Mike Sigel - A true champion

[Blackjack]

Mike showed up to win at this year's Straight Pool World Championship. His performance proves that he is STILL one of the best in the world and that he is force to be reckoned with every time he comes to the table.

Myself, I am extremely impressed that Mike did so well despite challenges away from the table. To me, he is a true champion and I hope he seriously considers coming back to compete full time.

The game of pool needs legends such as Mike Sigel, Allen Hopkins, Bobby Hunter, Grady Mathews, Keith McCready, and others. These guys have a fighting spirit that can't be taught, and will to win that can't be measured - and Mike proved that with every rack he cleared this past week.

Great job, Mike - all of the off-table drama put aside - you proved to everybody that you still have the gift of performing magic on the table. In my eyes you are still one of THE BEST.

 

[JAM]

I just received word that Mike Sigel had a death in his family. My deepest sympathy goes out to him and his entire family.

To think that he still showed up at this pool championship is amazing to me. I like his style and his follow-through.

Nothing would please me more than to see him win the whole shebang.

God bless you, Mike. May the pool gods be merry and allow you to snatch the almighty victory!

JAM

 

[JAM]

David, that new avatar picture of you scares me! You are much more handsome than that!

JAM

 

[NYC cue dude]

JAM,
Mike was knocked out of the event last night.

Randy

 

[JAM]

JAM,
Mike was knocked out of the event last night.

Randy

Thanks for the information. I'm so sorry to learn that. What a damn shame it is that he was forfeited by the incompetence of the DP team. Otherwise, he'd still be in this tournament. JMHO, FWIW!

JAM

 

[cajunbarboxplyr]

.

 

[NYC cue dude]

Thanks for the information. I'm so sorry to learn that. What a damn shame it is that he was forfeited by the incompetence of the DP team. Otherwise, he'd still be in this tournament. JMHO, FWIW!

JAM

His foreifiture was more of a result of wanting to play the victim than playing his match. He was being given a pretty wide berth with regards to time, if he had decided he wanted to go change and play. He made it pretty clear that he wasn't interested in that option.

Randy

 

[jimmyp]

Mike played exceptionally well considering his personal tragedies of late. Personal problems with his marriage and his mother passing away a couple of days ago would ruin the concentration of any human. I hope he starts to play "serious" again. If he does ... Watch Out.

 

[JAM]

His foreifiture was more of a result of wanting to play the victim than playing his match. He was being given a pretty wide berth with regards to time, if he had decided he wanted to go change and play. He made it pretty clear that he wasn't interested in that option.

Randy

Thanks for your OPINION, Randy.

I can't wait to get Mike's side of the story.

You know what they say about there's three sides to the story. You presented one side.

As far as the victim goes, I'd have packed up and left the entire tournament if I was treated the way Mike was, having my match times changed willy nilly. Mike Sigel's very presence to this event did DP the favor and not the other way around.

Seems to be a trend with DP events, though, forfeiting, changing match times, and not disseminating up-to-date correct information to the pool media.

JAM

 

[NYC cue dude]

I'd have to agree that match times should NEVER be changed, but until the human error factor can be removed from the equation, mistakes are bound to happen. Two events in a row for DP, IMO, calls for emergency measures to see that it doesn't happen in the future.

With that being said, forfeiting voluntarily, or packing up and leaving altogether, betrays mikes talents and purpose of being there in the first place. Professionals rise above complications (even if there is no excuse for them in the first place). Mike chose not to make an effort to appear, ready to play. Had he expressed a desire to go change/play, he would have been given ample time. That is NOT an OPINION.

Randy

 

[Blackjack]

David, that new avatar picture of you scares me! You are much more handsome than that!

JAM

Thanks for the compliment - however...

This really is what I look like these days...

:yikes:

but in honor of my good friend, "The Springfield Rifle" - I will change it immediately to this...

 

[JAM]

I'd have to agree that match times should NEVER be changed, but until the human error factor can be removed from the equation, mistakes are bound to happen. Two events in a row for DP, IMO, calls for emergency measures to see that it doesn't happen in the future.

With that being said, forfeiting voluntarily, or packing up and leaving altogether, betrays mikes talents and purpose of being there in the first place. Professionals rise above complications (even if there is no excuse for them in the first place). Mike chose not to make an effort to appear, ready to play. Had he expressed a desire to go change/play, he would have been given ample time. That is NOT an OPINION.

Randy

Thanks for your reply and stating your opinion.

Just a word of advice for you, Randy. Professionals who expend their hard-earned monies to attend professional events expect to be treated like professionals.

Mike Sigel is a professional. He's not only a professional, but he is a straight-pool champion. As well, he's a BCA Hall of Famer.

Nobody should have to run up to their room like a rabbit, slap on some tournament attire, and run back downstairs and be expected to perform their best. I think Mike Sigel is my age, 54, and when you pass the 50 mark, you can't move like that.

It is a shame that DP is getting a reputation of not running tournaments properly. If they can't run a straight-pool tournament allowing for the time allotments for matches, requiring them to change match times of all participants willy nilly to meet a schedule, then maybe they should NOT run straight pool tournaments anymore, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE, hire somebody who can run a straight pool tournament properly.

