Rumors are fun and can spread fast like a wildfire. It's true that some players were unhappy they didn't get paid immediately. The truth is that most of the players who finished from 17th thru 24th, 25th thru 32nd and 33rd thru 48th were paid the next day after being eliminated, most of them in cash! I think ALL these players are completely satisfied now.
The players who finished in higher positions received checks from Barry before leaving yesterday. Most of the checks are dated from one to two weeks away. Almost all players I spoke with were satisfied with this, as long as the checks clear when deposited in their accounts. Even the few who were complaining the loudest the day before gratefully accepted their checks and went home. I do not know of one player who did not receive a check from Barry. Even the top finishers got full payment in the form of two or three checks.
Barry has assured me that ALL checks will clear! If this is the case then all is well and good. I told him that the credibility of his event is on the line and it will live or die depending on whether the payments are all good or not. He understands this and once again assured me that there would be no problems this time. If this is not the case I will not be going back next year.
It was a very difficult job running the Open properly this year. I was understaffed and had to work long hours, but I was committed to making the event run smoothly and I think I succeeded in doing just that. It was a great tournament with a truly World Class field of players, certainly one of the hardest tournaments to win. My hat is off to Shane for his amazing "three peat" and how he handled the super talented Dennis Orcollo in the finals. IMO the two best players all week were in the finals. Thanks to all those people who took the time to thank me for running this event so well. That meant a lot to me to know that my efforts were appreciated.
P.S. FYI there are many major events in the pool world where players do not receive their winnings immediately. Often the money is wired to their bank accounts from one to two weeks out. This is a common practice with the companies that put on these larger events and all the players know this going in. The same is true in professional golf and tennis, so this is not uncommon in the sports world for players to have their payments delayed for a short period of time.
I will only add that I see how devoted Barry is to our sport and to the U.S. Open. His enthusiasm has never waned and he is always looking for ways to make his event bigger and better. For that I will acknowledge him. He is a very misunderstood man and does have an eccentric personality that has grated on me at times. But I see his love for the game and appreciate that because of him we have had a U.S. Open for 39 years! He openly admitted to me that he is not the best at handling money, but will always make sure that all players are paid. He told me that next year he would like to be able to pay all the players with Certified (Bank) checks on the day they are eliminated. I, of course, told him this would be a good thing and end all the rumors once and for all. His past history has branded him and he is sincere in wanting to change that impression.
The players who finished in higher positions received checks from Barry before leaving yesterday. Most of the checks are dated from one to two weeks away. Almost all players I spoke with were satisfied with this, as long as the checks clear when deposited in their accounts. Even the few who were complaining the loudest the day before gratefully accepted their checks and went home. I do not know of one player who did not receive a check from Barry. Even the top finishers got full payment in the form of two or three checks.
Barry has assured me that ALL checks will clear! If this is the case then all is well and good. I told him that the credibility of his event is on the line and it will live or die depending on whether the payments are all good or not. He understands this and once again assured me that there would be no problems this time. If this is not the case I will not be going back next year.
It was a very difficult job running the Open properly this year. I was understaffed and had to work long hours, but I was committed to making the event run smoothly and I think I succeeded in doing just that. It was a great tournament with a truly World Class field of players, certainly one of the hardest tournaments to win. My hat is off to Shane for his amazing "three peat" and how he handled the super talented Dennis Orcollo in the finals. IMO the two best players all week were in the finals. Thanks to all those people who took the time to thank me for running this event so well. That meant a lot to me to know that my efforts were appreciated.
P.S. FYI there are many major events in the pool world where players do not receive their winnings immediately. Often the money is wired to their bank accounts from one to two weeks out. This is a common practice with the companies that put on these larger events and all the players know this going in. The same is true in professional golf and tennis, so this is not uncommon in the sports world for players to have their payments delayed for a short period of time.
I will only add that I see how devoted Barry is to our sport and to the U.S. Open. His enthusiasm has never waned and he is always looking for ways to make his event bigger and better. For that I will acknowledge him. He is a very misunderstood man and does have an eccentric personality that has grated on me at times. But I see his love for the game and appreciate that because of him we have had a U.S. Open for 39 years! He openly admitted to me that he is not the best at handling money, but will always make sure that all players are paid. He told me that next year he would like to be able to pay all the players with Certified (Bank) checks on the day they are eliminated. I, of course, told him this would be a good thing and end all the rumors once and for all. His past history has branded him and he is sincere in wanting to change that impression.
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