GPPA League by Mike Sigel: $250,000 first prize and $1 million guaranteed

[Wedge]

Who is considered a Pro

I talked to Mike today at Champions about who is considered a Pro in his league. He said he realizes that there are people that enter local, regional and even larger tournaments just for the experience and have no chance of winning. He said each player when they sign up should disclose what tournaments they play in and how they did and each will be handled on a case by case basis. He knows some people will be in a grey area and Mike and the league will make a determination.

Hope this helps

Wedge

 

[JAM]

I talked to Mike today at Champions about who is considered a Pro in his league. He said he realizes that there are people that enter local, regional and even larger tournaments just for the experience and have no chance of winning. He said each player when they sign up should disclose what tournaments they play in and how they did and each will be handled on a case by case basis. He knows some people will be in a grey area and Mike and the league will make a determination.

Hope this helps

Wedge

That is really a tough nut to crack, especially if it's someone that's been out of the loop for a while. I will be following this league to see how it unfolds. Pool could use some new excitement!

 

[watchez]

Please have Sigel give information on the escrow of the $250,000 first prize and $1,000,000 in overall prizes.

Can everyone see the big carrot --- now run to it. If it tastes like plastic after you bite into it, get ready for the excuses that the pool room, league operators, players, or the Taliban didn't execute his perfect plan correctly.

 

[Wedge]

Yah Know

Please have Sigel give information on the escrow of the $250,000 first prize and $1,000,000 in overall prizes.

Can everyone see the big carrot --- now run to it. If it tastes like plastic after you bite into it, get ready for the excuses that the pool room, league operators, players, or the Taliban didn't execute his perfect plan correctly.

People complain about pool going nowhere and as soon as someone tries something innovative that may grow the sport rather than getting behind it or at least being positive the conspiracy theorists and negative thinkers come out. And we wonder why pool doesn't grow!

Wedge

 

[Wedge]

Sorry JAM

That is really a tough nut to crack, especially if it's someone that's been out of the loop for a while. I will be following this league to see how it unfolds. Pool could use some new excitement!

Even though Keith has been out of the loop for a while he is still considered a Pro...nice try though!!!

Just Kidding

Wedge

 

[JAM]

Even though Keith has been out of the loop for a while he is still considered a Pro...nice try though!!!

Just Kidding

Wedge

Tee-hee. Hey, that $250,000 sure is tempting. :grin-square:

 

[watchez]

People complain about pool going nowhere and as soon as someone tries something innovative that may grow the sport rather than getting behind it or at least being positive the conspiracy theorists and negative thinkers come out. And we wonder why pool doesn't grow!

Wedge

You're right Wedge. I am foolish to question that instantaneously this new league will be bigger and better than the APA or BCAPL and payout more in their first year.

The Delorean took over the automotive industry too and put GM out of business.

 

[Wedge]

I respect your concerns Watchez

You're right Wedge. I am foolish to question that instantaneously this new league will be bigger and better than the APA or BCAPL and payout more in their first year.

The Delorean took over the automotive industry too and put GM out of business.

Just trying to give the GPPA a chance. I remember a quote on a well respected AZ Members foot note that I would refer to in this situation:

"Those who dance are always laughed at by those who don't even hear the f'in music - George Carlin RIP"

Peace Brother

Wedge

 

[hang-the-9]

Sounded like a good idea until I read the rules. Just competing in a pro tournament qualifies you as a Pro? I played in a Joss event which often has several pros playing in it, I guess I am out. If you have a few hundred dollars lying around and you are bored you can play in almost any "Pro" tournament. Heck, read OMGWTF blog, she thinks it's funny that non-players think or her as a great player or a pro because she enters high-level events.

Plus ball in hand multiple times a game? No safety play allowed? hehe You can have a better player break for you? HAHAH You can't use a deliberate safe as a strategy against a low player AND you give them 3-4-5-6 BALL IN HANDS EACH GAME??? LOL HOHOHO HAHAHAH... oh that's good....

I'd rather play in the APA. And I'd rather drive nails into my fingers than play in the APA, which leaves these league rules a bit bellow eating glass with a diesel chaser on list of things I like.

Did PoolKiller or Pushnpool write the rules?

Was this his final strategy to bring down well played pool by good players? It worked!

 

[BeiberLvr]

Sounded like a good idea until I read the rules. Just competing in a pro tournament qualifies you as a Pro? I played in a Joss event which often has several pros playing in it, I guess I am out. If you have a few hundred dollars lying around and you are bored you can play in almost any "Pro" tournament. Heck, read OMGWTF blog, she thinks it's funny that non-players think or her as a great player or a pro because she enters high-level events.

