NO Match for Harriman/Schmidt

[kvinbrwr]

What are you talking about Kev? I send green your way all the time....

I hear str8shots is in talks with TAR to host a match between the Dali Lama and Deepak Chopra. Neither of them can draw their rock and the pool will kinda suck but they will conduct themselves in a way we can be proud for our kids to see.

Homogenized.

Safe.

Approved by str8

Good for pool.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

That's what the outrage is about here, not us whining about not getting the match we want. There was absolutely no need to make any public statement at all, just tell John in private that they don't approve of the match and let it go. Coming on here like our high school principal telling us there's no way she's gonna allow the dance on Friday night is insulting.

I knew nothing of Str8 Shots before this aside from a statement Mark made several weeks ago regarding him now working for them. When Kim comes onto our forum and alludes to what a powerful force she is in pro pool, I don't really feel I'm supposed to have to research her company and any good it may be doing before I'm allowed to express my indignation. She handled this poorly and can't admit it. She obviously has much to learn about the pool world before she's gonna change anything for the better.

The biggest thing that pisses me off about all of this is the assumption that we only want to see this match because we want to see some blood leaking out of someone's face. Total BS. I can assure you that for 99% of prospective PPV purchasers of this match, the very last thing we want is for a fight to ruin the pool. These two guys are the best American straight pool specialists in the country right now. I want to see them play, and would be extremely disappointed if any hostilities of any kind occurred.

FWIW I buy a lot of PPVs, some of them I don't end up watching. I'm not rich, but I love pool and do what I can to support the players in my own way. I've never been a great player, so I live vicariously through those who are great. But if Str8 Shots continues along this power trip then I just can't justify sending them any of my hard-earned dough.

BTW it has not escaped my attention that another horse in her stable has been acting out a wee bit in public. I love Jayson and think he's destined for greatness, but he's a hothead, and I'll bet a heck of a lot more likely to throw his fist at somebody during a match than Danny ever would.

Great post. Wish I made it.


Sent from my Galaxy S4

 

[pt109]

I hear str8shots is in talks with TAR to host a match between the Dali Lama and Deepak Chopra. Neither of them can draw their rock and the pool will kinda suck but they will conduct themselves in a way we can be proud for our kids to see.

Homogenized.

Safe.

Approved by str8

Good for pool.

I hear the lamas like T'bet.

 

[UGOTDA7]

I hear the lamas like T'bet.

This is so bad that it's good.

 

[jay helfert]

I've seen them play each other and there was absolutely nothing that happened there that I wouldn't want my kids, or my 93 year old mother for that matter, to experience.

If you are protecting people from something that doesn't exist, you are either, by definition, over-protecting, or you have an unspoken agenda.

Kevin

Unspoken agenda! Good call there. :yeah:
I seriously doubt that we've got the straight scoop yet.

 

[jay helfert]

If a film studio makes a movie, then a sequel and after time an actor is under contract at another NEW studio, the new studio does not make the 3rd movie. In fact, that studio really doesn't stand in the way to often in letting the original studio make the movie, WITH THIER ACTORS. Hence the term, actor out on loan.

With that said, it is one thing to tell your contracted players not to participate in a TAR match (note, only one of the two is under contract) and an entirely different thing to put on and promote the match yourself.

If this happens, I sure hope the pool community gets mobilized to either stop it or boycott it. I'll put some money where my mouth is too.

Getting a little closer to the truth methinks.

 

[JohnnyP]

Jay: Thanks for having the ball...I mean, courage, to point out boiler plate gobbledygook when you see it.

 

[JAM]

Has anybody had any interaction with Danny Harriman lately? Is he still living in St. Louis area?

It is a shame, Mark, that the communication lines were shut down tight. That happened to me during the Federal Government shutdown. Nobody answered the phone, and nobody returned calls.

Johnny and Danny get paid for doing nothing. I wonder how many other checks have been written to appease any of the affected parties. I wonder if we will ever know. :frown:

Str8-Shots wants to promote pool in a good way by cultivating our youth, but it seems like this forum wants to thwart that effort because of this match not taking place. All of the good this group has done for pool in general goes out the window.

Let's keep beating up on Str8-Shots until they give up and quit. What a great idea! Carry on, AzBilliards. The existing pool world is doing just fine with its current cast of characters as it circles the drain.

 

[NYC cue dude]

Has anybody had any interaction with Danny Harriman lately? Is he still living in St. Louis area?

It is a shame, Mark, that the communication lines were shut down tight. That happened to me during the Federal Government shutdown. Nobody answered the phone, and nobody returned calls.

Johnny and Danny get paid for doing nothing. I wonder how many other checks have been written to appease any of the affected parties. I wonder if we will ever know. :frown:

Str8-Shots wants to promote pool in a good way by cultivating our youth, but it seems like this forum wants to thwart that effort because of this match not taking place. All of the good this group has done for pool in general goes out the window.

