vapoolplayer said:
also take notice that strickland, reyes, and archer all have sponsors of some sort..........that means paid entry fees, lodging, etc, etc............its alot easier to make alot of money when you're playing in alot of tournaments........
How true, VApoolplayer!
Another thing to consider in the scheme of things is that some of the Asian-Pacific tours in which our Philippino champions -- notice I say "our" (LOL) -- compete in are RESTRICTED to pool players' country of origin or citizenship. So players like German WPC Champion Hohmann or American champions like Johnny Archer are not allowed to play in some of the Asian-Pacific lucrative tours overseas. Yet, our Asian-Pacific comrades are welcome here in the States to compete in our Open events.
The Billiard Congress of AMERICA has an Open every year in Las Vegas which reserves 32 spots for foreign players out of a 64-player field, with the other 32 reserved for the highest UPA-ranked players.
Then, if you throw the UPA in or any other so-called "professional organization" in the mix, there are some events where a player like Earl Strickland, as one sole example, did not get the opportunity to compete. Fortunately, organizations like Matchroom Sport is the pool-politics buster for some American professional players. They do not limit their events to UPA-ranked players, a ranking system which excludes some American players, like Earl Strickland, Jose Parica, and non-UPA members. Poor old Jose may be ranked high on the UPA ranking system, but he's not eligible to represent the United States in the WPC because of citizenship. Jose Parica got into the WPC last year through Matchroom Sport, as did Earl Strickland.
Not taking a thing away from Efren Reyes or Alex Pagulayan. In fact, I believe they're top shelf. It's just a fact in this pool world here in the United States, some pool players don't get a chance to drink from the same waters as others due to pool politics, restrictions, and economic impossibilities.
The expenses to play pool full time far outweigh the payouts in today's pool world. When attending the U.S. Open, a player could feasibly be stuck $2,500 with the travel, lodging, and entry fee expenses before hitting the first ball.
Imagine flying all over the world to attend pool tournaments. When you play pool full time, most aspiring players would like to at least get out and compete at two or more times per month. There are many professional players here in the States who do not derive the bulk of their income from playing pool and have real full-time jobs to keep a roof over their heads. So, in essence, they're part-time professionals, and due to work obligations can't keep up with the pack.
The rich get richer, and the poor remain at the bottom.
JMHO, FWIW!
JAM
