Backer Wanted for Million Dollar Challenge - Mike Davis

[Purdman]

Purdman Here

As some of you know, I am unemployed at the moment. Yet, If I could get the same deal from Mike D. that I had with JS, I would do it in a heartbeat.
I just don't see that happening. What ya say Mike? I give you $1300 and we split the moneys won.:thumbup: I am waiting to hear from ya buddy. You do get the Purdman Karma in the deal. That just might be what puts you over the top!
Peace, Purdman :smile:

 

[iba7467]

I think pool on TV can really only be enjoyed by those that have already fell in love with the game. I think if people got to watch some woofing on TV they may become more interested from a non player base. People do pick favorites in the pool world. People love to sweat their favorite player in action. Someone had mentioned before of maybe a reality TV show of poolrooms, players, tournaments, etc. I have friends that can't stand watching pool on TV. They will watch the trick shots for a while but even that doesn't last long. I can tell them stories from say the Derby or whatever, and I'll have their attention till I finish and then they will ask questions wanting to know more. Pool players are intriguing. The whole hustler, gambler, rambler life style is what most wish they could do. Any slice of that pie grabs ones attention whether it be TV or internet. Threads about action on here go forever. Be nice to see if a TV show could have a similar run.

I may agree with this post as much as any I have ever read before. I have said the same thing myself here before. America is ripe for watching a guy hustle to make it. Or a reality show where a few guys are put in a van/bus and sent cross-country and the player with the largest bankroll at the end wins. Look at the pool one-liners and all the great hustle stories. People remember these. No one remembers Mosconi meticulously picking apart a straight pool rack to win the 1952 World Championship. Let's put the gritty side of pool out there and watch America respond.

My wife doesn't really enjoy tournaments or even playing pool that much, but when we went to DCC last year she was in the action room and ring games non-stop. A couple times, I went to rest in the room and she stayed to sweat the woofing, matching up, and action. When we left she swore to go for the entire 10 days the next year.

 

[memikey]

Sponsors aren't going to magically appear out of the woodwork just because someone says they can make pool more exciting with this or that game or this or that approach. The excitment and interest is going to have to be generated and proved first in the hope that the sponsor money will follow later. The impression I get is that the Allens understand that very well.

The bottom line fundamental is that it's crystal clear that to have any chance pool must do some donkey work to attract attention and sustain that attention long enough to make advertisers sit up and say "hey, maybe we could use a piece of that exposure window".

All available history screams out that there is no pool fairy godfather. Pool players of all levels are going to have to fund that donkey work themselves initially. Are they prepared to fund it and indeed have they the funds to spare even if they are prepared to?...............well that's precisely the first thing that Allen and Allen Jnr are going to find out with this format.

They are going to find out over the next couple of years or so whether enough pool players of assorted levels are prepared to come up with their $20/- or their $50/- or their $200/- or their $5,000/- in order to get this type of event to the stage where it is a $1 million dollar or more regular event, possibly without any significant sponsorship input at all initially.

If the answer to that transpires to be "yes there are enough of such pool players/backers etc and they are prepared to put their money up" then the Allens are then going to also find out if a $1 million dollar event of this nature does prove to be exciting and capable of creating a lot of interest outside the existing pool fanatic community. Seems to me they are largely banking on the main headline attraction of it being a $1 million dollar event that will capture the public imagination.

If the answer to the above is in turn positive they are then going to find out if sponsors are then going to be attracted enough to buy a little space in the action.

If the answer to that is also positive, the first of those sponsors to dip their toes in the water are going to then measure the return on their investment and others will be watching like hawks. If the signs are good it may snowball from there and at that point and that point only it might transpire that sponsors injection of funds will permit a slackening of the need for pool players to put up all of the prize money themselves and hopefully at that point the Allens will get a proper return on their own investment.

People have raised concerns about the chosen game and format etc. I'm sure Allen Hopkins didn't just pluck it out of the air without much thought re the alternatives available to him and am equally sure that a venture of this nature and organisers of their calibre and character will never be indelibly locked into never changing or trying to improve any part of it as and when they learn from results etc.

