Whatever happened to Justin Bergman? He was very active before the pandemic and now he seems to be non-existent. What's the story here?
What Happened to Justin Bergman?
- Thread starter FeelDaShot
- Start date
He doesn't play a lot. Doesn't like to travel either. If you watch 'The Players Club' on FB you'll see him on there. Its a private pool club in St.Louis. He plays local stuff and some challenge/action matches. Rumo was he had some substance issues but whenever i've watched him on-line he looks good and still plays really sporty. He's said more than once that full-time pool is getting less enticing to him.
Yeah, a shame not to have his talent out there mixing it up with the rest of the top players. He's exciting to watch and a beast of a player IMHO. Hope he's doing well 
He is/was fun to watch, very US style of play vs the trained drill clones most Euro and Chinese/Japanese players end up playing like. He would fit in very well into the Earl/Buddy/Sigel era of play and technique. I hear he does not to travel much anymore. Donnie Mills is another one that tends to stick to a more local area.
Zerksies
Well-known member
I've noticed that about a lot of the kid pros playing todays style
So would anyone that is not in the top 20 LOL, but a bit of topic.
This comes up often. People inquire about why a great player isn't competing. The thing is it isn't surprising that they don't travel and compete anymore, what's surprising is how many people still do.
Unless you are a top 10 in the world pool is an unbeatable game that pays almost nothing even if you do win something. You might as well ask why more people don't play the Crane Game at the front of a Perkins Restaurant for a living: "What do you do for a living?" "Me, I play the Perkins crane game." (Lowers voice to whisper) "One time I hooked me a stuffed octopus!"
People can talk about Matchroom and Predator being good for pool players, but it doesn't really change the landscape for anyone other than the very, very top. It doesn't trickle down. Yes, the top 10 have more events with more prize money. But for everyone else in the fields it is the same story. Look at Tyler, he turned in a great performance, beat Fedor, made a good run. He won $3,000 which about covers his expenses. That's not even breaking even if you consider opportunity cost, he essentially put in a week of hard work for free.
I'm not complaining, whining, criticizing Matchroom, or taking shots at Tyler or Justin or anyone that isn't in the top 10. Not at all. Tyler is doing just fine because he has some endorsements, earns additional income from pool instruction, and he doesn't have a family to support at this time. He's having a blast and doing amazing. Matchroom is doing great to give pool fans an opportunity to see the world's best compete regularly. Everything is good. I'm just trying to explain why many great players choose to sit out.
If that answer is too long, you can just do what another top player did when people would ask him "Why aren't you playing the (fill in the blank) event?" He got so tired of explaining this he'd just respond by asking "Do you want to back me?" So maybe ask if you'd like to back Justin for travel and entry and expenses to 10 major events in 2023. If you don't like that as a financial investment, realize that's the same investment he'd have to make, not to mention the cost of taking 10-12 weeks off to actually play.
Unless you are a top 10 in the world pool is an unbeatable game that pays almost nothing even if you do win something. You might as well ask why more people don't play the Crane Game at the front of a Perkins Restaurant for a living: "What do you do for a living?" "Me, I play the Perkins crane game." (Lowers voice to whisper) "One time I hooked me a stuffed octopus!"
People can talk about Matchroom and Predator being good for pool players, but it doesn't really change the landscape for anyone other than the very, very top. It doesn't trickle down. Yes, the top 10 have more events with more prize money. But for everyone else in the fields it is the same story. Look at Tyler, he turned in a great performance, beat Fedor, made a good run. He won $3,000 which about covers his expenses. That's not even breaking even if you consider opportunity cost, he essentially put in a week of hard work for free.
I'm not complaining, whining, criticizing Matchroom, or taking shots at Tyler or Justin or anyone that isn't in the top 10. Not at all. Tyler is doing just fine because he has some endorsements, earns additional income from pool instruction, and he doesn't have a family to support at this time. He's having a blast and doing amazing. Matchroom is doing great to give pool fans an opportunity to see the world's best compete regularly. Everything is good. I'm just trying to explain why many great players choose to sit out.
If that answer is too long, you can just do what another top player did when people would ask him "Why aren't you playing the (fill in the blank) event?" He got so tired of explaining this he'd just respond by asking "Do you want to back me?" So maybe ask if you'd like to back Justin for travel and entry and expenses to 10 major events in 2023. If you don't like that as a financial investment, realize that's the same investment he'd have to make, not to mention the cost of taking 10-12 weeks off to actually play.
Zerksies
Well-known member
I'm assuming a lot of his sponsors are picking up the bill. I live close and was calculating what it would of cost. I figured $150 a day in hotels, plus food, air fair, and tournament fees. I wouldn't even bother playing.
Exactly why pool is a great recreation activity but a very poor career choice.
Zerksies
Well-known member
More money in cash games.
When I was in AC. I saw my first Black pro players.
And the reason why? More money in cash games
Come to think of it, I offered 2 other pros great deals to play in tournaments....zero risk and more if they did well. One was to go to Derby, fully paid and backed in acton.
Everytime they declined!
For alot of these guys its easier to call yourself a pro, sit on the sidelines and risk nothing.
What my brother said. Lets take the current crop out. Lets take a stroll down memory lane. Go back 20 years (pre SVB) and look at the Top 10 of USA pool. What are they doing now? Did they make enough to be set for balance of life? Did they transition into something more stable. Were they able to leverage their notoriety into a cushy gig?
This game doesn't pay that well. Hopefully MR and others can bring in enough $$$ to make it a worthwhile endeavor for say the Top 100. Right now unless your young and supported it's a poor investment. Hell you can't even parlay it into a College Scholarship.
When he was playing full time he drilled Shaw playing ten ball in a long race... and I believe they were scheduled to play another big set, and it wasn't Justin that pulled up last minute. When he played his top speed, his only weakness was his break... other than that he could play with most anybody.
Watched a video that the Steyer's made of their tournament in Atlantic City U.S. open 9 ball. They photographed their car they rented, flew on United Airlines, Showed the swanky room they stayed in at Harra's, Fancy restaurants. They spent a ton of money and maybe broke even. Margaret said the drudgery of traveling is a killer. They mostly stay home and practice on their table.
I know he has played really well, but I stand by my statement!
Guy Manges
Registered
It's a pride thing in playing for nothing, someday it will be a been there done that thing, Still the Love of the game... What I'm wondering has China figured out how to make it work for their players , ( many ) to be able to make a living ... Through all their education and then work pool as a living... If so someday we may have to copy... How in the world could we live with that... Guy