Florida Men's Pro Tour 10 ball Planet 9-Ball

Chilifide

Will the IPT pay?
Silver Member
I attended the event yesterday (Saturday), and I just called Planet 9-ball to find out who won. Charlie Williams beat Butch Croft in the finals. Some of the other players in attendance were Ray Martin, Rodney Morris, Tony Crosby, John Ditoro, Richard Broumpton, and Neil Fujiwara. I believe 1st place paid $3500.
 
Yeah,I attended also and the day was ruined for me and many others by the actions of one individual. Lets say that a very nice young player who's dying to participate shows up at 11:00 a.m. to watch the players warm up. This same young man has won his entry into the Jr. Nationals,but lacks the $150 to play against some of his idols in this event.A local player/benefactor who is playing in this event pays the young man's entry and the excited young fellow begins to warm up with some of the players. Now, this event is limited to 64 players and they only get 50 players,so they have 14 'byes' written in. They randomly draw the names and the fifth player pulled draws this young fellow,who really wants to play his best and advance as far as possible for all his home room friends and fans. They write in the table assignments, copy the pairings to a yellow legal pad, make the name cards and call the matches. The tournament was suppossed to start at 1:00 p.m. but they started a little late (around 1:25). After awhile, the young man's opponent hasn't shown up and he (plus many others) wants to put him 'on the clock'. It seems that he's running late (though everyone else managed to get there) and the TD won't put him on the clock. The TD decides to put another match on the assigned table and wait for this late 'Pro',who showed up to play at 2:30.This 'Pro' wouldn't never have waited for this young man to show up. When I asked this 'Pro' about this he said,"they made a mistake and shouldn't have called me until the second round." Well, that's not the way the names came out. He was drawn and his table/match called.A clear case of the TD wrongly showing favortism to a friend and high profile 'Pro' player who is very full of himself.Even the TD's assistant thought that the matter was handled incorrectly. He thought that the best action would have been to advance the young man to the next bracket and let the missing Pro buy into one of the remaining 'bye' slots at the very least,while most everyone else that knew what was going on thought the 'Pro' should have been forfeited.I left early yesterday and didn't go back today.I understand from a close friend,who called me after each match today,that when it was time for the finals,this same 'Pro' was not present,but had gone to eat. He was called on the phone and told that he needed to get back quickly (I mean, there WERE players and spectators waiting to watch the finals). I'm told that his reply was, "I'm eating.I'll get there when I get there." I think that the 'Pro' should have been put on the clock (in round two,they put a player on the clock). The 'Pro' didn't even bother to apologize to the young man,who he beat 7-1. I know that I'm probably burning my bridges by posting this,but I've thought about it for more than 24 hours and don't really give a damn.... I've always liked this 'Pro',but some people have outgrown their britches.. imo
 
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Well, first and foremost, the tournament had some GREAT money payouts, especially for a regional tour event. This is what separates the Florida Men's Pro Tour from all the rest. Bravo to Planet-Pool pool room for hosting this magnificant competition. It sounds like the 10-ball game is catching on.

As far as pro player favoritism, I have personally experienced this several times on the tournament trail and agree with Smorgassbored that it is not fair to the rest of the plebians who show up.

I remember an incident in a tournament that had many players show up, more than expected, and so there could be no designated match times.

The TD informed Johnny Archer and Earl Strickland, both super stars in today's pool world, that their matches would begin at 12:00 noon. All others were required to show up to the host pool room at 10:00 a.m. We were some of the people who showed up at 10:00 a.m., but our match did not commence until 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon. While Johnny and Earl could relax and rest in the comfort of their hotel room, getting their beauty sleep, the rest of the players were required be there at 10:00 a.m., stand around on their feet as there was a lack of seating, and wonder when their match would be called.

I have never understood player favoritism, but it does happen. This is one of the MAIN reasons why I have trouble with the current men's governing body of professional pool. Those in charge seem to get special perks and benefits, while all others are left to hang out and dry.

