$1500 for the new round of qualifiers!

[onepocketchump]

People like you make it tough to do the right thing and root for this tour's success. The selfish side of me can't wait for it to fail so I could rub it in your face. In spite of that, I would still like to see this tour succeed and for players to start making "Real Money" as they say.

The players who sit back not trying to qualify for the Reno tournament will most likely be doing so because they have no money left after the last several months of over priced qualifiers.

Oh give me a break. Any of the players who have a legitimate shot at qualifying can come up with the money. All of these guys have no qualms about betting a couple dimes a set.

Any player who wanted to could GET A JOB and save up enough to pay for a qualifier within 2 months by supplementing their income through playing in smaller tournaments.

I - who am arguably a shortstop when I play my VERY best - have often earned $5-800 a month playing in weekly tournaments. There was a period when I stopped gambling to focus only on tournament play and I wrote down all my expenses and earnings for a three month period. I came out $500 ahead for each of those months and didn't even win all the tournaments I played in.

$1500 is peanuts when investing in a shot at $1,000,000 in a discipline where the only thing standing between you and victory is YOUR SKILL. If you truly believe that you belond among the top 200 players in the world then you will find a way to get there. Bottom line.

There are many players who do the work to sell themselves and consequently they get sponsored for events like these. Then there are others who think the world should beat a path to their door and complain that they never get a break. The BUSINESS of professional sports demands that an athlete TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS as well as taking care of the actual playing of the game.

I will be willing to bet anyone on this forum $10,000 that within 30 days I can have $3000 in sponsorship money raised outside of the billiard industry. That's $1500 for the qualifier fee and $1500 for expenses. How would I do it? I'd make a resume and hit the street and the internet. Knock on enough doors and you are going to find some open ones. This has been proven over and over again and is a truth that endures. You can't quit after 10 rejections or 100 or 1000. Everything that this world is that is progressive or good can be attributed to people who showed tremendous perserverance in the face of many "failures" (attempts).

John

 

[onepocketchump]

If you're referring to my nickname, the joke is that I'm not in the APA. Despite your super duper BCA grand poombah teaching status, I'm sure I'd have little trouble dispatching you on a pool table.

Maybe not but you are more than welcome to take a shot at me anytime you feel like it.

I didn't spend the time learning to teach like Steve did. Nor do I have the patience he does with beginners. I can't teach a class of kindergartners either and I probably know more than the teacher but I don't disrespect her for her choice.

I admire her for being willing to put up with a bunch of brats and help to shape them into reasonable human beings. Just as I admire Steve for being willing to put up with people who can't make a bridge and shape them into lifelong fans of the game.

So if Steve can't handle your BS challenge I'll be more than happy to be a surrogate player and bet my own cash.

Have a nice day.

John

 

[APA9]

In other words, you just won't answer the question, as I expected. Instead, you respond with doubletalk and baseless boasting.

Answer this question and I will answer your question. What is to be learned by whether or not I play in a qualifier? How about this. I'll just go to Colorado and play you for $5000. If your point is that it'll make me more of a "player" to put up $1500 to play in a qualifier then, by definition, aren't I more than three times the "player" by putting up $5000 to play you? You guys have tried to put words in my mouth and base my character over whether or not I'm going to play in any $1500 qualifiers. Are you? Is Steve? If it says something about me whether I play or not, what does it say about you and Steve? I'm not boasting about anything. If you go back and read the entire thread, you'd see that anything I ever said was a response to something derogative that either you or your buddy Steve said, starting with Steve insinuating that I had no business posting over the price of qualifiers because, after all, I have 'APA' in my nick name. You two are the instigators in all of this. I just retaliated. So, do you want to follow your instigations to conclusion? Do you want to put up or do you want to shut up? I can come out to Colorado any time in August. You can have Steve show up and we'll all play. I'm not boasting. I'm just saying that if two guys are going to critique my ability to post on a subject based on how I play, you should at least play better than me before doing so. I don't think either of you do and I'm willing to bet on that. Is that really boasting? Your buddy Steve questioned my credentials for starting this thread. Now I'm questioning his, and yours, for questioning MY credentials. I honestly feel like I'm clubbing baby seals if I play you or Steve so I would have never even talked about playing either of you, or compared my game to Steves, had he not said what he did in his very first post in this thread. I don't feel like I'm really saying much by offering to play you two. I feel somewhat embarrassed to be picking on two baby seals. But, what do you want from me? You want to question my worthiness of posting on the subject, then you want to judge my character by whether or not I'm playing in qualifiers. Well, hell. Sounds a little crazy, right? Now my response to you two baby seals is: Put up or shut up.

