AZBilliards Forum...

I'm a moderaor at a fairly sizable unrelated forum - we have over 50,000 members, 5 million posts plus archives, and almost 40 mods - and I have to say I just wish we could have the industry penetration there that this place does here. I stand somewhat awestruck by the people I can communicate directly with here, real movers and shakers in the area of my favorite avocation. This is simply a good forum, and I almost wish it stays small so as not to lose the quality.

If I don't post much, it's because I'm almost afraid to raise my voice here. :)
 
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I have a question about the revenue of the site, if AZ wouldn't mind answering. No need for exact numbers, but I do wonder..

Has AZBilliards come to the point where it is generating a good profit through advertising? I would think so, but of course, I have no access to the business model. Is the owner doing well enough on the site to quit his day job?

Has he thought about contacting more merchandisers and setting up a bigger online store, selling the specific products he believes in? Just curious. I know he is doing this as a labor of love now, but nuttin' says you can get rich off something you love!!

As far as online ads go, I RARELY follow ad links, but AZBilliards is one of the FEW sites I trust in that way. I certainly hope the owner is getting paid WELL for building that trust.

Russ
 
Just to echo what everyone else is saying.....thanks Mike for the BEST billiards-related site on the Internet! Personally, the Ask The Cuemakers Forum has allowed me to expand my cuebuilding knowledge and solve those little "bumps in the road" with the information I've gathered. Thanks to all who contribute to all areas of the board.
 
AzHousePro said:
You know what? When I started this site 5 years ago, it was going to be devoted to local Arizona billiards. If someone had told me then that Earl Strickland would be saying something like that about the site one day, I would have told them they were on drugs.

Thanks Earl

Mike
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Some of us are Mike!;)
Purdman:D
 
Bluewolf said:
I really have just started reading the colums and am discovering everything that is on the azbilliards site, which I am enjoying.

As a person with very little experience at pool, I think that lots of my questions or comments seem dumb to people who have been in the sport a long time. It is nice to feel safe. Even if someone says something, it is usually pretty polite.

One time I was at this one site (not CCB either as a disclaimer) and they were talking about hitting frozen rail shots with outside english. I asked why and I got a really rude answer.

I don't get that rudeness here and it is really nice.

Laura
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\

You want rude, I'll give ya rude. You Laura keep saying (as a person with little experience) for 7 years now. My wife has been playing since 1999 and I hear that beginner crap all the time. She wins when I have to bank the 8 ball, now and then. LOL
How about telling me about hitting frozen rail shots with outside english beginner! That ain't no beginner question gal! Come on and fess up, you are an intermediate player now!!!!!
My offor to change tips for ya still stands. I can bring my lathe to you. Have lathe , Will travel!
Purdman

PS: Mike, you guys are doing a great job, keep it up. Oh, tell Mr. Wilson to lighten up a little bit!:D
 
I have one problem with the site. I sort of have an addiction to checking it out too often while at work.. It is like the soap operas for my wife.
I really enjoy the site and all of the useful info. It is easy enough to filter out the trolls, thanks to the user friendly interface.
Mike, you supply a great service to us all.

Thanks very much!

JBK
 
Man, you talk about rekindling an old thread! This was one of my first threads back in 2003!!
Someone really did some digging to pull this back up!
I still visit this site daily, multiple times daily and still... #1 billiards site IMO! Great job to all parties involved in the forum!!

Zim
 
Old thread, WOW.

Just think about all the great things that have come about because of this site since 2003 when this thread was started. Setting aside the educational and informational aspects. The absolutely wonderful and very generous of acts charity. Sending people to the open that may never have got there. Development of very close friendships.

The amount of good that has come from this forum I think is much more than meets the eye at a quick glance.

It's GREAT Mike.


JR
 
Hey, Earl....

Earl Strickland said:
AZ Billiards is a great site It has many things to offer about pool.I really appreciate the up to date information on the tournaments around the world Thanks AZ , keep up the great work!!!!Sincerely Earl "the Pearl''Strickland
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Earl, I hope you have seen our gallery of photos taken at the 1982 Dayton Open where you won your first major tournament: http://billporter.smugmug.com/gallery/1606933

And by the way, I think it's great that you and other top players check into this site from time to time. IMHO, it is far and away the best online forum for pool and the only one I check every day.
 