I'm sorry you had a bad tournament experience, Smorgassbored, but don't let it ruin your pool journey. When it happens to me and mine, I just recite the Serenity Prayer. I do have the wisdom to know that are some things that I cannot change, and I will not let it interfere with traveling on the tournament trail.

Bravo to the Seminole Tribe of Florida for keeping this great tour alive and well. You Floridians are some lucky ducks, I tell you! :)

JAM
 
Again

Charlie pulled the same stunt last fall at the final event at Planet 9 Ball.

Why does John put up with this type of conduct on his part??

He is the former leader of the Players association and should know the format is as set, not as he wants it to be !!

This type of conduct should not be allowed!! This is the best tour in the country right now as far as players and payouts.

John, do not allow one player to jepordize the future!!
 
daytonajoe said:
Charlie pulled the same stunt last fall at the final event at Planet 9 Ball.

Why does John put up with this type of conduct on his part??

He is the former leader of the Players association and should know the format is as set, not as he wants it to be !!

This type of conduct should not be allowed!! This is the best tour in the country right now as far as players and payouts.

John, do not allow one player to jepordize the future!!

Mention the name, and the trolls and union members will come out of the woodwork. However, now that you opened up the door, DaytonaJoe, the word "flippant" comes to mind when I think of any pool player, pro or otherwise, who believes he or she is worthy enough to make all other interested bystanders wait for the Royal Highness to grace their presence by walking in the door.

Pardon me while I make mention of the "former" -- (LOL) -- "leader of the Players association."

JAM
 
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Ah quit your bitching doug. You know John DiToro did the right thing. People want to see Charlie play (and since you are back stabbing him why not be a man and use his name - or else shut up) not have him forfeit to some no-name wanna be player. How bad did Charlie beat him?

The Tour, any tour, depends on the name players. They are the linchpins that attract the fans and the sponsors. Without them the tour is nothing. John di Toro did the right thing for the benefit of the tour and the players. He didn't make the same mistake that Charlie did when he kicked out Earl. The UPA has never been the same since that day.


Remember the old saying "rank has its privilegs"? Well it holds true in the world of pro anything. The higher ranked a person is in anything the more respect and privileges he/she gets.

Jake
 
jjinfla said:
Remember the old saying "rank has its privilegs"? Well it holds true in the world of pro anything. The higher ranked a person is in anything the more respect and privileges he/she gets.

Jake

BULLSHIT! Tournaments have to run on a time frame and rules are in place for a reason. Show up or forfeit, regardless of who you are or which player your match is against. NO ONE is above the rules.
 
On a similar note...

People involved in professional athletics keep pulling these "rank" privileges and guess what? Fans will lose interest in the sport. A prime example of this is baseball. Tickets are higher, attendance is somewhat down, and baseball players are WAY overpaid. Look at Sammy Sosa. Guy is not batting 250 this year, and ever since the corked bat incident I am willing to bet he won't make the HOF. Not only that, but fans have lost respect for him as well.

I sort of come from the idea that Cal Ripken was made from, put everything you have into the sport and try your best regardless of circumstances. The fans are why you are there and they are ultimately the ones who pay your salary. You should have the respect to them to be on time, curteous and friendly. Hell at least fake it well! Some people like Barry Bonds can't even do that.

I am disappointed but not surprised about this stunt.

Shorty
 
jjinfla said:
...Remember the old saying "rank has its privileges"? Well, it holds true in the world of pro anything. The higher ranked a person is in anything the more respect and privileges he/she gets.

If you are speaking about the ranking system utilized by the men's governing body of professional pool, it is not without faults.

There are many distinguished Hall of Famers, world-class champions, and star-studded players who would NEVER think they were above the rest, arriving for a match when it is convenient for them and not for the betterment of the event. That insults the integrity of the competition, a level playing field, if you will, to have one player's behavior appear as if they were better than the rest. It is a common theme in some venues, I agree. JMHO, FWIW

JAM
 
Timberly said:
BULLSHIT! Tournaments have to run on a time frame and rules are in place for a reason. Show up or forfeit, regardless of who you are or which player your match is against. NO ONE is above the rules.

