Good evening,
It is my pleasure to offer some answers to the many questions and address the controversies regarding the International Pool Tour. I spent the last hour on the phone with Kevin Trudeau and he asked me to relay this information. This post is not meant to start a conversation between me and the group, but rather to offer some answers of pressing questions.
Let me start by introducing myself to any of you who might not know me already. My name is Deno J. Andrews and I am the Tour Director for the International Pool Tour. Some people have inquired about my credentials or qualifications to be a tour director, so I will address that first.
I was a competitive 3-cushion billiards player for ten years and traveled the country and abroad playing in and organizing tournaments and exhibitions. During that time I was fortunate to have learned from some of the game’s best players. Although I was no great champion at 3-cushion, I have won a few small tournaments, have been fortunate to have beaten some of the best players in the world, and proudly represented (by invitation) the United States in the Pan-American 3-cushion Championship in 1997 in Panama City, Panama. During those years, I promoted and ran dozens of international events and hosted exhibitions with some of the best players in billiards. Shortly after deciding not to compete any more because of the lack of opportunity to make a respectable income, I was recruited to be the United States Director of Operations for Gorina S.A., manufacturers of the Granito brand of carom, pool, and snooker fabrics. After several years with Gorina, I left the industry to pursue a very good opportunity in the biotechnology arena where I would be involved in multi-million dollar projects and directives. In the last seven years while working outside the industry, I have continued to be involved in the billiards industry. I am an historian of the game and have one of the larger antiquarian billiard-book collections in the country. I am also a collector of fine cue sticks and artifacts and am a contributing editor to the next edition of the Blue Book of Pool Cues. Finally, I hold a B.A. in business from DePaul University. Billiards is my life, and it has been since I was a child watching my grandfather, who was a world-class 3-cushion player himself.
Some people have gone as far as emailing me to question my intentions in taking this position. All I can say is that my intentions are to do what has not been done in fifty years of pocket billiards- to be a part of a group that will bring the game from the back-room to the mainstream where players can become household names and make fabulous livings for themselves and their families. I would hope that those of you who know me, or have dealt with me, would relay your experiences or thoughts to those who might question my intentions.
How did the 150 players get chosen? Why are there players on that list that may not play as good as other players? Etc.
Let me preface the answer by writing this- all of what is known about who the top players are today comes from 9-ball (mostly), played on tables with big pockets and fast worsted wool cloth. The fact is that nobody really knows who the best players are going to be playing 8-ball, on very tight tables, with slower woolen cloth, playing in a round-robin format. Sure, most people are confident in their speculation of who might play well, and they may be correct, but it is impossible to know for sure. Therefore…the process was:
Once the application process was initiated, applications began pouring in from all over the world. Each application had the date that the player applied clearly visible. If the player was an obvious top level player in the world, Kevin Trudeau automatically chose him or her. If the player was not known, Kevin carefully examined the application and began to ask around about the player to make sure that he or she played like it said on the application. Once it was determined that it was a serious application and a player was qualified, they were chosen. It is that simple. Another component was how quickly they applied because Kevin wanted a full tour of qualified people who are “dying” to play on a big-time tour. Waiting around to the last minute meant that the field was almost already full of those players who were really pumped to try something new. Skeptics and procrastinators ran the risk of being passed up, which did happen to some pretty good players. The format for the first year dictates that the bottom fifty money earners from 2006 lose their tour card and have to try and re-qualify. The top fifty players in the qualification tournament will then take those spots. In the first year, Kevin had to start somewhere, and this 150 player list is where we are starting. By 2007, the field will certainly be even stronger than it is now, and by 2008 the tour will be unequivocally the toughest global field ever assembled.
What role did Deno Andrews play in the selection process?
By the time I came on board, there were 30 open positions. I made some comments here and there, but Kevin chose the players in the same manner as he did before I came on board. I totally agree with how he went about choosing the players and researching those players whose names he didn’t recognize. By the way, Mike Sigel had nothing whatsoever to do with the player selection process. Kevin did ask him about certain players and also asked many other people. The list was not chosen by Mike Sigel, nor did he even see the list until it was published. Only Kevin and myself (once I came on board) saw the list (and other IPT staff) until it was published.
Is there an alternate player list?
Yes there is. It will not be published. There is no criteria regarding who is on the top or in what order they will be chosen if needed. They will basically be chosen by Kevin and Kevin alone.
How did the players in the 43 player event get chosen?
All of the players are tour players. Thirteen are Hall of Fame members including Mike Sigel, who is the King of the Hill. The Hall of Fame members were invited. The remaining players were chosen based on several criteria including proven ability, potential ability (that nobody knows about yet), name recognition, what was written on the application, dark horses, etc. Kevin Trudeau picked the entire list.
Why do the Hall of Fame players get such a great seed over all the other top players?