Good Luck.....Get them doggies rollin' rawhide!:smile:

 

[BigDogatLarge]

I agree...

Sponsors aren't going to magically appear out of the woodwork just because someone says they can make pool more exciting with this or that game or this or that approach. The excitment and interest is going to have to be generated and proved first in the hope that the sponsor money will follow later. The impression I get is that the Allens understand that very well.

The bottom line fundamental is that it's crystal clear that to have any chance pool must do some donkey work to attract attention and sustain that attention long enough to make advertisers sit up and say "hey, maybe we could use a piece of that exposure window".

All available history screams out that there is no pool fairy godfather. Pool players of all levels are going to have to fund that donkey work themselves initially. Are they prepared to fund it and indeed have they the funds to spare even if they are prepared to?...............well that's precisely the first thing that Allen and Allen Jnr are going to find out with this format.

They are going to find out over the next couple of years or so whether enough pool players of assorted levels are prepared to come up with their $20/- or their $50/- or their $200/- or their $5,000/- in order to get this type of event to the stage where it is a $1 million dollar or more regular event, possibly without any significant sponsorship input at all initially.

If the answer to that transpires to be "yes there are enough of such pool players/backers etc and they are prepared to put their money up" then the Allens are then going to also find out if a $1 million dollar event of this nature does prove to be exciting and capable of creating a lot of interest outside the existing pool fanatic community. Seems to me they are largely banking on the main headline attraction of it being a $1 million dollar event that will capture the public imagination.

If the answer to the above is in turn positive they are then going to find out if sponsors are then going to be attracted enough to buy a little space in the action.

If the answer to that is also positive, the first of those sponsors to dip their toes in the water are going to then measure the return on their investment and others will be watching like hawks. If the signs are good it may snowball from there and at that point and that point only it might transpire that sponsors injection of funds will permit a slackening of the need for pool players to put up all of the prize money themselves and hopefully at that point the Allens will get a proper return on their own investment.

People have raised concerns about the chosen game and format etc. I'm sure Allen Hopkins didn't just pluck it out of the air without much thought re the alternatives available to him and am equally sure that a venture of this nature and organisers of their calibre and character will never be indelibly locked into never changing or trying to improve any part of it as and when they learn from results etc.

Good Luck.....Get them doggies rollin' rawhide!:smile:

Very astute, Sir! You have it in a nutshell. I am going to have the local television stations and newspaper notified about the qualifier in my area. We also have the internet to generate interest through blogs, youtube, myspace and a variety of other such sites. It will take sweat equity from all invloved. The question is, how much do you love the game and how far do you want to see it go? It is up to all of us. Crack that whip and ride!!!

 

[memikey]

Good for you BigDog.

Re publicity, media etc......none of my business really.....and fully understand your enthusiasm, but my personal thoughts as a businessman would be that a happy medium is going to have to be found at this stage regarding the level you and others pitch that publicity seeking at. There are potential pluses and minuses.

For example it could transpire to be a bit counter productive if you fanfare too loud to your newspapers etc that your qualifiers will lead to someone attending a "million dollar" tournament next month. If for example entries for this first event lead to it only being a "one quarter million" tournament there might be a deflation effect and some misguided scepticism or even criticism.

Wishing you success with it locally anyway.

 

[JAM]

Let me say right at the outset that I want this format to work. I think it is a brilliant concept for a tournament, a way to infuse much-needed monies into the payouts. Brilliant!

That said, this event is less than one month away, August 6-10, 2008: http://www.milliondollar9ball.com/

It is also one week before the $25,000-added Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour event at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York, which will be occurring August 14-17, 2008. The Turning Stone event is 4 days long, requiring lodging expenses, travel, food, et cetera.

Coming up with the funds to go to both of these tournaments could be financially difficult for some players. The Turning Stone event is already filled up, from what I have read on this forum.

What I envision happening -- and I may be wrong -- is that there will be some world-class champions competing in this event from around the world.

There may not be 200 players this year in 2008, but that is okay. If this tournament format runs smoothly -- and I have every confidence that it will -- and the payouts are hefty, the players will love it, love it, love it.

Build it, and they will come. Allen Hopkins has built it. I think they will come. The $5,000 is a big number for a whole lot of folks; thus, why Mike Davis initiated this thread. Some players may not be able to post up the $5,000 even one month ahead of time and could wait until the last minute to send it in.

Mike Davis' percentages on making the money rounds is pretty strong. I think, subject to check, he is ranked No. 8 on the BCA Ranking List. In other words, I think he's a good investment for a prospective sponsor.

I want this tournament to work. We could really use this kind of event in the wonderful world of pocket billiards. It's a win-win for all.

JAM

 

[JAM]

If Mike Davis is still residing in North Carolina area, this tournament below looks like it would be a good one for him to compete in:

Jacoby Carolina Tour

Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour Scheduled Event (July 12th-13th)
Plus Chance At $1M 9-Ball Shootout (July 14th)

The Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour will be making their way into Break Time Billiards located at 127 S. College Road, Suite 12 in Wilmington, North Carolina this weekend (July 12th-13th).

The weekend will consist of a $1000 guaranteed added main event, Friday night early bird event, second chance tournament on Sunday, followed by a satellite qualifier on Monday for the Allen Hopkins Million Dollar 9-Ball Shootout.

An added bonus this weekend or I should say following the weekend's festivities on Monday, the tour and Break Time will offer an opportunity to qualify for Allen Hopkin's Million Dollar 9-Ball Shootout which is set for August 6th-10th at the Valley Forge Convention Center in Pennsylvania.

Throughout the weekend prior to the satellite qualifier, the tour will play as many "qualifying mini tournament(s)", separate from their usual events, to assist players with the $350 entry on Monday.

In these qualifying mini tournament(s), the first 16 players to pay the $25 entry fee will play a single elimination, races to five showdown for a paid spot into the Monday satellite qualifier. The Monday satellite qualifier will begin at 12 pm and is single elimination with races to nine. The winner's $5000 entry (plus $200 registration fees) will be paid for the shootout.

For more information about this event or details on the tour, contact Doug Ennis, Rock City Promotions, (252) 908-0754, email promoter@rockcitypromotions.com or website www.rockcitypromotions.com

Note: Monday, July 14th the tour will host a qualifier for the Allen Hopkins $1M 9Ball Shootout ($350 entry), race to 9, single elimination (first 16 players to pay $25 entry during main event will play for spot in qualifier)

JAM

 

[tattoosbyjay]

The largest paying event, the World Series of Poker, main event has over 7000 entries. The Rio has TAKEN $600 FROM EVERY PLAYER. That is $4,200,000. Thats 4.2 million. That is just their take. That is just for this event, which is only 1 out of 55 or so "World Series" events, all of which they take a cut out of... There is NO ADDED MONEY. There is NO SPONSOR MONEY ADDED. Yes, there are sponsors, but the Rio gets that money too. Plus the merchandising money, food and beverage, tv money, and the room rentals, and so on... I can't even imagine how much they make by having the "World Series" events in their casino. I could live for 5 years on what the litte Starbucks in the hallway probably brings in during those 6 weeks.

Now I have no problem with that. They offer a product that everyone wants a piece of, and some players will get very rich from this event. However, the truth is still there, all of that money is coming out of the event. Poker players are not winning huge sums of money because sponsors or promoters are adding it to the prize pool. Poker players are posting large sums of money to win large sums of money. They have created the action because they all think they can win. Now I know poker is much more luck based, I am not trying to start a discussion about poker vs pool. I am trying to illustrate the power and necessity of getting the money into these events. Sponsors and promoters cant keep adding money, and players will never survive if payouts don't increase. If you can't afford the entry, find a sponsor or someone who believes in you enough to post the money on your behalf. Once you start winning big tournament money, and all the events pay big money, the top players will have more money...

the answer isnt making it virtually impossable for players to entertheseevents you have 7 paid out of 172 people whats that tell you, and there are a TON of players who cant getted backed , notevery one has money like hopkins or bustamante and so on lets not forget pool players are usually working class people with no expendable cash just look at how well the qualifiers are doing and its only 350 to get in , the one i attended only 6 players showed up, i think the qualifiers should not be open to pros thats why the qualifiers arent going so well , thinkabout it no top pros and i bet the qualifiers would be filled up no problem

 

[BigDogatLarge]

Let's get the first one in the books...

the answer isnt making it virtually impossable for players to entertheseevents you have 7 paid out of 172 people whats that tell you, and there are a TON of players who cant getted backed , notevery one has money like hopkins or bustamante and so on lets not forget pool players are usually working class people with no expendable cash just look at how well the qualifiers are doing and its only 350 to get in , the one i attended only 6 players showed up, i think the qualifiers should not be open to pros thats why the qualifiers arent going so well , thinkabout it no top pros and i bet the qualifiers would be filled up no problem

There hasn't been much hype in the pool community concerning Allens tournament. I think most people are waiting to see what is going to happen the first year. If things go well and 20 players show up that is $100,000.00 in the pot. Move forward to 2009. I am going to hold $40.00 buy ins for 16 players and hold $400.00 plus the greens fees for the winner of each mini qualifier. After 16 weeks, I run the finals and the winner will go to the big dance. I know it is a long way to greatness, but it starts with the first step. How many other rooms across this great nation will do the same? We as players, LOs, room owners, and fans need to promote our sport. I don't see many non players getting fired up about something they have no interest in or want to learn. It is up to us... Rack 'em

Dwight

 

[NateSchoepf]

Just have a singles champion, like boxing, a heavy weight belt of some form with a prize fund for each match, then you get the woofing leading up to the match as in boxing or like the UFC, you can have undercards ect..., Matches can be held at different casinos around the country and you can have it be pay per view, dvd's, HBO ect... and have new challengers every month, all around the country.
I don't think there are 200 pool players that would really think its worth $5000 to play, what I mean is, most would rather keep the $5000 they win in a qualifier because they know they don't have a chance to do that well against the top 10-20 pool players in the world.

bump for some one to step and sponser Mike, come on.

 

[tattoosbyjay]

There hasn't been much hype in the pool community concerning Allens tournament. I think most people are waiting to see what is going to happen the first year. If things go well and 20 players show up that is $100,000.00 in the pot. Move forward to 2009. I am going to hold $40.00 buy ins for 16 players and hold $400.00 plus the greens fees for the winner of each mini qualifier. After 16 weeks, I run the finals and the winner will go to the big dance. I know it is a long way to greatness, but it starts with the first step. How many other rooms across this great nation will do the same? We as players, LOs, room owners, and fans need to promote our sport. I don't see many non players getting fired up about something they have no interest in or want to learn. It is up to us... Rack 'em

Dwight

i think thats a great idea good thinking

 

[BigDogatLarge]

Here is the link...

i think thats a great idea good thinking

Thanks.

I am sending you a link to the mini qualifiers. See if you can get your local room to hold these mini's. Under this format at least two players per room go to the dance. Now you have won your way for $25.00, much better for the local hotshot to make this tournament. If 20 rooms send 40 players, that is $200,000.00 in the pot. Not bad to play for when your buy in was $25.00

Dwight

http://www.milliondollar9ball.com/qualifiers.html

 

[allen_jr]

the answer isnt making it virtually impossable for players to entertheseevents you have 7 paid out of 172 people whats that tell you, and there are a TON of players who cant getted backed , notevery one has money like hopkins or bustamante and so on lets not forget pool players are usually working class people with no expendable cash just look at how well the qualifiers are doing and its only 350 to get in , the one i attended only 6 players showed up, i think the qualifiers should not be open to pros thats why the qualifiers arent going so well , thinkabout it no top pros and i bet the qualifiers would be filled up no problem

