In reading Purdmans thread, it brought me back to the last two times I was there and the final two times the event was played with the men & women together. What you have done, and I commend you, is created an arena where the player realizes the most important aspect of the event is the appreciation the crowds have for this game and the players. This event exemplifies what it truly means to become enlightened and for a player to become 'clear' on more aspects of their life than just winning a pool tournament. With your vision and your stick too it Ness, you stand alone in the billiard community. Thank you Barry, thank you players and most of all the attentive crowds of your event from year to year. I think it would be befitrting if you awarded a prize to (a person in the crowd) who has been back to your event year after year, and let them speak on behalf of the U.S. Open during the closing ceremony.