Basically, this is a made for TV event like the first challenge match, both with the purpose of getting the tour and the real competition (starting in January) going. The Hall of Fame players have name recognition and it is a very special event to have them all playing together and also against the game’s current elite. This is an exhibition tournament that is designed for TV. Think of the HOF group as a barrier for the other players to have to overcome. This event is a promotion…an invitational. When was the last time you heard of a pool tournament paying last place? At this tournament, all players are guaranteed $6200, win or lose, with no entry fee. That is what an invitational tournament is supposed to be. The $30,000 guarantee for the HOF members is a gesture, to honor these players if you will. As I have read these posts about how these players don’t deserve such a tribute, it saddens me that supporters of pool would so quickly discredit the HOF members and basically promote that they aren’t worth what they are being paid. Well, those people who wrote such things should see the $6200 guarantee for all players as a prize bigger than many first prizes of major tournaments in the last 50 years. My personal opinion is that Kevin Trudeau has shown everyone that this tour is about the players, past and present. I would also suggest that people try to find out what the players who are playing in this event think of the format and the Hall of Fame seeding. I have yet to talk to a “player” who didn’t think giving the Hall of Fame members this one special tribute was anything less than great.
Why does Mike Sigel get preferential treatment in all of this?
When Kevin Trudeau started this tour, he needed a main character to get things off the ground. It is no secret that Kevin and Mike are friends and that Kevin learned the game of pool from Mike. Sigel is arguably one of the most historically dominant players alive today, and to have ever played the game for that matter. He is a great player who stopped playing because it wasn’t worth doing any more. Other athletes in other sports who accomplished much less in their sports than he in his sport have made millions; Sigel could barely make a living. That is a great story for TV. People are interested in hearing about that. Now he is back because of the opportunity to win real money is finally a reality for him. Now that the Jones-Sigel match is over, there is one more promotional event- the King of the Hill Invitational, after which time Mike Sigel will be a regular tour player like everyone else on the list when the real competition starts in January.
What right does Kevin Trudeau have to start a pool tour without the blessing of the governing bodies?
He has as much right as anyone to step up to the plate, invest his own money (more by the way than anyone has ever put into this sport), and try to make it happen. The WPA was very clear about their attitude in the letter that they posted here. Basically, if Kevin were to pay the sanction fee, the WPA would sing his praises. Without the sanction fee, they would say that the IPT is bad for the game. What does that tell you? It tells me that the WPA is about money, not about what is good for the game. It is Kevin’s idea, and I totally and unequivocally concur, that what is good for the sport is for the best players to make hundreds of thousands of dollars (or millions) in prize money and hopefully millions more in endorsements, become celebrities and household names. The governing bodies have had decades to make that happen and have failed time and time again. Furthermore, this tour interferes with nothing that is already established or with what the other associations are doing. Our event dates are published for next year already, and we are not out to plan events on top of other events. Kevin wants the players to be successful and famous, and that means playing everywhere they can. Kevin would not tell a player that he or she can’t play somewhere else. Kevin encourages all of the players to play where they want, when they want. Splitting the industry and the players accomplishes nothing. Unfortunately that is what has been done for many years and is what continues to be done, despite its obvious negative results.
Will the players actually get paid?
Yes, they will be paid at each tournament.
Why isn’t Pagulayan or Ortman on the list?
Neither had sent in an application on time. Many very well known players didn’t turn in applications at all. The ones who did will be on the alternate list.
Who will be the commentators?
That is still unknown.
How long will the tour be around?
Kevin Trudeau has committed funds for two years, after which time the tour will be evaluated for continuation. Kevin is confident that it will be a success and go on from there.
Why should we trust Kevin Trudeau considering his past?
I think this is a great question. However, I think the real question that needs to be asked is why shouldn’t he be trusted? Here is my take: Kevin Trudeau is very up front about his past. Twenty years ago he did some very wrong things that landed him in prison. All of that information is right on the IPT web site and he is very open about it. He is not trying to hide anything and he talks about it frequently in interviews. Other very well known people have done some pretty bad things too that have landed them in jail or having to pay large penalties or fines. Some of these names include: Martha Stewart, Bill Gates, President Clinton, President Bush, the list goes on. Kevin Trudeau is a much different person than he was 20 years ago, and I would urge you to think about things that you have done in your past that were mistakes or wrong doings and consider that if people knew about it and held it against you for the rest of your life, how you would like it. Maybe I am the kind of person who likes to give people the benefit of the doubt. I can’t tell you what to think, but I don’t think it would hurt to try and be positive, or at least have some hope that this tour will be successful. As far as trust goes, why not try to be neutral and see what happens when the tour gets started, and judge the tour on its own merit?
