ABP or Barry Behrman: Which Side of the Fence Are You On?

[JAM]

I can't believe nobody has produced a poll yet on this, but here we go with yet another pool poll. :thumbup:

Which side of the fence are you on as it pertains to the ABP and Barry Behrman? There's been plenty of threads discussing this topic at length.

I realize it may be hard to vote, as some of us understand both sides, so I've inserted an option for "on the fence," meaning both.

This is a BLIND poll, so lurkers can feel free to vote.

 

[TX Poolnut]

This should be interesting. Go go gadget Jiffy Pop!

 

[JAM]

This should be interesting. Go go gadget Jiffy Pop!

I'm on a diet! :angry:

So, instead, feast your eyes on the Pool Popcorn Flower.

This is an upright, delicate plant, and the nutlets have no p-r-i-c-k-l-e-s [forum software wouldn't allow word]. It is native in California and Oregon. :smile:

 

[sjm]

I'm for doing whatever it takes to save the US Open, one of the pillars on which American pool stands.

I think that means I favor both sides.

 

[Island Drive]

If Barry is paid up on his prior obligations, then game on.

If we keep on shi**in in our back yards the mess won't go away.

Danny Harrimans past, is that resolved?

I have seen this scenario quite a few times with the male pros, hopefully the outcome will be different than in the past.

 

[JAM]

If Barry is paid up on his prior obligations, then game on.
Danny Harriman comes to mind tho.
I have seen this scenario quite a few times with the male pros, hopefully the outcome will be different than in the past.

I may be wrong. My memory is bad, as I'm not sleeping well due to health issues, but I think Danny's beef was with an event not promoted by Barry Behrman.

I was at this event that Danny went to, and it was tragic what happened. Barry's son, Brady, got stiffed by vendors who complained about the lack of attendance, and not very many people came. The tournament happened right after the Derby City Classic, and it was also on Super Bowl weekend, so the timing was bad. Add insult to injury, I think a snow storm also occurred preventing travel. It was an unfortunate incident, and I felt very bad about how it ended up, knowing how much work went into it. :frown:

The Mid-Atlantic 9-Ball Championship happened in January 22, 2003. I still have my long-sleeved T-shirt. It's a very cool-looking T-shirt.

Isn't it awful that my strongest memory of this event was Charlie Williams and another pool player standing outside in front of the Holiday Inn talking to a very well-dressed lady, who I later found out worked for an "escort service."

I'm trying to find the article. Again, my memory is fuzzy, but it looks like it was an Efren vs. Bustie final according to this: http://www.azbilliards.com/midatlantic/t8w2.html

 

[Mickey Qualls]

I'm for doing whatever it takes to save the US Open, one of the pillars on which American pool stands.

I think that means I favor both sides.

+1. I agree 100%.

 

[JAM]

+1. I agree 100%.

SJM and Mickey Qualls, the poll is really looking to be about neck and neck at the time of this writing. It is very interesting to see how many, indeed, are on the fence. :smile:

 

[pt109]

After much thought, I voted for Barry.
Lots of problems on both sides and with the game itself.

But how many pros want to stand up and say they've done more
for the game than Barry Berhman?
A few names come to mind that are in Barry's class....
...Jay Helfert, Allen Hopkins, Greg Sullivan, Joe Kerr, Mark Griffin.....
this list can be added to....but how many of them are on the ABP?

and it's nice to have JAM posting again......
I can type 40 words per hour now...are you proud of me?:smile:

 

[Brian in VA]

Frankly, I'm amazed it's gotten to this point.

If Barry, astute businessman that he is, had enough sense to set expectations properly this wouldn't have happened. By that I mean, leave out the "added money BS" and just post the payouts from day one at WHATEVER HE CAN AFFORD TO PAY. If he'd done this from the beginning, this never would have become an issue.

The players, from their side, should be asking for this, too, but are looking to have their cake and eat it to; they want to have the money guaranteed but don't want payouts to drop. I can't blame 'em, after all, they are the show!

My point is, I can see and argue either side equally well. And, no, I'm not a lawyer. :smile: It should never have gotten this far as Barry is pretty tied into the players and should have had the foresight to stop this, years ago.

Just my 2 cents, I could be wrong.

Brian (Keller) in VA

P.S. I'd be glad to mediate an agreement for this but I'm concerned it's too far gone.

 

[JAM]

...and it's nice to have JAM posting again......
I can type 40 words per hour now...are you proud of me?:smile:

That's pretty spiffy, pot109!

