Sending a AzB poster to the US Open

[hustlefinger]

By a show of hands, how many people would be willing to donate 25 bucks towards an AzBilliards.com forum member/player to compete in the US Open 9-Ball Championship (9/6/04 to 6/12/04)? Basically donating would give posters voting rights towards selecting a nominee.

Some questions & suggestions:

1. Should contestants provide a resume of verifiable playing experience?
a. IMO, yes. At least provide a history of some kind and possibly some info (essay form) as to why they wish to compete in the US Open.

2. How should voters vote and pay?
a. I don’t have a good answer for this.

3. How does the winner receive payment?
a. Don’t know this either.

4. How does the entry fee and hotel room get reserved and paid for?
a. Don’t have a firm answer on this but I’m going to check it out.

5. How is air fair arranged if needed?
a. Hmmmm, …… I don’t know.

6. How will the winner be selected and what criteria should be used?
a. The most number of votes that meet whatever criteria the forum members come up with.

7. What would be the deadline for contestant entry and announcing the winner?
a. Contestant entry should be closed out after a few weeks, and voting should end probably by mid July. That means a full month of practice to prepare.

8. What will the winner do in return for the forum?
a. My suggestion, the AzB player rep should give a report (the more colorful the better) of the events that took place during the US Open. Be willing to advertise and promote AzBilliards at the Open. And a possible autographed picture (?) given to the supporters.

Any other questions or ideas.

Rick

P.S. I ‘ll be playing in a tourney this weekend, so I probably won’t get a chance to view the board until Monday.

 

[Wally in Cincy]

1. Should contestants provide a resume of verifiable playing experience?
a. IMO, yes. At least provide a history of some kind and possibly some info (essay form) as to why they wish to compete in the US Open..

This is a must. Coming on here and claiming you ran 7 racks of 9-ball is one thing, but braggadocio does not cost anybody their hard-earned cash.

2. How should voters vote and pay?
a. I don’t have a good answer for this.

.

I think this could be done thru a pay-pal account. I do not, however, know that much about it.

4. How does the entry fee and hotel room get reserved and paid for?
a. Don’t have a firm answer on this but I’m going to check it out.

5. How is air fair arranged if needed?
a. Hmmmm, …… I don’t know.

.

I don't see that as a huge problem.

6. How will the winner be selected and what criteria should be used?
a. The most number of votes that meet whatever criteria the forum members come up with.

.

A poll of AZB members would be the best way. IMO

8. What will the winner do in return for the forum?
a. My suggestion, the AzB player rep should give a report (the more colorful the better) of the events that took place during the US Open. Be willing to advertise and promote AzBilliards at the Open. And a possible autographed picture (?) given to the supporters.

.

sounds more than fair to me

 

[frankncali]

I dont think it would be that hard to figure out the details.
AZBilliards has a good rep and most people would not feel they
were getting cheated. Someone from AZ should handle the money
and the arrangements for travel and entry.
I think only the people that pay the money should have a say in who the
person is and they should be very objective in picking. There are alot of
people out there that dont no all the players and who is who.

The player should wear AZ billiard shirts and promote the site. I dont think
it would be that hard to get an article or two about the sponsorship into
a few publications. I would enjoy the write ups alot.

Paypal is easy and probably a good option.

I guess members would nominate a person and then the list would then go through a narrowing process until there is one.

Maybe the member that fork up the money would get an AZBilliard t-shirt
or a small logo to put on their case.

With the large entry fee I am not sure if there would be enough interest at $25. Maybe a player that attending anyway and the expenses could be sponsored or a partial sponsorship.

 

[Melissa Herndon]

I voted twice. Once to vote yes, and once because I just love the "Rick you're an idiot" option!

Just kidding! I only voted yes. And I think it this is a very nice idea. This sport can be expensive, and I think it's great that the "village" might come together to support a worthy participant.

I remember playing in one of my very first qualifiers. There was a girl there who had come with some friends. She wanted to play, but didn't have the cash. There were many girls who knew her...and they knew she had fallen on some hard times. A bunch of people chipped in $5 each in order to pay her $50 entry fee. She didn't win the qualifier, but she placed high enough to make some money...and she paid everyone back even though they didn't ask her to. It was neat....because until that moment, I had only really experienced the cutthroat side of pool. It made me realize there were players who would support each other without playing any kind of angles.

