Super Billiards Expo thread
- Thread starter JAM
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Barbara said:
I've seen B.J. wearing those headphones at other tournaments, too. He won a Planet Pool 9-Ball wearing those things!
A couple of other players who have been known to wear them is Earl Strickland and Joe Tucker. At a Joss tournament in Quincy, Keith asked Joe if he could listen to his headphones, as he was curious about what kind of music Joe liked when he was playing pool.
Funny thing is, Joe Tucker wasn't listening to music at all. It was a recording of a bunch of speedy race cars whizzing around a track over and over again. I think sometimes players wear them because it may keep them focused on the task at hand.
I saw a guy at one regional tournament stop get asked to leave the premises because he was wearing a bandana headpiece. I thought this strange until I read the sign on the front door of the joint which read no headpieces without brims allowed.
Pool etiquette can be construed differently, depending on the event. If the headphones look offensive to paying spectators and/or may prevent the player from hearing a referee making a ruling, then I would think it would be a good rule to have in place in the future.
JAM
Barb,Barbara said:
Why would you consider it rude to wear headphones during a match?
I have know BJ for a while. He wears headphones in every tournament. I have also seen many other players do the same. They may need help concentrating or help in blocking out distractions. I know that I have played BJ while he was wearing headphones, and if I spoke or talked to him, he could hear me over whatever was playing.
If there was a question on his opponent needing BJ's attention, there could have been a conversation before the match started. Did the opponents say anything? Or did the opponent not object and it was more the people on the rail that were concerned?
Mike
Barbara said:
Pam Treadway was the talk of the Super Billiards Expo. Everybody was checking her out in the finals. She's only 17 years old and quite easy on the eyes according to some male spectators. She's usually in the company of another player, Josh Brothers.
Barry Behrman and Buddy came to watch Pam competing in the finals. He was quite taken with her skills set on the table, and I saw him talking to her after the victory. She was so very happy about this achievement in her young career. Pam told me she got a new sponsor, thanks to her great performance at the Super Billiards Expo. I think she said it was "Eurocue."
First time I saw Pam compete was in Toledo about 2 years ago at a Glass City Open. She was the only woman in the event, and as I remember, the 15-year-older cashed, taking down quite a few good players in this event. I knew she was going to be a star, and her hard work and dedication to her game has finally paid off. A big congratulations go out to her!
Pam Treadway is shown in this pic standing next to Dawn Hopkins holding the biggest trophy for her great win. Check out the two faces in the background between the charts, watching from behind as Pam shines in all her glory. That's Maryland Young Gun Shawn Wilke and Pam's companion, Josh Brothers, checking out the awards presentation. Josh told me later he was so very proud of Pam. He couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear either!
JAM
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I'm of the opinion that a player wearing headphones because he "may need help concentrating or help blocking out distractions" is gadgetry used to enhance one's game artificially, which many associations ban - just like marking the table with one's cue, using finger extensions, and jumping with a cue under specs. After all, I believe one should strive to achieve perfection naturally, on a more or less even playing field - check out AuntyDan's excellent post in the thread "Pro Players and Drugs":
AuntyDan said:
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JAM said:
In case you all are wondering who Buddy is, I snapped this picture of Barry Behrman, the promoter of the U.S. Open, holding him.
Buddy had pool etiquette, a well-behaved canine I must say, and both of them had a grand old time at the Super Billiards Expo. Most times, Buddy walked the walk and looked very dignified strutting down the aisles between the vendor booths with Barry in tow.
It was funny, though, when Buddy began to tire and thrashed his little body back and forth, gnawing at his annoying leash. Barry and Buddy were quite the duo this year. Everybody enjoyed seeing Buddy the pool puppy, and Barry, when they made the rounds!
JAM
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Timberly
Guest
JAM said:
I agree except when it came down to the finals in the pro arena. Shawn was setting up a jump shot. You could've heard a pin drop at that point because Shawn was also using the bridge to set up this shot. As Shawn was positioning the bridge on the table (wasn't in mid-stroke thank goodness) little Buddy decided to make his opinion heard... all of the sudden you could hear two little pip squeak barks. Barry was sitting right by the entrance and he BOLTED out of the room. Of course everyone got a good laugh out of it. I don't know if Buddy was agreeing with Shawn's choice of shot or disagreeing but Shawn did end up making the shot... and getting shape.
Timberly said:I agree except when it came down to the finals in the pro arena. Shawn was setting up a jump shot. You could've heard a pin drop at that point because Shawn was also using the bridge to set up this shot. As Shawn was positioning the bridge on the table (wasn't in mid-stroke thank goodness) little Buddy decided to make his opinion heard... all of the sudden you could hear two little pip squeak barks. Barry was sitting right by the entrance and he BOLTED out of the room. Of course everyone got a good laugh out of it. I don't know if Buddy was agreeing with Shawn's choice of shot or disagreeing but Shawn did end up making the shot... and getting shape.
Heh, I saw that. Shawn even stopped to turn around and laugh.
JAM said:
Here's a picture of Little John directing some traffic in the action pit. Notice Sugar Shane and Pookie on the left, and Keith's on the right getting ready to break balls. Before each and every game, all bets were established as the combatants paused for the barkfest. It was hilarious, and Little John stole the show. He was Mr. Action at the Super Billiards Expo! A lot of Southern charm and quite fun to be around.
JAM
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anyone know who jesse bowman matched up with sat night? Thought
something went down...
peace
-Egg
something went down...
peace
-Egg
1pRoscoe said:
Shawn Putnam always had a great sense of humor. I'm happy to see him win the pro event. He's just beginning to realize his dreams by his recent big wins, to include the NAOT Pittsburgh stop.
Right at the same time the Pro event concluded, the Pro/AM tourney ended right next door. I took this picture of Shawn Putnam and Shannon Daulton, shown posing with their magnificant trophies. Shawn pocketed a cool 10 dimes for his fine finish, with Shannon taking home $4,000 in the Pro/Am. I've gotta say the trophies at the Super Billiards Expo were some of the finest I've ever seen.
The format of the Pro/Am tournament was a single-elimination tournament with a $300 entry fee, race to 9, alternate break, best two out of three sets. In the finals, Shannon won the first set, and Keith won the second set. The third set was all Shannon as he coasted in to the finish line. Between sets during this match, we all took a smoke break outside. Shannon said when he saw that trophy, it had his name written all over it. He couldn't have been happier. I'm not sure which he liked better, the first-place prize monies or that beautiful keepsake!
JAM
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Kerry,Kerry Impson said:
I respect your opinion, although I disagree. I feel that as long as you aren't doing anything to impede the game of your opponent, or give your game an unfair physical advantage, such as marking the table or using finger extensions, that you should be within the rules. Headphones in no way affect your opponent. What's next? That you can't wear loud pants or a blouse. Maybe you shouldn't wear glasses (even if your eyes are bad) because that helps block out the distraction of not seeing well. You're not as mentally capable if you have to wear corrective lenses. I know that I am being somewhat preposterous, but there has to be a line drawn. Headphones in no way hinder the performance of your opponent, nor do they give any player a physical advantage.
And I hope that you are in no way comparing wearing headphones to using drugs, but I think that you may be by pointing out in Aunty Dans article that a person who wears headphones is not as mentally capable of competing.
I have never heard an opponent of a player wearing headphones complain. My concern is more that it's not the people competing or their opponents, but that it is something offensive in some way to fans or rules committee persons.
JMO....Mike
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Timberly
Guest
JAM said:
Shawn saw Shannon's trophy and commented to Allen that it looks like he (Shawn) came in 2nd & Shanoon came in first! Of course he was smiling and laughing as he was saying it.
Action, action, action...
The action table began the first night with 9-ball on the menu, but by the next day, it was soon changed to 10-ball.
The biggest match-ups were: Charlie "Hillbilly" Bryant defeating Virginian Mark Painter, Mark Painter beating Maryland Young Gun Shawn Wilke, and Virginian Matt K. snapping off Little John.
Several players did have some good runs on the action table, holding it for a spell and pocketing a little cabbage.
