UPA Got it right

[azhousepro]

This doesn't get said very often and I think it needs to be said this time. The UPA got it right this time.

Trailing 5-2 to Corey Deuel on the winners side last night, Danny Harriman unscrewed his stick and quit the match.

This is something that has been happening way too much lately and something needs to be done about it. The UPA's answer? Forfeit Danny out of the tourney and bar him from playing in the next event.

Now I don't know what reasons Danny might have had to quit the match, but maybe this will get these players to stop and think that the fans are only going to support the UPA if they get to watch their favorite players play instead of watching a few games until one of them decides to quit because he is a couple games down.

Comments?

Mike

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

This doesn't get said very often and I think it needs to be said this time. The UPA got it right this time.

Trailing 5-2 to Corey Deuel on the winners side last night, Danny Harriman unscrewed his stick and quit the match.

This is something that has been happening way too much lately and something needs to be done about it. The UPA's answer? Forfeit Danny out of the tourney and bar him from playing in the next event.

Now I don't know what reasons Danny might have had to quit the match, but maybe this will get these players to stop and think that the fans are only going to support the UPA if they get to watch their favorite players play instead of watching a few games until one of them decides to quit because he is a couple games down.

Comments?

Mike

Yeah, that just makes me sick. Some of these tickets are rather expensive (World Summit ranged from $25-$70). What they fail to realize is that this is not JUST a tournament. It's a production with the purpose of entertaining people. If the Yankees walked off the field because they were trailing in a game, I would immediately go to the store and purchase a Red Sox cap and start saying things like, "I'm gonna go get a drink at the bah".


Jude M. Rosenstock

 

[Melissa Herndon]

Mike -

I was there watching the matches last night...and I saw Danny H. forfeit the match to Corey. It was kind of strange. They were playing...and everything seemed normal. Corey was ahead 5-2, but that lead isn't much at that level. Corey tried to bank the 1-ball and left Danny no shot. Danny walked up to the table and just randomly blasted at the 1-ball with no rhyme or reason. He didn't aim...and he just hit at 100 mph. It was like watching the drunk guy at the bar who gets pissed for no reason and just starts slamming balls into the rails to show his anger.

I looked away for a minute because Mika was playing on the next table and I wanted to see what he was doing. When I looked back, Danny was unscrewing his cue and talking to Corey. I couldn't believe it. Tony Robles and Frank Alvarez were sitting in front of me, and they could not figure out why he was forfeiting either. Then he just walked out of the arena. He didn't seem pissed off when he left....he just left. It was weird.

I think the UPA made the right decision in forfeiting him out of the event completely. If he wasn't feeling well or something, he should have spoken to the tournament director and perhaps arranged a quiet forfeit with no consequences. But his behavior definitely warranted some kind of disciplinary action.

Melissa Herndon

 

[JAM]

I've gotta admit, I was shocked to hear of Danny Harriman unscrewing his stick mid match. Knowing how serious Danny feels about his game, I'm sure he's sick about it. He did not compete at the Open for personal reasons, and this must have been a blow to him personally to have this happen. He is another one of those struggling professional players, but hopefully, he will overcome this setback and move forward, full speed ahead. Who can forget Danny on ESPN 7-Ball Challenge when he made 6 balls on the break!? He's one of the good guys, on and off the table.

I applaud the UPA for sticking to their guns and making a statement about this kind of behavior. It is interesting they did not do this to Corey Deuel and Larry Nevel at the $30,000-added Hilton North American Open Tour event in Florida last month. I am thinking they may have had a players' meeting and made an announcement about the penalty for conceding a game/match, but it looks like Danny must have not been in attendance.

At least this sends a message out there that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated, and that is a good thing.

Picture of Danny Harriman and Jose "Amang" Parica taken at Capital City Classic last year. Danny's a country boy at heart and a good kid (IMO)!

JAM

 

[JoeyInCali]

A friend of mine saw Danny practicing before the match.
He was acting weird then already.
When Scott Smith announced Danny's forfeit and that he was suspended, I thought he was kidding. A UPA rep was nearby and said Danny doesn't get his entry money back and he's suspended thru the next UPA event. It cost him plenty. The rep also said Danny knew the rules. They had a meeting the day before.
The rep put it this way. The fans pay to see them play.
I feel bad for Deuel's fans who came to see him play.

 

[9 Ball Girl]

Well, an example has to be set. Hopefully the fans won't have to go through another tournament where they won't be able to see the player that they paid to go see.

Jude: "drink at the bah"? You're killing me! LOL

 

[LAMas]

After I noticed that Danny wasn't at the table and Corey was breaking down his cue, I heard Corey say that Danny felt that with the alternating break format that it's nearly impossible to come back from 5 games down in a race to 11 - he may have a point there. It's nice to see both opponents break but it does change the dynamics of the the play. It is exciting to also see one run 11 consecutive racks - though rare. It was also entertaining to watch Kid Delicious go hill hill to Busta and win - with winner breaks it would/might have been a different outcome. On balance though there have been few upsets at the Bike.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

After I noticed that Danny wasn't at the table and Corey was breaking down his cue, I heard Corey say that Danny felt that with the alternating break format that it's nearly impossible to come back from 5 games down in a race to 11 - he may have a point there. It's nice to see both opponents break but it does change the dynamics of the the play. It is exciting to also see one run 11 consecutive racks - though rare. It was also entertaining to watch Kid Delicious go hill hill to Busta and win - with winner breaks it would/might have been a different outcome. On balance though there have been few upsets at the Bike.

If so many players are complaining that in a winner-break format, a player may never get to shoot and in an alternate-break format, a player can't come-back, why do they continue to play 9-ball?

Obviously, this game is preceived as easy so perhaps 10-ball is in order. It's much more difficult to make a ball on the break and it's inherently more difficult to run-out.

Any thoughts?



Jude M. Rosenstock

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Well, an example has to be set. Hopefully the fans won't have to go through another tournament where they won't be able to see the player that they paid to go see.

Jude: "drink at the bah"? You're killing me! LOL

I'll take my cah and pick yah up. Bahston is wicked on Satahday night. You like apples?

(I'm going to the Ocean State in two weeks so I have to get my house in order)


Jude!

 

[Skeezicks]

I heard Corey say that Danny felt that with the alternating break format that it's nearly impossible to come back from 5 games down in a race to 11 - he may have a point there.

I guess it was nearly impossible for Corey to get a lead that big

 

[Jimmy M.]

If so many players are complaining that in a winner-break format, a player may never get to shoot and in an alternate-break format, a player can't come-back, why do they continue to play 9-ball?

I might have the minority opinion, but I think a player can come back in an alternate-break format. After all, the player who pulled ahead was able to win so many games in a row in spite of the alternate-break format. Why can't the trailing player do the same thing (win multiple games in a row)?

Despite popular opinion, I also think that the alternate-break format, over all, is an advantage to the better player. I admit that I have lost matches before, alternating the break, where I thought I would have won if it were winner break. However, in the long run, I think that alternate-break favors the better player. My reason is that this format guarantees that the better player will get to the table *at least* once every other game. If I'm the better play in a match, and I am guaranteed to get to the table at least once every other game, I feel like I have a better chance of winning than my opponent. It seems fairly obvious to me. If you have two players that each get 20 shots in a match, let's say, you would expect the better player would have done more with his (or her) 20 shots than the weaker player in the match-up.

 

[RSB-Refugee]

If the Yankees walked off the field because they were trailing in a game,.........

One difference is, the Yankees get paid win, or lose. A baseball game is entertainment and the players are paid as such. I do agree, there must be dicipline and it must be fair and unbiased. Without dicipline, what would come next, would refs have to fear bodily harm, for calling a foul? The UPA definetly has taken a step in the right direction.

Tracy

 

[tonyc]

Danny,

I was due to play the loser of this match, I am also rooming with Danny H.
I spoke to him this morning and he regrets what he did last, He basically is not happy with pool at the moment and feels he needs to take a break, Unscrewing his cue last night has made him realise this, he is not known for being a quitter and apologises to anyone he may have upset in doing this.

I believe there are 1 or 2 promoters that owe him money from big tournaments and this is still somthing that is hurting him inside, He plays with his heart and his heart aint in the game at the moment. He is still one of the best young players in the country and i wish him luck and hope he makes a swift return.
Tony Crosby

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

One difference is, the Yankees get paid win, or lose. A baseball game is entertainment and the players are paid as such. I do agree, there must be dicipline and it must be fair and unbiased. Without dicipline, what would come next, would refs have to fear bodily harm, for calling a foul? The UPA definetly has taken a step in the right direction.

Tracy

Hey, it really doesn't matter if the Yankees get paid or not. The fans pay. In fact, some of these tickets are more expensive than some of the best seats at Yankee stadium and Derek Jeter isn't about to show up at the sandlot to play catch with me every other Saturday. The fact is, pool barely has a product right now. They can't even get their most loyal fans to show up half the time. Besides, I've played a chunk of these guys. You think I'm going to want to PAY to see them forfeit a match? If they can't finish what they start, they deserve what they get. I'll save my money for baseball.


