KT declares was on the WPA

[TheOne]

KT declares WAR on the WPA

In light of recent events only a blind fool can now doubt that KT has declared war on the WPA. Lets look at the FACTS:

Ian Anderson the head of the IPT calls KT and asks for money in return for sanctioning. KT responds:

"The last time I checked there was act of congress or law passed anywhere in the world that gave any organization or group of people the right to control the sport of pool. There is no law stated anywhere that any individual organization has the right to tell me what I can and can’t do with my money or investments relating to pool. I am not a big believer in associations or organizations."

Last week the IPT released its schedule for the year ahead, the IPT said:

"We have done everything in our power to work around other promoters' tournaments whose schedules have been announced. However, even with our best efforts, it was impossible for us to find world class venues, with the space and number of days required, that would not conflict with some other tournaments. We have contacted all major promoters and they have been overwhelmingly cooperative and understanding with regard to tournament date clashes."

Next we have two long running promoters of pool events (ted bristow and Barry B) releasing statements contradicting the IPT press release. Again lets look at the facts. The IPT schedule (5 tournaments) conflict with the following WPA sanctioned events:

• World 8 Ball Championships
• World 9 Ball Championships
• US Open 9 Ball Championships
• Mosconi Cup
• San Miguel Tour Stop (Was only going to have 3 or 4 events this year I believe?)
• Euro Tour Holland

In summary the IPT events clash with pretty much the two top tours and all the blue ribbon events of WPA pool today. Now I believed KT when he said he was working with other promoters and I thought this was one of the most pleasing things about the IPT. I also thought it interesting that the one event that hasn't got a venue yet (the UK event) is sceduled to clash with BOTH the WPA world championships! So in the whole of the UK there isn't a venue that doesn't clash with these two events (if you beleive that please call me as I have some magic diet pills I want to sell you! )

Now we hear that the San Miguel tour is the first casualty of the IPT, we have to wait and see if the US open or other events are next? I don't care if you are out or in the IPT, if you love pool and are not blinded by money I hope everyone can agree that this can't be good for pool? I know of one IPT pool player that was hoping to play on the San Miguel tour this year and I could name dozens that still dream of winning the US Open or World Championships. The San Miguel was a great tour, many of its players never got the chance to play in America or Europe and never will but they had their San Miguel tour, the IPT can only support 150 players so what do they do now? God forbid the Euro Tour doens't go the same way

Can we discuss this without turning it into a KT kissing fest or IPT bashing ball?

 

[sjm]

Now we hear that the San Miguel tour is the first casualty of the IPT

This is false. In October, the APBU, in its typcially ridiculous manner, proclaimed that any player participating in non-APBU sanctioned events would be banned for a year from APBU events. This comical power play was, perhaps, intended to give APBU members like Efren, Francisco, Jose, and Marlon, one last chance to back out of the IPT.

Well, as a result of this absolutely stupid power play by APBU, the San Miguel tour has lost five of the biggest names in pool (including Pagulayan, who will soon play the IPT).

Don't blame the IPT for the fact that the APBU gambled and lost with some of the biggest assets of Asian nine ball.

 

[TheOne]

This is false. In October, the APBU, in its typcially ridiculous manner, proclaimed that any player participating in non-APBU sanctioned events would be banned for a year from APBU events. This comical power play was, perhaps, intended to give APBU members like Efren, Francisco, Joe, and Marlon, one last chance to back out of the IPT.

Well, as a result of this absolutely stupid power play by APBU, the San Miguel tour has lost five of the biggest names in pool (including Pagulayan, who will soon play the IPT).

Don't blame the IPT for the fact that the APBU gambled and lost with some of the biggest assets of Asian nine ball.

OK so not entirely the IPT's fault but none the less, no IPT and the sponsor (san miguel) probably wouldn't have backed out. But this was more of an addition to the point that I was trying to make and even if the APBU wasn't so stupid given the scheduled event clash the sponsor would probably have dropped out anyway when the stars followed the money and chose the IPT to play in.

