IPT- Answers to Your Questions Here

[macguy]

I just don't understand why people are criticizing this effort. I don't care if Kevin is a felon or a divine being, he's putting his own money into pool and who the Hell else is doing that? He isn't asking people to pony up money and using that money to sponsor this, he's using his money. Is this hard for people to comprehend? It would be like *****ing about someone offering you the materials and manpower to build your own house and *****ing at the person because you don't like the type of shingles he's offering you. If I was Mr Trudeau, I'd pull my money and tell the pool world to bite me!

This is win/win deal and anyone that likes this sport should be grateful. I've been on this board for a long time and we have spent a great deal of bandwidth discussing the poor health of this sport and trying to come up with ways of bringing it into the limelight. Now we have someone who is single-handedly trying to do that and people are upset because their favorite player isn't in it or they think he's not doing it exactly how they'd like him to do it. Look back at all the hateful threads and posts about the UPA. Mr Trudeau is doing what many of us never dreamt but always wished would happen, one entity willing to infuse a shitload of money into this sport and trying to put it into the limelight.

Blackjack, I really have enjoyed your posts and I think you are a very thoughtful and sincere person who is really concerned about the players but I just don't think it is Kevin's responsibility to look to a long term benefit package for the players. He's a business man who is going to take a chance on pool to make a profit. If he doesn't start turning a profit after 2 years or realizes that there is no money to be made from this effort, he's gone, it's over, end of story. Therefore, I'd suggest to the players and everyone involved in this effort to do whatever they can to help this endeavor to turn a profit. That would mean having good hygiene, wearing some nice clothes and demonstrating good speaking skills when they're on camera. Then, if this sport is able to generate some profits, the players may be able to form a players union or something similar to what they do in the NFL. After all, the owners of the NFL didn't do anything for their players until the players were united by Mr Upshaw.

I think your post is correct as to the nature of the venture. Most of the questions and comments I believe were prompted by the way it was originaly portrayed as just some guy with more money then he knows what to do with and he is just giving it away by the bag full for the fun of it. People are going to jump on and question that in a minute. He should have come on as a businessman making an investment with the hope of future profits with a better explanation of the plan and invited everyone along for the ride. It started out sounding like a con and red flags went off and people are right to ask questions especially based on his background it is only natural.

 

[The Kid]

The Kid,

Thank you for your comments. I am sorry that you feel the selection process was a "joke." I am sorry that your favorite players were not chosen and some players who you don't think are good did get chosen. However, the list is the list and this is the starting point. The good news for your players is that they can play in three huge tournaments next year. The first one being the U.S. Open which will have an unprecedented prize fund of $2,000,000 with first place earning $350,000. The second event will have a $3,000,000 prize fund and a first place an unheard of half-million dollar prize. The third tournament is the qualification tournament where if your friends make it in the top 50, they will have tour cards for the 2007 series. So the way I see it, if your friends are that good, they should each do VERY well mext year in the open tournaments and qualify to play on the 2007 series.

Deno Andrews

Just for your information these players that were left out aren't my favorite players or my friends, they just are much better and more deserving players than some of the shitty players that you and your friends have allowed onto the IPT tour.

 

[Rickw]

I think your post is correct as to the nature of the venture. Most of the questions and comments I believe were prompted by the way it was originaly portrayed as just some guy with more money then he knows what to do with and he is just giving it away by the bag full for the fun of it. People are going to jump on and question that in a minute. He should have come on as a businessman making an investment with the hope of future profits with a better explanation of the plan and invited everyone along for the ride. It started out sounding like a con and red flags went off and people are right to ask questions especially based on his background it is only natural.

I understand questioning something like this if the money generated was from the participants much like the UPA was. However, when the money is all coming to you, what's the problem? If someone comes along and offers me money, I'm going to ask what's the catch but once I determine there aren't any catches, I'm not going to criticise the fact that the money is all in $20's rather than $50's. This what I'm getting and maybe I'm reading too much into it but that's kind of how it sounds to me.

