Since you asked

[bfdlad]

I know this is a Grady thread but Roy seems tobe taking a little heat here. The biggest problem with Roy that everyone seems to be overlooking is That he is still a big supporter of the Euro Team atthe Mosconi Cup and just can't keep his mouth closed on the subject. Roy you really need to begin supporting the USA, the last few years the USA Team have gone easy on the Euro Team because they wanted it not to become boring with the USA winning every year. I Think youare going to be dissapointed this year. I would loveto sit next to you this year in Vegas if you are planning on going, I just want to say I told you so Thats all.

 

[big_wave_dav]

Hell....Raising 2 kids woulda kept me busy enough.

 

[JB Cases]

I dated a girl for 3 years. She was my first real love. Anyways, we broke up years ago, and she recently got married. I didn't get an invite. I was OK with that.

Grady, I like you, but you're becoming a whiner. Let other people make noise for you. I would be willing to say that there are other players better than you that most likely didn't get an invite either. There are a bunch of German players that run 300s that probably don't appear on the list. Take it for what it is - you didn't get invited to the cool kid's party. Doesn't make you any lesser a player, or affect your legacy. These whining rants of yours, however, are taking its toll on your reputation with me.

Now, go ahead and put me on ignore, too. If you do, it plainly shows how childish you're willing to be over this issue.

This is being rather simplistic. Grady has always been a "whiner" in the sense that he has always been an outspoken person when he feels that something is not right.

He has also been and continues to be a "do-er" haveing promoted or been involved in some of the greatest events in our sport. As he said he has done tapes and written a books and has contributed tons of REAL KNOWLEDGE in the magazine articles (as opposed to the FLUFF instruction by some self-proclaimed instructors)

Why is it that just because a guy speaks out against an unjust situation that he is being childish? Why aren't the "cool kids" the ones who are being childish?

We talk all the time about how pool is in trouble and how we respect the pros and yet here is someone who is not only a professional player with many credentials to his name but he is also a contributor to pool in many other ways that have improved countless other players and some of us can do nothing better than to call him childish?

You and I have disagreed in the past and we obviously do here as well. But just because this is a newsgroup and you can type whatever you want to without someone coming to Canada and punching you doesn't give you the right to be so disrespectful.

This is a man that has done more for pool in his life than most of us could possibly dream about. If he feels slighted then let him and discuss the merits of the situation without insulting him personally.

Your post contributed absolutely nothing of substance to the discussion and in fact it was very childish. You owe Grady a retraction and an apology.

 

[Voodoo Daddy]

Rich R is good people, I know him for yrs and stand by my feelings. Having said that I will continue with;

Grady Mathews should be at "EVERY" event if not for anything more than a draw because as you all should know, Grady will make something happen if challenged. I would figure some 14.1 stiff would get outta line just enough to force Grady out of the chair after tournament rounds are completed.

Its a shame that the promotors cant see past their "friends" list and invite some others is how I will finish this post. Grady, they dont deserve your presense and if they do in fact send you and invitation I hope you turn it down out of principal alone.

Big Steve Ferraro in South Florida

 

[Shawn Armstrong]

This is being rather simplistic. Grady has always been a "whiner" in the sense that he has always been an outspoken person when he feels that something is not right.

He has also been and continues to be a "do-er" haveing promoted or been involved in some of the greatest events in our sport. As he said he has done tapes and written a books and has contributed tons of REAL KNOWLEDGE in the magazine articles (as opposed to the FLUFF instruction by some self-proclaimed instructors)

Why is it that just because a guy speaks out against an unjust situation that he is being childish? Why aren't the "cool kids" the ones who are being childish?

We talk all the time about how pool is in trouble and how we respect the pros and yet here is someone who is not only a professional player with many credentials to his name but he is also a contributor to pool in many other ways that have improved countless other players and some of us can do nothing better than to call him childish?

You and I have disagreed in the past and we obviously do here as well. But just because this is a newsgroup and you can type whatever you want to without someone coming to Canada and punching you doesn't give you the right to be so disrespectful.

This is a man that has done more for pool in his life than most of us could possibly dream about. If he feels slighted then let him and discuss the merits of the situation without insulting him personally.

Your post contributed absolutely nothing of substance to the discussion and in fact it was very childish. You owe Grady a retraction and an apology.

Name ONE other player with credentials that is complaining about the lack of an invite. It's an INVITATIONAL event. I owe Grady the same apology as he owes Rick and Randy. Plain and simple.