 

[JAM]

OK so not entirely the IPT's fault but none the less, no IPT and the sponsor (san miguel) probably wouldn't have backed out. But this was more of an addition to the point that I was trying to make and even if the APBU wasn't so stupid given the scheduled event clash the sponsor would probably have dropped out anyway when the stars followed the money and chose the IPT to play in.

I'll bet Efren, Bustie, and Marlon are pleased with their decision to play in the IPT King of the Hill Shootout, held this past December, Efren pockets the big prize of $200,000, Bustie swallows up 80, and Marlon enjoys 70,000, a total of 350,000 American dollars. Not bad for a couple of days work!

JAM

 

[TheOne]

I'll bet Efren, Bustie, and Marlon are pleased with their decision to play in the IPT King of the Hill Shootout, held this past December, Efren pockets the big prize of $200,000, Bustie swallows up 80, and Marlon enjoys 70,000, a total of 350,000 American dollars. Not bad for a couple of days work!

JAM

Well a polite request to leave money out of it didn't last very long lol! This issue isn't about money JAM, we all know how important the money is to you and kieth and I can understand that, but is that all that's important? I don't play pool for money so please don't tell me that!

Does anyone else have any constructive comments?

 

[justnum]

good let them go to the IPT it gives a chance for up and comers to exhibit their mastery of the game in the traditional events.

 

[sjm]

OK so not entirely the IPT's fault but none the less, no IPT and the sponsor (san miguel) probably wouldn't have backed out.

To assign any of the responsibilty for this result to the IPT is still in error. This is 100% APBU's fault! There was no reason to implement this policy, and it backfired. In 2006, in which the IPT has just a few events, players like Efren, Francisco, Marlon, Alex and Jose would have combined to make many San Miguel Tour appearances if not explicitly banned, and San Miguel would not have walked away from this tour. They walked away because the quality of the product was compromised by the powers at the APBU, who saw it fit to bar the very players that made this tour so attractive.

 

[Colin Colenso]

I believe the Asian Tour is going ahead.

It appears San Miguel pulled the plug a while back.

I guess it is being funded by ESPN Sports, the organizer, who are probably seeking another title sponsor.

btw: You forgot the US Open in your list.

And the spelling Nazis are on their way to get you for the thread title

And, could this be good for pool? Well, if it suits the biz interests of the IPT, and that leads to the success of the tour, then yes, it could possibly benefit the game. At least for millions of current fans and millions of new fans, for pool clubs around the world, for other product manufacturers. Oh, and for the IPT players of course.

But at the cost of some.

My guess is, that if the IPT succeeds, the pro or near pro level player will find many new options for places and people to play. Recent record attendances at some events provide some evidence of this. The Color of Money and The Hustler provide historical references for how large exposure can boost the entire industry.

 

[CaptiveBred]

Well a polite request to leave money out of it didn't last very long lol! ...
...Does anyone else have any constructive comments?

There is alot more going on here than the purity of pocket billiards. Why is that so hard to comprehend?

For somebody who loves to compete, you don't seem to realize there is competition on other levels in the game.

Why should'nt the IPT try to dominate? They are competing entities...

When I ran a business, I spent a great deal of time figuiring out how to take business from my competitors. This is, not only, considered a ethical, it is integral to survival.

Competition is good for consumers. We are the consumers. This is good for us. Any economics course will teach you that right off the bat.

Competition is a MUST in capitolism. Do you not live in this world? I do and so do all my neighbors. If not for this evil, the world you know wuld not exsist...

I understand you are passionate about pool but that does not warrant the rest of the world changing its positions to suit yours. This is not a worl of "One"

 

[sjm]

OK, on to the debate at hand which seems to be consideration of the question of what can be read into conflcits between scheduled IPT dates and those of other major pool events.

Let me open that my first reaction on learning that the IPT had attempted to avoid schedule conflicts with other tours was to compliment them for that effort. I took them at their word, and my rush to judgment appears to have been a mistake, for their are important conflicts with major events not mentoned in the IPT press release.

Those who have checked with the venues about the availability of conference space in the IPT selected venues force me to conclude that little effort was made to avoid conflicting with certain events.

