CSI Podcast 13: Thursday, Feb 5, 5:30pm pacific / 8:30pm eastern

CSI - Ozzy

CSI - Ozzy

Banned
CSI Podcast 13 will be live this Thursday at 5:30pm pacific / 8:30pm eastern. Topics will inlcude:


  • 1. Mark Griffin's recent surgery & recovery
  • 2. US Bar Table Championships being Mosconi Cup points events
  • 3. The "debate" of pro pool on 7ft tables
  • 4. AzBilliards questions

If there are any questions or topics that you would like us to address, please post them here and we will do our best to answer them. Thank you.

Watch Live: Click here
 
CSI - Ozzy said:
CSI Podcast 13 will be live this Thursday at 5:30pm pacific / 8:30pm eastern. Topics will inlcude:


  • 1. Mark Griffin's recent surgery & recovery
  • 2. US Bar Table Championships being Mosconi Cup points events
  • 3. The "debate" of pro pool on 7ft tables
  • 4. AzBilliards questions

If there are any questions or topics that you would like us to address, please post them here and we will do our best to answer them. Thank you.

Watch Live: Click here
Click to expand...

Ozzie, I would like to pose a question to you, or Mark..Is it your intention to continue to leave the amateur tournaments open, and downsize the Pro events ?..I can certainly see the economics of such a move, but won't that be a huge blow to 'Pro pool', as we now know it ?..I thought you were working towards letting the league part of your operation, help fund the Pro side of pool.

If this is not your intention, won't that pretty much signal the rapid demise of 'Pro Pool' ?.. I'm sure you are looking at all your options, and I hope that something can be worked out...Watching the best 8 or 12 players, battle it out for a win, may be OK for PPV streaming.. But isn't that going to short change the other 50 or 60 pro's, trying to make a name for themselves, who have a legitimate chance to succeed in a major tournament ?..Best of luck, whatever your decision, and we all hope Mark is soon up and around again !
 
Good Question

SJDinPHX said:
Ozzie, I would like to pose a question to you, or Mark..Is it your intention to continue to leave the amateur tournaments open, and downsize the Pro events ?..I can certainly see the economics of such a move, but won't that be a huge blow to 'Pro pool', as we now know it ?..I thought you were working towards letting the league part of your operation, help fund the Pro side of pool.

If this is not your intention, won't that pretty much signal the rapid demise of 'Pro Pool' ?.. I'm sure you are looking at all your options, and I hope that something can be worked out...Watching the best 8 or 12 players, battle it out for a win, may be OK for PPV streaming.. But isn't that going to short change the other 50 or 60 pro's, trying to make a name for themselves, who have a legitimate chance to succeed in a major tournament ?..Best of luck, whatever your decision, and we all hope Mark is soon up and around again !
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This is a great question posed in a good way. It's actually several questions in one so tune in Thursday for our answers. Thanks!
 
a few questions:

1) will there be just 1 invitational this summer at Nationals or are you planning more than 1?

2) have any changes been made to avoid potential controversies like last year?

3) with Joe's ABC league/tournament, has any thought been put into using that a pro series and starting a league system for amateurs?
 
I don't feel like amateur events on bar tables are the demise of pro pool but possibly it's salvation. Not that there can't also be harder events on 10 ft. tables or events like the DCC that are geared toward action players but by having more large scale events where amateurs and pros both play you can increase the number of recreational players who are curious about pro pool at all. Also, it provides an opportunity for manufacturers and sponsors to see a real financial benefit to sponsoring pro players. And by making larger events, open to amateurs you get more in entry fees to increase or at least actually pay out the pro players who win.

Oh, wait...you wanted a question, right?

A year ago Greg Sullivan gave an interview about the DCC where he mentioned possibly getting a larger sponsor (like Coors) involved if there were at least 4 events per year. What are your thoughts on working with him on that idea but making the events more like the USBTC and making them "destination events" for both pro players and amateurs?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQCWA9LFhu0
 
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Ozzy,

At last year's Invitational, the 16 players did lessons or exhibitions each day. How successful was this? Did the fans like it? Will you be doing something similar at this year's events?

-Jeff
 
OK, I have one more question even though it may be covered by one of TimKrazyMon's second question...

Last year at the USBTC there were some complaints about pattern racking, soft breaking, etc. Have there been any further discussions about solutions like forcing all players to use the same pattern, racking the 9 on the spot or other solutions?
 
Will Mark let a room such as California Billiard Club host the US Open 1 Pocket so it happens this year? I cannot think of a better place.
 
My question around 7 footers is more of a comment. You are pretty much stuck with 8-ball. Rotation is too easy (read for Pros) and you are not going to play the other games on a BB.

Nick
 
My understanding is that there will be restrictions on the super senior division in July because Mike Massey won it last year. Why? Mike had a couple of hill/hill matches that could have done either way. Once one qualifies age wise it should be open to all.
Please comment on this.
 
dabarbr said:
My understanding is that there will be restrictions on the super senior division in July because Mike Massey won it last year. Why? Mike had a couple of hill/hill matches that could have done either way. Once one qualifies age wise it should be open to all.
Please comment on this.
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I agree.
Don Owen
 
When Mark started originally, he was adamant that skill should trump age, and said once a master always a master. He used Bob Vanover as an example - why should he not be a master just because he turns a certain age one day.

The experiment with advanced players in the Senior division in 2013 was a failure, with entries significantly down (20%) over other divisions and Advanced players dominating the bracket despite the handicap.

It should be kept as skill overriding age. Otherwise, just let Efren in.
 
tatcat2000 said:
When Mark started originally, he was adamant that skill should trump age, and said once a master always a master. He used Bob Vanover as an example - why should he not be a master just because he turns a certain age one day.

The experiment with advanced players in the Senior division in 2013 was a failure, with entries significantly down (20%) over other divisions and Advanced players dominating the bracket despite the handicap.

It should be kept as skill overriding age. Otherwise, just let Efren in.
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So you're saying that a player that is qualified age wise to be a super senior should be barred because they were once an advanced player and they should always remain an advanced player? When one gets to a certain age the skills, concentration, stamina, health among other things prohibit them from playing like they used to

Asking them to be competitive with much younger advanced players is not possible. Maybe for one match but not for the duration of a tournament.

P.S. Efren will not qualify to play the super seniors for a few years yet. Even the great Efren when he gets of age will have his hands full on the bar table with many of the qualified senior players.
 
A valid argument, but where do you draw the line? Efren at 75 might have trouble, but Efren at 55+1 day walks the senior bracket 9 times out of ten. It's a tough dilemma, and no answer is perfect.

But as Ozzy said in the podcast, the masses have spoken. Loudly. Not surprising really. That 20% decline in Senior division participation in '13 was no accident...it was the only division that dipped more than a few points and some gained a little. The masses spoke then, and they're doing it again.
 
Ozzie, (or anyone)..I had other very important obligations...Missed the podcast, tried to record it..didn't work !
..Is it archived anywhere ? (if so, please link..thx)
 
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