Nobody should be expected to play a match when they are not prepared to do it. Mike did what he was supposed to do. He paid his monies and came to New Jersey to compete. What a shame he was treated in such a poor manner by the DP team.

JAM

 

[JAM]

Thanks for the compliment - however...

This really is what I look like these days...

:yikes:

but in honor of my good friend, "The Springfield Rifle" - I will change it immediately to this...

Well, actually, the picture isn't so bad, David, but you look like you're ready to kick some butt! Maybe a smiling David would be better!

JAM

 

[JoeyA]

Thanks for the compliment - however...

This really is what I look like these days...

:yikes:


This picture doesn't look anything like the picture of you holding Charlie Edward's cue in Eddie Wheat's shop.

Just how old was that picture of you with CE's cue? j/k
JoeyA

 

[KoolKat9Lives]

Thanks for your reply and stating your opinion.

Just a word of advice for you, Randy. Professionals who expend their hard-earned monies to attend professional events expect to be treated like professionals.

Mike Sigel is a professional. He's not only a professional, but he is a straight-pool champion. As well, he's a BCA Hall of Famer.

Nobody should have to run up to their room like a rabbit, slap on some tournament attire, and run back downstairs and be expected to perform their best. I think Mike Sigel is my age, 54, and when you pass the 50 mark, you can't move like that.

It is a shame that DP is getting a reputation of not running tournaments properly. If they can't run a straight-pool tournament allowing for the time allotments for matches, requiring them to change match times of all participants willy nilly to meet a schedule, then maybe they should NOT run straight pool tournaments anymore, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE, hire somebody who can run a straight pool tournament properly.

Nobody should be expected to play a match when they are not prepared to do it. Mike did what he was supposed to do. He paid his monies and came to New Jersey to compete. What a shame he was treated in such a poor manner by the DP team.

JAM

Hey JAM, I've tried to read the multiple threads involving Mike's forfeiture, but I hadn't seen any "imperical" lol evidence from someone in the know. You've mentioned a couple times that his time was changed "willy nilly". I was simply wondering if this has been confirmed?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[JAM]

Hey JAM, I've tried to read the multiple threads involving Mike's forfeiture, but I hadn't seen any "imperical" lol evidence from someone in the know. You've mentioned a couple times that his time was changed "willy nilly". I was simply wondering if this has been confirmed?

Thanks,

Matt

Roy Steffensen from Norway initiated this thread, entitled "Mike Sigel forfeit in World 14-1 - Matchtime changed from 1 to 11...": http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=111070

I am not there on site at this event. I do not know where Roy got his information from, whether he is there on site or whether he is posting information he received from somebody who is there on site.

I don't think anybody would make it up.

JAM

 

[BVal]

Roy Steffensen from Norway initiated this thread, entitled "Mike Sigel forfeit in World 14-1 - Matchtime changed from 1 to 11...": http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=111070

I am not there on site at this event. I do not know where Roy got his information from, whether he is there on site or whether he is posting information he received from somebody who is there on site.

I don't think anybody would make it up.

JAM

That thread says nothing about a time change being confirmed. Danny was there ready to play and for some reason Mike was not. I am not a hater of either of these guys. It is a weird situation.

BVal

 

[JAM]

That thread says nothing about a time change being confirmed. Danny was there ready to play and for some reason Mike was not. I am not a hater of either of these guys. It is a weird situation.

BVal

I do not believe anybody would make it up.

You also posted that when I said somebody was shot at a pool room in Hattiesburg that it was "alleged." I then posted a newspaper link providing the evidence.

Unfortunately, this incident won't make the newspapers.

Again, I do not believe anybody made it up. However, you are entitled to your opinion.

JAM

 

[BVal]

I do not believe anybody would make it up.

You also posted that when I said somebody was shot at a pool room in Hattiesburg that it was "alleged." I then posted a newspaper link providing the evidence.

Unfortunately, this incident won't make the newspapers.

Again, I do not believe anybody made it up. However, you are entitled to your opinion.

JAM

When you posted the actual article of the shooting I posted that you were correct. Up until that point it was alleged because it was just hearsay. Just like every single post on this topic one way or the other has been hearsay or opinions.

In this case the only true fact is that one player was there ready to play at 11 and the other was not. NOTHING has been confirmed either way about a time change and until there is some solid proof either way I am not going to assume anything.

However, it is just my opinion which I am entitled to.

BVal

 

[JAM]

Most of what you read on this forum is hearsay.

To address your previous opinion, though, it is quite possible that Danny could have been hanging around the tournament venue site when the match times were changed. Hypothetically speaking, Mike Sigel could have left the tournament venue site after he saw that his match was supposed to be at 1:00 p.m. Danny, on the other hand, may have been hanging around and noticed the time change from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m., which may be why Danny showed up at 11:00 a.m. and Mike Sigel did not.

There could be many reasons for it happening, but I am fairly confident that a seasoned veteran of the pool world, as well as a professional tournament competitor like Mike Sigel, wouldn't make a mistake about his match times.

My opinion and I am sticking with it.

JAM