JAM's Pics

[JAM]

I'm still recuperating from the week-long U.S. Open. This year, without a doubt, was the best Open experience for me personally. There is something very special about this tournament, welcoming players from around the world, and the full 256-player field with no byes speaks volumes.

If I had to capture one memory as my favorite, it would have to be the ceremony of the U.S. Open champions. One by one, they were introduced, beginning with Steve Mizerak. As each name was called, the players marched out and shook hands with their fellow members of the U.S. Open brethren. Each Open champion was proudly wearing a green sweater with their names and the year(s) each won the Open in yellow embroidery.

Before the ceremony, the Open champions were signing autographs and having their pictures taken with all those in attendance. I spoke to Spanish Mike Lebron later that night about his experience, and he told me that pool needed something like this to commemorate the great players from today and yesteryear. For him, it was a very meaningful tribute, and I know it meant a lot to all.

Here's page 1 of my pictures. I took over 100 and will definitely post some more when time allows: http://hometown.aol.com/etranscript/2005USOpen.html

JAM

 

[Rude Dog]

Thanks JAM, great pics and even better music to go along with them. Peace, John.

 

[Gunn_Slinger]

As always Jam, excellent pictures, great stories you gave us.

AZ Billiards should hire you, I think we all get more outa your stories then some of the other reporting.


Thanks again for everything

 

[Blue_Suede]

Thanks for that Jen, I think those pics really summed upped the overall 'vibe' of the 30th US Open - ie. the players loved it, the punters loved it and the tournament organisers had the best possible tourney they could have hoped for.

Wishiing you all the best (and thanks for the reports)

Blue Suede

Martin X
(From Glasgow)

 

[JAM]

Thanks JAM, great pics and even better music to go along with them. Peace, John.

Thanks to all for the kind words. Here is page 2 of my U.S. Open pics: http://hometown.aol.com/etranscript/2005USOpenpage2.html

If anybody can fill in the names of the Scandanavian and European players at the bottom, I'd sure appreciate it. The names "Hagan" and "Putnik" come to mind, but I can't remember which one is which.

The two players on the bottom approached Keith on the last night after Alex won the U.S. Open. The crowds were thinning out as spectators exited the conference center. The player on the right says, "Keith, I want to take your picture with my friend and then tell you a funny story, but not until we get the picture first." So I told them I'd snap it for them with their camera.

Right before I clicked, the player quickly relayed the first time he met Keith in Las Vegas. Keith saw him strolling by and challenged him out of the blue to "one game for 100 bucks." He then accepted Keith's kind offer, won the flip, and ran the table out. When Keith bent over to rack the balls for a reprieve, the player reminded him that the challenge was for one game and one game only, and so he left and went on his merry way, with a little jingle in his pockets.

Keith did manage to smile when I said, "Say cheese," but I saw him straining.

JAM

 

[cmssuits]

Cool Pictures & Thanks!

Thanks to all for the kind words. Here is page 2 of my U.S. Open pics: http://hometown.aol.com/etranscript/2005USOpenpage2.html

If anybody can fill in the names of the Scandanavian and European players at the bottom, I'd sure appreciate it. The names "Hagan" and "Putnik" come to mind, but I can't remember which one is which.

The two players on the bottom approached Keith on the last night after Alex won the U.S. Open. The crowds were thinning out as spectators exited the conference center. The player on the right says, "Keith, I want to take your picture with my friend and then tell you a funny story, but not until we get the picture first." So I told them I'd snap it for them with their camera.

Right before I clicked, the player quickly relayed the first time he met Keith in Las Vegas. Keith saw him strolling by and challenged him out of the blue to "one game for 100 bucks." He then accepted Keith's kind offer, won the flip, and ran the table out. When Keith bent over to rack the balls for a reprieve, the player reminded him that the challenge was for one game and one game only, and so he left and went on his merry way, with a little jingle in his pockets.

Keith did manage to smile when I said, "Say cheese," but I saw him straining.

JAM

Cool pictures & thanks for the updates! Makes it fun for us folks that cannot get away to the tournaments.

Much appreciated,

Donald

 

[Rich R.]

Great pics Jen.

Wish I was there.

 

[sniper]

Thanks for the great pictures JAM. It looks like everybody had a blast.

 

[Sweet Marissa]

JAM's the best!

 

[alpine9430]

Awesome pictures...
Will have to get out for the next one.
TNX

 

[cmssuits]

The one itch about the updates.....

