The first 10 ft. event happened approximately one year ago at the Southern Classic. I wasn't sure what the response would be, after all the previous 10 ft. event ended the year I was born 1949. Since last year I have seen 8 ball, bank pool, one pocket, straight pool as well as another 10 ball at the Derby City Classic. I wanted to see what the spectators as well as myself thought about the games being played on a bigger table. I know I haven't reached everyone and I'm sure everyone's not sold but I believe it deserves more testing.
The Derby City as well as the Southern Classic weren't designed as a format for Pro Pool. After all we have short races and top players playing players of a lesser ability where not all matches are competitive. Weaker players are doing their best to support pool while seeing how they stack up against pro's. Without amateur players I wouldn't be able to put any event on.
It's been my goal to put on a true Pro Tour for a very long time. I want a Pro event to only contain pro players. At this time I think anywhere between 16 to 32 players is manageable and single elimination makes sense. I don't know if a pro tour would be better on 9fts or 10s. I'm probably going to try the Bigfoots first. I can always go back to 9's. I know at this time I can't do a tour with 16 to 32 players on their own' I need the other events to make things work. If things go well at Tunica then I hope to get invited to a Harrah's in Atlantic City. Then a final in Vegas. I'm not announcing a pro tour yet, but I am letting you know that the Bigfoot 10ball is designed with that in mind. I'd be happy to answer questions as best I can. Greg/Diamond
I really think you're on to a great formula, Greg.
I'm an aspiring amateur. One that would LOVE to be the type of player that people would actually say, "That guy is one of the top players in the country!". Sadly, at 39, and holding down a full-time job, plus only being a weak intermediate (but improving!)......well, let's just say that my "pool career" doesn't look too promising. BUT.....
.....Greg Sullivan is giving us amateurs the opportunity to mix it up with the pro's. What other sport affords that? I LOVE big Open events, such as Tunica and the DCC. And it doesn't bother me one bit that it's not handicapped. If I happened to enter the Twilight Zone of MY game and catch a low-level pro or road player off of THEIRS.....and actually win a match, well, I wanna do it heads-up. Not go home and tell my buddies that, "Yeah, I beat (insert Monsterish Player here). I was racing to 5 and he was racing to 13. I got him 5-12."
I will agree that events such as these are heavily dependent on players much like myself. Dead money or not, well, it's still money. And it boosts the depth of the playing field. Now, I do understand that it bothers some "pro's" to have to play amateurs. But, until the day comes where the pro's have a tour that can completely sustain itself.....only containing card-carrying pro tour members......take my money. PLEASE. I want and NEED the experience.
I love the format of the sister events at Tunica and the DCC. Keep the Opens, so we can all mix it up. Because eventually, out of all of this.....rises new, strong, but seasoned players that will eventually BE pro's. Ya gotta have experience to get experience, right? The old "trying to find a job that requires experience without having any experience" conundrum.
So, on the side, voila! We have a pro/monster player, mini-tournament formatted "tour" on big, big tables. Only open to the cream of the crop. Big entry fees. Streams for all the world to see. Classic match-ups.
If one had enough room and time, you could almost do this for multiple disciplines. Think of a Banks, 1P and Rotation (9, 10 or 15-ball) monster mini's on 10-footers, all the while that the Open events are going on. It would be the Mecca of Pool.
The cream rises to the top in the Opens anyway, but it gives amateurs a chance to pay their dues and earn their chops. Then, as those lower level players improve thru the years, they'll advance further in the Opens, thereby earning the right to play in the mini-Bigfoot Pro tour.
I'd love to see Diamond/Accu-Stats/whomever make a list recognizing "worthy players" based on results of the Opens.....and allow those players to buy a tour card. If you're left off of the list, you can apply to the "governing body". They'll review your results at the Open events, plus any mitigating factors (such as your overall reputation or action "status"). Either you're approved and pay for a card, or you're denied and you keep busting your hump to prove yourself. Then keep the actual Bigfoot tournament field to a manageable amount and I think you've got something.
To keep your tour card, you have to continue proving yourself in the Opens. That keeps the quality of the fields in Tunica/DCC where they've been, and as Greg hopes, this rolls on to more and more events/locations. Imagine a big Open every 3 months. Spring, summer, fall and winter classics. Spread to the north, south, east and west of this country. And who says it has to end there? But, that would be a initial great, and I say attainable, goal.
Ya never know, 5 years from now, we might all wake up and realize that professional pool exists in a major way again. And not only that, it's accommodating to the serious, amateur player and allows them a journey to a professional status.
Those are MY thoughts on what I'd like to see.
FWIW, everyone, I met Greg Sullivan at Tunica last year. He actually drew my roommate for the event, John Brumback, in the 1st round of 1P. Greg can play. He didn't get the good end of it, but yea, he's gonna make a lot of great players sweat a bit, if they belly up to the table with him.
Sorry to knock your action, Greg. :thumbup:
-- but I can't wait to read all about Tunica! :smile:
