Just read Mike Panozzo's "From the Publisher's" column in the June Billiards Digest and once again he turns my stomache in his completely biased criticism of John Lewis and the ACS. Keep in mind that Mike Panozzo has been a BCA Board Member off and on, and thus his criticism of anyone who goes against the boards wishes is particularly self serving.
First Mike has the gall to criticize John Lewis for considering starting the ACS while he was still working for the BCA. What nerve! Did Panozzo forget that it was the BCA that was making plans to sell the BCA League system to a for-profit organziation, while keeping the sale a secret from their members and league directors? Did he forget that it was the league operators, with the help of John Lewis, that built the BCA league system in the first place? Not the BCA Board. All the BCA Board accomplished was to take a temporary profit from the decades of hard work of other people while keeping it a secret from those affected. Who really deserves some criticism here?
Next Mike criticizes John Lewis and the ACS for wanting to be the International Olympic Committee organization. Claiming he has some need for power.
Lets all think back. At one time the BCA thought it was important to be part of the IOC. But they gave up that goal. Like they gave up the goal of running the All-American Tour. Like they gave up the goal of running the second largest national league system. Like they gave up the goal of teaching Juniors how to play. Like they gave up the goal of doing ANYTHING AT ALL TO PROMOTE BILLIARDS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. Wake up! The BCA has made the decision to be nothing except a trade organization, with the only goal to help sell home recreation products. In fact they are no longer even focused on billiards as anyone can see who attends their trade shows.
And all that is fine if thats what they want. Unfortunately they will find out the hard way that when you don't promote billiards, and don't try to encourage people to learn to play, or to join leagues, or to play in tournaments, what you will find out in the end is that you will sell fewer and fewer pool tables, pool cues, and pool lights, as the years go by. But I guess that is the path they have chosen.
But it takes gall of an unmitigated and immeasurable proportion to then turn around and criticize the ONE organization that still thinks those things are important. The one organization that still thinks it is a worthwhile goal to be in the Olympics. The one organization that thinks it is important to run tournaments and leagues, not for profit but to promote the sport. The ACS is simply trying to pick up the pieces that the BCA so blithely tossed aside and continue the things that need to continue. And for that Billiards Digest ridicules and criticizes. Incredible beyond belief!
I notice that Billiards Digest seems to be getting lighter and lighter each time I pick up a new issue. Mike, maybe if you and the BCA Board of Directors weren't so short-sighted you might see that the success of the ACS is one of the few things that could help to save the sorry state of this sport in the USA, a decline which both you and the BCA Board has contributed so wholeheartedly to.
That last note from the BCA is they have decided to eliminate all their staff except for 1 person, and outsource their administrative functions. Anyone who is aware of the long history of this once venerable organization simply must be crying a silent tear at the near total demise that has now occurred.
Thank you John Lewis for everything you have done and continue to do. Shame shame shame on Mike Panozzo.
Ed
First Mike has the gall to criticize John Lewis for considering starting the ACS while he was still working for the BCA. What nerve! Did Panozzo forget that it was the BCA that was making plans to sell the BCA League system to a for-profit organziation, while keeping the sale a secret from their members and league directors? Did he forget that it was the league operators, with the help of John Lewis, that built the BCA league system in the first place? Not the BCA Board. All the BCA Board accomplished was to take a temporary profit from the decades of hard work of other people while keeping it a secret from those affected. Who really deserves some criticism here?
Next Mike criticizes John Lewis and the ACS for wanting to be the International Olympic Committee organization. Claiming he has some need for power.
Lets all think back. At one time the BCA thought it was important to be part of the IOC. But they gave up that goal. Like they gave up the goal of running the All-American Tour. Like they gave up the goal of running the second largest national league system. Like they gave up the goal of teaching Juniors how to play. Like they gave up the goal of doing ANYTHING AT ALL TO PROMOTE BILLIARDS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. Wake up! The BCA has made the decision to be nothing except a trade organization, with the only goal to help sell home recreation products. In fact they are no longer even focused on billiards as anyone can see who attends their trade shows.
And all that is fine if thats what they want. Unfortunately they will find out the hard way that when you don't promote billiards, and don't try to encourage people to learn to play, or to join leagues, or to play in tournaments, what you will find out in the end is that you will sell fewer and fewer pool tables, pool cues, and pool lights, as the years go by. But I guess that is the path they have chosen.
But it takes gall of an unmitigated and immeasurable proportion to then turn around and criticize the ONE organization that still thinks those things are important. The one organization that still thinks it is a worthwhile goal to be in the Olympics. The one organization that thinks it is important to run tournaments and leagues, not for profit but to promote the sport. The ACS is simply trying to pick up the pieces that the BCA so blithely tossed aside and continue the things that need to continue. And for that Billiards Digest ridicules and criticizes. Incredible beyond belief!
I notice that Billiards Digest seems to be getting lighter and lighter each time I pick up a new issue. Mike, maybe if you and the BCA Board of Directors weren't so short-sighted you might see that the success of the ACS is one of the few things that could help to save the sorry state of this sport in the USA, a decline which both you and the BCA Board has contributed so wholeheartedly to.
That last note from the BCA is they have decided to eliminate all their staff except for 1 person, and outsource their administrative functions. Anyone who is aware of the long history of this once venerable organization simply must be crying a silent tear at the near total demise that has now occurred.
Thank you John Lewis for everything you have done and continue to do. Shame shame shame on Mike Panozzo.
Ed
