The New ABP Tour ( Just a fantasy thought)

[geno]

Disclaimer, this is just a fantasy thought and not reality. Not yet anyway.

Introducing the new ABT Tour with over $1,000,000 in prize money each year.

8 Events - 64-96 Players per event - $2,000 entry fee per event.
(Remember $2,000 entry fee per event is what the IPT Qualifiers charged and they got it so YES it is possible.)

The Players will only be ABP Player Members + up to 32 qualified players from the National Regional Tour System (NRTS). (Yeah, the NRTS is also just a fantasy but entirely possible.)

The payouts at each event would pay 24 places of the field and be 100% payback.

1st $20,000
2nd $14,000
3rd $12,000
4th $10,000
5/6 $8,000 each
7/8 $6,000 each
9-12 $4,000 each
13-16 $3,000 each
17-24 $2,000 each

OK, now that the players are paid how do expenses get covered and what about and end of year points prize fund for the players?

That's an easy answer, just ask any experienced tour promoter that has been promoting and running events for 20 years or more.

Were would the events be played? Easy Answer again, They would be played in existing POOL ROOMS. Believe it or not the pool rooms will even pay to have this in there locations.

What about ADDED MONIES? Well, in the beginning there would not be any but you do have to start from point A to get to point B. Simply put, if the events are promoted well and advertised correctly the sponsors will come. It may take a little bit of negotiations but they will come. Heck, I even know a guy who knows a guy that has an Uncle's Cousins Brother that already has a ton of sponsors that would be willing to join in on this venture to get the ball rolling + that guy has all the contacts needed to make it work and with a little help from some of the players and a few others like Mark Griffin or even Charlie Williams this could get HUGE fast!

Me thinks Mark G. should call my friends Uncle's Cousins Brother to discuss this and get it moving fast. Oh and maybe Johnny Archer should call him to.

Other monies can come from merchandising, spectators, raffles, fees to host locations. PPV's and on and on and on to make this a reality. All the players have to do is have just a little faith and trust with monetary verification and say YES we will play or atleast sit down and discuss it.

 

[JCIN]

So basically what you are looking for is a tour promoter and producer to work for free? I didnt see any money in there for the people who actually organize and create the event.

I think the ABP really should do their own events and make all members share the workload. If they are serious about changing things it is the only way to do it. I think if they did and people saw it it wouldnt take long for people to jump on board. I know if I thought it was anything but a reboot of all the bad organizations of the past 15 years I would certainly thow my hand in to help. I get the feeling Charlie and company don't really accept too much outside input though.

If you see any tour out of this mess it will be the ABP/Dragon Promotions tour. You heard it here first kids.

 

[geno]

So basically what you are looking for is a tour promoter and producer to work for free? I didnt see any money in there for the people who actually organize and create the event.

I think the ABP really should do their own events and make all members share the workload. If they are serious about changing things it is the only way to do it. I think if they did and people saw it it wouldnt take long for people to jump on board. I know if I thought it was anything but a reboot of all the bad organizations of the past 15 years I would certainly thow my hand in to help. I get the feeling Charlie and company don't really accept too much outside input though.

If you see any tour out of this mess it will be the ABP/Dragon Promotions tour. You heard it here first kids.

In the beginning it might be possible and feasible that a promoter/director would step in to help without getting paid for it. I even know a guy who would do that in the beginning for a stake in the tour.

 

[JCIN]

In the beginning it might be possible and feasible that a promoter/director would step in to help without getting paid for it. I even know a guy who would do that in the beginning for a stake in the tour.

Best of luck to him. He'll need it.

 

[JB Cases]

In every sport that works the money to pay the players comes from advertisers. Rarely if ever is there any successful truly professional circuit where the all the money comes from the players. Only in something like poker where every person thinks he can be Chris Moneymaker is the prize fund totally player funded.

In pool the expenses are the rake. No way that the players can afford to fade the continued expenses so that all the money ends up in the hands of the few.

The PGA works because they get corporate America to foot the bill and constantly bring in money enough to fund most of the top 100 players. Corporate America knows that they will get the absolute best of the best and their logos splashed all over the place for a solid weekend and for weeks/months prior depending on the profile of the event.

Pool. I would make a 2:1 bet with most anybody that if we walked a half mile perimeter of any professional event, INCLUDING the US OPEN which has been in the same spot for 15 years or so, that we couldn't find 100 people who knew the following two things, A that a tournament is happening and B five players who are in it.

