Widen the pockets and reduce the field. I can live with the location, etc.
SJM at the 2023 Derby City Catastrophe
- Thread starter sjm
- Start date
Best post in the thread, LOL. Your favorite clown, Stu
It's very simple. The stick is straight and overdesigned for the task of shooting. At pool table distances, the balls stay at a constant size all the way through the aperture. Tight is good. Pool chops need to evolve.
shades of Bugsy Sigel...
No, I don't think this event ever had WPA sanctioning, and I don't think it does even now. Last year, however, it became a Matchroom Rankings event and got its best ever field, with Grabe, Sanchez-Ruiz, Ouschan, Lechner, Alcaide and some others attending their first Derby.
This year, that didn't happen because of the February 1 WPC in Poland. Few of the Europe-based players had the energy to go from Europe to Louisville and then to Poland. The only two I can think of that did so were Josh Filler and Elliot Sanderson.
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I have heard that name before, wasn't he the guy that invented invisalign's ?
Fans are trying to support the game. By default support the players and vendors!
Several wealthy fans have the ability to make another event that is better to the players and fans.
Expo / derby get massive turnouts and out grow their venues. But, players still get crumbs despite being one of the most entertaining sporting events, filled with drama.
Monetization of pool has led us to where we are now! Events that don't care about the fans / players / integrity of the event! Why care when money is flowing in and you got pool by the balls?
Your comments echo this sentiment very clearly.
I just don't see a way out! Every business starts out trying to grow pool and money gets in the equation. Pba and Don Mackey / apa pool league and bca pool league/ expo / derby all successful and very little make it to the players every time.
Kd
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I think Greg Sullivan, as founder of Derby City Classic (DCC), has always wanted this to be the pool mecca of the year, and I know for a fact that he does want players of all caliber to attend. He offers free rooms and entry fees to some prod as an incentive in hopes he will have an abundance of cool pool peeps at the event for the fans.
Sullivan tried to grow the Derby City Classic in Tunica on summer and have a a summer DCC. but Bonus Ball came to the fore, and the pros, the very ones who had committed to Greg to attend Tunica, crawfished on their affirmation and elected to be in Vegas for the now-defunct Bonus Ball. In my opinion, it hurt Greg when this happened, the pros turning their back on him Yeah, yeah, I know. Before somebody says it, pro players are not employees and can go where they want as independent contractors, but some folks are loyal to those who are loyal to them. That's how it is in my industry.
The Executive West had its warts and flaws, but for the most part, it was ideal. I remember rocking chairs in our hotel room, nice and cozy. The restaurant wasn't to everyone's liking and most definitely garnered complaints by some, but I thought it was fine. When Executive West was updated and refurbished, Greg had to look elsewhere and found a casino in Indiana that agreed to take on this massive pool extravaganza.
By its very name, "Derby City Classic," with "Derby" referencing Kentucky Derby in Louisville, it has broken away from tradition in a way to have it in Indiana at this casino. Some have suggested Atlantic City, as Matchroom did with the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship. Not sure about costs to do that, but moving hardware to A.C., far away from Greg Sullivan's home court, might not be cost effective, and I think it is preferable to have it close to Louisville to keep the "Derby City" theme going.
Pat Fleming found a hotel in Norfolk to handle the International Open, and Mike Zuglan's Turning Stone venue is a huge hit with everyone. Allen Hopkins had to make a switch from Valley Forge Conference Center in King of Prussia, PA to Station Oaks, PA. I wonder if Greg Sullivan will consider finding a new venue, unless he's locked into some multiyear contract with the casino, as Matchroom seems to be with Da-Zone.
As a footnote, Allen Hopkins and now Greg Sullivan get a lot of heat for not having larger payouts. My thought is they are supposed to make a profit off of their labor, and I feel it's none of my business how much money they make. If one does not like it, they can elect to not attend. But, as most will agree, the Derby City Classic, Super Billiards Expo, and all Joss Turning Stone events are a huge success, and best of all, they are all made in the USA. Keeping pool alive in USA is my hope always, as I watch Matchroom and its Nineball. tour steering pro pool destinations overseas, and the pros will follow like trained little pigs with dollar signs dancing in their heads in hopes to get the ultimate free ride on the Mosconi Cup train.
A few Derby City Classic memories from Executive West.
In the lobby of Executive West, Harry Platis's friend, Keith, Harry, John Mataya, the late Ronnie Allen, and the late Jimmy Reid.
My first Derby City Classic in the tournament room with Keith.
Derby City Classic, the land of opportunity.
This was taken at the Derby City Classic at the casino, the OnePocket-dot-org Hall of Fame banquet.
A barkfest at the Derby for action. That Shannon Daulton offering a game to anyone. Amar Kang was in the background yelling over and over, I'll play anyone in the room some 9-ball. It was a hoot. Keith ended playign Alex with the big cue ball on a bar box, and after a 2-hour barkfest, Keith lost and had 1 hour before his next match with Grady Mathews on the TV table. Keith lost that too. Ah, the memory of Derby City Classic and no sleep.
Sullivan tried to grow the Derby City Classic in Tunica on summer and have a a summer DCC. but Bonus Ball came to the fore, and the pros, the very ones who had committed to Greg to attend Tunica, crawfished on their affirmation and elected to be in Vegas for the now-defunct Bonus Ball. In my opinion, it hurt Greg when this happened, the pros turning their back on him Yeah, yeah, I know. Before somebody says it, pro players are not employees and can go where they want as independent contractors, but some folks are loyal to those who are loyal to them. That's how it is in my industry.