Whether this failure to avoid scheduling conflicts evidences apathy or calculated hositility on the part of the IPT seems to be the question of the moment on the IPT forum. A paraphrased excerpt form another post of mine clarifies how I feel about all this:

Limitless praise has been heaped on the IPT by the members of this forum for almost singlehandedly financing professional pool's future. If the IPT does spend the tens of millions that we expect it to on professional pool, and assuming that the IPT is here for the long haul, all other tournaments are going to be second tier events. If this is the price we have to pay to make pool a vibrant sport, and professional pool a lucrative career, I say it's a price worth paying. If the IPT finances nearly all of pro pool's economy, what is wrong with them having the kind of power that goes hand in hand with such a substantial investment in pro pool?

Many argue that the IPT is not focusing on the best interests of the sport. Still, whatever their motives, if the IPT is a profitable venture and succeeds in raising our sport's profile, it will be good for regional professional pool, poolroom proprietors, cuemakers, equipment manufacturers and distributors, pool instructors, and amateur pool.

Those who expect the IPT to almost singlehandedly finance the future of pro pool without being the controliing force behind all professional pool events are probably asking for too much.

That's about where I stand. If the IPT venture succeeds, the WPA will have no choice but to embrace the IPT, whether WPA is able to collect a sanctoning fee or not.

I'm not sure it make any difference whether the IPT has declared war on the WPA or not. Until others offer pro pool players a comparable income, the IPT will control the tournament calendar. I'm not 100% sure that this is fair, but this is how business works in every secotr, not just pro pool.

 

[SlimShafty]

I think saying the IPT is declaring war on the WPA is a little off kilter, especially since you have no idea what is involved in organizing a 20 million dollar tour with a professional TV production company that has other projects and dates and other logistics that you really have no clue about.

Honestly I will be really amazed if he pulls off the next 2 years, and was really amazed he has done as much as he has considering the current pool world he is now dealing with. If it was me I wouldn't give it too much thought about any of the other tours. I may do what I can, or see whats available, but I wouldn't force my hands or cost myself money or jeopardize my endeavor to please a few others that have not done professional pool that many favors.

Most will reschedule if they think they need too, and there certainly could be casualties, but those that see the great opportunities to ride off the possible success of this tour will reap great rewards, players included.

And you really can't leave money out of this, life is not a charity, and there wouldn't even be a 9 Ball US Open if not for money, so how can you leave money out of the discussion? Too many people that play pool for a hobby think they should have some input into the business side of things.

If a professional tour is to succeed, money and the care of the wonderfully talented professionals is vital! For too long too many players have been considered to be a professional pool player, and there really has not been any clear line, the field is muddy to say the least. A professional pool player should be making a living playing pool, (a decent living). Otherwise you have no real Pro tour or league, or anything.

A few insiders will spin this to try to make some unrest for thier own purpose, and a few, dare I say love that the dates conflict, it would have been in the IPT's favor to not conflict.


A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. George Bernard Shaw

 

[Colin Colenso]

There is alot more going on here than the purity of pocket billiards. Why is that so hard to comprehend?

For somebody who loves to compete, you don't seem to realize there is competition on other levels in the game.

Why should'nt the IPT try to dominate? They are competing entities...

When I ran a business, I spent a great deal of time figuiring out how to take business from my competitors. This is, not only, considered a ethical, it is integral to survival.

Competition is good for consumers. We are the consumers. This is good for us. Any economics course will teach you that right off the bat.

Competition is a MUST in capitolism. Do you not live in this world? I do and so do all my neighbors. If not for this evil, the world you know wuld not exsist...

I understand you are passionate about pool but that does not warrant the rest of the world changing its positions to suit yours. This is not a worl of "One"

You've got a point about competion and how it leads to better things for consumers.

Right now, the other events are not strong enough to challenge the IPT. But look a year or two down the road and imagine the IPT has the TV ratings and business success that it is aiming for.

All of a sudden there would be some professional promotion / production companies jumping in on the bandwagon. Just as we've seen with poker. A couple of their obvios choices of properties to pick up or cooperate with would be the pre-existing events such as the US Open, WPC etc. Throw a few hundred grand into these events and all of a sudden the IPT may have some real competition, not just for the players, but for the content buyers and advertisers.

