this assessment i think is spot on. i think barry expects the players to kind of act like "well, you love pool right - you want to support the sport - then support the us open by agreeing to wait for your paycheck for possibly several months - or in the case of Mika Immonen, I believe in the runout radio show Rodney Morris said that Mika had still not been paid for the masters 10-ball win - so I mean - yes the players are potentially engaging in a career that has financial risks - in terms of potentially not making a whole lot of money, but to say "well, you love the sport, then do this..." that is where Barry has been coming from, and the reality is, it is a business. so the players are workers (who love what they do) and they deserve to be paid in a timely manner. If Barry has to change some of the extravagant things in order to make the situation more doable in terms of paying the players, people will understand that. However, to use the "you love pool so detriment yourself" - I don't think so.
Save Barry Behrman's US Open events
- Thread starter justnum
- Start date
I see the title of the thread but reading your post it really sounds like you want to help the ABP get its foot out of its mouth, save face, and prevent its own collapse. Helping Barry would simply be a matter of supporting this year's Open anyway one can, either by entering, attending the event, or buying some Open apparel online.
Look, let's just hope it works out for everyone concerned.
While I completely understand that the players want to be paid in a timely fashion, and they are perfectly within their rights to feel that way, BUT...
I don't see any other guys besides BB willing to go through the headache of hosting a tournament like the Open. The ABP players are only hurting themselves and the game by refusing to participate.
Of all the rich people in this country, exactly 0% of them are willing to contribute to pool in any meaningful way. Barry seems like just another regular guy who is doing SOMETHING to promote professional pool.
Barry is obviously not making money by hosting tourneys. Only the players make money. Why are pro pool players so willing to shoot themselves in the foot by blacklisting one of the few people who is on their side?
I don't see any other guys besides BB willing to go through the headache of hosting a tournament like the Open. The ABP players are only hurting themselves and the game by refusing to participate.
Of all the rich people in this country, exactly 0% of them are willing to contribute to pool in any meaningful way. Barry seems like just another regular guy who is doing SOMETHING to promote professional pool.
Barry is obviously not making money by hosting tourneys. Only the players make money. Why are pro pool players so willing to shoot themselves in the foot by blacklisting one of the few people who is on their side?
If the ABP get what they want, and the US Open collapses due to their lack of participation, who wins?
I have been going to the Open for many years now. I am not taking sides on this issue I have seen both the players and Barry try and make this event bigger and profitable. Neither has done a good job and neither shows that they will attempt to make it a prestigious event it deserves. Both side need to sit down and talk to one another and figure this out. It isn't difficult it;s just a matter of swallowing some pride ad working to make this event go forward. In 5 years you will see a huge difference in the amount of vendors and spectators.
I will say though, Barry has IMO made a meaningful attempt while the player have not. I go back to 96 I believe when the open was held at the Pavilion and the pro's were mocking and loudly loudly making fun of the amateurs. It was embarrassing. Why would corporations or people want to get involved to back the players. I am just trying to play devils advocate here. I just don't see either side doing what is best to push this forward but trying to keep the status quo other than the players which would be happy with posted funds.
I will say though, Barry has IMO made a meaningful attempt while the player have not. I go back to 96 I believe when the open was held at the Pavilion and the pro's were mocking and loudly loudly making fun of the amateurs. It was embarrassing. Why would corporations or people want to get involved to back the players. I am just trying to play devils advocate here. I just don't see either side doing what is best to push this forward but trying to keep the status quo other than the players which would be happy with posted funds.