Best regards,
Deno J. Andrews
Tour Director,
International Pool Tour
http://www.internationalpooltour.com
It is my pleasure to offer some answers to the many questions and address the controversies regarding the International Pool Tour. I spent the last hour on the phone with Kevin Trudeau and he asked me to relay this information. This post is not meant to start a conversation between me and the group, but rather to offer some answers of pressing questions.
Let me start by introducing myself to any of you who might not know me already. My name is Deno J. Andrews and I am the Tour Director for the International Pool Tour. Some people have inquired about my credentials or qualifications to be a tour director, so I will address that first.
I was a competitive 3-cushion billiards player for ten years and traveled the country and abroad playing in and organizing tournaments and exhibitions. During that time I was fortunate to have learned from some of the game’s best players. Although I was no great champion at 3-cushion, I have won a few small tournaments, have been fortunate to have beaten some of the best players in the world, and proudly represented (by invitation) the United States in the Pan-American 3-cushion Championship in 1997 in Panama City, Panama. During those years, I promoted and ran dozens of international events and hosted exhibitions with some of the best players in billiards. Shortly after deciding not to compete any more because of the lack of opportunity to make a respectable income, I was recruited to be the United States Director of Operations for Gorina S.A., manufacturers of the Granito brand of carom, pool, and snooker fabrics. After several years with Gorina, I left the industry to pursue a very good opportunity in the biotechnology arena where I would be involved in multi-million dollar projects and directives. In the last seven years while working outside the industry, I have continued to be involved in the billiards industry. I am an historian of the game and have one of the larger antiquarian billiard-book collections in the country. I am also a collector of fine cue sticks and artifacts and am a contributing editor to the next edition of the Blue Book of Pool Cues. Finally, I hold a B.A. in business from DePaul University. Billiards is my life, and it has been since I was a child watching my grandfather, who was a world-class 3-cushion player himself.
Some people have gone as far as emailing me to question my intentions in taking this position. All I can say is that my intentions are to do what has not been done in fifty years of pocket billiards- to be a part of a group that will bring the game from the back-room to the mainstream where players can become household names and make fabulous livings for themselves and their families. I would hope that those of you who know me, or have dealt with me, would relay your experiences or thoughts to those who might question my intentions.
How did the 150 players get chosen? Why are there players on that list that may not play as good as other players? Etc.
Let me preface the answer by writing this- all of what is known about who the top players are today comes from 9-ball (mostly), played on tables with big pockets and fast worsted wool cloth. The fact is that nobody really knows who the best players are going to be playing 8-ball, on very tight tables, with slower woolen cloth, playing in a round-robin format. Sure, most people are confident in their speculation of who might play well, and they may be correct, but it is impossible to know for sure. Therefore…the process was:
Once the application process was initiated, applications began pouring in from all over the world. Each application had the date that the player applied clearly visible. If the player was an obvious top level player in the world, Kevin Trudeau automatically chose him or her. If the player was not known, Kevin carefully examined the application and began to ask around about the player to make sure that he or she played like it said on the application. Once it was determined that it was a serious application and a player was qualified, they were chosen. It is that simple. Another component was how quickly they applied because Kevin wanted a full tour of qualified people who are “dying” to play on a big-time tour. Waiting around to the last minute meant that the field was almost already full of those players who were really pumped to try something new. Skeptics and procrastinators ran the risk of being passed up, which did happen to some pretty good players. The format for the first year dictates that the bottom fifty money earners from 2006 lose their tour card and have to try and re-qualify. The top fifty players in the qualification tournament will then take those spots. In the first year, Kevin had to start somewhere, and this 150 player list is where we are starting. By 2007, the field will certainly be even stronger than it is now, and by 2008 the tour will be unequivocally the toughest global field ever assembled.
What role did Deno Andrews play in the selection process?
By the time I came on board, there were 30 open positions. I made some comments here and there, but Kevin chose the players in the same manner as he did before I came on board. I totally agree with how he went about choosing the players and researching those players whose names he didn’t recognize. By the way, Mike Sigel had nothing whatsoever to do with the player selection process. Kevin did ask him about certain players and also asked many other people. The list was not chosen by Mike Sigel, nor did he even see the list until it was published. Only Kevin and myself (once I came on board) saw the list (and other IPT staff) until it was published.
Is there an alternate player list?
Yes there is. It will not be published. There is no criteria regarding who is on the top or in what order they will be chosen if needed. They will basically be chosen by Kevin and Kevin alone.
How did the players in the 43 player event get chosen?
All of the players are tour players. Thirteen are Hall of Fame members including Mike Sigel, who is the King of the Hill. The Hall of Fame members were invited. The remaining players were chosen based on several criteria including proven ability, potential ability (that nobody knows about yet), name recognition, what was written on the application, dark horses, etc. Kevin Trudeau picked the entire list.
Why do the Hall of Fame players get such a great seed over all the other top players?
