pro players not paid

Hey Donny

donny mills said:
I'm not bragging... I was a failure. Lol.
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We could all, only be so lucky as to be this kind of failure. Don't think for a second, that anyone on here wouldn't love to have someone say that to them, for only managing a 3rd place.
 
I've read only the first page of this crap.. maybe the rest isn't crap. But here's my take on this.

I don't know how to run a pool tournament. I don't know Barry. I do know that he invented the US Open and that he has kept it going through thick and thin and hurricanes and bad times, for what... about THIRTY FREAKING YEARS!!

I do know that bad-mouthing Barry or anyone else will serve no purpose. And most of all I KNOW for dammed sure that none of this is any of my business. AND... I know that this is between Barry and the players and the rest of us need to just stfu and leave it alone before we hurt somebody with our big mouths running.
 
quitecoolguy said:
I live in Ricmond Va so i have seen Barry a few times at the open and even at Qmasters. I wont say that its right not to get paid...i believe that if i have to deposit the 500 up front then when im done and i win what i win i would like to be compensated. Some people need that to recoup the cost of staying at hotels.

Yet with that said I cant call the man a crook, And his tournament is the only one i look forward to going to every year. I could attend the Derby,,or others but the US OPEN is the TOURNAMENT i want to go to..it screams pool.

I do think the venders have gotten pretty "blah" there seems to be the same old things..they need to switch it up a bit..a bit more flash..something entertainning...not just here is what i got..look around buy it if you like it. You got to realize its nothign but pool players and pool lovers coming to this place...make it worth our while...also ...food their is awful..if not for the popcorn..i would die.. it would be cool to see some pro player challenges, some venders offering if you can do this you win this..heck there are millions of ways to make more money for everyone.

Barry im sorry that times are tough..but you run a great tournament. Im glad your gona stream line it..we all have ta do that now a days..but keep the diginity of that wonderful tournament alive an going!!
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TAP TAP TAP....I think he should cut the payout to atleast 30,000 and down the line til the books balance and stop taking money out of his own pocket to float the us open when there is little suport. I go every year and you see the same faces,same few sponsars,and the same dealers and untill there is a billiard explosion in the usa it aint going to change. The comments about how can he still be in charge of the us open are ridiculios...Who the F#ck would want this money losing venture! There has been many the past 10 years trying to do this and that better and they all find out the hard way it just doesnt work. What would we do if barry said thats it..theres no more us open...do you really think someone would pick it up. Lets hope he lives til a 100 because I enjoy and suport the us open by going and spending money there and I honestly believe if barry doesnt do this event it would never happen again.
 
First, I think Barry owns the title "US Open 9 Ball", so that's why no one else can claim it.

I think he means well but yeah, by now he should know what he can and can't do.

More to the point, the first thing he needs to do is remove the quotation marks from around "guaranteed" in his press release. With quotation marks it's completely meaningless. I once saw a sign at a restaurant that said their burgers were made with 100% "real" meat. I got the salad.

- Steve
 
JimS said:
I've read only the first page of this crap.. maybe the rest isn't crap.
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It only gets worse, don't read anymore than you already have. The only thing that is remotely interesting is the psychological aspect of why the people that know the least tend to be the loudest.
 
Look, Barry can be commended HIGHLY for keeping a tournament running for 35 years! The US Open is a great event even if it's FREEZING inside (great way to sell more sweaters) - it's prestigious, it's magical as far as tournaments go. It's an institution that definitely is Barry's event and is infused with his love of the game.

But this BS of shorting the payouts has GOT TO STOP. It taints and otherwise magical event. Truly.

At the end of the day no one cares or can remember if the winner got $20,000 or $40,000 but they always remember that so and so WON the US Open. The US Open produces plenty of Cinderella stories.

Find a payout level that is comfortable and pay it. Get with room owners all over the USA and have them hold qualifiers for the Open until the 256 spots are filled.

Jeez is it SO HARD to run a ten week tournament series which draws out $500 to pay one entry into the Open? Like Fast Eddie said in The Color of Money and I paraphrase,

What? Do you need an Indian guide? Here's you in January and here is Chesapeake in October. In between is 500 pool rooms around the world, thousands of players and the opportunity to siphon off a couple hundred entry fees out of weekly tournaments.

If the WPBA can fill their fields through a qualifier system then so can the US Open.

But it takes some organization, some shmoozing, some marketing and work.

