Here's my solution to UPA and Charlie

[9balllvr]

1983 All Around Pocket Billiards Open, (Tampa, Florida)
1985 Motor City Open, (Detroit, Michigan)
1990 and 1991, Legends of One-Pocket Championship, (Columbia, South Carolina)
1991 Legends of One-Pocket Championship, (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
1993 Legends of One-Pocket Championship, (Reno, Nevada)
1994 Legends of One-Pocket Championship, (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
1995 The Maine Event 14.1 Championship, (Portland, Maine)
1995 Legends of One-Pocket Championship, (Olathe, Kansas)
1995 Back Pocket Nine-Ball Open, (Hampton, Virginia)
1998 Legends of One-Pocket Championship, (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
1999 World One-pocket Championship, (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
1999 Seniors Nine-ball Championship, (Portland, Maine)
2000 World One-Pocket Championship, (Portland, Maine)
2003 Seniors Nine-ball Championship, (Naples, Florida)
2004 Gulf Coast Classic, (Gulfport, Mississippi)

And there's a few missing, but here's some of the tournament Grady Mathews has promoted and produced.

JAM

thanks for the list JAM - the reason I mentioned it was because I recall seeing threads last year (I believe) that were basically similar to this one in that his intentions were to pull together a tour or major events - it got everyone up in arms and then there was nothing that came from it. based on your list, there has been nothing since 2004. don't get me wrong, I know it takes a lot of work to pull together events (not to mention $$$) and as far as respecting him for his accomplishments in the pool community, that is a given.

my point is simply if you want to do something like promote an event, do it and quit bashing those that are doing so at this time. when there are alternatives available, maybe the tide will shift other ways.

on your other note about an american tour, i have heard others mention the same in that it would bring together more players and potentially more $$$$ for the american players. i would love to see what the male players out there would think of such a tour and if they would support it whole heartedly.

take care.

 

[JAM]

thanks for the list JAM - the reason I mentioned it was because I recall seeing threads last year (I believe) that were basically similar to this one in that his intentions were to pull together a tour or major events - it got everyone up in arms and then there was nothing that came from it. based on your list, there has been nothing since 2004. don't get me wrong, I know it takes a lot of work to pull together events (not to mention $$$) and as far as respecting him for his accomplishments in the pool community, that is a given.

As I said in my previous post, this list is not complete. I know there were two events in South Carolina that I am forgetting, as an example, which occurred after 2004.

my point is simply if you want to do something like promote an event, do it and quit bashing those that are doing so at this time. when there are alternatives available, maybe the tide will shift other ways.

on your other note about an american tour, i have heard others mention the same in that it would bring together more players and potentially more $$$$ for the american players. i would love to see what the male players out there would think of such a tour and if they would support it whole heartedly. take care.

Most Americans pool players I have spoken to would like the idea. If you speak to a non-American player, they may have a different opinion.

There are nationality-restricted tours throughout the world, everywhere except here in the United States. The U.S. Open has players come to Virginia from around the world, trying to win the UNITED STATES OPEN 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP. Last year, the tournament was won by an American, the year before, a Filipino. Flash back 20 years ago, and the player roster for the U.S. Open was 98-percent American competitors. Today, it is quite a different makeup on the roster. They should call it the "INTERNATIONAL OPEN" today, IMHO.

I don't see anything wrong with having an AMERICAN OPEN restricted to Americans. This tournament would, in fact, create a venue for the BEST American player. If other countries do it, why not America?

JAM

 

[JAM]

I will support you Grady in any way that I can.
All you have to do is ask.
That's how much respect I have for you and the diciplines you represent.
As for the UPA. It is the only organization recognized for US rankings and invitations like the Mosconi Cup , World 9-ball Championships , etc.
I do not think that the Top Ranked Pro's will abandone that since we have a great deal of SPONSORS that need us to get exposure through tournaments and TV.
To some of us the only drive is to be the #1 ranked player in the country.(fame and glory)
To others its money.
I'm not saying work together with the UPA and DP. I'm saying be the bigger man that I know you are and LEAD by example.
The whole sport will benefit and you'll have this to add to your legacy !!!

Sincerely your freind,
Shawn Putnam

What a well-written diplomatic post by Shawn Putnam. Man, you should run for Ambassador. You have a nice way with words, and your legacy has already begun!

For the young'ns who previously in this thread have expressed they do not know who Grady Mathews is, except by way of AzBilliards Discussion Forum, here's a snapshot:

Grady Mathews, also known as "The Professor", is an American pool player and was the first inductee into the One-Pocket Hall of Fame in 2004.

In addition to success at the table, he has been a technical advisor to movie producers, a regular commentator on pool matches taped by Accu-Stats Video Productions, a producer of billiard instructional video tapes, and an author. He is also revered for his contributions to pocket billiards through his promotional activities and lessons.

Mathews has worked tirelessly throughout his career to promote pocket billiards, particularly the game of one-pocket. He is the creator of the Legends of One-Pocket series, and has given fans of the game many other tournaments as well. Mathews is also well known for his work as a commentator on countless matches recorded by Accu-Stats Video Productions, and has produced many of his own instructional videos providing strategies that have made Mathews "the most feared one-pocket player in the world. He currently writes a monthly instruction column for InsidePOOL Magazine and has been a contributing writer to other pool periodicals such as Billiards Digest, 1984-1987, as well as The National Billiard News.

Today, he lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with his wife Randi and continues to compete professionally as well as putting on exhibitions, pool clincis, and private lessons throughout the United States.

Most people in pool circles know who Grady Mathews is. In fact, he's today a one-word celebrity. Just say "Grady," and everyone knows who you're talking about!

