The open part of U.S. Open

Skess

Skess

Another sidearmer...
Silver Member
What is everyone's feelings on lesser players throwing their money into the tournament when they know they have no chance to win?

In every tournament, there are favorites and there is dead money, to steal a poker term. But is it different because it's the U.S. Open?

Using the rankings I've seen on here, my top game would be a solid "B" level.
B-Player
-Able to run 1 to 3 racks.
-Average run is 5-7 balls.
-With ball in hand will get out form the 5, 2 out of 3 times.
-Most of the time a "B" player will play a "safety" which maybe hit easily 2 out of 3 times.
-A typical inning will end with a missed shot, a fair safety, or a won game.

Would I be doing the tournament and the top players a disservice if I decided to try it some year? And if you think it is a problem, what's the lowest level player you think should try it?
 
Thats what makes it such a great tourney....its OPEN TO ANYONE. What other sport can you put your money up and play against pro players from all around the world. I think its great. JMO.

Southpaw
 
I'd do it at any level just for the fun/experience...

Even top pros go in knowing the odds of them winning are very slim...
 
Its also a case of supply and demand. Realisticly there are 50 or so guys that have a legitimate shot at the Open every year, but the entry fee is so low that anyone with $500 can go and afford to play just to say they played. You have almost 10,000 SCRATCH golfers that go out every summer and try for a few spots in the US Open in golf that have no chance at it (me being one of them a couple of times). If you could pay $500 to play in the US Open in golf then there would be 500,000 entries. If you raise it to $10,000 then there would still be 100,000 entries (me being one) just to say I played in a US Open on an Open course alongside the best in the world. Conversely, if you raise the entry to the pool version of the US Open then you are going to lose ALL of the amateurs and most of the pros thereby dropping the purse and diluting the product. I think you MUST have the amateur factor to keep the purse attractive enough for most of the pros. If you lose the amateur money then the added money has to make up for it and unfortunately pool cannot sustain all professional events for the most part in this manner.
 
Isn't it limited to 256 entrants? If so, I'd hate to see a legitimate player sit it out because I wanted to dog balls in front of the pro's.
 
Skess said:
Would I be doing the tournament and the top players a disservice if I decided to try it some year? And if you think it is a problem, what's the lowest level player you think should try it?
Click to expand...

......Hey fella- If you want to play, play. The Top Players want your contribution and next level guys want a chance st someone they might beat. Everybody wants you-Play!
 
Skess said:
What is everyone's feelings on lesser players throwing their money into the tournament when they know they have no chance to win?

In every tournament, there are favorites and there is dead money, to steal a poker term. But is it different because it's the U.S. Open?

Using the rankings I've seen on here, my top game would be a solid "B" level.
B-Player
-Able to run 1 to 3 racks.
-Average run is 5-7 balls.
-With ball in hand will get out form the 5, 2 out of 3 times.
-Most of the time a "B" player will play a "safety" which maybe hit easily 2 out of 3 times.
-A typical inning will end with a missed shot, a fair safety, or a won game.

Would I be doing the tournament and the top players a disservice if I decided to try it some year? And if you think it is a problem, what's the lowest level player you think should try it?
Click to expand...

You might be doing them a service, LOL. Seeded players are supposedly rewarded an easier route at least in most sports I know. So you might end up playing a top-tier player on your first-round. Good for him, bad for you. :D
 
Skess said:
Using the rankings I've seen on here, my top game would be a solid "B" level.
B-Player
-Able to run 1 to 3 racks.
-Average run is 5-7 balls.
-With ball in hand will get out form the 5, 2 out of 3 times.
-Most of the time a "B" player will play a "safety" which maybe hit easily 2 out of 3 times.
-A typical inning will end with a missed shot, a fair safety, or a won game.

QUOTE]
Just curious where you got this rating guideline from. Points one and three don't seem to have much correlation. Possibly run 3 racks but only get out from the 5 2 out of 3 times? Seems a little off to me...
Click to expand...
 
Skess said:
What is everyone's feelings on lesser players throwing their money into the tournament when they know they have no chance to win?

In every tournament, there are favorites and there is dead money, to steal a poker term. But is it different because it's the U.S. Open?

Using the rankings I've seen on here, my top game would be a solid "B" level.
B-Player
-Able to run 1 to 3 racks.
-Average run is 5-7 balls.
-With ball in hand will get out form the 5, 2 out of 3 times.
-Most of the time a "B" player will play a "safety" which maybe hit easily 2 out of 3 times.
-A typical inning will end with a missed shot, a fair safety, or a won game.

Would I be doing the tournament and the top players a disservice if I decided to try it some year? And if you think it is a problem, what's the lowest level player you think should try it?
Click to expand...

at any level of play, if you want to better yourself, you have to play tougher opponents. i agree with a previous poster that this is an OPEN event and you should take a chance if you want. your money is as good as anyone elses and what better way to enjoy the event than to be in the middle of it. you should not feel inadequate playing - everyone starts somewhere, this event is just one of the more wanted :D
 
Filler Players

Every tournament needs filler players.... There is not a tour or tournament that would be succesful if it wasn't for filler players... If it wasn't for sorry players like my self there wouldn't be many tournaments.... Granted the Challenge Of Champions is great.. It is by invatation.... Lets see you find 256 Pro Players all show up and make those great payouts.. It just will not happen... FL Tour , how great would it be if you didn't get 10 to 20 to 30. Rail beaters.... Same with the Joss Tour.... Regular players showing up.. Making a great tournament and there donation.... I have shot in the Open
twice. It was great.... Got 1 match from the money both times.... One time I beat Mike Lebron,, I know he is older now, But for me a decent win... My true highlight was being down 10-2 to Ron Park... I win 11-10.
I will never forget that... Thats how memories are made... So I feel anyone who wants to should play.....
 
