If I was KT, I would ...

jimmyg

jimmyg

Mook! What's a Mook?
Silver Member
Since AZ has is a huge brain trust and most of us must have their own thoughts about this question, why not have a thread where everyone is allowed to speculate about what we would do RIGHT NOW, if we were sitting in KT's shoes, without being told NOT to speculate.

I think that the intelligent options are fairly limited if we accept a few "givens". First let's assume that KT is not a billionaire, only a $100 millionaire, and lets also assume that Ho is NOT offering $150M US for the IPT, which would make the question a no-brainer.

Some of the options that I would consider are;
1) paying the players and continuing the same plan
2) not paying the players and filing bankruptcy
3) negotiating payments and revamping the format (What would you change?)
4) looking for investors to continue (continue while looking?)
5) sell for whatever I can get
6) Is it too far gone to salvage at this stage?

I still really hope that everyone gets paid, but things do look pretty grim.
jim
 
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If it's over then the only thing that makes sense is to file bankruptcy, or Chapter whatever.

No sense tossing more money after bad money.

I wonder what his business plan really was. In Orlando he did say he wanted to market the dvd's of the matches in Blockbuster or Walmart. That never happened. He did want major TV contracts. That never happened. He must have also wanted major advertisers. That never happened. He wanted 64 players at the qualifiers. That never happened.

With no money coming in and the prospect looking bleak for any money to come in and plenty of money going out it sure looks grim for the IPT.

So why is the membership club still in business and growing? Is the membership club a separate entity apart from the IPT? Will the membership club survive after the IPT closes its doors?

I suppose if I was Kevin I would be sitting in my room hitting myself in my head with a 2 by 4 saying, "I am an old fool."

I wonder how many people bought player's checks from Reno? How many people are still signing up for qualifiers? It looks like KT is not the only fool.

But then, it has only been 25 days there is still hope I guess. And there is a bright side, JAM is back, and Keith has shown that he is no fool.

There is still the Florida Pool Tour. I hope the Seminole Tribe does not give up on pool too.

Jake
 
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He should pay everybody 30% or whatever, scale back on the venues, fire all his advisors, fire most of his staff, change the format to make the events 6 days tops, allow jump cues, have a straight pool and 9 Ball tourney thrown in the mix, tell Mike Sigel if he ever sees him again No Natural Cure is gonna help and give it a year to see if it catches on at all.
 
If I was KT

I would pay the players and sponsors the moneys that are due to for the tournamnets that have been played out of my own pocket.
I would delay future tournaments until a viable plan could be worked out.
I would also return all the $$$ that people have sent for the Natural Cures book who feel they were scammed. The thought of people thinking that I was a liar and a cheat would just be too much for me ...
ruk
 
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rukiddingme said:
I would pay the players and sponsors the moneys that are due to for the tournamnets that have been played out of my own pocket.
I would delay future tournaments until a viable plan could be worked out.
I would also return all the $$$ that people have sent for the Natural Cures book who feel they were scammed. The thought of people thinking that I was a liar and a cheat would just be too much for me ...
ruk
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It's a shame your not KT. I'm afraid the only hope of this happening would be if we could "pin" him down and you'd agree to a brain transplant.:eek:


Kt knows it's not working.

He also knows it's beyond his and his advisers ability to fix.

Even if he knew how to fix it he doesn't have the patience,energy and dedication to purpose required to see it thru. It's much easier to dream and con than it is to work.

Best case for all who are owed $ would be new, dedicated ownership:)

On a side note....as a former room owner I wouldn't hold an IPT event unless I knew funds were in escrow to cover scheduled liabilities for at least the next 12 mos.

The Ipt should be selling goods with their logo(cloth, chalk, etc.) at COST or at a LOSS to the rooms that are holding qualifiers, helping advertise and accomplish their mission.
 
I don't think the format for TV is interesting or unique enough to gain the level of mainstream interest that is possible.