Boy, lady do you live in a dream world.

When the stars are on top they get anything they want. When they fall they fall hard.

Mike Tyson is the latest example.

With all his faults he still was cow towed to. But now that is all over. He is just another bum.

Jake
 
Timberly said:
BULLSHIT! Tournaments have to run on a time frame and rules are in place for a reason. Show up or forfeit, regardless of who you are or which player your match is against. NO ONE is above the rules.

A resounding TAP, TAP, TAP!

I can say this, no one is above the rules in the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour, which is also a regional pool tour. TD Mike Zuglan will forfeit you, no matter who you are or what you represent if you don't show up for your match. It presents a very level playing field, and I admire him for enforcing the rules equitably. The RESPECT should be focused on the competition,and all players should be treated EQUAL.

JAM
 
jjinfla chimes in:
Ah quit your bitching doug. You know John DiToro did the right thing. People want to see Charlie play (and since you are back stabbing him why not be a man and use his name - or else shut up) not have him forfeit to some no-name wanna be player. How bad did Charlie beat him?
Remember the old saying "rank has its privilegs"? Well it holds true in the world of pro anything. The higher ranked a person is in anything the more respect and privileges he/she gets.
Jake

Well, you're certainly entitled to your opinion, though neither I nor anyone else that knew what was going on agrees with you. Apparently,you only bothered to read my name on the post and not much else. It was pretty evident to everyone who I was talking about.The no-name wannabe was young 14-15 year old Mitch Menes and I think that the parties involved set a bad precedent for a very nice impressionable young man.Charlie beat him 7-1 (you didn't read that either). Once John found out that Charlie wouldn't be there on time (like everyone else-some who came from much farther than Orlando), he should have put Charlie in one of the lower 'bye' spots,giving him until the second round to waltz in.The young fellow ponied up his $150 and should have been afforded the luxury of using the proper rules. A couple of years ago two players (if I recall correctly it was David Grossman and Richard Broumpton) had their match called at Planet 9-Ball by the Florida Tour TD and Grossman was put on the clock. He didn't arrive on time and his match was forfeited. Later, David showed up and said that he'd called the front desk to say he was running late. They re-called the match and Broumpton said that he wasn't going to play,because he'd already been awarded the match. He was told that if he refused to play the match (that he'd been awarded), that HE would be forfeited. I guess that you agree with that decision also. Or do you only defend pals from your town of Orlando.Or, do you just like to disagree with me ? Whatever, I'm through with you.
 
jjinfla said:
Boy, lady do you live in a dream world.

When the stars are on top they get anything they want. When they fall they fall hard.

Mike Tyson is the latest example.

With all his faults he still was cow towed to. But now that is all over. He is just another bum.

The lady lives in the REAL world, Jake. Maybe the reason "when they fall, they fall hard" is because they are labeled "bums" by folks like you. Tyson may have fallen in his latest boxing match, but he still pocketed $5 million, something I don't believe any pool player in my lifetime will earn.

JAM
 
The rules should be the same for everyone. Unfortunately, they are not. As a Pro player, this one is on Charlies' head. He has a responsibility to represent himself in the best manner possible. People do show up to watch him play. All the more reason for him to adhere to an even tougher set of rules that he should set for himself. Like do everything humanly(sp) possible to get to a tourney on time, if not early. Things happen that can't be controlled. Maybe this is the case. If not, he needs to work on his promptness. Rank does have its privileges, but so do fame and notoriety.
 
Please don't slam me for saying this........
Heck of a start isn't it?

Anyway, it is common practice by many TD's to skip over a 1st round match to allow many players to arrive at the event late. This happens soo many times in the 1st rounds it isn't even funny. The scenerio usually goes something like this. Player A calls the event and states he is running a little late (the excuse is usually that the player is lost or it took longer getting there than expected). Player A talks with the TD and the understanding usually goes something like...... TD to player A, when will you expect to arrive? Player A, I will be about 45 minutes late. TD, will someone pay your entry fee? Player A, yep, player Z will guarantee my entry fee. TD, ok then, I will skip your 1st round match but you must be there before we start the 2nd round or you will forfeit your 1st match ok? Player A, I'll be there.

This is done for many reasons but the most common reason is just to get as many players in the event as possible. It should not be construed as favoritism but more as a courtesy to the players (any player). At times it may seem disruptive but it's something that can be done for the benefit of any player that is in player A's situation.

I do not encourage that anyone try this on a regular basis but if you are running a little late to an event the chances are very high that you (whoever you are) will get the same exact treatment.

For me, the above situation is only acceptable for 1st round matches. If you are late at any other time you should simply be forfeited after you grace period has expired.

Mj
 
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Yes, BUT.....................

Even the BEST sometimes Screw Up!

I honestly think that the DCC is the VERY BEST tourney available to us - BUT - even they can have their problems.

I went to bed at 6 am after being told that my first game in the 1P tourney would be at 4 pm and "for sure NO Earlier". We were encouraged to check with "The Tourney Desk" before going to bed for any matches coming up the next day. THAT IS WHAT I DID!
At 2:05 pm my room phone rings and it is "The Tourney Desk" informing me that I had a 2 pm starting time and now I am already 5 min late and have only 10 min to get to the table OR forfeit.
Now I am a very slow riser and need at least 2 cups of coffee to even open my eyes much less, throw in my contacts, throw on a pair of shorts & a tee shirt and go down and start playing a very good playing opponent.
Now would I (or any pool player) be telling this story, IF I HAD WON?

TY & GL
 
OldHasBeen said:
Even the BEST sometimes Screw Up!

I honestly think that the DCC is the VERY BEST tourney available to us - BUT - even they can have their problems.

I went to bed at 6 am after being told that my first game in the 1P tourney would be at 4 pm and "for sure NO Earlier". We were encouraged to check with "The Tourney Desk" before going to bed for any matches coming up the next day. THAT IS WHAT I DID!
At 2:05 pm my room phone rings and it is "The Tourney Desk" informing me that I had a 2 pm starting time and now I am already 5 min late and have only 10 min to get to the table OR forfeit.
Now I am a very slow riser and need at least 2 cups of coffee to even open my eyes much less, throw in my contacts, throw on a pair of shorts & a tee shirt and go down and start playing a very good playing opponent.
Now would I (or any pool player) be telling this story, IF I HAD WON?

OHB, the Derby City Classic has those buyback formats which make it just about impossible to know "who's on first and who's on second" due to the unknown quantity of WHO is going to buy back into the tournament.

Each year, though, I have seen Scott Smith and the other TD staff go out of their way to keep the schedule running fast and furious. Because of the bulk of players, I don't know how they do it, but no doubt, it is one of the premier events on the tournament trail.

I too have experienced unpredictable tournament scheduling at the DCC, but it is the nature of that particular event because of the masses of pool folk who attend each year. In fact, I think it was bigger last year than ever. It is a great week in January to go to Louisville, KY, and anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of going, I highly recommend it.

JAM
 
MikeJanis said:
Anyway, it is common practice by many TD's to skip over a 1st round match to allow many players to arrive at the event late. This happens soo many times in the 1st rounds it isn't even funny. The scenerio usually goes something like this. Player A calls the event and states he is running a little late (the excuse is usually that the player is lost or it took longer getting there than expected).

For me, the above situation is only acceptable for 1st round matches. If you are late at any other time you should simply be forfeited after you grace period has expired.

Mj
Hiya stranger! I can understand a player getting lost trying to find a room and if they call ahead of time (during the 1st round) I certainly wouldn't have a problem giving them a little leeway. We've all been lost before. :rolleyes:

My problem with what happened in FL is the way the player acted and the way they handled the situation when they were eating.... If this actually happened this way and it was allowed.... shame on all in involved from the player thinking it was acceptable to the TD allowing it to be. JMHO
 
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