Jude M. Rosenstock

 

[JAM]

I was due to play the loser of this match, I am also rooming with Danny H.
I spoke to him this morning and he regrets what he did last, He basically is not happy with pool at the moment and feels he needs to take a break, Unscrewing his cue last night has made him realise this, he is not known for being a quitter and apologises to anyone he may have upset in doing this.

I believe there are 1 or 2 promoters that owe him money from big tournaments and this is still somthing that is hurting him inside, He plays with his heart and his heart aint in the game at the moment. He is still one of the best young players in the country and i wish him luck and hope he makes a swift return.
Tony Crosby

Thanks for the response. I kind of figured something like that must have happened. Pool is a damn tough racket, and it's beat up on many a player. It costs so much money to just attend one event, and then you're staring in the eyes of some world-beater. I hope Danny lets this pass and makes the right decision. I know he has passion for the game, but you can't live off of love!


Gotta tell ya, Tony, your comrades on the other side of the pond haven't accepted the fact that you're on our team now!

JAM

 

[RSB-Refugee]

Hey, it really doesn't matter if the Yankees get paid or not. The fans pay.

I agree that you should get to see the scheduled matches. I was just trying to say, it would also be nice to see the players get something out of it.

Tracy

 

[catscradle]

I'll take my cah and pick yah up. Bahston is wicked on Satahday night. You like apples?

(I'm going to the Ocean State in two weeks so I have to get my house in order)


Jude!

When I was in the service I was a buyer. The procurement regulations (ASPR and AFPR) were broken down into to parts and paragraphs. Guess who the deep south tech sgt. called on in tech school when he wanted somebody to say what the regulations were composed of.
BTW, a Boston accent does not neccessarily represent a New England accent, though we all do get rid of those pesky r's. A Bostonian (who isn't old Yankee stock) would go with an 'ah' whereas I (30 miles south of Boston) tend to just go with an 'a' a harder sound.
"Little Rhody" is clearly not a Boston accent so you may have to do a little research about the proper accent.
I had a friend in the service who was kind of an accent hobbists. He claimed to be able to pinpoint somebody within 30 miles of their home based upon their accent, but he never proved it to my satisfaction.

 

[JAM]

QUOTE: "I agree that you should get to see the scheduled matches. I was just trying to say, it would also be nice to see the players get something out of it."

Ain't it the truth. Professional pool players I know do not get paid to compete in events. They put up all their own dough for travel expenses. The promoter, in an attempt to make a profit, charges spectators to see the pool players perform. Spectators get upset when they don't think they've gotten their money's worth. The pool player's are busted and disgusted at the current state of affairs. The promoters suffer economic loss. Everybody leaves with a sour taste in their mouths.

I did hear it through the grapevine that one professional player was invited to attend a high-profile event, but the promoter(s) were told that a four-figure HOURLY appearance fee was required for his/her attendance!

Folks gotta stop working against each other and move forward in unison, with a common goal in mind.

JAM

 

[catscradle]

QUOTE: "I agree that you should get to see the scheduled matches. I was just trying to say, it would also be nice to see the players get something out of it."

Ain't it the truth. Professional pool players I know do not get paid to compete in events. They put up all their own dough for travel expenses. The promoter, in an attempt to make a profit, charges spectators to see the pool players perform. Spectators get upset when they don't think they've gotten their money's worth. The pool player's are busted and disgusted at the current state of affairs. The promoters suffer economic loss. Everybody leaves with a sour taste in their mouths.

I did hear it through the grapevine that one professional player was invited to attend a high-profile event, but the promoter(s) were told that a four-figure HOURLY appearance fee was required for his/her attendance!

Folks gotta stop working against each other and move forward in unison, with a common goal in mind.

JAM

I think everything you said is probably true. However, until there are fans, lots of fans, who want to pay to see pool, the players have absolutely no leverage even if they pull together. Which to my mind only reinforces the correctness of what the UPA did in this case. It may not get fannies in the seats, but it can't hurt.

 

[buddha162]

He's one of the good guys, on and off the table.

By all accounts that's what I've heard as well. I think the UPA made the right decision, but just wished they found someone with a track record of quitting or misbehaving to make an example of. To my knowledge Danny H is a class act stand out in pool, always polite and composured. Too bad they burned him at the stake on his first offense.

-Roger