One idea I've suggested is to make the format more like poker using a ring game format where 6 guys battle it out being eliminated one at a time. Perhaps even with a kelly-pool aspect, where each player has their own secret ball that they must pot (The audience knows what balls each player is on). That way we'd see bluffing and players attempting more spectacular shots.

I'd also like to see production that runs more interesting highlights packages, such as 3 minute segments taken from what occured during the tournaments featuring dummy spits, agony of defeat, celebrations of victories, various chalking techniques, cue handling skills, masse shots, combination shots, breaks, draw shots, table stalking etc.

Snooker has put together such production very successfully. It draws in the attention of the non-pool player and gives them insights into the various interesting aspects of the game.

I don't see the game getting huge ratings until it does something very different and interesting. Just like how poker hit the big time when the hidden card became the feature of production. Before then, I understand that attempts at broadcasting poker to mass audiences had been unsuccessful.

There is something about pool that captures people's interest. For only a small percent of people it has been watching 2 guys play matches. The producers need to find that passion point and communicate it in an entertaining way.

Once the masses get to know more about the game and the stars, then they might ache for seeing some real tournament style match ups, with the same kind of interest that pool fans here have.

Colin
 
The worst thing Kevin could do at this point is quit. I hope he doesn't do that. There is all of this talk that the IPT is over and done with, yet according to everybody in the know, the Chicago event is going to happen.

What Kevin should do initially is trim the payouts. Before everybody boos me on that suggestion, here is what he should do with the trimmings.

1) Trim the payouts and create more events for the first year or two

2) invest that saved money in a massive media campaign

3) Hold exhibitions around the country in all of the major media markets between the top players in the IPT.

4) Take a bold risk in getting exposure for the IPT. This could mean a joint venture with another sports or entertainment entity such as WWE or UFC.

The IPT must understand that excitement sells. 8 ball round robin events won't allow them to scratch the surface in the excitement market.

Many of you that have talked to me have heard me say that pool needs to be displayed to the public in its truest form. We arent suit and tie people. We're pool players. Show pool in its truest, bare naked form - and display it for what it is. Show the pit, the gamesmanship, the action on the rail, the woofing, etc, etc. The guy with the most money wins. Stop trying to gold plate a turd and trying to sell it as something it isn't. I have always said that this is the reason pool doesn't sell on television. Stop having guys play for tin cups and start having them play for bragging rights, pride, and big money in the pit. That would sell. That would work. I hope Kevin is smart enough to realize that too.

Mr. Trudeau, its not working and its not making money because you have surrounded yourself with the wrong people who have no clue about generating excitement around your product. Marketability has been tossed aside in exchange for pompously exaggerating the success of the IPT. You can either turn it around by scrapping your current plans, or you can continue to dig a deeper hole. Whatever you do, don't bail out. This can make you money eventually. Just surround yourself with the right people instead of isolating yourself from them.
 
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Blackjack - I agree!

I wrote a post somewhere here a while back saying that people feed off of "drama" and that all of the tours have become very bland. Also yrs ago the idea of merging the PBA and the failed XFL seemed like it may be a step in the right direction.

The thing that got me was the IPT pic of Scotty Townsend with a haircut, clean shaven, and wearing a suit....... If you know Scotty that doesn't fit him very well. Now snakeskin boots, jeans with holes, a pitcher of Bud, and his endless stories of wrestling a bear..etc..... would sell more. Let the personalities of the players show a little.

example: I could Tell you every tournament I've played (and that's several) in which Earl got into a hissy fit or walked out of, but I can't name who won any of the events..........

And "If I was KT".. I would be on the beach in Costa Rica enjoying a Margarita with a native lady :)
 
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Nice post Jimmy. Anyone who has $100 million, very publicly owes $3 million, and refuses to pay out of his own pocket, has no character at all. And no sense of business. How could clearing one's name and doing the right thing not be worth 3% of your net holdings? There is no lifestyle difference between having $97 million and having $100 million.