Good luck on putting this together if that is your intention!

Melissa Herndon

 

[satman]

I just want to say that without knowing the real names of those who post here at this time that Keith mccready is my first pick. I know it's not time to vote, but he is a proven champion. Whether he'll go for it, who knows. Sam

 

[Williebetmore]

I voted yes, lets make sure there is at least one serious pool afficionado in the tournament.

 

[Rude Dog]

This is a great idea! Some lucky player from here has a chance to play in the U.S. Open for the first and maybe only time in his life.

 

[Jimmy M.]

I'm grateful that someone mentioned my name as one of the people to possibly send, but there are a number of people here that would be good choices. Keith, for starters, and for those of you who don't know, Rude Dog was a hell of a player a while back, and I'm sure he'll play that speed again once he gets back to playing against good players. He'd be a good player to send also.

 

[Joseph Cues]

I vote for Jimmy M.
25 bucks? Sheeash!
I'll get a little more but Jimmy will have to wear some company/product logo in his shirt.

 

[know-nada]

If I was going to donate $25 just for s__ts and giggles I would stick Howerton in the Open - I mean who deserves it more than that guy - I have never seen anyone work so hard for FREE! (more or less). Stick him in the open or let him pick!

 

[Rude Dog]

I'm grateful that someone mentioned my name as one of the people to possibly send, but there are a number of people here that would be good choices. Keith, for starters, and for those of you who don't know, Rude Dog was a hell of a player a while back, and I'm sure he'll play that speed again once he gets back to playing against good players. He'd be a good player to send also.

My bags are packed! What time is my first match? I don't care who I'm playing, just tell me which table. Thanks Jimmy, that was too cool of you to throw that in there.

 

[pfduser]

I voted yes and my pick just right off the top of my head whould be Keith.This sounds like a great plan guys!

 

[Wally in Cincy]

$700 and rising.

Keith McCready has not posted since 5-28. He will have to come back to be eligible .

Hope everything is OK with him.

 

[hustlefinger]

This is a must. Coming on here and claiming you ran 7 racks of 9-ball is one thing, but braggadocio does not cost anybody their hard-earned cash.

I think this could be done thru a pay-pal account. I do not, however, know that much about it.

I don't see that as a huge problem.

A poll of AZB members would be the best way. IMO

sounds more than fair to me

Hello Wally and thanks for the input.

So far it doesn’t seem to have the support I was hoping for, I’d say we need close to 100 yes’s to really make this happen.

Rick

 

[hustlefinger]

I voted twice. Once to vote yes, and once because I just love the "Rick you're an idiot" option!

Melissa, I’d be disappointed if nobody voted for the third option. But I’m pleased that only 16% (so far) have voted and feel this way. Normally, I receive a much higher percentage after personal encounters.

Rick

 

[hustlefinger]

Paypal is easy and probably a good option.

After looking at their site, I think setting up an account and sending money to the “chosen one” would be fairly simple.

Maybe the member that fork up the money would get an AZBilliard t-shirt or a small logo to put on their case.

Does AZB have a logo and/or shirt design?

With the large entry fee I am not sure if there would be enough interest at $25. Maybe a player that attending anyway and the expenses could be sponsored or a partial sponsorship.

This is what I'm waiting to see, if in fact there is enough interest.

Rick

 

[hustlefinger]

I'm grateful that someone mentioned my name as one of the people to possibly send, but there are a number of people here that would be good choices. Keith, for starters, and for those of you who don't know, Rude Dog was a hell of a player a while back, and I'm sure he'll play that speed again once he gets back to playing against good players. He'd be a good player to send also.

And I think you'd be one of those good choices. Sure we could pick Keith, that would be fine by me. But I think (like Rude Dog said) choosing someone who wouldn’t normally get the chance to go would be kinda cool.

Rick

 

[rayjay]

I'm in. Sounds like several good choices...how 'bout Melissa?

 

[Kerry Impson]

I don't think women are allowed to play in Behrman's U.S. Open, alas. Nice try, though!

 

[azhousepro]

Nope, women are not allowed to play in the Open.

Speaking of the women, it would be cheaper for us to put together something to pay expenses for a lady to go to a WPBA event.

Just a thought.

Mike