There is an event at the beginning of the Southern Classic called the Bigfoot Challenge. It is near and dear to both Greg and I that it be a successful tournament featuring all the best players. We have built this event over the course of the last four years into something very important for the top players to participate in. It is the foundation for a four city tour which has been in the planning stages for some time. We now have two stops, in Louisville at the DCC and in Tunica at the Sourthern Classic. The next two (if we decide to continue) will be in Atlantic City and Las Vegas.
Our intention is to continue to raise the prize fund (already $50,000 with 20K on top!), perhaps doubling it next year. Bonus Ball has thrown a monkey wrench into our plans with several of the top players choosing to withdraw from the Bigfoot Challenge and returning to Vegas after the Ultimate Ten Ball ends. The Bigfoot is scheduled to start the day after the Ultimate ends, accommodating the players who are already there. Does this begin to make sense? I sure hope so. Without the top players participating, the Bigfoot loses a lot of its luster.
Now the question is, do we continue to hold this event (it will definitely take place in Tunica) or do we discontinue it for lack of interest by the players. Greg and I will confer on this after the Southern Classic ends. Truth be known, if a player choses only to play in the Bigfoot Challenge and then leaves Tunica, we would have no qualms about that. But to play in the Ultimate Ten Ball and then leave immediately after is a problem for us. Jam is right in that regard 100%.
I've been very curious watching Jennie type all this stuff about the Bonus Ball. I have understanding about the game, Bonus Ball, but I don't understand the politics behind it.
I know for a fact that Greg Sullivan tried to help those people that are running that Bonus Ball tournament, sent the tables down there for them to play on, free of charge for one year. The guy who is behind this bonus ball didn't even have the decency to contact him and let him know that they had made some other arrangements. So Greg spent his time, his money, and everything to try to do the right thing for this tour, and this is the kind of stuff that doesn't make any sense to me.
They know all the dates that Greg had for this event, and for the players having to choose where they're going to go when I seen on this Bonus Ball it's in a private building, there's 8 or 10 people probably total in the whole place, and it's totally absurd that they couldn't reschedule those matches until after the Southern Classic in Tunica.
It's lack of communication, totally lack of communication, totally disrespectful to Greg Sullivan. It's like taking his time and all his efforts that he has done for all the players and throwing it right in the trash can. I don't know who's behind all this, but I have an idea. If it was up to me, I would do something drastic that I didn't want to do, but I would have to do it. And some of the players involved, I call them my friends. But some of the other players that are involved, I could really give a rat's ass about.
Greg, I know has put on all these successful events for years, and he does it for the players and keeps getting more money to put back into the events and even sponsors, has people fly in, pays their room, pays entry fees for them. I know this for a fact. I'm totally appalled by it all, and I think the guy that runs or owns Bonus Ball needs to take the time to try to call Greg or get a hold of him and try to work something out so everybody can be happy. Come on, guys. Everybody's got to work together in this business!
