This is all I have to say.

SpiderWebComm said:
Our sport doesn't do a good job in paying homage to our great players. When the Masters lets Nicklaus, Player, and Palmer tee off in the first grouping----- does ANYONE HERE ON AZB THINK THOSE OLD F's HAVE A PRAYER TO WIN!??!??? ANYONE? It's not the point. It's respect for the game and respect for the legends
...
If pool was more organized like golf, he probably would be able to play.
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This is a bit unfair. It seems to imply that champions should recieve perpetual invitaions, yet while the Masters does this many other tournaments do not. The Open which does not invite champions 60 years or older. Who's right ? I side with the Masters, but I would never argue that the Royal and Ancient has no respect for the game because Jack was not invited this year.

Dave
 
eezbank said:
I think the question should be more like...What have you done for the game in your lifetime. Not just the last ten years. I know if Gradys name is on the list of players he is going to draw a crowd. That's good for the promoter the fans, everyone wins. Grady is a fantastic player that has devoted his entire life to this game and played at a world class level for a good portion of it. If that doesn't "EARN" him an invitation what should? :confused:
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I don't disagree at all. Grady is an awesome player and has done a tremendous amount for the game. As I said before I admire his skill on the table and he certainly deserves to be an HOF'er. I guess I liken an invitational to other sports, though they require a greater degree of physical activity ie Jimmy Connors, John Mcenroe. and Bjorn Borge are roughly Grady's age and are not invited to play Wimbeldon nor do I think they want to. They retire gracefully and let the merit of their past performance stand as everyone remembers and don't want to sully their past accomplishments by getting beat in the first round of a tournament.

I would absolutely love to see a 14.1 or 9-ball or 1 pocket tourney with Rempe, Varner, Sigel, Matthews, Allen, et al. This is th here and now though and Schmidt, SVB, Duel et al have the potential to be the future Grady's and like other sports, that's who we need to support.

We all look at it differently. Maybe that's why Mizerak's Senior Tour was such a hit for a while. People get to see their heroes past.

Jim
 
Once again pool bites the hand that raised it; other sports invite Hall of Famer's who may/may not have a chance in hell of winning or playing but that's not the point.

By inviting a Hall of Famer/Legend you lend an aura of history and fan interest. When Jack Nicklaus shows up at a golf tournament nobody cares about his chance of winning. His presence helps bring out the fans generates interest in golf, autographs, memorabilia etc.

Maybe its already been tried and failed but it seems like there would be "X" spots set aside for legends of the game to compete and promote pool.

Sponsor's would have a booth where autographs could be signed and oh by the way they might increase interest in their products.

I'm watching the OPEN because Tom Watson is kicking A**.
 
accustatsfan said:
Once again pool bites the hand that raised it; other sports invite Hall of Famer's who may/may not have a chance in hell of winning or playing but that's not the point.

By inviting a Hall of Famer/Legend you lend an aura of history and fan interest. When Jack Nicklaus shows up at a golf tournament nobody cares about his chance of winning. His presence helps bring out the fans generates interest in golf, autographs, memorabilia etc.

Maybe its already been tried and failed but it seems like there would be "X" spots set aside for legends of the game to compete and promote pool.

Sponsor's would have a booth where autographs could be signed and oh by the way they might increase interest in their products.

I'm watching the OPEN because Tom Watson is kicking A**.
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TAP TAP TAP

well said and true.

And yes, I can't think of a sport/game that has been handicaped by so many poor decisons, failures, and dishonesty. This is however, a bigger problem than just Grady not getting an invite.
 
accustatsfan said:
Once again pool bites the hand that raised it; other sports invite Hall of Famer's who may/may not have a chance in hell of winning or playing but that's not the point.

By inviting a Hall of Famer/Legend you lend an aura of history and fan interest. When Jack Nicklaus shows up at a golf tournament nobody cares about his chance of winning. His presence helps bring out the fans generates interest in golf, autographs, memorabilia etc.

Maybe its already been tried and failed but it seems like there would be "X" spots set aside for legends of the game to compete and promote pool.

Sponsor's would have a booth where autographs could be signed and oh by the way they might increase interest in their products.

I'm watching the OPEN because Tom Watson is kicking A**.
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Tap. Tap. Tap. Grady should be playing. Period. Vagabond is WRONG.
 
I just want to point out that you can't burn your bridges, especially in pool where all the power is concentrated and everyone knows everyone!
 
Totally disrespectful for a man of Gradys stature.
It just makes you wonder what the F people are thinking sometimes.
And its a pride thing too, right, my feelings would be hurt the same.
 
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Im out of the loop, so I have to ask who is hosting the tournament?

Is it a UPA or WPA event? Or anyone else that you tried to get players not to support?

Just wondering if this could be the reason.