We asked the BCA to provide us with materials to use so that we could go and canvas the local bar scene in Charlotte when the BCA Expo and 9 Ball pro event was there in 2008. NOTHING. They did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help us to promote the existence of a professional tournament in Charlotte.

Nothing.

Remember the old days when the circus was coming?

What did you see?

You saw posters everywhere, you saw local businesses offering discount tickets, you got to see a parade through the center of town.

What do you see when a pool tournament comes to town. Not even ONE poster hanging in any POOL ROOM.

Not even so-called promoters in pool really know how to promote. So forget it. No one wants to do the work to get asses in seats and advertisers on board. Pool is a car with no engine stalled in the desert.

 

[enzo]

Disclaimer, this is just a fantasy thought and not reality. Not yet anyway.

Introducing the new ABT Tour with over $1,000,000 in prize money each year.

8 Events - 64-96 Players per event - $2,000 entry fee per event.
(Remember $2,000 entry fee per event is what the IPT Qualifiers charged and they got it so YES it is possible.)

The Players will only be ABP Player Members + up to 32 qualified players from the National Regional Tour System (NRTS). (Yeah, the NRTS is also just a fantasy but entirely possible.)

The payouts at each event would pay 24 places of the field and be 100% payback.

1st $20,000
2nd $14,000
3rd $12,000
4th $10,000
5/6 $8,000 each
7/8 $6,000 each
9-12 $4,000 each
13-16 $3,000 each
17-24 $2,000 each

OK, now that the players are paid how do expenses get covered and what about and end of year points prize fund for the players?

That's an easy answer, just ask any experienced tour promoter that has been promoting and running events for 20 years or more.

Were would the events be played? Easy Answer again, They would be played in existing POOL ROOMS. Believe it or not the pool rooms will even pay to have this in there locations.

What about ADDED MONIES? Well, in the beginning there would not be any but you do have to start from point A to get to point B. Simply put, if the events are promoted well and advertised correctly the sponsors will come. It may take a little bit of negotiations but they will come. Heck, I even know a guy who knows a guy that has an Uncle's Cousins Brother that already has a ton of sponsors that would be willing to join in on this venture to get the ball rolling + that guy has all the contacts needed to make it work and with a little help from some of the players and a few others like Mark Griffin or even Charlie Williams this could get HUGE fast!

Me thinks Mark G. should call my friends Uncle's Cousins Brother to discuss this and get it moving fast. Oh and maybe Johnny Archer should call him to.

Other monies can come from merchandising, spectators, raffles, fees to host locations. PPV's and on and on and on to make this a reality. All the players have to do is have just a little faith and trust with monetary verification and say YES we will play or atleast sit down and discuss it.

i like fantasy thoughts. mine is to have a great tour that everyone wants to be on... let only a limited number of players on..... and let names like oscar dominguez, max eberle, svb, and louis ulrich play.... put an emphasis on players that have a marketability and perhaps education, and dont emphasize talent as much... the point has definitely come to try something new people. id also like to see players like keith playing.... anybody that will stir things up in a friendly way, and make things entertaining.

 

[geno]

Some people have no vision. But I can not fault you for that as you have never ran a tour. Most people do not understand that POOL in not like any other sport and there can absolutely be no comparison of pool to another sport in my mind.

Regarding your statement of "Not even so-called promoters in pool really know how to promote. So forget it. No one wants to do the work to get asses in seats and advertisers on board." I say some people do not understand that you can not waste too much money on promoting the sport to those that are not interested. I saw an event last weekend that had almost 400 players and many, many, spectators and not one flyer was ever put outside of a pool room or in a non players hands. + The sponsors came out in droves to help this event and it was truly a success in every aspect.

Anyway, I do not want to get into a heated argument with you about this John as I know you are very passionate about your thoughts.

However, I do have to say this. The sport of pool has everything it needs and will need for future growth. It has it right now and it has had it for a long time. The BIG problem is that nobody has been able to pull it all together. However, if the players are willing to take and educated risk at starting a new pro tour with underlying qualifying events on something like the NTRS it would be a huge step in the right direction and it would have a good chance of survival. BUT if they do nothing to take that step then they are doomed.

In every sport that works the money to pay the players comes from advertisers. Rarely if ever is there any successful truly professional circuit where the all the money comes from the players. Only in something like poker where every person thinks he can be Chris Moneymaker is the prize fund totally player funded.

