TheOne said:
I've said it many times I didn't deserve to be in a top 150, probably not a top 500, I had worked for 10 years so how could I? But it doesn't stop me wanting a tour that picks players on merit and for every player to be given an EQUAL opportunity to get selected or prove the selectors wrong. Jake we're never going to agree because you worship KT and are looking at the IPT from a different angle from me. I gave up pool a long time ago because there was no prospects in it, the IPT was a chance to get it right. Its so frustrating to see them mess up the selection so badly, there simply was no excuse for it.
If that is the kind of tour that YOU want then YOU should start one. I just don't think that that was the kind of tour that KT wanted.
Think about it. If KT went out and got just the very best 150 players for his tour. (How he could possibly pick just the top 150 and get everyone to agree that they were the very best is beyond me). And then he says that 50 of the all time best will be dropped at the end of the year. And then he wants another 50 to spend money to qualify and compete against only the very best how many do you think would bother?
With the present selection one would be hard pressed to try and pick the top 100. Or even the top 75. Who would place a $1,000 bet that they could pick the top 50? No one would be that foolish. So what does that mean? It means that there are a whole lot of players out there that know they have a chance to put their hat in the ring and get on the tour and beat a lot of the current members. Otherwise, why are there so many playing in the qualifiers?
Fair? Who says business has to be fair. This isn't a government school where everyone passes and no one competes. This is real life. This is the business world.
As for me worshipping KT - you're nuts. I can't put it any simpler than that. I read his book and most of it is bunk. Magnatism for crying out loud. That's voodoo nonsense. And his infomercials are like all the other infomercials out there trying to get as much money from people as they can. People who have nothing, have no life, trying to get something for nothing, sending him money.
Do I know him? Nope. Do I trust him? I don't trust anyone. And I got in the habit of never trusting someone who looks me in the eye and has a big grin on his face. I immediately look to see where his hands are and they better not be in my pockets. Did you know that every con man will look the sucker in the eye, put a smile on his face, and lie through his teeth?
But so far the IPT seems to be good and I will go along with it until a time comes when I see something wrong with it. I am not going to criticize it if I don't see anything wrong. Nor am I going to compare him to Mackey, who I only know from stories.
But putting up $2,000 to try and qualify doesn't seem so bad when you compare it to the people who put up $10,000 to play poker for a chance at a million dollars.
As far as the selection process I would find it very hard to believe that KT just didn't pick the people he wanted and that was it. He really didn't care about their skill. He picked Earl, Keith, Scotty, and others like them most likely because they are characters, (I don't mean that in a negative way) the type of characters that will be good for TV and the game. And of course they are excellent player to boot.
Do you really believe that the HOF'ers actually turned in an application? I don't. I personally believe KT went to them and told them he wanted them on the Tour in return he will pay them $30,000. You don't believe they didn't jump on that deal? Hell, Ray Martin wouldn't sign a cueball for me unless I paid him $30 so I am sure he would do whatever KT wanted for 30K.
I just think that he picked the players he wanted just like a director picks the actors he wants in his movie. And I don't see anything wrong with that. It's his game, His rules.
But if the IPT lasts through 2008 then you will see nothing but the best players competing, and the weaker ones will have been cut. At that time they may have to change the selection process. They might go to a draft system like they have in sports.
I sure can't wait until the first tournament in July. I want to see a lot of money being paid out and see the smiles on all those faces. And once the tournament is over then we will all know that the IPT is for real and all the doubting Thomas' will have to eat crow. But, if on the other hand, the tournament never does happen, then the rest of us were the fools. And were duped.
My birthday is July 26th and I hope to celebrate it watching the IPT. If I am still alive.
Jake
. But in any field, you have to maximize your edge and competitiveness. Computers & Internet allow maximum and rapid exchange of information. Having information is an advantage in any field. Those who had information deserve the edge that may have given them. 
. I do not give any substance to the argument that pool players were unable to get to a computer. They may be unfamiliar with computers or unwilling to set up email accounts, but that is their choice and choices have consequences. The consequence here is that they lost their edge in a selection process that obviously had to result in a small percentage of pool players (and more specifically, applicants) being selected.
rolleyes: ) but he wants to help pool players.... impossible to do both because most pro calibur players don't have computers. 