i210mfu said:
Hi Jam,
Markus here.... And why is that so ? Pretty simply. We Europeans might have a better structure and being better organized etc, but the prize money in the US is better. That is the only reason why the Europeans play in the US.
Is that something that I as an American should be happy about, Markus? If what you say is true about the prize money, I would like to see the Europeans and their heralded organizations invest a little bit more of their resources in pool on American soil then, if this seems to be the place where players like to hang their cue sticks. Why should the American pool industry and other American pool-related entities foot the bill for the income of pool players from around the world, opening our doors to all nationalities, when there is no reciprocity?
And then to have nationality-restricted tournaments, such as they have in Germany as an example, listed on a champion's portfolio being given the same weight as, say, the U.S. Open, it ain't right. There is an imbalance, if you will, of importance placed on tournaments, and they are not all equal.
i210mfu said:
There are many tournaments around in Europe where the Americans are welcome... Why don't they enter... MONEY thats all. There have been two really big tournaments in Munich in the early 90's, The Brunswick Munich Masters where a remarkable US delegation showed up. Why because the prize money was right.. What happened there ... the side betting offered such good quotes, that some froreign players lost their matches on purpose... That was really sad to see and no good for the sport at all.
Are you saying that in Munich, the only players that side-betted and lost their matches on purpose were foreigners to Munich?
i210mfu said:
I really respect you as one of the best posters here at AZ but complaining about unequal opportunities for the US players in Europe simply isn't true. Only the European Championships are a closed contest.
I respect you, too, Markus, especially the way you have supported pool, to include young up-and-coming American players.
However, this is one area where you and I may not come to a mutual understanding. I think the U.S. players most definitely do not have equal opportunities available to them as their foreign counterparts. In fact, what little monies pool players in America do get to play for, we have to cut it up with players from around the world. Why don't other countries step up to the plate with their heralded organizations and make something happen like we do here in the United States?
i210mfu said:
Fact is, that most of the professional pool players would sell their own grandmother for $3 because they do need the money... It is a simple as that.
Oh, man, Markus. "Et tu, Brute?"
1210mfu said:
As long as we do not have a real professional tour where professional players can make a living just from performing good at their sport, the situation won't change. The US lost its dominance in pool quite a while ago. All the other nations are catching up and overtaking player wise. Why because in some countries there is an organization that cares, that advises etc. In the US a player still must rely on luck and a supporting enviroment rather than beeing able to enjoy organized development in his sport.
The U.S. may have lost its dominance in some eyes, but not this reader's eyes. Maybe if we had nationality-restricted tournaments available, we could build up our stock of fresh meat. Instead, our players have to share. We open our doors, to include our pool tournaments, to players from every country in the world, bar none. I cannot say the same about other countries.
As far as the BCA Hall of Fame goes, there is another example of the American way. However, after reading this thread, I'd like to see a European Hall of Fame. Would they include American players in it? Probably not. They seem to look down at their nose at American players today, thinking we have no fire power. If it wasn't for American players of yesteryear like Willie Mosconi, Irving Crane, and Luther Lassiter, pool just might be dead in the water worldwide today. We built it. They all came to our shores to pursue fame and fortune in pool, and now this is the thanks that America gets, other countries thumbing their noses at American players as if we're house fish.
Let the alphabet soup of European organizations do something for pool worldwide. The American pool pie is now down to crumbs. Maybe it's time for some other countries to exert a little effort to help this sport that you and I so dearly love, Markus, but IN AN INTERNATIONAL WAY and not just within their own region of the world.
JMHO, FWIW!
JAM