As for the player pick, I thought Deno answered that pretty well. They had to start with a list and yes maybe they could have done something like what Joe T said but they didn't so get over it. He's putting his own money into this and if he wanted to, he could have just had Hooter girls playing in it and he would probably make more money that way. Everyone here should be happy he's having real pool players playing in it at all. Personally, I'd much rather watch Jessica Alba bending over a mid table shot with a low cut blouse than Johnny Archer.

 

[Deno J. Andrews]

MacGuy,

Great questions. Unlike Round Robin tournaments in the past, the format itself will keep players from dumping to let their friends advance with them. Here is how:

There are many ties in round robin events in terms of wins and losses in a group. The first tie breaker we have implemented is the GLI, or the Games Lost Index, which is the average number of games lost in a match. This index stays with a player throughout the tournament. Losing a match makes the GLI jump up pretty quickly, and that higher GLI could come back to haunt a player in the next round. If he and a friend are in a group together and player A lets player B win to advance, player A's GLI goes up and player B's will go down. Only the dumbest of the dumb players will consider a dump at any time because that index will always be used first to break ties. Also, on the money list, if there are ties, their season GLI will be a tie breaker. That could mean the difference betweena player not keeping their tour card if there are several tied for the 100th position. In addition to winning, it is important for players to maintain as low a GLI as possible. Dumping will increase the GLI which is more than likely to have a profound impact on the turnout of things. So if a player is stupid enough to raise his GLI to let a friend in, there is no doubt in my mind that it will come back to haunt him later in the tournament when he is tied for a spot.

Of course if someone is caught with ample proof, they will certainly not like the outcome.

Other situations are still being thought about...

Deno

 

[Deno J. Andrews]

Just for your information these players that were left out aren't my favorite players or my friends, they just are much better and more deserving players than some of the shitty players that you and your friends have allowed onto the IPT tour.

Your opinion is duly noted, thank you. And the players weren't "allowed" on the tour, they were "chosen."

Deno Andrews

 

[renard]

an organization "seperate from the tour" to "represent the players" should be organized "by the players" "seperate from the tour"! it should not be the responsibility of the tour organizers.

both resposibilities you list could just as much be asked of you as asked of the tour. have you tried to organize the players?

you might make a good player spokesperson!

you ask someone else "are we protecting ourselves?"
if someone else protects you - you are not protecting yourself
it would be nice of the tour to have a plan if after 2 years they decide not to continue. but in reality it's the players responsibilty!

I agree iconcue. Unions have been around a long time defending rights of the many that the few would say they do not have. The grangers union started having thier meetings hours before the the conglomerate representative was to meet with them. Maybe there should be a players meeting before a players meeting.

{(What's the Grange? Following the Panic of 1873, the Grange spread rapidly throughout the farm belt, since farmers in all areas were plagued by low prices for their products, growing indebtedness and discriminatory treatment by the railroads. These concerns helped to transform the Grange into a political force.)}

I digress...anyway officers can be chosen right on the spot. It doesnt have to be a recognized union at all. Just in the sense that you all unite to your own defense. Might find answers to questions here:

http://www.unions.org/home/

 

[unknownpro]

I agree iconcue. Unions have been around a long time defending rights of the many that the few would say they do not have. The grangers union started having thier meetings hours before the the conglomerate representative was to meet with them. Maybe there should be a players meeting before a players meeting.

{(What's the Grange? Following the Panic of 1873, the Grange spread rapidly throughout the farm belt, since farmers in all areas were plagued by low prices for their products, growing indebtedness and discriminatory treatment by the railroads. These concerns helped to transform the Grange into a political force.)}

I digress...anyway officers can be chosen right on the spot. It doesnt have to be a recognized union at all. Just in the sense that you all unite to your own defense. Might find answers to questions here:

http://www.unions.org/home/

Excellent post. Please continue to help us help ourselves...

unknownpro

 

[cuesmith]

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.


