US Open 9 Ball: Players Paid Up Yet?

Its sad, but I think its a function of the economy and particularly the pool economy in general. 15 years ago when the pool rooms were all filled, everywhere, Barry had a ton of income from his rooms to support the event. Now, that pool is dying a slow death, rooms are closing left and right, and remaining rooms are doing less than half the business they were 15 years ago, he doesn't have the cash to pay the US Open. I don't think the US Open was EVER self sustaining. It always relied on Barry's multiple pool rooms to support it.

Disclaimer, the above is my educated guess of 2 cents.

Best.

It is a very good guess though.

I went to the open in 99-01, and pool was by far better back then. Way more action everywhere. Now there seems to be none, and the new kids on the block don't gamble like they did then.
 
Its sad, but I think its a function of the economy and particularly the pool economy in general. 15 years ago when the pool rooms were all filled, everywhere, Barry had a ton of income from his rooms to support the event. Now, that pool is dying a slow death, rooms are closing left and right, and remaining rooms are doing less than half the business they were 15 years ago, he doesn't have the cash to pay the US Open. I don't think the US Open was EVER self sustaining. It always relied on Barry's multiple pool rooms to support it.

Disclaimer, the above is my educated guess of 2 cents.

Best.

Doesn't matter. If you know you can't pay, then you don't have the event.
 
Doesn't matter. If you know you can't pay, then you don't have the event.

Agreed.

I certainly can't speak for any pros that play(ed) in the US Open, but if Barry came out weeks before and gave the following two options

A. I'll say that I'm going to add 50k to the prize pool, but there's really less than a 30% chance that I will, and that everyone will be paid at the tournament's conclusion.

B. I will not add any money to this tournament, but every single player will be paid at the end.

I have a feeling that most would prefer option B.
 
Easy solution, just get 9th-12th maximum and dump your last match...all 9th-12th got their money on site right??


A few years back there was that tourny in AZ where the guy didnt have the hotel deal set up when the players got there, so they moved it to Kolbys I think Jay hefert will remember, I think Mark griffin stood good for the $$$ at the end of the day, JA won and didnt get the $7000(or what ever it was) Rob Saez got 7th or 8th and did get $1000 in cash right when he lost(more than anyone else) JA said "If I knew that I would have lost the damn thing and made more $$$$" LOL your 100% right Mikey

I am very sure that Mark Griffen did pay the guys, i dont remember the details, just it worked out in the end, and JA saying what you did-toss it off and get the $$$ is better than winning and getting robbed.
 
1st
Shane Van Boening
$25,000.00
2nd
Dennis Orcollo
$15,000.00
3rd
Alex Pagulayan
$10,000.00
4th
Efren Reyes
$6,000.00
5th
Ronnie Alcano
$4,000.00
5th
Jose Parica
$4,000.00

Total: $64,000

Amount advertised as added??? $60,000

http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?storynum=10591

People really need to "do the math" and ASK some really Serious Questions???

KD

P.S. There are others that have indicated they were not paid further down then 6th Place!!! Based on my math not ALL the entry fee money was paid back out to the players!!!
 
Dennis just got his last "payment" for second place, only after excessive pressure was put on BB. I think he realized that he wouldn't be welcome back in the Philippines unless he paid up. Shane is still owed most of his first place money. Others who got bad checks remain unpaid.

This is f ing unbelieveable, Us open is going to wound up being played by mostly ameture players, who really have no chance of finishing in the money, so they dont have to worry about not getting paid, i just cant see many of our top players having any interest at all of ever playing in the open again, what could possiably be worst then winning a major tournament and not getting paid, this is the worst tragedy ever in professional pool!
 
Jay's info is accurate. just a FYI....sad,,,,real sad. the US Open after all these years has to end up like this?!?!?!? wow&ouch!!!!
 
What happens when Mark kicks the bucket? (Mark, I hope you live to be 110:) ) The promoters are like the players. Very little young ones. All from older generations. Where will the future promoters come from? The new to the game player/promoter pool is shrinking.




How many family owned grocery stores do you know of ? Most are located in small towns and are owned by older people . I don't see many people that are self employed anymore . Several cultural , economic and political reasons for this , don't want to get into it here .

I'd bet Mark , and even Barry moved out of their parents homes before they were 21 .I'm not here criticizing all young people as irresponsible , but i'd bet promoting a top pool tourny is a gamble , chore and headache , and not many want do that . Maybe Mark has a formula that makes him a success .
 
I had heard that Barry is or was a drug addict. If so that may explain everything!!!

--Jeff
 
From caterpillars (into butterflies) to common seeds (into plants) this is True Life

Jay's info is accurate. just a FYI....sad,,,,real sad. the US Open after all these years has to end up like this?!?!?!? wow&ouch!!!!

Look at the bright side, everything must die to have a chance at a "re birth". From caterpillars
images
{into butterflies} to common seeds {into plants} this is universally true and I believe it is a natural process for the pool world as well.

The way the "pool world" has done business the last 15 years must die. I'm not pointing any fingers and if you think I'm talking about you, YOU are mistaken. I'm just making a very legitimate point that for "The New Age of Pool" to live, the old one must die and shed it's skin.

The US OPEN didn't "die" it actually started a metamorphosis, in my humble opinion.

