The DCC

Grady

Pro Player
Here's my report on the tournament. I and many others had to wait 6 to 10 hours to find out when and who we played. There were no practice tables. It was extremely crowded. I am very discouraged at everything except my work, which went very well. After an exhausting day, I finally got to play One Pocket and lost. The loss wasn't such a big deal but I was so discouraged by the situation that I didn't even bye back in the second round. Scheduling was so messed up that they put my name in the draw for the second round anyway. Then they informed me that I forfeited. How is that possible? I give them a D- for the way the event was run.
There just is no excuse for not having all the matches begin on time. Mine do. I'm tired now of making excuses for Diamond and what should be the greatest tournament in the world. I have offered them my services. They're not interested nor will they help me in my endeavors in any way. So I am going to have to give serious consideration to disassociating myself from the DCC and Diamond Table Co. If they did hire me, all the matches would start on time and they could call the Bank Pool and One Pocket divisions World Championships because of the way I would do it.
The Bank Pool ring game was fabulous as was the One Pocket and Bank Pool HOF dinner. I highly recommend purchasing the DVD from Accu-stats of the ring game. If you weren't there, I won't spoil your fun by telling you what happened. I will state that it had the finest bank pool playing this correspondent has ever witnessed.
It was, as always, good to see old friends while there and to make new ones.
Thanks to my long suffering wife for all her help.
 
i realize that this event will probably (hopefully) get better over time from learned mistakes.

it may sound quite insignificant, but i have a particular problem while watching my derby dvd's that a guy can get down to shoot a tough match ball hill-hill and somebody will yell out over the loudspeaker about a stupid match or that a player needs to report to the booth or whatever.

just a lot of little things like this we need to get with it. it really would't take that much brain power at all to highly improve in a lot of areas.
 
Grady... I had never been to this tournament before.
I did think that it was beautiful, and still the best show on earth for pool (That I have seen). My gripe was with the cost of EVERYTHING, but mostly the rooms and buffet. You probably have to make about 250 a day for 7 days to cover expenses.
 
Last edited:
Josh Palmer said:
But I have to ask you this, and this is not a personal attack- People thought you were tweaking with the way you were fidgeting around... I don't know.. maybe you are naturally hyper?

Why compare a nerve issue with a drug issue in this circumstance? This is exactly how rumors get started. The man is aging, he obviously has some type of nerve disease. There are several diseases a man his age could have that cause his inability to control his motor functions. Come on man, you have to be smarter than the way you are phrasing your question.
 
my fault for saying that... but I really wanted to ask, because it was alarming, and people were talking.. so I am sorry for bringing it up.
 
Thanks Bobby

1on1pooltournys said:
Why compare a nerve issue with a drug issue in this circumstance? This is exactly how rumors get started. The man is aging, he obviously has some type of nerve disease. There are several diseases a man his age could have that cause his inability to control his motor functions. Come on man, you have to be smarter than the way you are phrasing your question.

That was a great reply. I'm sure the poster was not meaning it in a mean spirited way, just didn't realize what he was saying. Grady is a great player, and I have a lot of respect for him, and his playing achievements over the years. It was an honor, just to get a chance to play him. He has made a lot of effort thru the years to better our sport. It's always a pleasure to see him and Randi at any of the events.
 
Heh Grady,

Thanks for the report. I wanted to attend but wasn't the timing wasn't right for me. My friend, San Jose Dick, was there. I don't think he was playing but hope you saw him around the one pocket.
 
Grady echoes my feelings even before the venue changed. Like Grady I waited 24 hours for my first one pocket match a few years ago. After my first match, win or lose, I had no intention of continuing. A big waste of time trying to play in the tournament. It was fun to watch the top flight players match up near the end of the tournament and to watch the after hours action. But over all, after 3 visits, I will never go back.

The only way they fix the problem, IMO, is to have WAY more tables. Or, raise the entry fee.
 
Josh Palmer said:
Grady... I had never been to this tournament before.
I did think that it was beautiful, and still the best show on earth for pool (That I have seen). My gripe was with the cost of EVERYTHING, but mostly the rooms and buffet. You probably have to make about 250 a day for 7 days to cover expenses.


your math is pretty good.:smile: $200 is the real number, assuming you dont eat much or lose:frown:

hope your good man!!
 
Grady said:
Here's my report on the tournament. I and many others had to wait 6 to 10 hours to find out when and who we played. There were no practice tables. It was extremely crowded. I am very discouraged at everything except my work, which went very well. After an exhausting day, I finally got to play One Pocket and lost. The loss wasn't such a big deal but I was so discouraged by the situation that I didn't even bye back in the second round. Scheduling was so messed up that they put my name in the draw for the second round anyway. Then they informed me that I forfeited. How is that possible? I give them a D- for the way the event was run.
There just is no excuse for not having all the matches begin on time. Mine do. I'm tired now of making excuses for Diamond and what should be the greatest tournament in the world. I have offered them my services. They're not interested nor will they help me in my endeavors in any way. So I am going to have to give serious consideration to disassociating myself from the DCC and Diamond Table Co. If they did hire me, all the matches would start on time and they could call the Bank Pool and One Pocket divisions World Championships because of the way I would do it.
The Bank Pool ring game was fabulous as was the One Pocket and Bank Pool HOF dinner. I highly recommend purchasing the DVD from Accu-stats of the ring game. If you weren't there, I won't spoil your fun by telling you what happened. I will state that it had the finest bank pool playing this correspondent has ever witnessed.
It was, as always, good to see old friends while there and to make new ones.
Thanks to my long suffering wife for all her help.


Grady,

I have a question(it was a thread here http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=129171), here is part of that thread:


>>>>>>"In the next rack I found a four ball combination in the pack and hit it with solid draw, and got a wide open table. I ran 8 and out on him, with position to keep on running 10-11-12 balls.

I racked the balls, and when I had finished racking we noticed that I owed a ball, and should have ran 9 balls.

Tournament director made me lose the game on forfeit, and then lose the match 3-1 instead of 2-2 and my break."<<<<<<

Grady, In the story above have you seen this before?

Someone lose a match for a slept ball???? I'm not knocking the decision, thats not my business. But I want your experienced, expert opinion on this. It seems to me that the rack should be replyed since he won and just slept a ball. Granted it was his fault he didnt "play the score" but losing the match over a slept ball seems extreme to me, because the other guy was on the hill, even if he wasnt on the hill shouldnt the rack be replayed?? dosnet matter the score losing a game over a slept ball just dosent sound right-what do you think, Grady. Whats your call on this one, if it was in one of your events???


thanks

eric

nice to se you there, the dinner was great to see everyone.
 
Last edited:
I think dimond should give Grady a chance. As he seems like someone who would make the tourney fair FOR EVERYBODY!! If he is really up to it. There were things about the tourney that need to be changed, maybe time and experience will fix problem areas. Everyone who attended the event has their opinion on how to "fix" it maybe that is the problem, no way possible to make everyone happy!
 
one of the main problems was the same as last year there was 10 pounds of pool in a 5 pound bag. And given that circumstance no matter who you are and what you know making it work is a very hard thing to do-I'm knot knocking Grady, Greg, anyone but for the life of me how to make it all work in that small of a space is damn tough.

400 players equals 200 matches in round one with 50 tables thats 4 match4s deep for each table(forget practice boxes) then factor in buy-backs and then it really gets complicated, I can only imagine-no I cant. Its 10 pounds of pool in a 5 pound bag. They didnt have the matches in the TV's in the hotel rooms, so that meant more people just lingering in the hall ways plugging up things worse, they werent there to sweat matches just waiting to get a playing time, which got in the way of the rail birds. It was a mess, which being crowded can be cool-if it has a good reason and the people who are there want to be(not waiting around 3 hours to get a start time).

I still look at it like this, it was a success because alot of pool players got together did their thing, nobody died and had fun for the most part. Its better than nothing. It sure as heck is better than a 128 player double elimination field SOS (same old shit) tournment, yeah it could be better-a bigger joint, closed circut TV's is stragic locations for players to see when they play, more room for the rail birds, and practice tables(not in action rooms). however nothing in life is perfet and at least we have a annual event,


Time seems to make everything just perfect somehow, so I'm sure johnston city was perfect as was the stardust, but was it really? So lets look at the good and how to improve things not look at the bad and complain.
 
"10 pounds of pool in a 5 pound bag" that is about as accurate as you can get. Good points Eric. There were lots of positives, the food was soooooo much better, and yes, a little more expensive, not much. Cleaner, nicer place for sure. Plenty of places to relax and wait w/o sitting on the floor. Lots of other things.

They do need to work on the issues above also though. With some effort, this place will work out fine if there is no alternative next year and word is that we will most likely be there next year also. How can we make it better? I'm sure Greg and the others will get it, and do the best they can. I will be there next year.
 
I apologize for "complaining" This was not my intent. Only that many things could be done to make it better, 1st on the list is having the scroll in all hotel rooms at the facility!! The bottom line is its great to have this yearly event. I have attended the last 4 years and have stayed longer and longer each year. Everyone must realize that the ice storm was a major thing and the event rolled on. I like many people waited for hours for a match time, I now realize I must be able to play through it. I was even told I had a bye in 9 ball round 1, Luckily I was in the tourney room later when they called me for a match that I was not even supposed to play in round 1. Enough negative things, EFERN vs SHANE made everything worth it. Along with countless numbers of great pool matches between the world's best. DCC see you next year wherever you are held!!!!
 