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

Deno,
I have to admit that I did have some mixed feelings about the IPT from the begininning. My feelings were due to some issues I had with Mike Sigel starting from many years ago, which I won't go into in a public forum. My only real concern was that Mike was really getting quite a "handout" and I felt that there were many much more deserving players out there. I do realize that it's Kevin's money and if he wants to give his good friend Mike a sort of head start, he's certainly within his rights to do so! In fact I applaud his loyalty to his friend! My old road partner, Gary Spaeth, had some people who knocked him because of his early lifestyle, but I saw through all that and we became great friends and partners.
Deno, you're involvement in the IPT, I believe, gives it even more credibility! I know you are a very principaled individual, and would not be involved in a scam of any kind! Not that I thought there was any danger of the pool players being scammed here. It's obviously so much in their favor here that they would be fools not to participate. Deno, you have my support in your efforts. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know!

I think the IPT is the best thing to happen for pool, possibly in the history of the game!

just more hot air!

Sherm

 

[onepocketchump]

The Kid,

Thank you for your comments. I am sorry that you feel the selection process was a "joke." I am sorry that your favorite players were not chosen and some players who you don't think are good did get chosen. However, the list is the list and this is the starting point. The good news for your players is that they can play in three huge tournaments next year. The first one being the U.S. Open which will have an unprecedented prize fund of $2,000,000 with first place earning $350,000. The second event will have a $3,000,000 prize fund and a first place an unheard of half-million dollar prize. The third tournament is the qualification tournament where if your friends make it in the top 50, they will have tour cards for the 2007 series. So the way I see it, if your friends are that good, they should each do VERY well mext year in the open tournaments and qualify to play on the 2007 series.

Deno Andrews

One quick question? Will the players that finish 2006 at bottom get a chance to play in the qualifier for 2007's tour year? I have read that this format is modeled after golf. I don't know how one gets a "tour card" for golf but it seems kind of harsh to make the bottom 50 sit out for a year with no chance requalify if that is the way I read it.

John

 

[Deno J. Andrews]

jjinfla,

Thanks for the kind words. The DePaul crack made me laugh.

As far as no tickets at the door, there are several reasons. Selling tickets in advance allows us to know how many spectators to expect and how to set up the seating so that everything is cool. I have been to tournaments where the VIP section was oversold and when everyone shows up for their seats, there are unhappy people. Plus, these are going to be exclusive events and we want to focus our attention on the event itself. Selling tickets at the door tells people that they can wait until the last minute to be a part of the event. Just like the application process, we want people at the event who are excited to be there and who plan in advance.

As far as Mike Sigel and autographs (and the rest of the players)...I am sure that players are going to have interaction with the crowd and be happy to be giving out autographs. I know that Mike has charged for his John Hancock in the past, and I don't know what he will do in the future. I know that he just won $150,000 and he is guaranteed to win at least another $100,000 in the invitational event. Maybe now that he has been rewarded for his level of talent, maybe he is more willing to sign autographs for free...just a thought.

Finally, there will be IPT merchandise...I just don't know what yet.

Best regards,
Deno Andrews

 

[Deno J. Andrews]

Deno, With all of the excitement of being able to compete on the IPT, I am wondering how will you be able to accept everyone who is a non IPT card holder in the 2006 US Open. Will it be a true open tourny to everyone who can provide the $1000.00 entry fee? Will the other tournaments that non IPT card holder compete in be a limited field? If so you know you will be flooded with entrants trying to meet a deadline, How will you be able to process the entries? In other words, will it be like some of these on-line poker events where you grab a seat as fast as you can type entry, and everyone else becomes a spectator. One last thing if a non IPT card holder wins an event what is his/her status after the win?