 

[APA9]

So if Steve can't handle your BS challenge I'll be more than happy to be a surrogate player and bet my own cash.

Have a nice day.

John

You'll probably think I'm just being an ass here but I'm really not. I know who you are and I have no problem playing you. I'm not going to travel all the way to Arkansas to play though. PM me the next time you're going to be in Southern California and we'll make a date to play. And that isn't a BS challenge.

 

[ScottW]

Bark bark bark

You still haven't answered the simple question. The question "are you going to enter a qualifier" has nothing to do with me. Hell, I didn't even *ask* it in the first place.

You should go into politics. You have a true gift for avoiding the issues and instead, spewing rhetoric. You'll go far!

Then again, the content of your last reply to me smacks of overreaction, stemming from severe insecurity. Maybe politics isn't such a hot idea after all.

Believing that one's skill at pool should determine who is "right" in a discussion is also truly sad.

 

[APA9]

You still haven't answered the simple question. The question "are you going to enter a qualifier" has nothing to do with me. Hell, I didn't even *ask* it in the first place.

You should go into politics. You have a true gift for avoiding the issues and instead, spewing rhetoric. You'll go far!

Then again, the content of your last reply to me smacks of overreaction, stemming from severe insecurity. Maybe politics isn't such a hot idea after all.

Believing that one's skill at pool should determine who is "right" in a discussion is also truly sad.

Your avatar matches your reading comprehension skills. I say one thing and you respond to whatever you want.

No. I'm not playing in any qualifiers because I don't play 'that good'. I "think" I play good enough to play you or Steve though and I'm still willing to try that. Let me know if you're interested.

 

[onepocketchump]

You'll probably think I'm just being an ass here but I'm really not. I know who you are and I have no problem playing you. I'm not going to travel all the way to Arkansas to play though. PM me the next time you're going to be in Southern California and we'll make a date to play. And that isn't a BS challenge.

Good. Then when we match up you'll have no problem making a fair game since you have my game clocked already.

I am usually in Vegas several times a year. You are more than welcome to make the short drive over to play. I am known for working all day and playing all night so you usually get a couple days worth of work as a spot.

John

 

[Wags]

$1000 entry proof

For those of you interested, in current Billiard Digest two page IPT ad, it states that the entry is $1000 for non IPT members.

 

[TheOne]

For those of you interested, in current Billiard Digest two page IPT ad, it states that the entry is $1000 for non IPT members.

Thanks for that, this is the point that many seem to be missing. It doesn't matter if they put it up 1$ or $1000 its about false advertising, and shifting the goal posts in a sneaky manner. I am worried because I think its a serious sign that the IPT are not running on track if they are prepared to take such a PR hit over a realatively small $ increase.

Lets look at whats happened...

• - The order of the tournaments where switched so that the Open events where held first.
  
• - The start date was delayed 6 months.
  
• - 10 Tour card + 50 qualifiers where held.
  
• - The IPT refuses to lower the qualifier entry fee unless it is linekd to a drop in prize money.
  
• - Word on "the street" is that the IPT is EXPECTING 64 runners for each qualifier!!!
  
• - The numbers for the qualifiers are MUCH less than the 64 expected.
  
• - The entry is increased without any kind of explanation AFTER players have committed to the first of two open qualifiers!

IMO these are not good signs, I really really hope I'm wrong and sponsors come in to save the day.

 

[ScottW]

For those of you interested, in current Billiard Digest two page IPT ad, it states that the entry is $1000 for non IPT members.

Typically, when placing an ad in a periodical such as a magazine or newspaper, a company will buy an ad for several months at once. Chances are they just haven't noticed that the ad in question is now out of date (the price change is still very recent) and have yet to supply BD with new art.

On top of that, chances are good that BD's publishing deadline for that issue came around or even before the price hike. They're not going to hold up their whole schedule just to correct one ad, even if they were made aware that the ad in question was no longer accurate.

(I used to do this kinda crap for a living )

 

[macguy]

Typically, when placing an ad in a periodical such as a magazine or newspaper, a company will buy an ad for several months at once. Chances are they just haven't noticed that the ad in question is now out of date (the price change is still very recent) and have yet to supply BD with new art.