In pool the expenses are the rake. No way that the players can afford to fade the continued expenses so that all the money ends up in the hands of the few.

The PGA works because they get corporate America to foot the bill and constantly bring in money enough to fund most of the top 100 players. Corporate America knows that they will get the absolute best of the best and their logos splashed all over the place for a solid weekend and for weeks/months prior depending on the profile of the event.

Pool. I would make a 2:1 bet with most anybody that if we walked a half mile perimeter of any professional event, INCLUDING the US OPEN which has been in the same spot for 15 years or so, that we couldn't find 100 people who knew the following two things, A that a tournament is happening and B five players who are in it.

We asked the BCA to provide us with materials to use so that we could go and canvas the local bar scene in Charlotte when the BCA Expo and 9 Ball pro event was there in 2008. NOTHING. They did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help us to promote the existence of a professional tournament in Charlotte.

Nothing.

Remember the old days when the circus was coming?

What did you see?

You saw posters everywhere, you saw local businesses offering discount tickets, you got to see a parade through the center of town.

What do you see when a pool tournament comes to town. Not even ONE poster hanging in any POOL ROOM.

Not even so-called promoters in pool really know how to promote. So forget it. No one wants to do the work to get asses in seats and advertisers on board. Pool is a car with no engine stalled in the desert.

 

[geno]

After further thought I think the payouts should be changed to:

$60,000 for 1st Place
$25,000 for 2nd Place
$18,00 for 3rd Place
$10,000 for 4th Place
$5,000 for 5/6 places
$2,500 for 7/8 places

With these payouts we can get some backers involved in putting up entry fees for the players.

Disclaimer, this is just a fantasy thought and not reality. Not yet anyway.

Introducing the new ABT Tour with over $1,000,000 in prize money each year.

8 Events - 64-96 Players per event - $2,000 entry fee per event.
(Remember $2,000 entry fee per event is what the IPT Qualifiers charged and they got it so YES it is possible.)

The Players will only be ABP Player Members + up to 32 qualified players from the National Regional Tour System (NRTS). (Yeah, the NRTS is also just a fantasy but entirely possible.)

The payouts at each event would pay 24 places of the field and be 100% payback.

1st $20,000
2nd $14,000
3rd $12,000
4th $10,000
5/6 $8,000 each
7/8 $6,000 each
9-12 $4,000 each
13-16 $3,000 each
17-24 $2,000 each

OK, now that the players are paid how do expenses get covered and what about and end of year points prize fund for the players?

That's an easy answer, just ask any experienced tour promoter that has been promoting and running events for 20 years or more.

Were would the events be played? Easy Answer again, They would be played in existing POOL ROOMS. Believe it or not the pool rooms will even pay to have this in there locations.

What about ADDED MONIES? Well, in the beginning there would not be any but you do have to start from point A to get to point B. Simply put, if the events are promoted well and advertised correctly the sponsors will come. It may take a little bit of negotiations but they will come. Heck, I even know a guy who knows a guy that has an Uncle's Cousins Brother that already has a ton of sponsors that would be willing to join in on this venture to get the ball rolling + that guy has all the contacts needed to make it work and with a little help from some of the players and a few others like Mark Griffin or even Charlie Williams this could get HUGE fast!

Me thinks Mark G. should call my friends Uncle's Cousins Brother to discuss this and get it moving fast. Oh and maybe Johnny Archer should call him to.

Other monies can come from merchandising, spectators, raffles, fees to host locations. PPV's and on and on and on to make this a reality. All the players have to do is have just a little faith and trust with monetary verification and say YES we will play or atleast sit down and discuss it.

 

[JB Cases]

Geno,

How do you know what I have and have not done regarding tournaments and tours? I have been in this business for 20 years and involved on a lot of levels that you surely don't know about.

I had vision. I have put forth at least 20 ideas on this forum as to how a tour could work. Now I see that the reality is that all there is in pool is big dreams with no action.

Pool is a small time. Not only is it small time and poor but it's up against too much for the American consumer to spend their leisure time and disposable income on.

So put me in the camp of I will believe it when I see it. If the WPBA couldn't survive when they had a solid product then I have no hope for the men who can't agree on anything.

Good luck to you. I hope you make it happen. If so you're a hero. If not, well then let me offer you the first "I told you so". Nothing would make me happier than for you to make me eat those words. I'd love it if you can make professional pool something worthwhile. I'd sure like to be able to name-drop when the pros I know are on TV and the whole bar is riveted to their seat watching what will happen. Now if pool is on TV then I might get in a quick "I know that guy" before seven other people ask to change the channel.

