Straight Pool anyone?

G

Grady

Pro Player
I've had recent inquiries about my doing more 14.1 events. I'd very much like to but I need help. The last one I did, my wife and I lost about $10,000 on and we can't afford that much red ink. Two player/millionaires pledged their support beforehand but they didn't help and wouldn't even play in the tournament.
Two four star and one five star hotel are willing to give me space for nothing.
These are beautiful spots. The room rates would run from $70 to $100.The five star facility sent a rep to an event I was having. They liked what they saw so much that they had me and Randi stay over a couple of days and look over their elegant place. You just wouldn't believe how nice and we couldn't believe that we could get a room rate of a hundred bucks. OK, here's my offer to interested parties: I must have at least $10,000 of donated funds from 14.1 lovers for a period of three years, after which I'll replace those funds with sponsorship money. I'm thinking 10 people at $1,000 each or 5 people at $2,000 or whatever works best. I'll make sure that these wonderful folks will get way more than their money's worth.
I don't like any of the prevailing orgs., so players would have to ink an agreement with me to not play in WPA,BCA or UPA Straight Pool events. They
claim they don't want to have 14.1 anyway.
Thanks for your kind attention, yours in pool, "The Professor"
 
Hi Grady, as a person that I respect and also someone that seems to be able to get things done in the pool world I have a format suggestion that I would like to make.

NINEBALL-STRAIGHTPOOL to be played as follows regular nine ball rules with the exception of 1 point per ball and 2 for the nine. The three foul rule would be a ten point loss to offending player. Balls pocketed on the break count for points they are worth ie. 9 on the break = 2 points, 9-3-6 on the break = 4 points. Scratches and fouls -1, combo on the nine ends the rack all points remaining on the table are forfeit. Race to 100 points or could be cut to 70 for tv purposes.

I believe this game would be the best all around challenge for today's pro's as it combines the powerful break that fans enjoy seeing without the luck factor of making 1 ball to win, it also rewards shot making and safty play to a greater extent but does not eliminate sombody from competition due to having a weaker break but breaking and running 6 racks would be worth 60 points as an example. If somebody happened to run out and miss the nine they would recieve 8 points and there opponent upon pocketing the nine would recieve 2 points and the next break, which could be potentially alot of points, leads would not be insurmountable but a 40 or 50 point lead might be pretty comfortable.

I would really appriciate your opinion on this and any opinion anybody else would care to venture.

Bernie
________________________________________________________________
Life is short, It's better to win! -- Lance Armstrong
 
What we need to do is get away from the TV mentality that everything has to wrapped up on the hour buy the hour. This MTV track that everything takes of 5 to 10 minutes than a commercial just has to change. Yea yea its advertising that pays the bills, but the advertisers need to adapt. I was watching an Indy car race (left turns only...blah) and instead of cutting to commercial they did a split screen of the commercial and the race. It kept my eye just because you couldn't hear the race audio so you had to look at the TV. Now thats thinking....


It just not where the medium is going....

The de-centralization of network TV into these niche networks... the golf channel, speed, and even a computer game network.. Thats where the future is, the NFL can see it and developed their own network.

It'll come people.... maybe partnered with poker and call it the degenerate gambling network. Get Accu-Stats, BCN, Matchroom Sport,and whomever else and lets get it out to the masses.


Strait pool is the best game to play!!
 
Paging Bob Jewett Paging Bob Jewett


Grady,
Not long ago there was a thread about a straight pool event. Earl was interested and in the threads about it I believe Bob Jewett mentioned perhaps adding money to the event.

Perhaps you could check with him if he does not look you up.
His website is http://www.sfbilliards.com/

Any hint as to the location of the fine hotels?


I know you just came out to the west coast but is there any chance you
are getting back this way soon. I am in Rancho Cucamonga CA. Theres a few here that missed getting some lessons last time you came through.
frankncali
 
Hotels and my Oct. trek

Hi Frank,
The two four star hotels are the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club and the Grand Hotel and casino in Gulfport,MS. The five star facility is the Ritz Carlton, also in Naples, FL.
I have to be in Sacramento on Oct. 1st. The U.S. Open ends Sept. 25th and I'm, as usual, driving west. I'll try to get one job en route and then after Oct. 1st. I'd love to have some clinics/exhibitions. The clinic I did at Hard Times last April went great. 16 people paid $60 each and I did a four hour seminar.
I get $750 and I pay all of my own expenses.
If we are able to work this out I need as much advance notice as possible and one third of my fee in advance.
By the way last time I was out west I met with Robert Turner at the Bicycle Club. I was attempting to put something together out west. We've been friends for quite a while but he and the Bicycle are going different directions than I.
 