I thought I would contribute the above snippet just to establish why a player of Grady's caliber deserves a little RESPECT by this pool world. He definitely makes up the fabric of American pool, and as such, his presence at any pool event should be considered an honor.

Being a professional at pool doesn't offer much by way of monetary reward or prestige. I remember in 2002 speaking to the wife of a BCA Hall of Famer who told me that after the many decades of her husband winning championships and traveling the globe, they have nothing to show for it. When the IPT launched the second King of the Hill Shootout in Orlando, December 2005, each BCA Hall of Famer was guaranteed $30,000 and two byes in the event, just for showing up. When they handed out the checks on the last night, I witnessed some of them with tears in their eyes. It must have meant a lot to them to be recognized for their many accomplishments in the discipline of pocket billiards.

To ignore these great champions when they age is disgraceful. It seems to be the American way to put older folks in nursing and retirement homes when they become a burden. This is one American trait I do not like. In Native American culture, as well as Japanese, the elders are respected and always included in every event that transpires. Too bad this practice doesn't happen in the United States. When pool champions are ignored and forgotten in pool, it makes me a little sad.

JAM

 

[Williebetmore]

If that is the case, then players should go wherever they can maximize their profit, which means the competitive players will play where they can play in the most tournaments, without restrictions.

Therefore, the organization having the restrictions will most likely become a "minor" league catering to the players that will not be competitive in the "major" leagues.

JMO.

JDB,
You are absolutely correct. You will find, however, that it is NOT the restrictive organization that becomes minor; it is the organization that pays worse that becomes minor.

The "major" players will change allegiance IN A HEARTBEAT if the money is better somewhere else (see the IPT fiasco for an example), and they will put up with any restrictions if the cash is better.

 

[Blackjack]

I will support you Grady in any way that I can.
All you have to do is ask.
That's how much respect I have for you and the diciplines you represent.
As for the UPA. It is the only organization recognized for US rankings and invitations like the Mosconi Cup , World 9-ball Championships , etc.
I do not think that the Top Ranked Pro's will abandone that since we have a great deal of SPONSORS that need us to get exposure through tournaments and TV.
To some of us the only drive is to be the #1 ranked player in the country.(fame and glory)
To others its money.
I'm not saying work together with the UPA and DP. I'm saying be the bigger man that I know you are and LEAD by example.
The whole sport will benefit and you'll have this to add to your legacy !!!

Sincerely your freind,
Shawn Putnam

Grady,

I am with Shawn on this one. You know that I respect you immensely and I believe that you are one of the people that can turn this sport around. With that being said, I don't favor exclusivity to this tour or that tour - it just causes dissention - it forces the players to choose sides -and that is why that group of us pulled away from Camel back in the mid-90's to start the PCA. In that scenerio, it became an "Us Vs Them" thing and in the end nobody survived the war. Let's not forget about that - let's proceed forward as if we learned that lesson.

I have aways believed that if you build it they will come. If it's done right, they will keep coming back for more. As our sport grows, prospective big name sponsors from outside our industry will want to look at the sport and evaluate the relationships that we have with each other. If they see that we cannot get along with each other, they will never jump on board - no matter how good your events are. They will want no part of the bad blood - or they will do what Robertson and Kiger from RJ Reynolds did - they F'd us and forgot about us like we were some two dollar tramp. We don't need to do that again either (I won't mention a certain infomercial dude, but I'm sure some people just had him pop into their minds anyway).

In closing I would like to say that I will assist and help you promote your events and work with you - as long as it is positive and it helps build the game of pool back towards prominence. As long as we put the game first - instead of our own agendas, we will succeed. If our agendas and animosity are added to the mixture, we will not succeed. Good luck, my friend. You can count on my support!

 

[AZE]

Grady,
You're probably going to want promotional pieces for this new enterprise of yours.
I can design and print flyers, banners, posters, t-shirts, and whatever else you would need. I can also design/develop the website.

I've done work for dozens of AZ members including Mike (the owner), and a handful professional pool players / pool rooms as well.

I hope to hear from you soon.

 

[JimS]

When pool champions are ignored and forgotten in pool, it makes me a little sad.

JAM

It just plain pisses me off!

 

[bigskyjake]

That sounds like a great idea Grady, I think it would prosper, plus I support anything that doesn't support Charlie

 

[3andstop]

Forgive my ignorance, but since all this is being posted and seems very interesting, is there a link to some explanation of what the heck is going on here?

I don't follow the individual organizations any longer but I find these posts most interesting. I'd love to be able to understand the whys.

I went to the NJ straight pool tourney and was surprised at the small turn out.

The one thing that stuck out in my mind was this arbitrary shot clock imposed on games deemed to be taking too long. The strangest thing in my mind was the limited number of officials and ( I'm assuming) stop watches there were to be able to envoke the clock on all the tables.

I saw more than once, a table seemingly playing slower than others, the clock invoked, and then sometime later during the matches another table played even slower still and no one started any clock on it!

It seemed unfair from my uneducated perspective. To be honest, I think folks were playing slow because their damned metabolism had slowed down to a near cryogenic state from the cold!

 

[Kevin]

Many have grievances with Charlie W and the way the UPA does things, but starting another pissing contest seems counterproductive. I think the only way to beat a "closed shop" mentality is to run an open shop and prove it is the better way. What's wrong with advertising $XXX available, sorry if your organization won't allow you to compete, ask them why in a board meeting?

Or is the fear UPA will allow their members to compete on other tours and win the money, but won't play fair and allow non-UPA members the same privilege in their events? Shows I know nothing about the UPA contractual obligations.