I don't understand exactly what you mean "you have 7 paid out of 172 people"... are your referring to our event? If so, where did you get your numbers from? You can see our preliminary/suggested payouts here:
http://www.milliondollar9ball.com/format.html

I agree, some things need to be worked on. We are trying to lay the ground work, and as big dog has said repeatedly, involvement has to happen at a local level... we have some more ideas and things that we will be announcing soon to help out with next year, possibly including a 1 week series of satellites and mini satellites at a dedicated location in the Southeast.

Yes, the fact that Pros are playing makes it harder to win the main event. However, if you win a satellite, you are GUARANTEED $1000 in the main event just for showing up. So if we can get the mini satellited up and running, as Big Dog has suggested and is trying, then we can realistically get mid-top level amateurs playing in this $5000 buy in event for $25-50. And if we get enough amateurs, the field of top pros gets diluted and amateur players have a better chance of going deeper. And if they dont make it deep? They still got paid AT LEAST $1000 to show up and and get to play head to head with some of the worlds best shooters for big money. Thats exciting, I think.

When was the last time you sauntered over to a golf course, won some small local tourney for $200 and then got to play in a Pro event and teed off with Tiger? Yeah, you have no chance of winning there, but you could have the time of your life... I know the golf example is a little extreme, but that is where Pool should be, or at least closer to it.

 

[BigDogatLarge]

I agree Allen, if some of these guys could rack for some of the pros, it would be a highlight in their pool career. I know if I am playing a pro, I only shoot when or if, he or she misses. I would be happy just being there. We will make this happen, if not this year, then 2009. I believe in what you and your dad are trying to do for pool. Thank you.

Dwight

 

[tattoosbyjay]

I don't understand exactly what you mean "you have 7 paid out of 172 people"... are your referring to our event? If so, where did you get your numbers from? You can see our preliminary/suggested payouts here:
http://www.milliondollar9ball.com/format.html

I agree, some things need to be worked on. We are trying to lay the ground work, and as big dog has said repeatedly, involvement has to happen at a local level... we have some more ideas and things that we will be announcing soon to help out with next year, possibly including a 1 week series of satellites and mini satellites at a dedicated location in the Southeast.

Yes, the fact that Pros are playing makes it harder to win the main event. However, if you win a satellite, you are GUARANTEED $1000 in the main event just for showing up. So if we can get the mini satellited up and running, as Big Dog has suggested and is trying, then we can realistically get mid-top level amateurs playing in this $5000 buy in event for $25-50. And if we get enough amateurs, the field of top pros gets diluted and amateur players have a better chance of going deeper. And if they dont make it deep? They still got paid AT LEAST $1000 to show up and and get to play head to head with some of the worlds best shooters for big money. Thats exciting, I think.

When was the last time you sauntered over to a golf course, won some small local tourney for $200 and then got to play in a Pro event and teed off with Tiger? Yeah, you have no chance of winning there, but you could have the time of your life... I know the golf example is a little extreme, but that is where Pool should be, or at least closer to it.

i meant 7 paid entrys and the qualifiers here are 350-400 so im saying not to let pros play in the qualifiers

 

[Nine Ball]

I don't understand exactly what you mean "you have 7 paid out of 172 people"... are your referring to our event? If so, where did you get your numbers from? You can see our preliminary/suggested payouts here:
http://www.milliondollar9ball.com/format.html

I agree, some things need to be worked on. We are trying to lay the ground work, and as big dog has said repeatedly, involvement has to happen at a local level... we have some more ideas and things that we will be announcing soon to help out with next year, possibly including a 1 week series of satellites and mini satellites at a dedicated location in the Southeast.

