★★Qatar gets right to host World 9-Ball Championship For Four Years★★

Sorry Joey,

I just can not picture my 28 year old daughter going to watch a pool tournament in Qatar, just south of IRAN with her German last name, even though we are not Jewish. Do you think Mr. Jewett could escort her safely? Did you read what others have said about military personnel not leaving the base for fear of their lives.

The rich country of Qatar that has made it's money by selling most of it's oil to the the western world (especially in the 'old' days) & perhaps refined right here in the Louisiana 'society' may be or becoming a fine country.

But at this point in time, it is just in a very bad neighborhood where westerners are concerned.

What would you say if for some reason next year's tournament was moved to Damascus or Tehran or Pyongyang, because they wanted to boost word wide perception.

You live in the New Orleans area. You should know that it's all about location, location, & then location.

No offence meant & none taken by me. I guess we are just looking through different binoculars.

Regards & Best Wishes,
Rick
 
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I suppose it is reasonable to assume that in a thread of this nature that you can expect a wide spectrum of opinions.

But I am a very unpolitical person and think that we should try to focus on the sporting element of the situation.

Pool is a big thing in the Middle East and they are quickly developing World Class players. I have been to Iran where I was treated with the utmost respect and consideration by people who love the game. Doubtless there were people there who would hate me, but I never felt under any threat.

It is probably Pie In The Sky but maybe sport can lead the way in minimizing the differences between people of differing religeous convictions.

Take a look at this pool hall. It is in MECCA
mecca3.jpg

meccapool.jpg
 
pooler said:
Thanks FranCrimi :smile:

Well, yes; I agree that the situation in Europe has been for long far from perfect; however, a lot of work has been put to resolve this matter.
It is only fair to state that since the beginning of 2012 we do have a regular EuroTour for women so there is a huge improvement.
Check for info at:
http://www.eurotouronline.eu/default_etwomen.asp?db=eurotour&client=women (click at Calendar to see the list of previous events)

I am more interested in the other part of your previous statement:


The question is:
How exactly does (did) the BCA treat men and women players equal?
By not supporting any of them ??? :wink:
It has been stated here on countless occasions that BCA, for many years now, does nothing to support professional pool players, be it a man, a woman or a child. Are you relating to the long gone past ?
No offence intended, just curious about that.
Click to expand...

Yes, you make a good point about the present situation in the U.S.. Currently, the BCA is not offering specific financial support to the men or women pros as far as I can tell.

My point was referring to the last 30 years, which should not be forgotten. There are many things that have not been made public over those years. There were times when the BCA helped subsidize both men and women's tours. They did not discriminate and offer more to the men than the women. Also for many years, they ran one of the largest pro events of the year in Las Vegas. The added money was identical per capita for both the men and women's division. They added over 2 million dollars over those years to those pro events in Las Vegas alone.

For a period of time, the BCA offered subsidies for men and women traveling abroad. Again, the amount given to each man or woman was exactly the same.

Even when the BCA could no longer offer funds from it's own treasury, it always encouraged it's members to support both the men and women whenever possible.

The situation is no longer a viable one, however, the BCA can not be accused of discriminating against the women players.

I'm glad to hear the the EPBF is addressing the issue of a women's tour in Europe.
 
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Pro9dg,

Why were you in Iran? Did you go there on vacation?
My guess would be that you were probably protected for some work related reason.

There is no doubt that 'they' have a lot of the western world's money that was used to buy their oil.

I'll stop there except to say the following.

I hope & pray that by next year all will be well in the middle east & the rest of the world.

Maybe like Rocky Balboa said, 'If I can change...& youse can change...then maybe we can all change.'

Maybe Pocket Billiards will do it. Somehow though...I don't think so.

I hope so...but I don't think so.

Regards & Best Wishes,
Rick
 
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pro9dg said:
Fran

The picture that you paint is not as bleak as you see it.

Last year the Iranian Federation sent six referees to officiate at the 2012 World 9 Ball.
They were all women and they were treated respectfully by the Qatar authorities. The also did a top class job..

Now ladies from Iran and Saudi Arabia are now able to compete in international sports events.

In Dubai The Ladies Tennis Open, top ladies player Shahar Peer now is accepted by the organisers and she is from Israel.

The Crown Prince of Dubai, who is also President of the Dubai Sports Council, has launched a special initiative aimed at encouraging ladies to play pool and snooker.

I am reminded of the joke:
It was the custom for ladies to walk 5 steps behind their male colleagues. Now they walk 5 paces in front/ Why the change................................? Landmines.

I think that those days are coming to an end
Click to expand...

I'm glad to hear that they are making progress, Doug. That's certainly good news. However, these are still very small inroads and as far as I'm concerned, not good enough to warrant as the new home of the WPA. Let's see some programs open up there for women, including their hosting an international women's billiard event. Until then, I'm afraid it's mostly talk.
 
We can't even keep a Naval Yard in Washington D.C. safe & some if not many want to play a World Championship in a country, Qatar, that is reaching out to the western world even though it resides just south of Iran.

I just don't see that logic.
 
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ENGLISH! said:
We can't even keep a Naval Yard in Washington D.C. safe & some if not many want to play a World Championship in a country, Qatar, that is reaching out to the western world even though it resides just south of Iran.

I just don't see that logic.
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure that a country should be judged by its neighbors.....
I gambled in El Paso when I was a kid...the man wanted a rematch in
Jaurez....I took a taxi to check out the pool hall there...and took a pass.
Well, now Ciudad Jaurez is about 1,000 times worse.....
...but I'll still visit El Paso anytime I feel like.
 
pt109 said:
I'm not so sure that a country should be judged by its neighbors.....
I gambled in El Paso when I was a kid...the man wanted a rematch in
Jaurez....I took a taxi to check out the pool hall there...and took a pass.
Well, now Ciudad Jaurez is about 1,000 times worse.....
...but I'll still visit El Paso anytime I feel like.
Click to expand...

PT,

So much misunderstanding...

I am not judging Qatar at all, & certainly not based on it's 'neighbor', Iran. I understand that they are two separate entities. Good people are at times stuck in a bad neighborhood.

I am also not relating crime in general to where monetary gain is usually the purpose of the criminal to what is certainly an attack on innocent individuals for revenge purposes or political reasons of a radical religious group who sees himself in heaven with 7 virgins for killing the enemies of god in the name of god that is backed & supported & taught by a nation & it's government.

If you can not see that difference & the difference in the danger then we can have no real legitimate discussion.

I think I would even feel safer playing or watching pool next door to a mexican drug lord's hacienda as an American than I would in Qatar just south across a water way from Iran.

If anyone want's to risk their own life to help Qatar put on a good face to the world, then that is certainly their prerogative.

I just think it was a mistake for the WPA to do what it has done & I would certainly support any western world player, or any player that passes on those events.

The timing of the WPA to locate the Championship in that region of the world is a mistake IMO or worse a possible sell out to those that would like to 'buy' the WPA's influence as was possibly suggested by Mr. Lee.

As I have also suggested, if that is the only location that the WPA could 'sell' the event with the dozen or so other world's richest cities possibly available, then perhaps the WPA should relinquish it's 'duties' to the game to a better salesman & manager.

And why for 4 years? Much can change in 4 years...or one.

Until the WPA was formed in 1987, it did not exist. 26 years is not that long in the history of the game. Maybe it is time for another change.

Regards & Best Wishes,
Rick
 
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ENGLISH! said:
So much misunderstanding...

...in heaven with 7 virgins ...
Click to expand...

As a matter of fact most reliable sources claim it is actually 72 virgins :rolleyes:
Must admit that seems like much more of an incentive :happydance:
Does that change your perspective at all ??? ;)
 
pooler said:
As a matter of fact most reliable sources claim it is actually 72 virgins :rolleyes:
Must admit that seems like much more of an incentive :happydance:
Does that change your perspective at all ??? ;)
Click to expand...

Pooler,

Noooo, it does not change my perspective.

Though, that sounds more like a curse. Can you imagine 72 virgin females chattering away trying to convince each other who deserves to go first.

I wonder why 72? Maybe after 72 different females one's memory of the first one disappears & she is a virgin again.

Thanks for the chuckle.

Best Wishes,
Rick
 
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ENGLISH! said:
We can't even keep a Naval Yard in Washington D.C. safe & some if not many want to play a World Championship in a country, Qatar, that is reaching out to the western world even though it resides just south of Iran.

I just don't see that logic.
Click to expand...

Rick,
Qatar, like all other countries, holds Championships once or twice a year (not every day), and is protected by the best Air force in the world, US Al-Udeid Air Base; and Qatar is 200 miles a way from Iran separated by the sea its only border to Iran, and very secured boarders, There is no highways or roads between Iran and Qatar it is desert. You probably thinking like US, open highways between states, it is not like that over there. You need to visit.
 
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ENGLISH! said:
Pooler,

Noooo, it does not change my perspective.

Though, that sounds more like a curse. Can you imagine 72 virgin females chattering away trying to convince each other who deserves to go first.

I wonder why 72? Maybe after 72 different females one's memory of the first one disappears & she is a virgin again.

Thanks for the chuckle.

Best Wishes,
Rick
Click to expand...

Actually, it is a far worse curse than you imagine.
The 72 virgins are Roman Catholic nuns competing to convert the Muslim infidel.
 
naji said:
Rick,
Qatar, like all other countries, holds Championships once or twice a year (not every day), and is protected by the best Air force in the world, US Al-Udeid Air Base; and Qatar is 200 miles a way from Iran separated by the sea its only border to Iran, and very secured boarders, There is no highways or roads between Iran and Qatar it is desert. You probably thinking like US, open highways between states, it is not like that over there. You need to visit.
Click to expand...

Naji:

Again, culturally-neutered Americans "keeping an eye on the world from a room with no windows."

Just witness what happened this past Sunday night (15 September 2013) when an Indian-American won the Miss America pageant. (Not only is she a U.S. citizen, but she was born and raised here in the U.S., btw.) Twitter lit up with ignorant racists referring to her as an "Arab." Here in America, the ignorance lightning bolt strikes twice -- not just on the racism front, but on basic geography knowledge as well.

Maybe that's just plain stupidity. Seems to be a LOT of that here.

-Sean
 
Scaramouche said:
Actually, it is a far worse curse than you imagine.
The 72 virgins are Roman Catholic nuns competing to convert the Muslim infidel.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the good laugh. If I would have had coffee in my mouth I'd be cleaning my keyboard.

I don't think conversion is a Nun's job though.

Now what they would do is herd the 72 virgins to the other side of heaven to keep them away from the guy so that they stay virgins until they are married.

AND when he stuck out his hand to point to the one he likes the best, they would smack him on the knuckles with a ruler.

There's no commandment against smacking on the knuckles with rulers.

Thanks again for the good laugh.

Best,
Rick
 
sfleinen said:
Naji:

Again, culturally-neutered Americans "keeping an eye on the world from a room with no windows."

Just witness what happened this past Sunday night (15 September 2013) when an Indian-American won the Miss America pageant. (Not only is she a U.S. citizen, but she was born and raised here in the U.S., btw.) Twitter lit up with ignorant racists referring to her as an "Arab." Here in America, the ignorance lightning bolt strikes twice -- not just on the racism front, but on basic geography knowledge as well.

Maybe that's just plain stupidity. Seems to be a LOT of that here.

-Sean
Click to expand...

The Miss America pageant? They still hold that crap?!

So was the great Twitter tweets "racist" just because they referred to her as an Arab or was there actually something racist tweeted? Tweet Tweet :banghead:
 
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