Good News for American Pros

looking at a few things

A. We know who is behind this attempt, Mark and 60,000 amateurs.

B. We know where much of the money would come from and the numbers are realistic.

C. Mark knows pool and how to run a large pool organization.

D. While saying he is calling the shots, Mark makes plain that he is willing to listen and welcomes a players organization. I don't get the "I'm God and players are dirt" impression that the IPT and the mystery men behind the NACPA or whatever it was gave.

I do have to say that it seems that Mark and Mike Janis seem to be stepping up to the plate to fill a void at the same time. Both seem to be men of integrity and I hope that they can figure out how to get along for the betterment of pool. If they at least coordinate events and don't make each group mutually exclusive it can work for both I believe. One of my past areas of competition, benchrest rifle, has two strong national sanctioning bodies and shooters routinely compete at both group's events. No reason this could not happen with pro pool. However, if the two men insist on turning it into a power struggle with the players forced to choose sides there is an excellent chance that both organizations will be badly weakened and no question that it will be to the detriment of pool.

Hu
 
ShootingArts said:
A. We know who is behind this attempt, Mark and 60,000 amateurs.

B. We know where much of the money would come from and the numbers are realistic.

C. Mark knows pool and how to run a large pool organization.

D. While saying he is calling the shots, Mark makes plain that he is willing to listen and welcomes a players organization. I don't get the "I'm God and players are dirt" impression that the IPT and the mystery men behind the NACPA or whatever it was gave.

I do have to say that it seems that Mark and Mike Janis seem to be stepping up to the plate to fill a void at the same time. Both seem to be men of integrity and I hope that they can figure out how to get along for the betterment of pool. If they at least coordinate events and don't make each group mutually exclusive it can work for both I believe. One of my past areas of competition, benchrest rifle, has two strong national sanctioning bodies and shooters routinely compete at both group's events. No reason this could not happen with pro pool. However, if the two men insist on turning it into a power struggle with the players forced to choose sides there is an excellent chance that both organizations will be badly weakened and no question that it will be to the detriment of pool.

Hu
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That is very well said. Pool doesn't need to be like boxing where there's a bunch of different belts and championship titles.

United we stand, all of us together. One for all, and all for one! :)

JAM
 
Neil said:
Not trying to be negative here, but I have a question that I am surprised no one else asked yet- Mike Janis announced his new plans for pool. Shortly after that he announced that someone was stealing his idea, and people thought it was the IPT, ect, and commented on how bad that was. Now Mark Griffin announces his plans, which sound very similiar to what Mike Janis announced. Is this the guy tht stole Janis's idea?

If not, then more power to Mark Griffin. If so,why is everybody praising him?
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PERSONALLY, I think Mark Griffin and Mike Janis would make a great team.

I would hope that if THE PLAN gets off the ground, that Mike and Mark would join forces or at least discuss joining forces. Mike Janis brings his ideas, youth and tournament experience to the table and well, you just don't have to say much about Mark Griffin except that he has been successful at just about everything he has ever wanted to do, except beating me at one pocket.

When it comes to playing pool, Mark is faster than the GingerBread Man. :D :D

JoeyA
 
good luck, sir

I wish Mr. Griffin the best of luck, and that the entire pool world throws their support behind him. It would be so great to see a real professional Men's Tour again.... I remember how I used to really look forward from tournament to tournament when the Camel tour existed. Here's hoping too, that some big sponsors eventually hop on and increase the financial aspects of the plan.
If this is indeed the beginning of a new legitimate Pro tour, it has been a long time coming.
 
wahcheck said:
I wish Mr. Griffin the best of luck, and that the entire pool world throws their support behind him. It would be so great to see a real professional Men's Tour again.... I remember how I used to really look forward from tournament to tournament when the Camel tour existed. Here's hoping too, that some big sponsors eventually hop on and increase the financial aspects of the plan.
If this is indeed the beginning of a new legitimate Pro tour, it has been a long time coming.
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Well said and I couldn't agree more.

James
 
From what I know, the WPBA works & Mark should look into modeling his Men's Pro tour in similiar fashion. A ranking system, a qualifying system, TV contract, high quality high character profiled players. If Mike Janis wants to help Mark, then his Viking events could be used as sanctioned qualifiers for the Pro events. However, I think that you need one chief (as the major sports have)- Mark Griffin.
 
Mark Griffin is the MAN. When was the last time you heard of anyone picking up the tab for a party they didn't throw?

I've worked with Mr. Griffin in the past and am willing to do so again.

The BCAL owned by Mr. Griffin is the best. Why not combine the amature and the professionals in a profit sharing atmosphere? everyone WINS.
 
john schmidt said:
well im thrilled mark is interested in the mens tour.he understands that the casual players are what support pool and the pros should support them.i am ready to help mark with his plan and its a good one.he will probably be letting people know his plans soon.if we come together things will happen very quick and the recreational player will be greatly responsible for propool being successsful. keep your ears peeled for future announcements as i feel they are definitely worth hearing.
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Great to hear from you John and your great attitude.

Just think, together we can all be PROUD to be pool players. It has been a long time coming.

Thanks!
 
cue

In post #20, Hang-the-9 asked if my cue was a Samsara BarCue.

In this particular picture, I was using an inexpensive Joss by Danny Janes. This is the 30th anniversary cue that we gave to 100 players back in 2006.

I leave that cue in Louisville because I HATE sending my cue through FedEX and am afraid to use airlines.

Something we will "try" to address down the road.

BTW - my normal shooting cue is a rather unimpressive looking Gus Szamboti.

There will be a lot more info on the "PLAN" coming in the next few weeks.

