The FIX (1991 Challenge of Champions)
- Thread starter Matt_24
- Start date
I just wanted to say that I hope everyone here imagine the conditions these guys were under. You spend years honing your craft, making NO money other than gambling, and once you become one of the absolute best in the world, you start playing tournaments. Then you realize that you are probably going to bring home less than your average plumber(no offense, plumbers :thumbup
and that is BEFORE you count expenses, which for those of you who have never traveled for a living, are considerable, to say the least. Then you go to an event(where you are all most likely chopping anyways, if you are smart(Winner take all doesn't make much sense for the other guys, and this is pretty much the only tourney that pays that, other then maybe the open at the time). You have a chance to make more than you have most likely made in the last 10 tournaments. I can tell you I have played for a living for over 10 years, and never dumped. I can also tell you that if I were one of the best in the world, and kept getting the shaft financially, and had this opportunity, it might be awfully tough to turn down. I don't mean to condone anything that might have happened, I just want to say that unless you have been in that position, don't be too quick to judge. But, that is jmo.
and that is BEFORE you count expenses, which for those of you who have never traveled for a living, are considerable, to say the least. Then you go to an event(where you are all most likely chopping anyways, if you are smart(Winner take all doesn't make much sense for the other guys, and this is pretty much the only tourney that pays that, other then maybe the open at the time). You have a chance to make more than you have most likely made in the last 10 tournaments. I can tell you I have played for a living for over 10 years, and never dumped. I can also tell you that if I were one of the best in the world, and kept getting the shaft financially, and had this opportunity, it might be awfully tough to turn down. I don't mean to condone anything that might have happened, I just want to say that unless you have been in that position, don't be too quick to judge. But, that is jmo.The Fix
Do you all believe in fairy tales? Are you all sitting comfortably then I will begin.
Eight pool players get together and one of them has a plan.
They divide 40 grand of the 50 grand prize fund and all have a bet on the long shot.
One of the players (a multi major title winner) declines to get involved and is replaced. His replacement went out and raised an extra five grand and bet that too.
All went to plan with the long shot coming through and they were all paid out. Then they divide the extra ten grand between them and they all (except one who died) lived happily ever after.
Another fairy tale? OK
It is World Championship and The Might German is playing the Natty New Yorker. There is a flurry of money on TMG to keep a clean sheet. The NNY cannot pot a ball and his shot selection is even confusing the Much Respected Commentator.
?I just cannot understand why he went for that ball? said the MRC. He was making his debut in the Commentary Box ? he was not called on again after that game analysis.
Another?
On the same day an Asian Prince of Pool has a truckload of money invested on his opponent. The APOP has already qualified (under the flawed double elimination system) and, lo and behold, he loses.
That day it cost the bookmaker $15,000 on site but they were fortunate to claw back $32,000 in their head office.
One last one ? very recent
A Former World Champion reaches the final of an event where he faces a New Young Rising Star. The payout is 10 Grand / 5 Grand.
The FWC is approached by the Good Intentioned But Corrupt With It Manager of the NYRS. He offers the FWC a guaranteed 10 Grand if he loses the final to the NYRS.
As the title is not a major one then the offer is accepted.
The extra money comes out of the NYRS?s winning cheque. He is happy with his 5 Grand because he has a title on his record.
The FWC is happy too as he only has to pay management commission of the 5 Grand runner up money.
That?s All Folks!!!
muttley76 said:I just wanted to say that I hope everyone here imagine the conditions these guys were under. You spend years honing your craft, making NO money other than gambling, and once you become one of the absolute best in the world, you start playing tournaments. Then you realize that you are probably going to bring home less than your average plumber(no offense, plumbers :thumbup
Do you all believe in fairy tales? Are you all sitting comfortably then I will begin.
Eight pool players get together and one of them has a plan.
They divide 40 grand of the 50 grand prize fund and all have a bet on the long shot.
One of the players (a multi major title winner) declines to get involved and is replaced. His replacement went out and raised an extra five grand and bet that too.
All went to plan with the long shot coming through and they were all paid out. Then they divide the extra ten grand between them and they all (except one who died) lived happily ever after.
Another fairy tale? OK
It is World Championship and The Might German is playing the Natty New Yorker. There is a flurry of money on TMG to keep a clean sheet. The NNY cannot pot a ball and his shot selection is even confusing the Much Respected Commentator.
?I just cannot understand why he went for that ball? said the MRC. He was making his debut in the Commentary Box ? he was not called on again after that game analysis.
Another?
On the same day an Asian Prince of Pool has a truckload of money invested on his opponent. The APOP has already qualified (under the flawed double elimination system) and, lo and behold, he loses.
That day it cost the bookmaker $15,000 on site but they were fortunate to claw back $32,000 in their head office.
One last one ? very recent
A Former World Champion reaches the final of an event where he faces a New Young Rising Star. The payout is 10 Grand / 5 Grand.
The FWC is approached by the Good Intentioned But Corrupt With It Manager of the NYRS. He offers the FWC a guaranteed 10 Grand if he loses the final to the NYRS.
As the title is not a major one then the offer is accepted.
The extra money comes out of the NYRS?s winning cheque. He is happy with his 5 Grand because he has a title on his record.
The FWC is happy too as he only has to pay management commission of the 5 Grand runner up money.
That?s All Folks!!!
muttley76 said:I just wanted to say that I hope everyone here imagine the conditions these guys were under. You spend years honing your craft, making NO money other than gambling, and once you become one of the absolute best in the world, you start playing tournaments. Then you realize that you are probably going to bring home less than your average plumber(no offense, plumbers :thumbup
Maybe you're right. On the other hand maybe if there weren't such stories in abundance then perhaps mainstream corporations would take a chance on pool and it would get the kind of backing that golf has.
I know that there is gambling in golf, lot's of it. I just don't know if any stories where the top players got together and doctored up a tournament to take off the bookies.
One thing I find quite interesting about this "story" is that it seems to me that Vegas in 1991 must have been quite soft on getting ripped off if the dump was SO OBVIOUS. I mean we always hear about how people go on trips to the desert and never return for trying to rip off Vegas so how is it that all these players managed to do it so obviously and nothing came of it???
Personally it's why I don't bet on other sports and bet very little on pool matches. You just never know what kind of collusion is going on.
You hope NONE but with all the stories about drug dealers, bookies and mafia types who bet on pool who avoid thinking about it???
Anybody ever thought long and hard where most of the money used for staking players comes from? In a lot of the places I have been in it doesn't appear that the people with the biggest rolls have normal jobs.
Things that make you go hmmmmm.
Little birdy told me that the guys were never paid...but hey, who listens to birds talking anyway?
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