US Open vs WPC

[DoomCue]

Grady's reasoning is one of the many reasons pool will never become a major sport. Could you imagine if the World Series (baseball), World Cup (soccer), Super Bowl (football), or any other major sport, didn't require some way to qualify in order to play in their respective Championship? How about the Masters Cup championship in tennis? What about the World Series of Golf? Or the NCAA basketball tournament? I guess all those sports have it wrong since none of them make money.... Oh wait, they all make money and their stars are household names, while 99% of the world could care less who Grady or any other pro pool player is.

The reasoning that just BEING a pro is good enough to be in the WPC is ludicrous. I guess the thousands of professional baseball players who don't play in the World Series every year should whine about not being allowed to play. I guess all the college teams who don't make the BCS or the NCAA tournament should whine about not being allowed to play, too. In all the major sports, teams and players EARN their way to their respective championships, they cannot BUY their way in or find some other easy way to play in the championship. For some reason, there are plenty of pool players who think pool should be different, like those other sports all have it wrong and pool's got it right. Hmm. Guess that's why pool is a multi-billion dollar sport and everybody can name the top ten players. Guess that's why people riot in the streets of Liverpool whenever their favorite son loses in a tournament. Riiiiiight.

Grady's point that he'd put up $5000 to play in a World Pool Championship would eliminate far more players from the field than its current structure. Look at what happened with the "Million Dollar Tournament" in Vegas. Didn't happen, even with the carrot of a million dollar first prize dangling in front of the pool-playing horse. Why? Nobody wanted to put up the dough, plus people bitched about a promoter actually trying to *gasp* make money putting on a tournament. How many people would put up 5k to play the toughest players on the planet? Would that $5000 limit the field to the best players, or to the players willing to put up $5000? Think about that, because there's a big difference between the two. While Grady is definitely one of the pool greats, his willingness to put up $5000 doesn't necessarily put him in the company of the Reyeses, Immonens, Archers, and Stricklands of the world, especially in 9 ball.

There are plenty of tournaments that are "Open." The reason so many people think the WPC is the most prestigious tournament on the planet is because it isn't open - (most) players have to qualify in some way. That difference sets it apart - it means something to play in it besides, "I put up my entry fee to play." Plus, it truly is a "World" championship as players from all geographic regions are represented. The US Open isn't even close in that aspect. Sure, there are lots of foreigners playing in the US Open, but a whole host of Europen and Asian players routinely skip the US Open. Throw in to the mix this fact: the US Open's money isn't guaranteed. Add to that the fact that Barry has lost a TON of money putting on the Open the last few years. How many more times can he lose money and still promote the tournament? Granted, the selection process of the WPC may need a little work, but it's the best we've got with the current state of men's professional pool, and hopefully, if pool players can actually unite instead of bicker over politics, then that little work will be done and the WPC will become an even better tournament.

-djb

 

[manlyshot]

the US Open's money isn't guaranteed. Add to that the fact that Barry has lost a TON of money putting on the Open the last few years. How many more times can he lose money and still promote the tournament? Granted, the selection process of the WPC may need a little work, but it's the best we've got with the current state of men's professional pool, and hopefully, if pool players can actually unite instead of bicker over politics, then that little work will be done and the WPC will become an even better tournament.

9/11 and Hurricane Isabel were the sole reasons why two of the recent U.S. Opens were doomed, relating to money.

How can the pool players unite, Doomcue? Should players like Kid Delicious pay his 100 bucks to the UPA and not receive the same benefits as Charlie Williams? Should Charlie Williams be on the UPA board of directors and place his vote for the organization's rules AND be an active pool player? Charlie is guaranteed his place on the UPA ranking chart because of the points he will receive for just showing up at the BCA Open, even if he loses his first two rounds. It's like a foot race, and Charlie gets a head start over Danny.

Players like Kid Delicious are at a disadvantage, and it is his $100 membership fee along with a host of others that is supporting the UPA board of directors as they travel across the globe. The UPA Tour consists mainly of Dragon Productions' events. So Charlie definitely has a financial interest in the UPA, wouldn't you think?