Mark Griffin
 
To NEIL:

Neil said:
Not trying to be negative here, but I have a question that I am surprised no one else asked yet- Mike Janis announced his new plans for pool. Shortly after that he announced that someone was stealing his idea, and people thought it was the IPT, ect, and commented on how bad that was. Now Mark Griffin announces his plans, which sound very similiar to what Mike Janis announced. Is this the guy tht stole Janis's idea?

If not, then more power to Mark Griffin. If so,why is everybody praising him?
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I am aware of Mike Janis and his concepts. We have talked. But I REALLY resent the "suggestion" that I took his idea. My idea is NOT the same as Mike's.

I could get pretty agitated when someone posts this stuff in a public thread. All you had to do was PM me and I would have explained. This is how rumors start.

But in the spirit of what is good for pool, we will chalk it down as an innocent question.

Mark Griffin
 
JAM said:
Both of them are stand-up guys with good reputations. Wouldn't it be cool if they ended up working together for the future of pool?

Now, that would be something! When great men come together with a common goal, good things can happen.

JAM
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Jenny, if Mike and Mark are in this together..........That would be "THE NUTS".

I don't even have a single thought in my mind that it would not work out, and I'm more then sure ALL the players would agree.

Either, get that stick out "Brother" and start hittin balls yesterday. We will always have time to play a lil PokerStars. I'll bring my laptop for us to play in a couple of sit n goes between matches..LOL;)
 
Mark Griffin said:
I am aware of Mike Janis and his concepts. We have talked. But I REALLY resent the "suggestion" that I took his idea. My idea is NOT the same as Mike's.

I could get pretty agitated when someone posts this stuff in a public thread. All you had to do was PM me and I would have explained. This is how rumors start.

But in the spirit of what is good for pool, we will chalk it down as an innocent question.

Mark Griffin
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Mark,

With all due respect, Neil said what a lot of us were thinking. I don't know you or Mike Janis from a hole in the ground. Based on what I've read here, Mike is well respected and is moving forward with serious plans. You seem to be doing the same. I think pretty much everyone is wondering how that is all going to play out.

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that it is best for you and/or Mike to address this directly and immediately for the sake of both of your efforts. I think that clarity is paramount in gaining trust and understanding from us normal folk trying to follow along.

I'm certainly not accusing you or Mike of anything at all, just trying to understand.

-James
 
Good luck

I will hope for the best for this plan. If it works out, it can only be good for the players and us fans as well. I very much hope this thing gets off the ground.
 
All one has to do is look at the timing.

Two things come into play right off the bat...

1) The dates. The problems Mike had were before Vegas and the plans that Mark Griffin has didn't even come to fruition until Vegas.

2) Mike Janis said his problems were with someone/something that has a tarnished history. Nothing about Mr. Griffin's history in the billiard world from being a pool room owner, partner in Diamond, or tournament promoter is tarnished in anyway.

If the players listen to Mark and follow his plan, it will be the best thing that has ever happened to them. Unlike people in the past, Mr. Griffin is not doing this to try to get rich (if you think KT wasn't trying that you're seriously mistaken).
 
Neil said:
Not trying to be negative here, but I have a question that I am surprised no one else asked yet- Mike Janis announced his new plans for pool. Shortly after that he announced that someone was stealing his idea, and people thought it was the IPT, ect, and commented on how bad that was. Now Mark Griffin announces his plans, which sound very similiar to what Mike Janis announced. Is this the guy tht stole Janis's idea?
Click to expand...
I doubt Mark could have possibly stolen the idea from Mike considering that Mark's entire idea is predicated on the fact that he owns and operates the BCAPool League. It is the infrastructure of the amateur league and future amateur leagues that is the base of Mark's idea.

It's not an original idea to somehow work the amateur leagues into the professional arena. APA tried something years ago. The difference is that this Mark Griffin, someone who actually can pull it off. So, it's more than likely that both Mark and Mike have been thinking of similar ideas idependently.

Fred
 
Personally, I have a MUCH more warm and fuzzy feeling about this already than I ever had about the IPT.
Bravo Mark.
 
This is a straight pool and one pocket tour of course ... no? Oh well, just thinking and hoping out loud. :)

Kidding aside, Good luck Mark!
 
JoeW said:
It is good to hear that the problem is being addressed. However, he hasn't really said anything other than there is a problem and "he" will fix it. Seems to me that it is about helping the pros get organized not about organizing the pros which is akin to herding cats.
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There are already too many chiefs and not enough Indians in men's professional pool. As great as it sounds to have an organized group of players who can fend for themselves, it isn't realistic at this point. A person like Mark, who has a lot of experience owning/operating businesses AND has a lot of experience with pool in general, could be the right person to come in and consolidate this mess into a functioning tour.

As Mark was explaining his tour to me in Las Vegas, I couldn't help but think to myself, "this is the first idea that I've ever heard that might actually work". Professional pool relies on money that just isn't there, and the ones that have the money, and that could make a difference, aren't interesting in throwing it into professional tournaments.

With Mark's tour, it won't matter if it has outside sponsorship. It won't matter if it's on TV, and it won't even matter if there are spectators. Those are three key ingredients that pool has never really had. Prior to Mark's idea, all promoters out there have been working diligently to try to obtain all three of those ingredients and, as all of them would tell you, it's a futile effort. Mark's plan requires none of those ingredients. However, I suspect that once he gets his tour off the ground, and players start playing for a respectable amount of money [that is guaranteed], we may start to see those other key ingredients fall into our laps.

I may be completely wrong about that, but this may be the most promising idea that I've ever heard.
 
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