U.S. Open update

[lfigueroa]

To be fair, Lou, what kind of "spokes model" would Roberta be if she came on here and promoted the event by saying "gee guys, Barry has effed this up in one way or another for the last several years....I dunno how good it'll be this year,, but won't you come out and support us?"

Of course she has to spin the positive, and deflect the negative. You of all people, given your background, know this to be true.

I don't feel that Roberta was out of line last year, rather I felt she was reasonably restrained in her promotion here on AZB. She was new to working there, of course she wanted to be optimistic it would be better. Jay was back on board, that boded well for operational things....

Why don't we all cut Roberta a little slack here? She's trying to present the positives of an event we all want to succeed, be done well, and pays the players appropriately. If the US Open doesn't have a Roberta in place attempting that, it surely won't help its chances of success.

My background includes several years traveling around the country teaching high level kinds of guys how to be spokesmodels for their operations. And though you may find this hard to believe, at the bedrock of what I taught was: always tell the truth, that's the best PR. But, of course that's not everyone. Some prefer to lie, to spin, make excuses, live in denial.

Here's something she said last year of BB, "I still believe in him though & think he's going to do exactly what he says he's going to, I realize I'm in the minority but I'll always stand up for him."

dub, all the slack in the world is not going to make an individual with that vision of reality and that kind of motivation believable.

All I'm saying is: pass the salt

Lou Figueroa

 

[RobertaAgnor]

My point was that last year you went on about how everything at the Open was going to be great, perfect, the best (not even close); how Barry was going to do everything he promised (really?); that you personally worked on the floor plan and seating (how’d that work out?); that you were BB's personal assistant/bookkeeper (yet until Pinky hounded you it wasn’t until February that you got around to paying four players because things “fell though the cracks”).

So like I said, this year, when you ballyhoo on BB’s behalf, people should be ready to check their sodium intake because your credibility as a spokesmodel tanked last year.

Lou Figueroa

To be clear I didn't do anything with the floorplan. Yes, it looked great in theory, I'm not sure what went wrong in the translation. Compared to Barry, I don't do alot of work on the Open although he says different. In case people don't realize it, Q-Masters & the Open are 2 different things. Pinky had very little if anything to do with people getting paid. That was already being worked on as soonas wewere contacted by the oarties it pertained to when she tried getting involved.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[justadub]

My background includes several years traveling around the country teaching high level kinds of guys how to be spokesmodels for their operations. And though you may find this hard to believe, at the bedrock of what I taught was: always tell the truth, that's the best PR. But, of course that's not everyone. Some prefer to lie, to spin, make excuses, live in denial.

Here's something she said last year of BB, "I still believe in him though & think he's going to do exactly what he says he's going to, I realize I'm in the minority but I'll always stand up for him."

dub, all the slack in the world is not going to make an individual with that vision of reality and that kind of motivation believable.

All I'm saying is: pass the salt

Lou Figueroa

Fair enough, and apply the sodium chloride liberally is good practice in most cases, not just this.

When you speak of "telling the truth", are you insinuating that Roberta was not being truthful, given the information she was provided, by Barry and others? I don't believe that, myself, and I think that is a pretty strong accusation to make.

Wanting to believe things are going to be done the right way and reporting what was told to her is far different from "not telling the truth."

I think Roberta is taking too much grief here. Just my .02

 

[lfigueroa]

Fair enough, and apply the sodium chloride liberally is good practice in most cases, not just this.

When you speak of "telling the truth", are you insinuating that Roberta was not being truthful, given the information she was provided, by Barry and others? I don't believe that, myself, and I think that is a pretty strong accusation to make.

Wanting to believe things are going to be done the right way and reporting what was told to her is far different from "not telling the truth."

I think Roberta is taking too much grief here. Just my .02

dub, my comment about telling the truth was in response to you saying, "Of course she has to spin the positive, and deflect the negative. You of all people, given your background, know this to be true." I kinda felt that you were insinuating sumthin' there.

Lou Figueroa

 

[BRussell]

Here's something she said last year of BB, "I still believe in him though & think he's going to do exactly what he says he's going to, I realize I'm in the minority but I'll always stand up for him."

That doesn't sound like lying. You and I and I assume most everyone else will be skeptical, but if some people want to keep hope alive, it really doesn't bother me.

 

[justadub]

dub, my comment about telling the truth was in response to you saying, "Of course she has to spin the positive, and deflect the negative. You of all people, given your background, know this to be true." I kinda felt that you were insinuating sumthin' there.

Lou Figueroa

In our little exchange this morning, you and I both "spun" things according to our perspective.

 

[lfigueroa]

In our little exchange this morning, you and I both "spun" things according to our perspective.

The only "spinning" I do nowadays is on a pool table.