Yes, the fact that Pros are playing makes it harder to win the main event. However, if you win a satellite, you are GUARANTEED $1000 in the main event just for showing up. So if we can get the mini satellited up and running, as Big Dog has suggested and is trying, then we can realistically get mid-top level amateurs playing in this $5000 buy in event for $25-50. And if we get enough amateurs, the field of top pros gets diluted and amateur players have a better chance of going deeper. And if they dont make it deep? They still got paid AT LEAST $1000 to show up and and get to play head to head with some of the worlds best shooters for big money. Thats exciting, I think.

When was the last time you sauntered over to a golf course, won some small local tourney for $200 and then got to play in a Pro event and teed off with Tiger? Yeah, you have no chance of winning there, but you could have the time of your life... I know the golf example is a little extreme, but that is where Pool should be, or at least closer to it.

i meant 7 paid entrys and the qualifiers here are 350-400 so im saying not to let pros play in the qualifiers

He has a point.. If you so called want more mid to top amateurs as you said getting in on sats, Then you can't have the pros winning the qualifiers.

 

[allen_jr]

I agree, pro turnout in satellites/qualifiers has had some unexpected results... we are learning and adapting as we go... ideally, there should be satellites just for pros, and satellites just for amateurs... as I mentioned, we have some ideas for the upcoming year that should ensure that many more amateur players have a chance to get in the event at a very low cost, without having to play against pros....

That said, our structure allows local poolrooms and establishmenst to have whatever type of event they choose, and limit the types of players to whomever they choose. We have only provided a framework, a suuggestion of ideas... What type of event the poolroom has is completely up to them. If they wanted to have a raffle and sell 520 tickets for $10 each, thats fine with us. We are trying to encourage players to find a way to get into this event for a fraction of the cost. I was going to have an online raffle for an entry, but there are too many legalities involved.

The point is, we want to have a huge event with lots of money up for grabs. We are trying to design a system for that money to come from somewhere.... ideally, without the players having to post the whole thing. in time, we will accomplish this.

 

[mantis99]

This is the basic format that pro poker has used very successfully. Most of their payouts are based off of entry fees, and they have no problem getting people to pay them. The satellite tournaments for entry fees are a great idea for those who simply can not afford it. The only problem here is that there are really probably only around 20 or so players with a legitimate shot at winning the event. In poker, anyone who has a clue how to play has a shot at a ton of money as seen in yrs past. There is so much less luck in pool, that the more skillful will win more often.

It may be a good idea to take a decent amount of money (50,000-100,000) and have a way where anyone entered can win that money, such as a raffle (or other means). That way people with a small chance of winning the pool tournament, will still have a 1 in 200 shot at some serious money. People may be more apt to part with their entry fee if they have a legit shot at recovering it.

 

[BigDogatLarge]

This is the plan...

This is the basic format that pro poker has used very successfully. Most of their payouts are based off of entry fees, and they have no problem getting people to pay them. The satellite tournaments for entry fees are a great idea for those who simply can not afford it. The only problem here is that there are really probably only around 20 or so players with a legitimate shot at winning the event. In poker, anyone who has a clue how to play has a shot at a ton of money as seen in yrs past. There is so much less luck in pool, that the more skillful will win more often.

It may be a good idea to take a decent amount of money (50,000-100,000) and have a way where anyone entered can win that money, such as a raffle (or other means). That way people with a small chance of winning the pool tournament, will still have a 1 in 200 shot at some serious money. People may be more apt to part with their entry fee if they have a legit shot at recovering it.

This is how the touranment is going to go as far as payouts. If all 200 show up then they pay all 200. Whatever number shows up I am sure that they will pay all places. The 2009 season will allow people to enter and play for $25.00. That means when they get to the dance they get at least $1,000.00 for last place. Not too shabby for a quarter entry fee.

http://www.milliondollar9ball.com/format.html

Thanks for your interest,

Dwight

 

[Flettir]

Wondering

I am still wondering if Mike Davis has found a sponsor. I just checked the site and there are 10 that have already paid and 3 more confirmed so it is going to happen.
The one I did not see was Mike's name on the paid/confirmed list so I am checking to see if anyone knows on here.