He can love the game but to deny that the professionalism of the commentating is severely lacking at times is just being in denial.
Expo Thoughts
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He can love the game but to deny that the professionalism of the commentating is severely lacking at times is just being in denial.
I was also there for the Wednesday Warm-Up and left on Sunday morning. I won't comment on what you said about John Morra, Upstate Al or the interview, but I do agree with your comments about the bleachers. They were *very* uncomfortable.
I also noticed some are blasting you for complaining about the money, or anything at all. It seems as though having any opinion that differs from someone else's invites attacks, which is why I am sure there are so many lurkers and so few posters. People seem only too eager to pounce on someone for expressing their opinions...on a free forum...on the Internet!
That being said, I would now like to share my observations/experiences from this year's SBE. Read it, or don't...your choice:
1. The pro bleachers were sinfully uncomfortable...in every way. If you are going to charge $20/day Wed - Fri and then $20/session on the weekend provide better facilities. ...period.
2. The food was too expensive. Yes, yes, yes, I know I did not have to eat there and I could have gone to Wawa etc., but the point is convenience. Who wants to run to Wawa or somewhere else, risk losing their parking space and so on when they can go to a booth and get something? The whole point is to stay in the building, but I suppose the vendor knows that too. $4 for fries and $3.75 for a slice of pizza, $7 for chicken tenders, $2.50 for a chocolate chip cookie...you get the picture.
3. The chairs provided throughout were uncomfortable as well. They should take a closer look at the average Expo attendee. 1 out of every 5 people were obese, or morbidly so. I am not saying we should have leather armchairs, but these tiny, low plastics things have got to go.
4. I liked that there were multiple bathroom choices.
5. Having some pro matches outside did not sit well with me. I know they have to get through the field but maybe they could shorten the races? Sets to 10 can take a long time with ten ball, especially with some of the ladies.
6. I also felt that they could have paid out more of the field. Having to win 5 matches to get some cash is rough, especially when there are so many big guns allowed to play.
7. Stop letting anyone play in the Wednesday Warm-Up...that really should be for amateurs only! If I want to play a pro I would enter the pro event or the pro-am event.
8. More chairs, more chairs, more chairs.
9. The cleaning staff did a great job in my opinion. Pool players are generally slobs and these folks busted their butts to keep the place as clean as possible. Kudos to them.
10. The staff working the food counters were excellent. They were busy, always pleasant and also humped the entire time.
Overall I had a great time, saw a lot of people I have not seen in 2 or 3 years, and I managed to cash in the Wed. Warm-Up. I got knocked out one round before the money in the Open, but given that I took a 2.5 year hiatus I am surprised I got as far as I did.
Before you decide to blast me for my criticisms please remember that I am *well* aware that no event can be perfect. We all love what Allen has been doing for us, but that does not mean we cannot suggest where certain improvements can be made.
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You miss the point.
Its not about being denial, its about recognizing that these are amateurs doing a job that few would do and that not caring for the way its done is different from bashing someone for not being ESPN quality.
Its not about being denial, its about recognizing that these are amateurs doing a job that few would do and that not caring for the way its done is different from bashing someone for not being ESPN quality.
No, you miss the point. The poster did not ask for ESPN quality. However I am sure they would like commentators that are fully informed and focus on the match.
How many countless matches have seen it turn into amateur comedy hour at times or focus on what food they have or plan on eating.
Well then..,
They don't turn into amateur hour, they are amateurs who are many times doing it for free, so if you don't like it just turn it off. These are amateurs covering a primarily amateur sport.
You can always go with the no audio just like I do when I watch the China or Philippine matches that are not in English.
They don't turn into amateur hour, they are amateurs who are many times doing it for free, so if you don't like it just turn it off. These are amateurs covering a primarily amateur sport.
You can always go with the no audio just like I do when I watch the China or Philippine matches that are not in English.
Well Al seems a likable guy but the OP isn't wrong & it's just not at this event. I've watched numerous streams here since joining & there seems to be a common theme. Al constantly disappearing to get something to eat, the reports of what he had to eat when he finally returns, reports of what Snookie likes to eat, which appears to be everything. The 3 minute discussion of what the score really is when he returns so it can be updated because Snookie or whatever pool personality he left in the booth didn't update it while he was gone & on & on. It's freaking ridiculous. A word comes to mind, complacent. It's a circus every event.
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I'm ok paying for it. but I must admit the $20 per session was a little much.$10 was more in line with the seating or at least for $20 bucks you should get to watch all day. not just a session . When he made free people used it like a lunch room and sat there chatting with a free place to sit now the people there our actually there to watch pool to it's more respectful except of course the people that our still to stupid to turn off their ringer :angry: I believe it used to be $20 for vip and now it's that for just bleachers.
I agree that a pay-gate to the Pro Arena was the way to go. Paying $10 to see the pros is small enough for the enthusiasts and large enough to keep out those looking for a place to stuff their face with chicken fingers. But, $20 on the weekends is too steep.
Plus, I actually felt bad for the players. The aluminum bleachers were EXTREMELY noisy and the lighting looked dim. Earl even made a comment during his Grenier match that he kept expecting to see people in football uniforms when he looked up.
Double elimination is double elimination except at SBE. Agreed that Alex and Earl got hosed,
I will gladly defend my comments. Anyone who purchases a stream for the purpose of listening to AL, please identify yourself. We buy to watch the match(s), and should not be subjected to someone talking over 80% of the time about meaningless BS, when he should be focused on what's going on. Expecting some basic information from the commentator is not too much to ask. It's OK for the announcer to say nothing at times - that's what we have eyes for and why we purchase video productions.
I don't doubt for one minute that this guy pores his soul into promoting the game, but he is sadly miscast for calling the action. And yes, I would tell him what I feel about his performances. It is not a personal attack, but rather an honest and accurate critique of his performance. Like I said before, if this sport really wants to rely on streaming to survive (and at this point I do not see another viable alternative), guys like him must be replaced by others who have the knowledge and desire to stay focused on what is happening.
Fair enough, and you may be right. But some of your criticism was really harsh and did sound a bit personal ("ass-clown"...was that necessary?)
Many of those so called amatures are worth the price of admission on thier own ,, there was also pro 10 ball one pocket and pro am not to mention big time action on the open floor ,, the crying over pennies has me buckled over in laughter luckily there is free toilet paper to use as tissues so you don't have to spend anymore money ,,
Might want to get the direct rout back to the airport also those gps directions might cost u another 10
1
Hey Stroke, anyone who watched any of my matches sure got thier monies worth!!!! One rack I would give SVB a lesson. Next rack a TAP two might have won. What's more fun than that????
Lyn
Fair enough - that was over the top. Consider it a bad knee jerk reaction after 8 hours of his nonsense.
Good seeing you again Curtis....I posted my thoughts in another but will copy/paste them here too as I hit on your note #6.
I do not understand all the issue over payouts at all. I received more this year for a 33-64th finish than I did from a previous 17-32nd. The group I traveled with this year filled a slot in the 5th-8th, 9-16, 17-32, and my 33-64 slot. Not one of us complained about the payouts during our long drive home. Discussion for next year event was started, so everyone seemed happy. I was glad to see the pay increase at the minimum cash spots.
Please point me to other tournaments where you win 4 matches for $800 with the entry fee paid at this event. Granted quite a bit of the 100$ fee is green fees/expo pass fee which most that run numbers do not account for, so its essentially a 60-75$ tourney.
If anything could be changed they could push some of that added money from the 33-64 to the 64-128 places. As its sits a very low percentage of the players get a payout as compared to normal tourneys. But I am indifferent with that opinion. I did hear of some players with savers for that 4th rd match.
We enjoyed the event and anything of that magnitude is bound to have areas that can be improved on. It gets old hearing complaints from folks that have never been there or make assumptions. Side note even though the pit/action area seemed quite mild compared to the old days, our group liked the layout of it.
My personal opinion is that the streaming future of pool will grow with Upstate Al, not without him. I'd recommend a little more constructive criticism. He's open to it.
I did two matches for Al. IMNSO, it was two of the best streaming matches of which I've been a part. We were out of the way of people, we didn't have to be too quiet, and we mixed match commentary with professional insight (Mr. Robles sat with us).
Freddie <~~~ everyone has one...
I do think the charging $20 for ever session with some matches being out in the open area, for free, was a little much. I do think he needs to charge, otherwise people do use it as a place to sit, eat, etc. but $20 and multiple sessions seemed excessive.
The best part was that to watch the finals on Sunday you had to leave, buy a new ticket, and come back in. I couldn't believe that one.
And yes, I agree the bleacher seats were extremely uncomfortable.
I also thought all matches should've been in an arena or closed off area. To be put outside with all that activity for a PRO event, a few hundred dollar entry, is not "professional". Yes, I know in Asia some events are played in giant malls but SBE had the room and have closed off sections before. I don't think it would've been difficult to make it more private.
The lighting was horrible. They needed to dim the auditorium lights so that the table lights would be brighter and the audience in darkness, so to speak. (Like Turning Stone.) It was so bright the players could see everyone moving and I'm sure more than one player was sharked by the audience.
Plus it was casting weird shadows on the tables - I heard more than one player complain about it.
And lots of complaints about the cue ball.
An additional two comments I have are:
I think they need to get rid of Frank Del Pizzo as a TD. He was useless in terms of crowd control, in terms of keeping things running smoothly, etc. I heard him screaming for players for a match that was already played, he was nowhere to be found when Vivian/Allison need a hit call (Vivian screamed at the guy who watched the hit who didn't know how to watch a hit...) and he just seemed to "power trip" a lot. I think Jose Burgos would've been a better choice.
The other thing is the whole single elim issue with no redraw. That just punished people for staying on the win side. It was absolutely stupid and I applaud all the women for getting together and forcing a redraw so that it would be fair to the people on the winner's side.
The best part was that to watch the finals on Sunday you had to leave, buy a new ticket, and come back in. I couldn't believe that one.
And yes, I agree the bleacher seats were extremely uncomfortable.
I also thought all matches should've been in an arena or closed off area. To be put outside with all that activity for a PRO event, a few hundred dollar entry, is not "professional". Yes, I know in Asia some events are played in giant malls but SBE had the room and have closed off sections before. I don't think it would've been difficult to make it more private.
The lighting was horrible. They needed to dim the auditorium lights so that the table lights would be brighter and the audience in darkness, so to speak. (Like Turning Stone.) It was so bright the players could see everyone moving and I'm sure more than one player was sharked by the audience.
Plus it was casting weird shadows on the tables - I heard more than one player complain about it.
And lots of complaints about the cue ball.
An additional two comments I have are:
I think they need to get rid of Frank Del Pizzo as a TD. He was useless in terms of crowd control, in terms of keeping things running smoothly, etc. I heard him screaming for players for a match that was already played, he was nowhere to be found when Vivian/Allison need a hit call (Vivian screamed at the guy who watched the hit who didn't know how to watch a hit...) and he just seemed to "power trip" a lot. I think Jose Burgos would've been a better choice.
The other thing is the whole single elim issue with no redraw. That just punished people for staying on the win side. It was absolutely stupid and I applaud all the women for getting together and forcing a redraw so that it would be fair to the people on the winner's side.
One bit of feedback for him, as a streamer who creates a post and then constantly is in the thread making his own follow-up posts, he should take the time to respond to some of the many people asking questions...
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=424216
Hot dogs were $4 just sayin
I like your passion, I disagree about AL. After his silence over the Dennis-Ko match, I will never buy another PPV to which he is connected.
That's a bargin man. Cirque deSoleil Bottle of water was $7.00
My .02 which is worth less...
If you're going to watch the pros play I think you'll be disappointed. Too much money to sit in uncomfortable bleachers. For me, the best place to watch the pros is Turning Stone and admission is free.
If you're there for anything other than watching the pros...then this is the event of the year.
My problem is, I loved the SBE when it was at the Scanticon and have a really hard time comparing the new venue with the old. It just doesn't compare for me which really sucks because it was my favorite event of the year. Nothing they could do about it since the old venue is now a casino. I suppose if I hadn't enjoyed the old venue for so many years and had nothing to compare it to it wouldn't be so bad. I applaud Allen and Allen Jr. They've given me 10 plus years of pool enjoyment. Whether I continue to go or not I hope they keep it going for another 50 and get rich doing it.
If you're going to watch the pros play I think you'll be disappointed. Too much money to sit in uncomfortable bleachers. For me, the best place to watch the pros is Turning Stone and admission is free.
If you're there for anything other than watching the pros...then this is the event of the year.
My problem is, I loved the SBE when it was at the Scanticon and have a really hard time comparing the new venue with the old. It just doesn't compare for me which really sucks because it was my favorite event of the year. Nothing they could do about it since the old venue is now a casino. I suppose if I hadn't enjoyed the old venue for so many years and had nothing to compare it to it wouldn't be so bad. I applaud Allen and Allen Jr. They've given me 10 plus years of pool enjoyment. Whether I continue to go or not I hope they keep it going for another 50 and get rich doing it.