throughout their pool career..
Or may be that the pic look like a dude in drag
:frown:Brian
Rich R is not a bum.
Now that we are talking about respect where did Grady say that Rich R was a bum????
I don't know if you used the words above to stir the pot or not but those words were never said by anyone except you!!!!!!
Somebody seems to be on a warpath.I don`t like wars and I was a Hippy and a Flower child.I was in prisons too.
I did not say that Grady said that RICH R is a Bum.
I did not say that your dog has a chance to win the world`s ugliest dog competetion.
I did not say that I will not visit your beautiful pool room when I am in town.
Please do not imagine the things.Peace&Love
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Metaphor:
For the first four years, I sold more flooring than anyone ever has with the company I am working for. I got recognition.
Last year, the economy was down. And so was I. No recognition.
It's the old "what have you done for me lately? syndrome." No offense, but in the last five years, what's been up? I don't know what you've won, or how you've placed, but it looks like after you didn't get invited the first time, you burned some bridges. Takes some humbleness and wins to replace those. Go out and place in the top five in some events, and then they'll have to invite you. Until then, you just seem bitter. Screw'em if they can't take a joke.
For the first four years, I sold more flooring than anyone ever has with the company I am working for. I got recognition.
Last year, the economy was down. And so was I. No recognition.
It's the old "what have you done for me lately? syndrome." No offense, but in the last five years, what's been up? I don't know what you've won, or how you've placed, but it looks like after you didn't get invited the first time, you burned some bridges. Takes some humbleness and wins to replace those. Go out and place in the top five in some events, and then they'll have to invite you. Until then, you just seem bitter. Screw'em if they can't take a joke.
I dated a girl for 3 years. She was my first real love. Anyways, we broke up years ago, and she recently got married. I didn't get an invite. I was OK with that.
Grady, I like you, but you're becoming a whiner. Let other people make noise for you. I would be willing to say that there are other players better than you that most likely didn't get an invite either. There are a bunch of German players that run 300s that probably don't appear on the list. Take it for what it is - you didn't get invited to the cool kid's party. Doesn't make you any lesser a player, or affect your legacy. These whining rants of yours, however, are taking its toll on your reputation with me.
Now, go ahead and put me on ignore, too. If you do, it plainly shows how childish you're willing to be over this issue.
Grady, I like you, but you're becoming a whiner. Let other people make noise for you. I would be willing to say that there are other players better than you that most likely didn't get an invite either. There are a bunch of German players that run 300s that probably don't appear on the list. Take it for what it is - you didn't get invited to the cool kid's party. Doesn't make you any lesser a player, or affect your legacy. These whining rants of yours, however, are taking its toll on your reputation with me.
Now, go ahead and put me on ignore, too. If you do, it plainly shows how childish you're willing to be over this issue.
Rich,
Do you feel that someone with far less - essentially no qualifications at all in 14.1 or otherwise - who can't run 50 balls on their best day should receive and invitation to a 14.1 World Championship?
Do you feel that someone who was a great player back in the day but who has never done much in the pool world beyond win a few big events here and there and who has not been active in 20 years should receive an invite?
Because while I might agree with you on the merits of INVITING active players who are current champions over everyone else I have to ask you FLAT OUT where you stand on the FACT that in the 14.1 World Championships the above two categories of players received invites and Grady did not.
Putting politics aside - how do you feel about this?
Fred,
This is the best post i've read in this thread. There's no doubt in my mind that there were plenty of players invited to play that were less deserving than Grady and he should be invited in my opinion.
On a side note, Grady is one of my all time favorite commentators on Accu-stat videos. Back in the day when Grady was a regular on Accu-stats I seemed to enjoy the commentary as much as the match I was watching. Put Grady with Buddy Hall or Danny DiLiberto and I'll buy every match they are commentating. Accu-stats made a mistake when they let Grady get away and I heard a rumor that he may be doing some more work with them and I hope it's true.
James
he knows all of the European Tour players, Asian players, etc... very well and gives great perspective and insight to the happenings accross the pond. He also knows a lot of the American players and pool business entities. He went to Derby City and regularly participates in and supports most of the ppv's, live streams, etc...
Not to mention, he pays off immediately after making all of his bad bets to me. So, with that said, I think he's a good poster and his opinion is just as good as someone that comes on here once or twice a year to complain about Charlie Williams and the UPA.
Don't even get me started on all the sh*t and money I've contributed to pool and the pool world in general because I'm quite certain I've earned my opinion on pool related matters.
I know Grady has done a tremendous amount for pool. NOBODY is disputing that. I just think it's really one sighted for him to put someone on ignore because they don't feel Grady should get an invite based on past performances. IMO.
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For the next 14.1 World Championships, Grady should just call/contact all his friends that he has made over the years in pool and band together to boycott the event. When the organizers see the players standing in unity in order for players such as Grady are given an invite they will have no choice.
Note to Manwon - you must not read the 'pool' threads much on here. If you did, you would have a different impression of Roy S. Take some time and review his posts before you throw anymore stones. And now that he has posted some of what he has done in the pool world, you owe him an apology.
Note to Manwon - you must not read the 'pool' threads much on here. If you did, you would have a different impression of Roy S. Take some time and review his posts before you throw anymore stones. And now that he has posted some of what he has done in the pool world, you owe him an apology.
Roy,
I had no idea you were so accomplished in the pool world. Congrats, at such a young age.
My retort didn't give you near enough credit. I only outlined the fact that you gave good perspective from another continent and contributed 10-fold to the forum.
That being said, it shouldn't matter if you have done all of those things or none of those things. Your opinion is just as good as anyone elses regardless of who you are.
By they way, who you like in the Frost/SVB match? :thumbup: