First off I dont like the name of the event but if it aint broke dont fix it. From now on its called the FBC-in this post.
Secondly I want to clear some things up, i was in a very bad mood; from other things eariler today. I apologize for those posts. I wanted to take some time and clear some stuff up. Its not everything, but what I can think of now. Read on, I aint ducking anything or issues.
We had 2 great years and have traction as a "Almost established event" that bears my pool room nickname for the past 25 years. Thats a honor and I really mean that. But my ego isnt behind this. I came on AZB and promised to give pool a shot in the arm, well things changed, the economy tanked. So its less than I want to do, but its been good twice. Better than nothing. I believe after its established better players wont forget to sign up.
From day one, I just want a unique event that dosent blend in with everything else like another tour stop. Something unique and hardcore, The Derby is the reason the event exists so props to Greg. A specialized event with-in a monster event. He didnt have to say yes to me. I thank him for the opportunity, we all should thanks him. Thanks to Jay for all his hard work. Jay is awalys for the players, so am I but its too much to ask of him to run a 32 man field racing to 15 with-in the Derby without proper planning and time. 32 players would have been 10 pounds of pool in a 5 pound bag and the quality of the event would suffer IMO, and Jay cant work that hard. And my name will never be on a event that isnt quality, no fuzzy math, late pays, missing added $$$ and the other horror stories. Fatboy events will awalys quality with open numbers for the players to see, that wont change. I'm not doing this with a profit motive now or in 5,10,20 years from now-so nobody can run better events for the players. But I have to grow into that and its a learning process. I have good teachers-Johnny Archer and Nick Varner. Some people say why bother if your not making $$$? I dont need to make $$ from pool and it will also make me the strongest guy promoting because I aint taking anything out. This will become more clear in time, not the near future, but over time.
So seeing that I alone made the decision to stick to 16-blame me, Its not easy to say no to the other guys, I know most of them and consider them friends, So I didnt like having to cut it at 16, but I didnt want a cluster "F" of a event playing at 4am, matches next to the regular Derby events because of space/time restraints etc. Jay was getting pressure from lots of champions to double the size of the event, being the warrior he is he had a hard time to say no, as I did. But there would be matches going constantly, it would get jammed up with the DCC events, players might never sleep, cause the guys going deep in the DCC event are the same guys in the FBC.
We have a good thing going, thanks to Greg its $5,000 better. Next year we will make it better. I/we have a year to think about it. There are a lot of things involved with this and what purpose does it accomplish. I'm not into tossing off 5 dimes a year for zero. I'm looking long term so I dont mind it, i'm not looking to recover my $$ someday either-when there is profit in years from now, it will all go right back into the prize fund(save this post and see in 10 years), but I have good reasons for what I'm doing. Long term vision, I didnt get to where I'm at in life thinking short term, nobody does. You have to have a master plan and stick to it. When its all said and done it will be clear to those of you still in pool.
What I do mind is other people creating/promoting their product with my $$$, its not a donation-its stake to get the big-boys to sign up and play long sets of 10Ball, the best player should win. If I was on a ego trip-I'd put myself in it and talk about things on the mic before the tournament kicks off, but who wants to watch me play? or listen to me talk? So to be fair to the audience I dont play or talk into a mic period, just pool mister, no microphones, pinball machines or bowling.
I'm might do a invitational someday, but that aint this gig. If I did that I might seed it, but i'm not big on that with a small field. The FBC is a top heavy event, with lots of savers going on-I'm very aware of that, and thats NOT my biz. I dont like that winner take all BS. I personally wouldnt put the players under that kind of stress ever, that aint right. So I found middle ground, win 2 and get paid is good to attract players, but they are already there, we have a captive audience-because its the Derby. So thats not necessary to draw them-let them do savers, if they want. Some do, some dont-IDC.
My goal is simple, To accomplish that, I must respect all the top players, and I do respect them, and awalys treat them like I like to be treated-Not being a groupie or ass kisser, but as a man to man. I'm not a phony. So to the goal; which is to be respected by the top players, I must achieve this, and have to a good extent. If they choose to hate me thats cool, its possible to hate someone and still respect them.(Sure I'd rather be liked but I cant make everyone happy all the time) I dont want respect cause I added a couple bucks to the FBC, I want respect because of who I am-the content of my character alone is what I want to be respected for, not my $$$. I dont want to buy respect or friends(that aint real and really isnt possible in the long run), $$$ is for food, action and rent-not buying people. It wasnt my intention to piss anyone off this year. I had to make a very hard decision and I did, I thought alot about it too. I hope I didnt lose anyones respect, players, gamblers and rail birds, etc. For making a tough call to leave it at 16 players. The respect of my peers and fellow people in the pool world is #1 priority for me for the right reasons i described. Its also hard to respect a guy who dosent run quality events. And Everything I do in life I do my best at, I put my heart on my shirt sleve, sucks I cant do more for pool now. I will though when time is right.
I'm going to learn a valuable lession from this; I have to a extent already, I will take my licks, please let me know directly if there is a beef. Dont be shy about your feelings talking to me(just politely is all I ask), if you have a beef-talk to me, not behind my back. I can fix things when people DONT go around me. And thats what I want-people taking up their frustration with me-NOT the rail. Good news takes care of itself. Sure its great to be thanked by people for adding $$$, but that's not something I can fix it works just fine. Bring me the bad news, then I can learn and solve problems.
It will be impossible to make everyone happy, but I'm open to listen and consider what anyone has to say about the eventy. I wish I could do more, I will in time-when I start making $$ again first and secondly when I see the economy turn.
So I apologize to the guys who didnt make it in, thanks for trying. Next year I will make the announcement of the the date entries will be taken 30 days in advance, like concerts. When its full its full. Its on you the players to stay on top of it, when your in action playing pool you manage your game and control the table-Right? Every champion in the world does that. Well you need to do that to play in this event. And at the risk of being a ***** its open to top players only. I dont need a scoring system to know who the top players are.
Perhaps with other events I will use rankings to determine who plays, for the record girls are welcome too every year in the FBC. What I dont want is guys who play my speed in it, if I was gonna have one weak player in it, It would be me. But that aint fair to the other 15 guys, I'm just a bye for who draws me. Unless there is Divine Intervention and I can keep my top gear in gear when I need it, not 2-3 times a year. Then I might sign up.(I wish).
I hope this clears things up a bit,
I gotta go to bed, my plane leaves soon,
Best
Fatboy/Eric<-------------I dont take offence to being called Fatboy, hell I weighed 202 and was still Fatboy, its a honor to have a nick name and not be a champion. But i'd trade the name in to be a champion.:smile: "There goes that champion in the Ed Hardy shirt, whats his name again?", now thats what would really make me happy.
PS if this is repitive its because i just got offa 7 hour 45 minute phone call and aint 100%.
I hope things make abit more sence
Secondly I want to clear some things up, i was in a very bad mood; from other things eariler today. I apologize for those posts. I wanted to take some time and clear some stuff up. Its not everything, but what I can think of now. Read on, I aint ducking anything or issues.
We had 2 great years and have traction as a "Almost established event" that bears my pool room nickname for the past 25 years. Thats a honor and I really mean that. But my ego isnt behind this. I came on AZB and promised to give pool a shot in the arm, well things changed, the economy tanked. So its less than I want to do, but its been good twice. Better than nothing. I believe after its established better players wont forget to sign up.
From day one, I just want a unique event that dosent blend in with everything else like another tour stop. Something unique and hardcore, The Derby is the reason the event exists so props to Greg. A specialized event with-in a monster event. He didnt have to say yes to me. I thank him for the opportunity, we all should thanks him. Thanks to Jay for all his hard work. Jay is awalys for the players, so am I but its too much to ask of him to run a 32 man field racing to 15 with-in the Derby without proper planning and time. 32 players would have been 10 pounds of pool in a 5 pound bag and the quality of the event would suffer IMO, and Jay cant work that hard. And my name will never be on a event that isnt quality, no fuzzy math, late pays, missing added $$$ and the other horror stories. Fatboy events will awalys quality with open numbers for the players to see, that wont change. I'm not doing this with a profit motive now or in 5,10,20 years from now-so nobody can run better events for the players. But I have to grow into that and its a learning process. I have good teachers-Johnny Archer and Nick Varner. Some people say why bother if your not making $$$? I dont need to make $$ from pool and it will also make me the strongest guy promoting because I aint taking anything out. This will become more clear in time, not the near future, but over time.
So seeing that I alone made the decision to stick to 16-blame me, Its not easy to say no to the other guys, I know most of them and consider them friends, So I didnt like having to cut it at 16, but I didnt want a cluster "F" of a event playing at 4am, matches next to the regular Derby events because of space/time restraints etc. Jay was getting pressure from lots of champions to double the size of the event, being the warrior he is he had a hard time to say no, as I did. But there would be matches going constantly, it would get jammed up with the DCC events, players might never sleep, cause the guys going deep in the DCC event are the same guys in the FBC.
We have a good thing going, thanks to Greg its $5,000 better. Next year we will make it better. I/we have a year to think about it. There are a lot of things involved with this and what purpose does it accomplish. I'm not into tossing off 5 dimes a year for zero. I'm looking long term so I dont mind it, i'm not looking to recover my $$ someday either-when there is profit in years from now, it will all go right back into the prize fund(save this post and see in 10 years), but I have good reasons for what I'm doing. Long term vision, I didnt get to where I'm at in life thinking short term, nobody does. You have to have a master plan and stick to it. When its all said and done it will be clear to those of you still in pool.
What I do mind is other people creating/promoting their product with my $$$, its not a donation-its stake to get the big-boys to sign up and play long sets of 10Ball, the best player should win. If I was on a ego trip-I'd put myself in it and talk about things on the mic before the tournament kicks off, but who wants to watch me play? or listen to me talk? So to be fair to the audience I dont play or talk into a mic period, just pool mister, no microphones, pinball machines or bowling.
I'm might do a invitational someday, but that aint this gig. If I did that I might seed it, but i'm not big on that with a small field. The FBC is a top heavy event, with lots of savers going on-I'm very aware of that, and thats NOT my biz. I dont like that winner take all BS. I personally wouldnt put the players under that kind of stress ever, that aint right. So I found middle ground, win 2 and get paid is good to attract players, but they are already there, we have a captive audience-because its the Derby. So thats not necessary to draw them-let them do savers, if they want. Some do, some dont-IDC.
My goal is simple, To accomplish that, I must respect all the top players, and I do respect them, and awalys treat them like I like to be treated-Not being a groupie or ass kisser, but as a man to man. I'm not a phony. So to the goal; which is to be respected by the top players, I must achieve this, and have to a good extent. If they choose to hate me thats cool, its possible to hate someone and still respect them.(Sure I'd rather be liked but I cant make everyone happy all the time) I dont want respect cause I added a couple bucks to the FBC, I want respect because of who I am-the content of my character alone is what I want to be respected for, not my $$$. I dont want to buy respect or friends(that aint real and really isnt possible in the long run), $$$ is for food, action and rent-not buying people. It wasnt my intention to piss anyone off this year. I had to make a very hard decision and I did, I thought alot about it too. I hope I didnt lose anyones respect, players, gamblers and rail birds, etc. For making a tough call to leave it at 16 players. The respect of my peers and fellow people in the pool world is #1 priority for me for the right reasons i described. Its also hard to respect a guy who dosent run quality events. And Everything I do in life I do my best at, I put my heart on my shirt sleve, sucks I cant do more for pool now. I will though when time is right.
I'm going to learn a valuable lession from this; I have to a extent already, I will take my licks, please let me know directly if there is a beef. Dont be shy about your feelings talking to me(just politely is all I ask), if you have a beef-talk to me, not behind my back. I can fix things when people DONT go around me. And thats what I want-people taking up their frustration with me-NOT the rail. Good news takes care of itself. Sure its great to be thanked by people for adding $$$, but that's not something I can fix it works just fine. Bring me the bad news, then I can learn and solve problems.
It will be impossible to make everyone happy, but I'm open to listen and consider what anyone has to say about the eventy. I wish I could do more, I will in time-when I start making $$ again first and secondly when I see the economy turn.
So I apologize to the guys who didnt make it in, thanks for trying. Next year I will make the announcement of the the date entries will be taken 30 days in advance, like concerts. When its full its full. Its on you the players to stay on top of it, when your in action playing pool you manage your game and control the table-Right? Every champion in the world does that. Well you need to do that to play in this event. And at the risk of being a ***** its open to top players only. I dont need a scoring system to know who the top players are.
Perhaps with other events I will use rankings to determine who plays, for the record girls are welcome too every year in the FBC. What I dont want is guys who play my speed in it, if I was gonna have one weak player in it, It would be me. But that aint fair to the other 15 guys, I'm just a bye for who draws me. Unless there is Divine Intervention and I can keep my top gear in gear when I need it, not 2-3 times a year. Then I might sign up.(I wish).
I hope this clears things up a bit,
I gotta go to bed, my plane leaves soon,
Best
Fatboy/Eric<-------------I dont take offence to being called Fatboy, hell I weighed 202 and was still Fatboy, its a honor to have a nick name and not be a champion. But i'd trade the name in to be a champion.:smile: "There goes that champion in the Ed Hardy shirt, whats his name again?", now thats what would really make me happy.
PS if this is repitive its because i just got offa 7 hour 45 minute phone call and aint 100%.
I hope things make abit more sence
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