On top of that, chances are good that BD's publishing deadline for that issue came around or even before the price hike. They're not going to hold up their whole schedule just to correct one ad, even if they were made aware that the ad in question was no longer accurate.

(I used to do this kinda crap for a living )

Magazine advertising can have as much as a three month lead time to submit copy, they often can be in accurate, it is almost understood. That is the great thing about web sites, you can produce somewhat vague advertising that basically is an ad for your web site that can be kept up to date at a moments notice. The IPT is a work in progress they should not really say anything in print that may change, it just opens them up to more criticism.

 

[memikey]

Typically, when placing an ad in a periodical such as a magazine or newspaper, a company will buy an ad for several months at once. Chances are they just haven't noticed that the ad in question is now out of date (the price change is still very recent) and have yet to supply BD with new art.

On top of that, chances are good that BD's publishing deadline for that issue came around or even before the price hike. They're not going to hold up their whole schedule just to correct one ad, even if they were made aware that the ad in question was no longer accurate.

(I used to do this kinda crap for a living )

Maybe the the post which Wags made also had another underlying point to it other than the "out of date" aspects.There still appears to be several people on various IPT forums who simply do not believe that IPT ever advertised the entry fee as US$1,000 in the first place.The very existence of this other advert with out of date entry fee details backs up those contributors such as TheOne who have repeatedly explained that they have seen the US$ 1,000 entry fee specified on the IPT website for several weeks

 

[ironman]

Your avatar matches your reading comprehension skills. I say one thing and you respond to whatever you want.

No. I'm not playing in any qualifiers because I don't play 'that good'. I "think" I play good enough to play you or Steve though and I'm still willing to try that. Let me know if you're interested.

Where at in Arkansas? I get through there on occasion.

 

[Gabber]

Thanks for that, this is the point that many seem to be missing. It doesn't matter if they put it up 1$ or $1000 its about false advertising, and shifting the goal posts in a sneaky manner. I am worried because I think its a serious sign that the IPT are not running on track if they are prepared to take such a PR hit over a realatively small $ increase.

Lets look at whats happened...

• - The order of the tournaments where switched so that the Open events where held first.
  
• - The start date was delayed 6 months.
  
• - 10 Tour card + 50 qualifiers where held.
  
• - The IPT refuses to lower the qualifier entry fee unless it is linekd to a drop in prize money.
  
• - Word on "the street" is that the IPT is EXPECTING 64 runners for each qualifier!!!
  
• - The numbers for the qualifiers are MUCH less than the 64 expected.
  
• - The entry is increased without any kind of explanation AFTER players have committed to the first of two open qualifiers!

IMO these are not good signs, I really really hope I'm wrong and sponsors come in to save the day.

The goal posts have been shifting from day1 but there is no need to panic just yet. Just like any business, the IPT is just trying to get the max $$ out of its customers! Its understandable but this wasn't the story we were told! This was Kevin's tour because Kevin didn't need anyone else's cash! KT was a muti-zillionare to whom 20 million was pocket change- now he is trying to squeeze the aspiring pool player, seeing how much they will pay!
In 2 seasons, KT will have enough TV show material for years to come and the never ending sale of the dvd's of the matches. HE will make his money back.

Gabber

In 2 years time, #150 on the IPT will be #150 on the Planet! The idea that "maybe you can't be first but you could be #150" won't wash anymore.

 

[ScottW]

No. I'm not playing in any qualifiers because I don't play 'that good'.

Finally! A simple answer to a simple question.

Nothing wrong with knowing one's limits. I know I'm nowhere near good enough to risk a grand on a chance in a qualifier, as well.

 

[pooltchr]

I'm just saying that if two guys are going to critique my ability to post on a subject based on how I play, you should at least play better than me before doing so. I don't think either of you do and I'm willing to bet on that. Is that really boasting? Your buddy Steve questioned my credentials for starting this thread. Now I'm questioning his, and yours, for questioning MY credentials. I honestly feel like I'm clubbing baby seals if I play you or Steve so I would have never even talked about playing either of you, or compared my game to Steves, had he not said what he did in his very first post in this thread. I don't feel like I'm really saying much by offering to play you two. I feel somewhat embarrassed to be picking on two baby seals. But, what do you want from me? You want to question my worthiness of posting on the subject, then you want to judge my character by whether or not I'm playing in qualifiers. Well, hell. Sounds a little crazy, right? Now my response to you two baby seals is: Put up or shut up.

