Just saw the IPT KOTH finals the other day for the first time between MS and ER.....I was so surprised to see the missed shots as well as the frequency of same by these 2 champions......yes, I know the pockets were small, but really, at one point or another it was hard to believe these guys were who they were....
surprised
- Thread starter wahcheck
- Start date
Watched But Still Don't Get It
Funny, I tried but couldn't, watch the entire match myself. To say that it was a great letdown and disappointment is an understatement.
Aside from the surprisingly poor level of play, especially by MS, "the greatest living pool player", his display of bad sportsmanship may have even exceeded his low level of play. That said, neither player nor commentators exhibited any of the attributes required to become a mainstream American "matinee idol".
The commentating was especially insulting to the viewers. Constantly making excuses for MS and giving little credit to ER. Trying, but not knowing how to make an extremely boring match appear to be exciting. The bias in favor of MS was so obvious and probably caused more loss of credibility for the IPT than they realize - plus, what was the purpose? You NEVER insult your customer's (viewer) knowledge or point of view, PERIOD.
Aside from a very nice venue and a large purse, the entire production was hokey and amateurish, and watching professional eight ball proved to be much more boring than watching semi-pro nine ball, including womens and wheelchair. The IPT plan and programing format simply fell far short of it's hype IMO.
Now, if I really thought that I was good enough (I'm not) to place in the top ten, I would continue to pump up the tour, hoping that it continues long enough for me to win some good purses, But, even if I were a tour card holder, placing in the lower hundred still wouldn't make it worthwhile -unless I believed in the $100K guarantee - which I absolutely don't. And to travel and then pay $1,500 to enter a qualifier that only gives me entre into another qualifier, ludicrous. Unless I really believed that I can finish between 1 and 10, why bother?
I really don't get it. Can't see a winning and successful business strategy, except possibly for KT, his "insiders" and the top ten players. Maybe I'm in the minority but I just don't see a bright future for the current IPT, and I haven't heard a good rational contrary argument in it's favor, only cheerleading.
Funny, I tried but couldn't, watch the entire match myself. To say that it was a great letdown and disappointment is an understatement.
Aside from the surprisingly poor level of play, especially by MS, "the greatest living pool player", his display of bad sportsmanship may have even exceeded his low level of play. That said, neither player nor commentators exhibited any of the attributes required to become a mainstream American "matinee idol".
The commentating was especially insulting to the viewers. Constantly making excuses for MS and giving little credit to ER. Trying, but not knowing how to make an extremely boring match appear to be exciting. The bias in favor of MS was so obvious and probably caused more loss of credibility for the IPT than they realize - plus, what was the purpose? You NEVER insult your customer's (viewer) knowledge or point of view, PERIOD.
Aside from a very nice venue and a large purse, the entire production was hokey and amateurish, and watching professional eight ball proved to be much more boring than watching semi-pro nine ball, including womens and wheelchair. The IPT plan and programing format simply fell far short of it's hype IMO.
Now, if I really thought that I was good enough (I'm not) to place in the top ten, I would continue to pump up the tour, hoping that it continues long enough for me to win some good purses, But, even if I were a tour card holder, placing in the lower hundred still wouldn't make it worthwhile -unless I believed in the $100K guarantee - which I absolutely don't. And to travel and then pay $1,500 to enter a qualifier that only gives me entre into another qualifier, ludicrous. Unless I really believed that I can finish between 1 and 10, why bother?
I really don't get it. Can't see a winning and successful business strategy, except possibly for KT, his "insiders" and the top ten players. Maybe I'm in the minority but I just don't see a bright future for the current IPT, and I haven't heard a good rational contrary argument in it's favor, only cheerleading.
Wwf
They did say the IPT would be part World Wrestling Federation. I'm more than a little skeptical about the second set. It looked like Efren did everything but shoot Mike's balls in for him while waiting for him to win a few games.
Hu
They did say the IPT would be part World Wrestling Federation. I'm more than a little skeptical about the second set. It looked like Efren did everything but shoot Mike's balls in for him while waiting for him to win a few games.
Hu
wahcheck said:
T
Timberly
Guest
Remember, it's not just the tight pockets that caused missed balls. It was also the cloth... Take a look at the quotes from the players on the IPT writers blog or ask some here that are on the IPT... there's a few variables that go into why more balls than normal were missed in all of the IPT events. 
I GUARANTEE that after Efren beat Mike the first set 8-0, KT himself told Efren to let Mike win a few games. Think about it, whenever there is a HUGE amount of money on the line, Efren always plays well and wins. He won the Tokyo 9-ball championship which payed well over 100 grand. He beat Earl in TCOM by breaking and running about 70% of the last 30 racks he won, and the prize for that was 100 grand. And of course the KOTH. Efren played great in his prior matches against Mike. ALthough he didn't have to play until the later rounds, he did face a couple of the worlds greatest players, who were also playing well. Efren could have played at 50% of his average game and still beaten mike 8-0 both sets. If he did, he would make the IPT look ridiculously stupid for glorifying Mike so much, only to have him get drilled and utterly humiliated.
ShootingArts said:
Very well said, I totally felt the same way. Efren was embarressed to have to miss some of those shots. He could have won 16-0 if he wasn't told to ease up.
jjinfla said:
So you don't think Efren dumped a few games on purpose? Did you notice how well Efren was playing right before he played Mike?
Cloth
Timberly .... The only cloth that 'skids' that much is UNNAPPED CLOTH, like
Simonis 860.
Timberly said:Remember, it's not just the tight pockets that caused missed balls. It was also the cloth... Take a look at the quotes from the players on the IPT writers blog or ask some here that are on the IPT... there's a few variables that go into why more balls than normal were missed in all of the IPT events.
Timberly .... The only cloth that 'skids' that much is UNNAPPED CLOTH, like
Simonis 860.