The good the bad and the surprising of the super billiards expo....

trob

trob

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Here's mine....

Good..
Great to see Earl the pearl strickland back in action. He played great I thought and coming back to be Shmidt after he was down 6 1 was and amazing come back. He's definitly entertaining to watch and I for one am glad he's back on the tournament scene.
I for one liked the accurack. In fact I bought one that was used at the expo for 30 bucks. I thought it was big and clunky at first but it does it's job well and worth it.


Bad...

I can't stand being on the lower level. The smell of that nasty grease is disgusting. You can just feel it laying on your skin. Just gross...
It looks like I won't be staying at the radison next year. They actually allowed people to get a reservation for next year immediatly.
Unfortunately They are now charging 160 bucks a night and it all has to paid up front. If you cancel ...sorry no refunds. Odds are I'll be there next year but who the hells knows what can happen between then and now. NO thanks...I'll stay off site.

surprising...

Mucci is back. I saw them at a lot of stands this year and they were sponsering strickland. I don't know if there any better but they're trying to get there cue's back in players hands again.
 
We haven't been back for 4 or 5 years. We got STIFFED, after months of promises, so IF we go back, we won't stay there.
 
Suprising, I almost had my pass taken away by some pro arena NAZI who seemedto follow me around all weekend asking where I had been and how didI get there. I felt like i needed a bathroom pass.
Eventually I was stood watching Shane and Hennessey warm up and here he comes. givingall the people fromthe afternoon sessions wrist bands in the stands for the evening session/final. As he walks up to me I said 'Cool u r giving out the wrist bands. (remember I have bit my tongue this whole time with this guy and been nothing but nice and respectful) He says "Not to you" I asked why and he said "your here as a guest of a player" I agreed and he said you have to goto the ticket counter and show themyour credentials and then they will give you a ticket to prove to me that you can come in. I said I have the credentials right here. He said "no good, get a ticket" I said ok but it seems like a waste of everyones time since I'm right here and u know I can get a ticket that you don't even need" He then comes back with 'How about I just take your pass away altogether?" I asked "why?" he said because "you are now causing trouble" I told him to Relax and left the arena. I wanted to throw it in his face and tell him to stick the pass. However I did getit from a playerand I didn't want to embarrass both ofus by going off on him. Got to tell ya it still ERKS me inside thatI let he get away with being a dick.
 
good-traveling 4 hours to see folks i see at the pool hall every week :)

great-seeing earl strickland play in person for the first time!

bad-the barretta/borana misathon in the ladies 10 ball

brian
 
The bad:

- The total lack of air-conditioning on the lower level made playing down there a nightmare.

- People were smoking and drinking in the pit after 2:00am, the people in charge could have done a better job policing the area.

- Those new racks were horrible, and they were difficult to use to get a tight rack.

- The announcer talks too much.

- They do not have enough staff to keep the area clean. Too many overflowing trash cans and dirty bathrooms.

- There are never enough chairs.

- They should have a wider variety of beverages. Some of us like beer other than Coors Light and Yuengling.

- The people in charge could try controlling the challenge tables a bit more. I realize that the woofing, betting, hooting and hollering makes it exciting, but at least try to keep it about pool. At one point Manny Chau was trying to gamble with Sparky Ferrell for a couple of dimes and on the next table there were about 30-40 people gathered to watch two clowns arm-wrestle for $500, completely disrupting that whole row of challenge tables---ridiculous.

- Move the smoking area off to the side so people don't have to walk through a cloud of smoke to and from the main entrance.

- have more bathrooms, there are a few thousand people on site, I mean...really!

- Get rid of those incredibly uncomfortable and loud wooden bleachers in the pro-arena.

- use a shot clock for the pros, especially the women (although SVB and Thorsten were crawling too).

- Should work with more area hotels to provide discounts to people attending SBE.

The Good:

- Having many vendors, tournament - choices, and just being around so many people that love pool just as much as you do makes this fun.

- Challenge tables

- Being open all night

- Keeping the pro tournament separate and away from the other tourneys and charging separately for it is a good idea.

- Funnel cakes...need I say more?

This was my second SBE and my first in which I competed...I will be back for more.
 
Stayed two nights at the Sleep Inn. Water pressure in the showers was so great, the whistling could be heard in our room, the rooms next door and a floor above and below. Wow!!! Moved to the Comfort Inn on DeKalb for Friday and Saturday. Made the reservations in January. Had to accept a king bed instead of the two doubles I reserved. No explaination offered. They did try to charge me for a roll-a-way though. Ain't going to happen. Writing a letter to Choice Hotels tomorrow morning.

Some of the food at the "tent" was actually very good. Much better than the overcooked, overpriced hotel stuff they offered right next door. The event seemed to run smoother than last year. Can't quantify it. It just felt better. Got to meet Ariel Carmeli. Crafted the new cue I purchased last November. Great place to meet and greet old friends.

The level of play has definately improved. Some really great young players there. Nice to see some other "old fogies" as well. Gary Nolan, Don Steele, Mike Massey and a host of others I rarely get to talk to anymore. Great to see Earl playing. Listened to him speak to a fan asking for an autograph. He was as excited as the fan. Thats the Earl I remember. Had to leave while the Pro/Am was starting. The players list was just awesome!

This was absolutely my next to the last time going to the SBE. Thanks Allen.

Lyn
 
inside_english said:
The bad:

- Those new racks were horrible, and they were difficult to use to get a tight rack.

- The announcer talks too much.

- Move the smoking area off to the side so people don't have to walk through a cloud of smoke to and from the main entrance.

The Good:

- Having many vendors, tournament - choices, and just being around so many people that love pool just as much as you do makes this fun.
Click to expand...

Forgot to mention the rack. When ever possible, my opponents and me used the rare basic plastic racks. The announcer / tournament director must have a time schedule to meet. It seems every ten minutes or so he had to make some kind of announcement. Think they just want to be sure the PA system still works! When I left, I started to gag on all the smoke at the side exit. Usually never bothers me. Without the good part though, why go????

Lyn
 
inside_english said:
The bad:

- The total lack of air-conditioning on the lower level made playing down there a nightmare.

- People were smoking and drinking in the pit after 2:00am, the people in charge could have done a better job policing the area.

- Those new racks were horrible, and they were difficult to use to get a tight rack.

- The announcer talks too much.

- They do not have enough staff to keep the area clean. Too many overflowing trash cans and dirty bathrooms.

- There are never enough chairs.

- They should have a wider variety of beverages. Some of us like beer other than Coors Light and Yuengling.

- The people in charge could try controlling the challenge tables a bit more. I realize that the woofing, betting, hooting and hollering makes it exciting, but at least try to keep it about pool. At one point Manny Chau was trying to gamble with Sparky Ferrell for a couple of dimes and on the next table there were about 30-40 people gathered to watch two clowns arm-wrestle for $500, completely disrupting that whole row of challenge tables---ridiculous.

- Move the smoking area off to the side so people don't have to walk through a cloud of smoke to and from the main entrance.

- have more bathrooms, there are a few thousand people on site, I mean...really!

- Get rid of those incredibly uncomfortable and loud wooden bleachers in the pro-arena.

- use a shot clock for the pros, especially the women (although SVB and Thorsten were crawling too).

- Should work with more area hotels to provide discounts to people attending SBE.

The Good:

- Having many vendors, tournament - choices, and just being around so many people that love pool just as much as you do makes this fun.

- Challenge tables

- Being open all night

- Keeping the pro tournament separate and away from the other tourneys and charging separately for it is a good idea.

- Funnel cakes...need I say more?

This was my second SBE and my first in which I competed...I will be back for more.
Click to expand...

+1 on that! Add the ridiculous line to get in the place Friday morning on count of the badge showing and hand stamping. The announcer got old very quickly.
 
The good...

---Although they didn't last too long (like half a day before going back to $1), the soda machines taking $5 giving change.

---the straight pool challenge was GREAT.

---The new warm-up event on wednesday.

The bad....

---Cutting the field down to like 864 for the amateur open, leaving over a hundred players stuck without being able to participate.

---The fact that the radisson & the scanticon charge ridiculous rates and do not allow reservations for the following year without coughing up the entire bill payment right then and there.

---the price hikes with just about everything being sold with some of these vendors.

---the cloth put on the 9ft. diamond tables in the straight pool challenge causing even the best straight pool savvy pros to complain about the funny rolls it gave, hindering their usual high-run capability. Why wouldn't they put on simonis to begin with?

surprising...

---the lack of women players showing up for their amateur event.

---the small turnout with attendees for the expo in general this year.
 
This post should have the the answer your question in regards to the table cloth for the SBE 14.1 challenge.

Seeing the success the 14.1 challenge, perhaps next year the marketing department at Simonis will seize the opportunity to sponsor this event.

Bustah360 said:
The good...
The bad....

