is this a joke?

A

accdealer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Has anyone else read this, and if so are you as shocked as I am?

http://www.insidepool.com/article847.html

I mean, besides the other obvious players who were not selected, why isn't Tony Robles on the list. For God's sake, this list was submitted by the BCA and he just won their championship. I am not going to insult anybody, so I won't mention any names, but I count 5 players on that list that absolutely should not be there. Four of them are very good players, but to be picked out of all of the players in the USA to go to Tapei is an absolute joke and one of them would probably go 2 and out in your local amateur tournament.

Here's some people that I thought should have been on the list:

Tony Robles-Absolutely no reason why he should not be on the list.

Corey Duel-They can't say they don't like him, they invited him to their tournament in Las Vegas.

Tommy Kennedy-If they wanted to make sure that they invited people who are good sportsmen as well as players, who could be a better ambassador?

Nick Varner-If he's healthy, which I hope he is recovering well, he should definitely be on the list, my God, he's won the event at least once in the last ten years.

Buddy Hall-Ok, so he's getting older, but he still plays as good if not better than at least 5 players on that list and if he's good enough for their hall of fame, doesn't he at least deserve an invitation? Unless they already know that he doesn't fly and would therefore most likely decline the invitation.

These are just some of the names that pop into my head, there is a host of others, Jim Rempe, Rafael Martinez, Scott Frost, Keith McCready, and I am sure there are dozens more that escape me during this time of shock.

What do you think? Please remember, I was being very generous suggesting that only 5 of the players didn't belong on the list, you may feel differently.
 
tony might have other obligations,,,,ie his devotion to his son. he has not attended some events in the past because of this.
 
At the CCB, it was said that he received an invite, but turned it down to other obligations.

I am sure there are others that were invited that might have turned it down. It shouldnt be that shocking. IMO

accdealer said:
Has anyone else read this, and if so are you as shocked as I am?

http://www.insidepool.com/article847.html

I mean, besides the other obvious players who were not selected, why isn't Tony Robles on the list. For God's sake, this list was submitted by the BCA and he just won their championship. I am not going to insult anybody, so I won't mention any names, but I count 5 players on that list that absolutely should not be there. Four of them are very good players, but to be picked out of all of the players in the USA to go to Tapei is an absolute joke and one of them would probably go 2 and out in your local amateur tournament.

Here's some people that I thought should have been on the list:

Tony Robles-Absolutely no reason why he should not be on the list.

Corey Duel-They can't say they don't like him, they invited him to their tournament in Las Vegas.

Tommy Kennedy-If they wanted to make sure that they invited people who are good sportsmen as well as players, who could be a better ambassador?

Nick Varner-If he's healthy, which I hope he is recovering well, he should definitely be on the list, my God, he's won the event at least once in the last ten years.

Buddy Hall-Ok, so he's getting older, but he still plays as good if not better than at least 5 players on that list and if he's good enough for their hall of fame, doesn't he at least deserve an invitation? Unless they already know that he doesn't fly and would therefore most likely decline the invitation.

These are just some of the names that pop into my head, there is a host of others, Jim Rempe, Rafael Martinez, Scott Frost, Keith McCready, and I am sure there are dozens more that escape me during this time of shock.

What do you think? Please remember, I was being very generous suggesting that only 5 of the players didn't belong on the list, you may feel differently.
Click to expand...
 
When I read the list of 14 american players (and Canadian players as well) playing for the most prestigious title at the WPA, I see a list with with only 4 (American) real threats to win the title: Strickland, Archer, Jones and Morris. Williams and Harriman could place well with good early draws. The rest of the players on the list are excellent players nontheless, but are not world champion caliber of players (at least not at this time, maybe in a few years?). As I look at most of the major touraments won (US Open, Derby City Classic, WPA, BCA Champs., etc), not too many american born players are winning them. It is apparent that not having a Mens Professional Tour over the last decade or so and the upswing of pocket billiards around the world has dwindled down the number of world champion quality of players from the United States. As far as Tony Robles is concerned, he SHOULD be one of the players going to the World Championships. Tony would be an excellent representive of the US.
 
There is a few canadian players missing too. Is John Horsfall not good enough this year after getting 2nd at the challenge of champions, and first at last years canadian open. Paul Potier has also done well in these events in the past. Aside from Luc, Alex and good ole Cliffy i dont recognize the other names. Chris Orme i have heard of, but Al Logan is a new name to mee... Maybe they are actually good up and comers but i think a few Canadians were missed.
 
