To Mark Griffin:

TimKrazyMon

TimKrazyMon

Kid Delicious' Evil Twin
Silver Member
Mark,
After last year's event I heard you on the podcast speak of frustration,being pissed off, and ready to quit. I didn't get it then, but after perusing the endless stream of threads devoted to this year's "controversy", I do now. How you have had the patience to deal with everything you do and come back year after year, seemingly for more of the same, says volumes about what you are willing to do for pool. The Ko/Ralf/Shane matter was the perfect "damned if you do, damned if you don't" storm and there was no easy, slam dunk solution.

If this was the last straw, I would understand, but here's hoping you have a little more left in the tank. Pool needs more folks like you.
 

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TimKrazyMon said:
Mark,
After last year's event I heard you on the podcast speak of frustration,being pissed off, and ready to quit. I didn't get it then, but after perusing the endless stream of threads devoted to this year's "controversy", I do now. How you have had the patience to deal with everything you do and come back year after year, seemingly for more of the same, says volumes about what you are willing to do for pool. The Ko/Ralf/Shane matter was the perfect "damned if you do, damned if you don't" storm and there was no easy, slam dunk solution.

If this was the last straw, I would understand, but here's hoping you have a little more left in the tank. Pool needs more folks like you.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more!

As a fan, player, and consumer of pool, I would really hate to lose this event.
 
Mark is a good guy and does more for pool than people know. I do not think there was a good solution and it was the semi's coming out of a round robin so someone should play and I think when the rules do not mention a solution for a circumstance something has to be decided. I hope Mark keep's on fighting the good fight.

Thanks for all you do Mark.
 
TimKrazyMon said:
Mark,
After last year's event I heard you on the podcast speak of frustration,being pissed off, and ready to quit. I didn't get it then, but after perusing the endless stream of threads devoted to this year's "controversy", I do now. How you have had the patience to deal with everything you do and come back year after year, seemingly for more of the same, says volumes about what you are willing to do for pool. The Ko/Ralf/Shane matter was the perfect "damned if you do, damned if you don't" storm and there was no easy, slam dunk solution.

If this was the last straw, I would understand, but here's hoping you have a little more left in the tank. Pool needs more folks like you.
Click to expand...

Great post. I have always been a fan of Mark and CSI and now that I've picked up my cue again I hope to be involved at least as a player in some of the leagues and things.
 
Very good original post.

Mark's excellence is, to some extent, a function of his long history of paying attention to the feedback of those who play, watch and spend money on his events.

I'd guess that, after the smoke clears, this incident is just a learning experience for Mark, and he'll go on, but should he choose to walk away, I'll respect his decision and thank him for what he has meant to our pro pool.

It's for Mark to decide whether the inevitable headaches that come with producing and running events are worth his trouble. Unlike the decision forced upon him when Souquet's unprofessionalism backed Mark into a corner, Mark will be able to give this decision some time and consideration.

Selfishly, I hope Mark persists, and he can count on my support to the extent he needs it, but as his friend, I hope he does what makes sense for him.
 
Mark is top shelf in my book! While many have come and gone (often with a soiled rep) Mark's been doing this since God was a little boy and his record speaks for itself.

:thumbup:
 
"You guys are just a bunch of haters. I mean, you even hate on the haters!"

:p

All funnin' aside, I agree -- Mark's top shelf. A very, VERY interesting person to chat with. Whenever I see him, I always like to greet him with a very concerned face, my finger pointing at something non-existent on his shirt, and when he looks down, I do the "made you look" thing. And he falls for it EVERY TIME. :p (Or else, he's patronizing me by my being such a simpleton with the oldest trick in the book. :o )

-Sean
 
TimKrazyMon said:
Mark,
After last year's event I heard you on the podcast speak of frustration,being pissed off, and ready to quit. I didn't get it then, but after perusing the endless stream of threads devoted to this year's "controversy", I do now. How you have had the patience to deal with everything you do and come back year after year, seemingly for more of the same, says volumes about what you are willing to do for pool. The Ko/Ralf/Shane matter was the perfect "damned if you do, damned if you don't" storm and there was no easy, slam dunk solution.

If this was the last straw, I would understand, but here's hoping you have a little more left in the tank. Pool needs more folks like you.
Click to expand...

