AzB's 2006 Entrant Into The U.S.Open

!Smorgass Bored

Hump ? What HUMP ?
Gold Member
In the interest of not waiting until the last minute,let's get the nominations started for AzB's representative to the 2006 U.S.Open. So far, we have:
Joey A. (Aguzin)
Jimmy Mendoza
I'm trying to remember how it was done the past two years. Nominations and then a Poll of Votes ? $25 or more donations to the cause ? Donated or Discounted airline tickets ? One player or two ? Who handled the money previously?
Doug
 
I found 2 threads that memorialize the process in 2004/5. The links are below.

IIRC, all donations are accepted and each donator gets to cast a vote. I would propose that eac donation of a certain amount get 1 vote- ex: 1 vote per $20. Last year, THE MAN, donated $200. He only got 1 vote tho...I think a vote per $amt would be a good thing.

Let's iron out the details! I am psyched!

2005 (Black-Balled went):
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=13632&highlight=sending

2004 (Rude Dog went):
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=5718&highlight=sending
 
If I remember right, we hada list of names, everyone voted and , I think, we sent the money to Purdy to hold.

You know poolplayers, Smorg, you might be better off starting this up a couple of days before the Open :D


Eric
 
How do you get nominated to go? I sure as hell would like to be in on the list of entrants- I promise to practice! lol
 
Damn, Somebody nominate me as well. LOL

In all seriousness, let me know when y'all get it setup, I"ll kick up some cash for who ever is getting sent. I would say though that there has to be some qualification for this guy actually being picked. Other then they just claming to be some strong player on the internet.

DJ
 
I suggest that we allow each and everyone who has been nominated or would like to be nominated to write a brief introdution of himself and state why he believes that he should be chosen.

I think it will help all of us to know a bit more about each person who wishes to go, and to have a better idea of who we are supporting.

Shall we start a new thread for this purpose?

Of course, recommendations by others will be greatly appreciated as well. Bottom line, in my opinion, is for all of us to know a bit more about each player. I believe it can also draw more votes when the voters are better informed on who they are voting for.

Richard
 
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nipponbilliards said:
I suggest that we allow each and everyone who has been nominated or would like to be nominated to write a brief introdution of him/herself and state why he/she believes that he/she should be chosen.

Richard

If I remember correctly, Behrman's U.S. Open does not allow women to play... so the voting would be to send a male player only.
 
Earl Grey said:
If I remember correctly, Behrman's U.S. Open does not allow women to play... so the voting would be to send a male player only.
I stand corrected. Thank you.:)

Shall we start a thread for all those who are interested in going to the US Open to introduce his qualification and background?

Richard
 
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Koop said:
Rude Dog and Satman should be added to the list.

Koop
Ah, thanks Koop for the nomination, I really appreciate it. But, as most everyone here knows, I had my turn with this already and I think it should be someone new every year. Not that I'm saying BlackBalled shouldn't be considered just because he went last year but as for me, I wouldn't feel right doing it again when there are so many other players here in the forum deserving of the honor. I'm content with being the 1st player ever sent by AzBer's. Thanks again though Koop, that was pretty damn cool of ya. Peace, John.
 
I would like to nominate Tanner Pruess. I have not met him personally, but from his post he seems a very mature person. He is also a very good player at only 16 years of age.

Other than his game, I want to draw everyone's attention to the fact that he would not be able to join the tournament by himself if we do not support him, as he is still living with his parents and does not have his own source of income.

Most importantly, Tanner has been posting on Azbilliards forum and he has always been very positive, and contributive. I have never seen him getting into any flame, which leads me to believe he is a player of great sportmanship.

I believe our support to Tanner will certainly make an impact on his life.

It is not just about supporting him so he could fulfill his dream of playing in the US Open, but also how we show a young man that we are willing to support and encourage someone with a positive attitude toward the game. It is about humanity, and helping someone who has shown a true love of the game and great potential to become a good embassador of our sports.

I do not believe sending a great player to the US Open so he will win the whole tournament is the idea behind what we are doing. This is more about what we want this forum to stand for, and what we want billiards to mean to others.

In this spirit, I would like to urge everyone to seriously consider this meaningful cause of supporting Tanner Pruess.

Thank you.

Richard
 
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I am speechless and honored. :eek:
Thank you for the nomination and kind words.
Going to the US open at 16 years old would make a big impact on me.

Thanks again Richard.
Tanner Pruess
 
Smorgass Bored said:
Richard suggests from the goodness of his heart:
I would like to nominate Tanner Pruess. I have not met him personally, but from his post he seems a very mature person. He is also a very good player at only 16 years of age.