Boo hoo - Bobby and Mary are having a party and didn't invite me......

Grady is a fantastic player, and does warrant an invitation, as do many other players. Here's my point. Why are we going to give one spot to someone that has already seen their best game, and is on the decline? And don't bring up Tom Watson. Tom EARNED his spot at the British Open. His exemption expires next year, along with most of his other exemptions. Grady does fantastic commentary, and I don't think any major damage is being done to him financially by him not being allowed to play the event.

If he wants to start his own "World Championship" (may as well be in quotes, because there is really no such thing as a World Champion in pool - not all of the best players play the "World" event), then he should get investors, and put some money together. He could play in it every year. We could let all the legends play together, as there are a bunch of older players that don't get invites to major events anymore.

Poker After Dark had the chance to get Phil Galfond on one of their sessions, but decided to put Antonio Esfandiari in instead, as they thought ratings would be better. Galfond is CLEARLY the better poker player of the two, but didn't get the invite. Was he on the poker forums complaining about it? NO. Were all the poker fans? YES. Grady should let his fans do the talking for him instead of doing it himself. It's like the NBA - I love hearing the fans chant "MVP" during the playoffs at Kobe or LeBron. I have yet to hear one of them yell "MVP" at the crowd.

Feel free to disagree - that's what free speech is all about. And next time you're NEAR Canada, let me know so we can arrange that "punch" you were talking about.

 

[JB Cases]

Name ONE other player with credentials that is complaining about the lack of an invite. It's an INVITATIONAL event. I owe Grady the same apology as he owes Rick and Randy. Plain and simple.

Boo hoo - Bobby and Mary are having a party and didn't invite me......

Grady is a fantastic player, and does warrant an invitation. Here's my point. Why are we going to give one spot to someone that has already seen their best game, and is on the decline? And don't bring up Tom Watson. Tom EARNED his spot at the British Open. His exemption expires next year, along with most of his other exemptions. Grady does fantastic commentary, and I don't think any major damage is being done to him financially by him not being allowed to play the event.

If he wants to start his own "World Championship" (may as well be in quotes, because there is really no such thing as a World Champion in pool - not all of the best players play the "World" event), then he should get investors, and put some money together. He could play in it every year. We could let all the legends play together, as there are a bunch of older players that don't get invites to major events anymore.

Poker After Dark had the chance to get Phil Galfond on one of their sessions, but decided to put Antonio Esfandiari in instead, as they thought ratings would be better. Galfond is CLEARLY the better poker player of the two, but didn't get the invite. Was he on the poker forums complaining about it? NO. Were all the poker fans? YES. Grady should let his fans do the talking for him instead of doing it himself. It's like the NBA - I love hearing the fans chant "MVP" during the playoffs at Kobe or LeBron. I have yet to hear one of them yell "MVP" at the crowd.

Feel free to disagree - that's what free speech is all about. And next time you're NEAR Canada, let me know so we can arrange that "punch" you were talking about.

You are a real jerk. I mean you can really work it well. The comment about the punch was not a threat to you. I'd bet a hundred thousand that you WOULD NOT say the exact same thing to Grady as you said to him in the previous post IF we were all standing around in the poolroom having the same discussion. Why not? Because then you would have the respect for the man that he deserves not because you are afraid he or I or anyone else would punch you.

You don't get what this discussion is about. That's cool, a lot of things are over your head. Maybe Grady does owe people involved an apology, he can be a jerk too sometimes when he is heated about something. But that doesn't change the fact that he was not invited when many lesser players were.

So continue on being classless. Instead of stepping back and saying hey maybe I should give this guy a little respect just because of who he is you instead take the opportunity to bang away at your keyboard and be stupid. By the way, he is Mr. Matthews to you. I will be more than happy to send him up to Canada tomorrow to play you 9-ball, 10-ball, 14.1 or One Pocket for any amount over $10,000. Do you think you can scrape that up? Since MY FRIEND Grady is all washed up you ought to be able to handle him with ease right?

I am issuing a standing INVITATION to you for the 2 Man all around Championship.

Jerk.

 

[Shawn Armstrong]

You are a real jerk. I mean you can really work it well. The comment about the punch was not a threat to you. I'd bet a hundred thousand that you WOULD NOT say the exact same thing to Grady as you said to him in the previous post IF we were all standing around in the poolroom having the same discussion. Why not? Because then you would have the respect for the man that he deserves not because you are afraid he or I or anyone else would punch you.

You don't get what this discussion is about. That's cool, a lot of things are over your head. Maybe Grady does owe people involved an apology, he can be a jerk too sometimes when he is heated about something. But that doesn't change the fact that he was not invited when many lesser players were.

So continue on being classless. Instead of stepping back and saying hey maybe I should give this guy a little respect just because of who he is you instead take the opportunity to bang away at your keyboard and be stupid. By the way, he is Mr. Matthews to you. I will be more than happy to send him up to Canada tomorrow to play you 9-ball, 10-ball, 14.1 or One Pocket for any amount over $10,000. Do you think you can scrape that up? Since MY FRIEND Grady is all washed up you ought to be able to handle him with ease right?

I am issuing a standing INVITATION to you for the 2 Man all around Championship.

Jerk.

You're right, as usual, John. Grady IS a better pool player than me. So, therefore, as a casual fan, and someone who has bought every one of Grady's tapes, I am not entitled to an opinion.

In fact, all invitational events will be looked after herein by John Collins, er, I mean John Barton, and Grady Mathews (you spelled his last name wrong).

Put $10k up on Grady if you want to send him up. I'll play him $10k at what he does for a living. Then he can come work with me in communications test and measurement for $20k. We'll see who wins that. Let's not make pool the end-all, be-all. Grady chose this as his profession. I did not. Tell you what, here's your all around, clown. I'll play Grady at 9-ball, 10-ball and 1-pocket. Race to 5 in each. If I win ONE game, I win the set. $10k per set. THEN, Grady comes out with me and tests 3 fibre optic networks. $10k per network. If he finds the problem before me, he wins. DEAL?

I play at about 50% of his speed in HIS PROFESSION. I could spot him the 1 out and the break in mine. Douche.

 

[Terry Ardeno]

Btw, since no one answered on one of my previous posts. Should Daryl Peach always be invited to every upcoming World 9-ball Championship, because he is a World 9-ball Champion?

Roy,
Yes, I do believe that Daryl Peach and every other previous winner of the World 9 Ball Championship should be invited in all the future W9BC's. It works just great at the U.S. Open and nobody complains. In fact, one of the nice things about that format is the fans get to see the history makers against the current crop.

Here's a list of all the living World 9 Ball Champions for the last 40 years, going back to 1969. (My list goes back further, but 40 years is a fair enough starting point) and my estimates on if they would accept the invite......

Keith Thompson....Retired from pool, full time Ministry. Would not play
Jim Marino....Owns a poolroom in Bridgeville, Pa. Retired from competition.
Jim Rempe....Retired from competition. May decide to play but doubtful.
Billy Incardona....Accu-Stats commentator. I think he would play if invited.
Buddy Hall....Retired from competition. Would not play.
Mike Sigel.....Would play if invited.
Larry Hubbart....Pool businessman....retired from competition.
Allen Hopkins....Would play if invited.
Steve Mizerak.....May he R.I.P.
Dallas West....Retired since the IPT. May play if invited.
Jimmy Reid....Health issues are pressing right now. Probably wouldn't play.
Nick Varner.... Into pool related business ventures. May accept invitation.
Ray Martin...Retired. Doubtful he would play if invited.
Earl Strickland...Would play
Johnny Archer...Would play
Fong Pang Chao...Depends on the venue is but most likey would play.
Takeshi Okumura...Semi-retired...May accept invite.
Oliver Ortmann....Would play
Ralf Souquet....Would play
Rudolfo Luat...Would play
Kunihiko Takahashi....Would play
Efren Reyes....Would play
Mika Immonen...Would play
Thorsten Hohmann...Would play
Alex Pagulayan....Would play
Chia-Ching Wu....Would play
Ronnie Alcano...Would play
Daryl Peach....Would play.


Now, please bear in mind that these are my own guestimates on who would accept or not. I do, however, feel it is a fairly accurate list. So....

*Who would not want to watch a tournament that included this group of players....Billy Incardona, Mike Sigel, Allen Hopkins, Nick Varner, Earl Strickland, Johnny Archer, Fong Pang Chao, Oliver Ortmann, Ralf Souquet,
Rudolfo Luat, Kunihiko Takahashi, Efren Reyes, Mika Immonen, Thorsten Hohmann, Alex Pagulayan, Chia-Ching Wu, Ronnie Alcano and Daryl Peach?

