Calling Out Bill Stroud - You Ought To Be Ashamed - DYD Contest
- Thread starter Kickin' Chicken
- Start date
Bill Stroud has been on line & on AZB in the LAST 24 HOURSand is not saying anything about the contest or Cue prize.
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Brian,I expect some will probably feel the need to flame away so please know, my asbestos underwear are on.
It's now been approximately 19 months since the end of the "Design Your Dream" cue contest that Bill Stroud challenged az'ers with which was ultimately won by mhaimi.
Bill Stroud publicly stated here on az that any typical 4 point cue should take no longer than 8 weeks to build. I understand that mhaimi's design is not typical but it's not especially outrageous, either. It has been about 76 weeks and counting.
I have a small sweat bet as to whether Bill will complete this cue by the end of this month and since I bet on Bill, I will be paying this off with a smile. I really will do so with a smile, because I've enjoyed the good hearted ribbing and back-and-forths I've had with iba. :smile:
Bill has decided to get back into tournament-level pool play and, apparently, that's what he's spending much of his time on these days. I think it's patently unfair, however, to have this major piece of business left unfinished and for the contest winner to be left twisting in the wind. It's very disrespectful.
The DYD thread had over 35,000 hits and, I believe, approx 250 designs were entered. Bill created a whole lot of interest in cue design and lot of people spent plenty of time working on their submissions. I think Bill's decision to put mhaimi's cue on the back burner could, and frankly, should, tarnish his rep and legacy. What a lousy way to go out after such an illustrious career.
Mhaimi, I hope you get your cue and, personally, I still think you will. But all of the shine has definitely come off of this contest, imo.
And for anyone who may mistakenly feel I'm posting this hoping, that in a last ditch effort I may still win a bet, I assure you that isn't the case, at all. In fact, on the absolutely off chance that the cue did miraculously get delivered by the end of this month, I would donate it to charity (verifiable, of course).
The reason for this post is to remind Bill of his obligation.
Best,
brian kc
In all fairness, have either you or mhaimi tried to contact Bill Stroud by telephone, email or PM on this?
While I'm not defending the delay in making mhaimi's cue, it seems to me that one should first try contacting him directly before escalating this here on AZB.
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Allen,
My Cardiologist offered me a free heart transplant. The vascular surgeon he teamed with offered to do the transplant for free as well. Half way through the procedure, the surgeon decided now was a good time to take golf up again and left me without a heart
. Seems reasonable doesn't it?If Bill Stroud offered more than a year and a half ago to build a free cue as a retirement "present" to the pool community, his actions since are not defenseable under ANY circumstances. Should have been the very first thing he did. His lack of communication with the "winner" is not excuseable. In my view, neither is the defense put up by some in the pool community on his behalf.
Oh, two years later, the surgeon finally put my new heart in. Doing just great! He's stilll a twenty handicap.
Lyn
In all fairness, what could BS say that would make a difference here?
It is abundantly clear that if he has any intention to build the cue, it is near the bottom of his priority list. After he started this contest and actively participated in the hoopla of the process, the total lack of follow up is not right, and a calling out is well deserved.
Hi Allen;
Bill Stroud has been made aware of the concerns and frustration over his unreasonable delay a few times, but never once by me, unless he read a previous thread I posted here. And if you read this thread you probably saw a few references where attempts at contacting Bill privately (again, not by me) didn't work very well.
In the midst of poor communication, the contest winner has been told by Bill that he (Bill) is interested in playing pool and will see if he can find some time in between to complete the cue.
Bill whipped az into a real frenzy with his very generous DYD contest. A lot of people were jumping through hoops of fire trying to put together good designs that might have given them a chance to win.
It is inconsiderate, arrogant, and totally disrespectful for Bill to resume his pool playing career while not having found the time to fulfill his promise to mhaimi to deliver him his dream cue. It's been approximately 19 months and by Bill's own publicly stated standard, this is way beyond acceptable. And it's not just disrespectful to mhaimi. I think it's safe to say that many others who participated in the contest don't want to feel like they were played for fools, either.
The singular purpose of my posting this thread is that I continue to root for mhaimi to get his cue soon. He's waited long enough.
Fyi, iba and I settled our bet.
And another fyi, Bill was on az about an hour ago.
