Gabe Owen forfeits in Austin

Prime example of why pool will never be where golf is in the public.
I know Gabe and this doesn't sound like the Gabe I know. Really need to hear from Gabe on this matter. Golf's answer to this is John Daly.---Smitty
 
Poolplaya9 said:
With no sponsors or calcutta I agree that he has every right to quit whenever he wants to. I also agree that we have every right to not think highly of the actions of being a quitter.
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Another thing. He is a US Open Champion, a DCC one pocket champion among many other titles. Gabe has paid his dues and doesn't have to explain anything to anyone. To call Gabe a quitter over this tournament is a joke in my mind. However, think what you want to think this is a free country and we are talking about a game.

Take care,
Marcus
 
mnorwood said:
Another thing. He is a US Open Champion, a DCC one pocket champion among many other titles. Gabe has paid his dues and doesn't have to explain anything to anyone. To call Gabe a quitter over this tournament is a joke in my mind. However, think what you want to think this is a free country and we are talking about a game.

Take care,
Marcus
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FWIW....let's just say I happened to call him at a bad time yesterday....so suddently heard a bit of the wrath of it. It seems there's more than meets the eye on this. He does invest travel, time & money into most all events, so doesn't take them lightly. :bash: :) I'm sure someone will hear all about it eventually!
 
if i remember correctly,he forfeited early at the Musuc City tournament a year or two ago also.not really a big deal,but i am sure to the people who buy him in the calcutta it is.
 
gabesmom said:
FWIW....let's just say I happened to call him at a bad time yesterday....so suddently heard a bit of the wrath of it. It seems there's more than meets the eye on this. He does invest travel, time & money into most all events, so doesn't take them lightly. :bash: :) I'm sure someone will hear all about it eventually!
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Hopefully you understand that I am taking up for him. I don't mean any offense to you or anyone else for that matter. Hope all is well with you and yours.:)

Best,
Marcus
 
In my opinion

Snapshot9 said:
ever been through the loser's side of a 128 player tournament? If you have, then you already know the answer, having to win 13 matches to get to the final match.

He may have had a better opportunity pop up also.
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Going to the loser's side early, and having a better opportunity come up is no excuse. I have always had a very positive impression of Gabe, even though I don't know him personally.
I don't think it shows any heart at all to quit, and it's not good for the tournament, whether there was a calcutta or not. { Especially if someone bought you in the calcutta} But even if there were only 20 actual spectators in the room, they may have wanted to watch Gabe play.
Now, I'm not saying anything bad about Gabe, because I don't have all the info, and it's not my place to say something about it. Just my opinion on quitting a tourney.
 
hi

Harold Smith said:
Prime example of why pool will never be where golf is in the public.
I know Gabe and this doesn't sound like the Gabe I know. Really need to hear from Gabe on this matter. Golf's answer to this is John Daly.---Smitty
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players withdraw every week on the pga tour.so that is not the reason pools where its at imo
 
mnorwood said:
Hopefully you understand that I am taking up for him. I don't mean any offense to you or anyone else for that matter. Hope all is well with you and yours.:)

Best,
Marcus
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Yes, definitely, I can tell you're sticking up for him! :) As many others on here have. In fact, I liked the way you phrase things! I just chose to post on you since you were one of the last on the thread. (lucky you!!) haha

I just happened to call him at the time he "left the building" yesterday (I actually thought I would just get voicemail)....and was surprised he answered, but due to timing, I got to hear a bit of it, before getting around to a little more pleasant conversation.:eek:
 
Fatboy said:
Unless the room has compensated the player he has no responsibility to stay if he dosent want to. When you buy a player in a calcutta thats a risk you take.
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Short and to the point.
 
dogginda9 said:
Short and to the point.
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Awhile back, there was a thread saying they had stopped the calcuttas on the Fast Eddie stops in Texas because of the TABC. So, I'm guessing there was no calcutta.

Edit: I just read post #12 where this is confirmed.
 
Gabe is currently down in Houston and I was with him all day. He and Jeremy Jones are working on something. Anyway, Gabe said he forfeited because the conditions of the tournament were borderline unbearable. He said it was cooler outside the poolroom that in. Being that it is 100 degrees down here, I understand exactly why he left. In any event, he had to be back for business with JJ.

I hope this remedies any misconceptions anyone may have. His character should not be in question.

On another note, he loves the Fast Eddie's Tour and has enjoyed much success playing the tournaments. He will undoubtedly play more events in the future. Furthermore, he didn't want to offend anyone and would like to apoligize for any inconvenience his leaving the tourney may caused.
 
sjm said:
My vote is to express, as a fan, that I don't like it when pros pack it in like this.

This is not about Gabe, but about all who conduct themselves in this manner. This kind of disregard by players for the rooms sponsoring events is far too common among the players. Players who feel no obligation to poolroom proprietors who, by funding them, invest in tournaments, are making it less attractive for poolroom proprietors to take the associated risks. It is certainly their right to behave in this manner, but they shouldn't act too surprised when potential investors in pro pool are scared away.
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Exactly... As I was reading, I was thinking about how to respond; however, you captured it brilliantly, as usual.
 
try walking out on a match in any of the top pro sports without a life/death reason and you'll be crucified universally

I don't see why pro pool players should not be held just as accountable

yet another reason why pool remains where it is
 
smashmouth said:
try walking out on a match in any of the top pro sports without a life/death reason and you'll be crucified universally

I don't see why pro pool players should not be held just as accountable

yet another reason why pool remains where it is
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Not necessarily, it happens quite a lot, even in golf. There are withdrawals after the first round of PGA Tour events almost every week as there are in The European PGA Tour. No crucifixion takes place.