Grady said:
...
I don't like any of the prevailing orgs., so players would have to ink an agreement with me to not play in WPA,BCA or UPA Straight Pool events. They
claim they don't want to have 14.1 anyway.
Thanks for your kind attention, yours in pool, "The Professor"
Click to expand...

Grady,
I think it would be great if you get this working. Even though I couldn't make a trip to FL to see it, hopefully you'd talk accustats into covering it. However, why add this petty restriction? It's no skin off your teeth if they play someplace else. Maybe these orgs burnt you in the past, I don't know, but if I were a top player (which I'm not, lol) and you asked me to sign such an agreement I'd refuse in a heartbeat and maybe be insulted.
Just a thought.
Steve.
 
Steve, You probably misunderstand me. I only want the players to not play in 14.1 events except mine.
Did you know that for some years now I have made the BCA this offer? If they would rent 20 booths for me at $1,000 a copy, that I would raise another $30,000 and we could have a $50,000 added 14.1 Championship every year. They don't even dignify my proposals with a response any more.
The UPA? Don't get me started.
 
Mr. Matthews,

Please understand, I have the utmost respect for you. So please don't take this question the wrong way.

How is your disagreements with these organizations, thereby you requiring an exclusivity clause to play only your 14.1 tournamnent and no 14.1 tournaments hosted by the listed organizations, benefit the players and the fans?

I am still a tremendous fan of yours and wish you the best in getting this organized. I am by no means good enough to play in it, but I would love to be a spectator.

Jim
 
Why not just have a Joss tour straight pool event if you're not going to allow the top players to play? I'm sure Zuglan would think it over, once being one of the best straight pool players in the world.
 
OK, here we go!!!

I already stated that I have steadily tried to work with the BCA, to no avail. The WPA, which is now apparently allied with the BCA, distained my proposal to do 14.1 or One Pocket. All I asked from the UPA, in order for me to sanction my tournaments with them, is to give One Pocket, Straight Pool and Bank Pool equal rankings points with Nine Ball. To have these marvelous disciplines treated otherwise is an absolute insult.
There are several players now competing in the so-called world tournament that "dumped" matches in prior Matchroom events. I happened to bring this to the UPA's attention. They took no action whatsoever. Charlie Williams has abused his position horribly and noone except me seems to care.
Four things occur regularly at my tournaments: 1. Everybody gets paid 2. Each participant is treated the same 3. I don't do invitationals 4. Gambling is encouraged.
Now, I'm willing to do Straight Pool because our hallowed sport needs it badly. I have already mentioned about losing $10,000 on my last one. Do you out here in internet lala land think I don't at least deserve some loyalty?
If I do decide to stage 14.1 and more One Pocket I think the best thing that could ever happen to me is for the UPA and WPA to boycott my stuff. There are plenty of talented players who don't like the current status quo.
By the way, there are several UPA players who I more than befriended along the long years. Not one of them has stood up for me to do commentary, not that I now want to anyway. I've been made so miserable over this process that I don't feel like touching a microphone. Am I not to pool at least what a Johnny Miller is to golf? No good player ever came to my town and didn't get treated right.
 
Funds

Grady, As Far As The Money Goes When Would You Need The Money By, And Are You Asking For A Commitment Of 4 To 5 Years At A Thousand Or Two. Please Clarify. I Am Very Interested In This As I Too Think There Isnt Enough Support For The Real Skill Games Of Pool.
 
Grady said:
...Charlie Williams has abused his position horribly and no one except me seems to care....
Click to expand...

Speaking on behalf of the "no ones" in the United States:
Don't feel like the lone soldier!

Problem is the "no ones" are a minority, and the current "governing body of professional pool" continues to benefit a select group of players, while all others are hung out to dry!

JAM
 
Grady you are not the only one. There have been several players over the past few months that feel things are unfair and have voiced thier opinion quietly on forums and in pool tourneys I have attended. I suppose it would not be in the players best intrest to voice opinions against the governing body publicly.

So for the curious what does the UPA require of an event to be sanctioned? I am guessing there are monies and promotion but how much? I also heard something about seeding of players but never heard the details.

JV
 
What's up with me!!!!