Matchroom is THE only hope for UPA discards or non-UPA members, giving them an opportunity that the American UPA should be doing.

And then there is Earl. How about Earl? Who granted a newly formed UPA the right to use the ranking system as the American measuring stick? Does anybody know? I have a hunch it was granted on two votes: one from an ex-member of an industry-driven pool organization and one vote from the publisher of a pool magazine.

ManlyShot

 

[DoomCue]

Manlyshot,

I respect your argument, but aren't you being a little nitpicky? The BCA is an invitational tournament. Yes, it counts in the UPA standings, so anybody not invited is going to be at a disadvantage. There's no real problem here - not everybody can be invited to play, simple as that. Not everyone gets to play in the Masters or US Open in golf either, you don't hear golfers complaining about that. In any case, there's going to be a cut-off somewhere, and somebody is going to be left out of something, and that minority is always going to complain. Look at what happened to the BCS in college football last year. By most accounts, there were 3 teams deserving a shot at the national championship, but only 2 could be chosen. That 3rd team doesn't even get a chance. Is that fair? Depends on how you look at it. One way is: those are the rules, dem's da breaks. Another is: dammit, we need to make more rules. Personally, I subscribe to the former, but that's me. There are plenty of people who think rules have to be changed to cater to every single possible situation, and all you end up with are a ton of rules with someone still being left out, which requires still more rules. Where does it stop? That being said, Danny is a great player, and an even greater person, so I don't have any doubt that he will be invited to future BCA Opens.

The UPA Tour consists mainly of Dragon Productions' events. So Charlie definitely has a financial interest in the UPA, wouldn't you think?

This is an extreme example, but don't you think Bill Gates has a vested interest in Microsoft? Is it not right for someone actually to try to make money at pool? Sheesh, if the promoter makes money, the players get paid, and the fans enjoy the tournament, what is there to complain about?

As far as pool players uniting, I should think it's far more divisive to grumble about perceived bad intentions through speculation and hunches. Do you actually think the UPA wants pool players to be unhappy? Do you think they're trying to do whatever they can to make sure pool players not named Charlie don't make money? Do you actually think Charlie's getting rich with the UPA? Do you think there was someone on the grassy knoll?

And then there's Earl, left out in the cold. Who cares? He chose to be in the cold! It was his decision to quit the UPA, he can deal with the consequences.

-djb --> wasn't invited to the BCA Open either

 

[manlyshot]

I respect your argument, but aren't you being a little nitpicky? The BCA is an invitational tournament. Yes, it counts in the UPA standings, so anybody not invited is going to be at a disadvantage. There's no real problem here - not everybody can be invited to play, simple as that.

True enough, Doomcue, except you are forgetting one fact. The BCA Open represents 20 percent of the UPA touring pros ranking points. Is it fair to Kid Delicious who paid his 100 bucks? He will never qualify for the BCA Open because he is only able to play in four of the five UPA events. If you look at the UPA ranking chart on their website, there are some players who are in the top 32 who, oddly enough, were not invited to compete in the BCA Open by the subcontractor of the BCA, Steve Tipton of World Class Management.

Is it not right for someone actually to try to make money at pool? Sheesh, if the promoter makes money, the players get paid, and the fans enjoy the tournament, what is there to complain about?

How about a promoter who is a pool player who is a voting member of the UPA making money, Doomcue? It stinks of favoritism, and the UPA is not adhering to the very rules it instituted for pool players. The UPA needs to be unbiased and fair and equitable in its treatment of all UPA members, to include Kid Delicious who paid his 100 bucks.

To not include Earl Strickland in the BCA Open is a travesty, but, of course, like everything else in this pool world, the picking and choosing and voting, whether it is the BCA Open or the BCA Hall of Fame, the ex-UPA president and the BCA suit their own needs, do things behind closed doors, and do not look out for the interests of ALL pool players in general.

ManlyShot