Not sure I've ever read a more spot-on post in the history of this forum. Reps to you, sir. :thumbup:
 
"it's just not fun anymore"....

i wish Mark had made a statement Friday night - it would have saved 14 new threads & a lot of rhetoric & conceivably put this to bed ASAP.

conversely, i'm sure that Mark is taking this time to qualify his "consumers". cross-referencing AZBers vs PPVers & those on-site. those who are actually, literally INVESTED in his events, and his sponsors' products. its stats....

those opinionated, have a fundamental right on behalf of pool ethics, but if those have never contributed, then their opinion is discounted.

PL <---- gonna beat TimKarzyMon in the head, for starting BCA thread #58!!!!
 
TimKrazyMon said:
Mark,
After last year's event I heard you on the podcast speak of frustration,being pissed off, and ready to quit. I didn't get it then, but after perusing the endless stream of threads devoted to this year's "controversy", I do now. How you have had the patience to deal with everything you do and come back year after year, seemingly for more of the same, says volumes about what you are willing to do for pool. The Ko/Ralf/Shane matter was the perfect "damned if you do, damned if you don't" storm and there was no easy, slam dunk solution.

If this was the last straw, I would understand, but here's hoping you have a little more left in the tank. Pool needs more folks like you.
Click to expand...

Agreed, 1000%.

Thank you for all that you do, Mark.
 
Very well said TimKrazyMon, great post. :thumbup:

I too am appreciative for what Mark has done for pool, and even though I wasn't able to make it out this year, I look forward to making it to many more of these events run by him in the future.

-Brian
 
What I know about Mark

Mark has been in the pool business forever. Him and my brother and me were friends in Anchorage starting back in the mid 1960's and I remember him running his own pool hall in Anchorage and going all over the state doing table work and installs. He had a very good reputation in this state for being dependable, fair, honest, hard working and just plain smart. Eventually he opened the best pool hall Alaska ever had or will have. We all went our own way and I have not seen Mark in at least 40 years, but now that I have retired and started playing pool again I will look him up when I get to Vegas. I believe his business dealings include investments in tables, sponsorships, tournaments, leagues, and all things pool, etc. I would say he is a big reason pool does as well as it does. We should be thanking him and wishing him well. If anyone can do a better job at promoting a dieing sport and it's image then have at it. Best wishes Mark.

Steve & Ce
 
Could Not Agree More

Thank you so much TimKrazyMon for putting my exact thoughts into words.

I also thank Mark for all he has done and is still doing. Keep strong.
 
Hey SIXPACK,

Ditto. This will be my last year in the French Quarter league here in New Orleans. I am joining the BCA league and hope to see you perhaps at one of CSI's many events in the future.

Thank you Mr. Griffin for keeping pool fun and available for everyone. And tell that Ozzy guy to do some work will 'ya!

Odysseus
 
Way, way too much was made of the incident. Mark didn't create the situation, was forced to make a decision and he made it. He's the man putting up the money and making it happen. Anyone who had a problem with it should get out their wallet and run their own tournament.

Nobody makes 100% perfect decisions. Most whiners and *****ers rarely do much in life and therefore are rarely in a position to have to make important decisions. Hard to be wrong when you don't do anything. Mark didn't get to where he is in life without having strong shoulders. I suspect he'll be fine. I don't necessarily agree with everything he does but I do agree that overall, he is one of the few positive forces in pool right now. All the armchair quarterbacks should consider who would step up and take his place were he to step aside, or conversely, what the consequences of the void would be.
 
Doesn't matter what the call was

It doesn't matter what the call was. It is Mark's call. His Investment, His Business, His Rules.
 
I was there for almost two weeks. Like the sign says "welcome to the greatest tournament in the world!". Another great job Mark Griffin and a very capable staff. Tres Kane
 
TimKrazyMon said:
Mark,
After last year's event I heard you on the podcast speak of frustration,being pissed off, and ready to quit. I didn't get it then, but after perusing the endless stream of threads devoted to this year's "controversy", I do now. How you have had the patience to deal with everything you do and come back year after year, seemingly for more of the same, says volumes about what you are willing to do for pool. The Ko/Ralf/Shane matter was the perfect "damned if you do, damned if you don't" storm and there was no easy, slam dunk solution.

If this was the last straw, I would understand, but here's hoping you have a little more left in the tank. Pool needs more folks like you.
Click to expand...

since I am not a pro player, I could care less if they have events to make a living. But since this was an invitational, like it or NOT, house rules.
 
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