NO Match for Harriman/Schmidt

[jimmyg]

Don't know why, but this comes to mind....

"Out, out, brief candle. Life is nothing more than an illusion. It’s like a poor actor who struts and worries for his hour on the stage and then is never heard from again. Life is a story told by an idiot, full of noise and emotional disturbance but devoid of meaning".

MACBETH

 

[justadub]

This change was brought to my attention in a pm I received and I was like, what is going on. I didn't even understand what had happened and had to guess as to which thread it could be.

Let me preface this by stating that I have no dog in this fight, if a fight it could be called. I'm am simply a third party observer who will now comment on what I have observed.

I had heard only a little bit about str8 shots before this whole Danny Harriman/John Schmidt rematch thing came about. Like most in the pool world, I had been looking forward to a rematch between the two and looking at the reasoning that was given and the tone of Kimberly (I am not jumping on Kimberlee here) it just didn't make sense as to why they weren't letting it go forward.

Actually, let me rephrase that, it did make sense. It seemed like someone new to the world of pool, making uninformed assumptions and trying to limit the possibility of bad exposure. Unfortunately for str8 shots, it completely backfired on them and gave them some really bad press.

There was one thing that mitigated that for me. It was Mark Cantrill backing them. Mark is a good guy. I don't know the particulars and can't speak to them regarding this specific incident but I will make some observations regarding what has been posted.

Mark has posted nothing derogatory about str8 shots in this thread that I have seen. He's attempted to keep everything cordial while informing us that he is no longer working for them. Str8 shots representative on the other hand has been childish and silly in his responses. I'm a big brother so I understand that response; however, I am also a business man and that is NOT something that a business should allow to happen.

It seems that at every turn Str8 shots has shot themselves in the foot with poor business decisions.

Fran is actually a good friend of mine and she is the BEST of people. So when she stands up for Str8 Shots, I have to take notice (just like I did when Mark stood behind them) but they really need to figure out that there is a time when it is better to just shut your mouth before you choke on your own foot.

As to Mark, I'm sorry that you lost your work with Str8 shots, let me know if there's anything I can do for you. I may be able to work with you on some stuff in the future.

To Fran, I'm probably gonna come down to the monday tourney at Oncue so we can talk about some stuff then if you're there (not related to this).

To Str8 Shots, I have to believe that you guys are doing good things for pool, at least you have the right intentions based on people that I trust sticking up for you, but wow... You've got to work on your PR a little bit because firing a well respected member of the billiards community that had vehemently defended you guys and your work right before Christmas and then bad mouthing him on the biggest biliards internet forum, while dismissing that same forum as not being your target is foolish at best and potentially suicidal at worst.

Jaden

A lot of good stuff here. Well thought out and reasoned. Bravo.

I've had one 20-30 minute conversation with Mark, a while ago, which really doesn't qualify me as "knowing" him. But between that, and my many interactions with him here, I am of the opinion that he is one of the good guys in this industry. I feel he has handled himself quite well throughout all of this, at least here on the forum. I do not feel he has been out of line, at all, here.

I too believe that Str8shots has the right intentions in what they are trying to do, but have a limited grasp on the nature of public relations. It's too bad that all of this had to happen for them to learn, and hopefully they will come out of this with a better understanding.
Bruce

 

[JAM]

Seeking to suppress free speech in order to get your own way? I'm comfortable with that equivalence.

As to the phrase itself, I have no problem with that either - us men can have a raw deal when it comes to labels. We have to be able to say something. :wink:

They have forums where people express their opinions freely, claiming it's their form of the truth to do so, even if it's vulgar and in poor taste. But this forum, I would like to think, has a different atmosphere. To each their own, I guess.

 

[The Saw]

I am totally independent. I do not owe anything to anyone. I give my respect to those who I feel deserve it.

I am not in "League" as you call it, with anyone. Think very carefully if you decide to start to issue libelous statements about me. I am fiercely protective of my reputation, as some here already know.

You had better understand every single detail before you make one accusation. Trust me, I have an extremely good lawyer friend who I will not fail to call in an instant.

Yes. I am THAT angry right now.

Go ahead. Make my day.

Libelous statements? Where did I make a "libelous" statement Fran?

So how do you explain not being "in league" with Str8-Shots when you are doing a Str8-Shots promoted event with Str8-Shots rep Karen Corr at Amsterdam Billiards in January? https://www.str8-shots.com/events/event/performance-fire-workshop-karen-corr-fran-crimi/ Are you biased? Hell yes you are.... You and your "extremely good lawyer friend" can bite me.

