Sounds like an eventfull tournament.....
Distractions at the U.S. Open
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There's thirty thousand dollars at stake and a U. S. Open title on the line someone's phone goes off or someone makes an untimely comment that might cost a player a chance to claim them. NOTHING GIVES ANYONE THE RIGHT TO DO THESE THINGS.
The player has fought to long and to hard and paid some serious money to get themselves into the position they want to be in. Let the players decide who wins and who loses.
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http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
The player has fought to long and to hard and paid some serious money to get themselves into the position they want to be in. Let the players decide who wins and who loses.
___________________________________________
http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
Another comment from someone who wasn't there. It's easy to take one thing I said out of context and make me look bad. If you had been there you would know that I favor NO ONE and do a pretty good job announcing. The players seem to like my style as does most of the audience.
Action is the foundation of this game whether y'all like it or not.
Thin-skinned competitors need not apply.
Grady told me a story once about Jose Parica in Philadelphia......he gave
a bunch of weight at 1-hole and lost about 7 thou. As he was leaving, he was asked if he was coming back the next day...he said "Yeah."
..so the guy said could you be sure to be wearing a pink dress? we wanna
put your picture on the wall with all them other world champions that went
broke here.
So do what you do, Jay.....this game aint the opera
wait a minute...you were sharking the spectators???
This is why i really enjoy the Ten Ball tournament at Valley Forge. The people who run that tournament do a great job policing the crowd when it comes to phone use and photography of any kind. I know this first hand because last year i was trying to sneak some pics without flash and got caught. It is a nice dark room and they always have music playing. Its a very knowledgeable crowd considering they know not to even walk to a seat while a player is down on a shot. Too bad it cant be like that everywhere.
I like the Pro event at SBE, but to be honest, it's really quite different with 68 players competing and the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship with its 250-plus players. Two different animals, IMO.
But to each their own. Everybody is entitled to enjoy whatever pool atmosphere they like. Me personally, I wish these pool venues would all quit serving alcohol, I hate hearing music play at a professional tournament, but I do enjoy a little smack talk. So there you have it! :thumbup:
Jay, all you need to say is that it was one moment of poor judgement and you'll learn from it and move on..... to make a statement over the PA system in the midst of a match that a player is being derailed is clearley unacceptable. Nobody is saying that you didn't do a fine job all week but a lil constructive criticism is definatly warranted here.
Exactly my thoughts on the subject.....I was with some friends and the first thing they said after Jay's comments was "Who the hell this guy thinks he is??" Scott would have never said something like this.....
I was there. I don't mind your announcing. I enjoy it actually and thought you did a great job overall. You got a good voice for it.
I did think the D-Train comment was out of line though, but I know you have a good relationship with the players and I don't think you would have said it if you thought it would have bothered Dennis in the least, but to me it just seemed a bit tacky. I couldn't see Dennis at all when he was seated from where I was sitting so I have no clue if it bothered him.
That was rather harmless though compared to the people walking in front of the players shots, red lights on cameras, some dude crawling on the floor taking pictures that Shawn commented about then even got a chair for him and that old dudes phone that played music for damn near 2 minutes straight and he couldn't figure out how to stop it, all during this same match.
There were just a ton of distractions during that match that the players definitely took notice of.
I watched that entire match. Shawn shot very well.
A pretty good job announcing ? Yeah must be. They keep bringing you back each year. You must be doing something right . Professional pool players are pretty thick skinned. They have seen it all. Comment made could easily have fired up sitting player to raise it up a notch and actually been helpful to his play. Little ribbing adds to the game. Hey Jay, see you back next year.
I had ear plugs in and I never even heard it!! I have known Jay for a long time and he is always on my side and wants me to win! Had I heard it it might have pissed me off for a minute lol but WOULD NOT AND DID NOT affect me or my play!! Shawn played perfect. BUT I would like an apology for him saying I was on the Mosconi Cup team after the match was over.. I have have NO hard feelings towards Jay we are friends and I know he wanted to see me win the U.S. Open and be on the Mosconi Cup team! Thanks Dennis
I said it during all of your matches & I'll say it again "COME ON DENNIS"
No harm, no foul.
Ahhhhh, now we can get on to some other distractions.
What's up with Huidji See? How'd it go for him? Huidji is a new face for me but I don't have any scuttlebutt from the Open because I didn't make it.
Ahhhhh, now we can get on to some other distractions.
What's up with Huidji See? How'd it go for him? Huidji is a new face for me but I don't have any scuttlebutt from the Open because I didn't make it.
I 'know' Huidji See from Amsterdam's Club 8. That is.. I never played him since he is totally out of my league. But hes very gentle and obviously plays very well. Theres quite a bit to find about him on youtube, also (part of) his match for the world championship 10-ball 2011.
He didnt make it to team Europe since he ended up 6th, and they too decided to only use the points for selecting the team.
So Team Europe will be:
1. Chris Melling (GBR) 122
2. Darren Appleton (GBR) 111
3. Ralf Souquet (GER) 94
4. Nick Van Den Berg (NED) 80
5. Niels Feijen (NED) 78
*If you ask me... Huidji shouldve replaced one of the Dutchies. I dont know which one.. both have achieved alot and I got big respect for them and their extremely professional attitude towards pool. But Huidji See has such momentum that it would be great to see how he does in such an environment.
He didnt make it to team Europe since he ended up 6th, and they too decided to only use the points for selecting the team.
So Team Europe will be:
1. Chris Melling (GBR) 122
2. Darren Appleton (GBR) 111
3. Ralf Souquet (GER) 94
4. Nick Van Den Berg (NED) 80
5. Niels Feijen (NED) 78
*If you ask me... Huidji shouldve replaced one of the Dutchies. I dont know which one.. both have achieved alot and I got big respect for them and their extremely professional attitude towards pool. But Huidji See has such momentum that it would be great to see how he does in such an environment.
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Thanks BIG D! I REALLY wanted you on the Mosconi team! I thought you were great for the team and for the event. The cameras loved you too, they couldn't stop showing you and your passion for the match. I guess I misunderstood the guidelines for choosing the team. I thought there would be three selections based on rankings and two wild card picks. I put my two cents in for you a long time ago.
Yes I did say that Shawn may have derailed the D-Train. It was meant as humor and I think most people took it that way. I'm sorry if it rubbed some people (and you) the wrong way. My opinion is that it's a pool tournament and not a wake. Anything we can do to spice things up a little (like when you get fired up) is good for the game and the audience. Pool can use a little pizzazz and if I can add to the event with my announcing I will. I will always respect the integrity of the event and remain neutral and unbiased in my role as a TD.
Dennis I introduced you more than once the last couple of days. Tell me if you liked what I had to say about you or not. Most players who said anything to me told me how much they liked my introductions. I wonder how you felt.
For those of you who weren't there (like almost everyone commenting on this thread), my announcing style is not to read a litany of player accomplishments. That can get boring fast. I prefer to talk about each player and what makes them unique and special. With Dennis for instance I might say something like, "Get out of the way, the D-Train is coming through. The Big D from Buffalo is on the prowl and he's hungry for more." At the end I might add, "Dennis finished second to Buddy Hall when he was only 19 and he's been trying to win this title ever since. Maybe this is his year!" I know it's hard to read this out of context and really feel what I had to say. It's about capturing the mood of the moment and playing on it. And that's what I try to do.
Basically my intros are not canned, I do them on the fly, being as spontaneous as possible. I try to find something that's appropriate for the situation. If you think it's easy just try it sometime, before you criticize a guy who's out there doing it. It reminds me of how Stan Shuffet was vilified for his teaching methods after his remarkable performance in the Open. I have a passion for this game too, in case you didn't know. Otherwise I probably wouldn't be doing this job. I hope my passion shows in my announcing and in my commentary.
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Dennis,
I'm the former Binghamton guy now living in SC who followed most of your matches. I was watching when it happened and knew it didn't bother you. You were on a mission and I haven't seen you that inspired in a long time. Congrats!!
Actually the only major distraction I saw at the Open was Kathryn Fairchild and the only one affected was me... I actually tripped over my own feet while she was playing a match with Hunter Lombardo and had to climb up on the table.... I think magic pants should be illegal for her in pro events...... LOL
I've had the pleasure of being able to attend the US Open every year since I moved to Virginia 5 years ago. In those 5 years, I have always wondered why there was so much talking over the microphone while matches were being played.
First let me say that Jay did a great job this year, and apart from a couple of bad-timed comments, he pretty much kept his chatter over the microphone to a minimum. He did a great job announcing the players.
I'm going to rant about a couple of the things that I noticed and think that if they changed, it may make things better.
Talking over the loud speaker while matches are in progress is wrong and unfair in my opinion. If you have something to say, don't just blurt it out. Have someone go to the players in between shots and have them pause until the announcement is made. Some matches go into the start time of the next matches. Instead of announcing the next matches and possibly distracting the players trying to finish the match, just simply tell them what you're about to do and let them choose whether to continue playing or pause while the announcements are made.
It's no secret that Barry can be a little long winded and I've heard him and Scott Smith jaw back and forth jokingly on the microphone in the past. It's just not needed. Hell, there's even players that don't even understand what they're joking about!
This year, Jay made a comment at a horrible time that totally distracted a player and cost him a game. It was Friday night, Alex P. and Larry N. were getting their match started with a lag. The other matches had already been announced and had started playing. My friend was shooting on the 7-ball and was just about to pull the trigger when Jay says "wow, that is a close lag!" That did not need to be said over the loud speaker. You could see the frustration in my friend's face. He had already had to stop several times before during that game because of the chatter on the microphone.
The other thing I find frustrating is all the singing. I'm all for our National Anthem being performed, and I will stand proudly with my hand over my heart and sing along, but maybe it would be better if it was only done at the start of the tournament and right before the finals are to start. This year it went even one step further. On Friday night, the little girl sang the National Anthem (and did a great job!), but then afterward while the other two matches were trying to play, the little girl then started to sing Wind Beneath My Wings. Why? Are we there to see the top pool players play pool? Or are we there for a concert? Every year they apologize for matches taking so long or for running behind schedule. Well, these couple of things that I mentioned are a BIG part of why that is.
Some of you may be saying that most of us play tournaments with the jukebox playing, and should be used to the noise. While I agree that it is true, I will just say that NONE of those tournaments are the US Open! It takes a GREAT performance by one of those players to win the Open, and even one little distraction like the sudden sound of someone's voice over the loud speaker can cost someone the opportunity to win the most prestigious tournament in the pool world.
Sorry folks, but I just needed to vent!
First let me say that Jay did a great job this year, and apart from a couple of bad-timed comments, he pretty much kept his chatter over the microphone to a minimum. He did a great job announcing the players.
I'm going to rant about a couple of the things that I noticed and think that if they changed, it may make things better.
Talking over the loud speaker while matches are in progress is wrong and unfair in my opinion. If you have something to say, don't just blurt it out. Have someone go to the players in between shots and have them pause until the announcement is made. Some matches go into the start time of the next matches. Instead of announcing the next matches and possibly distracting the players trying to finish the match, just simply tell them what you're about to do and let them choose whether to continue playing or pause while the announcements are made.
It's no secret that Barry can be a little long winded and I've heard him and Scott Smith jaw back and forth jokingly on the microphone in the past. It's just not needed. Hell, there's even players that don't even understand what they're joking about!
This year, Jay made a comment at a horrible time that totally distracted a player and cost him a game. It was Friday night, Alex P. and Larry N. were getting their match started with a lag. The other matches had already been announced and had started playing. My friend was shooting on the 7-ball and was just about to pull the trigger when Jay says "wow, that is a close lag!" That did not need to be said over the loud speaker. You could see the frustration in my friend's face. He had already had to stop several times before during that game because of the chatter on the microphone.
The other thing I find frustrating is all the singing. I'm all for our National Anthem being performed, and I will stand proudly with my hand over my heart and sing along, but maybe it would be better if it was only done at the start of the tournament and right before the finals are to start. This year it went even one step further. On Friday night, the little girl sang the National Anthem (and did a great job!), but then afterward while the other two matches were trying to play, the little girl then started to sing Wind Beneath My Wings. Why? Are we there to see the top pool players play pool? Or are we there for a concert? Every year they apologize for matches taking so long or for running behind schedule. Well, these couple of things that I mentioned are a BIG part of why that is.
Some of you may be saying that most of us play tournaments with the jukebox playing, and should be used to the noise. While I agree that it is true, I will just say that NONE of those tournaments are the US Open! It takes a GREAT performance by one of those players to win the Open, and even one little distraction like the sudden sound of someone's voice over the loud speaker can cost someone the opportunity to win the most prestigious tournament in the pool world.
Sorry folks, but I just needed to vent!