Friday night, Keith was in rare form, dancing around the table and happy as a clam. Check out this picture of Earthquake in his realm, having a good run on the action table. In the background, you can see Ronnie Wiseman, wearing a black-and-white checkered shirt, smiling at Keith as he's clowning for the camera.
JAM
The action table began the first night with 9-ball on the menu, but by the next day, it was soon changed to 10-ball.
The biggest match-ups were: Charlie "Hillbilly" Bryant defeating Virginian Mark Painter, Mark Painter beating Maryland Young Gun Shawn Wilke, and Virginian Matt K. snapping off Little John.
Several players did have some good runs on the action table, holding it for a spell and pocketing a little cabbage.
Friday night, Keith was in rare form, dancing around the table and happy as a clam. Check out this picture of Earthquake in his realm, having a good run on the action table. In the background, you can see Ronnie Wiseman, wearing a black-and-white checkered shirt, smiling at Keith as he's clowning for the camera.
JAM
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Mike Templeton said:
For what it's worth, I agree with Barbara that it's not so much a matter of rudeness, it's in case someone need to get the opponents attention.
There was one tourney I played in where my opponent was wearing headphones. He shot the six and hung it, then turned to shoot the seven. I got up to shoot, then realized that he didn't see the six hang. I said hey, but he didn't hear me. I could have let him shoot the seven and foul, but I waved my stick in front of him to get his attention.
Eric
Mike, while I respect your opinion as well, I must (respectfully) disagree with you, too.
I believe the reasons above (along with the afore-mentioned inability to hear one's opponent) are why wearing headphones (in particular) is not allowed in WPBA events, not because they look funny or might offend the opponent or whatever.
JMO too!
I think it can be argued successfully that headphones are just as much an unfair advantage as finger extensions - they enable you to perform at a higher level than without them (especially if the player "may need help concentrating", as was quoted previously). Also, do finger extensions affect one's opponent any more than headphones do? Finally, if one player is adjusting to the distractions of, say, Buddy's little yips at the Expo au naturel and the other player has headphones on and so doesn't hear them, is that not an uneven playing field, with the headphones giving the wearer an advantage?Mike Templeton said:
No, I'm not comparing headphone use to drug use; I just happened to like the parallel in the quote to the topic at hand. However, if there are two players, one of whom finds he must use headphones to remain focused while the other has used training and discipline to do the same thing, is not the player who has worked so hard to learn how to maintain focus and ignore distraction at a disadvantage? It's certainly easier to ignore distractions when you can't hear them! Wouldn't such a player perchance bemoan the hours spent training laboriously when he could have just slapped on a pair of headphones to achieve even better results?Mike Templeton said:
I believe the reasons above (along with the afore-mentioned inability to hear one's opponent) are why wearing headphones (in particular) is not allowed in WPBA events, not because they look funny or might offend the opponent or whatever.
JMO too!
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Timberly said:I agree except when it came down to the finals in the pro arena. Shawn was setting up a jump shot. You could've heard a pin drop at that point because Shawn was also using the bridge to set up this shot. As Shawn was positioning the bridge on the table (wasn't in mid-stroke thank goodness) little Buddy decided to make his opinion heard... all of the sudden you could hear two little pip squeak barks. Barry was sitting right by the entrance and he BOLTED out of the room. Of course everyone got a good laugh out of it. I don't know if Buddy was agreeing with Shawn's choice of shot or disagreeing but Shawn did end up making the shot... and getting shape.
That's pretty funny, Timber! Barry is real big on etiquette and respect for the player when a tourney is going on. I remember seeing Barry go up to someone whose cellphone went off at the US Open (after being told to shut off all cellphones) and stare at them with his arms out in the WTF look. Someone should have given Barry the "WTF" look(teasing ya Barry).
Eric
Would you place ear plugs in the same category as the headphones? I'm curious, as every now and then I wear them during a tournament if I'm finding myself distracted by the surroundings and want to eliminate the noise. Also, I know of at least 2 very good players that will use ear plugs when in tournaments and have never (to my knowledge) had any issues with it.