Jay Helfert resigned as Tourney Director at the US Open

[EL'nino]

AzBilliards Gold Star of the Day goes out to who can name the place where this photo was taken.

Looks like Drexeline billiards to me

 

[JAM]

Looks like Drexeline billiards to me

That's strong!

Spoken like a true Pennsylvanian.

You've been to many, many pool rooms in order to recognize that wall. :grin-square:

Gold Star of the Day goes out to El 'nino for October 27, 2015. Congratluations!

 

[FranCrimi]

Even if that is what happened due to Barry's boo boo, Jay as TD has final say. The brackets already locked in concrete . Allen was also ok after Jay explained to him
What is ridiculous is that you make Jay sound like the lesser guy for walking out.

The better move would be to try to solve the problem and not blow up and leave. The players would remain in their positions in the brackets, only someone would have to play an additional match and, if I can recall correctly, probably at least one on the loser's side as well. Any player in that event would have wanted to be treated the same way if it was their name that was accidentally left off the list.

 

[JAM]

Even if that is what happened due to Barry's boo boo, Jay as TD has final say. The brackets already locked in concrete . Allen was also ok after Jay explained to him
What is ridiculous is that you make Jay sound like the lesser guy for walking out.

I understand what you say, but I believe what Fran is trying to convey is that the tournament *and* the players would have benefited from Jay staying and providing his expertise to the event.

Of course, I also understand Jay's reasoning. It's a matter of principle with him.

I can and do see both sides here. I also think it is worth noting that nobody should be condemning Allen Hopkins over this. He was okay with not playing. For folks to rake him through the coals is wrong.

 

[Johnnyt]

There would be 39 past champions that won the "Open". Allen won it in 1981.That's 34 years ago. There were only 15or 16 past champs on the players list to be given free $1000 entry. Not 39! So how was that 15 or 16 figured? Barry math? Don't the other past champs count? I know some won it more than once. Maybe it does add up, but to give a pass to someone that won in 34 years ago is a joke. Johnnyt

 

[#Cruncher]

JAM,

I'm not gonna rake Allen through the coals for playing, as he did say he was ok with not playing...but I am disappointed in him for not having the same convictions as Jay and saying that its not the right thing to do and refusing to play after the bracket had already been drawn.

 

[JAM]

There would be 39 past champions that won the "Open". Allen won it in 1981.That's 34 years ago. There were only 15or 16 past champs on the players list to be given free $1000 entry. Not 39! So how was that 15 or 16 figured? Barry math? Don't the other past champs count? I know some won it more than once. Maybe it does add up, but to give a pass to someone that won in 34 years ago is a joke. Johnnyt

Are you saying Allen's championship title is not worth what Shane's is? Come on, man.

Some of the past champions are dead, Johnny, and others may be too sick to travel, just so you know.

I'm not sure why Allen's name was off the list, but it was an oversight, IMO.

 

[JAM]

JAM,

I'm not gonna rake Allen through the coals for playing, as he did say he was ok with not playing...but I am disappointed in him for not having the same convictions as Jay and saying that its not the right thing to do and refusing to play after the bracket had already been drawn.

How do you know he didn't? Allen may not have been privy to the back-and-forth that ensued between Barry and Jay.

Allen, for all we know, could have been in a suite enjoying a little five-handed poker game. I know he has friends in Virginia that he plays poker with when he's in town.

 

[BmoreMoney]

The better move would be to try to solve the problem and not blow up and leave. The players would remain in their positions in the brackets, only someone would have to play an additional match and, if I can recall correctly, probably at least one on the loser's side as well. Any player in that event would have wanted to be treated the same way if it was their name that was accidentally left off the list.

This is what I'm not understanding. How would anyone have to play more matches or change the entire draw if one person is replaced by someone else in the same slot?

 

[EL'nino]

That's strong!

Spoken like a true Pennsylvanian.

You've been to many, many pool rooms in order to recognize that wall. :grin-square:

Gold Star of the Day goes out to El 'nino for October 27, 2015. Congratluations!

Actually I just spend too much time outside smoking that is me in my avatar

 

[EL'nino]

You lay down with dogs you get up with fleas... If you're gonna do business with BB you had better get a flea collor.