Best,
Brian kc
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Brian,
Just occurred to me. Doubt very highly any of the contest entrants copywrited or registered their design. Who owns the designs now? I'd be really pissed if a cuemaker other than BS suddenly offered my private design to the public as his own.
Lyn
Just occurred to me. Doubt very highly any of the contest entrants copywrited or registered their design. Who owns the designs now? I'd be really pissed if a cuemaker other than BS suddenly offered my private design to the public as his own.
Lyn
Another highly respected cuemaker mentioned the same thing. He thought it was possible the entire thing was a ploy to acquire designs.
Hi Lyn;
I reallly don't know the answer to this but I think it may be one of those things where if it's on the net and without protection (trademarked, etc), then it's fair game.
But again, this is far from my area of expertise.
I wish Bill Stroud would chime in to let everyone know what's going on. He's coming on az so presumably he must be aware of this thread.
best,
brian kc
I don't know if it was a ploy, but after doing his trade for decades, one could rightfully so burn out somewhat on creating new designs all the time, new perspectives are needed. I wonder if he's chosen to completely walk away from the game itself. Time will maybe tell us. Defaningly quiet eh?
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Sorry Billy
I've known you for about fifty years. I still use the cue you made for me thirty years ago and we had close family ties...But, now I want to take you out of the spotlight for a moment to finally take up for my dear friend, Eddie Taylor.
In 1993, when Eddie was inducted into the BCA Hall Of Fame, Ernie G. Presented Eddie with a cue he said he made for his induction. It was beautiful, as Ginacues tend to be. I made a big fuss for Ernie, taking his picture with the cue, standing with Steve Mizrack, Jean Balukas and others. Later that day, Eddie asked Ernie if he would change the weight. Ernie told him no problem. For months on end, Eddie and i tried to get Ernie to send the cue back...to absolutely no avail. Eddie died still puzzeled. Cuesticks come and go, but for the stress this flakey action put on eddie, I say publicly, "Screw you Ernie."
Alf Taylor
P.S That good guy, Danny Janes, who loved Eddie, came to the rescue and made him a beautiful Joss cue. Danny knows how to.............
Keep it nice. Alfie
P.P.S. Billy, only you can take this steam off. Honor your word and be man enough to make a public apology, watch your fan base shoot up.
Pretty soon, you'll have lots of friends...like Bicycle Willie
I've known you for about fifty years. I still use the cue you made for me thirty years ago and we had close family ties...But, now I want to take you out of the spotlight for a moment to finally take up for my dear friend, Eddie Taylor.
In 1993, when Eddie was inducted into the BCA Hall Of Fame, Ernie G. Presented Eddie with a cue he said he made for his induction. It was beautiful, as Ginacues tend to be. I made a big fuss for Ernie, taking his picture with the cue, standing with Steve Mizrack, Jean Balukas and others. Later that day, Eddie asked Ernie if he would change the weight. Ernie told him no problem. For months on end, Eddie and i tried to get Ernie to send the cue back...to absolutely no avail. Eddie died still puzzeled. Cuesticks come and go, but for the stress this flakey action put on eddie, I say publicly, "Screw you Ernie."
Alf Taylor
P.S That good guy, Danny Janes, who loved Eddie, came to the rescue and made him a beautiful Joss cue. Danny knows how to.............
Keep it nice. Alfie
P.P.S. Billy, only you can take this steam off. Honor your word and be man enough to make a public apology, watch your fan base shoot up.
Pretty soon, you'll have lots of friends...like Bicycle Willie
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If anybody wants to make my "Man in the Moon" cue, they're welcome to!! I agree, though, with the stagnation of design in the industry I wouldn't be surprised at all if at least 10% of these designs show up somewhere sometime.
Only Bill knows why he had the contest, and why he has not shipped the winners their DREAM CUE.
All of us who are guessing, & speculating what is what are just guessing or speculating.
If I WAS A BETTER MAN, I would bet Bill will not post on the contest, or why no price Cues has been shipped to the winner, or when the winner can expect their prize.
So deep.
Maybe we are just cogitating and contemplating. Perhaps surmising and assuming or musing and meditating.
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Or as i stated on the "other" BS thread, this is all nothing but verbal masterbation. Wait a minute. Make that written masterbation!!!!
Lyn
Lyn