How about offering a $10,000 bonus to the POOL ROOM whose qualifier wins the event?

How to pay that $10,000 you ask?

The amount the rooms need to send in for EACH spot is $550. $500 goes to the entry fee for the event and the other $50 goes into the qualifier bonus pool for the room owners.

Now the room owners around the world would have some incentive to put as many horses in the race as they can.
 
JB Cases said:
Look, Barry can be commended HIGHLY for keeping a tournament running for 35 years! The US Open is a great event even if it's FREEZING inside (great way to sell more sweaters) - it's prestigious, it's magical as far as tournaments go. It's an institution that definitely is Barry's event and is infused with his love of the game.

But this BS of shorting the payouts has GOT TO STOP. It taints and otherwise magical event. Truly.

At the end of the day no one cares or can remember if the winner got $20,000 or $40,000 but they always remember that so and so WON the US Open. The US Open produces plenty of Cinderella stories.

Find a payout level that is comfortable and pay it. Get with room owners all over the USA and have them hold qualifiers for the Open until the 256 spots are filled.

Jeez is it SO HARD to run a ten week tournament series which draws out $500 to pay one entry into the Open? Like Fast Eddie said in The Color of Money and I paraphrase,

What? Do you need an Indian guide? Here's you in January and here is Chesapeake in October. In between is 500 pool rooms around the world, thousands of players and the opportunity to siphon off a couple hundred entry fees out of weekly tournaments.

If the WPBA can fill their fields through a qualifier system then so can the US Open.

But it takes some organization, some shmoozing, some marketing and work.

How about offering a $10,000 bonus to the POOL ROOM whose qualifier wins the event?

How to pay that $10,000 you ask?

The amount the rooms need to send in for EACH spot is $550. $500 goes to the entry fee for the event and the other $50 goes into the qualifier bonus pool for the room owners.

Now the room owners around the world would have some incentive to put as many horses in the race as they can.
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You are not stupid
 
Weekly event - $15 entry - $10 to the prize fund $5 to the US Open Fund. How to produce 1 paid entry to the US Open per month or with whatever frequency it takes to gather $550.

So if the tournament draws 25 players then it takes five weeks to get one entry fee in. Who cares as long as every $550 an entry is booked at the US Open.

I just refuse to believe that this is impossible.

Ok so what's in it for all the players who might want to play in the weekly events but have no interest in going to the Open. The ones who might balk at the $5 per week fee? Make it so that they are invested as well by offering to take $5000 of the $10,000 that could be won if one of their players wins and hold a tournament where ONLY the players who supported the qualifiers can play in it. Or just pay the money out as bonuses.

There are a myriad of ways to get the average player on board with sending their best player to the event.

I refuse to believe that it's not possible to fill up a 256 man event with a year to do it.
 
MY guess is that Barry was planning on making the usual deal with the winner to pay in installments as he has in past years.

This year however it was Mika who won and there had been very bad blood between the 2 in the past because Mika had not been paid the full amount one year and was actually kicked out of the Convention center by Barry because of a heated argument. I think Barry knew that he was not going to get Mika to go the installment plan route and thus by paying him the full amount, he had to stiff someone else.

The above is a guess as i said.
 
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Nostroke said:
MY guess is that Barry was planning on making the usual deal with the winner to pay in installments as he has in past years.

This year however it was Mika who won and there had been very bad blood between the 2 in the past because Mika had not been paid the full amount one year and was actually kicked out of the Convention center by Barry because of a heated argument. I think Barry knew that he was not going to get Mika to go the installment plan route and thus by paying him the full amount, he had to stiff someone else.

The above is a guess as i said.
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Could be.
Or it could be the fact that the man still advertises more money then he has, and then has to write bad checks cause the gate never showed up to compensate.

Figure that one out.
The guy owes Mika money. Money that shouldn't be waited for.
What happens when Mika raises the topic and wants to collect and BB gets all bent? He tosses him out. Basically a nice big fat F.U.

And people still think he's playing with a full deck?
Amazing.
 
Maybe the players will smarten-up enough in my lifetime to form a players' union. Until then, "zzzzzzzzzzzzz"

This is like listening to girl complain about how their bf hits them, but refuses to break up with them because "he loves her." After a while, and 50 Jerry Springer episodes on the same thing.... you fail to give a sh1t. Do something about it or shut it and take it like a man. It's a broken record.