Let's keep beating up on Str8-Shots until they give up and quit. What a great idea! Carry on, AzBilliards. The existing pool world is doing just fine with its current cast of characters as it circles the drain.

You know Jam, I agree with your position. I refrained from commenting in this thread, until its dying moments for various reasons, but ultimately, I think you're right. Str8shots is new. I think that if they had it to do all over, they'd have done it much differently with the same outcome. In the end, they took their stand, the players still got paid and they've moved on. Sure the public won't see this match, but the contracts are only for 2 years.

 

[jay helfert]

Has anybody had any interaction with Danny Harriman lately? Is he still living in St. Louis area?

It is a shame, Mark, that the communication lines were shut down tight. That happened to me during the Federal Government shutdown. Nobody answered the phone, and nobody returned calls.

Johnny and Danny get paid for doing nothing. I wonder how many other checks have been written to appease any of the affected parties. I wonder if we will ever know. :frown:

Str8-Shots wants to promote pool in a good way by cultivating our youth, but it seems like this forum wants to thwart that effort because of this match not taking place. All of the good this group has done for pool in general goes out the window.

Let's keep beating up on Str8-Shots until they give up and quit. What a great idea! Carry on, AzBilliards. The existing pool world is doing just fine with its current cast of characters as it circles the drain.

Sorry Jam, but I call foul here. I also support the BEF and have done a lot for junior players. I contend that this issue has zero to do with them!

 

[JAM]

Sorry Jam, but I call foul here. I also support the BEF and have done a lot for junior players. I contend that this issue has zero to do with them!

We will have to disagree on this one, Jay. My opinion is that, unlike some in the pool industry, the decision made by Str8-Shots had nothing to do with money, though that is how the majority of members in this thread, those who are supporting TAR, are leaning.

Everyone has their opinions, of course. The majority of folks here are familiar with TAR, and Str8-Shots is the new kid on the block.

And FWIW, I support BEF each year with several monetary donations. :smile:

 

[dawgcpa]

Schmidt and Harriman

Smack talk is part of sports, period. Just look at what goes on with the NFL, MLB, Nascar, etc. Heck, there will even be feuds and fighting on the PGA tour. If there wasn't we wouldn't watch it. Also, I don't see the smack talk driving away kids from those sports.....

Also, I won't pay St8t shots for the PPV.

I will however support TAR now and in the future.

 

[jhanso18]

It has been brought to our attention that there are multiple threads about a possible Schmidt /Harriman match. We know Mark Cantrill started working on this match a couple of days ago and that he has spoken to both players. We were informed last night by Mark Cantrill that both players had agreed verbally with him to do the match. We were told a few hours ago that TAR came in and also made an offer to host the Schmidt /Harriman match.

When Mark Cantrill set about putting this match together, he really had no idea that the level of hostility that existed between the two players was so intense. It did not become apparent until late yesterday afternoon. At that time that he contacted us and shared what he had learned.

Marc and I spent several hours last night and again this afternoon discussing this match. A few minutes ago we had a conference call with both Mark Cantrill and John Schmidt. During that conversation we explained to John Schmidt, who is a Str8 Shots signed player that we did not feel this match was in line with the direction that Str8 Shots intends to take the players, the team, or the company. We understand why this match is such a hot topic and why it would be an exceptional PPV event. The reasons that make this match so attractive to those that would buy it, are the very reasons we feel it is not in John’s best interest.

We chose several professional players to be a part of team Str8 Shots because they are all great people. Every one of them has a contract with us. In that contract it states that they will get permission from Str8 Shots management before engaging in activities, or aligning themselves, with individuals or activities that could be potentially harmful to their images, the company’s image, or the industry’s image.

When we plan matches, we have a purpose for them above and beyond providing the players with opportunities to test their skills or generate some additional income. Our opinion is that this match only serves to create additional animosity between these players and that is not what we want for any player; whether they are associated with this company or not.

We understand that both offers made to the men provided them with the potential to make several thousand dollars. We are also aware that the money to be made off of this PPV match by Str8 Shots or TAR could be quite substantial. That being said, we have asked John Schmidt NOT to do this match. John Schmidt will be compensated by Str8 Shots for the potential loss of income. He has generously offered to donate a portion of those monies to the Str8 Shots Juniors program.

Thank you for your time. I hope you all have a wonderful evening.

Kimberly Griffiths
(877)921 -9511 ext. 121
kimberly@str8-shots.com
www.str8-shots.com

I didn't read the whole 28 page thread (I wasn't really online at all this weekend.), but I just lost A LOT of respect for whatever str8-shots is. I won't be buying products based on the above. I respect that John is being compensated for potential loss of income, but the loss to the pool world of not seeing these two match up is FAR greater.