 

[PINKLADY]

is Pinky STILL peeing? I'm calling Guinness.

i'm on the phone w/ Kimberly

 

[SpiderWebComm]

SpiderWeb,


I'm giving it to you straight here: You are WAY off base and WAY out of line.

I will say it again: Kim is a wonderful person and Str8t Shots is a terrific company.

I don't care what your issues are with whomever. I will not stand here quietly any longer and watch people like you try to destroy a wonderful person and company who are doing great things for our sport.

Here's some Str8-talk for you:

I won't stand quietly and let Str8 Shots vilify Mark when he didn't do anything. So he got canned and said he got canned. Big deal. The only destroying is what they're trying to do to Mark.

Everything I've said in this thread has been based off the actions of Str8 Shots - even when Mark worked for them. I've been totally equal-handed. If I recall, I mentioned that I felt Mark was premature even trying to get that Harriman/Schmidt match setup, since I though TAR owned the right for the rubber match. So, it's not like I'm a Mark cheerleader.

Brian was way outta line with his assertions and posts and I felt like speaking up because it's out of line and nonsense.

So what you're saying is it's TOTALLY OK for Str8 Shots to denigrate Mark in an unprovoked manner, but when someone like me says that it's ridiculous and posts my thoughts with conviction, you feel like I'm destroying a wonderful person and company w/ Str8 Shots?

You're either:

1) Illiterate
2) Snorting Masters chalk
3) Have a side affiliation with Str8 Shots or have a personal bias against Mark

It's great you love Str8 Shots -- no prob -- but that should give them a free pass to come in behind Mark in this thread in the way that they did.

Before your write hate letters to AZB about me about how nasty and vile I am, I'm joking about 1 and 2 because you can clearly read (you just choose WHAT you read) and you obviously don't snort Masters chalk. It's what you'd making a joke in order to make a clear point.

Gee whiz.... I hope I don't get labeled as a cyber bully for calling out the partisan nonsense that's infected this thread.

 

[Jaden]

Just make sure it's lead free

Here's some Str8-talk for you:

I won't stand quietly and let Str8 Shots vilify Mark when he didn't do anything. So he got canned and said he got canned. Big deal. The only destroying is what they're trying to do to Mark.

Everything I've said in this thread has been based off the actions of Str8 Shots - even when Mark worked for them. I've been totally equal-handed. If I recall, I mentioned that I felt Mark was premature even trying to get that Harriman/Schmidt match setup, since I though TAR owned the right for the rubber match. So, it's not like I'm a Mark cheerleader.

Brian was way outta line with his assertions and posts and I felt like speaking up because it's out of line and nonsense.

So what you're saying is it's TOTALLY OK for Str8 Shots to denigrate Mark in an unprovoked manner, but when someone like me says that it's ridiculous and posts my thoughts with conviction, you feel like I'm destroying a wonderful person and company w/ Str8 Shots?

You're either:

1) Illiterate
2) Snorting Masters chalk
3) Have a side affiliation with Str8 Shots or have a personal bias against Mark

It's great you love Str8 Shots -- no prob -- but that should give them a free pass to come in behind Mark in this thread in the way that they did.

Before your write hate letters to AZB about me about how nasty and vile I am, I'm joking about 1 and 2 because you can clearly read (you just choose WHAT you read) and you obviously don't snort Masters chalk. It's what you'd making a joke in order to make a clear point.

Gee whiz.... I hope I don't get labeled as a cyber bully for calling out the partisan nonsense that's infected this thread.

As a warning to the people out there, if you ARE going to snort master's blue, make sure it is the lead free version....

:grin-square:

Jaden

 

[SpiderWebComm]

I am totally independent. I do not owe anything to anyone. I give my respect to those who I feel deserve it.

I am not in "League" as you call it, with anyone. Think very carefully if you decide to start to issue libelous statements about me. I am fiercely protective of my reputation, as some here already know.

You had better understand every single detail before you make one accusation. Trust me, I have an extremely good lawyer friend who I will not fail to call in an instant.

Yes. I am THAT angry right now.

Go ahead. Make my day.

Call your lawyer friend. He'll tell you to take a Xanax and call him in the morning after reading this thread. No laws were broken in this thread.

This thread is becoming better than Storage Wars.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

They have forums where people express their opinions freely, claiming it's their form of the truth to do so, even if it's vulgar and in poor taste. But this forum, I would like to think, has a different atmosphere. To each their own, I guess.

I think forums should be a reflection of their members and the time. This forum reflects its members, but not the times.

You might find things vulgar and in poor taste - others, less so. The trick is to remember times change.

 

[Don Owen]

Our annual Jamaica Joe’s Oklahoma Bar Table Nine Ball Championship took place the weekend of November 9th and 10th. It was full with 128 players including, Warren Kiamco, Jeremy Jones, Nick Varner, Karen Corr, Chip Compton, Joey Grey, Hillbilly Bryant, James Walden and many more top notch players. A great tournament!

Alongside that tournament, but separate, we held a fund raiser for a four year old boy who needs a liver transplant. Over $4K was raised, thanks to Str8-Shots. Str8-Shots brought in Karen and Nick and contributed heavily to the fund raiser.

Kimberly Griffiths is amazing. Anita and I spent a good deal of the weekend getting to know Kimberly and Marc and learning about their goals and dreams. I think we have a lot in common with them.

Don Owen

 

[Sloppy Pockets]

I'm going to remember every single one of you who jumped on this disgusting band wagon. I'm really looking forward to the next time you post that you need help with your game.

Well, I posted seven times on this thread. Before you include me among those who "jumped on this disgusting bandwagon", please take the time to read the actual posts I made before you go slipping the noose around my neck. The only post that I made that was in the least bit anti-Str8 Shots was one that tried to draw attention to where the outrage over this issue began - a poorly worded post by Kimberly herself to start this thread.

That's what the outrage is about here, not us whining about not getting the match we want. There was absolutely no need to make any public statement at all, just tell John in private that they don't approve of the match and let it go. Coming on here like our high school principal telling us there's no way she's gonna allow the dance on Friday night is insulting.

I knew nothing of Str8 Shots before this aside from a statement Mark made several weeks ago regarding him now working for them. When Kim comes onto our forum and alludes to what a powerful force she is in pro pool, I don't really feel I'm supposed to have to research her company and any good it may be doing before I'm allowed to express my indignation. She handled this poorly and can't admit it. She obviously has much to learn about the pool world before she's gonna change anything for the better.

The biggest thing that pisses me off about all of this is the assumption that we only want to see this match because we want to see some blood leaking out of someone's face. Total BS. I can assure you that for 99% of prospective PPV purchasers of this match, the very last thing we want is for a fight to ruin the pool. These two guys are the best American straight pool specialists in the country right now. I want to see them play, and would be extremely disappointed if any hostilities of any kind occurred.

FWIW I buy a lot of PPVs, some of them I don't end up watching. I'm not rich, but I love pool and do what I can to support the players in my own way. I've never been a great player, so I live vicariously through those who are great. But if Str8 Shots continues along this power trip then I just can't justify sending them any of my hard-earned dough.

BTW it has not escaped my attention that another horse in her stable has been acting out a wee bit in public. I love Jayson and think he's destined for greatness, but he's a hothead, and I'll bet a heck of a lot more likely to throw his fist at somebody during a match than Danny ever would.

If this is a disgusting post, then I am guilty as charged. It's still my opinion of what went wrong, however, and I have as much right to express it as anyone here on the forum.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

I won't label you names, such as "Nazi," as you have done to me on this thread.

I wish I could laugh at your posts, but truth me told, I kind of feel sorry for you. I wouldn't ever want to laugh at what you seem to find comical.

I'll say a prayer for you instead. That is my response to your remarks about me.

Never called you a Nazi, I called you a FEM-NAZI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminazi

So, if you're gonna quote what I say with "QUOTES" --- quote the ENTIRE phrase so it can be understood within the proper context. Otherwise, you're merely misquoting.

Don't waste your prayer energy on me... pray FOR THE CHILDREN!!

 

[kvinbrwr]

i'm on the phone w/ Kimberly

About time you got off the pot and did some good.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Do you think that is the equivalent of a Nazi?

Correction for the AZB readership:

Do you think that is the equivalent of a Fem-Nazi?

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Libelous statements? Where did I make a "libelous" statement Fran?

So how do you explain not being "in league" with Str8-Shots when you are doing a Str8-Shots promoted event with Str8-Shots rep Karen Corr at Amsterdam Billiards in January? https://www.str8-shots.com/events/event/performance-fire-workshop-karen-corr-fran-crimi/ Are you biased? Hell yes you are.... You and your "extremely good lawyer friend" can bite me.

I can't wait for the judge to read the forum transcript and fine the lawyer for contempt of court for bringing forth bat-shit-laughable motions in front of his/her court.

 

[hang-the-9]

It is easy for you to say that from the sideline. I never said AZB has no power, I just said that AZB Forums is not who Str8 Shots is targeting, there is a difference.

While you may not be targeting the forum members directly, there are MANY on here who work with kids. And parents of those kids, and school programs that deal with kids and college programs that recruit kids for pool, and the friends of those kids. From what I see Mark doing, he is just pushing for the players and the company to get more exposure. The whole issue started from this post, which Mark did not start, and the flames actually lowered a lot when Mark posted here, along with Justin from TAR.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

While you may not be targeting the forum members directly, there are MANY on here who work with kids. And parents of those kids, and school programs that deal with kids and college programs that recruit kids for pool, and the friends of those kids. From what I see Mark doing, he is just pushing for the players and the company to get more exposure. The whole issue started from this post, which Mark did not start, and the flames actually lowered a lot when Mark posted here, along with Justin from TAR.

Imagine that.... clear logic.

All of the glass-tapping has been done by Str8 Shots and Mark greatly mitigated it and brought it to a calm, along with Justin. Mark shuffled in and mumbled that he was let-go and said nothing offensive about Str8 Shots and took the high road. That incited a Str8 Shill riot and the rest of us balanced the nonsense with a little fact and now we're cyberbullies and in dire need of JAM's prayers. Lawyers are getting called, etc.

PAH-LEZE.

For the record, so people don't think I'm nasty to really good people while being a creep myself:

Within the last 18 months, I raised something like $3000 for Habitat for Humanity - Veteran's Build and helped to raise something like $2000 for a wounded vet who lost the use of both his legs in Afghanistan and his family couldn't afford to build a wheelchair ramp from their driveway to their front door.

You never heard of it until now because I don't publicize my volunteer work and I don't use it as something to point at when trying to attack someone online.

I've found the majority of people here on AZB are overall "well to do" people who go the extra mile and volunteer / fund-raise to help those in need. Most do it in private, some (like me) have used the forum to generate interest in their fund-raising efforts. That doesn't mean companies/individuals who are way more public about helping others and make it a core business mission should be able to use it as a free-pass to kick someone who is down because they're afraid of what he MIGHT say (and never did).

 

[kvinbrwr]

You and your "extremely good lawyer friend" can bite me.

THIS is funny.

 

[JAM]

Imagine that.... clear logic.

All of the glass-tapping has been done by Str8 Shots and Mark greatly mitigated it and brought it to a calm, along with Justin. Mark shuffled in and mumbled that he was let-go and said nothing offensive about Str8 Shots and took the high road. That incited a Str8 Shill riot and the rest of us balanced the nonsense with a little fact and now we're cyberbullies and in dire need of JAM's prayers. Lawyers are getting called, etc.

PAH-LEZE.

For the record, so people don't think I'm nasty to really good people while being a creep myself:

Within the last 18 months, I raised something like $3000 for Habitat for Humanity - Veteran's Build and helped to raise something like $2000 for a wounded vet who lost the use of both his legs in Afghanistan and his family couldn't afford to build a wheelchair ramp from their driveway to their front door.

You never heard of it until now because I don't publicize my volunteer work and I don't use it as something to point at when trying to attack someone online.

I've found the majority of people here on AZB are overall "well to do" people who go the extra mile and volunteer / fund-raise to help those in need. Most do it in private, some (like me) have used the forum to generate interest in their fund-raising efforts. That doesn't mean companies/individuals who are way more public about helping others and make it a core business mission should be able to use it as a free-pass to kick someone who is down because they're afraid of what he MIGHT say (and never did).

Try not to embellish. I never said I would pray for anybody else on this thread except you. You're having the time of your life on this thread, aren't you, labeling people and companies as "shills"? Shame on you. I feel you like need a prayer more than most people. I actually feel sorry for you.

 

[hang-the-9]

I've found the majority of people here on AZB are overall "well to do" people who go the extra mile and volunteer / fund-raise to help those in need. Most do it in private, some (like me) have used the forum to generate interest in their fund-raising efforts. That doesn't mean companies/individuals who are way more public about helping others and make it a core business mission should be able to use it as a free-pass to kick someone who is down because they're afraid of what he MIGHT say (and never did).

You're right about well to do hehe.. one of the parents of a kid in the junior program is going to buy a Diamond table on my recommendation for his house to replace one he already has. He drives a newer Audi A8. The guy that runs our league is a lawyer who just bought a new building for his offices down the road form the pool hall we play in. I think almost half the guys in my Masters league have hobbies like Harleys and international vacations.

There is quite a bit of money going around with people that are on this forum and people the forum members know. Which is why this is the PERFECT place to raise some good will towards your business and it's employees (cough, Mark, cough).