How many promoters would LOVE to advertise THAT line up in the tournament they were hosting???? Would that really be so bad to have all the living and willing former players compete nowadays? Is pool so top loaded with talent nowadays that fans all over are clamoring for standing room only viewing at these tournaments?

It would be great to invite the former winners.

By the way, Grady's "specialty" is One Pocket. However, let it be known that in 14.1 his high run, with witnesses is 326. Has Charlie Williams run half of that?

Danny DiLiberto never won the World 14.1 Championship. 2nd place in many major 14.1 tourneys, including both the 1968 and 1972 U.S. Open 14.1 Championships. Pete Margo, Dick Lane, Johnny Ervolino and a slew of other great players never won the event, but they sure did add luster and prestige to the tournament.

I also want to go on the record and state here that Roy Steffensen has been my friend on these forums and I consider him as someone who really, really does love pool and wants to see it grow. We may disagree on this subject, but that's what makes these type debates fun.

Also, Manwon and JB Cases (post #46 & 56) have had some of their best posts ever in this thread. GREAT points from both of them.

 

[Shawn Armstrong]

To me, ANYTHING that is labelled as a "World Championship" should mean that the field isn't limited to a certain number of people. To call yourself a World Champ means you should have to go through the field of anyone that wants to compete. The WSOP is a great event - ANYONE can put up the money and play in it. JB is getting on me because I am "disrespecting" Grady. I am doing no such thing. If you don't get an invite to an invitational event a few years running, stop crying about it year after year. There are politics everywhere - leagues, organizations, churches, businesses. Deal with it.

Now, should Grady be allowed to play any event he wants? YES. If he wants to put up the entry fees, he should be allowed to compete in any event he wants. Pool is a small enough pond that I have yet to see a field so large at a tourney, that they had to turn away entrants. Every event in our little pool world should be an open entry. THEN we would see the world's best get to play. How cool would it be for a good player to get to match up against some of the world's best? Awesome.

If someone wants to have an invitational party, let them. As the organizers and fundraisers, it's their RIGHT. No one has any place telling a host who they should and should not invite to their party. You may not like the attendees list, but they're financing the party.

 

[jay helfert]

So because I am an amateur player I have no right to voice my opinions?

I don't understand why it is so important for you to know what I have done for pro-billiards or AZ Billiards, but I'll give it a shot.

I have been vice-president of the Norwegian Pool Federation.

I have been national-coach for the Norwegian Youth Team. Been their manager on the European Youth Championship in Ukraine. I have been manager of the Norwegian Men and Women when playing in Brandenburg, Germany and in Chezk Republic.

I have owned Norway's biggest poolhall, the ElbowRoom, with 22 Brunswick Gold Crown IV. A room that Mika Immonen, Oliver Ortmann, Niels Feijen and Tony Drago, to name a few, called one of the most beautiful poolrooms they have ever been in.

I have put on the Norwgian 9-ball Challenge, first time won by Mika Immonen 9-4 over Oliver Ortmann ($ 10,000 in first pice). This tournament was aired live on Norwegian TV btw, and available on ppv on internet through the website of the Norwegian tv-channel. 28 matches were also sent live on betandwin.com, so people could bet on the outcome of the matches. The second Norwegian 9-ball Challenge was won by another player from Finland, Markus Juva.

I have put on the Scandinavian 8-ball Battle, won by Niels Feijen ($ 8000) over Artem Koshovyy. Artem beat Ralf Souquet in a very exciting semifinal, which people could luckily watch live on betandwin.com. Here we also had a special 9-ball event, won by Roberto Gomez from Philippines.

I managed to get the Norwegian 9-ball Championship on TV (not live). I helped the TV-company with editing and the commentary for this, since they had never done it before. I also managed to get an inivitational 9-ball event on tv in Norway, staring Hohmann, Chamat, Nick van den Berg etc. Won by Norwegian Roger Lysholm.

I've been tournament director for tournaments with almost 200 players.

I put on the first Norwegian Team Cup, broadcasted on TV, won by Jasmin Ouschan and Line Kjorsvik.

I have travelled to compete at many Eurotours, tournaments in Philippines and also the DCC. I normally write summaries/reports from my trips here on AZ, and I believe that many readers appreciate them.

I have paid hotelrooms for many pro-players at events over the year, and I always do my best to support the players rights when it comes to incidents like not being payed by the promoter. Since you checked my blog you can read back to January, and notice that I was the FIRST to publish that Chia Ching Wu was still unpaid from the World Ten Ball Championship.

I have managed to finish 3rd and 5th in Norwegian Championships, after I made my goal of becoming a Norwegian Champion. I have had the pleasure of playing Efren Reyes, Ralf Souquet, Thorsten Hohmann, Nick van den Berg, Niels Feijen, Roberto Gomez, Jasmin Ouschan etc., and I have the pleasure of calling them friends.

Remember that I have only been involved in pool for 7 years, and that I am 28 years old. I think it's not that bad.

I could go on and on, but I don't see the point. In fact, I regret why I even wrote this at all, because it shouldn't matter.

People should be allowed to have opinions no matter what they have done in pool.

Is that all?? Quit stallin' and do something! :thumbup:

Not bad for a young'un. Except you never played me yet. I think you ducked me in the PI when I wanted to play some One Hole or Banks. You resorted to making multiple side bets with me and winning nearly every one. Dammit! I just can't seem to pick a winner with you.

Interesting fact Roy, when I was your age (28) I owned my first poolroom in Bakersfield. The Cue Ball also had 22 tables and many players said it was the best poolroom on the West Coast (in the 70's). I played everybody that walked in the door back then, and even beat a few of them.

My first pool tournament was in 1972 at the Stardust. I made the money (top 24) in One Pocket. My best match was defeating Jimmy Fusco, the reigning Eastern States champion. I got Lisciotti too in that one. I can't play a lick anymore and no one invites me to anything except dinner.

 

[Terry Ardeno]

Every event in our little pool world should be an open entry. THEN we would see the world's best get to play. How cool would it be for a good player to get to match up against some of the world's best? Awesome.

Good post Shawn, especially about how every tournament should be an open entry. I like that idea a lot and I'd bet that most every else does as well. As JB mentioned, it's not 'fair" to invite far less accomplished players and then pick and chose who gets an invite or not.

But like you said, the promoters and orginizers do have that right. It just leaves a bad taste to see politics preventing the best show possible for the fans.

 

[Shawn Armstrong]

But like you said, the promoters and orginizers do have that right. It just leaves a bad taste to see politics preventing the best show possible for the fans.

Amen, brother. Amen.

 

[Klink]

Changing of the Gaurd?

I realize it's hard for some of us to accept the fact that at some point the time comes for the changing of the guard.

Wow what a change. I hope nobody tries to compare Charlie Williams to Grady.

 

[Terry Ardeno]

My best match was defeating Jimmy Fusco, the reigning Eastern States champion. I got Lisciotti too in that one. I can't play a lick anymore and no one invites me to anything except dinner.

Jay, did you know that Pat Fleming won the 1979 Eastern States 14.1?
And you ALWAYS have an open invitation to breakfast, brunch or lunch as well as supper at my house!

 

[jay helfert]

Jay, did you know that Pat Fleming won the 1979 Eastern States 14.1?
And you ALWAYS have an open invitation to breakfast, brunch or lunch as well as supper at my house!

Fleming was a damn good player, everyone knew that. Lucky for them, he retired early to record matches, and make a living. :smile:

I'm on my way out the door as we speak. I'll be on your doorstep in the morning. I like cereal for breakfast, a roast beef sandwich for lunch and chicken for dinner.

 

[Grady]

More interesting fodder

Lots of things about this event suck. For starters, if I ever do do an invitational or a seeded affair, the meeting(s) to decide who gets what would be recorded and available to anybody. Next, am I the only one who finds it smelly that Jasmin advanced with a two and three record last year? I would have a panel of real experts to do the invites and I would make sure that I got no preferencial treatment.
This thing stinks to high heaven in many ways and I'm saddened that more cue sports lovers aren't really angry.
If I had to, and honestly, what's the point here, I can prove that I was badly discriminated against.

 

[Shawn Armstrong]

Lots of things about this event suck. For starters, if I ever do do an invitational or a seeded affair, the meeting(s) to decide who gets what would be recorded and available to anybody. Next, am I the only one who finds it smelly that Jasmin advanced with a two and three record last year? I would have a panel of real experts to do the invites and I would make sure that I got no preferencial treatment.
This thing stinks to high heaven in many ways and I'm saddened that more cue sports lovers aren't really angry.
If I had to, and honestly, what's the point here, I can prove that I was badly discriminated against.