 

[Morgantownfats]

I think they should bring Mike Janis on board to run the tour, He's a proven tour director.

 

[geno]

John, I know some of what you have done and I have known you for most of those 20 years you have been around. Re your statement of "I have put forth at least 20 ideas on this forum as to how a tour could work" means zilch towards actually doing something to make it work. Personally I have done 20 of the ideas I have thought of to promote pool and most of them worked.

Re your statement of "Pool is a small time. Not only is it small time and poor but it's up against too much for the American consumer to spend their leisure time and disposable income on." The demographics in pool, specifically the demographics with the pool community are great. No need to step outside of that box to get this done properly and why on earth wold we expect the average American consumer to ever be interested. They never have been and probably never will be.


RE: pool on TV. No need for that at all. Not now anyway and maybe not ever. We have Live Steaming like TAR and the Big Truck Show and Video Tapes like Accu-Stats which can bring in more revenue in the long run than TV has ever done for pool in a whole. Of course Major Movie Productions are the exception to this rule. I have seen the numbers for TV as far as revenues go for the players and event produces and I would bet that over the same time frame it takes to produce a TV event and have it aired most regional tours make more profits than that TV event promoter will. In fact I know they do. TV production is takes a lot of time and planning and a ton of upfront money with very little return in the time frame it takes to do it.

PS. I doubt I will ever be able to make you eat your words on this but this is just a fantasy so I can at least dream about it.

Take care, I am out of here................

Geno,

How do you know what I have and have not done regarding tournaments and tours? I have been in this business for 20 years and involved on a lot of levels that you surely don't know about.

I had vision. I have put forth at least 20 ideas on this forum as to how a tour could work. Now I see that the reality is that all there is in pool is big dreams with no action.

Pool is a small time. Not only is it small time and poor but it's up against too much for the American consumer to spend their leisure time and disposable income on.

So put me in the camp of I will believe it when I see it. If the WPBA couldn't survive when they had a solid product then I have no hope for the men who can't agree on anything.

Good luck to you. I hope you make it happen. If so you're a hero. If not, well then let me offer you the first "I told you so". Nothing would make me happier than for you to make me eat those words. I'd love it if you can make professional pool something worthwhile. I'd sure like to be able to name-drop when the pros I know are on TV and the whole bar is riveted to their seat watching what will happen. Now if pool is on TV then I might get in a quick "I know that guy" before seven other people ask to change the channel.

 

[JB Cases]

John, I know some of what you have done and I have known you for most of those 20 years you have been around. Re your statement of "I have put forth at least 20 ideas on this forum as to how a tour could work" means zilch towards actually doing something to make it work.

It only spoke to the fact that you said I have no vision.

Re your statement of "Pool is a small time. Not only is it small time and poor but it's up against too much for the American consumer to spend their leisure time and disposable income on." The demographics in pool, specifically the demographics with the pool community are great. No need to step outside of that box to get this done properly and why on earth wold we expect the average American consumer to ever be interested. They never have been and probably never will be.

There was a time when pool tournament results were front page news. There was a time when ABC broadcast high profile challenge matches and those matches were some of highest rated broadcasts at the time. There was a time when people took up playing pool because they were inspired to do so by pool gaining high visibility through things like The Color of Money. I have seen Kelly Fisher get constantly interrupted at dinner with people wanting her autograph. The interest is there. The marketing is not.

RE: pool on TV. No need for that at all. Not now anyway and maybe not ever. We have Live Steaming like TAR and the Big Truck Show and Video Tapes like Accu-Stats which can bring in more revenue in the long run than TV has ever done for pool in a whole. Of course Major Movie Productions are the exception to this rule. I have seen the numbers for TV as far as revenues go for the players and event produces and I would bet that over the same time frame it takes to produce a TV event and have it aired most regional tours make more profits than that TV event promoter will. In fact I know they do. TV production is takes a lot of time and planning and a ton of upfront money with very little return in the time frame it takes to do it.

Live streaming barely breaks 2000 viewers for the best matchups and then ONLY when it's free. I will let Justin handle this one.

PS. I doubt I will ever be able to make you eat your words on this but this is just a fantasy so I can at least dream about it.

Sure but when you fantasize about it on the open forum then expect a reality check.