I think the real problem is the estimate of his net worth. $100 million?? Where did you get this figure? I really enjoy your posts Jimmy but where did you come up with that number, lol? I think it is entirely possible that with the right cooking of books, he could show maybe a $6-$7 million net worth. I could be wrong in either direction of course; it is just my opinion.

- Steve
 
Ruthless said:
The thing that got me was the IPT pic of Scotty Townsend with a haircut, clean shaven, and wearing a suit....... If you know Scotty that doesn't fit him very well. Now snakeskin boots, jeans with holes, a pitcher of Bud, and his endless stories of wrestling a bear..etc..... would sell more. Let the personalities of the players show a little.
Click to expand...

Personalities would sell - such as Keith and others that bring the pit to life. Think about why you watch football - or any other sport. Its not because of the money the players are getting paid. Its because of the anticipation that something exciting or great is going to happen - and it brings you to the edge of human emotion and back.

Professional wrestling is not about violence or athletics. The fans are sold on the storylines, the human drama, and they are taken to the edge of their emotions in excitement and disappointment in a split second. The anticipation of that rush of adrenaline is what fills the seats - combined with the personalities of the characters. At the end of the day, Vince McMahon sells out another arena somewhere and his product basically markets itself. He doesn't try to pass it off as reality. Everyone is aware that the show is for entertainment, yet people still buy tickets even though the outcome is predetermined. Imagine that.

The world of MMA has come a long way in the past 5-10 years. There was a time when John McCain hit the Senate floor asking to have MMA and UFC events banned. Dana White and the Fertitta family took the UFC and smoothed out the edges and legitimized it as a sport instead of a violent bloodfest. Today they can brag of some of the biggest PPV buy rates in last 5 years, How did that happen? They stopped trying to market it as something it wasn't. They started operating outside the box and their potential increased with the level of their imagination. It didn't happen overnight, but it happened. The right people with the right ideas combined with the people that had the ability to make it happen. The IPT can do the same thing.
 
Colin Colenso said:
I don't think the format for TV is interesting or unique enough to gain the level of mainstream interest that is possible.

One idea I've suggested is to make the format more like poker using a ring game format where 6 guys battle it out being eliminated one at a time. Perhaps even with a kelly-pool aspect, where each player has their own secret ball that they must pot (The audience knows what balls each player is on). That way we'd see bluffing and players attempting more spectacular shots.

I'd also like to see production that runs more interesting highlights packages, such as 3 minute segments taken from what occured during the tournaments featuring dummy spits, agony of defeat, celebrations of victories, various chalking techniques, cue handling skills, masse shots, combination shots, breaks, draw shots, table stalking etc.

Snooker has put together such production very successfully. It draws in the attention of the non-pool player and gives them insights into the various interesting aspects of the game.

I don't see the game getting huge ratings until it does something very different and interesting. Just like how poker hit the big time when the hidden card became the feature of production. Before then, I understand that attempts at broadcasting poker to mass audiences had been unsuccessful.

There is something about pool that captures people's interest. For only a small percent of people it has been watching 2 guys play matches. The producers need to find that passion point and communicate it in an entertaining way.

Once the masses get to know more about the game and the stars, then they might ache for seeing some real tournament style match ups, with the same kind of interest that pool fans here have.

Colin
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Colin, very insightful post.
 
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For Steve Lipsky

Steve Lipsky said:
Nice post Jimmy. Anyone who has $100 million, very publicly owes $3 million, and refuses to pay out of his own pocket, has no character at all. And no sense of business. How could clearing one's name and doing the right thing not be worth 3% of your net holdings? There is no lifestyle difference between having $97 million and having $100 million.

I think the real problem is the estimate of his net worth. $100 million?? Where did you get this figure? I really enjoy your posts Jimmy but where did you come up with that number, lol? I think it is entirely possible that with the right cooking of books, he could show maybe a $6-$7 million net worth. I could be wrong in either direction of course; it is just my opinion.

- Steve
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Thanks Steve, I enjoy yours as well.