Grady, I don't disagree. This happens in the business world all the time. People get passed over for promotions because the boss' son just graduated from school and needs a job. They are the promoters, so it is their right to invite who they want. Does it stink? Yes. Can anything be done about it? How about not insulting the guys that guard the front door? I would love it if someone would put together a World Championship with OPEN ENTRY. EVERYONE should be able to compete at a World Championship. This event may as well be called the "DP Invitational 14.1 Championships", and they could invite Charles Barkley and Hank Haney to the event.

Yes, discrimination stinks, but it is a fact of life. It happened to me today. The cute girl beside me got chosen first in line at the Starbucks by the young man at the counter. Am I going to write a letter to Starbucks? Nope. In the cosmic scheme of things, it's small potatoes. If I were you, I'd settle for being perhaps the best teacher and commentary guy on the planet, and let them have their little tournament. We all know who should and shouldn't be there. Keep your head up, and realize the pool world loves you. Three people do not speak for all of us.

 

[cueman]

Roy,
Yes, I do believe that Daryl Peach and every other previous winner of the World 9 Ball Championship should be invited in all the future W9BC's. It works just great at the U.S. Open and nobody complains. In fact, one of the nice things about that format is the fans get to see the history makers against the current crop.

Here's a list of all the living World 9 Ball Champions for the last 40 years, going back to 1969. (My list goes back further, but 40 years is a fair enough starting point) and my estimates on if they would accept the invite......

Keith Thompson....Retired from pool, full time Ministry. Would not play
Jim Marino....Owns a poolroom in Bridgeville, Pa. Retired from competition.
Jim Rempe....Retired from competition. May decide to play but doubtful.
Billy Incardona....Accu-Stats commentator. I think he would play if invited.
Buddy Hall....Retired from competition. Would not play.
Mike Sigel.....Would play if invited.
Larry Hubbart....Pool businessman....retired from competition.
Allen Hopkins....Would play if invited.
Steve Mizerak.....May he R.I.P.
Dallas West....Retired since the IPT. May play if invited.
Jimmy Reid....Health issues are pressing right now. Probably wouldn't play.
Nick Varner.... Into pool related business ventures. May accept invitation.
Ray Martin...Retired. Doubtful he would play if invited.
Earl Strickland...Would play
Johnny Archer...Would play
Fong Pang Chao...Depends on the venue is but most likey would play.
Takeshi Okumura...Semi-retired...May accept invite.
Oliver Ortmann....Would play
Ralf Souquet....Would play
Rudolfo Luat...Would play
Kunihiko Takahashi....Would play
Efren Reyes....Would play
Mika Immonen...Would play
Thorsten Hohmann...Would play
Alex Pagulayan....Would play
Chia-Ching Wu....Would play
Ronnie Alcano...Would play
Daryl Peach....Would play.


Now, please bear in mind that these are my own guestimates on who would accept or not. I do, however, feel it is a fairly accurate list. So....

*Who would not want to watch a tournament that included this group of players....Billy Incardona, Mike Sigel, Allen Hopkins, Nick Varner, Earl Strickland, Johnny Archer, Fong Pang Chao, Oliver Ortmann, Ralf Souquet,
Rudolfo Luat, Kunihiko Takahashi, Efren Reyes, Mika Immonen, Thorsten Hohmann, Alex Pagulayan, Chia-Ching Wu, Ronnie Alcano and Daryl Peach?

How many promoters would LOVE to advertise THAT line up in the tournament they were hosting???? Would that really be so bad to have all the living and willing former players compete nowadays? Is pool so top loaded with talent nowadays that fans all over are clamoring for standing room only viewing at these tournaments?

It would be great to invite the former winners.

By the way, Grady's "specialty" is One Pocket. However, let it be known that in 14.1 his high run, with witnesses is 326. Has Charlie Williams run half of that?

Danny DiLiberto never won the World 14.1 Championship. 2nd place in many major 14.1 tourneys, including both the 1968 and 1972 U.S. Open 14.1 Championships. Pete Margo, Dick Lane, Johnny Ervolino and a slew of other great players never won the event, but they sure did add luster and prestige to the tournament.

I also want to go on the record and state here that Roy Steffensen has been my friend on these forums and I consider him as someone who really, really does love pool and wants to see it grow. We may disagree on this subject, but that's what makes these type debates fun.

Also, Manwon and JB Cases (post #46 & 56) have had some of their best posts ever in this thread. GREAT points from both of them.

