...well, to date, in these United States, No, one, person has done more to promote the last vestiges of Professional pool, than Barry Behrman with "H-I-S" tournament, the U.S. Open! He pays off when there is poor fan support, out of his own pocket!!! More to the point, he schedules his tournaments well in advance, and then makes good when the pool fans (not unlike yourself, apparently) don't show up to support the professional pool players and the ONLY event Left in this country with any kind of a heritage, the Open. AND GET THIS, to date, he's made good on his debts to the players!
Now he's started a new event, The Masters 10-ball. He's promised to give it a go again next year (even after the abysmal turnout). And get this, he still has the hope of building it into an event worthy of the name, The Masters. But alas, the spectators weren't supporting it this year. And still he has made the promissory notes to pay ALL the MONEY OWED, out of his own pocket!!!
To all naysayers, (like Mark Griffin for example) I say, where were you?
Why give someone who's PROVIDING: the field of play, putting the players on that field for the cash, and then PAYING them out of his own pocket, when all the pool playing enthusiasts in this country, B-I-T-*-H, but don't support the effort!
REALLY?
The World's economy is in the T-A-N-K, because of corrupt International Banking practices (like the repeal of Glass Steagal and the Federal Reserve System) and people don't take the time to find out what's really going on, and then do something constructive to change them!!! Pool is no different it seems, I guess the fans don't really care who the good guys in our sport are!
Barry Behrman is at least doing something to change the face of pool for the better, not just talking about doing something. Now he's starting another tradition, in a sport, where the fans, it seem to me, are unworthy and ungrateful of his efforts. If the new, The Masters 10-ball Tournament, turns out to be anything like the U.S.Open, Behrman will have BLESSED this sport once again!
To everyone of you who think it "should" be otherwise, PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!!!:nono: