The Players Themselves Might Bring Down Bonus Ball

JAM said:
I must agree with you. American needs new blood to fill the void of those who have left the pool industry. Without them, American pool is dead. That is a very good point.:cool:

But is it fair to Justin Hall? I think he should definitely keep on, keeping on with his pool endeavors. I don't know how old he is, but if he's young, he should also consider a way to make money in a non-pool-related field. :wink:

The problem with pool is that even when you win big, you're so stuck from all the other events where you didn't win, place, or show. It's hard to accumulate a bankroll when you're solo like Justin. If he had a sponsor or backer, that would surely help.

There comes a time in a pool player's life when they must pick and choose what's more important: pool or family. It happens to all of them. I hope Justin makes the right decision and has the means to keep his head above water. He looks like a nice kid. :)
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He missed out on the IPT scandal so he had to join the ripped off club once in his life
 
Johnnyt said:
In only the first week of the BB season already we are seeing some teams and some players almost fighting with one another and captains acting like boot camp cadre. I think the first thing that needs to be done is lose the captains, as most pool players don't like taking orders or told how to shoot a shot. If this stuff keeps up by the 6th week they might as well bring in a cage. Like what happened to the other tours led by players it will destruct. Johnnyt
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with no captain you have 3 pool players trying to make a decision, Do you rally think that will go well? Of course it wont.
They all knew what they signed up for. If they are not man enough to sit there and play then they can go away.
 
JAM said:
I can't believe Earl, of all people, is going to support Bonus Ball, a Canadian enterprise, while it tramples the very American promoters who have kept pool alive and well in these United States. That's not the Earl I know. Somebody needs to enlighten him on what's happening to Greg Sullivan's Southern Classic, how Bonus Ball deliberately, with malice aforethought, scheduled their events on top of the Southern Classic, while leaving their schedule empty for the Ultimate 10-Ball Championship, allowing players to attend one and not the other.

Both tournaments, Ultimate and Southern Classic, run back to back -- IN THE SAME LOCATION, SAME TOWN, SAME HOTEL. Why would Bonus Ball schedule hurt Greg Sullivan in this manner? It's disgusting.
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Earl is like every other pool player. He is following the MONEY. END OF STORY

for a pool player MONEY>usa anyday
 
spanky79 said:
Earl is like every other pool player. He is following the MONEY. END OF STORY

for a pool player MONEY>usa anyday
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Earl, sad to say, is what happens to professional pool players as they age. He just turned 51 a few days ago. Earl has the advantage of being a five-time U.S. Open champ, world titles, et cetera, et cetera. Those tin cups, titles, his BCA Hall of Fame status, and a dollar won't buy you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

Players like Justin Hall need to be cognizant of what pool can do to a person's spirit.

When I first met Keith, he introduced me to Ronnie Allen via the telephone. I was so excited to have the opportunity to speak to Ronnie, even if on the phone. I asked him how come he wasn't out here on the tournament trail with us, hitting every event, hanging out with the other pool peeps. His reply shocked me. He said, "When you've been beaten like I have by the pool world, you lose all enthusiasm." I was miffed and disappointed by his reply. I just didn't undersatnd how a pool phenom of my generation like Ronnie Allen could say such a thing.

Fast-forward 10+ years. I understand exactly what Ronnie meant. Good players like Justin Hall need an advisor to help them make good choices and ensure they have their priorities right.
 
Which captains seem to be a bit overzealous of their position?

I've only seen the free bonus ball clip of Phoenix vs Minnesota on youtube. Around the 44 minute mark Chau makes a mistake a pro shouldn't make, but I was like :eek: when I saw Frost's reaction to it when Chau took a seat on the bench.
 
Scott is really the only d..k captain I have seen if you can treat a guy like tommy kennedy like s..t you are in desperate need of a reality check. Especially since tommy could give him the 9 playing 10 ball
 
Inevitable

Without question, the professional players will eventually spoil this.

I could quote most of JAM's remarks in this thread, and agree with what she has seen over the years.

Nathan is talking about the entertainment value of BB once it is shopped to the TV Community. I am sure they have hired an experienced pitchman(person) to present this to the executives. If not, and they do it themselves,they have a slim chance of success.

Pool Players do not like to be "managed" and this is their downfall. They think their commodity is so good,everybody wants some. Narcissism is rampant amongst the elite players. Unfortunately, this a roadblock to cooperation, just look at the schedule overlap with the Southern Classic. A players union wouldn't have let that happen. A players union would have required Bonus Ball to actually BE in the cities they represent. A players union would require Derby City winner Justin Hall to pay into a player's retirement account for the future. By players, for players.

Oh, and I heard something about Earl breaking his cue after the match last night,is this true? If so, he may have just spoiled the biggest moment Bonus Ball could have offered as "entertainment". He should have waited for a "Live" broadcast to maximize effect. Hey it works for other entertainment entities, NBA,WWE,etc.
 
JAM said:
Earl, sad to say, is what happens to professional pool players as they age. He just turned 51 a few days ago. Earl has the advantage of being a five-time U.S. Open champ, world titles, et cetera, et cetera. Those tin cups, titles, his BCA Hall of Fame status, and a dollar won't buy you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

Players like Justin Hall need to be cognizant of what pool can do to a person's spirit.

When I first met Keith, he introduced me to Ronnie Allen via the telephone. I was so excited to have the opportunity to speak to Ronnie, even if on the phone. I asked him how come he wasn't out here on the tournament trail with us, hitting every event, hanging out with the other pool peeps. His reply shocked me. He said, "When you've been beaten like I have by the pool world, you lose all enthusiasm." I was miffed and disappointed by his reply. I just didn't undersatnd how a pool phenom of my generation like Ronnie Allen could say such a thing.

Fast-forward 10+ years. I understand exactly what Ronnie meant. Good players like Justin Hall need an advisor to help them make good choices and ensure they have their priorities right.
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Should being a great pool player mean more than being a great teacher? I'm sure the teacher wouldn't get jack at Starbucks either. How about a great soldier? I will never understand how somebody can even make it through life with a victim mentallity.

How much money have they burned through? I respect you, JAM, but let me make this very, very clear..

NOBODY FORCES POOL PLAYERS TO MAKE HORRIBLE FINANCIAL DECISIONS, BLOW ALL OF THEIR MONEY LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW AND NOT SAVE A PENNY.

I know somebody that managed to "retire" through playing pool and he wasn't even on the radar. Want to explain that one to me? He treated it like it was his life was on the line, because it was. Now, people just want the quick fix and can't even plan for the next week. NO SYMPATHY! NONE!!!

Let me break it down for you and others real quick. My dad had his own business. He worked his ass off. One day, I mention all of the sports games he went to with customers. He turned to me and said, "Do you think I always enjoyed having to sit next to some a****** for three hours and buy him food/beers?" No, he did it because he had to and he did it for his family. I don't want to hear there's a damn pity party for a bunch of pool players because they didn't have the mind to think ahead, instead only a mind to think of themselves and/or the moment.

Keith may be a great guy and huge talent, but not for one second will I accept that he's where he is because his chosen profession "treated him like a dancing monkey" and didn't let him save a dime. Edit: People get the respect that they command.. you can't treat somebody like crap if they won't put up with it.

Like whatshisface coming on here and asking for a handout after blowing in a day at a casino what some people make in a year. Yeah, I'm going to lose lots of sleep over that one. Maybe my next thread will be "Are pool players freaking retarded?"
 
Banks said:
Should being a great pool player mean more than being a great teacher? I'm sure the teacher wouldn't get jack at Starbucks either. How about a great soldier? I will never understand how somebody can even make it through life with a victim mentallity.

How much money have they burned through? I respect you, JAM, but let me make this very, very clear..

NOBODY FORCES POOL PLAYERS TO MAKE HORRIBLE FINANCIAL DECISIONS, BLOW ALL OF THEIR MONEY LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW AND NOT SAVE A PENNY.

I know somebody that managed to "retire" through playing pool and he wasn't even on the radar. Want to explain that one to me? He treated it like it was his life was on the line, because it was. Now, people just want the quick fix and can't even plan for the next week. NO SYMPATHY! NONE!!!

Let me break it down for you and others real quick. My dad had his own business. He worked his ass off. One day, I mention all of the sports games he went to with customers. He turned to me and said, "Do you think I always enjoyed having to sit next to some a****** for three hours and buy him food/beers?" No, he did it because he had to and he did it for his family. I don't want to hear there's a damn pity party for a bunch of pool players because they didn't have the mind to think ahead, instead only a mind to think of themselves and/or the moment.

Keith may be a great guy and huge talent, but not for one second will I accept that he's where he is because his chosen profession "treated him like a dancing monkey" and didn't let him save a dime. Edit: People get the respect that they command.. you can't treat somebody like crap if they won't put up with it.

Like whatshisface coming on here and asking for a handout after blowing in a day at a casino what some people make in a year. Yeah, I'm going to lose lots of sleep over that one. Maybe my next thread will be "Are pool players freaking retarded?"
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Me likey......
 
cajunfats said:
snip...
Oh, and I heard something about Earl breaking his cue after the match last night,is this true? If so, he may have just spoiled the biggest moment Bonus Ball could have offered as "entertainment". He should have waited for a "Live" broadcast to maximize effect. Hey it works for other entertainment entities, NBA,WWE,etc.
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Negative ghost rider. Earl had unscrewed and was holding both pieces in his left hand while arguing. He was pointing and gyrating with the cue and it seemed to slip out of his hand and hit the carpeted floor. No breakage I could see. Lee Brett picked it up as Earl ignored it and kept arguing. Luxury posted a link of the exchange in a thread (he used a phone camera).
 
No Breakage!

KoolKat9Lives said:
Negative ghost rider. Earl had unscrewed and was holding both pieces in his left hand while arguing. He was pointing and gyrating with the cue and it seemed to slip out of his hand and hit the carpeted floor. No breakage I could see. Lee Brett picked it up as Earl ignored it and kept arguing. Luxury posted a link of the exchange in a thread (he used a phone camera).
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Thanks. I didn't view the video. Yeah, Earl talks a lot with his hands, so slipping out wouldn't be surprising. He should keep it in mind for later. He needs a prop cue with all the adornments of his playing cue, so when he destroys it, it will look and feel "real". You can learn a lot from show business,lol!

Thanks again for clarifying.

cajunfats
 
I truly thought that winning the Master of the Table at the Southern Classic last year.....netted Justin Hall a free room and entry for life at that event. Just like they do at the DCC.

Correct me, if I'm wrong.

I've also seen JH interact with a backer, but he may not have one now. Or maybe he only has one occasionally. Not particularly my business, but just adding to something I saw earlier in the thread.

I can tell you this, I've met JH a couple of times now and he is a very soft-spoken, humble, nice guy. Or at least he was to me. Not sure what he's like around his friends or on "off-days".

But, I was quite pleasantly surprised at his demeanor.

P.S. He didn't want to sign my case after he won Banks. He didn't feel like he was worthy of giving out an autograph. But, after he plowed thru to win the 1P, I pretty much forced him to sign it. Lol. He seemed very sheepish and shy about it, but went ahead and did it for me anyway.

P.P.S. I love to watch the guy play. He's a monster. He's has the look that if he walked into a bowling alley, rec pool hall, or even a place where they just didn't know who he was.......guys would probably line up to bust him. And he would leave them absolutely penniless.
 
Banks said:
Should being a great pool player mean more than being a great teacher? I'm sure the teacher wouldn't get jack at Starbucks either. How about a great soldier? I will never understand how somebody can even make it through life with a victim mentallity.

How much money have they burned through? I respect you, JAM, but let me make this very, very clear..

NOBODY FORCES POOL PLAYERS TO MAKE HORRIBLE FINANCIAL DECISIONS, BLOW ALL OF THEIR MONEY LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW AND NOT SAVE A PENNY.

I know somebody that managed to "retire" through playing pool and he wasn't even on the radar. Want to explain that one to me? He treated it like it was his life was on the line, because it was. Now, people just want the quick fix and can't even plan for the next week. NO SYMPATHY! NONE!!!

Let me break it down for you and others real quick. My dad had his own business. He worked his ass off. One day, I mention all of the sports games he went to with customers. He turned to me and said, "Do you think I always enjoyed having to sit next to some a****** for three hours and buy him food/beers?" No, he did it because he had to and he did it for his family. I don't want to hear there's a damn pity party for a bunch of pool players because they didn't have the mind to think ahead, instead only a mind to think of themselves and/or the moment.

Keith may be a great guy and huge talent, but not for one second will I accept that he's where he is because his chosen profession "treated him like a dancing monkey" and didn't let him save a dime. Edit: People get the respect that they command.. you can't treat somebody like crap if they won't put up with it.

Like whatshisface coming on here and asking for a handout after blowing in a day at a casino what some people make in a year. Yeah, I'm going to lose lots of sleep over that one. Maybe my next thread will be "Are pool players freaking retarded?"
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Look, I am not stating that you should be condescending to Keith or any other pro player.

What I am saying is that the American pool industry is fractured. It's circling the drain. The existing lot of professional pool players is dwindling.

Now, it's okay if you don't give a hill of beans about professional players, but without them, we have no professional pool in the United States.

This is not about the pro players should be working full-time jobs, like you, me, or anybody else who doesn't shoot pool professionally.

This is about a fractioned industry in America. This Canadian comes here to set up shop and steps on the already-existing pool tournaments, the few that we do have. Greg Sullivan's Southern Classic was scheduled well in advance before Bonus Ball came to the scene.

Now, next season with Bonus Ball, if there is one, which I doubt, schedules will have to be worked around by all sides. But this is wrong what Bonus Ball is doing, and Johnny Archer is disrespecting the very people who have supported him his entire pool-playing career.

So you can go on with your dissertation about what no-good bums pro players are, how you work 9 to 5 and they don't, okay? But that's not what this is about. This is about Bonus Ball screwing the American pool industry.
 
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JAM said:
Look, I am not stating that you should be condescending to Keith or any other pro player.

What I am saying is that the American pool industry is fractured. It's circling the drain. The existing lot of professional pool players is dwindling.

Now, it's okay if you don't give a hill of beans about professional players, but without them, we have no professional pool in the United States.

This is not about the pro players should be working full-time jobs, like you, me, or anybody else who doesn't shoot pool professionally.

This is about a fractioned industry in America. This Canadian comes here to set up shop and steps on the already-existing pool tournaments, the few that we do have. Greg Sullivan's Southern Classic was scheduled well in advance before Bonus Ball came to the scene.

Now, next season with Bonus Ball, if there is one, which I doubt, schedules will have to be worked around by all sides. But this is wrong what Bonus Ball is doing, and Johnny Archer is disrespecting the very people who have supported him his entire pool-playing career.

So you can go on with your dissertation about what no-good bums pro players are, how you work 9 to 5 and they don't, okay? But that's not what this is about. This is about Bonus Ball screwing the American pool industry.
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Maybe you could reword that so you don't offend all of us Canadians.
thanks
mrs.g
Proud to be flying the red maple leaf
 
Gunn_Slinger said:
Maybe you could reword that so you don't offend all of us Canadians.
thanks
mrs.g
Proud to be flying the red maple leaf
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Ronnie Wiseman, a Canadian, is one of my dearest pool friends, so please don't take offense at the word "Canadian."

I made the distinction of "Canadian" because they are coming to the United States with this Bonus Ball and hurting American pool promoters who have been in this industry for decades. It just ain't fair.
 
JAM said:
Look, I am not stating that you should be condescending to Keith or any other pro player.

What I am saying is that the American pool industry is fractured. It's circling the drain. The existing lot of professional pool players is dwindling.

Now, it's okay if you don't give a hill of beans about professional players, but without them, we have no professional pool in the United States.

This is not about the pro players should be working full-time jobs, like you, me, or anybody else who doesnt shoot pool professionally.

This is about a fractioned industry in America. This Canadian comes here to set up shop and steps on the already-existing pool tournaments, the few that we do have. Greg Sullivan's Southern Classic was scheduled well in advance before Bonus Ball came to the seen.

Now, next season with Bonus Ball, if there is one, which I doubt, schedules will have to be worked around by all sides. But this is wrong what Bonus Ball is doing, and Johnny Archer is disrespecting the very people who have supported him his entire pool-playing career.

So you can go on with your dissertation about what no-good bums pro players are, how you work 9 to 5 and they don't, okay? But that's not what this is about. This is about Bonus Ball screwing the American pool industry.
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I'm not being condescending to Keith. I'm telling you very directly that if you continue to push for this "woe is poolplayer", you'd be better off by taking a step back and looking at the situation. Numerous players have had amazing opportunities to stock-pile cash, but very few do and then they turn around and get all bitter about it and take it out on others.

I'll call certain ones no-good bums if they act like it. Don't wanna be called a skunk? Don't smell like one. It's pretty simply, really. In an activity that regularly gets its feeding from drug dealers and other criminals, it would be pretty hard to convince me that it is free of "no-good bums".

bummer.jpg

If you think that I diverted the thread, perhaps you should reread your post that I quoted. I respect you enough to tell you the truth, whether or not you want to hear it. I won't be tricked into thinking that somebody's a victim when the damage is self-inflicted, though. Bonus Ball is another example of that. I wish them well, but I can't help but shake my head at another example of them stepping on their own feet.

Try to have a good day, the world's quite the place if you look at it with a smile.
 
Banks said:
I'm not being condescending to Keith. I'm telling you very directly that if you continue to push for this "woe is poolplayer", you'd be better off by taking a step back and looking at the situation. Numerous players have had amazing opportunities to stock-pile cash, but very few do and then they turn around and get all bitter about it and take it out on others.

I'll call certain ones no-good bums if they act like it. Don't wanna be called a skunk? Don't smell like one. It's pretty simply, really. In an activity that regularly gets its feeding from drug dealers and other criminals, it would be pretty hard to convince me that it is free of "no-good bums".

View attachment 279379

If you think that I diverted the thread, perhaps you should reread your post that I quoted. I respect you enough to tell you the truth, whether or not you want to hear it. I won't be tricked into thinking that somebody's a victim when the damage is self-inflicted, though. Bonus Ball is another example of that. I wish them well, but I can't help but shake my head at another example of them stepping on their own feet.

Try to have a good day, the world's quite the place if you look at it with a smile.
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I have seen very few, if any, pro players come on this forum and say "woe is me."

I smile every day. Why? I don't have to depend on professional pool to keep a roof over my head, but I happen to be very passionate about professional pool.

Everybody can come at this topic from a different vantage point, but I ain't budging on my stance.
 
JAM said:
I'd quit playing pool and get a real job to support my family.

The reality is pool as a profession is not conducive to today's economy. Even the $900 per week after taxes doesn't leave one much to live off of -- and that's if you're single. You have expenses, rent, food, et cetera. What happens if your teeth hurt and you need IMMEDIATE dental care?

In case you haven't notice, the majority of aging pool players have no family, no children, no loved ones surrounding them. When you get sick, go broke, or get old and can't run racks, you find out how many friends you have in this pool world.

I personally believe pool today is a rich man's high. If a player can get a corpulent stakehorse to support them in exchange for friendship, then, yes, professional pool pays. Otherwise, it's time to hang up the cue stick and get job that will keep one's family intact.

Who is your friend, by the way? Two out of three events is strong. I should know the name, I guess.
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Oh,no you Din't!
You said that 3 letter word and told it the way it is.
 
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