Lenny I have stated numerous times I dont think BB is going to have much affect on anything for several reasons. What I do KNOW is that others feel differently. I also know almost all of this could of been avoided with some communication. The "He should of called me....no you should of called me." has been done to death already so at this point its useless to even talk about it.
One problem I do have is the constant refrain of "I cannot see why any real pool fan who is a supporter of the pro players would not be behind this,". All that does is create a us vs them mentality and its bullshit. I dont like the game. I think its boring, way too complex for the intended audience and makes the players look a bit silly in trying to dress them up like football/hockey/basketball players. Why would I cheerlead something that is not pool? All it has in common is the equipment. If all the top pool players decide to play BB thats fine. Best of luck to them. If its going to succeed or fail there is absolutely nothing I have to do with it. I like pool. Not purple and orange balls going in three pockets.
Plus I refuse to just blindly follow whoever throws the most money at someone this year. I'm in this for the duration and I will support people I think earn it and deserve it based on solid leadership and good character. To say someone is against the pros because they dislike BB pisses me off to no end. TAR has paid out about $40,000 this year to players. Go find ten more people who are against the players as much as I am and you will be on to something if BB doesnt work out.
There has been numerous falsehoods put out by the organization. This does not create a feeling of trust towards it from me. If the organization puts out bullshit numbers it either means they don't know what they are doing or they are lying. Neither engenders confidence in me as a leader for the future.
At this point the whole situation interests me simply from a business case study POV. What does BB do that I think makes sense and what do they do that is baffling. If you actually read what I post you will see I am not just over here hating with no regard for whats actually happening. I realize that doesnt fit the narrative some want to tell but its the truth.
Nothing anyone says here will have any affect at all whether BB succeeds or fails. To say different is simply looking for an excuse incase things go wrong so please just stop with all the "If you dont support BB you dont support pool or the players" bullshit.
I do believe you are one of the people who has a mind of your own and speaks it and so do I. The fact is I am dumbfounded by those who say they are for the pro players and do not support something that is paying them money. I have thrown my money at many of the pro events in support in some way or another because I support pro pool and the events that pay players. I will not support the US Open 9 Ball in anyway whether it is funding a player to go, PPV purchase or anything else period.
You are right that this forum will not make or break Bonus Ball in reality, I have also seen it go from probably 1% supporting it and 99% bashing it who actually are talking about it here to about 50/50 which says a good deal. The fact is the people who have been bashing it here or are always speaking about it or whether its you and Mark on many of the podcast might have actually garnered some support so for that I say thanks to all.
The forum is important to me as are the members and I support what I feel is good in pool just like I have always supported TAR, Accu-Stats and the promoters and events in the past. I do not recall Bonus Ball ever making it us versus them at all, but it certainly has been painted up as such. I cannot believe people actually say this is bad for the players or could turn out badly for them along with talks about barring them from future events, that is pitiful and petty. What I see at play is the typical egos in pool which need to be set aside for the future of pool and the pro players.
Oh and if you think Bonus Ball is not more difficult and skillful then 8, 9 or 10 ball then I do not know what to tell you, ask the players what they think about its difficulty level compared to other games. Some people do not think one pocket and banks are pool either, its subjective.
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