(Edited)
I wish you much success with the new venture and I am rooting for it to succeed for the benefit of our sport.
Yours Truly,
Mj
UN-Edited Version...
Mark Griffin said:
I am on the currently running episode of run-out-radio. I have received a fair amount of e-mails from that. But would appreciate comments on what I said. Please make constructive criticism and try to KEEP ON TOPIC.
This has the basics of the PLAN for funding a pro series of events. I am working on the details and will need all the help I can get.
I am still trying to accumulate the names and contact info on the top 500-1000 players - men & women.
More info will be coming - but it is a month or so away. This is not going to be an easy deal so please be patient.
Mark Griffin
markg@playbca.com
702-719-7665 work
Originally posted on 06-02-2008, 12:54 AM
Mark, you invited comments about your interview here on the forums so here are mine.
You state in your Runoutradio interview that:
1. "Nobody else stepped up to do it" - "I just don't see anybody else doing it"
2. "Money paid back on the local level"
3. "A clear line from amateur to pro"
4. "You need everyone to get behind you on this"
5. "Sanctioning other events"
6. "No other player association"
7. "The system is already in place"
8. "Six events"
9. "Rankings for WPA system"
10. "I'll sell my car or sell my Harley"
Re. #1: "Nobody else stepped up to do it" - "I just don't see anybody else doing it" - Hmmm, have you ever heard of the ATS ? Basically, the proposal that I made to the BCA Board of Directors in Phoenix, AZ last February that you were in attendance at. I put a vague copy on May 9th of that proposal here on AZ. To help refresh your memory the link is here:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=98527&highlight=professional+status
Re. #2: "Money paid back on the local level" - As I stated many times about the ATS, the regional tour money will still be paid back on a local level.
Re: #3: "A clear line from amateur to pro" - That sure sounds familiar. In fact it sounds like: Fundamental Purposes Of This Proposed ATS System A: To provide a clear path for all players to earn professional status in North America and to advance to the WPA events through the Associated Tour System as the governing body of cue sports in North America. As found here:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=98527&highlight=professional+status
Re: #4: "You need everyone to get behind you on this" - Sounds familiar again. As in: Fundamental Purposes Of This Proposed ATS System D: To inspire everyone in the billiard community to support the Associated Tour System and its members. Again, as found here:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=98527&highlight=professional+status
Re: #5: "Sanctioning other events" - Again, same as the ATS was set up to do. We discussed this several times at the board meeting on how the US Open, the Reno events or even Allen Hopkins events could be sanctioned through the ATS system.
Re: #6: "No other player association" - Again at the BCA board of directors meeting you asked me how the ATS would work with the UPA. I said it wouldn't bow down to any association like the UPA and if the players didn't want to play there would be many more waiting in line.
Re: #7: "The system is already in place" - You asked me how I would get all the systems in place. I told you the system was already in place with the existing regional tours.
Re: #8: "Six events" - Hmmm, Six Events. Something just like: The Associated Tour System (ATS), through the Viking, Joss and Tiger tours are seeking a total of 6 billiard room locations to host our $20,000 added ATS events. As seen here posted on May 10th, 2008:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=98666&highlight=Room+Owners
Re: #9: "Rankings for WPA system" - And again, Fundamental Purposes Of This Proposed ATS System, Article A:
Player rankings from their participation in the ATS US Pro Tour will then allow them to move forward and participate as the North American contingents in WPA events.
Re: #10 "I'll sell my car or sell my Harley" - Wow Mark,,,, this one really hit home! You talk about promoters saying "I'll sell my car or sell my Harley". It reminds me of when I told you I didn't have as much funding as I needed but I would be willing to sell my Mustang and my Harley to get the start-up money to make this happen because I believe in a system like this that much and would be willing to put everyting I have on the line to make it work.
Honestly Mark, I love the fact that you are throwing money into the pro system but when you make the claims and statements in that interview that make it sound like, YOU HAVE THIS GREAT NEW IDEA and "NOBODY ELSE HAS STEPPED UP TO DO IT". And then I see soo many parallels to what I proposed and talked to you about, it makes me sick. Literally, it turns my stomach. Every night I think about the last 5 years I have worked on this system and how someone else that I have talked to and worked with on this system over these same years and had many recent conversations with about becoming a part of the ATS system, confided in and tried to have work with me on the ATS system is using the same fundamentals from the system that I put soo much hard work into toward their new system and making claims that they came up with this idea, well, it makes me want to.......grrrrrrr.
Anyway, I wish you much success with the new venture and I am rooting for it to succeed for the benefit of our sport.
Yours Truly,
Mj
UPDATE: Mark G. It appears that you have no morals at all. Your latest stunts of sending emails to my sponsors and to web site editors is exactly what you are known for, Back Room Politics with a Run and Hide little weasel attitude. Everyone "on the in" knows what you have done and who you are and how individuals with your record should be treated. I have remained silent and kept much of this under wraps for way too long but the next round will shine the light on you. Unfortunately the pro's mind you a little because of your monetary influence but I assure you they are talking. Especially about how you got some ideas that you call your own.
Good day.
) -- sounds exciting and ambitious. Regarding amassing a list of the top 500-1000 names / email addresses -- probably the most practical way to do this is to stand up your Website sooner than later, with all the basic info laid out about the plan, plus a mechanism for folks to register with, and express their interest. Data collected could include:
