Thank you Mike Zuglan

[Koop]

Kerry mentioned to me that he really wished that he could have hosted the Joss season finale once again this year, but that his pool business in Portland, Maine, has not been good to him in recent times. The only way he could have hosted one would have been to reach into his 401(k) or retirement funds. Pool rooms are struggling in the United States, and he too has experienced hardships in the pool business, which began with the smoking ban in Portland.
JAM

Hey JAM,

I had heard that his poolroom went under so I'm happy to hear that at least that is not the case. I would imagine it would be very tough for a struggling owner to come up with that kind of added money.
Nice to hear he could make it and that the Turning Stone was willing to take it on. In reality I would think it is a win-win for the casino because it draws them more people to the tables and slots, not to mention filling up the hotel rooms.

Regards,
Koop

 

[cueball1950]

Hey JAM,

I had heard that his poolroom went under so I'm happy to hear that at least that is not the case. I would imagine it would be very tough for a struggling owner to come up with that kind of added money.
Nice to hear he could make it and that the Turning Stone was willing to take it on. In reality I would think it is a win-win for the casino because it draws them more people to the tables and slots, not to mention filling up the hotel rooms.

Regards,
Koop

again i agree with KOP. I had also heard from several people that it had closed. glad to see it is still open................mike

 

[Koop]

again i agree with KOP. I had also heard from several people that it had closed. glad to see it is still open................mike

Talk about a love fest, huh Mike
Looking forward to seeing you at the next event I can attend.

Koop

 

[cueball1950]

then come to the OPEN

Talk about a love fest, huh Mike
Looking forward to seeing you at the next event I can attend.

Koop

then you gotta come tro the Open KOP. If you do plan on sleeping during the day and staying up half the night watching the happenings at the Pool hall. Alot of fun can be had at the Open. this is my 18th straight year. The 1st year i attended it was being held at the Lake wright Hotel on US 13 in Virginia beach. many years ago..........................................mike

 

[Koop]

then you gotta come tro the Open KOP. If you do plan on sleeping during the day and staying up half the night watching the happenings at the Pool hall. Alot of fun can be had at the Open. this is my 18th straight year. The 1st year i attended it was being held at the Lake wright Hotel on US 13 in Virginia beach. many years ago..........................................mike

I wish I could Mike but I'd be sleeping on the streets if I did.

I will definitely be going to the Snookers event and with any luck, Valley Forge.

Koop

 

[NaClBandit]

and thank you to the Turning Stone Casino.

From a spectators point of view I highly doubt you could come up with a better venue to watch world class pool from...

I agree that the venue and roster were both incredible. I saw the '05 Tournament of Champions the week before but this was even better I thought - more matches, nicer setting (no slot machines chiming), no bulky sweaters (ha).

Any comments on Johnny Archer's hissy fit in the Semi's? From what I gathered he wanted the cue ball cleaned and they refused. Upon dogging the 7 ball he flipped and conceded, knocking the cue ball off the table. He went from hero to zero in my book.

 

[Koop]

I agree that the venue and roster were both incredible. I saw the '05 Tournament of Champions the week before but this was even better I thought - more matches, nicer setting (no slot machines chiming), no bulky sweaters (ha).

Any comments on Johnny Archer's hissy fit in the Semi's? From what I gathered he wanted the cue ball cleaned and they refused. Upon dogging the 7 ball he flipped and conceded, knocking the cue ball off the table. He went from hero to zero in my book.

Wow! I left prior to the semi's but I'm shocked nobody has mentioned this before. It is honestly the first I have heard of it.

Anyone else witness this?

Thanks,
Koop

 

[JAM]

Wow! I left prior to the semi's but I'm shocked nobody has mentioned this before. It is honestly the first I have heard of it.

Anyone else witness this?

I had heard that Johnny was upset, but did not know it was because he felt the cue-ball was dirty and wanted it cleaned.

I remember about 4 or 5 years ago, Earl Strickland was competing in a tournament in Maryland. He wiped down every ball thoroughly with a clean towel before each game of his match. Me being a little green, I hadn't seen this before and wondered about it. I was hanging out with the late Larry Lisciotti, and so I inquired as to why Earl felt the need to wipe down the balls before he broke.

I was expecting Larry to come up with some witty response as Larry was wont to do, but his reply was very serious, and he said that even one little granular piece of dirt on the balls can and will interfere with one's break. I replied, "You're kidding me, right?," and he said no and then went on to explain it in further detail.