The figure was meaningless, I only wanted to eliminate the "billionaire" argument from the discussion and since many people here seem to believe the "billionaire" hype that KT throws around, I simply threw a compromise number out there so that my actual question would be addressed and not his net worth. I think that your number is probably more accurate than mine.

I think I know your answer to my question, but I'll ask it just the same. What would you do if you were KT?
jim
 
If I were KT....

I would be sitting back on a beach somewhere drunk as hell telling stories of how I just put one over on another group of gullible suckers. This has been his trend over the last several years and if you think the IPT is any different then you are an idiot. I think he had visions of a successful tour, but when he saw that pool is not the money maker as the other info-scams he's worked, he pulled up and is now bleeding all of the die hard supporters for every cent he can. I realize that the players want to stay positive and give him the benefit of the doubt, but get real people, this is one of the biggest con men of our lifetime. He made millions selling a book to old and gullible people about natural cures for ailments! None of which have clinical proofs that they work. He has also spent time in jail and fined several times by the FCC for false and fraudulant claims involving the products he peddles. He is laughing right now at how he can manipulate so many by dangling a little green at people that have none.
 
jimmyg said:
Thanks Steve, I enjoy yours as well.

The figure was meaningless, I only wanted to eliminate the "billionaire" argument from the discussion and since many people here seem to believe the "billionaire" hype that KT throws around, I simply threw a compromise number out there so that my actual question would be addressed and not his net worth. I think that your number is probably more accurate than mine.

I think I know your answer to my question, but I'll ask it just the same. What would you do if you were KT?
jim
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Hey Jim. I've been thinking about this all day actually. If my name were mud in a circle I am passionate about, if I were probably at least indirectly responsible for many deaths because I told desperate people to eat beans as a way to cure cancer (rather than see a doctor), if I made 100% of my money scamming people, if I treated people with as much disrespect as he does and has - well, you can guess what I would probably do.

But as a tournament promoter, I'd probably get in touch immediately with Blackjack and Jay Helfert. And that's not just stroking off my friends - I have a feeling that these two guys could turn things around. They're respected, intelligent, well-spoken, and would hold everyone's interests to heart. They would make tough decisions, but I would bet that there would be no more broken promises. The tour would continue, and eventually flourish. And best of all, the players would know they're being protected, and would therefore be fiercely loyal.

- Steve
 
Steve Lipsky said:
Hey Jim. I've been thinking about this all day actually. If my name were mud in a circle I am passionate about, if I were probably at least indirectly responsible for many deaths because I told desperate people to eat beans as a way to cure cancer (rather than see a doctor), if I made 100% of my money scamming people, if I treated people with as much disrespect as he does and has - well, you can guess what I would probably do.

But as a tournament promoter, I'd probably get in touch immediately with Blackjack and Jay Helfert. And that's not just stroking off my friends - I have a feeling that these two guys could turn things around. They're respected, intelligent, well-spoken, and would hold everyone's interests to heart. They would make tough decisions, but I would bet that there would be no more broken promises. The tour would continue, and eventually flourish. And best of all, the players would know they're being protected, and would therefore be fiercely loyal.

- Steve
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Steve

I appreciate your kind words and thoughts, but count me out. I think that if this thing falls apart that any trust between players and promoters would be completely destroyed. Repairing that trust would call for a very, very long period of reconstruction. Over the years I have given enough of myself to players and promoters and I have very little to show for it with the exception of being labeled an enemy of the IPT and ineffective in my past efforts. I believe that any future attempt to revive professional pool would not be well supported by the industry or the players, and at this point in time it would definitely not include my participation at any level.
 
jjinfla said:
Does that include message boards too?

Well, sorry to see you go.

Jake
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I won't completely disappear, but my participation in pool and in these forums will be scaled back considerably. FYI, (my intention is not to hijack this topic by saying this) I will no longer be posting any of my instructional material in any of the forums. I made this decision about a year ago.
 
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