June 2003

All right, people, these posts were made in June of 2003

Still, thanks, Mike.

Purdman said:
\

You want rude, I'll give ya rude. You Laura keep saying (as a person with little experience) for 7 years now. My wife has been playing since 1999 and I hear that beginner crap all the time. She wins when I have to bank the 8 ball, now and then. LOL
How about telling me about hitting frozen rail shots with outside english beginner! That ain't no beginner question gal! Come on and fess up, you are an intermediate player now!!!!!
My offor to change tips for ya still stands. I can bring my lathe to you. Have lathe , Will travel!
Purdman

PS: Mike, you guys are doing a great job, keep it up. Oh, tell Mr. Wilson to lighten up a little bit!:D
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I'm in total agreement with everyone else. One thing that is very cool, is the ability to communicate immediately with poolplayers in other countries, around the globe! Pool has become a 'worldwide' sport, and the interaction here, between people of all nations, with one thing in common (a love of pool), is a great thing. Thanks Mike, for all you do! See you in Louisville!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
DougT said:
All right, people, these posts were made in June of 2003

Still, thanks, Mike.
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I was thinking the same thing, but now I feel the need to chime in. Of course.

When internet web-based forums started, there was Playpool.com Forum, the Billiards Digest Cue Chalk Board (CCBoard), and AZBilliards (Arizona). There might have been others, but none that got the membership like these three.

For Playpool, the guy who ran it (Ed Mercier, Wisconsin BCA) went on to other things and the site started to lose updating.

The CCBoard became very popular and at one point was probably the most prolific posting. But in recent years, it's dropped off considerably.

But in the end, AZBilliards which was supposed to be just about Arizona Billiards (not A to Z billiards, as many think) somehow went to the forefront and remains the number one pool and billiard forum on the internet. billiardblogger take note. I'll take that $50 spree, thank you.

How in the world did that happen? How did people even hear of this site and join rather than some of the other sites? How did I hear about this site? I've been a member since almost day one (certainly year one). And I know nothing about Arizona.

Fred
 
Just a quick addition to this wonderful thread! Being from an insular area where there is a dearth of pool players in general and of quality players in particular, it is easy to become discouraged or to lose interest in the game due to the lack of like-minded people with whom one can exchange information, ideas, and emotional support. With AZBilliards, people like myself can remain part of the larger pool community even though we are geographically separated from many of you. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for this site's existence.

Love to you all,
VIProfessor
 
Scott Lee said:
I'm in total agreement with everyone else. One thing that is very cool, is the ability to communicate immediately with poolplayers in other countries, around the globe! Pool has become a 'worldwide' sport, and the interaction here, between people of all nations, with one thing in common (a love of pool), is a great thing. Thanks Mike, for all you do! See you in Louisville!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

Living here in Finland far a way from all the pool action, I find it extremely helpful to read everything here at the AzB. The globe feels a lot smaller when all the players and pool fanatics around the world communicate here.

Kudos to AzB and especially Mike !
 
I Watch The Travel Channel

Originally Posted by Cornerman
And I know nothing about Arizona.
Fred

BarenbruggeCues said:
You have no idea what you are missing!
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1.) Dry Heat
2.) Gila Monsters
3.) Old People
4.) Border Crossings
5.) Arizona Cardinals
6.) Cactus & Sand

Doug
 
WOW is this an old thread! It goes way back to the time that I was posting under Bob's name!;)

It is and always will be the best site on the web for billiards. Ironically when Mike named it AZBilliards for Arizona Billiards, it mistakenly became AZBilliards for A to Z Billiards.

So to bring this post up to date, how long have people been members here?

I have been here since it began, many skins, servers and programs ago! I think around 6 or 7 years now.... I began posting for my husband Bob and then made so many friends, I had to use my own name!

People for years would walk up to Bob and begin conversations with him, like they knew him. He had no idea who some of these people were, because I had befriended them on the forums! Kinda funny now once I look back!

Back then, I would have never said a good deal of the things I say under my name. Bob and I are night and day, I guess that's why our marriage has lasted so long!

Anyway's, here's to the best site on the web!

Good going Mike!
 
I didn't want to go off topic so I am adding that I too have gotten tremendous amounts of help from AZ Billiards. (How do I find out where to get a copy of Blackjack's book?) Thanks!
 
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