C.J. Wiley

[Southpaw]

What ever happened to C.J. Wiley? I know that he got banned from the Camel Tour at one point and started the PCA, but I havent heard anything about him in a long time. Just wondering if he is still playing. If so, I think he would be a pretty tough force on the IPT.

Southpaw

 

[TannerPruess]

IIRC he has been trying to get qualified for the IPT a few times down in Texas.

 

[Joseph Ortega]

What ever happened to C.J. Wiley? I know that he got banned from the Camel Tour at one point and started the PCA, but I havent heard anything about him in a long time. Just wondering if he is still playing. If so, I think he would be a pretty tough force on the IPT.

Southpaw

CJ is still an awesome player, world beater, i know he is busy with his pool halls, one in east dallas and the other in north dallas. making damn good money, both places are always packed and his place in east dallas is still a good place to find action at any time. he matches up every now and then but its gonna be a while before he is 100% back

 

[Mike Templeton]

CJ is still an awesome player, world beater, i know he is busy with his pool halls, one in east dallas and the other in north dallas. making damn good money, both places are always packed and his place in east dallas is still a good place to find action at any time. he matches up every now and then but its gonna be a while before he is 100% back

The last time I saw CJ was at the Derby. He was there to try to qualify for the IPT. He looked the same, and still hit the balls great.

Mike

 

[Scott Lee]

What ever happened to C.J. Wiley? I know that he got banned from the Camel Tour at one point and started the PCA, but I havent heard anything about him in a long time. Just wondering if he is still playing. If so, I think he would be a pretty tough force on the IPT.

Southpaw

CJ was never banned from the PBTA/Camel Tour. He and several other top pros just got tired of Don Mackey's BS, and QUIT the PBTA, to band together and form the PCA. The concept was great...no conflicts, play in any tournament anywhere. Unfortunately with Earl winning the million on the first day of the first event, it killed the action. The PCA never really got a chance to shine like it would have.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[unknownpro]

CJ was never banned from the PBTA/Camel Tour. He and several other top pros just got tired of Don Mackey's BS, and QUIT the PBTA, to band together and form the PCA. The concept was great...no conflicts, play in any tournament anywhere. Unfortunately with Earl winning the million on the first day of the first event, it killed the action. The PCA never really got a chance to shine like it would have.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

You had to love the races to 15! Especially with the tight pockets at CJ's place. But they screwed it up with the call shot crap, and Earl blowing it with that run...

unknownpro

 

[sicbinature]

Still in Dallas.

C.J is still here in Dallas. He has two different places, Carsons Live and his old pool hall which is now CJ's cantina palace. lol. Not much action there anymore and they put up alot of plywood walls, moved out alot of the nine foots and put in barboxes. He still plays lights out though. He matched up with Shane Van Boeing a couple of weeks ago and they came out even after a few hours. There are shimmed up ten foot pool tables at both of his places so they are good places to go and practice. A few months of hitting balls everyday and I think he would be in the top ten in the IPT at the end.

 

[Williebetmore]

What ever happened to C.J. Wiley?

Southpaw

SP,
I was extremely fortunate to see C.J. this year at the DCC. In the IPT qualifier he drew George Breedlove - I was EXTREMELY fortunate to see the last 10 or 12 games of the match (won by Breedlove something like 10-4 or 10-5). It was unbelieveable pool - unbelieveable runouts from both players, not a ball missed in the time I was viewing, first player to the table with a shot ran out.

Though C.J. came out on the wrong end of the score, it was obvious he can still play at a very high level. There are many that think he was one of the 2 or 3 best players in the world in the early 90's, maybe the best. It would be good to see him regain his skills.

 

[Joseph Ortega]

SP,
I was extremely fortunate to see C.J. this year at the DCC. In the IPT qualifier he drew George Breedlove - I was EXTREMELY fortunate to see the last 10 or 12 games of the match (won by Breedlove something like 10-4 or 10-5). It was unbelieveable pool - unbelieveable runouts from both players, not a ball missed in the time I was viewing, first player to the table with a shot ran out.

Though C.J. came out on the wrong end of the score, it was obvious he can still play at a very high level. There are many that think he was one of the 2 or 3 best players in the world in the early 90's, maybe the best. It would be good to see him regain his skills.

cj was one of the best in the world. he was right up there with strckland, reyes and archer. i think he started his business and realized he needed to devote his time to a sure paycheck. it would be awesome to see him get back into it thoough.

 

[Andrew Manning]

Unfortunately with Earl winning the million on the first day of the first event, it killed the action.

Hi Scott,

Can you explain what this means? I believe you're referring to the $1 million Earl won for 10 consecutive racks run, but in what way did that "kill the action" of the PCA? Thanks for explaining; I'm unfamiliar with the details of the story.

-Andrew

 

[Scott Lee]

PCA Million dollar challenge

Andrew...Here it is in a nutshell. In Nov. of '96 (I think), CJ and several other pros quit the PBTA (because of the continuing b.s., threats, and lies, from Don Mackey), and formed their own player association...the PCA (Professional Cuesports Asso.). Anyone could join, and there were no requirements or sanctions to play in only their events (like Mackey did with the PBTA). CJ had negotiated an agreement with sports marketing company to purchase an insurance policy that would pay a million dollars to any player that ran 10 consecutive racks of 9-ball, in any PCA event. The money was to be paid out in 20 annual installments. Earl happened to run the racks and win the prize (he was playing Nick Mannino), on the first day of the first tournament in the planned series. The sports marketing guys freaked out, because CJ had guaranteed them that it was very difficult to do. The agreement was to be in place for each of the (IIRC) seven planned tournaments, and supposedly would pay off, even if someone did it in each event (however unlikely)! But when Earl did it the first day, they nixed the deal, and claimed that the policy had not been properly signed...and refused to pay! Earl got pretty hot (understandably), and CJ paid him $50K out of his own pocket, while requiring him to keep quiet, while CJ tried to work it out with the other company. CJ, and his attorneys, after about 6-8 months, settled out of court for about $600K. Earl got half, and the attornies, I think, got the rest. CJ probably got his $50K back, but got nothing else, except a lot of grief and heartache. Naturally, while the litigation was going on, there were no more PCA tournaments (IIRC, there was a 2nd tournament, but no $1M challenge, and few players), and the tour folded before it got a chance to get started.
The real bummer, was that CJ couldn't say anything to anyone about what was going on behind the scenes...so there were a ton of rumors flying around, some of them badmouthing CJ, etc. The PCA was a jam up idea, and had it survived, I'm sure it would have prospered, as a much better alternative for the players, than the PBTA ever was.

There ya have it!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[JoeyInCali]

Wasn't the first PCA even the ESPN event held in San Francisco/San Jose area?
CJ played Vivian Villareal in the finals of that ESPN televised event.

 

[Scott Lee]

I don't think so Joey. That event where CJ played Vivian on ESPN was sponsored by Matt Braun (Challenge of Champions, etc.), who had no connection to the PCA...and IIRC, it was played in Orlando, FL, not CA. The first official PCA event was the Dallas Million Dollar Challenge, held at CJ's Billiard Palace. I think it was April of '97. A search of BD from the summer of 97 should turn up the issue detailing the tournament. Earl was on the cover.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[StraightPoolIU]

Well I don't know a lot about the now defunct PCA, but if they had races to 15 I think that's pretty cool and I like the acronym...has a nice ring to it. Did they have any other specials rules at their events?

 

[vagabond]

I don't think so Joey. That event where CJ played Vivian on ESPN was sponsored by Matt Braun (Challenge of Champions, etc.), who had no connection to the PCA

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

CJ never liked Matt Braun.Infact he trashed Matt Braun also when he trashed Don Macky in the PBT`s buisiness meeting during a pro tour event in Worcester,Massachussets.Immediately after that he split from PBT and anounced his plans to start another organization for PROs.
By the way Mat Braun wrote & published several western novels.

 

[vagabond]

Wasn't the first PCA even the ESPN event held in San Francisco/San Jose area?
CJ played Vivian Villareal in the finals of that ESPN televised event.

In SantaRosa 60 miles north of SanFrancisco

 

[Scott Lee]

CJ never liked Matt Braun.Infact he trashed Matt Braun also when he trashed Don Macky in the PBT`s buisiness meeting during a pro tour event in Worcester,Massachussets.Immediately after that he split from PBT and anounced his plans to start another organization for PROs.
By the way Mat Braun wrote & published several western novels.

I can't be sure that Matt Braun put on that event, but be that as it may, CJ was playing for the cash, and won $88K in that event.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[Joseph Ortega]

I can't be sure that Matt Braun put on that event, but be that as it may, CJ was playing for the cash, and won $88K in that event.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

he has that check framed in his pool hall (cjs billiard palace) up on the wall. its a cool place to walk around and see all the autographed pictures of scores of pro pool players.

 

[Eric.]

I don't think so Joey. That event where CJ played Vivian on ESPN was sponsored by Matt Braun (Challenge of Champions, etc.), who had no connection to the PCA...and IIRC, it was played in Orlando, FL, not CA. The first official PCA event was the Dallas Million Dollar Challenge, held at CJ's Billiard Palace. I think it was April of '97. A search of BD from the summer of 97 should turn up the issue detailing the tournament. Earl was on the cover.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

IIRC, the ESPN matches were done at Disney in Orlando. I remember the guys and girls competing side by side.


Eric

 

[Holly]

Andrew...Here it is in a nutshell. In Nov. of '96 (I think), CJ and several other pros quit the PBTA (because of the continuing b.s., threats, and lies, from Don Mackey), and formed their own player association...the PCA (Professional Cuesports Asso.). Anyone could join, and there were no requirements or sanctions to play in only their events (like Mackey did with the PBTA). CJ had negotiated an agreement with sports marketing company to purchase an insurance policy that would pay a million dollars to any player that ran 10 consecutive racks of 9-ball, in any PCA event. The money was to be paid out in 20 annual installments. Earl happened to run the racks and win the prize (he was playing Nick Mannino), on the first day of the first tournament in the planned series. The sports marketing guys freaked out, because CJ had guaranteed them that it was very difficult to do. The agreement was to be in place for each of the (IIRC) seven planned tournaments, and supposedly would pay off, even if someone did it in each event (however unlikely)! But when Earl did it the first day, they nixed the deal, and claimed that the policy had not been properly signed...and refused to pay! Earl got pretty hot (understandably), and CJ paid him $50K out of his own pocket, while requiring him to keep quiet, while CJ tried to work it out with the other company. CJ, and his attorneys, after about 6-8 months, settled out of court for about $600K. Earl got half, and the attornies, I think, got the rest. CJ probably got his $50K back, but got nothing else, except a lot of grief and heartache. Naturally, while the litigation was going on, there were no more PCA tournaments (IIRC, there was a 2nd tournament, but no $1M challenge, and few players), and the tour folded before it got a chance to get started.
The real bummer, was that CJ couldn't say anything to anyone about what was going on behind the scenes...so there were a ton of rumors flying around, some of them badmouthing CJ, etc. The PCA was a jam up idea, and had it survived, I'm sure it would have prospered, as a much better alternative for the players, than the PBTA ever was.

There ya have it!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Thanks Scott for telling the whole story. Many people knew Earl had not received the million, although he did honor the situation with CJ and has not raised hell about it. This is the kind of occurance that encourages Pool/Billiard industry urban legend / misconceptions that travel the extended pool/billiard tribe like wildfire and can cause all kinds of bedlam. Appreciate you telling it like it happened and ending some potentially nasty conjecture.