I have fantasized about how I would flat out OWN pool and make it profitable many times. With a lot of practical concepts. The place where is all fails is cohesiveness and reliability among the "professionals". It's not there in this gunslinging dog-eat-dog game.

 

[JB Cases]

I think they should bring Mike Janis on board to run the tour, He's a proven tour director. also there needs to be some kind of corporate sponsorship. I know the usual industry sponsors will jump on board but to get the big pay days with the GUARANTEED money you will need a big sponsor, and I know for the big corporate sponsors to get involved you need the tv coverage and we all know how mens pool and tv get along so well. We need a guy like Bill Gates to take up pool and sponsor some events.:thumbup:

Mike Janis is the perfect example of someone who tried with a common sense plan that flat failed because the industry is just too small time.

National United Tour System. The N.U.T.S. tour. Cute huh? Mike had a SOLID plan that would have used all the existing regional tours to feed into a larger system that ultimately fed into a pro tour.

Fail.

Why?

No support.

BCA screwed him. The industry failed him. The players failed him. The tours failed him.

People failed him.

 

[geno]

There was a time when pool tournament results were front page news. There was a time when ABC broadcast high profile challenge matches and those matches were some of highest rated broadcasts at the time. There was a time when people took up playing pool because they were inspired to do so by pool gaining high visibility through things like The Color of Money. I have seen Kelly Fisher get constantly interrupted at dinner with people wanting her autograph. The interest is there. The marketing is not.

Yes, there was a time when all this was true but there was also a time when Dinosaurs roamed the earth but just as the dinosaurs past on so did the time for pool to the average US consumer. + YOU CAN NOT MARKET A PRODUCT THAT DOES NOT EXIST! THERE IS NO PRO TOUR therefore there is NOTHING TO MARKET.

 

[geno]

Mike Janis is the perfect example of someone who tried with a common sense plan that flat failed because the industry is just too small time.

National United Tour System. The N.U.T.S. tour. Cute huh? Mike had a SOLID plan that would have used all the existing regional tours to feed into a larger system that ultimately fed into a pro tour.

Fail.

Why?

No support.

BCA screwed him. The industry failed him. The players failed him. The tours failed him.

People failed him.

John, nobody failed him. But yeah, the BCA did screw him and a few others that year. Everything mentioned above failed pool not him. That system was intended for the betterment of the sport in a whole not just him. Also, there were some that did try and and there were some supporters and sponsors that did exactly as they said they would but there just was not enough of those good people.

But that's just my humble opinion.

 

[JCIN]

Mike Janis is the perfect example of someone who tried with a common sense plan that flat failed because the industry is just too small time.

National United Tour System. The N.U.T.S. tour. Cute huh? Mike had a SOLID plan that would have used all the existing regional tours to feed into a larger system that ultimately fed into a pro tour.

Fail.

Why?

No support.

BCA screwed him. The industry failed him. The players failed him. The tours failed him.

People failed him.

Is it possible a whole bunch of people were not excited about putting their financial well being in Mike Janis"s hands? The pool world is too small and people have long memories.

I don't run a tour but there is no one in the pool world I am gonna let run my business but me. I suspect you are the same. You cant build something on the come. Someone needs the money up front and then people will get in line.

 

[geno]

Is it possible a whole bunch of people were not excited about putting their financial well being in Mike Janis"s hands? The pool world is too small and people have long memories.

JCIN, I do no know what you are implying with this statement but Janis has never once screwed a player out of money or any sponsors or business associates. If you know something different please share any facts you have. Then there was that fact that Janis never wanted to hold any of the money from the NUTS as that was supposed to be a part the BCA's job in that program. And not onece si he ever ask anyone to put there financial well being or there business well being in his hands.

Honestly JCIN, somebody could say that you have made a lot of money off the players and you screwed them out of there end. You sold tapes and PPV's without giving any money to the players from the profits off off the entertainment they provided. You can't cry broke all the time and claim you don't make money off of the products you produce and build studios at the same time. BUT, I really don't think you actually did exactly that but I have heard this on more than one occasion but I just shrugged it off as rumors from haters.

JCIN, facts can easily get twisted as you see above. And for the record the above is simply just a BS analogy and has no bearing on the truth, Right. Personally I like the whole concept of what you have done with the challenge matches and the live streaming and I wish you much success but please don't throw stones at something you know only a little about.

I'm, just sayin....

