I like to think of myself as an ambassador of the game we all love and enjoy to play. I’ve participated in and supported amateur play for many years. I have helped many less skilled amateurs with their game and will step up to pro play on occasion, just to keep my ego in check and learn something new. It’s been five months and still no follow up reply from the NAPA “(two-person) board” as indicated as to why I was declared banned from future nationals but okay to play in league play.
At my own cost, I attended the ten-day drawn out 2014 nationals singles in Atlanta in mid June. If I won the four events I preregistered to play I would not have broken even for the trip. No added monies for each event and no Diamond tables as advertised for months,
Players had to figure out their own match races (or rely on their opponents research and honesty) from a single posting of several eight and half by eleven sheets (see attachment). Once a match was over, the official scorer penciled in the result on the chart and then threw the score sheet in the trash. As anticipated by myself (and I’m sure others) and shared with the scorers, I did later witness a scorer going through the trash looking for a score sheet which was possibly posted incorrectly. You can make this up, but I’m not. So ten days of handicapped play and not one computer change to anyone’s handicap from a score sheet...bagger heaven!
But back to the issue at hand. One of the final overlapping events of the week, the Ten Ball National Championship, board was drawn and posted for hours. Table assignments were eventually given to the 21 players who paid $45 to preregister for this event which was paying $340 for first place. This was similar to all of the previous events with the exception of eight ball which was $1,000. Four inaugural years ago, it was $2,500 with half as many players.
I noticed the name change of my first round opponent and reviewed the board. In fact, I was now the recipient of a bye. Eight players’ names were whited out and moved to random and not-so random brackets. Some (we later heard) moved to avoid a double forfeit/bye situation. I questioned the changes. It wasn’t a redraw, because the entire chart was not changed--only eight of the 21(see attachment). The explanation given me was that my name along with the others were randomly drawn by an authorized person and everything was done above board (pun intended). My challenge was that no name, mine included or not, should be moved once the chart is drawn and posted. If a player falls into a double forfeit/bye (which was not me by the way) then God bless him/her.
I was told that’s the way it is by the “board.” I asked for a refund and was denied. Told them to forfeit me. I kept my composure throughout this exchange. An email was sent to my local LO indicating my ban as a result of “unsportsmanlike conduct” with a detailed explanation to follow when the “board” returned home. My LO supported me by contesting their claim and writing them back for clarification. Two of my friends from the same LO room were there and witnessed this unfortunate event. The lack of any explanation speaks to the fact that there was no unsportsmanlike conduct on my part. Just a pool player who values the first amendment.
My heart goes out to NAPA franchise owners not in attendance who are busting their hump to grow their territories and to the players putting forth their time, effort and money to perhaps compete in a national event.
NAPA team nationals scheduled for last August were cancelled...no surprise here.
At my own cost, I attended the ten-day drawn out 2014 nationals singles in Atlanta in mid June. If I won the four events I preregistered to play I would not have broken even for the trip. No added monies for each event and no Diamond tables as advertised for months,
Players had to figure out their own match races (or rely on their opponents research and honesty) from a single posting of several eight and half by eleven sheets (see attachment). Once a match was over, the official scorer penciled in the result on the chart and then threw the score sheet in the trash. As anticipated by myself (and I’m sure others) and shared with the scorers, I did later witness a scorer going through the trash looking for a score sheet which was possibly posted incorrectly. You can make this up, but I’m not. So ten days of handicapped play and not one computer change to anyone’s handicap from a score sheet...bagger heaven!
But back to the issue at hand. One of the final overlapping events of the week, the Ten Ball National Championship, board was drawn and posted for hours. Table assignments were eventually given to the 21 players who paid $45 to preregister for this event which was paying $340 for first place. This was similar to all of the previous events with the exception of eight ball which was $1,000. Four inaugural years ago, it was $2,500 with half as many players.
I noticed the name change of my first round opponent and reviewed the board. In fact, I was now the recipient of a bye. Eight players’ names were whited out and moved to random and not-so random brackets. Some (we later heard) moved to avoid a double forfeit/bye situation. I questioned the changes. It wasn’t a redraw, because the entire chart was not changed--only eight of the 21(see attachment). The explanation given me was that my name along with the others were randomly drawn by an authorized person and everything was done above board (pun intended). My challenge was that no name, mine included or not, should be moved once the chart is drawn and posted. If a player falls into a double forfeit/bye (which was not me by the way) then God bless him/her.
I was told that’s the way it is by the “board.” I asked for a refund and was denied. Told them to forfeit me. I kept my composure throughout this exchange. An email was sent to my local LO indicating my ban as a result of “unsportsmanlike conduct” with a detailed explanation to follow when the “board” returned home. My LO supported me by contesting their claim and writing them back for clarification. Two of my friends from the same LO room were there and witnessed this unfortunate event. The lack of any explanation speaks to the fact that there was no unsportsmanlike conduct on my part. Just a pool player who values the first amendment.
My heart goes out to NAPA franchise owners not in attendance who are busting their hump to grow their territories and to the players putting forth their time, effort and money to perhaps compete in a national event.
NAPA team nationals scheduled for last August were cancelled...no surprise here.
