http://www.thehypertexts.com/Earl Strickland Pool Billiards.htm
The truth - Earl - "The Dallas Million Dollar Challenge"
by John McChesney
Earl and the truth about the "Dallas Million Dollar Challenge" where Earl ran 11 racks [on] Thursday, April 11, 1996
I - John McChesney, Robin Adair and Jay Helfert were the tournament directors at the event at CJ's Billiard Palace in Dallas, Texas. The stipulation in the (payment) rules [was] instituted by the insurance company underwriter: SDS ... as follows:
The last 5 racks had to be racked by a neutral racker and filmed/taped. The reason Earl had to run 11 racks is that the tournament format was "rack your
own" and he simply would not stop at 5 ... and racked his own at 6 and ran out; then, I forced him to stop by stating that he would have to run 11 and
Jay Helfert then began the racking for racks number: 7,8,9,10 & 11 (the last 5 racks); and the filming/taping began.
Every spectator and every player in the event witnessed the remaining 5 racks ... as tournament play completely halted when it became apparent that Earl had a chance to complete the run.
I assure you that nothing was rigged in this event ... particularly the tables .. they were all triple shimmed new black Gold Crowns with new Championship Tournament grade cloth.
The reason for the delay in payment to Earl was due to lack of communications between the following 2 parties; The Marketing Continuum (the PCA/CJ Wiley hired them as their marketing company); and [the] SDS underwriters.
The insurance had been "bound" pursuant to Texas State Law, but the insurance company wanted to fight ... but in the end settled with both Earl and the PCA/CJ.
Incidentally, in order for SDS to underwrite the event ... statistical information had to be obtained and certified as to how difficult running 10 racks in tournament play would be; that information was provided by the PHD and Department of Statistical Information at the University of Texas and his/their department concluded that the odds were 1 in 6.5+- million attempts.
By the way ... Earl was playing Nick Mannino in the match and the final score was 15-1.
If you ( readers') bad information came to you via the rumor mill about this event or you simply think that it was an "urban legend" ... then you can use this information in the future to inform others that this is the real-deal about the "Dallas Million Dollar Challenge".
Lastly, Earl had an option (when this was settled with SDS) to accept either the annuity ($50k per year x 20 years); or, a lump sum settlement (of the principle) ... which was less (in total) to the annuity .. he accepted the lump sum payment.
John McChesney
CEO of Texas Express
and on behalf of: Robin Adair, Texas Express, Jay Helfert, Championship Billiards, CJ Wiley, CJ's Billiard Palace and Carson's Earl Strickland
and the hundreds of others who were either participants or spectators at the event
More information provided by John McChesney:
The statistical information derived was certainly based on what the University Department could use and that was information from sources ( at the time ) , i.e.,
Accustats, varius tour information and ( they ) asked many questions concerning past tournament(s). I .. and others involved in the event thought that the statistical info. was corrupted .. as I don't feel that the following was taken into consideration: If a player were to "attempt" to run 10 racks for a meaningful ( award );
then the player would have to take many chances that otherwise .. they would not in any particular game. I can remember that CJ and I were sitting about 6 feet from the table when Earl was on the run and can recall a few games in which he simply fired a "flier" ... for instance: he attempted a long table cut on the one ball and missed it badly but the cueball rebounded from the rail and sunk another ball in the side; another: he attempted a long table bank and made it and would never have tried this shot had he been in a "normal" match ( It would have been an easy duck .. as there were numerous balls to hide behind ) .. bottom line is: if one is attempting to run racks .. then one MUST attempt to make a ( pocketed legal ) shot every time.
We were all amazed that he made at least a ball on the break each of the 11 racks .. that alone speaks volumes !! And yes .. he did make the 9 on the break 5 times of the 11 .. ( at least 2 of them were when Jay racked ) .. the final ( 11th ) game was by far the most incredible as he had a very interesting situation with the cueball at one end of the table ( about 1st diamond on long rail and short rail ) .. the one ball in the center of the table about 12" from the side with no shot in either side possible .. and the nine ball about 6-8" from the long rail and short rail at the other end of the table near the corner pocket .. the problem was: he could have made ( back-cut ) the one ball cleanly in the end pocket ( near the nine ball ) but there was no hope of getting the cue ball back in shape for the two ball .. ( too many balls and clusters blocking the way ) .. so Earl leaned down
and stroked a couple times .. got back up and stated .. I've got to go for it .. and then stroked once or twice and slammed home the ( very difficult ) one-nine combo in the corner .. Earl jumped about 40" of the floor when the nine went in .. and came down accidently with his cuetec on the corner of the table and promptly broke the joint .. and I was standing about 2 feet from him and he actually threw his arms around me ( at the time about 260 lbs. ) and picked me up and shook me .. he was soaking wet from perspiration and it took about 30 minutes for calm to be restored to the event before play resumed .. it was quite the
night to say the least.
John McChesney