The Executive West had its warts and flaws, but for the most part, it was ideal. I remember rocking chairs in our hotel room, nice and cozy. The restaurant wasn't to everyone's liking and most definitely garnered complaints by some, but I thought it was fine. When Executive West was updated and refurbished, Greg had to look elsewhere and found a casino in Indiana that agreed to take on this massive pool extravaganza.
By its very name, "Derby City Classic," with "Derby" referencing Kentucky Derby in Louisville, it has broken away from tradition in a way to have it in Indiana at this casino. Some have suggested Atlantic City, as Matchroom did with the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship. Not sure about costs to do that, but moving hardware to A.C., far away from Greg Sullivan's home court, might not be cost effective, and I think it is preferable to have it close to Louisville to keep the "Derby City" theme going.
Pat Fleming found a hotel in Norfolk to handle the International Open, and Mike Zuglan's Turning Stone venue is a huge hit with everyone. Allen Hopkins had to make a switch from Valley Forge Conference Center in King of Prussia, PA to Station Oaks, PA. I wonder if Greg Sullivan will consider finding a new venue, unless he's locked into some multiyear contract with the casino, as Matchroom seems to be with Da-Zone.
As a footnote, Allen Hopkins and now Greg Sullivan get a lot of heat for not having larger payouts. My thought is they are supposed to make a profit off of their labor, and I feel it's none of my business how much money they make. If one does not like it, they can elect to not attend. But, as most will agree, the Derby City Classic, Super Billiards Expo, and all Joss Turning Stone events are a huge success, and best of all, they are all made in the USA. Keeping pool alive in USA is my hope always, as I watch Matchroom and its Nineball. tour steering pro pool destinations overseas, and the pros will follow like trained little pigs with dollar signs dancing in their heads in hopes to get the ultimate free ride on the Mosconi Cup train.
A few Derby City Classic memories from Executive West.
In the lobby of Executive West, Harry Platis's friend, Keith, Harry, John Mataya, the late Ronnie Allen, and the late Jimmy Reid.
My first Derby City Classic in the tournament room with Keith.
Derby City Classic, the land of opportunity.
This was taken at the Derby City Classic at the casino, the OnePocket-dot-org Hall of Fame banquet.
A barkfest at the Derby for action. That Shannon Daulton offering a game to anyone. Amar Kang was in the background yelling over and over, I'll play anyone in the room some 9-ball. It was a hoot. Keith ended playign Alex with the big cue ball on a bar box, and after a 2-hour barkfest, Keith lost and had 1 hour before his next match with Grady Mathews on the TV table. Keith lost that too. Ah, the memory of Derby City Classic and no sleep.
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Good write-up and accurate, Stu. I'm sorry you didn't have as much fun as you normally do. I think Greg Sullivan will take all of this into consideration for next year's event and make some changes.
The Polish contingent were there in full force, with Konrad doing quite well, as I recall. I like that guy, though I can never remember how to spell his last name. But he's the only "Konrad" in the pro pool circuit.
Maybe, probably
This event has been on my bucket list for quite some time. I haven’t found the justification to take an entire week away from work/family to go yet, but honestly this thread is making me think I’m not in any hurry. Hopefully by the time my kids are a little older I will make it out there and maybe by then some of these issues will be fixed.
seems like overall the biggest problem is the venue itself. The food/size of venue seems to be part as well, but those both likely get fixed to move to a new location.
lots of times there are multiple year contracts to reserve space like this for a week plus every year, so I’m not sure how quickly anything could be done, but it seems like that’s the first step in solving the problem.
seems like overall the biggest problem is the venue itself. The food/size of venue seems to be part as well, but those both likely get fixed to move to a new location.
lots of times there are multiple year contracts to reserve space like this for a week plus every year, so I’m not sure how quickly anything could be done, but it seems like that’s the first step in solving the problem.
The point is, is the consumer coming to see Terry Bell / Larry Hubbard/ Mark Griffin / Allen Hopkins / Greg Sullivan or any of the other promoters???
Or
Are they coming to see Efren/ Keith / SVB / Alex / Bustamante and top-level pool being played and battled???
Is the consumer a victim of a classic bait and switch
???Most of us here support pool with our time and money.
Just some well-meaning food for thought!
Kd
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Badpenguin
Well-known member
My mistake, fuzzy memory. I believe I may have been thinking about the 2022 DCC, Filler vs FSR. Filler looked visibly worn out to me, I felt it would have been a much better finals if they weren't playing at midnight.
While it's true that when Filler entered the arena for the Donny Mills match at perhaps 1:45 AM, he looked pale and spent, he still played well in what I believe was a 9-3 victory.
In his match with Pagulayan, which started at about 3:30 AM, he looked like he'd caught a second wind and played one of his best matches. It was a great match with wonderful play from both. I'd guess Alex shot .930 and Josh shot .900. At 6-6, Alex played a good safety on the one-ball but Josh kicked it in. The cue ball ended up against the rail and his subsequent miss on the two ball pretty much settled things against a Pagulayan who was playing superbly.
No, he did not play like an APA 6.
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