Thirty five years and counting! All money paid so far. Just a tad over three million dollars in total! I agree, Barry is bad guy and should be banned from pool so the players don't have to endure the U.S. Open anymore.
I think the real answer here is that 256 players showed up, including many of the world's best. The great majority of people (players and fans) appreciate what Barry Behrman does for pool. Yes, he has his eccentricities. Who doesn't? And he has money problems paying all the bills every year at the Open (there are a lot of unseen expenses), but who cares. But pay them he does and pay all remaining money to two players he will. And in a timely fashion as well.
Until you can do better I don't think you should be knocking a guy who has worked so hard for the game he loves. I think Barry deserves a big pat on the back, not more animosity. It's so much easier to be a knocker.
One other thing. I got condemned for going after Trudeau when he wasn't paying the players in a timely manner. Everyone was making excuses for him and saying what a prince of a fellow he was. I knew him for the thief he was and wasn't afraid to say so. Only a few of us spoke out against him and we were shouted down on here. I haven't forgotten that experience, but maybe you have. Barry is a far cry from a Kevin Trudeau and that's my point. I would suggest to all of you that instead of knocking a man who has committed large portions of his life to making professional pool better in this country, why not try supporting him and attending his event. You know, buy a ticket, buy the stream, visit the vendors. Yes all that!
You want professional pool to be better in America, then reach in your pocket and help out in some way. Every one of you guys knocking Barry, ask yourself what you have done for the betterment of the sport.
Let me begin by stating that I agree with you about the IPT and Trudeau. I do not think comparing the two is even close, and I agree that Barry is way ahead of Trudeau, as a person and for what he has done for pool. I did not compare the two, you used that example and I don't think it was necessary.
Also, I have been to the US Open, I've bought tickets, I've shopped from vendors. I've been to QMasters before, during, and after. In fact, I have been to many events, including almost every major one, all over the country over the years. I've been to every amateur national championship more than once (APA, TAP, VNEA, BCAPL). I know a lot about how it all works and where support needs to be shown. I also know that what is promised should be what is delivered.
My point was that I don't see WHY this has to happen at the Open. My feeling is that this is the one event that can set an example for others to follow. The money should be there, in place and ready to be paid. Apparently I am not the only one who thinks this, as someone took the initiative to issue a press release quelling any anxieties about this because it is a known issue. So then, why did it happen again?
You mention unexpected expenses. Well how many can there be? The US Open has been going on for 35 years, from his room to the convention center, it should run like clockwork. There can't possibly be that many unexpected expenses. I understand about outside factors that may cause problems, such as the year of 9/11 and other times when weather caused problems, but none of that happened this year.
As I mentioned, perhaps the bar is being raised too high. People, players and fans, expect a lot of added money, and promoters are trying to accomodate. If Barry is having problems making sure the money is available, what is another less-experienced promoter going to do? What example does this set? Yes, I know Barry always has and most likely always will make sure everyone is paid, but what about these other promoters who (might) follow his lead? I think this could create more problems down the line. For example, Galveston. They promised the world, and tons of players showed up. And then everything changed last minute. I suppose I am afraid that more things like this could happen, and then things will only get worse for the players.
To be clear, I am not knocking Barry, I know he has done a lot for pool. But just because he has done a lot does not mean that his actions cannot be questioned, especially when he was the one that went out of his way to state what he was going to do, and then didn't do it. I wish he would have fulfilled the promises of his press release, I was pulling for him. But making loud promises and then changing things last minute does not look good, and I just don't exactly understand WHY things had to be changed last minute. From the outside, it looks as though this would have been an ideal situation to handle everything properly (ie, full field, good spectator turnout, no bad weather/national emergencies). If he can't pull it off under ideal circumstances, then how is a less experienced, up-n-coming promoter going to be able to do so? And furthermore, if the Open does not bring in the required money to pay out as promised, then are we as a whole expecting too much from promoters and "added money"? Maybe this problem is something the whole community needs to consider.
Again, this is not a personal attack on you in any way, or Barry. Just because I am questioning what happened does not mean I am questioning him as a person. The only way we can all grow and move forward is to question the underlying issues that cause the problems we all face.