 

[JCIN]

JCIN, I do no know what you are implying with this statement but Janis has never once screwed a player out of money or any sponsors or business associates. If you know something different please share any facts you have. Then there was that fact that Janis never wanted to hold any of the money from the NUTS as that was supposed to be a part the BCA's job in that program. And not onece si he ever ask anyone to put there financial well being or there business well being in his hands.

Honestly JCIN, somebody could say that you have made a lot of money off the players and you screwed them out of there end. You sold tapes and PPV's without giving any money to the players from the profits off off the entertainment they provided. You can't cry broke all the time and claim you don't make money off of the products you produce and build studios at the same time. BUT, I really don't think you actually did exactly that but I have heard this on more than one occasion but I just shrugged it off as rumors from haters.

JCIN, facts can easily get twisted as you see above. And for the record the above is simply just a BS analogy and has no bearing on the truth, Right. Personally I like the whole concept of what you have done with the challenge matches and the live streaming and I wish you much success but please don't throw stones at something you know only a little about.

I'm, just sayin....

LOL. Where did I say Janis ever screwed anyone out of money ? You are the one who jumped to that conclusion. I don't have a problem with Mike Janis but others do and it has nothing to do with money.

As for your other statements you simply have no clue what you are talking about. As for putting the studio together it is called a credit card. Perhaps you have heard of them? Businesses borrow money to build things in hopes of generating new revenue. The model of going on the road was leading nowhere so we took a big chance to try and create something that would work. As for players saying this or that I would be more than happy to discuss in public any specific claim as long as the player supposedly making that claim is the one who brings it up. I'm easy to find and completely at ease with what I have done and how I have treated players.

It's funny, whenever a player or person claims how much I have to be making I start explaining what expenses are involved and the work required to do an event. After about minute one their eyes glaze over. I also ask you this: If I am getting so rich how come no one else is doing what I do? I am not that smart and I sure can't make any players not play for someone else. Every once in awhile we do hit a lick and that allows us to survive and try to keep going. If that makes me a bad guy then so be it.

I would be willing to bet you also don't hear about all the things we do for players. In May I gave one of my staff rooms to a player for the entire BCAPL event. For free. He may or may not ever play in another one of our events but he was in a bad spot, I had the ability to help so I did. I could tell a lot of those stories. Go get anyone talking shit about how I screw over players and we can have that conversation right here.

Also I have said a lot of things but you have never heard me "cry broke". I base my judgements on what to do and not to do on how much sense it makes and the risk it entails. If I dont want to spend $2000 to go do some event or pay someone some number they want it's not because I'm broke its because it doesnt make sense.

 

[JB Cases]

Is it possible a whole bunch of people were not excited about putting their financial well being in Mike Janis"s hands? The pool world is too small and people have long memories.

I don't run a tour but there is no one in the pool world I am gonna let run my business but me. I suspect you are the same. You cant build something on the come. Someone needs the money up front and then people will get in line.

Everything is possible. I am not sure how anyone would have been putting their financial well being into Mike's hands. He proposed a simple system whereby the already existing (at the time) efforts of the on going tours would simply combine to provide a steady influx of players into a national system which would produce a credible feeder system for a pro tour.

Maybe I forget the exact specifics but I don't remember that Mike was asking for money or for people to elect him commissioner or anything. He just wanted support and cohesion.

I have a long memory too and I don't remember that Mike has ever done any harm to this sport. Seems to me that he put an awful lot of miles on his truck over a lot of years just like many others beside him did to keep amateur level competition alive in the United States.

 

[JCIN]

Everything is possible. I am not sure how anyone would have been putting their financial well being into Mike's hands. He proposed a simple system whereby the already existing (at the time) efforts of the on going tours would simply combine to provide a steady influx of players into a national system which would produce a credible feeder system for a pro tour.

Maybe I forget the exact specifics but I don't remember that Mike was asking for money or for people to elect him commissioner or anything. He just wanted support and cohesion.

I have a long memory too and I don't remember that Mike has ever done any harm to this sport. Seems to me that he put an awful lot of miles on his truck over a lot of years just like many others beside him did to keep amateur level competition alive in the United States.

Like I said I have nothing but love for Mike. I just know that the same drive and go go go type attitude that makes him great at what he does can make building a coalition with a bunch of people difficult.

I did not mean to cast aspersions on Mike Janis in any way. I have a hell of a lot of respect for what he has done and the effort he put forth to do it. My intent was to make the point that anytime "cant we all get along " comes up someone eventually is asked to take one for the team on faith and follow someone else's judgement on certain matters. That is a lot to ask in the pool industry.