Plus ball in hand multiple times a game? No safety play allowed? hehe You can have a better player break for you? HAHAH You can't use a deliberate safe as a strategy against a low player AND you give them 3-4-5-6 BALL IN HANDS EACH GAME??? LOL HOHOHO HAHAHAH... oh that's good....

I'd rather play in the APA. And I'd rather drive nails into my fingers than play in the APA, which leaves these league rules a bit bellow eating glass with a diesel chaser on list of things I like.

Did PoolKiller or Pushnpool write the rules?

Was this his final strategy to bring down well played pool by good players? It worked!

The only thing that isn't clear is how many BIH you get per inning. It says you can take your BIH at any time. That's not specific as to whether you take BIH, make a ball, and then take BIH again. If that's the case, it's dumb.

However, if a player can only use a BIH once per inning, then I think it's okay. Playing by those rules, there are plenty of players even I could beat if they had 6 BIH per game.

As for some people not jumping on the bandwagon right away, I totally get that. I don't think of Sigel as a shady guy, and I'm sure he has positive intentions. That doesn't mean this will be successful. I would like to see it actually have success for a year or two before investing any of my time or money.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Watchez made a good point -- $250k first place and $1M is a huge nut to cover... asking how that will be paid up-front is a 100% LEGITIMATE question.

To ask "how will that be paid" and "is the money on-hand up-front" is NOT "knocking" or denigrating the GPPA, it's merely good business. I'm sure Mike will answer that question as it's a totally legit question.

IPT = Failed, screwed players
BB = Failed, screwed players
GPPA = Brand-new, unknown = Players who are looking to participate have the right to ask basic questions regarding funding and operation.

In no way does that mean anyone is knocking or insulting the GPPT -- it just means it's not the pool industry's first rodeo and some people would like to know the "how" before they commit their time and money.

Wedge - why is that question / point below the belt? It's a 100% legit point and question.

 

[Donny Lutz]

Cue length?

Hmmm...looks like Pat Fleming can't play i n the GPPA.

I thought of that too when I read the playing rules.

I use a 54" break cue, but it would be illegal in this league.

Wondered also about bringing back the 3-foul loss in 8-ball. It's the way many leagues played for several decades before they realized that it made it too easy for the smart player to defeat the beginner. Granted, it may not have that effect with all the BIH.

Abandoning the World Standardized Rules (which were the result of countless hours of discussion over a number of years) to return to the 8-ball wins and/or loses on the break, etc. is another step backward. Just adds too much luck to the game.

I have to wonder how many experienced league players were consulted in the designing of these rules. And I don't mean someone who played a couple seasons in APA. Input from folks like myself who have more than 70 seasons of league play under our belt might have been helpful...

On the upside, these rules do discourage sand-bagging, but that is a major problem only in the APA system, in my opinion.

 

[hang-the-9]

I thought of that too when I read the playing rules.

I use a 54" break cue, but it would be illegal in this league.

Wondered also about bringing back the 3-foul loss in 8-ball. It's the way many leagues played for several decades before they realized that it made it too easy for the smart player to defeat the beginner. Granted, it may not have that effect with all the BIH.

Abandoning the World Standardized Rules (which were the result of countless hours of discussion over a number of years) to return to the 8-ball wins and/or loses on the break, etc. is another step backward. Just adds too much luck to the game.

I have to wonder how many experienced league players were consulted in the designing of these rules. And I don't mean someone who played a couple seasons in APA. Input from folks like myself who have more than 70 seasons of league play under our belt might have been helpful...

On the upside, these rules do discourage sand-bagging, but that is a major problem only in the APA system, in my opinion.

I've seen sandbagging in just about every single handicapped league or tournament. There is always someone that tries to sneak in as a lower level, and in some cases, the tournament director is fully aware of them doing it. Is there a 3 foul rule in 8 ball in this league? I wonder how they think it will work as one of the handicaps is that the lower players get several ball in hands each game. It also seems like the players are ranked up to D - - since a 1 or a 2 gets ball in hand each rack, and almost any B player can run out a rack off the break in 8 ball, much less with a ball in hand at any time.

 

[Lonestar_jim]

goooood

The rules as some of you have laid out could be a great enhancement to the no-conflict rules that a Pennsylvania room owner uses.

This would really speed up his tournaments !

Hang - 9,
Does the diesel help cauterize the cuts made by the glass ?