I personally played in the season ending Tour Championship event on the European PGA Seniors Tour one year (as a qualifier amateur) in which the two guys in 1st and 2nd place in The European PGA Seniors Tour Order of Merit money list for that year (Sam Torrance and Carl Mason), by far the sponsors biggest draws for crowd and television and for event prestige, both withdrew after one round claiming minor injuries. Doubt those 'injuries' would have caused withdrawals had they not just shot 78 and 79 respectively and had they not been in unassailable positons in the season money list irrespctive of the result. They appeared injury free in the bar later before jetting out and no crucifixion took place.
 
memikey said:
Not necessarily, it happens quite a lot, even in golf. There are withdrawals after the first round of PGA Tour events almost every week as there are in The European PGA Tour. No crucifixion takes place.

I personally played in the season ending Tour Championship event on the European PGA Seniors Tour one year (as a qualifier amateur) in which the two guys in 1st and 2nd place in The European PGA Seniors Tour Order of Merit money list for that year (Sam Torrance and Carl Mason), by far the sponsors biggest draws for crowd and television and for event prestige, both withdrew after one round claiming minor injuries. Doubt those 'injuries' would have caused withdrawals had they not just shot 78 and 79 respectively and had they not been in unassailable positons in the season money list irrespctive of the result. They appeared injury free in the bar later before jetting out and no crucifixion took place.
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Yes, I was a marshall in a PGA Tour event and it was hot and slow and all of the sudden there was a ruckus and John Daly and his caddy came walking through the crowd right by me (I was on the 18th green) and kept walking out to the parking lot. Apparently he wasn't happy with how he was playing and just walked off the course after 15 holes or so and didn't come back the next day.

The fact that he walked off was never reported in the news for that tournament.

~rc
 
gabesmom said:
FWIW....let's just say I happened to call him at a bad time yesterday....so suddently heard a bit of the wrath of it. It seems there's more than meets the eye on this. He does invest travel, time & money into most all events, so doesn't take them lightly. :bash: :) I'm sure someone will hear all about it eventually!
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Well, I'm the Tour Director for these events and Gabe has been to many and even won a couple of them.

Gabe is a good guy and welcome to any of our events. While ther he is a good sport, a gentleman, and plays very hard. I consider him a friend and we say in touch. I'm not upset with him at all.

FWIW, I heard he got very frustrated and left after his loss. Then I heardd that something else came up which would have caused one to make a dicision. Things happen. Gabe put himself in the tournament and I assume his own gas to Austin from Houston, so he hurt nobody but himself. I hope it worked out for him.

Gabe is an honorable man and had anyone invested in him, I'm sure he would have stayed.

If it was going to bother anyone on the planet, it would have been me. he is a good man, and I trust him. Good night
 
J. Learned Hand said:
Gabe is currently down in Houston and I was with him all day. He and Jeremy Jones are working on something. Anyway, Gabe said he forfeited because the conditions of the tournament were borderline unbearable. He said it was cooler outside the poolroom that in. Being that it is 100 degrees down here, I understand exactly why he left. In any event, he had to be back for business with JJ.

I hope this remedies any misconceptions anyone may have. His character should not be in question.

On another note, he loves the Fast Eddie's Tour and has enjoyed much success playing the tournaments. He will undoubtedly play more events in the future. Furthermore, he didn't want to offend anyone and would like to apoligize for any inconvenience his leaving the tourney may caused.
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Wish I had read this first, because you are exactly right, it was very very hot in there. Part of the system had broken down and with 100 degree weather and about 3-400 people inside, well, it was hot.

I'm ticked because he didn't take me with him.
 
It's a shame when someone hears something about a noteable player and in some obscure way thinks it is their duty to inform the world of a supposed transgression. If you have that much time on your hands, play pool and shut the phuck up. Most of the people on these forums are all about pool and want to find ways to make our sport grow and be able to enjoy the fruits of all the work we as players put into out respective game. When you run someone down to build yourself up, that is very petty. Life is short, run the rack.
 
First of all, ironman and myself are the tournament directors for the Fast Eddie's 9 Ball Tour.

Up front, let me say Gabe did nothing wrong. He is a fine man and a great player.

To say the least, the playing conditions were miserable. At one point, I made the annoucement that sweat falling on the table or object balls was not a foul. IT WAS HOT!!!!!

The temperature outside in Austin on Saturday was 102. At 10 p.m. that night, it was still 90 degrees. The general manager told me that the air conditioning system is computer controlled to turn off at night and it just couldn't catch up with 350+ people in attendance.

Y'all know that pool players like to woof, bark and gossip, so there was a lot of extra hot air floating around! LOL

We have a tough bunch down here! I have nothing but admiration for the spectators and players that stuck it out and made this event the success that it was.

Also, congratulations to Sylver Ochoa and Amanda Lampert on their victories.

Stones
 
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