Contest

[JAM]

Well, I'm sitting here at 5:30, Sunday morning, with three Internet poker players snoring away in my living room.

It's still dark outside, and I'm doing what I do every morning. Some folks read The Wall Street Journal or The Washington Post, but me, I'm reading the latest news on AzBilliards, best pool website on the net, bar none.

As I was going through my pool library, I came across some IPT programs from the King of the Hill in Orlando, Florida, held December 2005. These are pretty cool, as they have pictures and brief bios of the 42 (I think) players who did compete. There are some other interesting articles in the program as well. At the IPT in Vegas, these programs were for sale, but I can't remember for how much. I think it was 25 bucks. At the IPT in Orlando, they were given away for free. Actually, these IPT programs just may be a collector's item someday, and I have more than one!

This IPT forum hasn't had much in the way of "new" news, and so I decided to create a contest. The winner of the contest will receive one of the above-referenced IPT programs as a prize.

So, if you're interested in obtaining one, here's the contest. In 200 words or less, if you could effect a change in the IPT this coming year -- hypothetically speaking, of course -- what would you change and/or do to ensure its future success? There have been many threads detailing where the IPT went wrong, but how about this thread being what the IPT could do right?

Only interested parties in obtaining the IPT program should reply. There are other threads on the IPT forum that provide opportunities for the dissenters.

JAM

 

[Colin Colenso]

Hi JAM,
Here are a few dreams!

Events run as scheduled!
Guarantees kept.
Nappless cloth.
Prize-monies in escrow at least a month before the events.
Less hype, more action.
Improved TV production.

They are the main things, but if I keep my fingers crossed too long they may turn arthritic

Colin

 

[JAM]

Hi JAM,
Here are a few dreams!

Events run as scheduled!
Guarantees kept.
Nappless cloth.
Prize-monies in escrow at least a month before the events.
Less hype, more action.
Improved TV production.

They are the main things, but if I keep my fingers crossed too long they may turn arthritic

Colin

Hey, Colin, long time no "see."

After thinking about this here thread I initiated, I realized the only ones with any interest to respond would be the players. And, of course, they already got the free programs when they were in Orlando!

I agree 100 percent with all of your selections!

That program is pretty cool. The color pictures were great, though I hated the one they chose of Keith.

Boy, Colin, what a difference a year makes. We all came to Orlando, full of hope. You could see it in the eyes of every player. Since then, Alex Levy quit playing competitive pool (or so I read), Bernie hasn't been heard from in recent times, Keith's playing poker on the Internet, and you're now in Australia! This picture reminds me of "United We Stand."

JAM

 

[juegabillar]

Well, I'm sitting here at 5:30, Sunday morning, with three Internet poker players snoring away in my living room.

It's still dark outside, and I'm doing what I do every morning. Some folks read The Wall Street Journal or The Washington Post, but me, I'm reading the latest news on AzBilliards, best pool website on the net, bar none.

As I was going through my pool library, I came across some IPT programs from the King of the Hill in Orlando, Florida, held December 2005. These are pretty cool, as they have pictures and brief bios of the 42 (I think) players who did compete. There are some other interesting articles in the program as well. At the IPT in Vegas, these programs were for sale, but I can't remember for how much. I think it was 25 bucks. At the IPT in Orlando, they were given away for free. Actually, these IPT programs just may be a collector's item someday, and I have more than one!

This IPT forum hasn't had much in the way of "new" news, and so I decided to create a contest. The winner of the contest will receive one of the above-referenced IPT programs as a prize.

So, if you're interested in obtaining one, here's the contest. In 200 words or less, if you could effect a change in the IPT this coming year -- hypothetically speaking, of course -- what would you change and/or do to ensure its future success? There have been many threads detailing where the IPT went wrong, but how about this thread being what the IPT could do right?

Only interested parties in obtaining the IPT program should reply. There are other threads on the IPT forum that provide opportunities for the dissenters.

JAM

1. Taking into consideration the standings as of the end of year, drop the last 50 players. Leave the list at 100.
2. All qualifiers at $500 a pop. With 16 players only one gets selected to the next IPT event. With 32 players 2 get selected. With 64 players 4 get selected.
3. First Prize money for all events at $100,000.
4. The "Big Cahuna Event" (World Championship) at $250,000 first prize.
5. One fourth of the players at the event get paid good money. The others could get paid $1000 each.
6. Change cloth to fast cloth. (Could still be Gorina - Simoniz preferred).
7. Blue Jackets for the regular event winners.
8. Green Jacket for the "Big Cahuna" winner.
9. Embroidery Polo Shirts for the remainders.
10. Escrow account - Prizes paid at the event - No excuses.
11. World Standarized Rules.
12. Create a "youth program" for the upcoming juniors.
13. Better advertising.
14. Mini-qualifiers for the "qualifiers" at $250 a pop. (At the qualifyers they pay $500.00 or get free entry because of their win at the mini).
15. Newsletter with all the winners (mini's, qualifiers, events, big cahuna).
16. Glass Trophies.
17. At year end, a "Champion of Champions Event." Winner takes all - maybe $500,000.
18. One event at each of the Continents/Regions per year (Europe, Asia, Pacific, Caribbean, US, Canada, South America, Middle East, Africa, etc.