How's that for "spinning" a negative into a positive? ;) 'The Game is the Teacher'


ps: again, if you think this is an "attack" on anyone, you're wrong, this is just my opinion based on nature and the natural way business evolves.
 
It is a very good guess though.

I went to the open in 99-01, and pool was by far better back then. Way more action everywhere. Now there seems to be none, and the new kids on the block don't gamble like they did then.

Well I think that is a well known fact, but, how is gamling going to help the industry today? I certainly don't think it would do anything for the US Open.
 
Barry is not a drug addict & I certainly hope that rumor doesn't get spread, whatever problems he may have had are in the past which is where they should stay. I've been trying to stay out of this most recent discussion since I've already made my feelings about Barry perfectly clear. People are going to say & think whatever they want to but I will continue to have Barry's back because I know the good he's done for this sport over the past several decades. Whether players have been paid or not yet is the discussion here.
 
Barry is not a drug addict & I certainly hope that rumor doesn't get spread, whatever problems he may have had are in the past which is where they should stay. I've been trying to stay out of this most recent discussion since I've already made my feelings about Barry perfectly clear. People are going to say & think whatever they want to but I will continue to have Barry's back because I know the good he's done for this sport over the past several decades. Whether players have been paid or not yet is the discussion here.

The discussion could easily be ended. Barry could show up and give an update. I mean he did have about 10 press releases as to when players would be paid.

So let him know this thread is brewing again and just maybe he will pop up sometime soon and update it. That way he can work on getting the Open image back on track.

I love the event, I just hope it can repair this damage.
It is one of the top 3 events in America, along with Derby City and The BCAPL events/
 
The discussion could easily be ended. Barry could show up and give an update. I mean he did have about 10 press releases as to when players would be paid.

So let him know this thread is brewing again and just maybe he will pop up sometime soon and update it. That way he can work on getting the Open image back on track.

I love the event, I just hope it can repair this damage.
It is one of the top 3 events in America, along with Derby City and The BCAPL events/

I believe Barry does not have the money, and it is probably too difficult for him to obtain it though loans or even by promissing to clean up his act for "next time." Since there is no money to be found to pay the players, Barry is not going to put himself on the line.

This is very unfortunate. I liked going to the Open but now it seems I'll have to find another venue to attend.
 
Thanks Jay for the info, and to all other replies.

This situation makes me very sad for so many reasons. I hope Barry can make his end up. And to somehow pull a rabbit out of his hat by escrowing all purse $ in future years, getting a good venue and lastly to realize that he needs to treat everybody with honesty, humility and respect.
 
Well I think that is a well known fact, but, how is gamling going to help the industry today? I certainly don't think it would do anything for the US Open.

The way I take this, is when there is lots of gambling, it means people have lots of money to throw around. Its just another measure of the "pool economy" and the "general economy".

Barry means well and has a good heart. Its obvious he ran out of money. I really think its because his room / and or rooms are not bringing in the income they were 15 years ago to finance the open.
 
The discussion could easily be ended. Barry could show up and give an update. I mean he did have about 10 press releases as to when players would be paid.

So let him know this thread is brewing again and just maybe he will pop up sometime soon and update it. That way he can work on getting the Open image back on track.

I love the event, I just hope it can repair this damage.
It is one of the top 3 events in America, along with Derby City and The BCAPL events/

I disagree. He made a bunch of posts and press releases leading up to this. I think he should keep mum, until if/when all the players are paid. Then, make a last release stating that fact. If the guy is broke, whats the point of making a release stating when they will be paid, if the date won't be met. It won't be fact, just more speculation.
 
Look at the bright side, everything must die to have a chance at a "re birth". From caterpillars
images
{into butterflies} to common seeds {into plants} this is universally true and I believe it is a natural process for the pool world as well.

The way the "pool world" has done business the last 15 years must die. I'm not pointing any fingers and if you think I'm talking about you, YOU are mistaken. I'm just making a very legitimate point that for "The New Age of Pool" to live, the old one must die and shed it's skin.

The US OPEN didn't "die" it actually started a metamorphosis, in my humble opinion.

How's that for "spinning" a negative into a positive? ;) 'The Game is the Teacher'


ps: again, if you think this is an "attack" on anyone, you're wrong, this is just my opinion based on nature and the natural way business evolves.

Outstanding post makes a lot of sense if you sit back and think about it. Destroy and rebuild I'm hoping BB the tools
 
I disagree. He made a bunch of posts and press releases leading up to this. I think he should keep mum, until if/when all the players are paid. Then, make a last release stating that fact. If the guy is broke, whats the point of making a release stating when they will be paid, if the date won't be met. It won't be fact, just more speculation.

Agreed. I think he shouldn't have held the event if he couldn't pay, but that's history.

At this point, I don't think anyone cares for press releases and explanations. They just care about getting paid.
 
The discussion could easily be ended. Barry could show up and give an update. I mean he did have about 10 press releases as to when players would be paid.

So let him know this thread is brewing again and just maybe he will pop up sometime soon and update it. That way he can work on getting the Open image back on track.

I love the event, I just hope it can repair this damage.
It is one of the top 3 events in America, along with Derby City and The BCAPL events/

He reads this stuff Joe.
 
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