I expect many experienced business professional would advise the IPT not to feed the competition.

With the IPT spending millions on promoting the game and the star players, trying to sidestep the other event would be equivalent to giving them a huge free bonus.

I can tell you that here in China, 3 years ago when I spoke to marketing managers about sponsoring snooker or pool, they thought I was mad. Snooker and pool aren't popular they would say.

Now with Ding Jun Hui and Pan Xiao Ting regularly in the news they have a much different perspective. The same could be true for all level of pool promoters in the US in coming years. There could be a whole new bunch of sponsors around willing to get into pool at some level, from charity matches to local events and tours to televised matches.

So maybe the IPT is progressing faster that was originally expected and precautions are being taken to best protect the investment at an early stage.

Just my wild speculations

 

[TheOne]

CaptiveBred, Thanks for your comments, however you completely missed the point! Oh and please don't try to judge what I think about capitolism. This debate is about "what is best for pool" it has nothing to do with "one" it has everything to do with quite the opposite!

SJM, You seemed to get the jist of it, I don't disagree with much of what you said. However, what do you think about the current situation? Was it an honest mistake, was it deliberate? Is KT telling lies about trying to "work with other promoters", is he trying to take control of pool? If he is and does take control, is it bad? Will other tours survive without the stars, will pool prosper anyway? What will the IPTers think about not being able to play in the WPC's, US 9 Ball etc, do they all only care about money, do any of them have any other ambitions for glory?

In a nutshell, if as it seems KT has lied to us ALL about his efforts to avoid conflicts and put the players interests first does this change anyones opinion about the IPT?

 

[thewolfman]

In light of recent events only a blind fool can now doubt that KT has declared war on the WPA. Lets look at the FACTS:

Ian Anderson the head of the IPT calls KT and asks for money in return for sanctioning. KT responds:

"The last time I checked there was act of congress or law passed anywhere in the world that gave any organization or group of people the right to control the sport of pool. There is no law stated anywhere that any individual organization has the right to tell me what I can and can’t do with my money or investments relating to pool. I am not a big believer in associations or organizations."

Last week the IPT released its schedule for the year ahead, the IPT said:

"We have done everything in our power to work around other promoters' tournaments whose schedules have been announced. However, even with our best efforts, it was impossible for us to find world class venues, with the space and number of days required, that would not conflict with some other tournaments. We have contacted all major promoters and they have been overwhelmingly cooperative and understanding with regard to tournament date clashes."

Next we have two long running promoters of pool events (ted bristow and Barry B) releasing staements contradicting the IPT press release. Again lets look at the facts. The IPT schedule (5 tournaments) conflict with the following WPA sanctioned events:

• World 8 Ball Championships
• World 9 Ball Championships
• Mosconi Cup
• San Miguel Tour Stop (Was only going to have 3 or 4 events this year I believe?)
• Euro Tour Holland

In summary the IPT events clash with pretty much the two top tours and all the blue ribbon events of WPA pool today. Now I believed KT when he said he was working with other promoters and I thought this was one of the most pleasing things about the IPT. I also thought it interesting that the one event that hasn't got a venue yet (the UK event) is sceduled to clash with BOTH the WPA world championships! So in the whole of the UK there isn't a venue that doesn't clash with these two events (if you beleive that please call me as I have some magic diet pills I want to sell you! )

Now we hear that the San Miguel tour is the first casualty of the IPT, we have to wait and see if the US open or other events are next? I don't care if you are out or in the IPT, if you love pool and are not blinded by money I hope everyone can agree that this can't be good for pool? I know of one IPT pool player that was hoping to play on the San Miguel tour this year and I could name dozens that still dream of winning the US Open or World Championships. The San Miguel was a great tour, many of its players never got the chance to play in America or Europe and never will but they had their San Miguel tour, the IPT can only support 150 players so what do they do now? God forbid the Euro Tour doens't go the same way

Can we discuss this without turning it into a KT kissing fest or IPT bashing ball?

