Eligibility for Super Seniors/ Vegas(2015?)

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sharkrus

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Recently Mike Massey won the Super Senior tournament in Vegas. According to the BCA's present eligibility rule all 65 yr olds & up are eligible to play regardless of their standing in the pool community (including Pros & Grand Masters). My understanding is that this rule is now being revised by BCA (which I feel is appropriate) to disallow Pros & Grand Masters from the competition. I feel the Super Senior competition should be devoted to older (65+) league players and not dominated by the older Pros as will happen, unless eligibility rules are changed. Should Massey have entered this competition? Probably not in my opinion.....My respect for him is diminished.
 
sharkrus said:
My respect for him is diminished.
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Why would your respect for him be diminished? He entered a tournament and didn't break any rules. If you think the rules are wrong and should be revised, that's one thing, but don't blame him for abiding by the rules and trying to support himself.
 
This is a tough post to chime in on. I fully am aware of what your saying, totally agree with you. But, tomorrow, I could wake up and fully agree to let Mike shoot. I have nothing but respect for Mike Massey and he still has game as I played a game or two against him in Las Vegas at the end of May a couple of months ago. However, age may not slow down the mental part if your lucky, and also may not slow you down to bad physically, but, should he be put out with no where to go to play competition pool ?? He still has to get it done.
I shot in the classic division this year at the VNEA International Championships which is for 50 year olds and didn't find or witness a clear poor shooter or in my opinion, a clear favorite. It still came down to who may have made one more mistake, usually simple, over the other player. Then again, would I like it if Earl Strickland walked in and set up next to me as being my opponent. Well, actually I would as it would be a great to see him play a match really up close instead of the bleachers, even though it would be at my expense watching him smirk at me before he would clear another table.
So, I get what your saying for sure, but, can see the other side also.
Hope something will progress into a solution for all. Good Luck
 
I agree that professional pool players have a tough job making money, but I dont agree that Billiard Hall of Fame players (like Massey) belong in what is basically an amateur competition. There are other singles competitions @ Vegas including Grandmaster Singles, Master singles & advanced singles that Massey might have entered, but they would have been much tougher competitions for him.!! Just because it was legal for him to enter doesn't make it appropriate. Without change in the eligibility rule we could be looking at Jose Parica - 65
Buddy Hall - 69
Nick Varner - 66
Ray Martin - 78
Dallas West - 73
Ed Kelly - 76
& Efren Reyes shortly???
If Grand Masters & Pros are declared eligible to play in Super Senior competition, there will be a lot of us staying home!!
 
I would like to first comment on your feeling of disappointment and resentment toward Mike Massey, one of pools great legendary players. Mike always handles himself admirably, and imo, if he can stay fit and compete at the age of 69 years old then he should be given respect for what he's been able to accomplish and for who he is. There are specific rules..guidelines, that clearly define eligibility, and I would believe that much thought was given before implementing certain rules, especially rules that would allow professionals to mix with the amateurs. Believe it or not there are amateur players that have exceeded a certain age (over 60) that actually play better than many professional players of the same age, people age differently and for that reason I would be fine with competing along side some of the aging professional players. Matter of fact at the age of 71 I may enter next year, providing players like your self haven't persuaded promoters to change their guidelines:frown:

Enjoy the rest of your day,
Bill Incardona
 
I like Mike Massey and do not feel he did anything wrong. I have heard both side for letting and against letting obvious Pros into this competition. It would be interesting to get some of the folks who played in the super seniors and get an idea how they feel about it. One fellow I know, who has done very well in the super seniors was really upset that Mike was allowed to play. Another fellow Thais not quite as strong as the first player also was unhappy about the Pros are allowed rule. So that is 2 against.

Another thing I have to say about that is the Vegas tournament seems to be losing players so I would think the CSI folks should be focused on how to reverse that trend which I am sure they are. And maybe re-evaluating the super seniors rule is part of that.

Personally if I want to play against Pros in local tournaments here in Houston. When I go to Vegas I would prefer it would be an amateur event as much as possible.
 
OK, I played in that event. Had I won an additional match on the winners side, I'd have played Mike. As I only play the balls on the table, knowing Mike's ability would not have been a problem for me. I've played him before. Having said that, looking around at most other players in the event, most would have fainted at the prospect of playing such a legendary player. Have no problem with Mike playing but ..... Where does it stop? Last year, BCAPL allowed Advanced players to participate in the Seniors. Take a guess how that turned out? Rule was changed this year back to the old regimen. Guess the real question is, is this an amateur event or not? Yes or no? JMHO.

Lyn
 
Make It Clear From The Start

On the bottom of the singles entry form, above the player's signature, was printed the following:

"I am a current member of the BCA Pool League (BCAPL) and not a professional player as defined by the BCAPL. Professional Players may enter the Grand Masters division only."

If Mike isn't a professional player, I don't know who is. Also, Massey is and has been listed on the BCAPL's Grand Master list. If the intent was to allow any player 65 and over, regardless of rating, into the Super Senior Singles tournament, then I think that should have been spelled out on the entry form.
 
If you can still play at 65 why not let everyone have some fun.
People always want to sneak in where the pickings are easy.
Get in and get a bloody nose once in a while.
I would like nothing better than to draw Mike first and then Billy second if I can play in it next year.
 
Mike Massey, a pro???

sbpoolleague said:
On the bottom of the singles entry form, above the player's signature, was printed the following:

"I am a current member of the BCA Pool League (BCAPL) and not a professional player as defined by the BCAPL. Professional Players may enter the Grand Masters division only."

If Mike isn't a professional player, I don't know who is. Also, Massey is and has been listed on the BCAPL's Grand Master list. If the intent was to allow any player 65 and over, regardless of rating, into the Super Senior Singles tournament, then I think that should have been spelled out on the entry form.
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I haven't looked at the BCAPL definition of a pro player but it has me wondering if Mike is still considered a pro. When was the last time he played in a pro event?
 
8ballEinstein said:
I haven't looked at the BCAPL definition of a pro player but it has me wondering if Mike is still considered a pro. When was the last time he played in a pro event?
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Look all you want. BCAPL does not describe what or who a "pro" player is. The closest you'll get is the Grand Master division. Mark Griffin described the GM as an opportunity for the best players to make some additional money at the National event. As the 9 Ball Challenge is open to all players, you'll see most of the best players entered in that as well.

Lyn
 
I'm a Super Senior and I thought it was wrong..All the Seniors I talked to did also....
I like Mike..I have many pictures of myself and wife and him together..He always say's hello to us in Vegas when passing...
I did hear him bragging in front of the Meucci booth that he went undefeated thru 9 matches to win it..He also added he just won the Senior Nat'l event last month...I know of some players in their 80's still playing Super Seniors...Believe me there is a big difference between 65 and 80....Ask any 80 year old...
Don't think he should play in SS but I still like him anyway...

I didn't play Seniors or SS this year..I played Leisure and cashed....I like to enter a different division each year for the fun of it...
 
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I don't like handicapping my competition in order for me to win. I want to play the best players and challenge myself to win.

Don't water down the strength of the tournament. Let them play. Encourage more top-tier players to compete.

If you don't want to play the best in Las Vegas, who do you want to play? Mike Massey is beatable, so quit making excuses and beat him.
 
:thumbup: Absolutely ... If you are going to win let it be a true win. No sandbagging handicaps. Play your game and when you win it will be really a memorable occasion with all the bragging rights.



TX Poolnut said:
I don't like handicapping my competition in order for me to win. I want to play the best players and challenge myself to win.

Don't water down the strength of the tournament. Let them play. Encourage more top-tier players to compete.

If you don't want to play the best in Las Vegas, who do you want to play? Mike Massey is beatable, so quit making excuses and beat him.
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Got this off the BCA Pool League Facebook page dated March 3, 2013...

MEN’S SUPER SENIOR SINGLES
Men that turn 65 years of age prior to the tournament start date are eligible to participate in the Super Senior division. Regardless of a players rating, if they are of Super Senior age they are eligible to participate. There is no handicap involved regardless of rating.
 
I disagree with those feeling that an "open to all qualified" Super Senior tournament with numerous Pros & Grand Masters would not change the character of the BCA pool league format (for amateur pool league players). The precedent is certainly set by the open division where there are separate divisions for advanced, master & grand master players. Apparently BCA feels that "handicapping the field" is needed in the open division to make it more fair for amateur league players. Why is that also not appropriate for the Super Senior division? If BCA does not change eligibility, then I fear amateur participation will diminish in the Super Senior division..
 
Mike Massey has won professional and international tournaments in 9 ball, 8 ball, straight pool (14.1) and one pocket...
He has a high run of 9 racks of 9 ball in tournament play and 13 racks in challenge matches.....Also a high run of 224 balls in straight pool....
 
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