I think when you get to the caliber of play of Johnny Archer and Earl Strickland, things that may seem small and trivial to me, like a piece of dirt on a billiard ball, is actually quite important to them. JMHO, FWIW!

JAM

 

[Koop]

I think when you get to the caliber of play of Johnny Archer and Earl Strickland, things that may seem small and trivial to me, like a piece of dirt on a billiard ball, is actually quite important to them. JMHO, FWIW!

JAM

Completely agree. I'm worried about my stroke and these guys are worried about specs of dirt. If my stroke were grooved even close to these guys, I'd probably be worrying about dirt too

Still, sorry to hear Johnny broke it down.

Koop

 

[NaClBandit]

no excuse

I do agree that dirt/chalk/matter on the balls affects the way that they roll. We've all missed a ball b/c it skidded, and from what I understand that is often the cause. But the kicker is that Johnny made the next 3 shots after his complaint, only to blow an out that he - as well as every player left in the tournament at that point - should have made.

Maybe it was in the back of his mind the whole time and he couldn't get past it. Though one would expect a champion of Archer's caliber to rise above it.
Perhaps this is his one weakness. He seems to incessantly pick lint off the table during matches.

Regardless of the result, his behavior was out of line - some ambASSador to the game. Hats off to a player like Shawn Putnam who can ask his fans (in this very forum) how they perceive him and what he can do better to improve his public image as well as the game's.

And on a side note, hats off to Dennis Hatch who played amazingly defeating the likes of Archer, Parica, Reyes and others last weekend to take 2nd.

 

[Koop]

Regardless of the result, his behavior was out of line - some ambASSador to the game. Hats off to a player like Shawn Putnam who can ask his fans (in this very forum) how they perceive him and what he can do better to improve his public image as well as the game's.

And on a side note, hats off to Dennis Hatch who played amazingly defeating the likes of Archer, Parica, Reyes and others last weekend to take 2nd.

I tend to agree with you on Archer but it is really too bad.
I certainly agree with your assessment on Shawn Putnam. No player impressed me more based on never seeing him play before this tourament.
(except Efren of course but he doesn't count )

Dennis Hatch. What more can you say. A second place finish within that field is extraordinary.

Koop

 

[JAM]

Koop, the second day of the tournament, I'm sitting on the rail watching Keith practice, and up comes Kerry Herbert, the owner of Spot Shots in Portland, Maine, and host of the last Joss Tour Season Finale.

It was the first time I had seen him since last year, and the first words out of his mouth were thanks for an 8-1/2-by-10 of Keith and himself I had sent him after last year's event.

Kerry mentioned to me that he really wished that he could have hosted the Joss season finale once again this year, but that his pool business in Portland, Maine, has not been good to him in recent times. The only way he could have hosted one would have been to reach into his 401(k) or retirement funds. Pool rooms are struggling in the United States, and he too has experienced hardships in the pool business, which began with the smoking ban in Portland.

So-called "pro" pool players also experience decision-making moments, picking and choosing which tournament to attend, mainly because the expenses are so high to participate. Unfortunately, whether you're a pool room owner or a full-time pool player, the reality is it's a tough racket to earn a living in.

Here's a picture of Spot Shot owner Kerry Herbert and Keith. Kerry was a close friend of the late Larry Lisciotti and has quite a few funny tales!

JAM

For those who knew him, Kerry Herbert has passed away.

Obituary ---> Maine Today Press Herald [Retrieved 29 July 2014]

RIP, Kerry. He was a good man.

 

[jonesy]

That's horrible news about Kerry, I've been playing him for the last 15 years. He sold Spot Shot about 2 years ago, and I have not played in the last 6 months so this the first I've heard it . RIP Tall Man

 

[JAM]

That's horrible news about Kerry, I've been playing him for the last 15 years. He sold Spot Shot about 2 years ago, and I have not played in the last 6 months so this the first I've heard it . RIP Tall Man

He must have been a hoot to play pool with. I did not know he sold the pool room. I have not learned why he passed away, only that he was comfortable in his home. The family has asked for donations to be made to the Atlantic Salmon Federation. He was a true Mainer. Loved nature and the land too.

Here's a pic I took of Spot Shot Billiard Club. We sure did have fun there, thanks to him. He donated funds for the Joss Season Finale in 2004 to make it happen. It was also the Larry Lisciotti Memorial Tournament too. Kerry and Larry are probably in heaven together now, matching up for a game of one-hole or straight pool.