Players going

It is my understanding that UPA players where asked in order of their ranking. Not all players asked accepted. Tony was one who declined, as did others.This trip & tournament carries a large expence, one that many players can't handle
 
I may have over emphazized(sp?) the absence of Robles on the list. I just wanted to point out the gross indescretion used by the BCA to put this list together. Robles was the first player to come to mind as being absent on the list. All of us know how good he plays, and we also know what a gentleman he is, and with his recent victory in Las Vegas, the BCA should know as well. I really hope that it was a previous obligation that is keeping him from going to Tapei and not the fact that the BCA overlooked him.

I am glad that others agree that there are players on the list that are very good players, yet not the caliber of the WPC. I truly hope that there were others invited who had to decline due to other obligations and that this list is not indicative of who the BCA considers to be the top 14 American players.

Again, I am not trying to insult anybody and for the most part I have alot of respect for the games of all the players listed. It's just that I feel some others belong on the list instead of those listed.
 
Gremlin said:
accdealer,

I think you have it! The tournament is titled the World Pool Championships. It is not an open tournament it is an invitational with the admonition "oh anyone can qualify". :eek: It's just like the WWF it is made for television and Matchroom is expert at it.

Cheers,

Gremlin
Click to expand...

It is an invitational and at the same time an open because of the availability of spots for qualifiers. You understand how this works Grem and you know that for it (WPC) expand its following (viewers) it has to have a very good "media value". "Media value" that also entices sponsors to support it. And the easier to arrange factor in attaining this is the producer's ability to guarantee the appearance of top players. As for the others, they can go through the qualifiers and show us that they really deserve to be there.

I do read most of your post and respect them. I do agree with and too share your idealistic views for this sport to be in its pure form. But until it gets the sponsors lining up to get in on the action, we have to support it in a realistic point-of-view.
 
fxskater said:
There is a few canadian players missing too. Is John Horsfall not good enough this year after getting 2nd at the challenge of champions, and first at last years canadian open. Paul Potier has also done well in these events in the past. Aside from Luc, Alex and good ole Cliffy i dont recognize the other names. Chris Orme i have heard of, but Al Logan is a new name to mee... Maybe they are actually good up and comers but i think a few Canadians were missed.
Click to expand...
Agree Horshfall should be there aswell, Shris Orme i think used to be Canadian Champion? The name Al Logan sounds familiar maybe he's from Toronto?
 
Could someone fill me in on how the BCA has the authority to select the american players they choose to have play in the WPA? How does Shawn Putnam get to go over a host of other players (nothing personal, but what major tournaments has he won to qualify)? And if Matchroom is like the WWF, shouldn't Keith McCready be there?
 
I agree, like Earl, with Keith, you never know what he is going to do next. Fact is, spectators love to watch Keith. He should definitely be there.
 
I will take Edwin Montal > every Canadian player on that list except Alex. Edwin would have an outside chance of winning the thing, he is way stronger then Cliff in 9-ball.
 
Keep in mind that the BCA does not make the decisions on this. They leave it completely to the UPA and the UPA picks players based on their points list. If someone plays in the UPA events, then they get points and based on those points, get invited to things like this.

Mike
 
accdealer said:
I agree, like Earl, with Keith, you never know what he is going to do next. Fact is, spectators love to watch Keith. He should definitely be there.
Click to expand...

Yeah- except for the fact that the top players can give him the 7!

-pigy
 
Piglit-

I agree, Keith may not bet as sharp as some of the top players, but if he hits his high gear, they all better look out. And, with the exception of the obvious, Archer, Morris, etc, he can gun down all of those players on the list, and maybe even the killers if he's in dead punch. More than anything, in Keith's situation, he deserved the invite because as I said earlier, people love to watch him play. Take Jeremy Jones for example. Nobody wants to watch him play, it's too agonizing. But he's a great player, so he deserves the invite. Keith on the other hand, everybody wants to watch him play, and he's capable of greatness, so he should be invited too. JMHO
 
Frank Alvarez enters every UPA event wins a match once in a blue moon but still earns points for turning up to all the events.This earns him the right to play in the World Championships?
The selection process is a joke.
Steve Lillis and a couple of the other USA invites are also no World class players.
There are players like Keith McCready,Robb Saez,Scott Frost etc.,who would destroy players like Lillis and Alvarez.
If the USA can't find enough World class players to send they should do the right thing and give some of the spots to countries with an abundance of World class talent,like Taiwan or the Phillipines.
 
Don't see too many players trying to give him the seven though do you?

John
 
The Kid-

Well, I was trying to be as nice as possible when I started this thread by not mentioning any names. You have hit the nail on the head.
 
Ok, I still won't mention any names. S.L., well they would have to be pretty good to offer him the 7. F.A., he's got the 7 and can bet what he wants.
 
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