Noteworthy Absentees from this year's U.S. Open

[genomachino]

I think it is the money......

If your working to make a living and can't play enough to be in top stroke it is hard to make a commitment to travel the US Open, stay for 7 days or so and play against the top players from all over trying to recoup your money.

It's tough to be a top poolplayer and travel all over if you don't have great sponsors.

I was just talking to a player that was in the Texas Open and he was telling me that a top player from Canada, won't say the name, has almost basically quit playing and got a job. Tired of being broke all the time.

To bad this is the nature of the beast today. The expenses of going to and from a tourny, staying there and going back. They're just too much if you don't cash big.

Now you got these expenses on top of house payment, insurance, normal bills. I think you get the point. it's just alot to fade.

Many poolplayers over the years that played great had poolrooms to support their pool and their practice. While they were there everyday practicing they were supporting their business.

Varner, Hall, CJ, and about another 100 or so could be added if the research was done. Once the poolroom is gone so are the players that consistently went to all the events. Without the room their not in great stroke. Need the action and support system to stay in the mix.

Just my opinion looking at it from the inside instead of the out.

 

[Scott Lee]

Geno...I think the number of American pro players who are making house payments and insurance payments can likely be counted on one or two hands. Like you already said...most of them are JPB (just plain broke)! :grin:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Now you got these expenses on top of house payment, insurance, normal bills. I think you get the point. it's just alot to fade.

 

[Pushout]

Me thinks the Euros are holding him hostage

Last I heard Dennis was working construction, that may have something to do with it.

 

[Roger Long]

I was chatting on the phone with Nick Varner yesterday, and I asked him why he wasn't at the Open. He told me that he suffered a minor, but painful, hand injury recently, and it wasn't quite healed up yet. But besides that, he said, "It's just too hard to make any money there."

Roger

 

[JAM]

Ronnie Wiseman isn't there, either, but I know where he is.

He just called my other half earlier today. :grin-square:

 

[westcoast]

I didn't see Gabe Owen in the brackets either

 

[uwate]

I wonder how the players listed feel about seeding. Or if that was an issue to them at all. The true dead money players all have jobs and might go to the open as a pool vacation regardless of seeding, but I wonder if it also impacted the regional pro level players decision making as well?

 

[irock]

I would also like to know what the players think about seeding, are they all basically in agreement about it, or are they mixed?

 

[RADAR]

how sad it is no sigel, hopkins, cj wiley,mad max.

 

[inside_english]

how sad it is no sigel, hopkins, cj wiley,mad max.

And no sponsors for any of them?

Oh well, pool is a tough beat, always has been, and will remain so for a long time.

That being said, the field is quite deep this year.

 

[thebigdog]

Thinking about this for a minute, Today I was 350 miles from home and looked into the mail slot of what used to be Boyce Billiards in Stockton Ca. It was a players room from the late 50's or 60's, I played there in 85-91. I met Mark Haddad there. Now It's is a vacant room, all the tables gone, only the rail was in there laying in piles up against the wall, all gone. It was a very sad moment for me, 8 hours ago. I remember $1000 action there and 3X as much on the rail, and it was a old room then in 85. I was glad i got to look thu that slot, gave me lots to think about and this thread is similar in nature. Its a illustration of where pool is going. I dont like it either...


Pool is becoming if it isnt already a game with a small cult following at best. It aint Barry, ABP, Earl, Me, you its Facebook, poker, internet, a progression of time. Its a bygone era. Some people still play vinyl records and some play pool-both cult followings....:frown:

Wow I was totally unaware that it was no longer a pool room. My grandpa opened Boyce's back in 1965. Although the room was never the same after he sold in the early 70's, it comforted me to know that it was still a poolroom after all these years. I spent my mid to late teens in my dads pool hall and always thought I would one day open my own, but, now with 4 years left I am eligible to retire from the CG I am no longer even considering a pool hall, just seems too tough to own a poolroom anymore.