Bonus Ball--That Dog Won't Hunt
- Thread starter Pangit
- Start date
Professional chess players make quite a bit more than pool players. Magnus Carlsen has been making over 600,000 a year for the last couple of years since he became the number one player and up to 1.3million USD.
The top 50 players of the world make over 100k USD. Top players supplement their income through many revenue streams.
Here's a link:
http://www.chess.com/article/view/making-money-in-chess
Pool players wish they had the same environment chess does globally.
Well, they do well enough. Ronnie drives a Ferrari and has won a Bentley or two I think.
It wouldn't take much of an improvement in popularity for pool players to make enough money to be at least fairly financially secure. I am sure that the lower ranked snooker players still struggle but then again so do the lower ranked golfers and tennis players and nascar teams and so on, in all walks of life the lower ranks make far less than the top.
My take on all this is why not? Why should we really care whether someone wants to put millions into this, let him try, let it ride and see what happens. The players who are playing are all fully capable of making up their minds as to where they want to spend their time.
Larry the Money Guy has probably seen it all, he has seen the stream numbers, he knows full well that PPV from "diehard" fans won't cover the nut. So either he has an ace up his sleeve or he has a very expensive hobby. Either way it's going forward and none of us has any skin in the game. We weren't asked to invest, we haven't been sold a pie-in-the-sky dream, we haven't been asked to play in $2000 qualifier events for a shot at the "big" money.
So why not simply give them a fair shot and let it start without the withering criticism? For all we know Larry is sipping champagne in the Diamond Room with the head of ESPN right now toasting the agreement for a full season of BB uncut. Or not, but still let it roll and see where it goes is my take on it.
Jennie --
Over the years I've noticed you've always stood-up for KT and the IPT for putting money in the pockets of players (like Keith, as an example) even though the IPT stiffed all of the players who entered qualifiers, slow-paid the Reno event over a year or two and left many of the vendors high-and-dry.
I was curious why you've always continued to stick-up for the IPT (who were blatant thieves w/ qualifier entry fees) but don't stick up for Bonus Ball when they are also putting money into players' pockets. You've mentioned Jimmy Wych a few times and how Bonus Ball owes him money, clearly trying to add a hair of pressure to get him paid. If true, you're right in sticking up for him - I totally agree.
Why didn't you have that same passion for the players, vendors and backers who got flat-out robbed with the IPT and why do you always defend the IPT every chance you've had in threads that discussed the topic; yet, Bonus Ball rubs you the wrong way and you publicly disapprove of Jimmy's outstanding fee?
I'm NOT saying that BB "is like" the IPT in any way. Clearly the IPT was a slime ball of an organization and BB hasn't done anything bad outside of maybe missing some dates and good communication with other promoters.
I hope my question isn't taken the wrong way and you don't think I'm a troll or anything. I always felt you were on the wrong side of the IPT issue because Keith actually got paid --- many, many did not and were flat-out ripped-off to the tune of $2k / person. Nobody knows the story with Jimmy other than Jimmy and BB -- I just wish your passion to get Jimmy paid was around when scores of people didn't get paid with the IPT.
Anyways, please don't take my post as a knock or trolling or anything. I value your thoughts and feedback since your position on BB was contradictory to your position on the IPT, when the IPT was way, way worse.
Regards,
Dave
JCIN, That is what he said. I am clueless about the technology and for that matter on most issues in life. He was saying that it will be shot with four cameras and the TV viewers will be able to see the players,tables in different angles. He also said that there will be several screens in the room and after each shot by the player,the player`s computerized stats will immediately appear on the screen. Larry appeared to be very details oriented person. He has passion. I wish him all the best.
He spent 3-3.5 million $. He has lot of ideas. The man has passion.
I hope it works out because it would be good for pool. I still feel in my heart 8-ball is the game to present on T.V. The everyday player can relate to it the most. How exactly that could be done successfully, I do not know. I need to watch more bonus ball before I can really decide how I feel about it. Not certain it is the game to present to the masses.
Look, Dave, my disdain for Bonus Ball began yesterday when I was contacted by one of its so-called "representatives" via PM on this forum. The words written via PM infuriated me, so much so that I have lost any good thoughts I had for Bonus Ball. Originally, I was a Bonus Ball supporter, even blindly before it began. I was giving it the benefit of the doubt.
Anybody who knows me on this forum, sometimes to my own detriment, realizes that I am the biggest proponent of pro players on this forum, maybe on the Internet. You have no idea what I do to promote American pool, as an example, silently in the background when time allows. I have spent literally hundreds of hours of my time and effort to promote pro players from around the world, not just Americans, but it is the American pro players that I have spent the bulk of my time on.
If anything, it is me and people just like me, who are very much supporters of professional pool, that Bonus Ball should be attracting. Instead, I get some imp with multiple metal screws coming out of every orifice stating to me that I am the cause of pro players not getting their million-dollar payday.
Well, you know what, Dave, if this is the person representing Bonus Ball, I won't support them one iota.
As far as Kevin Trudeau and the IPT, they treated me and mine just fine. In fact, if you were to talk to some of the pro players who were "regular" IPT members, most feel the same way as we do. I'm sorry that you got ripped off by KT and/or the IPT, Dave. If I got ripped off, I would not think too highly of an organization, either, but I didn't get ripped off. Instead, as Keith puts it, it was one of the best experiences in the pool world to ever come to the fore, bar none. It even triumphed Tahoe, according to Keith, whatever that was.
Pertaining to Jim Wych, what happened to him has been relayed to me by three different people who know Jim. I had heard about it months ago. I decided to ask Barry of Bonus Ball, who seems to be able to communicate well on this forum, about it. His reply to me via an open public thread on this forum, FWIW, was a good one. He's got good business integrity, and I admired how he handled my inquiry.
But then I get contacted by a "new kid on the block," who's younger than my daughter and hasn't been in this pool world for even a decade. He has no idea what I have tried to do for professional pool -- me, again, the biggest proponent of professional players on this forum. And to read his words directed at me -- "we won't get our million-dollar payday because of you" -- stuck in my craw not once, not twice, not thrice, not four times, but now five times via PM.
Well, you know what, Dave, I posted Jim Wych's e-mail address. Instead of innuendos, rumors and/or hearsay, anybody who's curious or believes it is my fault the pro players who I have been dedicated to on this forum and on the Internet as a whole for years, sometimes getting attacked along the way for my pro-American player stance, they can contact Jim and find out for themselves. I'm not a liar, and I stated from the onset that it was rumor. When confronted by the Arizona Bonus Ball mafia, et al., I again confirmed that it was hearsay on my end. I have not spoken or communicated with Jim Wych, me personally.
Again, I was quite happy with Barry of Bonus Ball's reply to me, and I had dropped the entire topic. Things in business happen. I get that. Heck, anybody who is in the business world understands that sometimes business relationships can go sour. But the back-and-forth by the so-called Bonus Ball representative began and ensued well after Barry of Bonus Ball's reply post to me. In fact, the insulting PMs laced with untruths towards me are still happening this morning by this so-called "representative" of the 40 Bonus Ball players.
Because of this and this alone, Bonus Ball is dead as far as I'm concerned. I won't provide one bit of excitement, enthusiasm, or support. The Arizona and Canadian members of this forum can continue to be the Bonus Ball cheerleaders and mafia, attacking those who write anything untoward about Bonus Ball, but I ain't going to sweep their untruths and lies under the rug. When the Bonus Ball balloon pops, suddenly dropping at warp speed, you can bet your bottom dollar, all these cheerleaders will be chanting a different tune.
So, Dave, if you want to support Bonus Ball and its mafia gang from Canada and Arizona, be my guest. That is certainly your prerogative, but please allow me to have my opinions about them as well as the IPT.
The IPT was a great ride while it lasted, and those who are affiliated with Bonus Ball today may rise to heights beyond our gaze. I will let you in on a little secret, Dave. The higher they rise, the harder that fall will be. Boom! And it will sting and hurt, leaving some with broken souls, having the same effect as the IPT's withdrawal from the pool scene. Fortunately for me, my IPT experience was a good one.
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5 PMs?
40 players?
"multiple hideous metal screws coming out of every orifice of his head"?
Jam, there aren't even 40 players in Bonus Ball. I think you're getting a little carried away here by inflating all these numbers. I asked you to check both sides of the story before gossiping about potentially damaging issues. That's hardly an unreasonable request.
This isn't a pub fight, and there is no need to slander or be hateful. If you have a problem, then fine. Accept it, just as I will. Taking things personally and being irrational isn't helping anyone.
40 players?
"multiple hideous metal screws coming out of every orifice of his head"?
Jam, there aren't even 40 players in Bonus Ball. I think you're getting a little carried away here by inflating all these numbers. I asked you to check both sides of the story before gossiping about potentially damaging issues. That's hardly an unreasonable request.
This isn't a pub fight, and there is no need to slander or be hateful. If you have a problem, then fine. Accept it, just as I will. Taking things personally and being irrational isn't helping anyone.
TheThaiger
Banned
Is it you she's talking about?
It's time to remember; it's time to move on. They've pushed it too far; they don't know what they've done. If it's a fight that they want, then it's a fight that they'll get.
Don't wake up a sleeping giant!
Bleeding money
True story. My brother sent his rent check to his landlord, who lives in Vegas. The landlord called my brother up one day and said he left his check in his jeans and put them in the washing machine. He asked my brother if he could issue a new check. My brother's retort was, "Don't you know it's against the law to launder money?"
Oh, I wish I had expendable cash to launder into a venture of my choosing, but I'm a working stiff and have to earn each penny, one at a time.
Chess ... really??
Oh my what an exciting game to watch..... I would rather watch flies fucckkk.
BB is too complicated to catch on. I read all the rules and got bored half way through it......... yea yea ... I know, I have a short attention span but, so do a million other pool players.
$200 for a special set of balls........... yea right .... every home owner with a pool table will be flocking to stores to buy them. After 3 beers no one will remember which pocket they are shooting at and what ball is supposed to go there. Shittt, I forget which pocket I am shooting at in one pocket,
People won't pay to watch a game if they don't know exactly what it is that the players are trying to accomplish.
sorry... I won't be a follower.
I feel bad that the good pros are being duped again.
When this folds up, I hope it is not the death of professional pool.
Kim
Very valid points, Kim, and I agree. Chess is boring.
What are your thoughts on Scrabble?