 

[ElCorazonFrio]

Anyone who is questioning any of what Mr. Helfert did here doesn't have the integrity to comment on his actions.

I don't think there is a person who reads this board who shouldn't be able to grasp the dedication that Jay feels towards our sport and making it as good as possible. Mr. Helfert seems to be friends with many of the players in the tourneys he runs, yet I've never read even the slightest hint of favoritism shown by him.

Ms. Crimi states that what Jay did potentially caused problems for the players. She is absolutely correct, but she seems to presume that the problems that it caused in this tourney are the longest lasting effects...and hopefully they aren't. The minor inconveniences that the players will likely see during this tourney will fall squarely on BB's shoulders and they should blame him.

Had Mr. Helfert stayed, his words would have paled in comparison to his actions. His actions would have been defending the situation.

I applaud Mr. Helfert for making an incredibly difficult decision.

 

[markgw]

Yeah Allen was pretty far off his game and his usual unusual stroke was unusually wonky today.

He doesn't play anymore. Everyone knows about his stroke. What year were you inducted into the Hall of Fame?

 

[zpele]

Kudos to Jay for doing the thing we players know was right. Once that chart is posted no one should be allowed to screw with it. I was barred from future NAPA Nationals because I appropriately objected to this exact same thing.

Check out the attached photo which shows eight names out of twenty-one which were whited out and moved unilaterally to other brackets without notice or player agreement after this chart was posted for a few hours prior to the start of play(2014 Nationals).

One or eight, the brackets stand.

NAPA will go belly up within two years. To date, NAPA has not given my LO a promised reason for their actions against me.

Pay attention NAPA to how a real TD makes decisions.

Heh. I was on the board next to that one. Small world. I hope NAPA gets its act together at the national level (at the local level in my area it is run well)- it's a fun league that could flourish if run right.

 

[Johnnyt]

Was someone from the WPA there when the chart was being changed? Of course not. No big perks like Qatar and China. Johnnyt

 

[markgw]

Are you saying Allen's championship title is not worth what Shane's is? Come on, man.

Some of the past champions are dead, Johnny, and others may be too sick to travel, just so you know.

I'm not sure why Allen's name was off the list, but it was an oversight, IMO.

People who make fun and disrespect Hall of Famer's are either jealous or just have nothing better to do. Hopkins played all the games amazing in his prime. Now that he's in his 60s and plays in the U.S. Open for fun people go after him. It's embarrassing!!

 

[JB Cases]

People who make fun and disrespect Hall of Famer's are either jealous or just have nothing better to do. Hopkins played all the games amazing in his prime. Now that he's in his 60s and plays in the U.S. Open for fun people go after him. It's embarrassing!!

And beyond that Allen is one of the classiest pros in the game. He has done a ton for pool with the Super Billiards Expo and other endeavors over the years.

Knocking is a hater's oxygen. Without it they can't live.

 

[watchez]

Allen did nothing wrong. He would have been okay to have sat this one out and watched the trounament. It wasn't Allen's doing. This is wrong to say down to Allen. He even said to others that he would be okay with not playing after the controversy began. So there!

Allen did do wrong -- if he was ok with not playing then simply don't play. Did Barry put a gun to his head and make him play? He chose to play, forcing Jay to make a decision of ethics and tarnishing the event. I wonder what goes on behind the scenes at the Expo each year.

 

[NYC cue dude]

How do you know he didn't? Allen may not have been privy to the back-and-forth that ensued between Barry and Jay.

Allen, for all we know, could have been in a suite enjoying a little five-handed poker game. I know he has friends in Virginia that he plays poker with when he's in town.

Allan was aware. Jay spoke to him directly. Allan should've refused once the charts were drawn up. Period.

And Fran's suggestion that a player agree to an additional match is preposterous. This is supposed to be the most prestigious, US tournament in existence. And a move like this most certainly would put WPA support in jeopardy for the future. And, at a $1000 entry, how is an extra match remotely fair?

 

[markgw]

Allen did do wrong -- if he was ok with not playing then simply don't play. Did Barry put a gun to his head and make him play? He chose to play, forcing Jay to make a decision of ethics and tarnishing the event. I wonder what goes on behind the scenes at the Expo each year.

How did it tarnish the event? Archer got crushed 11-1, should he have stayed home?