Grady said:
Here's my report on the tournament. I and many others had to wait 6 to 10 hours to find out when and who we played. There were no practice tables. It was extremely crowded. I am very discouraged at everything except my work, which went very well. After an exhausting day, I finally got to play One Pocket and lost. The loss wasn't such a big deal but I was so discouraged by the situation that I didn't even bye back in the second round. Scheduling was so messed up that they put my name in the draw for the second round anyway. Then they informed me that I forfeited. How is that possible? I give them a D- for the way the event was run.
There just is no excuse for not having all the matches begin on time. Mine do. I'm tired now of making excuses for Diamond and what should be the greatest tournament in the world. I have offered them my services. They're not interested nor will they help me in my endeavors in any way. So I am going to have to give serious consideration to disassociating myself from the DCC and Diamond Table Co. If they did hire me, all the matches would start on time and they could call the Bank Pool and One Pocket divisions World Championships because of the way I would do it.
The Bank Pool ring game was fabulous as was the One Pocket and Bank Pool HOF dinner. I highly recommend purchasing the DVD from Accu-stats of the ring game. If you weren't there, I won't spoil your fun by telling you what happened. I will state that it had the finest bank pool playing this correspondent has ever witnessed.
It was, as always, good to see old friends while there and to make new ones.
Thanks to my long suffering wife for all her help.

Everything was a disaster cept for the things you had a hand in right? :rolleyes:
How about making the ring game a non crapshoot at the end?
 
Last edited:
There is no reason why a player couldn't get by on $100 a day. Yes the room rates were high, but a shared room would cost you $53 to $67 (weekends) a day. You could eat the breakfast buffet or in the Aroma coffee shop for $10-12. Dinner at the Ace Hi snack bar would run you another $10-12. Eating at the various tournament area snack bars could also provide a $10 meal. You didn't have to eat at the buffet. During the storm they reduced the buffet price to $10 all day.

Tournament scheduling was a b-tch. They MUST work out the computer system to avoid these glitches. They had a good plan which they elaborated on the first day. Unfortunately that plan was never really utilized. Why I don't know. Some of the side events like the Bank Pool ring game and the Fatboy Challenge went right on schedule for the most part. Smaller fields of players helped.

If they can bring the room rates down to levels that are more affordable for a nine day event (how about $69 and $89), and work out the computer problems, that would make a huge difference next year. They would have more players and better scheduling. Those two things alone would make for a much improved 2010 DCC.
 
For sure I will be there next year !!! It was a pleasure to meet all of you guys.

Thanks for such a great experience !!!!
 
Grady said:
Here's my report on the tournament. I and many others had to wait 6 to 10 hours to find out when and who we played. There were no practice tables. It was extremely crowded. I am very discouraged at everything except my work, which went very well. After an exhausting day, I finally got to play One Pocket and lost. The loss wasn't such a big deal but I was so discouraged by the situation that I didn't even bye back in the second round. Scheduling was so messed up that they put my name in the draw for the second round anyway. Then they informed me that I forfeited. How is that possible? I give them a D- for the way the event was run.
There just is no excuse for not having all the matches begin on time. Mine do. I'm tired now of making excuses for Diamond and what should be the greatest tournament in the world. I have offered them my services. They're not interested nor will they help me in my endeavors in any way. So I am going to have to give serious consideration to disassociating myself from the DCC and Diamond Table Co. If they did hire me, all the matches would start on time and they could call the Bank Pool and One Pocket divisions World Championships because of the way I would do it.
The Bank Pool ring game was fabulous as was the One Pocket and Bank Pool HOF dinner. I highly recommend purchasing the DVD from Accu-stats of the ring game. If you weren't there, I won't spoil your fun by telling you what happened. I will state that it had the finest bank pool playing this correspondent has ever witnessed.
It was, as always, good to see old friends while there and to make new ones.
Thanks to my long suffering wife for all her help.
Grady
You've done a tremendous amount for pool over the years. As you know, people that do good for the many, not necessarily for the "self only" somtimes get ridiculed and/or criticized; easy targets. I hope you continue being Grady. I don't hear but a few "great players" trying to do much of anything for pool-some tournament Directors, DVDs, etc. It would seem that the Derby would improve over the years, not get worse. Perhaps the location change, ice problems, etc. had an impact. If not, I'd hope, with their feedback, they'd strongly consider making changes to improve.
Lanny Charles-Memphis
 
Last edited:
Grady is right

:thumbup: I knew that Mr. Sullivan was ruining the greatest tournament ever in this country by moving to Harrah's, the math just don't work out. For the 10 years or so the event was held at the Executive West, the Hotel would have all the money at the end of the 10 days because that meant each player spent about $400 or so on their half the room rent. At Harrah's this cost nearly doubled so where was this extra money going to come from/ Grady has ran many tournaments I have attended and he ran them all first class with the help of his wife and his daughter, and if Mr. Sullivan really cares about his tournament and the Diamond reputation he will move his event back to the Executive West and give Mr. Mathews some serious consideration as he has proved many times that few have the love for the game of pool as Grady does. :thumbup:
 
Back
Top