Just some of the things that come to mind....

 

[sjm]

Not much to add to what's been written. From a fan standpoint, one thing I'd change is the room setup, to make viewing easier. There were some matches at IPT Las Vegas against the back wall of the ballroom, beyond the seating, and and no matter where you sat, you couldn't follow these matches.

 

[LAMas]

Where will the money come from?

Tournaments are paid in part by the interested sponsor/s; in part by entry fees; in part by the vendors; in part by those that buy admission tickets; in part by qualifiers; in part by spnsor's merchandise and by benefactors.

The maintain the scale of the productions that the IPT presented and promised took more money than thought and needed a benefactor - Stanley Ho or the ilk. The last straw/gasp was the high cost qualifiers @ $2K a pop that didn't draw enough $$ to keep going.

If the IPT scales down to the money on hand, the players won't travel any distance for chump change save those that are hooked to play, have money or backers.

Sponsors are putting up the large purses in the Phillipines and Asia - the players aren't. The Europeans are traveling to Asia for those purses and that will leave the USA for the american players - not a bad thing.

Here on the West Coast, Billy Palmer is doing better than if the Asians and Europeans competed in the Reno Open and the Swanee at Hollywood like in years before.

The lure of $$ that the IPT presented allowed this sweater to see the best of the best here in the Las Vegas and Reno. I didn't have to travel to Asia or Europe to see their best - they came here for the $$.

Ohhh what was and could have been, but could not be sustained. What we need is a wealthy Patron of the Arts - Pool Arts that is.

 

[macguy]

Well, I'm sitting here at 5:30, Sunday morning, with three Internet poker players snoring away in my living room.

It's still dark outside, and I'm doing what I do every morning. Some folks read The Wall Street Journal or The Washington Post, but me, I'm reading the latest news on AzBilliards, best pool website on the net, bar none.

As I was going through my pool library, I came across some IPT programs from the King of the Hill in Orlando, Florida, held December 2005. These are pretty cool, as they have pictures and brief bios of the 42 (I think) players who did compete. There are some other interesting articles in the program as well. At the IPT in Vegas, these programs were for sale, but I can't remember for how much. I think it was 25 bucks. At the IPT in Orlando, they were given away for free. Actually, these IPT programs just may be a collector's item someday, and I have more than one!

This IPT forum hasn't had much in the way of "new" news, and so I decided to create a contest. The winner of the contest will receive one of the above-referenced IPT programs as a prize.

So, if you're interested in obtaining one, here's the contest. In 200 words or less, if you could effect a change in the IPT this coming year -- hypothetically speaking, of course -- what would you change and/or do to ensure its future success? There have been many threads detailing where the IPT went wrong, but how about this thread being what the IPT could do right?

Only interested parties in obtaining the IPT program should reply. There are other threads on the IPT forum that provide opportunities for the dissenters.

JAM

The answer is not that hard. Their biggest problem from the beginning was trying to reinvent the wheel with almost everything they did. They seemed to be making it up as they went along. They should have just used the money to fund a few good sizes open tournaments and put the rest of their efforts into marketing them, as well as the players. Pool has an audience, it may not be huge but it is there and they could have tapped into it.

Ultimately they should have been working toward live Internet broadcasting. It's where Steven Spielberg and almost everybody else in the business is going and it could be the birth place of broadcast pool. That is where everything is going, the net. It won't be long before you won't even see any video stores and movie theaters will almost be a thing of the past. People, me included, have complete home media rooms.

This is where the future of all media is going and pool can for the first time be avalable to everyone. Imagine tuning in and watching a tournament then switching to the practice room and back to the action in the main room for a small fee, as good as being there all live, or at your own convenience, it is coming and very soon.

This by the way was just introduced just last month
http://www.apple.com/appletv/

 

[cueball1950]

People, me included, have complete home media rooms.



great mac.....now we all know where we can go watch it when it comes to be!!!!!!.........mike

 

[justnum]

home entertainment room, gotta love advertising.

I too own a television and sound system.

In response to the product solution of apple
http://www.cyberonamerica.net/JJC_Bio_Jun03.html
An example of someone capable of providing insight into how to incorporate tech in how you do things.

Have the IPT run by top shelf professionals. With in-house people to handle the management. There was a lot of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.

Yes the solution of throwing money at the problem has worked so well historically that it shouldnt work here.

 

[mthornto]

So, if you're interested in obtaining one, here's the contest. In 200 words or less, if you could effect a change in the IPT this coming year -- hypothetically speaking, of course -- what would you change and/or do to ensure its future success?
JAM

Just one thing to start with: change of ownership. At this point, who would put any trust into the current ownership and "management" team? Even if the money was truly guaranteed and in escrow, the communication problems of the past would still exist. I think we all made a terrible mistake in assuming that just because KT was able to market snake oil on late night TV that he was capable of running a large organization. Looking back over all this, it is very clear that he is not.

 

[BlackDragon]

if my name was kevin and I wanted to promote 'Natural Cures' and be aligned with pool I would of had a tv show called "do you want to play pool?". With contestants who submit their cell phone numbers, picked at random competing for a million bucks. They play nine games of nineball to do that against APA1 to APA7 then pro's for the million bucks first prize. They break. Beat the APA1, a thousand dollars, APA2 five thousand, APA3 fifteen thousand, APA4 thirty thousand, APA5 sixty thousand, APA6 one hundred and twenty five thousand, APA7 two hundred thousand and fifty thousand, womens pro half a mill, mens pro a million.
Only the pro levels are cash prizes. The other prizes are made up of pool equipment, merchandise, lessons, tours to international events with all expenses paid, lifetime memberships.
Also on the half hour tv show, sample of trick shots.
And 'Beat the celebrity'. Where a celebrity challenges a pro.
One can stop at any level that one has won at and collect. If one continues and loses, all is forfeited.
'How to Do that' when a contestant loses on a shot they couldn't do thats tricky theres a segment called 'How to Do that' in which the pros demonstrate.
And of course each losing contestant gets my latest book.
I promote my other business and I make pool popular again being what it is, a tv game show for the popcorn eaters.
And I guess the first two pros would my friend Mike and Loree who are paid a retainer.
But then with a million bucks on the line, I might have to get someone better.
Jeanette Lee can do trick shots, so her and George are also a fine pair of pros.
'Rant with Earl' a weekly segment where earl tells the world what is right and wrong about pool.
"Bringing home the Bacon' a selection of clips from the Mosconi Cup where US defeat Europe or any major event won by an american.
'JAM meets' where JAM introduces character players of the sport to the public in a homely fashion followed by 'Keiths challenge' where that player accepts Keiths challenge on the table to do a specific shot that he can do himself or some other form of game, 9ball, 8ball, one pocket.
Hell maybe it could run for an hour with my ads late at night
As the credits roll. Earl breaks and proceeds to run out.
Left of stage or of the playing table theres always a look a-like Efren Reyes character playing chess with a non-descript mexican guy. During the show, the camera pans to him at times and he is miked but only talks in filipino language a few utterances like "are the stakes high enough yet" to which the mexican replies in his language and so on
At the end if Earl doesn't get any ball on the break, he slowly unzips his pool case besides him but never gets to play a shot on camera being more intent on his chess game.
Then I almost forgot, 'Tom Cruise Pool Moves' a segment demonstrating cue twirling, body movement around the table.
Its all filmed in front of a live tv audience.
Another character is 'Action Jackson' a typical pool guy who goes through the audience hustling and barking games, to get some action, to play for cash on a side table.
And of course, I compere the circus

 

[bud green]

Someone needs to find a way to get Bill Gates hooked on pool. Forget these low-rent millionaire bums like KT who don't pay up... we need a gazillionaire who doesn't care about the inevitable $$ losses funding this kind of tour would entail.

Maybe Microsoft could get exclusive rights for video games that would help pay for tourneys.

 

[JAM]

I am liking what I am reading in this thread so far. It is going to be very difficult for me to pick a winner, but I'm leaning on two posters so far who have really presented some great ideas.

I'm going to let this thread go one week, and then I will announce who will receive the prize, an IPT King of the Hill Invitational 8-Ball Shootout program.

Inside the program, for those who haven't seen it, there is a tournament format provided and a brief summary of the IPT rules of professional 8-ball. The best feature of this progarm, though, is the bio and pictures of the 42 "invited" players which include American legends and BCA Hall of Famers. To me, this is priceless and will be a very nice keepsake for any pool enthusiast.

Keep 'em coming!

JAM

 

[Fleece3]

I will not waste time with the suggestion already made (some very good). However. I would like to see it MANDATORY that all players stick around and attend the finals in person. And mic a couple of them so we can hear THEIR candid comments regarding the play.

 

[JAM]

Only a day or two left to win this program.

It's looking like representatives from Puerto Rico, China, Los Angeles, and Australia are in the front-running so far!

Take a trip down Memory Lane.

This program will become pool memorabilia of the way we were! As depicted below, a few American warriors:

Ronnie "Everything's funny when you're winning big money" Wiseman, Tony "T-Rex" Chohan, Keith "Earthquake" McCready, and George "Ginky" San Souci.

JAM

 

[Island Drive]

Well, I'm sitting here at 5:30, Sunday morning, with three Internet poker players snoring away in my living room.

It's still dark outside, and I'm doing what I do every morning. Some folks read The Wall Street Journal or The Washington Post, but me, I'm reading the latest news on AzBilliards, best pool website on the net, bar none.

As I was going through my pool library, I came across some IPT programs from the King of the Hill in Orlando, Florida, held December 2005. These are pretty cool, as they have pictures and brief bios of the 42 (I think) players who did compete. There are some other interesting articles in the program as well. At the IPT in Vegas, these programs were for sale, but I can't remember for how much. I think it was 25 bucks. At the IPT in Orlando, they were given away for free. Actually, these IPT programs just may be a collector's item someday, and I have more than one!

This IPT forum hasn't had much in the way of "new" news, and so I decided to create a contest. The winner of the contest will receive one of the above-referenced IPT programs as a prize.

So, if you're interested in obtaining one, here's the contest. In 200 words or less, if you could effect a change in the IPT this coming year -- hypothetically speaking, of course -- what would you change and/or do to ensure its future success? There have been many threads detailing where the IPT went wrong, but how about this thread being what the IPT could do right?

Only interested parties in obtaining the IPT program should reply. There are other threads on the IPT forum that provide opportunities for the dissenters.

JAM

1. First, get KT out of the limelight and replace him with another that protects the game first and someone whom the players trust, and have communication to players the #1 priority along with honesty and follow through ness.

2. Next, divide the country into four geographic areas, have all rooms in those areas bid on becoming a host site, with certain basic requirements being met.

3. The rooms that did not give the high bid become your qualifier room base, with qualifiers held every other week till the venue kicks off, have all rooms co-op advertising for the qualifiers.

4. Have the beginning events limited to 64 players and make it a weekend tourney with alternate break, no round robin.

5. Next, have one wild card entry single elimination event for the host room on Friday night and make sure the winner of the Friday night event is seeded in the bottom bracket to get sleep for the Sat. event.

Make the added monies realistic.

Make the entrance fee realistic, $250 early $300 late payable up to Fri. night.

Let rooms use any cloth, golf courses have different grass.

These are just a few ideas:

 

[JAM]

...Let rooms use any cloth, golf courses have different grass...These are just a few ideas:

You can tell that you are a player with those suggestions, all of which are excellent, IMHO. I especially like the shorter time spans for the tournaments. The week-long-plus tournaments, which include travel to and from, are kind of too long.

In order to shorten the time span, though, the round robin format may not suffice.

Here's one of my favorite snapshots taken at the KOTH in Orlando of the players!

JAM

 

[JAM]

Lessening the money payouts, would a tour still attract players from around the world, like these gentleman shown posing with my horse?

JAM

 

[juegabillar]

Lessening the money payouts, would a tour still attract players from around the world, like these gentleman shown posing with my horse?

JAM

Jam, nice picture from the Aruban Contingent, great friends from the ABC Islands. Left to right you have Aaron "The Baron" Franken, Gunnar "Blondmachine" Leonardo, Ditto "Top-Gun" Acosta, and the inequivocal Keith "The Earthquake" McReady. (You knew that last one, didn't you?).

 

[LAMas]

Take a trip down memory lane by JAM

JAM,
Thanks for sharing those pictures from Vegas at the Venetian Casino - it was opulent. At that time, there was more talent from around the world assembled for a pool tournament than ever before - almost the best that money could buy. It appeared that all stops were pulled and a sweater like me could attend all of the prelims (several days) for $20.00 (total) - I felt like I was robbing.

I stayed across the Strip at the Stardust and drooled at your pictures of Keith and your Venetian Suite that were offered at affordable prices to the players. I got a peek into the player's room filled with beverages, food and fruit. Out in the tournament room was bottled water for all...

Pool and the players never looked so good - they cleaned up good - though some looked out of place in collared shirts and slacks.

Thanks for the memories JAM.