Galvaston World Classic inks video deal

JoeyA said:
Frank,
Unfortunately AZBilliards Main Forum has not been well received by people outside of the forum. The tone of the Main Forum is one of all-knowing and all-seeing attitude and I share part of that blame. The know-it-all attitude has never been a way to make friends and influence people. I know you know that as well as anyone.

Professional players have come on this forum only to be harassed and sniped at by people who are anonymous for the most part.

Promoters and other business people are scarce as hens teeth on this forum including some of the best known names in the pool world. These people cut a wide circle around AZBilliards because of the mine field that it has become. If they do post, its through other people or they drop in for a moment and are gone for weeks and months at a time.

Anonymous people from all walks of life can challenge a person's character, sexuality, their ethnicity, their religion and just about anything else that they choose to do. It is unfortunate but about the only hard head that I know that frequently posts on AZ and is a solid member of the pool business is John Barton of www.jbcases.com. John is an exception to the business people that might frequent AZ Billiards. He is a seasoned veteran of the RSB days as well as this forum and other forums. John enjoys a strong debate and has a thick hide and knows how to give as well as he gets. Most business types have chosen to avoid confrontations that John handles so well.

I don't blame them one bit for not posting on AZ Billiards. As a business person, I wouldn't want to paint a bullseye on my own back so that anonymous posters and others can take shots at me. No, I would just read the posts, consider what is written and do what I plan to do without running through the mine field.

The fact that many business people just do not see the value of posting in a forum of this type. Even Allen Hopkins who has been in scores of difficult situations in his life chooses to avoid the forum like the plague.
OK, he doesn't type that well. Neither does Keith McCready but he can get someone to type for him if he chooses to post and does; infrequently albeit.

JoeyA
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I understand what you are getting at but comparing reactions to pool players posting and interacting on a forum to a Event promoter trying to let people now that the tournament is even going to happen is very different.

We, here at AZ, are junkies. We know and hear about pool events. We share the information. Where else would a promoter turn? The majority of pool players gte information through word of mouth.

They don't have to interact. Maybe they find a couple players and simply say...okay..what are the players and fans going to want to know? And then simply answer those questions with a release. No reason to sit and argue with people on here. Just post and leave or give Mike a Press release.
There are just so many unknown now for a large event.


With any group of size there will always be different opinions, characters and cliques. Some of the movers and shakers in the pool world can come here and work it out and some get upset and go. Typical for any large group and its members.
 
frankncali said:
I understand what you are getting at but comparing reactions to pool players posting and interacting on a forum to a Event promoter trying to let people now that the tournament is even going to happen is very different.

We, here at AZ, are junkies. We know and hear about pool events. We share the information. Where else would a promoter turn? The majority of pool players gte information through word of mouth.

They don't have to interact. Maybe they find a couple players and simply say...okay..what are the players and fans going to want to know? And then simply answer those questions with a release. No reason to sit and argue with people on here. Just post and leave or give Mike a Press release.
There are just so many unknown now for a large event.


With any group of size there will always be different opinions, characters and cliques. Some of the movers and shakers in the pool world can come here and work it out and some get upset and go. Typical for any large group and its members.
Click to expand...

Frank,
In the future, perhaps these promoters and others may choose to provide information to AZ Billiards Main Forum direct but it is THEIR PEROGATIVE, and NOT THE Main Forum Members, inherent right.

You see promoters getting sniped at all of the time in this forum. Why would any promoter choose to be treated in a similar manner?

I think the Main Forum could be a valuable resource for promoters, players and forum members if some of the omnipotent attitude changes. Until then it will remain a minefield to be avoided by all except the seasoned combatants.

JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
Frank,
In the future, perhaps these promoters and others may choose to provide information to AZ Billiards Main Forum direct but it is THEIR PEROGATIVE, and NOT THE Main Forum Members, inherent right.

You see promoters getting sniped at all of the time in this forum. Why would any promoter choose to be treated in a similar manner?

I think the Main Forum could be a valuable resource for promoters, players and forum members if some of the omnipotent attitude changes. Until then it will remain a minefield to be avoided by all except the seasoned combatants.

JoeyA
Click to expand...


I think everyone understands that its their right to shoot their own foot. We just wonder why someone would do so.

I work for a smaller Premium Dog Food and Treat company. We are very different and make a unique product that many of our potential customers don't understand.
Each day I go out and go up against the big companies like Proctor/Gamble, Colgate/Palmolive, Nestle, Mars Etc.. (thats right those are the companies that own dog food brands). They have huge budgets and spend 50 times more a year on marketing and advertising than we do.

We have been in business for over 60 years... my sticking our head in their each day. Some days it honestly feels like I am beating it against a wall and getting nowhere but I keep going back.

My area leads the nation in growth and as a company 3 weeks ago we sold more pounds of food than any week in the history of the company.
Partly due to gainly credibility and third party accreditation.

Whats this got to do with Galveston? Well if I was trying to put on my first Pro/AM big event I would have found respected people in the field and inquired. Then built trust in them so that the members of this field would gain a sense of credibility due to known member association.

Gaining the trust and support of AZ Billiards regulars and casual viewers would have helped immensely with word of mouth advertising and with gaining a solid reputation.

As I have said in other posts.. I really want it to work for pool players sakes and for the promoters success. They really are trying to do something good for the sport. My hat is off to them for at least
throwing themselves into the ring.
 
frankncali said:
I think everyone understands that its their right to shoot their own foot. We just wonder why someone would do so.
Maybe they don't view avoiding AZBilliards as shooting themselves in the foot.

Maybe they don't view avoiding AZBilliards as shooting themselves in the foot, at least at this time.

Gaining the trust and support of AZ Billiards regulars and casual viewers would have helped immensely with word of mouth advertising and with gaining a solid reputation.

You've got the cart before the horse, Frank. AZ Billiards has not shown it to be a place where promoters can come and sit and chat. I think it may be the medium, the Internet forums themselves that prevent promoters and others from getting treated fairly and without malice.

As I have said in other posts.. I really want it to work for pool players sakes and for the promoters success. They really are trying to do something good for the sport. My hat is off to them for at least
throwing themselves into the ring.
Click to expand...

I believe you when you say that.

We'll all just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope this event is successful. I'm going to do my part to help it succeed by attending.

JoeyA
 
frankncali said:
I think everyone understands that its their right to shoot their own foot. We just wonder why someone would do so.
Maybe they don't view avoiding AZBilliards as shooting themselves in the foot.

Maybe they don't view avoiding AZBilliards as shooting themselves in the foot, at least at this time. At this stage in AZBilliard's Main Forum's development I would steer clear of interaction if I were a promoter.

Gaining the trust and support of AZ Billiards regulars and casual viewers would have helped immensely with word of mouth advertising and with gaining a solid reputation.

You've got the cart before the horse, Frank. AZ Billiards has not shown it to be a place where promoters can come and sit and chat. I think it may be the medium, the Internet forums themselves that prevent promoters and others from getting treated fairly and without malice.

As I have said in other posts.. I really want it to work for pool players sakes and for the promoters success. They really are trying to do something good for the sport. My hat is off to them for at least
throwing themselves into the ring.
Click to expand...

I believe you when you say that.

We'll all just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope this event is successful. I'm going to do my part to help it succeed by attending.
JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
Frank,
Unfortunately AZBilliards Main Forum has not been well received by people outside of the forum. The tone of the Main Forum is one of all-knowing and all-seeing attitude and I share part of that blame. The know-it-all attitude has never been a way to make friends and influence people. I know you know that as well as anyone.

Professional players have come on this forum only to be harassed and sniped at by people who are anonymous for the most part.

Promoters and other business people are scarce as hens teeth on this forum including some of the best known names in the pool world. These people cut a wide circle around AZBilliards because of the mine field that it has become. If they do post, its through other people or they drop in for a moment and are gone for weeks and months at a time.

Anonymous people from all walks of life can challenge a person's character, sexuality, their ethnicity, their religion and just about anything else that they choose to do. It is unfortunate but about the only hard head that I know that frequently posts on AZ and is a solid member of the pool business is John Barton of www.jbcases.com. John is an exception to the business people that might frequent AZ Billiards. He is a seasoned veteran of the RSB days as well as this forum and other forums. John enjoys a strong debate and has a thick hide and knows how to give as well as he gets. Most business types have chosen to avoid confrontations that John handles so well.

I don't blame them one bit for not posting on AZ Billiards. As a business person, I wouldn't want to paint a bullseye on my own back so that anonymous posters and others can take shots at me. No, I would just read the posts, consider what is written and do what I plan to do without running through the mine field.

The fact that many business people just do not see the value of posting in a forum of this type. Even Allen Hopkins who has been in scores of difficult situations in his life chooses to avoid the forum like the plague.
OK, he doesn't type that well. Neither does Keith McCready but he can get someone to type for him if he chooses to post and does; infrequently albeit.

JoeyA
Click to expand...


Joey, while I concede some threads here get out of hand, things have been pretty mild when it comes to threads about the Galveston event. I believe that is so because people want it to succeed, but have legitimate questions about it. That is, in part, a result of this being ballyhooed as a big money event, post-Trudeau, and that they are tossing around some very big numbers.

I was in Boston the last few days and finally saw a poster for the event, at World Class Billiards. On that poster they are advertising a total of $200,000 in first place monies, for all the events. IMO, when a promoter starts talking in numbers like that, they deserve a little more scrutiny than your average weekend $500 added event, from the players they are courting -- you know, the guys who they want to show up, investing their time, and monies in entry fees and travel expenses.

Basically, they're telling me that there's, at least, $200K out there to be won. But they sure are tight-lipped when it comes to telling us how that magic is suppose to happen and why anyone (particularly amateurs) should take a shot at it ;-)

Lou Figueroa
hated dealing with the Washington Post
but knew it was the smart thing to do
 
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Leave a comment/question.

lfigueroa said:
Joey, while I concede some threads here get out of hand, things have been pretty mild when it comes to threads about the Galveston event. I believe that is so because people want it to succeed, but have legitimate questions about it. That is, in part, a result of this being ballyhooed as a big money event, post-Trudeau, and that they are tossing around some very big numbers.

I was in Boston the last few days and finally saw a poster for the event, at World Class Billiards. On that poster they are advertising a total of $200,000 in first place monies, for all the events. IMO, when a promoter starts talking in numbers like that, they deserve a little more scrutiny than your average weekend $500 added event, from the players they are courting -- you know, the guys who they want to show up, investing their time, and monies in entry fees and travel expenses.

Basically, they're telling me that there's, at least, $200K out there to be won. But they sure are tight-lipped when it comes to telling us how that magic is suppose to happen and why anyone (particularly amateurs) should take a shot at it ;-)

Lou Figueroa
hated dealing with the Washington Post
but knew it was the smart thing to do
Click to expand...

Lou,
Why don't you post a comment/question on their website in the payout section or anywhere else you choose?

In fact, why doesn't anyone who wants to ask a question about the tournament, go to their website www.theworldclassic.com and leave a comment.

FTR, I can only imagine that diplomatically phrased comments and questions will be acknowledged. I know I would answer and smart-azz questions.

Be concise and ask politely. Maybe you will get an answer. Just guessing.
Just leave off the fact that you are an AZ Billiards Main Forum member. LOL and J/k. Actually, there is no need to mention that you are an AZ Billiards Main Forum member......

JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
Lou,
Why don't you post a comment/question on their website in the payout section or anywhere else you choose?

In fact, why doesn't anyone who wants to ask a question about the tournament, go to their website www.theworldclassic.com and leave a comment.

FTR, I can only imagine that diplomatically phrased comments and questions will be acknowledged. I know I would answer and smart-azz questions.

Be concise and ask politely. Maybe you will get an answer. Just guessing.
Just leave off the fact that you are an AZ Billiards Main Forum member. LOL and J/k. Actually, there is no need to mention that you are an AZ Billiards Main Forum member......

JoeyA
Click to expand...

So these guys wouldn't answer a question if someone acknowledged they were from AZ? I missing something here? If this is true there is some serious arrogance going on down in Texas. News flash: This site and its members do more for pool than any bazillion dollar promise tournament.

I cant wait till this thing is over.
 
JoeyA said:
Lou,
Why don't you post a comment/question on their website in the payout section or anywhere else you choose?

In fact, why doesn't anyone who wants to ask a question about the tournament, go to their website www.theworldclassic.com and leave a comment.

FTR, I can only imagine that diplomatically phrased comments and questions will be acknowledged. I know I would answer and smart-azz questions.

Be concise and ask politely. Maybe you will get an answer. Just guessing.
Just leave off the fact that you are an AZ Billiards Main Forum member. LOL and J/k. Actually, there is no need to mention that you are an AZ Billiards Main Forum member......

JoeyA
Click to expand...