It takes a lot for me to come out from my lurking shadows... but this did it!

Life is to be lived. You decide what to fill your life with. I didn't see anyone post and say "I played in the Open and wish I never did".

I plan to play next year and every year after that. I have a training plan and have been working the plan for three years. While I don't expect to be a contender the first time out, pool has so many variables, anything can happen in a match.

That's why we love it.
 
I would like to dog balls in front of the Pros and Spectatorrs alike.

Would anyone be willing to sponsor my entry fee into this event ?


If somebody sponsors me I will inturn help to sponsor 2 other players into the event by giving them $250 each towards their entry fee.
For this I would only ask for 20% of their winnings after their expenses and split that with the person that sponsors me.
 
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If money is no object go for it.

MikeJanis said:
I would like to dog balls in front of the Pros and Spectatorrs alike.
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Mike, you already do this every weekend at your viking tour. LOL-----Have to give you a hard time.



P.S. If I could afford the entry fee and the cost of all the expenses I would surely play. My plans are to one day be able to put myself into that tournament whether I have a prayer or not of winning one single match.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeJanis
I would like to dog balls in front of the Pros and Spectatorrs alike.



Snap9 said:
Mike, you already do this every weekend at your viking tour. LOL-----Have to give you a hard time.
Click to expand...


You have me all wrong. When you watch me play in my tourneys you need to look for the finer points in my game. By paying very close attention you will notice that I am not dogging it as much as I am dumping it. It's a fine line between the two. To me, I look at playing in my tournaments like a fishing expedition. Every once in a while I hook a big one because he can't tell the difference between dogging and dumping.

LOL

If you would have seem me play banks last weekend against Monroe Jones or Chavez you would swear that I was a champion.
 
Skess said:
What is everyone's feelings on lesser players throwing their money into the tournament when they know they have no chance to win?

In every tournament, there are favorites and there is dead money, to steal a poker term. But is it different because it's the U.S. Open?

Using the rankings I've seen on here, my top game would be a solid "B" level.
B-Player
-Able to run 1 to 3 racks.
-Average run is 5-7 balls.
-With ball in hand will get out form the 5, 2 out of 3 times.
-Most of the time a "B" player will play a "safety" which maybe hit easily 2 out of 3 times.
-A typical inning will end with a missed shot, a fair safety, or a won game.

Would I be doing the tournament and the top players a disservice if I decided to try it some year? And if you think it is a problem, what's the lowest level player you think should try it?
Click to expand...

I heard that if you enter, you get a pass to watch all week, so a lot of non-world beaters play. I don't know if it's true, but that's what I heard. I look at the field each year and it's pretty strong and it's also pretty deep. Lots of name brand players. I don't think you see too many truly "B" players.

Still, going into the tournament you want to at least make a competitive showing. I personally think a player should be able to at least beat the 9 ball ghost on a fairly tight table. You want to be able to give an expert player a match. So I personally think it would be better to work your way into it, set your own personal goals on a local and regional level, and see if you can work your way up the ladder.

As far as big tournaments, I was thinking Reno or Derby City would be a better place to start. That BCA Olympics 10 ball open looks like a great event. Once you have a few of those under your belt, you'll be able to answer your own question.

Chris
 
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Don't Forget To Tip Your Waitress....... and TD

Skess said:
What is everyone's feelings on lesser players throwing their money into the tournament when they know they have no chance to win?

In every tournament, there are favorites and there is dead money, to steal a poker term. But is it different because it's the U.S. Open?
Click to expand...




Every big tournament such as the U.S. Open is a veritable seafood buffet for the top players and as such, a bountiful supply of Lobsters are needed.
Sign up and PLAY...... imo

Doug ( a 300+ lb. live Florida Lobster......... I play 'better' with drawn butter ) :)


*And, don't forget to offer a BIB.
 
mosconiac said:
Isn't it limited to 256 entrants? If so, I'd hate to see a legitimate player sit it out because I wanted to dog balls in front of the pro's.
Click to expand...

No worries there. Some tours limit their events to "established" pros and they don't draw 100 players. And of those players many are not good enough to win regional tours.

I can pretty much guarantee that no pro who wants to play in the US Open will have to sit out because of the field size.
 
Skess said:
What is everyone's feelings on lesser players throwing their money into the tournament when they know they have no chance to win?

In every tournament, there are favorites and there is dead money, to steal a poker term. But is it different because it's the U.S. Open?

Using the rankings I've seen on here, my top game would be a solid "B" level.
B-Player
-Able to run 1 to 3 racks.
-Average run is 5-7 balls.
-With ball in hand will get out form the 5, 2 out of 3 times.
-Most of the time a "B" player will play a "safety" which maybe hit easily 2 out of 3 times.
-A typical inning will end with a missed shot, a fair safety, or a won game.

Would I be doing the tournament and the top players a disservice if I decided to try it some year? And if you think it is a problem, what's the lowest level player you think should try it?
Click to expand...

Your game sounds solid enough. Do it for the experience, get the player's pass and hobnob with the world's best.

You know, we spend a lot of time on this board lamenting about the sorry state of pool and the low dollars and how our friends don't take it seriously because it's not a big time sport.

Think about the flip side. As Corvette pointed out, where else can you spend $500 and mix it up with the big boys? Where else can you play with the champions and play one or two of them? Hang out in the practice room with them? Be listed among them as a participant?

One GREAT thing about where pool is RIGHT NOW is that the pros are so accessible. So go for it and be part of it.

Being just a spectator is going to cost you anyway and so for a few hundred more you can jump that invisible barrier and BE a player for a few days.

I have always wanted to play in the Open. Had I not worked the event with my booth then I would have. Don't miss your opportunity.
 
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