I very much like that I don't have to sugarcoat things anymore

Lou Figueroa

 

[watchez]

To be clear I didn't do anything with the floorplan. Yes, it looked great in theory, I'm not sure what went wrong in the translation. Compared to Barry, I don't do alot of work on the Open although he says different. In case people don't realize it, Q-Masters & the Open are 2 different things. Pinky had very little if anything to do with people getting paid. That was already being worked on as soonas wewere contacted by the oarties it pertained to when she tried getting involved.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

Roberta - seriously you just said that 'it was worked on as soon as the parties pertained to' ???? You (and others) need to do a search on here of the history - both short and long term - of the US Open. First - no party should have had to contact you to get paid. They should have all been paid. Second, the Vietnam player had to contact you and Barry at least over a dozen times over a month before he got paid.

Please just once tell the truth - or do you need to see some links so maybe your memory isn't so clouded and skewed.

Run things right for one year -- this means pay ALL the players on time with checks that don't bounce, have VIP seats that are legitimate for people that pay for them, and don't have the players endure some drunken 45 minute speech/karaoke fest before the tournament kicks off. Then watch the kudos come out.

Look at an organization like TAR that always did things right. If ever an issue came up - and they were few and far between - people gave them a pass cause they knew they were doing the best they could. The US Open crew has a long way to go to get to that status.

 

[PINKLADY]

When you speak of "telling the truth", are you insinuating that Roberta was not being truthful, given the information she was provided, by Barry and others? I don't believe that, myself, and I think that is a pretty strong accusation to make.

Wanting to believe things are going to be done the right way and reporting what was told to her is far different from "not telling the truth."

I think Roberta is taking too much grief here. Just my .02

you're right. remember Barry throwing her under the bus on ABR - twice? after conveniently hiring her? she was only the bookkeeper & her hands were tied.

there shouldn't be a problem this year, cause Pat is in charge of receipts & payouts.

it's good that the Ko brothers didn't fly-in last year to sweep the Title & $40K from Shane, cause they wouldn't have been paid.

 

[Johnnyt]

Every year the same old BS. He says while he's still doing the slow dance with players that are not paid, or getting payments that are mostly late from the last Open, how different the next Open is going to be. He says he has a loan secured, new venue, big time sponsors, for a zillion player $1000 entry tournament. Why do so many give this fast shuffle a pass year after year, after year? He has this pie in the sky idea every year that he has neither the money, money handling skills, or management ability to come close to putting it on. I wonder how Shane's two day visit with Barry and lunch with the mayor went? Johnnyt

 

[RobertaAgnor]

From the floor plan I've been shown, the seating arrangements for this year's Open look to be excellent. A lot more room at the Sheraton.
Of course the best laid plans of mice and men...............

Jay, Barry asked me to post this:
Thank you Jay, my cuz, as I know you would not be returning unless all is very, very well. Well, as Forest Gump once said, "that's all I want t say about that." This really means to me, now more than ever, that I want to be like him, Forest Gump, and as smart finally.

 

[rivercitysledge]

What I "like" is to see people tell the truth and accurately represent their operation and not make empty promises. What I don't "like" is to see people try and brush what has happened in years past under the carpet

Lou Figueroa

TAP TAP...
well said lou.... I guarantee you they will be rooting for Shane so they can continue putting him on the payment plan

 

[Celtic]

Ok confirmed. Good luck.

We can nickname her "Thomas" after this.

 

[jmurphy]

I'm just curious. How many AzB-ers who have posted on this thread are actually going to be competing in the U.S. Open this year? I would think the competitors or players, if you will, should be the ones to share their thoughts on the purse and payouts. For AzB-ers to require the tournament promoter (Barry) to reveal his bank account and P&L statement is a little over the top. Let the players voice their concerns, but forum members making demands seems odd.

As far as the VIP seats, I totally understand the concern and hope that this year's seating arranagement is more suitable. Nobody wants to pay money for a crappy seat where they can't see anything and/or are uncomfortable.

The Barry haters are going to hate, but some of the demands and criticism on this thread from forum members, who aren't putting up their dough and/or playing in the tournament, is kind of odd. It happens every year, of course, due to the payout problems. However, one year, the players banded together and ensured the payouts would happen as advertised.

I like seeing the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship tournament in Virginia, on the East Coast, in my neck of the woods. Love him or hate him, Barry Behrman is putting up his own dough to make this happen. He deserves a modicum of respect for that. Does anybody think he's making a huge ROI on this tournament? This event happens becuase of his passion to keeping the legacy alive for players around the world. It is a tournament title that every single pro player would like to have on their portfolio or résumé. In fact, I would venture to guess that this title is worth more to the pro players than the tin cups and cheese. The tin cups collect dust, and the money will be spent, but the title lasts forever.