If you go back and actually read my post, I never critiqued your ability. My comment was strictly an observation that very few APA players would have the skill to compete in the IPT. I never mentioned you personally, in fact, I wasn't even responding to you. I don't make comments about anyone's ability, particularly when I don't know who they are or how they play. You are the one who jumped into the conversation getting all bent out of shape and making wild claims about how beating someone you don't know would be like "clubbing baby seals". I still won't comment on your playing skill since I still have never seen you play. I am, however, starting to get an indication as to what a jerk you are. It's real easy to brag about how good you are on the internet when you hide behind an anonymous name. Sorry, chump, but I'm not biting. I do believe you when you say you aren't really an APA9 in spite of your screen name. I don't have a clue what your real APA ranking would be.
Steve

 

[sixpack]

Playing devil's advocate here...

IPT advocacy deleted...

So just to be clear, are you calling the IPT the devil?

Cheers,
RC

 

[jjinfla]

Too bad OHB is no longer with us.

He probably could entertain us with his stories of days gone by where he had a sucker chasing a $5 bill.

Mike and Kevin have the carrot out there on a long string and keep pulling it away at the right time. And more and more are stepping up to take a bite of it.

It may turn out that Kevin and Mike, especially Mike, have pulled the greatest hustle ever. Of course Efren didn't do too bad. Or Busta and Manalo. Even Archer, Mika and Varner seem to have done okay. And all the HOF'ers.

So far it looks like only Kevin is on the loser's side.

But, as in all hustles, the early entrants win big to lure the rest in.

Only 20 days left until the big day begins. Will there be a lot of winners? Will the money be there to pay them off? Will there even be a tournament? Or will it be postponed?

Ha Ha. Only 20 days left for the sceptics to rant on.

I can hear it now. After the event all the sceptics, who can't spell or construct a proper sentence, will be saying it was okay but they should have done it differently. And they should have let the worthless crybabies play for free.

Jake

 

[Timberly]

Mike and Kevin have the carrot out there on a long string and keep pulling it away at the right time. And more and more are stepping up to take a bite of it.
That's interesting because I thought the turnout for the qualifiers was considerably less than they had anticipated.

I can hear it now. After the event all the sceptics, who can't spell or construct a proper sentence, will be saying it was okay but they should have done it differently. And they should have let the worthless crybabies play for free.

Jake

What you're saying is that anyone on the forums that has any qualm whatsoever with the IPT (even if they support it, but not blindly as some) are all illiterate and the players that have attempted to qualify are all worthless cry babies simply because some people (not the players) on a msg board have voiced concerns about some of the decisions that Jake's higher power (KT) has made??

FYI, there's still 20 days for the event to be called off (I hope that it isn't, I'm just being realistic here). Once it does happen.... it still doesn't mean that the IPT is successful... If you opened up your own business and planned to have it open for yrs to come and then closed up after 2 days/2weeks (equal to 2 IPT events) does that make your business successful??

This tour, in order to be considered a success has to be just that... a tour. One event (remember July is the ONLY event that is including all 150 players so it's really the only one to count). It takes more than one event to constitute a tour. When the IPT finishes it's schedule and it doesn't completely break every backer & pool player in the world getting there... to me, it will then be a success. Until that time, I'll sit here and cheer the IPT on because I have good friends that I would love to see make good money for having the wonderful talent to play pool as well as they do. BUT, I'm also going to sit here on the sidelines and look out for those friends and call bullsh!t when I see it. Just trying to keep things fair & honest.... something the pool world hasn't really seen in a tour yet.

 

[memikey]

......This tour, in order to be considered a success has to be just that... a tour. One event (remember July is the ONLY event that is including all 150 players so it's really the only one to count). .......

You've lost me there.What do you mean the July event is the only event that is including all 150 players? All four 2006 tour events are including all 150 players,two of them have the added 50 qualifiers as well and the King of the Hill will be 41 players.

If you mean that the July event,after it happens,will be the only one to take place so far to have included all 150 players and that by that reckoning it is therefore "the only one that should count" then that is a strange way to look at it right now......the July event hasn't happened yet,in exactly the same sense that the other later 2006 events haven't happened yet......so surely for the purpose of your argument you should either "count" them all or "count" none of them at this point in time