I'd like to have $10,000 donated for three years. After that I'll have had time to get sponsorship money to replace those funds. In return, I commit to have
$10,000 added 14.1, $10,000 added One Pocket and $5,000 added Bank Pool. with added money to grow later.
I have new first hand information about what transpired during a private meeting recently with casino VIP's in Atlantic City. The end result was that these executives ended up jokingly referring to the pool players as "hard ups".
I resent that mightily. Further, in some areas it's being said that H and B ( I just can't bring myself to actually say their names) are slowly killing pool, one rack at a time.
I had an event in Reno that was boycotted by the then MPBA ( Don Mackey). It still drew 108 players. Mackey called the host site, trying to knock things, especially me but it didn't work.
Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart (the APA) agreed to help me with my last year's
tournament in Gulfport,MS. But when Mark Griffin bought the BCA leagues, they withdrew everything they had promised and foisted off Renee on me. This after I contracted for 32,000 sq. ft. for my event.
I don't know what's going on with this newfangled notion that it's OK to cheat, lie and steal, especially in the world of sports. There's a new breed of pool player who'll do anything to win, including aggressive, almost muscling tactics to badracking to the extreme. That doesn't go at my tournaments.
Gentle readers of this post, you might also ask yourself why everyone always got paid at gambling matches that I had anything to do with. Firstly, I always had the deal that if you got robbed or stiffed, up to $10,000, I paid it. Secondly, I had Freddie. I used to enjoy pulling up a lawn chair and watching what he did to tough guys.
Now, back to pool lovers who might wish to asist me with my efforts at 14.1. In return for helping I offer a package which would include their playing in the event(s) and if necessary, receiving a handicap.
I am also working on an event which will pay respectably up in the six figures. Can anyone give me any reason why I should go through an org?
Lastly, I hate it that I have to be the one to say these things but THEY NEED SAYIN'.
 
Grady, I was happy to see your post and that you are working towards more 14.1 events. I only wish I had the money to help. But I too must say that I was disapointed to see your still on your kick about having the players sign a contract with you. I think this type of attitude is one of the many things that is holding back the sport of billiards.

You have done many great things in pool through both your play and your promotions, do you deserve respect and loyalty from those that would play in events like you are talking? Yes. But those that will show you loyalty will do so with or without a contract. And those that will not show you loyalty wont give a damn if they signed some peice of paper when it comes time to decide when and where they will play.

I think you are one of the few people in the pool world that wants to give back to the game and wants to see the game advance beyond its current status simply for your love of the game. So just for the sake of argument lets say for the next three years you put on straight pool events that were a huge success. And all of a sudden the other org's started holding straight pool events because of your success and they too went over well. Then all of a sudden everyone is talking about all the great straight pool that is being played. Would that be a bad thing?

Simply put if you run things the way you like to see them ran you wont have trouble getting players to support your tournaments. I think players are tired of the orgs demanding they sign this and that and are looking for someone to step up and make a difference in the sport.

I know I am saying this from the sidelines. I have never ran a big event like your talking about and have never lost the kind of money you mention when trying to run one. I just dont think pool will ever get past its current stage untill fans, players and promoters want to see EVERY EVENT do well and are willing to lend support to one another. I have never understood why one promoter would want another to fail. The more succesfull events there are the more likely outside sponsors will be willing to look at billiards as a posible investment.
 
Contracts

You people must be kidding. Have you gotten a load of the UPA contract? Look, from my end we can finish this quickly and decisively. I've tried to work with the different groups. A total failure.
I'm tired of it being Sunday, the last day of one of my events and everyone's happy except me and Randi.
It's bad enough that I have absolutely the best rules for 9 Ball and every top player who has played them agrees. And that I'll never get to do TV commentary. You'd deny me loyalty when I do 14.1? You must be out of your collective minds. I am. as they say, out of here.
Grady
 
There isn't enough money in any organization for me to be loyal to any one organization and only play in one organization's tournaments.
 
Grady said:
You people must be kidding. Have you gotten a load of the UPA contract? Look, from my end we can finish this quickly and decisively. I've tried to work with the different groups. A total failure.
I'm tired of it being Sunday, the last day of one of my events and everyone's happy except me and Randi.
It's bad enough that I have absolutely the best rules for 9 Ball and every top player who has played them agrees. And that I'll never get to do TV commentary. You'd deny me loyalty when I do 14.1? You must be out of your collective minds. I am. as they say, out of here.
Grady
Click to expand...

Grady,

From the attitude you've shown here, it doesn't surprise me that not too many people are excited about jumping into something like this with you.

-Shiner



Just an opinion
 
shinyballs said:
Grady,

From the attitude you've shown here, it doesn't surprise me that not too many people are excited about jumping into something like this with you.

-Shiner



Just an opinion
Click to expand...

It is like the Stablizer, it is all about his nut!!!! Come on here and ask for cash, then jump ship when anything is questioned. All this BS just makes me want to give up the game. No shit man, nobody even tries to get along. Pointing fingers, slamming folks, trying to make a nut.

Grady, I have a lot of respect for your game. Your ideas are interesting too, but when someone ask you a question, answer it. Don't take your ball and go home. I'm out of here is no way to explain your position.
Purdman :rolleyes:
 
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