I do not know if players were paid (I hope so) they are the product and they provided us with a competition that was excellent; excitement, drama and a level of skill that is truly world class. With the cache of this prestigious event, fuelled by the excellent performance of the players, one could believe that it might be possible to use it as a vehicle to bring pool more into the mainstream and bring Corporate America to the table. Unfortunately, without a major change in control, I do not see that happening.
When I look at what I believe is needed to advance this tournament beyond what has become a yearly soap opera, every answer starts with taking Barry Behrman out of the equation. From getting back credibility in terms of the player’s purse, to providing a great fan experience and creating something that Corporate America can possibly buy into the stumbling block, in my opinion, is Barry.
Although I find it more relaxing to turn off the sound when Barry is talking, I did listen to some of his rambling blather on Saturday. It seemed to me that he was setting the players up for a ‘you’ll get your money just not today moment’, combined with an ‘I’m going to make it even bigger and better with corporate sponsorship next year so if you want in on that bonanza support me here’. He then went on to placate the fans by saying something along the lines of ‘I had to make changes that, while it may have had a negative impact on some of you, it was somehow necessary for the overall good and besides, I am going to take on city hall and get us back to the perfect venue for next year’. The modus operandi always seems to be ‘I may have screwed up but I will somehow make it up to you next year.’
Although I would love to attend the US Open in person (my wife and I like to take at least one or two pool holidays a year to various tournaments) I have not been able to bring myself to do this. Candidly, I do not trust that I will get what I am paying for. Not because of the product, this year’s line up was exemplary, but because of the cavalier way that Barry Behrman takes to making changes on the fly with no apparent concern for the fan.
Thankfully, Accustats does a credible job of producing a live stream that is watchable and quite enjoyable, with very little production or streaming problems. Yet, when Barry Behrman takes the Microphone it becomes hard to watch. I cannot believe that any large Corporation would want to align its product with an event that features a chief executive that blathers on and on, in part seeming to be driven by ego, in part seeming to crave attention and approval and in part seeming to be a pitchman for something only he knows about.
Behrman has stated that he learns from other major events like the Masters Golf Tournament. He obviously has not watched this prestigious event from the aspect of how the people that run it do everything with class; the patrons, the players, the sponsors and broadcasters are all fully on board to make this event classy and memorable in every way and this has been consistent from the inception. Sadly, the history of the US Open 9 Ball pales in comparison.
I had the feeling, starting some months ago and until quite recently, that things might not be going the way that Barry had anticipated when he changed the field to 128 (positive) raised the entry fee (hmm!) etc. However, he was able to leverage the credibility of Roberta and especially Jay Helfert to bring it together at the 11th hour (in my opinion all that was successful at this year’s tournament may rest with them). The addition/return of Scott Smith was a nice added touch. What I would hope is that this will show Barry that competent people are needed to run this properly and the scope of this event has made him past his best before date as far as running this tournament.
I would like to see Barry sell the rights to the Open. However, failing that, and in recognition of the positive things that he has contributed in the distant past I would suggest he take in a majority partner, someone like Greg Sullivan or Mark Griffin, who could take it to the level that I think that it could achieve with that kind of leadership. Barry could be Chairman Emeritus and, although I would prefer he be seen but not heard, give him a carefully controlled, scripted, single, one time only, 60 second (with someone at the kill switch) spotlight at the microphone and be done with it. Only then would I think that anyone would have a chance to take this to a wider audience and for it to be something that Corporate America could support.
When I look at what I believe is needed to advance this tournament beyond what has become a yearly soap opera, every answer starts with taking Barry Behrman out of the equation. From getting back credibility in terms of the player’s purse, to providing a great fan experience and creating something that Corporate America can possibly buy into the stumbling block, in my opinion, is Barry.
Although I find it more relaxing to turn off the sound when Barry is talking, I did listen to some of his rambling blather on Saturday. It seemed to me that he was setting the players up for a ‘you’ll get your money just not today moment’, combined with an ‘I’m going to make it even bigger and better with corporate sponsorship next year so if you want in on that bonanza support me here’. He then went on to placate the fans by saying something along the lines of ‘I had to make changes that, while it may have had a negative impact on some of you, it was somehow necessary for the overall good and besides, I am going to take on city hall and get us back to the perfect venue for next year’. The modus operandi always seems to be ‘I may have screwed up but I will somehow make it up to you next year.’
Although I would love to attend the US Open in person (my wife and I like to take at least one or two pool holidays a year to various tournaments) I have not been able to bring myself to do this. Candidly, I do not trust that I will get what I am paying for. Not because of the product, this year’s line up was exemplary, but because of the cavalier way that Barry Behrman takes to making changes on the fly with no apparent concern for the fan.
Thankfully, Accustats does a credible job of producing a live stream that is watchable and quite enjoyable, with very little production or streaming problems. Yet, when Barry Behrman takes the Microphone it becomes hard to watch. I cannot believe that any large Corporation would want to align its product with an event that features a chief executive that blathers on and on, in part seeming to be driven by ego, in part seeming to crave attention and approval and in part seeming to be a pitchman for something only he knows about.
Behrman has stated that he learns from other major events like the Masters Golf Tournament. He obviously has not watched this prestigious event from the aspect of how the people that run it do everything with class; the patrons, the players, the sponsors and broadcasters are all fully on board to make this event classy and memorable in every way and this has been consistent from the inception. Sadly, the history of the US Open 9 Ball pales in comparison.
I had the feeling, starting some months ago and until quite recently, that things might not be going the way that Barry had anticipated when he changed the field to 128 (positive) raised the entry fee (hmm!) etc. However, he was able to leverage the credibility of Roberta and especially Jay Helfert to bring it together at the 11th hour (in my opinion all that was successful at this year’s tournament may rest with them). The addition/return of Scott Smith was a nice added touch. What I would hope is that this will show Barry that competent people are needed to run this properly and the scope of this event has made him past his best before date as far as running this tournament.
I would like to see Barry sell the rights to the Open. However, failing that, and in recognition of the positive things that he has contributed in the distant past I would suggest he take in a majority partner, someone like Greg Sullivan or Mark Griffin, who could take it to the level that I think that it could achieve with that kind of leadership. Barry could be Chairman Emeritus and, although I would prefer he be seen but not heard, give him a carefully controlled, scripted, single, one time only, 60 second (with someone at the kill switch) spotlight at the microphone and be done with it. Only then would I think that anyone would have a chance to take this to a wider audience and for it to be something that Corporate America could support.