Joey. maybe I'm missing something here, but isn't Taylor Productions the guys that want us to attend? Don't they want pool players to send them entry fees; travel to their venue; to play in their event; all the while spending money on gas, plane tickets, rental car; hotel, food, and maybe something at the vendor booths?

I have no chance against the guys whose photos are on their poster: Efren, Varner, Bustamonte, Strickland, Archer, et al. It's a no-brainer for that level professional to attend, because they can actually win the advertised monies. But it would seem to me that if the promoters want players at my level to attend, I shouldn't have to chase them down and then disguise my identity to find out why the event is attractive to moi. Its not like any of us are applying for a job with them :-)

Lou Figueroa
OK, maybe one of us is ;-)
 
JCIN said:
So these guys wouldn't answer a question if someone acknowledged they were from AZ? I missing something here? If this is true there is some serious arrogance going on down in Texas. News flash: This site and its members do more for pool than any bazillion dollar promise tournament.

I cant wait till this thing is over.
Click to expand...

I find it VERY peculiar too.

The questions that are being asked, here on AZ, are questions that are being asked in ANY discussion that comes up about this event. If the Rones were in a group of people having a discussion and the questions came up about TWC, It's the equivalent of them just turning and walking away. What would YOU think about that? They ARE reading AZ. It's not like we are random people.

Ray

ps. I have posted questions on their website. Still no answer.
 
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lfigueroa said:
Joey. maybe I'm missing something here, but isn't Taylor Productions the guys that want us to attend? Don't they want pool players to send them entry fees; travel to their venue; to play in their event; all the while spending money on gas, plane tickets, rental car; hotel, food, and maybe something at the vendor booths?

I have no chance against the guys whose photos are on their poster: Efren, Varner, Bustamonte, Strickland, Archer, et al. It's a no-brainer for that level professional to attend, because they can actually win the advertised monies. But it would seem to me that if the promoters want players at my level to attend, I shouldn't have to chase them down and then disguise my identity to find out why the event is attractive to moi. Its not like any of us are applying for a job with them :-)

Lou Figueroa
OK, maybe one of us is ;-)
Click to expand...

Ding ding ding!!!! You are exactly right. It is not the top 12 finishers who make the event. IT is all the rest. That determines the result of any event!!!!
 
JCIN said:
So these guys wouldn't answer a question if someone acknowledged they were from AZ? I missing something here? If this is true there is some serious arrogance going on down in Texas. News flash: This site and its members do more for pool than any bazillion dollar promise tournament.

I cant wait till this thing is over.
Click to expand...

sorry this is pretty arrogant. AZB members love the game, thats for sure, but on the other hand i see some many well known well placed folks in the pool room come on here and say just wait something is in the works, and there never is. those "doing things for pool" are most likely doing things for themselves (making $$$). if the promoters pull off a great event, without the dubious help/advice of the mighty AZ Billiard,-players come, players get paid, fans have a great experience-there are going to be an aweful lot of posters on this forum who will need to eat crow. i personally hope this even is a huge success and kudo's to the promoters for trying.

brian
 
ironman said:
Ding ding ding!!!! You are exactly right. It is not the top 12 finishers who make the event. IT is all the rest. That determines the result of any event!!!!
Click to expand...


Right. Any mega-pool event that you'd care to name, is borne on the backs of the fans, amateurs, hackers, and fantasy-camp players that are willing to donate and toss their money into the ring, to support the event , have a good time, and feel that they are getting a fair shake. IMO, when it comes to a big event, it's not about the top pros (who will chop up the big cash) -- it's about all the little guys that are going to fill out the *really* big field they need and are just happy to win their entry fee back.

But, seemingly, in this instance, the little guy isn't important enough to get answers to a few legit questions :-)

Lou Figueroa
 
All the rest !!!

Tap tap Ironman, you have it exactly right. I made my reservations for my wife and I a month ago (for 11 days-10th thru 20th).Iam entering 1-pocket and 9-ball and would entertain being on a team, if competitive. True, the 10-ball tourney is too rich for me to enter, but don't feel I could do very well in it anyways. Personally know of three top vendors who have already paid for their booths and will definitely be there. All I can do is participate and support these guys and wish them enough success to do it again next year. The pool world needs this and deserves the recognition that should develop from a tourney of this magnitude. Believe me everyone that attends will be very impreessed with Moody Gardens AND Galveston. Excellent vacation spot and only 45 miles from Houston.
 
lfigueroa said:
Joey. maybe I'm missing something here, but isn't Taylor Productions the guys that want us to attend? Don't they want pool players to send them entry fees; travel to their venue; to play in their event; all the while spending money on gas, plane tickets, rental car; hotel, food, and maybe something at the vendor booths?

