Bollman seeded... Mcready not?
- Thread starter EL'nino
- Start date
A stupid question...
This may be a stupid question, but how can you tell who is seeded and who isn't? Please enlighten the unenlightened one here, thanks!
Doug Talbot
This may be a stupid question, but how can you tell who is seeded and who isn't? Please enlighten the unenlightened one here, thanks!
Doug Talbot
I assume it was political, per the Barry Behrman article written in the September issue of Billiards Digest, Dave Bollman is Barry's longtime friend and house man. They were both arrested and charged with misdemeanors while attending a party at Berham's house. There was a saying when I was employed in the corporate world, " It's not what you know or can do, It's who you know.EL'nino said:
The bigger issue is that the methodology for seeding is such a closely guarded secret. If it were announced, then anybody wanting to be seeded at the US Open would know what they'd have to accomplish to get it, and fans of the sport would have a comfort level that the seeding rules were being applied objectively and without bias.
By leaving the seeding methodology as a mystery even Sherlock Holmes might not be able to solve, it gives the tournament organizers too great an opportunity to seed based on their own preferences rather than on merit.
Let them announce the seeding methodolgy in advance and the hanky-panky goes away. By the way, I would have no problem if they reserved the right to give out a few (let's say four or fewer) seeds on a purely discretionary basis.
By leaving the seeding methodology as a mystery even Sherlock Holmes might not be able to solve, it gives the tournament organizers too great an opportunity to seed based on their own preferences rather than on merit.
Let them announce the seeding methodolgy in advance and the hanky-panky goes away. By the way, I would have no problem if they reserved the right to give out a few (let's say four or fewer) seeds on a purely discretionary basis.
Keith McCready
Pro Player
Tex said:
I usually try to stay away from these kinds of threads, and I don't want to cast any negative light on the U.S. Open. Barry Behrman is a good friend of mine.
For your information, Tex, about Dave Bollman, I respect his game and admire him as a professional player. He, too, is a friend of mine, but he has never ever wanted to play me even in anything, past, present, and future. Speaking to your opinion about my level of play at the Open, every pool player has ups and downs, valleys and peaks, good days and bad days.
As far as the seeding goes, I don't know what happened. I inquired about it and received an apology for not being seeded, as it was an unfortunate oversight. Most of the players who were seeded got a bye. I didn't understand some of the older players getting seeds and byes, but it was something new, a decision made on the spot.
In order to make it fair, I think they should throw all the names in a hat and have everybody come up and draw. Whoever they draw, they play, and be done with it, with no seeds.
I'll be back again next year and look forward to it.
No disrespect intended Keith.
I don't know Dave, and was more referring of how well he did, not that you
played bad. Of course I know everybody has good days and bad days.
Just about anyone that enters the U.S. Open has the ability to knock off
anyone. You can't win them all.
I agree with you on the seedings, why not just draw numbers and let the byes fall where they may. Why should top players get a shorter route to
the finals ?
When are you going to come back through Houston (Bogey's)
Maybe we can match up somehow.
And just to prove I do have respect for your game, I will be asking for
some big weight. Baybe the 7 out!
Good luck in the next event you attend.
Later!
I don't know Dave, and was more referring of how well he did, not that you
played bad. Of course I know everybody has good days and bad days.
Just about anyone that enters the U.S. Open has the ability to knock off
anyone. You can't win them all.
I agree with you on the seedings, why not just draw numbers and let the byes fall where they may. Why should top players get a shorter route to
the finals ?
When are you going to come back through Houston (Bogey's)
Maybe we can match up somehow.
And just to prove I do have respect for your game, I will be asking for
some big weight. Baybe the 7 out!
Good luck in the next event you attend.
Later!
Keith McCready said:I usually try to stay away from these kinds of threads, and I don't want to cast any negative light on the U.S. Open. Barry Behrman is a good friend of mine.
For your information, Tex, about Dave Bollman, I respect his game and admire him as a professional player. He, too, is a friend of mine, but he has never ever wanted to play me even in anything, past, present, and future. Speaking to your opinion about my level of play at the Open, every pool player has ups and downs, valleys and peaks, good days and bad days.
As far as the seeding goes, I don't know what happened. I inquired about it and received an apology for not being seeded, as it was an unfortunate oversight. Most of the players who were seeded got a bye. I didn't understand some of the older players getting seeds and byes, but it was something new, a decision made on the spot.
In order to make it fair, I think they should throw all the names in a hat and have everybody come up and draw. Whoever they draw, they play, and be done with it, with no seeds.
I'll be back again next year and look forward to it.
Last edited:
There was lots of "luck of the draw" 1st round byes
With only 191 players there were 65 byes.
The luck of the Draw, got lots of players first round byes. Not just the seeded players.
There were lots of players within earshot of this discussion on Sunday nite.
There were 16 seeded players (combo of UPA and WPBA rankings)
There was a contingent of Euro players that wouldn't make it to the open on Monday and they got a bye (exemptions for them were a one time deal, as I understand it)
There was an question asked by an older player that wanted to know why past champions weren't seeded. This older player hadn't won a major or even minor tournament in the last 5 years (closer to 10 years). But, with the effects of the 'squeaky wheel' it was decided to have EIGHT 'old men' seeded. This included Dave Bollman.
As an additional note. Barry Berhman announced that the seedings for next year will include the top 12 finishers of the 2004 event. Plus input from the current ranking bodies.
Keith should have been seeded, if there is to be seeding, at least the top 4 places from the previous year's event should be seeded.
Personal note:
I don't care for seeding.
With only 191 players there were 65 byes.
The luck of the Draw, got lots of players first round byes. Not just the seeded players.
There were lots of players within earshot of this discussion on Sunday nite.
There were 16 seeded players (combo of UPA and WPBA rankings)
There was a contingent of Euro players that wouldn't make it to the open on Monday and they got a bye (exemptions for them were a one time deal, as I understand it)
There was an question asked by an older player that wanted to know why past champions weren't seeded. This older player hadn't won a major or even minor tournament in the last 5 years (closer to 10 years). But, with the effects of the 'squeaky wheel' it was decided to have EIGHT 'old men' seeded. This included Dave Bollman.
As an additional note. Barry Berhman announced that the seedings for next year will include the top 12 finishers of the 2004 event. Plus input from the current ranking bodies.
Keith should have been seeded, if there is to be seeding, at least the top 4 places from the previous year's event should be seeded.
Personal note:
I don't care for seeding.
Just a note to let everyone know that Dave Bollman did an Accu-Stats player review tape of a match between himself and Bustamante. He was very well spoken, and obviously plays well enough to beat anybody (and probably breaks better than most). He would seem to rank himself below the top players, but in short race 9-Ball anything can happen when you can break like Dave.
In addition, it seems naive to suggest that Dave plays better than Keith based on the results of a few matches of short race 9-Ball against different players. When will we learn that paper/rock/scissors is a better way to differentiate skill level (between expert players) than short race 9-Ball? The results of these matches are determined as much by the luck of the break as by the skill of these players (which is seems to be uniformly high).
In addition, it seems naive to suggest that Dave plays better than Keith based on the results of a few matches of short race 9-Ball against different players. When will we learn that paper/rock/scissors is a better way to differentiate skill level (between expert players) than short race 9-Ball? The results of these matches are determined as much by the luck of the break as by the skill of these players (which is seems to be uniformly high).