Basically, this is a made for TV event like the first challenge match, both with the purpose of getting the tour and the real competition (starting in January) going. The Hall of Fame players have name recognition and it is a very special event to have them all playing together and also against the game’s current elite. This is an exhibition tournament that is designed for TV. Think of the HOF group as a barrier for the other players to have to overcome. This event is a promotion…an invitational. When was the last time you heard of a pool tournament paying last place? At this tournament, all players are guaranteed $6200, win or lose, with no entry fee. That is what an invitational tournament is supposed to be. The $30,000 guarantee for the HOF members is a gesture, to honor these players if you will. As I have read these posts about how these players don’t deserve such a tribute, it saddens me that supporters of pool would so quickly discredit the HOF members and basically promote that they aren’t worth what they are being paid. Well, those people who wrote such things should see the $6200 guarantee for all players as a prize bigger than many first prizes of major tournaments in the last 50 years. My personal opinion is that Kevin Trudeau has shown everyone that this tour is about the players, past and present. I would also suggest that people try to find out what the players who are playing in this event think of the format and the Hall of Fame seeding. I have yet to talk to a “player” who didn’t think giving the Hall of Fame members this one special tribute was anything less than great.
Why does Mike Sigel get preferential treatment in all of this?
When Kevin Trudeau started this tour, he needed a main character to get things off the ground. It is no secret that Kevin and Mike are friends and that Kevin learned the game of pool from Mike. Sigel is arguably one of the most historically dominant players alive today, and to have ever played the game for that matter. He is a great player who stopped playing because it wasn’t worth doing any more. Other athletes in other sports who accomplished much less in their sports than he in his sport have made millions; Sigel could barely make a living. That is a great story for TV. People are interested in hearing about that. Now he is back because of the opportunity to win real money is finally a reality for him. Now that the Jones-Sigel match is over, there is one more promotional event- the King of the Hill Invitational, after which time Mike Sigel will be a regular tour player like everyone else on the list when the real competition starts in January.
What right does Kevin Trudeau have to start a pool tour without the blessing of the governing bodies?
He has as much right as anyone to step up to the plate, invest his own money (more by the way than anyone has ever put into this sport), and try to make it happen. The WPA was very clear about their attitude in the letter that they posted here. Basically, if Kevin were to pay the sanction fee, the WPA would sing his praises. Without the sanction fee, they would say that the IPT is bad for the game. What does that tell you? It tells me that the WPA is about money, not about what is good for the game. It is Kevin’s idea, and I totally and unequivocally concur, that what is good for the sport is for the best players to make hundreds of thousands of dollars (or millions) in prize money and hopefully millions more in endorsements, become celebrities and household names. The governing bodies have had decades to make that happen and have failed time and time again. Furthermore, this tour interferes with nothing that is already established or with what the other associations are doing. Our event dates are published for next year already, and we are not out to plan events on top of other events. Kevin wants the players to be successful and famous, and that means playing everywhere they can. Kevin would not tell a player that he or she can’t play somewhere else. Kevin encourages all of the players to play where they want, when they want. Splitting the industry and the players accomplishes nothing. Unfortunately that is what has been done for many years and is what continues to be done, despite its obvious negative results.
Will the players actually get paid?
Yes, they will be paid at each tournament.
Why isn’t Pagulayan or Ortman on the list?
Neither had sent in an application on time. Many very well known players didn’t turn in applications at all. The ones who did will be on the alternate list.
Who will be the commentators?
That is still unknown.
How long will the tour be around?
Kevin Trudeau has committed funds for two years, after which time the tour will be evaluated for continuation. Kevin is confident that it will be a success and go on from there.
Why should we trust Kevin Trudeau considering his past?
I think this is a great question. However, I think the real question that needs to be asked is why shouldn’t he be trusted? Here is my take: Kevin Trudeau is very up front about his past. Twenty years ago he did some very wrong things that landed him in prison. All of that information is right on the IPT web site and he is very open about it. He is not trying to hide anything and he talks about it frequently in interviews. Other very well known people have done some pretty bad things too that have landed them in jail or having to pay large penalties or fines. Some of these names include: Martha Stewart, Bill Gates, President Clinton, President Bush, the list goes on. Kevin Trudeau is a much different person than he was 20 years ago, and I would urge you to think about things that you have done in your past that were mistakes or wrong doings and consider that if people knew about it and held it against you for the rest of your life, how you would like it. Maybe I am the kind of person who likes to give people the benefit of the doubt. I can’t tell you what to think, but I don’t think it would hurt to try and be positive, or at least have some hope that this tour will be successful. As far as trust goes, why not try to be neutral and see what happens when the tour gets started, and judge the tour on its own merit?
Best regards,
Deno J. Andrews
Tour Director,
International Pool Tour
http://www.internationalpooltour.com