As much as no one can blame the pros for playing where the most money is, I can only see this whole situation being bad for the game. I think the two most likely outcomes are:

The first is the IPT turns out to big success, the elite players make lots of money and pool is brought to a worldwide audience on a scale never before seen. However, this has a negative effect on the wider game. Most (if not all) of the major long standing tournaments are abandoned due to their inability to match the IPT in magnitude and financial attractiveness to the top player (That is if the IPT doesn't tie their players down to an exclusive contract somewhere down theline) This will create a divide between the elite and the rest of pool playing community which would be difficult to overcome and make pool lose that accessability which is unique to the game that we love. Less high profile, open tournaments would probably mean more players depending more heavily on gambling which is always seen as a negative aspect of the game when trying to work out why the public perception of the
game is always lower than other sports.

The second possible outcome is after 2 or 3 years the IPT folds for whatever reason. But due to the aggressive schedualing of the IPT events, many of the long standing events/tours are either scaled down or abandoned all together. And we end up with a situation where the financial rewards of playing pool professionally are even less than they currently are.

I hope that the IPT is all that it promises to be. Pool finally gets the recognition it deserves and the players earn the money they deserve to earn. But as a gambling man, I really couldn't put money on this being the case. Pool players have been sadly undervalued for too long in the amount they can earn. The IPT does seem to good to be true and brings to mind the saying "All that glitters is not gold" Apart from the King of the Hill, all we have is promises for the future and (sadly) contradictions (ie: claiming to want to help the game of pool as an entity and then schedualing events to clash with some of biggest WPA/independant events of the year)

 

[CaptiveBred]

CaptiveBred, Thanks for your comments, however you completely missed the point! Oh and please don't try to judge what I think about capitolism. This debate is about "what is best for pool" it has nothing to do with "one" it has everything to do with quite the opposite!

You are welcome. I did not miss your point hence the quote from you to JAM I was chiming in on the money remark you brought up...


To keep on topic -

What is best for pool is what is best for every situation.. Lets have our cake and eat it too Obviously, this is impossible in our case so the opposing forces must come to a balance.

IMO, what is best for pool is a change. Just about any change will do. Luckily, the current change is bringing a key element to the game that has been missing.

If the current tours fail, it is a sign of evolution. Survival of the fitest... Evolution is good for pool and is obviously wanted by most of us.

So the IPT "declaring war" on smaller tours is ultimately good for the sport. I can say that based on this - If the IPT folds, small tours will, again, fill the voids left. It will happen overnight. Things will go on like they are today.

The failure of the IPT will not set pool back because getting back to the days before the IPT will be simple to pull off. Pre IPT pool is not some big complicated undertaking. It is pretty much nothing more than a large local tournament. Toss in a couple sponsors and we are back that fast. Rebuilding would be, fairly, easy since we have so little at the moment...

How could we lose?

IPT success means a future of possibilities.

IPT failure means we go back to the way things are now.


Let em wage war. There is no way we will pay the price for it. We are going along for the ride and a free ride at that. That is good for pool.

 

[sjm]

SJM, You seemed to get the jist of it, I don't disagree with much of what you said. However, what do you think about the current situation? Was it an honest mistake, was it deliberate? Is KT telling lies about trying to "work with other promoters", is he trying to take control of pool? If he is and does take control, is it bad? Will other tours survive without the stars, will pool prosper anyway? What will the IPTers think about not being able to play in the WPC's, US 9 Ball etc, do they all only care about money, do any of them have any other ambitions for glory?

It would certainly appear that the IPT is trying to take control of pool, but what's necessarily wrong with that?

Once upon a time, a golfer could only earn an income playing the PGA tour, but the electrifying growth in the economy we call pro golf has motivated far more people to strive for excellence in golf than ever before. The result has been that the talent pool has grown very deep. The PGA-affiliated Nationwide Tour not only offers players a chance to qualify for the PGA tour, but provides prize funds of about $600,000 per event. Some other tours are doing very well, too. Golf is continuing to boom and represents a very lucrative career to many.

The golf boom, and the far more recent poker boom, have proven that people will take the trouble to develop their skills in anything having enough money at the end of the rainbow. If the IPT venture succeeds, people will take up pool for the same reason people are taking up poker today, which is exactly why the regional tours will all survive. Under such a circumstance, who is to say that a tour like the Eurotour (or any other regional tour) can't be an IPT affiliate offering the same kind of income that the Nationwide golf tour offers.