Finally, Barry is playing with a full deck. He walks his tiny little dog into Morton's and the restaurant doesn't blink an eye. The dog eats the $45 small filet, hack-up neatly in a small pile.

Seriously though... Barry isn't perfect. None of us are. He's put more $$$ into pool players' pockets than almost anyone. Having him around is the lesser of two evils.

Dave
 
I am curious about them forming a players union like Spidey said, maybe a lawyer who loves pool would take it up, players pay dues, not very much but enough to have a union fund. The fund could basically support legal action by people who try to stiff players by taking them to court. Make an example of someone and the rest of these thieves/leeches will no longer do what they do to pool players. It would be great to put together a union headed by knowledgeable fans, non industry and non players so there is no BS involved, just people who love the game and want to help the players.
 
Good Afternoon everyone,

Thank you all for you response to my letter. Any and all criticism is greatly appreciated. I believe that no one is ever too old to learn a new lesson.

I have read each post 3 times and I appreciate your pros and cons on this matter. Your input gives me new insight and helps me to become a stronger person.

Yes, my past 2001-2003 was not so good, but I have been completely clean for 8 years now and dedicated to my business Q-Master Billiards, day and night. I purposely live 3 miles away and only put 5,000 miles a year on my car, as all I am doing is working and resting. But I am just fine with that. Being at my business keeps me on the straight road and away from trouble.

I will be 64 years old in April, and my Doctors tell me that I am in great condition, thank god! My little dog buddy, is always by my side and that surely does help me stay in control. :) I am going to fix and improve the financial aspect of the 35th Annual US Open, October 17-23rd, 2010. And that’s a promise that I will live up to!

As in my letter, every player 1-96 will be paid before they leave Chesapeake. My goal in the pool world is to be at the 50th Annual US Open. I will be 80 at that time, and it truly would be a dream come true for me to be there. So, the only way for that to happen is to first be alive, and secondly, do the right thing by paying everyone on time for the next 15 years. Taking it 1 year at a time.

I want the US Open to grow immensely but again that takes sponsors, inside and out within the billiard industry. I am already speaking with a huge sponsor who is outside of the industry and it sounds promising.

The US Open 9-Ball Championships has never been a money maker of any magnitude for me. It has always been about the players and the wonderful fans who attend year after year. Believe me, I am not a wealthy man, but I hope to be someday soon before I am too old to enjoy the fruits of my labor and love.

I have never been a man who quits. When I was wrestling as a junior in high school, there was a sign in the locker room that I will never forget. It read “a winner never quits and a quitter never wins” and I have tried to live up to that. Yes, along the way I have made a few mistakes. I am only human. But I feel as if I am making fewer mistakes each and every day. Now it is time to repair the US Open beginning with this year, and I will do it!

Again, thank you all for your replies an AZBilliards. My list of ideas is growing and I have a list for everything. Just ask my staff and daughter. My desk is never clean.

Sincerely,
Barry Behrman
Founder and Promoter
US Open 9-Ball Championships
 
Well said, Barry. The same people who would dog ya haven't done a thing for pool themselves. At least you're trying.

Your tournament was the very first pro event I ever went to. Will never forget my first champagne toast.

And....

Buddy is the man.
 
Actions speak louder then words.

You can release as many statements as you want, but if this type of practice continues, then those words mean nothing.

While i can understand the hits the U.S Open took in the past with 9/11 and the Hurricane, It's 2010 now.
If you still can't get it right, then there is seriously something wrong.
 
barrybehrman said:
As in my letter, every player 1-96 will be paid before they leave Chesapeake.
Sincerely,
Barry Behrman
Founder and Promoter
US Open 9-Ball Championships
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That is great. Does that mean that all those who were not paid in the past have now been paid in full, too?

Thanks,
Joe
 
Are you volunteering???

JB Cases said:
Look, Barry can be commended HIGHLY for keeping a tournament running for 35 years! The US Open is a great event even if it's FREEZING inside (great way to sell more sweaters) - it's prestigious, it's magical as far as tournaments go. It's an institution that definitely is Barry's event and is infused with his love of the game.

But this BS of shorting the payouts has GOT TO STOP. It taints and otherwise magical event. Truly.

At the end of the day no one cares or can remember if the winner got $20,000 or $40,000 but they always remember that so and so WON the US Open. The US Open produces plenty of Cinderella stories.

