Folks:
Apologies I had not been following this thread of late. There was a period where it was asked of the team and anyone associated with the team (i.e. team-shirted spectators, like myself and one other person) to engage in a little "radio silence" while some back-channel discussions were being had about the post-DQ ramifications that were coming down -- i.e. the 2-year bans for the team members. The APA National office in St. Louis finally came back with a decision, and the 2-year bans will stay upon the team members, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that the team was (and never had been) sandbagging. It was mentioned both in the initial meetings with representatives at Las Vegas upon delivery of the initial DQ decision, as well as communications afterwards, that the belief was not that the team was cheating, but that the team had an unfair advantage and that there was too much movement in skill-level of several players. (Again, no player was moved more than one skill level; it was that several players were all moved up one skill level -- too many players in their eyes.)
So, now that decision has been handed down and finalized, radio silence is now lifted.
I do not agree with the 2-year bans, even though it doesn't affect me -- I was a team-shirted spectator, remember; not an actual player on the team. But, after having witnessed what I did with my own eyes, I've decided the APA is not for me, and I've written my league operator to remove me from the 8-ball team (which has since been dissolved by the captain anyway), and request to have my APA player ID number inactivated. Back to local traveling leagues and tournaments for me, as well as a refocusing upon my true loves, 14.1 and one pocket.
Let's get down to business:
Ah yes, this is quite funny -- all the hoopla made about *me* when I'm not even a player on the team in question, was upfront the whole time about what my involvement with the team is, and was transparent through all of this. As well as the hoopla made about players on the team in question that weren't raised in skill level, like the team's skill-level 2, Ariah Parker. But leave it to the personalities on AzB to find someone or something to bash, even if it's off topic.
It's been a stretch of time since it was first posted, so it may be a helpful reminder to some what this thread was supposed to be about (the team didn't create this thread btw), and the clarifications about some of the misinformation that was being spread.
Post #166:
https://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=6461867#post6461867
I encourage folks to review post #166, as it will help clear up many things. Not asking for any kind of pity, btw, as it is what it is. In fact, for me, it helps refocus me on the games I actually love, and I will be returning to the local tournament scene as well. There are positives here, and that's what I choose to take away from all this.
Best,
-Sean