I voted for Barry Behrman, too. It is not that I am against the ABP's goal. I truly do understand why they are upset, but it is the manner in which they handled this. I hope both sides can come to an agreement that remedies this problem. I want to see a happy ending! :smile:

 

[JAM]

Frankly, I'm amazed it's gotten to this point...P.S. I'd be glad to mediate an agreement for this but I'm concerned it's too far gone.

This is how I feel, too. I think the organization is already getting off to a bad start by making this move. The players should not be handling this themselves. They need a professional mouthpiece.

One Cabinet department does not have their leader speak in public because he/she made bad faux pas in the past, resulting in congressional outrage and a media frenzy. To date, this person has not spoken public again. :embarrassed2:

 

[Johnnyt]

I voted for the players (ABP)...but only on the pay issue. I think seeding sucks. Johnnyt

 

[chefjeff]

I vote for more marketing and more sponsoring...that'll fix all the money problems.

Jeff Livingston

 

[shankster8]

I voted for the players (ABP)...but only on the pay issue. I think seeding sucks. Johnnyt

These are my feelings also. I'll vote for the players today but if they continue to insist on seeding, I will vote the opposite next time.

 

[wahcheck]

both sides now

I'm on the fence too.......I appreciate what Mr. Behrman has done, but I also think that the players deserve to be paid immediately after the tournament; if that is what is supposed to be....

 

[whitewolf]

I think Barry should create an escrow account (he already has done this I believe) and have people make donations, starting 12 months in advance of the main event.

The 100 largest doners should get some kind of extra benefit at the event, like having dinner with the pros or something. The next highest doners should get some kind of gift. I am sure that Barry could talk to the vendors to chip in here, like a free DVD.

Sometimes I don't think Barry thinks outside of the box enough.

 

[JAM]

Everybody is truly split. It's a third, a third, and a third at the time of this writing!

 

[PoolSharkAllen]

Perhaps the ABP or Johnny Archer would like to respond to Barry's statement (from July 7) below:

Shannon and I do not see how boycotting an event that is merely here for the players and fans of pool, as it is not a cash cow for us, is benefiting this sport or the fans who want to watch the players. I am not a wealthy man; in fact I too like some of the players am trying to simply make ends. However, I am doing everything in my power to strengthen the industry of pool. I cannot allow the U.S. Open to be threatened by individuals whom will not return a call or email. In fact, I personally called Johnny Archer 15-20 times in the past couple of weeks, and sent many emails to discuss this year's event, and not once did he answer or return any of my attempts. What kind of leader is this? I was never given the chance to acknowledge their demands, which I along with my daughter believe is completely unfair and simply "dirty pool." This is not a step in the right direction, Mr. Archer as the President, should be attempting to work with promoters instead of shutting them out, or else pool as we know it will no longer exist. I have been informed that some members of the ABP were demanding to be seeded into other events, and many made threats to walk if they were not. Promoters cannot give into bullies.​

Given that Johnny Archer has not responded to Barry's emails or phone calls recently, I'm inclined to be more sympathetic to Barry's side. In addition, if some of the ABP players are demanding that they be seeded into other events, then that smacks of extortion.

 

[JAM]

Perhaps the ABP or Johnny Archer would like to respond to Barry's statement (from July 7) below:

Shannon and I do not see how boycotting an event that is merely here for the players and fans of pool, as it is not a cash cow for us, is benefiting this sport or the fans who want to watch the players. I am not a wealthy man; in fact I too like some of the players am trying to simply make ends. However, I am doing everything in my power to strengthen the industry of pool. I cannot allow the U.S. Open to be threatened by individuals whom will not return a call or email. In fact, I personally called Johnny Archer 15-20 times in the past couple of weeks, and sent many emails to discuss this year's event, and not once did he answer or return any of my attempts. What kind of leader is this? I was never given the chance to acknowledge their demands, which I along with my daughter believe is completely unfair and simply "dirty pool." This is not a step in the right direction, Mr. Archer as the President, should be attempting to work with promoters instead of shutting them out, or else pool as we know it will no longer exist. I have been informed that some members of the ABP were demanding to be seeded into other events, and many made threats to walk if they were not. Promoters cannot give into bullies.​

Given that Johnny Archer has not responded to Barry's emails or phone calls recently, I'm inclined to be more sympathetic to Barry's side. In addition, if some of the ABP players are demanding that they be seeded into other events, then that smacks of extortion.

There does seem to be some hard feelings going on there, but I read on our forum that Johnny son is sick. He may be tending to family affairs when he's not competing or traveling.

I don't think we're going to get any answers from that ABPpros member because they're only going to pick and choose which questions they want to answer. Plus, nobody knows who's behind the curtain, except Poolgrapevine and Spade.