First, I flat out don't know the apa format for ranking players and teams and so on, but, it strikes me weird that a team can first, even enter an event if they are "against the rules", let alone get that far before they are DQ. A great cue maker, player, person from Florida told me that last year or maybe the year before last, in the APA Florida State Tournament, a team mate of his was DQ as he shot above his average ?? I mean, a bad player can shoot good over a stretch of time and a good player can shoot great over a stretch of time, just like a great player can shoot bad over a stretch of time. When this friend of mine went and threw a fit over his team mate getting axed from the tournament, guess what?, yes the Florida apa tournament officials sent my friend packing as well !! Maybe it's the Florida apa commission themselves?? I thought the goal in sports overall was to get better and when it's the time to shine, you can't ?? I admire the concept behind the apa, but, really? DQ a guy because he shot above his average in one match. Wow. I told my friend he should have sent up another team mate whose results were below average and see if they could have adjusted that !! To many league organizations are screwing up with this handicap crap. I think they just need divisions and a team is in a division, or better yet, no handicap and one big tournament like it was years ago. I started tournaments many years ago and got my butt kicked as a major learning lesson. Now, I get a little of that revenge and someone can throw me out of a tournament because of some lame situation. Wow. Now I do understand, that this post is about apa and maybe some team having a non qualified person or persons on it, which then, why let them in at all with that roster? It's not that tough if the committee has their act together. Maybe they need a few player representatives to help do a pre tournament qualifying check. I have always treated competition with respect, but, being a player who has crossed a generation going on two, it sometimes is frustrating to go to a tournament and hear nothing accept whinning from players and teams about how much free help they can get with handicap and this or that on other teams. Holy crap, these same whinners jump for joy when beating great players, even if they only win one out of five games as their handicap is so high, the great players must play almost the perfect match to " try " and win. I think the apa has a good ground basis and format. However, I also think that the leagues out their and different organizations may also have to just let players know that maybe they need a little more practice table time instead of bonus handicap.
These are just my opinions and want to see players learn and get better. I've been beaten by some wonderful play by my opponents who have seized the moment to shine and I congrat them on a great effort or capitalizing on my mistakes. It's harder though to smile knowing that I needed to basically win 7 games to their 2 wins for a match. Many years ago, Billy Steele wooped my butt, I can't imagine that I would have taken pride in winning a match if I only needed two wins against him. Louie Lemke, same thing, I learned a lot from watching him at the table and myself in the chair !!, did beat him in a one game money match and sent him to the back of the line, that was like winning the world title for me back in the day, lol. I practiced my butt off to just give x amount of great players a good match, let em know I'm in the building. Can't imagine taking any pride in competing against and heavens forbid to beat them because the odds were so stacked up against them in my favor. It's time we all get back to the table and put the energy in getting better or smarter or yes, luckier instead of this DQ stuff. The teams should not be penalized once in a tournament. That is solely on the committee and that's who the players should go after. In my opinion only. Sorry to ramble, but, goodness gracious we should all take pride in who our local - state - national and international champions are. For all those players in all the organizations, I say good job, fantastic run, but, I'm gunning for you, your on my hit list. LOL...
Good Luck all.
