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tjmckinn

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Okay, I'm confused.
I've read that Nick Varner is sponsored by Falcon cues but that he plays with a Meucci. How is he allowed to do that? I thought there would be a contract prohibiting him from playing with any other comany's cue or a contract that might even fine him for breaching it.

Any answers would be very appreciated.

Thanks,

Travis McKinney
p.s. Say a prayer for Nick today as he gets through his surgery safely and healthy!
 
Travis,
Did your father used to manage Starcher's in Akron Ohio? If this is the same Travis did you continue to play the last ten years? You played pretty solid as a junior player
 
Yes, I am Travis from Starcher's. Thanks for the compliment.
However, I stopped playing once I turned 17. I became very burnt out. I took 6 years off.

I am playing again though. I will begin playing in professional events next month. I needed time to finish school (still not done, but getting there). I plan to play professionally from here on out. I think it's time to take this marvelous game to my highest level possible.

May I ask your name?

Travis
 
Rich K I used to spend a lot of time there I was always involved in most of the late night action Do you remember A young guy you used to play named Mike ? played solid about your and Louie's speed at the time he was a few years older than you. I was trying to remember his name the other day while talking to a guy that used to work at Starcher's but now runs a pool room in my town.
 
I remember Mike. I played him a lot at one time. I think I remember you but it's difficult since it's been 10 years since I've been to Starcher's.

Actually, I went there two weekends ago and played a bit. I saw the new room; it's pretty nice. I saw Louie while I was there along with many old friends. It was great.

It's sad there is no more Akron Open but it was a great tournament in its day.

I live in Durham, NC now and am moving to Boston in August to finally finish college.

I've seen that Troy Frank has done very well on the tour; it's really nice to see. He always played very well.

Travis
 
tjmckinn,

What school will you be attending? There are allot of good places in and around Boston to shoot. Did you attend college in Boston previously, or are you just finishing there?
 
I'm not sure as of yet which school I will be attending - waiting for admission acceptance. I'm applying as a transfer student to finish my degree.

If you know which rooms to play in, let me know. I'm leaving for Boston this evening for the weekend and would love to know where to go. I know that Jillian's has 52 gold crowns on their third floor! Talk about a wet dream. I'm planning on definitely stopping in and playing there.

I'm playing in one of the Joss NE tour stops in Quincy in March. I'm not sure which poolroom that is though. I'll find out.

Trav
 
I went to Bonston a couple years ago and walked into the Jillians 3rd floor. I think i shed a tear, an endless sea of Gold Crowns and live dealer tables. It still chokes me up just thinking about it.
 
Jillians is a cool place, lots of hot women, but it is not an atmosphere for the serious pool player. It's more the type of place to take a date to or a place to prime up before hitting the clubs. Down the street from Jillians you will find Boston Billiards on Brookline Ave, which IMHO is ten times better. It's like a five minute walk from Kenmore sq. The T will take you right there. The tables are well kept and you can find action. The waitresses are all hot too.

The room that you are speaking for the Joss NE tour is Renaissance Billiards. Quincy is just south of Boston.
 
Thank you Roland!

So for those of us "T" newbies, coming from Harvard Square, do I take the red line to Park St and the Green line to Kenmore?

Thanks,

Travis
 
So what are you planning on studying, Travis?

I played pool through my entire college career. It wasn't a good fit at first, but things worked out. My last two years of school, it was perfect, because there was/is a spot not too far from campus, and I'd be there most eveyday, b/c the daytime action was hot. My classes started at 10am, I was in the pool room by 2pm, and I was usually asleep before midnight, if there was no aciton. I'd wake up at 5am to study, and start over again.

Get that degree Travis, b/c pool does not pay everyday, but an education probably will.
 
Sorry, I cant help you there. I dont live Boston so whenever I'm in the city I'm driving.
 
Hey Senor,

Sounds like you had fun in your college days.

I'm earning my doctorate degree in Philosophy with a concentration on Religious Studies so I can become a professor and researcher.

I will play pool professionally and when I've had enough, I'll teach at college.

Trust me, the degree always comes first in my life. Education is more important than anything as I see it.

Travis
 
Good luck to you with all your endeavors. I work in client services for a CPA firm, but ironically my favorite courses were philosophy and religion ( I finished at a small private school where they were mandatory courses ). Playing pool at a high level and having a career is not as tough as people make it out to be...what's tough is balancing it out.
 
I see what you're saying Bazooka but It might not be mandatory that he play with a falcon. I guess it depends on how much it would affect his game. I'm sure he has to sell their product to a certain degree.
 
Travis, I've noticed this too...
My take, is that specific contractual stipulations and commitments between sponsors and indivdual players, related to cue usage, probably, varies considerably, and, for the most part, isn't 100% binding.
I could be wrong, but, given the current state of the game, and, economic climate, I assume that there's, not a ton of money involved in cue contracts, (especially, if compared with golfers and equipment contracts). With that, I figure that they are given leeway to use whatever they feel confident with, because, the tournaments are, still, where the pro is making his living, for the most part. (You can debate the integrity aspect of this arrangement, but, borrowing, again, from the golfer analogy, it's been a very common aspect of club endorsements that the actual product never makes it into the players hands during a competitive event.)

Nick has a deal with Falcon, and, he also endorses (or, endorsed) a couple of lines of inexpensive cues, too, and every time I've seen him, he's not using any of them. Last few times I saw Parica, he was wearing a "Shuler Cue" patch on his shirt,...but, no way that was a Shuler cue, unless, just before his death he cranked out a few $5,000+ ebony/ivory jobs.

Conversely, I bet the specifics of the Cuetec/Earl/Allison deals are a little less lenient.
 
tjmckinn said:

I will play pool professionally and when I've had enough, I'll teach at college.

Trust me, the degree always comes first in my life. Education is more important than anything as I see it.

Travis
Click to expand...

Hey, Travis. I share your opinion. I'm 26 and I've been playing pool for 13 years and beaten many top players. I know I might have what it takes to be a pro, but I'll rather play safe and finish my Masters degree first, before I even start thinking about pool seriously. I'm currently finishing my last courses in Technical University and looking forward graduating ! Studying is cool, and not mention about student life... whee !! :-)
 
senor said:
So what are you planning on studying, Travis?

I played pool through my entire college career. It wasn't a good fit at first, but things worked out...Get that degree Travis, b/c pool does not pay everyday, but an education probably will.
Click to expand...

I agree completely. You gotta get it !!

-pigi
 
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