Barry Behrman.....

I think espartaco's reason for posting is he's just tired of seeing people bash the guy.

I don't know barry personally, but my impression is not that he's a sleazy, dishonest guy. Maybe he's a screwup or a bad businessman. But not a bad person. I've heard several times that he runs this event at a loss, and I've never seen any evidence he gets rich from it.

Based on that, maybe people should dial it back a notch and stop being so harsh.
As far as I know, he does eventually pay up. And if it happens in just 2 weeks, that's not the end of the world.
There is some truth to what you and the other guy are saying. I don't think he has anything but good intentions. I am sure its not easy but then again nobody said it was and he should know. The only part that all of us here are missing especially when defending Barry. We are not Pro Players, we have never been late payed by him, we have never spent $2,500 to go to work and do a good job and then not get paid.
 
There is some truth to what you and the other guy are saying. I don't think he has anything but good intentions. I am sure its not easy but then again nobody said it was and he should know. The only part that all of us here are missing especially when defending Barry. We are not Pro Players, we have never been late payed by him, we have never spent $2,500 to go to work and do a good job and then not get paid.
So to me the on;y people who can defend him are the ones that payed out the money, did a good job and didn't get paid. We can say our part though.
 
There is some truth to what you and the other guy are saying. I don't think he has anything but good intentions. I am sure its not easy but then again nobody said it was and he should know. The only part that all of us here are missing especially when defending Barry. We are not Pro Players, we have never been late payed by him, we have never spent $2,500 to go to work and do a good job and then not get paid.

It´s true. If I were SVB, DAZ, Orcollo or any other pro, I´d gamble that kind of money around my area. Better chances to win and get paid. I wouldn´t go to that Behrman´s tourney where no one gets paid, and you have to beat very good guys. :eek:

Think about it.
 
Ok, but what is better than the US Open? What is more famous? What is cheaper to go to? Doha? Nicaragua? China? That´s the thing.

Pool is dying, the guy is doing something... Let´s live and let live.

Don´t support him, but please don´t crucify him.

Maybe the US Open 10 ball in Vegas should become the pre-eminent pro event in the US. It already involves a tougher game and a tougher line-up of players usually
 
The reason the the US Open is not in Cheaspeake anymore is he owes them 23,000 fact .He just had his car Repoed But dont make him a bad guy!! He dont pay anyone on time!!
 
No simple matter here. It is incontrovertible that, despite some missteps and unethical conduct, Barry has made a significant contirbution to our sport.

Of the major events in American pool, only the WPBA National Championship event has a history that is comparable to that of the US Open.

If, as Barry suggests, all prize fund payments will be made before November is out, do we really have a problem here? Barry had made it clear that his business model for the US Open does not bring him his revenues as early as he would prefer, which sometimes puts payment of prize money in temporary jeopardy.

If, alternatively, Barry's prize fund payments are not going to be made shortly, we have a serious problem and the future of the US Open as we know it today is in doubt.

Personally, I think some patience is called for here, but it is incumbent on those who play pro pool to devise a strategy for dealing with non-payment that goes beyond pursuing payment itself.

I recall the formation of a players union in the wake of the IPT's nonpayment of prizes from its Reno event. To the best of my memory, that group focused on payment alone and not on the formation of a cohesive vision for what comes next. I'm looking for better this time.
 
No simple matter here. It is incontrovertible that, despite some missteps and unethical conduct, Barry has made a significant contirbution to our sport.

Of the major events in American pool, only the WPBA National Championship event has a history that is comparable to that of the US Open.

If, as Barry suggests, all prize fund payments will be made before November is out, do we really have a problem here? Barry had made it clear that his business model for the US Open does not bring him his revenues as early as he would prefer, which sometimes puts payment of prize money in temporary jeopardy.

If, alternatively, Barry's prize fund payments are not going to be made shortly, we have a serious problem and the future of the US Open as we know it today is in doubt.

Personally, I think some patience is called for here, but it is incumbent on those who play pro pool to devise a strategy for dealing with non-payment that goes beyond pursuing payment itself.

I recall the formation of a players union in the wake of the IPT's nonpayment of prizes from its Reno event. To the best of my memory, that group focused on payment alone and not on the formation of a cohesive vision for what comes next. I'm looking for better this time.
We all do:thumbup:
 
Well guys, has anyone considered an alternative? Mark Griffin (to the best of my knowledge) owns the rights to the names US Open 8 Ball, US Open 10 Ball and US Open One Pocket. Perhaps it is time for Barry to surrender his ownership of the name US Open 9 Ball. Along with Greg Sullivan, Mark produces some of the most successful pool events held in the US. Never heard of a player not paid after one of their events. Nothing against Mr Behrman other than he does not have a successful business plan. Every year it's the same story. Maybe it's time for a change! Lots of people on AZ say "let Mark do it" about professional pool. JMHO.

Lyn
 
It's easy for sideline players to talk.
All this talk about having someone else takeover the US Open.
I am curious as to how many people would come up with an idea, spend 35 years building a fan base, and then let some outside entity take over no questions asked or without a fight.

I dont know Barry personally but I have been to the Open several times and seen barry talk about the game. Barry loves pool.

I wish people here and anywhere else would help someone keep something rather than tell them to give it up to someone else.
 
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It's easy for sideline players to talk.
All this talk about having someone else takeover the US Open.
I am curious as to how many people would come up with an idea, spend 35 years building a fan base, and then let some outside entity take over no questions asked or without a fight.

I dont know Barry personally but I have been to the Open several times and seen barry talk about the game. Barry loves pool.

I wish people here and anywhere else would help someone keep something rather than tell them to give it up to someone else.