---the cloth put on the 9ft. diamond tables in the straight pool challenge causing even the best straight pool savvy pros to complain about the funny rolls it gave, hindering their usual high-run capability. Why wouldn't they put on simonis to begin with?
Click to expand...
 
guess the racks weren't a hit. I loved them. I got a tight perfect rack every time with no reracking needed. I bought for leagues and home.
 
bfdlad said:
Suprising, I almost had my pass taken away by some pro arena NAZI who seemedto follow me around all weekend asking where I had been and how didI get there. I felt like i needed a bathroom pass.
Eventually I was stood watching Shane and Hennessey warm up and here he comes. givingall the people fromthe afternoon sessions wrist bands in the stands for the evening session/final. As he walks up to me I said 'Cool u r giving out the wrist bands. (remember I have bit my tongue this whole time with this guy and been nothing but nice and respectful) He says "Not to you" I asked why and he said "your here as a guest of a player" I agreed and he said you have to goto the ticket counter and show themyour credentials and then they will give you a ticket to prove to me that you can come in. I said I have the credentials right here. He said "no good, get a ticket" I said ok but it seems like a waste of everyones time since I'm right here and u know I can get a ticket that you don't even need" He then comes back with 'How about I just take your pass away altogether?" I asked "why?" he said because "you are now causing trouble" I told him to Relax and left the arena. I wanted to throw it in his face and tell him to stick the pass. However I did getit from a playerand I didn't want to embarrass both ofus by going off on him. Got to tell ya it still ERKS me inside thatI let he get away with being a dick.
Click to expand...

Wow - he did the same thing to me. I was a player guest and caught the same sh-t. No biggie don't let guys like that ruin your day.
 
trob said:
guess the racks weren't a hit. I loved them. I got a tight perfect rack every time with no reracking needed. I bought for leagues and home.
Click to expand...

I was a hater at first just by looking at the racks. After I tried them out I really liked them. I got a great rack every time also, and with the rack being positioned the same way every time, my break was more consistent.

I still won't buy one because they are ugly as f***.....IMO.
 
easy-e said:
I was a hater at first just by looking at the racks. After I tried them out I really liked them. I got a great rack every time also, and with the rack being positioned the same way every time, my break was more consistent.

I still won't buy one because they are ugly as f***.....IMO.
Click to expand...

Me and my buddy thought the same thing..What is that big bulky piece of shit! lol then after using for an hour we had to admit it works. Ugly or not if it works I'll buy it.

I also bought the finger slides...the unglove. lol Love it. Made much better then gloves and it's right where you need it to be. great product.
 
earl did not play himself back in that match, he talked his way back, should be banned from the game for his cry baby nonsense
 
and u,sir, should be banned for this site for suggesting such a thing. earl is a pool legend and getting to see him play in person was worth the cost of the whole trip for me. now if you wanna talk about cry baby nonsense then lets talk dennis hatch...

brian
 
bfdlad said:
"your here as a guest of a player" I agreed and he said you have to goto the ticket counter and show themyour credentials and then they will give you a ticket to prove to me that you can come in.
Click to expand...

FWIW, the protocol at the Expo when you're a guest of a player has always been to go to the window with the player to get your guest pass. Once you have the pass there is no need for the player to accompany you to the window but you still have to go to the window to pick up a ticket to enter each session.

You might think its stupid but it has been the rules at the Expo for the last 10 yrs that I've attended on & off. If you don't like the rule, take it up with Allen. The pro player arena "nazi" was simply doing his job. Giving him a hard time is like blaming the cashier for the price of an item.
 
a pool legend lol? please he is the biggest soar losing cry baby i've ever seen. Would i play him even, not a chance, however, when i lose its a lot classier than how he does. Dennis hatch literally threw in the towel at shane, if anything it was a sign of respect. I watched the entire match, and he seemed upset at his play, but never sharked shane, like earl would have done. Like any pro sport, when people *****, and complain they should be fined, and or suspended that would be great if it were enforced in pool.
 
mgonfishn said:
a pool legend lol? please he is the biggest soar losing cry baby i've ever seen. Would i play him even, not a chance, however, when i lose its a lot classier than how he does. Dennis hatch literally threw in the towel at shane, if anything it was a sign of respect. I watched the entire match, and he seemed upset at his play, but never sharked shane, like earl would have done. Like any pro sport, when people *****, and complain they should be fined, and or suspended that would be great if it were enforced in pool.
Click to expand...

I saw Dennis after that match and he was fine. Very confused..."What the hell just happened?"
but he wasn't acting out of line at all.
 
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