 

[watchez]

Wedge - why is that question / point below the belt? It's a 100% legit point and question.

Because this is what the pool industry has used as a business model -- guys like Wedge that are a wannabe think it makes them a part of something if they defend a pro. He is enamored by the simple fact that Mike Sigel can draw his ball. The pool industry preys on guys like him. They fleece him of his money and are left standing there, holding their $%#@. Guys like Wedge couldn't spell business sense let along question it. Just because Sigel can break and run out, doesn't make him a great business man. It worked for Hubbard and Bell. Many others have failed.

I could come on here and say I am going to have a league with $2,000,000 prize pool and $500,000 for first. It don't mean a thing. Wedges of the world will never realize that.

 

[West Point 1987]

Watchez made a good point -- $250k first place and $1M is a huge nut to cover... asking how that will be paid up-front is a 100% LEGITIMATE question.

To ask "how will that be paid" and "is the money on-hand up-front" is NOT "knocking" or denigrating the GPPA, it's merely good business. I'm sure Mike will answer that question as it's a totally legit question.

IPT = Failed, screwed players
BB = Failed, screwed players
GPPA = Brand-new, unknown = Players who are looking to participate have the right to ask basic questions regarding funding and operation.

In no way does that mean anyone is knocking or insulting the GPPT -- it just means it's not the pool industry's first rodeo and some people would like to know the "how" before they commit their time and money.

Wedge - why is that question / point below the belt? It's a 100% legit point and question.

Mike told me last weekend that he'd been working for years trying to raise money for it, then had a sponsor (didn't say who) come in at the last minute to cover the nut. I'm sure they're caluculating league membership fees and other expected revenue streams, but who knows? Anything that can get customers in the door weekly is good for pool rooms, and what's good for pool rooms is good for pool.

 

[watchez]

Mike told me last weekend that he'd been working for years trying to raise money for it, then had a sponsor (didn't say who) come in at the last minute to cover the nut. I'm sure they're caluculating league membership fees and other expected revenue streams, but who knows? Anything that can get customers in the door weekly is good for pool rooms, and what's good for pool rooms is good for pool.

He has a million dollar sponsor but didn't let you or anyone else know about it. And this all happened last minute - then he got the location for the finals in Vega$ all nailed down and the league is a go. Interesting.

 

[JB Cases]

Brought to you by the architect of the least fair tournament I've seen in my 37 years around pool. Has anyone forgotten Sigel's bye all the way into the final at the first IPT event? That event is, perhaps, the standard by which all other unfair tournaments must be judged.

Hope this works out, but Sigel is hardly a role model for fair play. Let's hope he'll proceed with objectivity. I'll be rooting for him and wish him success.

Yup, mike went 0-1 in that tournament and finished in 2nd place, pocketing $100k. This after winning $150k in an ipt exhibition against loree Jon . Comical.

To be fair guys that was probably more Trudeau's doing than Mike's. Originally Allison was supposed to play but she had to turn it down because of prior obligations with the APA.

Regarding the tournament to play Mike - again I very much doubt that Mike was the one who put himself up there with the proposal to have an event to see who earns the right to play me. I really bet that was one of Trudeau's ideas and of course Mike would go along.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Mike told me last weekend that he'd been working for years trying to raise money for it, then had a sponsor (didn't say who) come in at the last minute to cover the nut. I'm sure they're caluculating league membership fees and other expected revenue streams, but who knows? Anything that can get customers in the door weekly is good for pool rooms, and what's good for pool rooms is good for pool.

Another TOTALLY LEGIT question is if Trudeau was the actual sponsor. Kevin has stated he's broke numerous times and has already been found to be distributing his assets into the names of others (his estranged gf/wife and family members). For this reason, he was just sent to jail.

If Kevin gave Mike a million in cash to start this up, knowing he was going to jail and to "protect" the money, the FTC has a high probably of finding out. If they do, they'll seize the money and all assets and the entire operation will be shut-down (resulting in everyone losing whatever money they put into it).

Once again, this is NOT a knock nor is it denigrating what sounds to be a fabulous idea. If anyone can pull this off, Sigel can. That said--- the community has a right to ask if this is laundered Trudeau money because if it is, we should run for the hills.

 

[Ken_4fun]

Anything concerning Mike Sigel is destin to fail.

I have been around him probably less than 5 minutes and I was wishing bad thoughts (as nice as I could say that).

While we arent supposed to be happy to see anyone fail, I will just say I wouldnt be sad...

Ken