Thanks to all for the kind words. Here is page 2 of my U.S. Open pics: http://hometown.aol.com/etranscript/2005USOpenpage2.html

If anybody can fill in the names of the Scandanavian and European players at the bottom, I'd sure appreciate it. The names "Hagan" and "Putnik" come to mind, but I can't remember which one is which.

The two players on the bottom approached Keith on the last night after Alex won the U.S. Open. The crowds were thinning out as spectators exited the conference center. The player on the right says, "Keith, I want to take your picture with my friend and then tell you a funny story, but not until we get the picture first." So I told them I'd snap it for them with their camera.

Right before I clicked, the player quickly relayed the first time he met Keith in Las Vegas. Keith saw him strolling by and challenged him out of the blue to "one game for 100 bucks." He then accepted Keith's kind offer, won the flip, and ran the table out. When Keith bent over to rack the balls for a reprieve, the player reminded him that the challenge was for one game and one game only, and so he left and went on his merry way, with a little jingle in his pockets.

Keith did manage to smile when I said, "Say cheese," but I saw him straining.

JAM

The one "itch" about the updates (especially JAM's because they're so great) is they leave you wanting more! Then I wish I took time off to attend more of these events. Come Friday night & Saturday morning, I find myself incessantly checking for updates. Add one more compulsive addiction!

Another interesting update avenue I would use if available is Podcasting. How sweet would that be to listen to the tournament updates or matches play by play via audio using a podcast?!

Well, for now we'll keep checking, and checking, and checking for updates to see how our favorite players are faring!

Merci beaucoup again JAM,

Donald

 

[9 Ball Girl]

Hey JAM, thanks for the pics and you were right, it did come out great!

JAM[/QUOTE]

 

[CaptainJR]

Thanks for the pics JAM. Enjoyed it.

JR

 

[TX Poolnut]

God, I missed a good one. Please hurry Accu-Stats. lol Thanks JAM.

 

[Skippy9Baller]

Thanks for the great pics and all of the other updates!!!!
-Skippy

 

[Buckster_uk]

On the last line of pictures, that one in the middle, the guy on the right of Keith is Ivica Putnik.

 

[9_Ball_King]

Thanks JAM...you're the best!

As always, an excellent job JAM.......you always make me feel like I was there......I should have introduced myself to you at Valley Forge in 2004.....I sat right beside you for one of Keith's matches........I'll be sure to introduce myself at 2006 Super Billiards Expo.........keep up the great work!!

 

[pooladdict]

NAMES

...If anybody can fill in the names of the Scandanavian and European players at the bottom, I'd sure appreciate it. The names "Hagan" and "Putnik" come to mind, but I can't remember which one is which.
JAM

Hi JAM.
Thanks for nice pictures and excellent reports. The names of the Scandinavians - or Norwegians to be precise - is Stein Amundsen (green jersey) and Alexander Hagen. So "Hagan" was not so bad.

 

[JAM]

On the last line of pictures, that one in the middle, the guy on the right of Keith is Ivica Putnik.

Thanks, Buckster! Ivica was a funny fellow, always brandishing a smile on his face. I really enjoyed the international flavor to this year's U.S. Open, and it was great seeing the players compete. I did experience difficulty in remembering everybody's name.

Do you know what country Ivica is from? Is it Croatia?

I've fixed the picture page with the correct name. Now I've got to find out the other gentleman's name with the blond spiked hair.

JAM

 

[JAM]

NAMES



Hi JAM.
Thanks for nice pictures and excellent reports. The names of the Scandinavians - or Norwegians to be precise - is Stein Amundsen (green jersey) and Alexander Hagen. So "Hagan" was not so bad.

Thanks, Pooladdict.

These two players were a hoot. They appeared to be having a great time, and as you can see in the picture, they each bought a U.S. Open shirt to remember their visit here to the States. I do remember they told me they were from Scandanavia one day, and Marcus Chamat was sitting within earshot and said, "Well, so am I!"

There were so many pool players from different parts of world this year. I met a wonderful gentleman named Vincent Goh from Singapore. He said his flight took 23 hours to come to Chesapeake Beach this year. I learned a great deal from each pool player I spoke with about their native land. I did feel a little foolish when I said to Vincent, "Wow, you speak the English language great," to which he responded that English is the native language of Singapore.

Scandanavia produces some great players, to include the incredible Mika Immonen from Finland and the lovable Marcus Chamat from Sweden. Plus, they're all kind of cute and easy on the eyes!

JAM