Find a payout level that is comfortable and pay it. Get with room owners all over the USA and have them hold qualifiers for the Open until the 256 spots are filled.

Jeez is it SO HARD to run a ten week tournament series which draws out $500 to pay one entry into the Open? Like Fast Eddie said in The Color of Money and I paraphrase,

What? Do you need an Indian guide? Here's you in January and here is Chesapeake in October. In between is 500 pool rooms around the world, thousands of players and the opportunity to siphon off a couple hundred entry fees out of weekly tournaments.

If the WPBA can fill their fields through a qualifier system then so can the US Open.

But it takes some organization, some shmoozing, some marketing and work.

How about offering a $10,000 bonus to the POOL ROOM whose qualifier wins the event?

How to pay that $10,000 you ask?

The amount the rooms need to send in for EACH spot is $550. $500 goes to the entry fee for the event and the other $50 goes into the qualifier bonus pool for the room owners.

Now the room owners around the world would have some incentive to put as many horses in the race as they can.
Click to expand...

Stop talking and make it happen John!!!
 
punter said:
Thanks for clearing up the TD question. It's definitely not Jay's or the TD's fault. I was just pointing out that the Galveston tourny got slammed about a raffle and others get a pass (from some). I'm guessing that the Galveston tourny may not happen again and that's a shame.
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Nice twist - the Galveston tourney will not happen because of the advertised money not being paid and the gaffle occurence. Period. It was undone by themselves, not because it was discussed on an internet forum. To make excuses only repeats history.
 
barrybehrman said:
Good Afternoon everyone,

Thank you all for you response to my letter. Any and all criticism is greatly appreciated. I believe that no one is ever too old to learn a new lesson.

I have read each post 3 times and I appreciate your pros and cons on this matter. Your input gives me new insight and helps me to become a stronger person.

Yes, my past 2001-2003 was not so good, but I have been completely clean for 8 years now and dedicated to my business Q-Master Billiards, day and night. I purposely live 3 miles away and only put 5,000 miles a year on my car, as all I am doing is working and resting. But I am just fine with that. Being at my business keeps me on the straight road and away from trouble.

I will be 64 years old in April, and my Doctors tell me that I am in great condition, thank god! My little dog buddy, is always by my side and that surely does help me stay in control. :) I am going to fix and improve the financial aspect of the 35th Annual US Open, October 17-23rd, 2010. And that’s a promise that I will live up to!

As in my letter, every player 1-96 will be paid before they leave Chesapeake. My goal in the pool world is to be at the 50th Annual US Open. I will be 80 at that time, and it truly would be a dream come true for me to be there. So, the only way for that to happen is to first be alive, and secondly, do the right thing by paying everyone on time for the next 15 years. Taking it 1 year at a time.

I want the US Open to grow immensely but again that takes sponsors, inside and out within the billiard industry. I am already speaking with a huge sponsor who is outside of the industry and it sounds promising.

The US Open 9-Ball Championships has never been a money maker of any magnitude for me. It has always been about the players and the wonderful fans who attend year after year. Believe me, I am not a wealthy man, but I hope to be someday soon before I am too old to enjoy the fruits of my labor and love.

I have never been a man who quits. When I was wrestling as a junior in high school, there was a sign in the locker room that I will never forget. It read “a winner never quits and a quitter never wins” and I have tried to live up to that. Yes, along the way I have made a few mistakes. I am only human. But I feel as if I am making fewer mistakes each and every day. Now it is time to repair the US Open beginning with this year, and I will do it!

Again, thank you all for your replies an AZBilliards. My list of ideas is growing and I have a list for everything. Just ask my staff and daughter. My desk is never clean.

Sincerely,
Barry Behrman
Founder and Promoter
US Open 9-Ball Championships
Click to expand...

This was much better than your original press release. Best of luck to you and here is another quote that you might be interested in 'Actions Speak Louder Than Words'. Your words are embedded now in this thread and you can be sure that the pool detectives such as myself will bring them out next year if 1-96 are not paid. Not a threat of any kind, just reality.

I have never met you but watched the stream this year and it is obvious you like to talk. :) I am sure that you will come up with some solid sponsorship for your event.

I am curious, if your event effects BCA player standings, do they give sponsorship to your event and if not, why? They should be first on the list within the industry. Larry Hubbart and Terry Bell also used to go to your tournament and get their start into the pool world because of it. It would be nice if the APA spent some of their millions outside of their own organization just one time.
 
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