I have no chance against the guys whose photos are on their poster: Efren, Varner, Bustamonte, Strickland, Archer, et al. It's a no-brainer for that level professional to attend, because they can actually win the advertised monies. But it would seem to me that if the promoters want players at my level to attend, I shouldn't have to chase them down and then disguise my identity to find out why the event is attractive to moi. Its not like any of us are applying for a job with them :-)

Lou Figueroa
OK, maybe one of us is ;-)
Click to expand...

Lou & Justin/JCIN,
Don't put words in my mouth.

I didn't say that they wouldn't answer your comment/questions if you said you were from AZ Billiards.

I said there was no need for you to say you were from AZBilliards.

JoeyA
 
pocketspeed said:
sorry this is pretty arrogant. AZB members love the game, thats for sure, but on the other hand i see some many well known well placed folks in the pool room come on here and say just wait something is in the works, and there never is. those "doing things for pool" are most likely doing things for themselves (making $$$). if the promoters pull off a great event, without the dubious help/advice of the mighty AZ Billiard,-players come, players get paid, fans have a great experience-there are going to be an aweful lot of posters on this forum who will need to eat crow. i personally hope this even is a huge success and kudo's to the promoters for trying.

brian
Click to expand...

JCIN/Justin's post puzzles me too as well. I don't understand why someone would post that they can't wait until this is over. If you weren't interested in the tournament just tune out. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to go the extra effort to post that you can't wait until this is over.

Brian, while I've eaten my share of crow, it would be kind of fun to see some of the naysayers snacking-down on some dried crow's feet. :D

GO GALVESTON!

Galveston, oh Galveston, I still hear your sea waves crashing
While I watch the cannons flashing
I clean my gun and dream of Galveston

JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
Justin,
Didn't you say you weren't going to this event?
JoeyA
Click to expand...

I was contemplating it just to see what happens but we are streaming the NCS 9 and 10 ball finals from the Golden Nugget in Vegas Sept. 3-7 and have a challenge match in the works for the weekend after Galveston in LA.

With all of that going on I doubt I will spend the $2000 and 10 days to go sweat it. The general consensus among the people I spoke with at the trade show this week ran the gamut from cautious optimism to expectations of a last minute cancellation. Not much unbridled enthusiasm due to the unorthodox communication and unusual payout structure. The thing that struck me was that at a gathering of all the industry heavy hitters no one was really excited about it. Maybe it was just the people I spoke with.

On a positive note all of the top American and European players I have talked to over the last week or so said they were going to go. One guy I talked to (who is wired in as well as anyone) said he had spoken with one of Efren's camp and that Efren had no plans to attend so who knows who will actually show up. I don't doubt that when it goes off there will be plenty of stars there to take a shot at those big promised paydays.

Maybe these guys really do have enough money not to care about the online community or word of mouth, if that is the case it doesnt really matter what I or anyone else here thinks they should or shouldn't do. If the money is there they can do whatever they like and people will show up. They just have to survive this one and the next one will be much easier. Several people were guessing a six figure loss at the least but I also heard from people who claimed to have spoke with organizers that they were expecting to lose in the beginning and were not worried about it.

The bottom line is that the people who were talking about the event were all speculating because the people who know things for sure haven't answered questions. I hope they hold the event, get what they are looking for, everyone gains some experience and trust and pool gets another big event. Personally I am just tired of guessing so I will wait and see. Ten days and a couple dimes is just too much to invest in an event that could care less to inform me of what is going on.

The reason I cant wait till its over is because I am tired of getting asked by people what I think about it, and wanting in the worst way to help get behind the damn thing, but not being able to because no one can get an answer to some fairly simple questions. I would love to go all out in support of this thing and I have talked to some others who feel the same way I do but without some answers people are not willing to go out on a limb. I doubt I could do much to help but I would sure try, some people I know could do a lot to help but decided it best to just wait and see due to basically being ignored when asking simple questions. They don't want any help that's fine, its their gig. But I don't think people that ask questions deserve to be called naysayers or accused of ill will just because they don't blindly follow.
 
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