This is very sad. If the match isn't what you want it to be about, then as the promoter/organizer, you write the narrative. You could have made it about GREAT pool, instead of bad blood. The pool sells itself, if they got along people would still want to see it, but the hard feelings is what REALLY attracts an audience. So much for wanting to grow pool.

good luck in the future, I think str8 shots will need it.

 

[skogstokig]

yep, it seems that this company, that nobody knew of before, just managed to get a worse reputation than bernie madoff all because of an effort NOT to get a bad reputation. how weird is that? the name sucks too, if you're trying to become something, don't start off with a long ass name containing both letters and numbers.

 

[JAM]

Let's keep on kicking 'em, beating up on an organization trying to effect a change in the pool world. Well done! Beat 'em up to a pulp. Kick 'em while they're down. Knock them out dead. Good work!

 

[hang-the-9]

That's awesome that your teaching your kid good behaviors.
I'm sure what he will see watching Danny and John play is mild compared to what he sees on tv or at school everyday.

Don't throw out the baby with the bath water thing, I've seen many TAR matches with him, as well as other live streams. Watching Earl live can be a whole lesson in pool in itself. You get lessons from bad as well as good things.

As long as the guidance is there, nothing bad will come from seeing bad behavior, same as the whole "video games cause real life violence", it's the kids of parent's who don't care or are trouble-makers themselves that end up doing what they do, for the most part. I've seen several situations where kids of perfectly find parents turn out to be asshats.

 

[jhanso18]

Let's keep on kicking 'em, beating up on an organization trying to effect a change in the pool world. Well done! Beat 'em up to a pulp. Kick 'em while they're down. Knock them out dead. Good work!

I don't think that's the point, atleast it wasn't for my post. I just shared my HONEST opinion as a consumer. I felt that I was not insulting, nor derogatory. If this is kicking them while there down, that I guess thats what I'm doing JAM.

I get they want to change, and improve the pool world. I'm all for that, because it certainly needs it. However, here they have an opportunity to provide something to the pool world that almost EVERYONE wants, and the say no thanks, we're going to pass, because we feel that this is bad for pool. Really???? Please explain? Is it because this is a "grudge match?" Is it because Mr. Harriman is not of the same social stature as Mr. Schmidt? I don't get it.

What I do get is that Schmidt/Harriman is both attractive to almost EVERYONE, and it's something other than SVB, or a Pinoy player beating up on someone. John and Danny aren't even top 10 players world wide, and they would both see a huge boost in recognition for playing this match. I see NO way this match is bad for the pool world, the players involved, or the promoters of said event.

Further more, I wouldn't even know John was a str8-shots player if it weren't for this thread. So if TAR would've put it on, I would never have known, unless he wears a shirt/hat/etc. representing them. This was just a bad PR move the whole way around IMO. It has left a very bad taste in my mouth, and I will not be a customer of their's anytime soon.

Sorry if this, or my previous post came off as kicking them while they were down. This is how I feel as a potential customer of what ever it is they are selling. If they make it right, they win me back, and maybe more. That's how I operate, I'm assuming many others are the same.

All the best,

 

[peteypooldude]

Don't throw out the baby with the bath water thing, I've seen many TAR matches with him, as well as other live streams. Watching Earl live can be a whole lesson in pool in itself. You get lessons from bad as well as good things.

As long as the guidance is there, nothing bad will come from seeing bad behavior, same as the whole "video games cause real life violence", it's the kids of parent's who don't care or are trouble-makers themselves that end up doing what they do, for the most part. I've seen several situations where kids of perfectly find parents turn out to be asshats.

Tap tap buddy, if kids are going to be exposed to it(and they are) it's better that their parents are there to guide them. I would watch it with my kids......
This match was going to be a PPV so whose kids were planning on buying it? My son doesn't have a bank account at 13 yrs of age. It would have been a PG 13 flick not an X rated event . Be real people

 

[justadub]

You know Jam, I agree with your position. I refrained from commenting in this thread, until its dying moments for various reasons, but ultimately, I think you're right. Str8shots is new. I think that if they had it to do all over, they'd have done it much differently with the same outcome. In the end, they took their stand, the players still got paid and they've moved on. Sure the public won't see this match, but the contracts are only for 2 years.

Everyone is going on the assumption that both guys are getting paid regardless. We have no reason to doubt the lady's word, but this remains pool, with its sterling reputation....and we havent really heard from Danny yet, either.

It's a damned shame it all had to go down this way.

JAM, I am not bashing Str8shots here. This is still in the early stages, there is likely more yet to be written about this story, before all is said and done.

It sure does make good forum fodder though.

 

[Houstoer]

Str8shots should have worked with JCIN to produce this. They could have had an opening match with a couple good junio young guns from around Vegas and then worked it out with the players that a portion of their money whoever wins goes to the BEF... that would have gotten them great exposure. damn not too hard to figure out...