It's okay to suggest strategies to make the Open run smoother, but in the end, unless you're playing in the event or putting up your money for a VIP seat or traveling to watch the tournament as a railbird or paying a vendor fee to display your wares, the criticism in this thread is over the top.

That's my opinion, and I'm sorry if it offends anyone, but I'm sticking with it.

JAM your horse is getting really HIGH.........
I have known Barry over 30 years, I grew up in Va. Beach/Q-Masters and lets
get one thing straight here this tournament still exists because Barry has an ego the size of all out doors.
Don't get me wrong I have always liked Barry and I have always promoted Q-Masters as the best all around poolrooms I have ever been in.
However between the booze, drugs, home casino and chasing after girls more then 30 years younger then him the money has been short many times not just once or twice.
Barry has earned in spades any criticism he gets until he shows that everyone gets paid at the end of the tournament.

 

[The Renfro]

.......................

 

[jay helfert]

Last word from Pat Fleming is that there is over 50K in added money in his account now. This guarantees world ranking points for the U.S. Open. At least a Tier Three event and it will become Tier Two if he gets the 75K as promised. Barry is certain that's doable and he claims more sponsorship money is on the way. Stay tuned on this.

One thing for sure, the 40th annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship is a go! The venue looks great, a big improvement over the Marriott! Should be spectator friendly, more like the convention center in past years. Fewer tables and fewer matches with only 128 players means easier viewing to watch all the great players. Word is that there will be a large Chinese contingent, maybe eight or nine of their top players. I wouldn't be surprised to see the champion come from that group. One thing for sure, Shane will have his hands full defending again. I'll do my best to keep you posted.

 

[Nostroke]

Last word from Pat Fleming is that there is over 50K in added money in his account now. This guarantees world ranking points for the U.S. Open. At least a Tier Three event and it will become Tier Two if he gets the 75K as promised. Barry is certain that's doable and he claims more sponsorship money is on the way. Stay tuned on this.

One thing for sure, the 40th annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship is a go! The venue looks great, a big improvement over the Marriott! Should be spectator friendly, more like the convention center in past years. Fewer tables and fewer matches with only 128 players means easier viewing to watch all the great players. Word is that there will be a large Chinese contingent, maybe eight or nine of their top players. I wouldn't be surprised to see the champion come from that group. One thing for sure, Shane will have his hands full defending again. I'll do my best to keep you posted.

Chinese or Taiwanese or both? i know some tournies are made to call Taiwan China for political reasons but we aint political here !

 

[genomachino]

Just got done with a tournament Sat in Mankato, Mn

.......................

And the KiTech tip did everything for me that I would expect a great tip to do.

Easy to get shape and not missing shots because of uncontrollable spin.

Kind of like going into a corner racing a car with the tires spinning too much, your going to wipe out but not with the KiTech.

On top of that I have a medium on my break cue because I like the feel of having some control of the cue ball. I put it on 9 months ago, never touched it since then an looks exactly how it did the first day.

Almost unbelievable. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone needs to try these that has been putting on these layered tips and realize how much easier it is to control the rock, getting more precise shape and missing less by not getting uncontrollable spin.

They even send you a sample package of the soft medium and hard.

Everyone needs to bury that stubborn know it all attitude for about 5 minutes and order some of these. Put on a KiTech tip correctly like they say and see the difference for yourself.

Amazing.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised..........

Need I say more... OK I will...........

Can't believe you havn't already ordered some. I think the sample pack is only about $15 dollars.I think you get 3 tips, maybe more, I don't even know for sure. If you like them like all the rest of us that have tried them, your saving about $25 a tip over some of the layer tip hype that's been going on for some time now.

I'm going on 7 months with this last tip I put on.

I let some of the players at this tourney I played in this weekend try my cue and they were amazed at how easy it was to move the cue ball around.

Order some today. You will be so glad you did.

Save so much money and play so much better.

If you still havn't ordered some by now you have already wasted some of your good playing time with a great tool we all need.

A tip that will last, hold it's shape and play great.

This is not a paid advertisement for KiTech tips.

Just trying to help some of my fellow pool players get over stupid for 5 minutes and order some KiTech tips and actually take one for a spin. :grin-square:

 

[Kid Dynomite]

JAM your horse is getting really HIGH.........
I have known Barry over 30 years, I grew up in Va. Beach/Q-Masters and lets
get one thing straight here this tournament still exists because Barry has an ego the size of all out doors.
Don't get me wrong I have always liked Barry and I have always promoted Q-Masters as the best all around poolrooms I have ever been in.
However between the booze, drugs, home casino and chasing after girls more then 30 years younger then him the money has been short many times not just once or twice.
Barry has earned in spades any criticism he gets until he shows that everyone gets paid at the end of the tournament.

Wow

You said it all. Many know and just choose to remain silent.

Kd

 

[Nostroke]

Two more entries since the money has been certified by Pat? WTF?