These things are still being worked out. Watch the site for more information in the coming weeks. www.internationalpooltour.com

Deno

 

[Rude Dog]

Deno, great post, very informative, and I believe that it has answered all of my questions. I think that no matter what happens in the next 2 years, as far as success or failure of the I.P.T., this will open all doors for the players and fans of this game. The game will finally get the recognition that it has deserved for many years. I recently sent you an email questioning the selection process and I thank you for the quick response. I now understand how and why the current list is what it is, someone had to be on there and K.T. is the one doing the selecting. No problem with that. I really hope that everyone can see the good that will come out of this instead of the possiblity that it will fail. It won't, I'm sure of that, or at least I believe that, and that's all we can hope for if we truly love this game. Peace, John.

 

[Deno J. Andrews]

Deno,
I have to admit that I did have some mixed feelings about the IPT from the begininning. My feelings were due to some issues I had with Mike Sigel starting from many years ago, which I won't go into in a public forum. My only real concern was that Mike was really getting quite a "handout" and I felt that there were many much more deserving players out there. I do realize that it's Kevin's money and if he wants to give his good friend Mike a sort of head start, he's certainly within his rights to do so! In fact I applaud his loyalty to his friend! My old road partner, Gary Spaeth, had some people who knocked him because of his early lifestyle, but I saw through all that and we became great friends and partners.
Deno, you're involvement in the IPT, I believe, gives it even more credibility! I know you are a very principaled individual, and would not be involved in a scam of any kind! Not that I thought there was any danger of the pool players being scammed here. It's obviously so much in their favor here that they would be fools not to participate. Deno, you have my support in your efforts. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know!

I think the IPT is the best thing to happen for pool, possibly in the history of the game!

just more hot air!

Sherm

Thanks Sherm.
Deno

 

[macguy]

jjinfla,

Thanks for the kind words. The DePaul crack made me laugh.

As far as no tickets at the door, there are several reasons. Selling tickets in advance allows us to know how many spectators to expect and how to set up the seating so that everything is cool. I have been to tournaments where the VIP section was oversold and when everyone shows up for their seats, there are unhappy people. Plus, these are going to be exclusive events and we want to focus our attention on the event itself. Selling tickets at the door tells people that they can wait until the last minute to be a part of the event. Just like the application process, we want people at the event who are excited to be there and who plan in advance.

As far as Mike Sigel and autographs (and the rest of the players)...I am sure that players are going to have interaction with the crowd and be happy to be giving out autographs. I know that Mike has charged for his John Hancock in the past, and I don't know what he will do in the future. I know that he just won $150,000 and he is guaranteed to win at least another $100,000 in the invitational event. Maybe now that he has been rewarded for his level of talent, maybe he is more willing to sign autographs for free...just a thought.

Finally, there will be IPT merchandise...I just don't know what yet.

Best regards,
Deno Andrews

So a couple of guys come into the pool room and the house man yells, "How was the tournament"? "Great you should see all the great players, I even got some autographs". Son playing with his father on one of the tables says to his dad, "Dad, can we go to the tournament, Please Please?" "Sure" says the dad and he gets the info on where the tournament is taking place and off they go, only to be told at the door they can't come in, mean time the place is half full which it will be most of the time except maybe for the finals. Do you have any idea how ridicules that sounds? I think there is a little more tweaking to do. Beyond maybe a few obscure billiard publications no one reads and this board, for the most part no one will know the tournament is even taking place, no locals for sure, who may want to attend when they hear about it. If you are looking to control who attends and how they are seated, why not just produce it in a studio with a full audience that you give free tickets to so you have no empty seats in front of the TV cameras. The no tickets at the door is the most idiotic thing you guys have said yet.

 

[Nostroke]

more tweaking to do. Beyond maybe a few obscure billiard publications no one reads and this board, for the most part no one will know the tournament is even taking place, no locals for sure, who may want to attend when they hear about it. If you are looking to control who attends and how they are seated, why not just produce it in a studio with a full audience that you give free tickets to so you have no empty seats in front of the TV cameras. The no tickets at the door is the most idiotic thing you guys have said yet.