And here's another interesting thought: if the IPT becomes, over the long-term, the game's highest level of competition, isn't nine-ball heading for near extinction as a competitive discipline, and wouldn't that make all nine-ball events far less significant? As we all know, it happened to straight pool. If eight ball were where the money was, why would the next generation of aspiring professional players focus on anything else?

Now I know that's a whole lot of ifs, and that I'm only considering the best possible outcome, but the possibilities are undeniable.

Either the IPT will transform the entire world of pro pool or it is no more than pro pool's short-term fling with greatness. I am having a hard time being anything but excited for pro players who have arrived at this exciting moment in the history of our sport. Maybe this venture succeeds and maybe it doesn't, but this seems to be pool's big chance, and the IPT figures to do whatever is necessary to vitalize pro pool, even if some of it may appear unscrupulous.

 

[JAM]

Well a polite request to leave money out of it didn't last very long lol! This issue isn't about money JAM, we all know how important the money is to you and kieth and I can understand that, but is that all that's important? I don't play pool for money so please don't tell me that!

Craig, yes, the money is very important to players who haven't had an opportunity to compete for this kind of dough. If you were to ask Keith about money payouts, he said the Reno payouts have been the same since 1979, an annual competitive event on the American tournament trail. Yet, the player roster grows each year. The only thing that changes is the room rate.

The IPT has raised the platform, and other worldly entities are frightened that the POWER of the IPT could transform the sport which may exclude them if they can't keep up. The U.S. Open is regrettable, that's for sure, but September is a long time away. Things can happen, just maybe for the better, where all parties concerned will be satisfied.

I do not believe that the IPT "deliberately" -- a word used by others -- scheduled its events to clash with others. To date, the IPT has been responsive to any and all concerns expressed, and I will bet my bottom dollar, that there will be an IPT response to this whole brouhaha forthcoming.

Does anyone else have any constructive comments?

Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Looks to me like money doesn't mean too much to you anyway, the way you're throwing it around in that avatar picture of yours.

JAM

 

[TheOne]

Craig, yes, the money is very important to players who haven't had an opportunity to compete for this kind of dough. If you were to ask Keith -- K-e-i-t-h -- about money payouts, he said the Reno payouts have been the same since 1979, an annual competitive event on the American tournament trail. Yet, the player roster grows each year. The only thing that changes is the room rate.

The IPT has raised the platform, and other worldly entities are frightened that the POWER of the IPT could transform the sport which may exclude them if they can't keep up. The U.S. Open is regrettable, that's for sure, but September is a long time away. Things can happen, just maybe for the better, where all parties concerned will be satisfied.

I do not believe that the IPT "deliberately" -- a word used by others -- scheduled its events to clash with others. To date, the IPT has been responsive to any and all concerns expressed, and I will bet my bottom dollar, that there will be an IPT response to this whole brouhaha forthcoming.



Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Looks to me like money doesn't mean too much to you anyway, the way you're throwing it around in that avatar picture of yours.

JAM

Actually I was bought a "body shot" by several friends, so I [reluctantly had to pretend to enjoy myself ]. However I have been fortunate to realise at a young(ish) age that money doesnt make you happy, only happier

I hope there is an explanation for the schedule clashes but Im afraid it doesn't look to promising given the facts. You know why Im pissed off about this particular issue. Is whenever the IPT issue came up at many of the tourneys Ive been to recently I always made the point of saying that I was really pleased they seem to be working with the other tours and thinking of the players. I feel like a bloody idiot now as its pretty obvious KT has played us all for fools. Yes everyone knows I think he could have done better with the qualifiers etc but in general I think the IPT has done a great job. As a fan I'd give him a gold star, as a player I'm still to be convinced that LONG TERM he has the players interests truly at heart. Nothing wrong with him trying to take control of pool of course if thats what he wants to spend his money on. WHat I take objection to is him telling us all otherwise and then having promoters come out and call him a liar and other people show that venues where not booked up at all!