Woody
 
poolplayer2093 said:
i'd like to see you play him if you think he can't play a lick
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Out of respect to Grady and his past accomplishments I was only advising him to preserve his dignity and pride. I was not saying that I can play better than Grady or anybody here.I do not think that he has any right to question the decision of the owners of that tournament. Any body can question any body but no body is entitled for a reply/resonse.That tournament is owned and conducted by private individuals.They have right to decide whom they want to invite.They are not bound by any rules created by others and they will have their own rules.If it were a professional organization and if Grady belonged to that organization and if he was placed high in the anual rankings he then may be able to question their decision.But that tournament is owned by private individuals. Last year when Grady lamented about not being invited to the same world 14:1 ,one of the posters on AZB wrote saying that Grady could play in qualifiers if he still thought that he was a good player.In the last 15 years howmany AAA tournaments Grady played and in howmany of them he was placed in top 10 ? For crying out loud.

with regards your suggestion asking me to play Grady - I may surprise you with my response.2 years ago I threw a challenge on this Internet and also in person to some of the top pros to come to my place (Albuquerque),challenge me and take away my title for what ever bet up 50,000.00$.Some pros said that they will be coming but nobody showed up.That was a time limitted offer and is not applicable anymore.

This thread is on grady and It is not about me.I have respect for him and I like to see his golden years filled with happiness rather than harboring anger.

By the way, am I entitled to question you why you did not invite me for your daughter`s wedding? I don`t think so.:cool:
 
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Thanks

I wish to thank everyone for their opinions. I really have nothing else to say except my favorite quote of all time by the great Joe Louis: "If you has to tell em' who you is, you aint."
 
Invite

Grady is an Icon and always helps anyone to run tournaments and doesn't get paid so that reason alone he should always be invited. Never count other people's money because that's not the point. Plus people enjoy him. FastEddieF says go for it Grady.
 
jhendri2 said:
Grady,

I think you're one of the greatest players to have graced the table. I have an autographed cue ball from you prominantly displayed in my pool room. Honestly though, what have you done as far as tournament pool in the last 10 years that you think you should EARN an invitation?

Jim
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A bold statement and a good question. I for one enjoy watching Grady play and talking to him between matches. He may not have won any national events in recent years, but speaking for myself, he is a draw, a player who enhances any field, and a class act worthy of an invitation. What does he bring today?...if nothing else, surely his fans.

Seeing Grady at the Derby or US Open is something I look forward to every year. In what other sport can you approach Hall of Fame players and talk, get some wisdom from their years of experience or hear a story. The sport is enriched because of guys like Grady.
 
Exactly, and with due respect Vagabond, it almost sounds like you expect Grady to check himself into the nearest old folks home and sit on the veranda all day long with a blanket over his knees. If ya still got it, flaunt it.
We only live once.
 
True but......

smashmouth said:
lol, this is becoming an annual event
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Yes, this is not the first post of this nature. Let us not argue the merits of Grady's post or either side of the coin. As I mentioned in a previous post, this is indicitive of a larger problem in pool. The comments we make here just might be the begining to a debate on just what we want out of our sport/game/hobby (to each his own).
I, for one, like the posters comments about inviting the legends to the events. Baseball is a sport based on nastalgia and the most rich sports all follow suit. Pool is no different... just look at the threads here on pool stories (and photos) of yester year. We talk about it, but don't do anything about it when leaders of the sport turn on a living legend (for what ever the reason).

How many failed tours does there need to be? Pool related deaths? Seriously. The fact of the matter is there is no money in pool beacuse, except for us, the rest of the planet doesn't care. The market is too small. Period. Until Nike can sell pool shoes to 1 million consumers there won't be money in pool. But at the very least, we should have a sport we are proud of no?

I know less than nothing on why Grady is *****ing. At somepoint our actions individually will become the product of the group.
 
Sambuca and potato salad for all....

F'em Grady...

There were some comments made about the right of the tournament directors having the choice of who they can or do invite to a tournament, this is 100% true. I guess I look at things a bit differently.

Why do rooms/bars add on to a purse? Simple answer, because the added exposure and "asses in seats" generates revenue for said establishment. What's the added cost to the organizers for inviting ANYONE, not just Grady, that has an established following and proven track record of success to the tournament? As far as I can figure, nothing. Are you, as a tournament director, creating positive cash flow in making the decision to invite a player of this caliber? The answer is undeniably yes.

I may be wrong, I may be naive, but this game is different from golf or baseball as previous posters have eluded to and compared. This game knows little difference in age. At 35 it's hard to play professional baseball, at 45 it's damn near impossible...In this game, if your arm can swing like a pendulum and your eyes are clear, anyone can win at any time, at any age.
 
My only take on this is don't invite FLUFF players who can't spell straight pool IF you are going to NOT INVITE a LIVING LEGEND.

I think it's sad that Grady has to bring this up every year - I think it's really sad that the 14.1 "World Championship" is handled the way it is handled now. My take, don't invite anyone. Follow the WPA RULES on giving out spots per continent and EVERYONE else has to qualify.

Or don't even have qualifiers. Set up some kind of tournaments to establish RANK and take the top ranked players and that's that.

BUT IF you are going to invite living legends then it's disgraceful and shameful NOT to invite Grady. Now if Grady then goes to the event and pisses all over it then he could understand why he didn't get an invite the following year. It's hard to have it both ways. You can't piss all over the promoters and expect them to welcome you with open arms and invites. However IF you are qualified to be there and deserve a spot based on rank then I will be the first to donate to the legal fund if you are denied that spot for "political" reasons.
 
grady is still a draw and a competitve player. not many people know more about the game. he would be an asset to any tournament. the youngins have lost the concept of respect the elders. as mentioned palmer and nicholas played for years past their prime and all the attendees and the players wanted to meet and talk with them. it should be the same in pool. go grady.
 
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