Gotta agree- Matchroom Sports found out they have to have all but the finals free admission in order to get an audience during the week even when it is held in Taiwan where pool is an elective in high school. It's hard to sell to a TV audience when the seats are empty.

This will be the first thing changed.

Dont blame Deno- This has been Kevin's plan (no tix at door) from the start.

 

[Timberly]

Dont blame Deno- This has been Kevin's plan

I think this quote is safe to say for all things IPT right now. Deno comes on here & relays info given to him by KT. Deno does not make the decisions, KT calls the shots. It sounds as if KT asks for both Deno's & others opinions but ultimately makes the choices himself. This is something that I think people need to keep in mind when replying to Deno or posing a question to him.

 

[Deno J. Andrews]

Joe,
Your exclusion is a travesty, yet I think if you want to play on the IPT, knowing you, your determination will get you there. Best of my luck my friend.

Deno, thanks for addressing those issues. Now for a tough question or two.

1) What is being done to form an organization that is deisgned to be separate from the tour to represent the players?

2) What is being done legally to protect the interest of the players if Kevin decides not to continue with this tour after this 2 year commitment? Is something being established to where the tour will continue until the IPT can find another title sponsor? Are we protecting ourselves to ensure that we will not be dropped on our heads again? You can answer me here, or give me a call at 386-208-0011 if you'd rather discuss that privately.

Best of luck, and congratulations on your position.

Blackjack

David,

I don't quite know where to start...

I have lots of respect for you, and if there is anyone in this industry who can understand and share your interest for the long term survival and success of the game, it is me.

I must admit, while not changing how I feel about you, I am very disappointed in your attitude about the startup of the IPT. And, I was shocked to read your comments about how little faith you had in professional pool players to be able to handle the kind of money they deserve to be paid. With that said, I would like you to consider some things. I am not asking you for a response, but rather to just think about this for a while.

In the next two years, roughly $17 million in prize money is going to be paid out to a number of the best players in the world. The IPT is not competing with any organization. There is no interest on our part to be recognized by any association as a governing body of anything. This is a private tour that is not planning on putting anyone out of business, but rather to put the players IN business, where they have never been before under the care of the other associations. The prizes that Kevin Trudeau has offered to the PLAYERS are unprecedented, historic, and quite frankly, a long time coming. If it were up to associations, this would have never and will never happen. It is not Kevin Trudeau's responsibility to take care of the players if the tour should fail after two years. By that time, most of the best pool players will have made more money in two years than in their whole careers; will have been on TV with endless promotion which can lead to all sorts of good things; and will finally be able to afford the expenses to travel to a tournament knowing full well that when they get in the money, that they won't still be losing money. If players piss away the money as you confidently believe they will, that is their responsiblity. It is not up to a tour to insure that their players wisely invest their money or pay their bills.

This tour can only help all the other existing associations and tours. Bringing pool to mainstream America is something that has NEVER been done. Now it is Kevin Trudeau's turn to give it a whirl, and if anyone can do it, it is Kevin Trudeau. If the tour fails, it will have no affect on what is already in place as far as an association heirarchy. Nothing that we do will affect the associations in any bad way. And if the IPT in two years decides to stop promoting a tour, nothing whatsoever is lost, and professional pool players are $17 Million Dollars wealthier. Remember, it is the players who are wealthier, not the associations...THE PLAYERS.

I appreciate all the time and effort you put into thinking about this sport and how things should be done. I have worked in associations many times before in this sport and have always been amazed at how sure everyone was that they had the answers for the industry...but yet, year after year, the same problems occured and the sport declines. People make the same mistakes over and over in the associations becuase nobody is willing to take the appropriate risks to make it happen. That is the nature of the beast. The leaders are content to travel around the world at the players' expense, having fancy meetings, giving awards to each other, making sub committees to research this and that, all the while letting the players receive embarrasingly low prizes that guarantee that they lose money at the events unless they win...at which time they may make a thousand or two. I have never heard of association colleagues doubling and tripling up hotel rooms when traveling the world for their meetings...but yet, why is it that at any pool tournament, large and small, you will commonly see two to four or five players in one room? They aren't THAT friendly!!! They do it to afford the expenses.