I guess my memory may not be what it used to be, but I thought Danny won the 14.1 World Championship in Vegas that Grady put on in the Mid 90's.

 

[uwate]

So because I am an amateur player I have no right to voice my opinions?

I don't understand why it is so important for you to know what I have done for pro-billiards or AZ Billiards, but I'll give it a shot.

I have been vice-president of the Norwegian Pool Federation.

I have been national-coach for the Norwegian Youth Team. Been their manager on the European Youth Championship in Ukraine. I have been manager of the Norwegian Men and Women when playing in Brandenburg, Germany and in Chezk Republic.

I have owned Norway's biggest poolhall, the ElbowRoom, with 22 Brunswick Gold Crown IV. A room that Mika Immonen, Oliver Ortmann, Niels Feijen and Tony Drago, to name a few, called one of the most beautiful poolrooms they have ever been in.

I have put on the Norwgian 9-ball Challenge, first time won by Mika Immonen 9-4 over Oliver Ortmann ($ 10,000 in first pice). This tournament was aired live on Norwegian TV btw, and available on ppv on internet through the website of the Norwegian tv-channel. 28 matches were also sent live on betandwin.com, so people could bet on the outcome of the matches. The second Norwegian 9-ball Challenge was won by another player from Finland, Markus Juva.

I have put on the Scandinavian 8-ball Battle, won by Niels Feijen ($ 8000) over Artem Koshovyy. Artem beat Ralf Souquet in a very exciting semifinal, which people could luckily watch live on betandwin.com. Here we also had a special 9-ball event, won by Roberto Gomez from Philippines.

I managed to get the Norwegian 9-ball Championship on TV (not live). I helped the TV-company with editing and the commentary for this, since they had never done it before. I also managed to get an inivitational 9-ball event on tv in Norway, staring Hohmann, Chamat, Nick van den Berg etc. Won by Norwegian Roger Lysholm.

I've been tournament director for tournaments with almost 200 players.

I put on the first Norwegian Team Cup, broadcasted on TV, won by Jasmin Ouschan and Line Kjorsvik.

I have travelled to compete at many Eurotours, tournaments in Philippines and also the DCC. I normally write summaries/reports from my trips here on AZ, and I believe that many readers appreciate them.

I have paid hotelrooms for many pro-players at events over the year, and I always do my best to support the players rights when it comes to incidents like not being payed by the promoter. Since you checked my blog you can read back to January, and notice that I was the FIRST to publish that Chia Ching Wu was still unpaid from the World Ten Ball Championship.

I have managed to finish 3rd and 5th in Norwegian Championships, after I made my goal of becoming a Norwegian Champion. I have had the pleasure of playing Efren Reyes, Ralf Souquet, Thorsten Hohmann, Nick van den Berg, Niels Feijen, Roberto Gomez, Jasmin Ouschan etc., and I have the pleasure of calling them friends.

Remember that I have only been involved in pool for 7 years, and that I am 28 years old. I think it's not that bad.

I could go on and on, but I don't see the point. In fact, I regret why I even wrote this at all, because it shouldn't matter.

People should be allowed to have opinions no matter what they have done in pool.

In 25 years, if the reigning Norwegian pool organization basically says "Pffft what have you done for pool in Norway?... your not invited to our party" would you not feel offended? I guarantee you that Grady has done as much for pool in the USA as you have done in Norway.

 

[Rich R.]

Rich,

Do you feel that someone with far less - essentially no qualifications at all in 14.1 or otherwise - who can't run 50 balls on their best day should receive and invitation to a 14.1 World Championship?

No, I do not.

Do you feel that someone who was a great player back in the day but who has never done much in the pool world beyond win a few big events here and there and who has not been active in 20 years should receive an invite?

No, I do not.

Because while I might agree with you on the merits of INVITING active players who are current champions over everyone else I have to ask you FLAT OUT where you stand on the FACT that in the 14.1 World Championships the above two categories of players received invites and Grady did not.

Putting politics aside - how do you feel about this?

John, I hate jumping back into a thread after saying I was done, but I think your questions deserved an answer.

What you are really asking is, do I agree with the way Dragon Promotions is running this world championship and my answer is a resounding NO. However, that is a different topic for a different thread.

And, before you ask, NO, I do not have all of the answers. I just don't like the way it is currently being done. There has to be a better way.

The goal should be to get the best possible players currently available and put them in a well run tournament, period. There should be no favoritism for past champs, industry insiders or living legends.