There has never been any doubt about Barry Berman's love for the game of pool, as well as his efforts to promote the US 9-Ball Open for 37 years. But that's not the point. The point is that Barry, love him or hate him, is perhaps not the best business person in a position to run his tournament.
Turning the professional management of the US 9-Ball Open over to a professional manager is not "giving it up"...it's simply saying, "Look, I love this game and I want to raise its ethical standards." There's no shame in doing that. Barry can still have his name in lights as the promoter and sponsor, but he should leave the heavy lifting to someone whose more capable. Hey, who knows, maybe they could turn a profit on the event, instead of suffering yearly losses.
 
There has never been any doubt about Barry Berman's love for the game of pool, as well as his efforts to promote the US 9-Ball Open for 37 years. But that's not the point. The point is that Barry, love him or hate him, is perhaps not the best business person in a position to run his tournament.
Turning the professional management of the US 9_Ball Open over to a professional manager is not "giving it up"...it's simply saying, "Look. I love this game and I want to raise its ethical standards." There's no shame in doing that. Barry can still have his name in lights as the promoter and sponsor, but he should leave the heavy lifting to someone whose more capable. Hey, who knows, maybe they could turn a profit on the event, instead of yearly losses.

You have spoken! You´re HELPING! That´s the attitude.
 
There has never been any doubt about Barry Berman's love for the game of pool, as well as his efforts to promote the US 9-Ball Open for 37 years. But that's not the point. The point is that Barry, love him or hate him, is perhaps not the best business person in a position to run his tournament.
Turning the professional management of the US 9-Ball Open over to a professional manager is not "giving it up"...it's simply saying, "Look, I love this game and I want to raise its ethical standards." There's no shame in doing that. Barry can still have his name in lights as the promoter and sponsor, but he should leave the heavy lifting to someone whose more capable. Hey, who knows, maybe they could turn a profit on the event, instead of suffering yearly losses.

Good point.
Barry needs to compromise and see the future as well.
 
YEP!
It is easy to sit on the side walk hurling abuse at the shop keeper the other side of the road because he don't stock your liquor.

Ain't so easy to open your own store!!!!

Personally I don't know Barry; and noone is his judge.
If the guy was going to quit tomorrow, i'd feel no remorse for all the so called 'professional' players and by standers who'd struggle to replace the most prestigeous 9 Ball Tournament in the world.

Second to none is way better than none at all...
 
It's easy for sideline players to talk.
All this talk about having someone else takeover the US Open.
I am curious as to how many people would come up with an idea, spend 35 years building a fan base, and then let some outside entity take over no questions asked or without a fight.

I dont know Barry personally but I have been to the Open several times and seen barry talk about the game. Barry loves pool.

I wish people here and anywhere else would help someone keep something rather than tell them to give it up to someone else.

Tell that to the players who spend a small fortune to play only to be told their payout is weeks or months down the road. Whether the tournament expenses come out of their pocket, a sponsors pocket or a backer, it's still a problem not receiving the money on time.

It's said "nothing succeeds like success". Perhaps the yearly failure to correctly estimate costs and income are more than Mr Behrman can handle. I've listened to Barry myself. He does love pool. So do I. So do a lot of other people. Lots of us loved Pontiac automobiles. Who didn't like "The Judge"? The GTO? "Wide Track" design? Time came when Pontiac was no longer relevant. Time came to close their doors. Perhaps it's time for an Open 9 Ball change as well. There may always be Q Masters for the Behrman family. It isn't personal, it's strictly business.

Lyn
 
The best thing to do is what Barry does.

Create a tournament with a fictitious prize amount, say those prizes are subject to changes.

Make sure the prize amount makes it a strong determining factor in the rankings list, to get the players.

After the tournament is over remind everyone that the prize were based on certain situations.

Those situations defined by the tournament organizer not some sanctioning body.
 
Why so many people goes against Barry? ...
It´s easy to write hiding behind a computer, I invite all the haters to go outside, plan and make a better event. That´s the only acceptable way to say that Barry is doing it wrong.

How many of you will????????:confused:




Imo it's not a matter of liking or disliking Barry. Barry is a good dude with great intentions but ...

It's simply a matter of how he goes about conducting his business. You can't expect to do business with someone and continue to take the chance of not being paid. This is not the first time this has happened.

Again, it's not a personal thing, it's business and business always involves money

After all these years would you recommend Barry for the GAL?

:smile:

just sayin'
 
After all these years would you recommend Barry for the GAL?

I heard Barry couldn't be trusted with entry fee money.

Supposedly the BCA supported that idea and held the entry fee money while the tournament took place. I think it was to prevent Barry from being tempted in case Sandy struck hard.
 
Why so many people goes against Barry? If he´s a bad guy for pool, a drogadict, an alcoholic, a NON stand up guy? Just forget about him and the U.S. Open.

IMHO, good or bad, Behrman has been doing something for pool in the last 35 years. What are the others doing? Just a Witch´s hunt against the guy?

Why don´t you just start up another "world class open event" and let´s see how you hold it?

It´s easy to write hiding behind a computer, I invite all the haters to go outside, plan and make a better event. That´s the only acceptable way to say that Barry is doing it wrong.

How many of you will????????:confused:


I would do it 100% for sure if I though I could make $$$ doing it.

I spoke to Barry a 2-3 years ago about getting involved with him, it didn't seem economically viable to me. The problem was not Barry, it was the numbers. I couldn't see how it could make $$.


I would promote a US Open 9 ball type of event, I wouldnt use that name because it isnt mine. But I'd do a event like that if It could make $$. I cant see the payday no matter how I do the math. I cant see a break even, I'm not going to do something to lose $50,000.


Sadly I dont think the tournament biz is a viable biz anymore. At least for anyone who isnt in it. Guys who are established like Mark Griffen might be able to pull it off and make it work, but to enter that biz now, its too difficult. Or i'm just not smart enough,
 
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