When someone like Kevin Trudeau comes along who is willing to invest loads of millions of dollars up front, guarantee the best players prizes that are finally at the same level of other sports, you and the heirarchy machine start saying that it is bad for the sport itself. That attitude is nonsense in my opinion. What is bad for the sport is the status quo, which has declined the sport to the sub-basement of our cultures. I would urge you to poll the players who were selected to play on this tour and ask them if this is bad for the game. Ask the players who applied if they thought this was bad for the game. I mean, isn't a sport about its players? Does anyone on earth want to listen to the baseball commissioner or would they rather watch the players play the game?

I hope that you don't feel I am trying to slam you with this because I am certainly not. I truly respect you for your care about this sport and the effort you put into promoting your convictions. I respectfully disagree with your thoughts about what is good for the game specifically relating to this tour. Does that mean that I am correct? No. It just means that we disagree.

In closing, I don't expect that you will change your mind on anything. I do however hope that you would consider being a little more positive and at least having some hope that this could turn into something good. I left a very good job because I believe in this business model. I am taking a very large risk in that I still need to provide for me and my family. I was willing to accept that the tour be around for two years and then evaluated at that time. But I believe in this because it is different than anything that has been done so far, and it looks and feels right to me. Kevin Trudeau is taking a large risk in the tune of more money than most Americans earn in their lifetime. And for the first time in this sport, guess who is not taking a big risk? The Players. Finally. I hope that you can at least get behind that. And if you are so sure that the players will blow the money, you can spend the next several months educating them how to properly save and invest their earnings...cause they are going to have lots of them.

Respectfully,

Deno Andrews

 

[macguy]

I think this quote is safe to say for all things IPT right now. Deno comes on here & relays info given to him by KT. Deno does not make the decisions, KT calls the shots. It sounds as if KT asks for both Deno's & others opinions but ultimately makes the choices himself. This is something that I think people need to keep in mind when replying to Deno or posing a question to him.

I agree, the tone of my post and choice of words were a little strong, Sorry Deno.

 

[Deno J. Andrews]

I agree, the tone of my post and choice of words were a little strong, Sorry Deno.

I don't mind. There is going to be a lot of stuff that happens within the IPT that people aren't going to understand. Just remember that our only point of reference is a model that has failed the players, spectators, and the industry in general. My belief is that sometimes the most unbelievable things cause the most accomplishment. Instead of bashing the plan, maybe you could try to embrace it and encourage anyone who would like to attend to buy their seats up front. Just a thought.

Thanks,
Deno

 

[Rickw]

In the next two years, roughly $17 million in prize money is going to be paid out to a number of the best players in the world. The IPT is not competing with any organization. There is no interest on our part to be recognized by any association as a governing body of anything. This is a private tour that is not planning on putting anyone out of business, but rather to put the players IN business, where they have never been before under the care of the other associations. The prizes that Kevin Trudeau has offered to the PLAYERS are unprecedented, historic, and quite frankly, a long time coming.

Remember, it is the players who are wealthier, not the associations...THE PLAYERS.



Respectfully,

Deno Andrews

Deno,

Good post! I totally agree that this certainly appears to be a win/win. I fail to see any down side for the players. However, when it comes to the other pool organizations, some may actually go out of business because everyone is going to be trying to get into the IPT. I heard that the Sands in Reno is thinking about changing the date of their December tournament because your tournament is running at the same time and they're worried about a low turnout. What the heck, if I was a pro player, I'd be looking awfully hard at trying to get some of that 17 million too!