After reading many of the posts in the discussion thread I feel
compelled to share my perspective on Mark Griffin's acquisition of the BCA
league. I have known Mark for over 15 years. I have been in numerous BCA
leagues over the years in Anchorage Alaska. The past few years I have
played the in-house league at the Anchorage Billiard Palace, one of the
pool halls that Mark built. I don't pretend to know what it takes to run or
operate a league but I can give first hand testimony on how he handled the
Anchorage Billiard Palace from a customer’s point of view. The Anchorage
Billiard Palace is only one of many pool related endeavors that he has had
great success with since I have known him, but it is the one that I have
had a front row seat to for the last 15 years. A truly great room. He did
everything first class and has constantly maintained the equipment and the
room. He has been tireless in promoting tournaments for all skill levels.
You could always count on a safe, well maintained room for people to be
involved all aspects of pool. Over the years there must have been times
when I'm sure he could have been distracted by outside pressures, but he
never lost sight of what made the Anchorage Billiard Palace a great room,
and kept it that way. Mark has always exhibited boundless energy for the
sport of pool and endless creative potential for finding unique winning
possibilities.
By way of example let me share a poolroom story:
Sometimes over the years Mark and I would match up in rather
unconventional ways at the Anchorage Billiard Palace (occasionally with the
help of a beer or two... at least on my part). I might wear his glasses and
he would wear none, or some unusual permutation along these lines. Anyway,
one day we decided we would play an 8 ball race and we would both use house cues. I would pick his cue and he would pick mine off the rack. Now Mark always had good house cues in the Billiard Palace so it should not be such a big deal, they will all be straight with good tips. He picked out a fine
example of a snooker cue, 15 ounce 11 mm stick suitable for snooker balls
but difficult to shoot long straight shots with pool balls as my pole of
choice. Nice try I thought, but I have something special up my sleeve! I
went back to the 6 x 12 snooker (golf) table. Along the wall was the 8 foot
cue used for extremely long bridge shots. I grabbed this cue that could
double as a fly rod and handed it to Mark as his weapon. Ah Hah… the trap
snapped! I was sure I had just won the match before the opening break, we
were playing on a corner table and with an 8 foot cue the walls and other
obstacles are in the way on every shot. He had no chance... I was rolling
around in my glory. All that was left was the enjoyable ride to the forgone
conclusion. Mark however didn’t see it quit the same. He laughed a bit,
then he looked at the cue carefully and noticed a seam in the middle, not
really a joint but the glue was loose. He carefully separated the two
pieces now he had a 4 foot cue and went on to trounce me in the match.
Suddenly it wasn't glory I was rolling around in any more.
The moral to this story is mark is tenacious and will find a way to
manufacture a winning opportunity when one is not readily apparent. I have
known Mark for over 15 years; His dedication to the sport of pool and those
who play and support it is beyond reproach. He is a man of his word and is
one that truly has vision. Players should be thrilled that Mark has seen an
opportunity with the BCA league system and is willing to devote his
enthusiasm and passion for the sport to this league. For anyone that does
not know Mark rest assured his intentions are just as he says they are. For
those of you out there that are unsure about the future give Mark a chance
and let him create a winning opportunity for all associated with the new
BCA league. I know his heart is in it and he has the brains and business
sense to make good things happen.
Sincerely
Bill Johnston
compelled to share my perspective on Mark Griffin's acquisition of the BCA
league. I have known Mark for over 15 years. I have been in numerous BCA
leagues over the years in Anchorage Alaska. The past few years I have
played the in-house league at the Anchorage Billiard Palace, one of the
pool halls that Mark built. I don't pretend to know what it takes to run or
operate a league but I can give first hand testimony on how he handled the
Anchorage Billiard Palace from a customer’s point of view. The Anchorage
Billiard Palace is only one of many pool related endeavors that he has had
great success with since I have known him, but it is the one that I have
had a front row seat to for the last 15 years. A truly great room. He did
everything first class and has constantly maintained the equipment and the
room. He has been tireless in promoting tournaments for all skill levels.
You could always count on a safe, well maintained room for people to be
involved all aspects of pool. Over the years there must have been times
when I'm sure he could have been distracted by outside pressures, but he
never lost sight of what made the Anchorage Billiard Palace a great room,
and kept it that way. Mark has always exhibited boundless energy for the
sport of pool and endless creative potential for finding unique winning
possibilities.
By way of example let me share a poolroom story:
Sometimes over the years Mark and I would match up in rather
unconventional ways at the Anchorage Billiard Palace (occasionally with the
help of a beer or two... at least on my part). I might wear his glasses and
he would wear none, or some unusual permutation along these lines. Anyway,
one day we decided we would play an 8 ball race and we would both use house cues. I would pick his cue and he would pick mine off the rack. Now Mark always had good house cues in the Billiard Palace so it should not be such a big deal, they will all be straight with good tips. He picked out a fine
example of a snooker cue, 15 ounce 11 mm stick suitable for snooker balls
but difficult to shoot long straight shots with pool balls as my pole of
choice. Nice try I thought, but I have something special up my sleeve! I
went back to the 6 x 12 snooker (golf) table. Along the wall was the 8 foot
cue used for extremely long bridge shots. I grabbed this cue that could
double as a fly rod and handed it to Mark as his weapon. Ah Hah… the trap
snapped! I was sure I had just won the match before the opening break, we
were playing on a corner table and with an 8 foot cue the walls and other
obstacles are in the way on every shot. He had no chance... I was rolling
around in my glory. All that was left was the enjoyable ride to the forgone
conclusion. Mark however didn’t see it quit the same. He laughed a bit,
then he looked at the cue carefully and noticed a seam in the middle, not
really a joint but the glue was loose. He carefully separated the two
pieces now he had a 4 foot cue and went on to trounce me in the match.
Suddenly it wasn't glory I was rolling around in any more.
The moral to this story is mark is tenacious and will find a way to
manufacture a winning opportunity when one is not readily apparent. I have
known Mark for over 15 years; His dedication to the sport of pool and those
who play and support it is beyond reproach. He is a man of his word and is
one that truly has vision. Players should be thrilled that Mark has seen an
opportunity with the BCA league system and is willing to devote his
enthusiasm and passion for the sport to this league. For anyone that does
not know Mark rest assured his intentions are just as he says they are. For
those of you out there that are unsure about the future give Mark a chance
and let him create a winning opportunity for all associated with the new
BCA league. I know his heart is in it and he has the brains and business
sense to make good things happen.
Sincerely
Bill Johnston
