John F. Kennedy once said “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” and when I was in the US Navy I saw posters all over the bases that had that famous quote and I will probably die remembering that quote. That quote is detrimental to this great Nation. We must have volunteers to rise to each occasion, take charge and do something. But the people, who do step up, take charge and bring change need to be credible people with honesty and integrity. Pool and billiards needs someone or an organization to step up and take charge and I think we have found this in the ABP. Players taking charge of their destiny and moving things to a positive light no matter what one’s personal feelings are about the ABP – everyone must concede they are trying to take control of their own future.
For too long players have not taken control of this game and it has had promoters come and go, make big promises and leave town and who get gets affected? The players.
Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address said “…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Lincoln 1863. Now the ABP is setting a standard for pool in America that shall be adhered to, honored, and accepted. Players, promoters, and sponsors should be happy that someone is attempting to take a strong hold on pool. Grab pool by the horns and move it to the right direction; the direction where it will never again perish.
Too many promoters, sponsors and other people involved in the sport have put their money on the table with high hopes for pool. Yet who controlled the professional sport? No body and for many years any old person could start a tour and hold a tournament with zero standards. We need standards, weights and measures just like the rest of the world.
Pool in America can only be what we the players make of it, either it will be grand, or it will continue in the manner which it has for the last 10 years. Low pay outs; high costs and few players making a living. Pool should have players representing the game like Shaun Wilkie of Maryland. Who in my opinion is one of the most stand up guys in the game today, a player who has honesty, integrity, and a love for this game. Players like Shaun and other ABP Board Members are all the sport has left in America, and they should be commended by what they are attempting to accomplish with the sport of pool. But make no mistake they will obtain what they demand, this is not some overnight orginization, they have for the past few years been trying to make these demands. And their attempts as evident in their press releases have been ignored by the US Open Promoter.
All too often promoters make huge promises to get players in the door and time and time again they fail to keep their promise to the sport of pool. Why is it that America’s number one played game has no money? Because no organization has had the courage to step up and take hold of Pool. All too often players asked what pool can do for them, not what they could do for pool. Well today that is changing and the ABP with players and board members are taking a strong hold on pool and hopefully this will change pool.
The next time you hear a player complaining about tournament conditions ask them – What have you done for pool?
There are great stories in pool when someone stepped up took charge, and demanded greatness and it has been a success. For one Inside Pool Magazine, saw a need for the product JR Stepped up, took control and got it to the great organization it is today. Back in the 90’s the Men’s Professional Body said they didn’t want to hold an Expo anymore, so Allen Hopkins stepped up to the plate and grew it to the success it is today. So for the professional game, let’s hope the ABP continues to step up to the plate and take charge of this sport and grow it to where it should be.
Mike Zuglan who owns and operates the Joss Northeast 9 ball tour once told me a story about a player at Turning Stone. This player was a top pro and for many years top 15 in the country; who was walking around complaining about the event, the tables, the crowd and various other things. And Mike said he was upset because had this player been making complaints in front of one of the powers to be at Turning Stone why would they ask the Joss Tour back for another event? If one of the top players in America was out complaining and talking badly about the event – why would they? And yet I say to this player? What have you done for pool? What have you changed in pool? How much of your own money have you put in to bettering this sport? Zero.
Many people speak to me about the Team DMIRO Tour and ask why I stopped running the tour, well frankly it was because there was no money in the tour, I had spent almost $19,000 of my own money to keep things running and it failed to become what we hoped it would have. But I always say to the people with negative comments, I spent $19,000 on this game – What have you spent? Many peopel can bad mouth me, but my intentions for this sport were all good, none negitive. This game needs business people as promoters, and the players as the governing body. The players in every other sport in America have a say in their game, so why not pool?
In conclusion the ABP should be commended for their efforts and standing up for what is right and fair. I have played in the US Open and I will again providing the ABP comes to an agreement with its promoter. But holding this promoter to their standard only sets the bar high and tells promoters in America that they aren’t messing around. And no longer will the players in the United States accept promoters dishonesty and failure to pay players.
By: Mike Andrews – Pool Player, Tournament Director, Promoter
For too long players have not taken control of this game and it has had promoters come and go, make big promises and leave town and who get gets affected? The players.
Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address said “…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Lincoln 1863. Now the ABP is setting a standard for pool in America that shall be adhered to, honored, and accepted. Players, promoters, and sponsors should be happy that someone is attempting to take a strong hold on pool. Grab pool by the horns and move it to the right direction; the direction where it will never again perish.
Too many promoters, sponsors and other people involved in the sport have put their money on the table with high hopes for pool. Yet who controlled the professional sport? No body and for many years any old person could start a tour and hold a tournament with zero standards. We need standards, weights and measures just like the rest of the world.
Pool in America can only be what we the players make of it, either it will be grand, or it will continue in the manner which it has for the last 10 years. Low pay outs; high costs and few players making a living. Pool should have players representing the game like Shaun Wilkie of Maryland. Who in my opinion is one of the most stand up guys in the game today, a player who has honesty, integrity, and a love for this game. Players like Shaun and other ABP Board Members are all the sport has left in America, and they should be commended by what they are attempting to accomplish with the sport of pool. But make no mistake they will obtain what they demand, this is not some overnight orginization, they have for the past few years been trying to make these demands. And their attempts as evident in their press releases have been ignored by the US Open Promoter.
All too often promoters make huge promises to get players in the door and time and time again they fail to keep their promise to the sport of pool. Why is it that America’s number one played game has no money? Because no organization has had the courage to step up and take hold of Pool. All too often players asked what pool can do for them, not what they could do for pool. Well today that is changing and the ABP with players and board members are taking a strong hold on pool and hopefully this will change pool.
The next time you hear a player complaining about tournament conditions ask them – What have you done for pool?
There are great stories in pool when someone stepped up took charge, and demanded greatness and it has been a success. For one Inside Pool Magazine, saw a need for the product JR Stepped up, took control and got it to the great organization it is today. Back in the 90’s the Men’s Professional Body said they didn’t want to hold an Expo anymore, so Allen Hopkins stepped up to the plate and grew it to the success it is today. So for the professional game, let’s hope the ABP continues to step up to the plate and take charge of this sport and grow it to where it should be.
Mike Zuglan who owns and operates the Joss Northeast 9 ball tour once told me a story about a player at Turning Stone. This player was a top pro and for many years top 15 in the country; who was walking around complaining about the event, the tables, the crowd and various other things. And Mike said he was upset because had this player been making complaints in front of one of the powers to be at Turning Stone why would they ask the Joss Tour back for another event? If one of the top players in America was out complaining and talking badly about the event – why would they? And yet I say to this player? What have you done for pool? What have you changed in pool? How much of your own money have you put in to bettering this sport? Zero.
Many people speak to me about the Team DMIRO Tour and ask why I stopped running the tour, well frankly it was because there was no money in the tour, I had spent almost $19,000 of my own money to keep things running and it failed to become what we hoped it would have. But I always say to the people with negative comments, I spent $19,000 on this game – What have you spent? Many peopel can bad mouth me, but my intentions for this sport were all good, none negitive. This game needs business people as promoters, and the players as the governing body. The players in every other sport in America have a say in their game, so why not pool?
In conclusion the ABP should be commended for their efforts and standing up for what is right and fair. I have played in the US Open and I will again providing the ABP comes to an agreement with its promoter. But holding this promoter to their standard only sets the bar high and tells promoters in America that they aren’t messing around. And no longer will the players in the United States accept promoters dishonesty and failure to pay players.
By: Mike Andrews – Pool Player, Tournament Director, Promoter
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