Richard, I may be completey wrong or out of date with my reply,but.... I seem to remember that this idea of AzB members selecting someone to represent AzB and THEM,wanted to send someone that they could live vicariously through. In other words, they wanted to send someone not only with a chance to win a few games or matches,but someone that could attend late night action and after hour partys entailing women, alcohol, gambling and the general fun & debauchery involved in a trip to the U.S,Open.
Now, I'm not against young players or anything like that,but I prefer someone that might stay up all night gambling and carousing and capable of writing a trip report of ALL they saw and did.Of course if I'm in the minority, I'll simply go with the flow.
While I'm thinking of it <insert thinking music here>, since anyone can nominate anyone and anyone can nominate themselves,perhaps we should a manageable limit on the number of nominees. I mean if 50-100 people end up nominated,it will be impossible to have an objective vote count. What about a limit of 12 nominees ? How many did we have in 2004 and 2005 ?
Maybe I should just butt out. I think I might have had more fun just sending in my money and casting my one vote and sitting back waiting for the reports...
Doug
That is a good point, being 16, I can't drink or go to late night parties with women. :rolleyes: If I were to go I think I could have just enough fun with the experience as anybody. I could probably take pictures and give a detail report of the happenings. Who knows I may even win some matches. I won't know until I try.
Tanner Pruess
 
I believe the three candidates most deserving of consideration are:

1, Jimmy M
2. Jimmy M
3. Jimmy M

I feel strongly I'll vote for one of them when the time comes.
 
Well i would like to nominate Blackjack Dave Sapolis if his health is ok and he is up to it...............................mike
 
Doug,

You are right, we want someone to give us updates, reports, and share with us the after hour scene.

I was there in the US Open last year, and I have posted a few pictures/videos because of this very reason.

I also remember watching Reyes gambling one pocket in Q Master after hours, and that was a thrilling experience for me.

I also had the pleasure of meeting The One, Jack Justis, Timberly, Black Balled, JAM, NoStroke, Stephen and Joe, and a bunch of wonderful Azers. I am looking forward to going again, and I certainly would try my best to let Azers who cannot be there live through my experience through my pictures. This is what I have been doing for the last 9 months or so, with many pictures posted on my site.

My point of view is just that a lot of Azers can post updates of the tournament. No one, in my opinion, can do a better job than JAM.

But by sponsoring a young up and coming player with a mature and positive attitude in the game, we have a chance to do something more meaningful.

I met a young kid, 11 Years Old, last year in the US Open. He loves the game and he goes to all these tournaments with his dad. He kept asking me to post his videos on my web site, and I did. I saw him again in VF, and he is now 12 years old. He remembered me, and we had a great time.

I truly believe it is youngsters like this that keep our game alive. They are the ones going to make the sports of pool more popular, and to bring a positive image to a sport we love so much, in the foreseeable future.

If we believe in promoting our sports, if we want to see more money being put into a game we all love so much, won't you agree that we need to have more youngsters with the porper attitude interested in the game? Most importantly, we need to have youngster being encouraged to play pool and to invite their friends to play as well.

If Tanner is selected, I am willing to go out of my way to do my best with posting pictures of the tournament, and to let him use my computer to post updates of the tournament. I will take him to Q Master to watch/or participate in the late night actions. I cannot help him with the women, but I am willing to work with him to offer updates to the best of our ability for all the Azers who cannot go.

I am willing to do this because nothing will inspire me more than seeing a young 16 years old with a strong passion of the game to be sponsored by members of a forum which he has participated and contributed for many years, to play in a tournament that a lot of people can only dream of going. Nothing would mean more to me than to tell this 16 years old, "we care and we want to encourage you to keep playing."

How many of us wish we had this chance when we were 16?

Now is our chance to make this dream come true.

Richard

P.S.
1) I will make my donation no matter who is selected.
2) I am not related to Tanner in any way.
3) Thank you for listening, and this is my last post in this thread regarding the nomination of Tanner Pruess. Thank you
 
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tanner

tanner would be a great one to send...he is a great sport and would give a great effort as well as make az'ers proud.......and share great info :)
 
I have $20 for whomever is selected as the AZB rep this year. Since I'm really in no position to judge anyone's speed, I leave it up to the rest of you...although I can't help but support Tanner, as a fellow native South Dakotan and all :-) Just let me know who I need to send the $ to, my Paypal account is fired up and ready to go.
 
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I cast my vote last years and this is what I remember. I believe what we did was that we all sent money to Mike via Paypal, and with our donation we stated which Azer we would like to vote for, Mike waited till the money was right, and counted all the votes, then announced the winner.

Mike also kept us posted on how much money he received, and how many votes did each candidate received over the whole course of the vote. It was very well organized. I like how he handled that last year.

Just my 2 cents.

Richard
 
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