 

[Blackjack]

Craig, yes, the money is very important to players who haven't had an opportunity to compete for this kind of dough. If you were to ask Keith about money payouts, he said the Reno payouts have been the same since 1979, an annual competitive event on the American tournament trail. Yet, the player roster grows each year. The only thing that changes is the room rate.

The IPT has raised the platform, and other worldly entities are frightened that the POWER of the IPT could transform the sport which may exclude them if they can't keep up. The U.S. Open is regrettable, that's for sure, but September is a long time away. Things can happen, just maybe for the better, where all parties concerned will be satisfied.

I do not believe that the IPT "deliberately" -- a word used by others -- scheduled its events to clash with others. To date, the IPT has been responsive to any and all concerns expressed, and I will bet my bottom dollar, that there will be an IPT response to this whole brouhaha forthcoming.



Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Looks to me like money doesn't mean too much to you anyway, the way you're throwing it around in that avatar picture of yours.

JAM

Craig,
Jennie makes some good points, especially about this being "deliberate" - was it or wasnt it - everything in business is deliberate, and its actually pretty smart when you think about it. Here I will give you my stance on what happened to tours like San Miguel, and any other tour that you can mention.

For years everybody in the game of pool has operated on "ME" mode. Its never "we" or "us". This is no different than what the UPA was doing last year when they scheduled the Pro Tour Championship in conjunction with Derby City. For a very long time the people that run these tours have operated independently and separately, whether or not they are under the umbrella of the WPA. Even with the WPA, these tours are not very strong when they stand alone (by choice) esepcially when they are up against the IPT, which is an organization with enormous financial leverage.

So, when the IPT sprouted up this past summer, the entire billiard world was caught with their pants around their ankles. Jennie and I spoke on the phone about this last year. It comes down to "UNITY". There is none. That is why these tours and every other tour will start to crumble like stale crackers. KT comes in with lots of money and lots of glitz and all we can show for our efforts is disloyalty, lack of effort and lack of unity. That is why Trudeau wants no part of the established organizations. There has been progress made, but progress has been very slow due to greed, due to power hungry individuals, and due to people that have put their own selfish interests before the interest of the game of pool. The professional players have suffered because of all of this. I remember watching Beach Volleyball tournaments paying out 10 X as much as pro tour event and wondering if I had made a wrong turn in life.

There are people like Keith that have been around for ages and have poured their hearts out on the table and they have nothing to show for their effort. So what are the players supposed to do? Even with the IPT showing its presence and posturing itself to sway the finest players in the world to their events, there is very little talk of organizing any kind of counter strike to try and compete with them at all monetarily. That is due to a lack of unity. The APBU should not have acted unless all of the tours under the WPA umbrella enforced the same penalties. What happened was that the other organizations sat back and fed the APBU to the dragon and watched them stand out there alone while they got fried. That's the billiard world's idea of unity.

The billiard world got caught with their pants down. The industry has never supported the game of pool as it should. Even now, they are content to sit back and say "Well now they have Trudeau, we're off the hook."

The players are saying, "Screw you guys, we don't need you anyway."

These former sponsors will remember that if the IPT doesn't work out.

I see no other way for this to succeed unless there are some compromises made. The IPT is not going to budge - why should they? This will mean that some tours will survive and some will fail, or go through some really tough times. The decisions that are being made with scheduling not only affect the tours, but the sponsors and the venues as well. They might abandon these tours so they don't have to deal with this mess anymore and seek out a venture that isn't suffering from such a lack of organization. That's their just reward for acting in a mode of "me" instead of "we."

 

[jjinfla]

Well a polite request to leave money out of it didn't last very long lol! This issue isn't about money JAM, we all know how important the money is to you and kieth and I can understand that, but is that all that's important? I don't play pool for money so please don't tell me that!

Does anyone else have any constructive comments?

What? It is not about the money? Who are you kidding? Why do you think the players go play in the US Open? Because it pays the most at that time. All the players follow the tours that pay the most.

The only ones who play for the love of it are the ones who always finish in the bottom third. Or have a well paying job and they play pool as a hobby.

Jake