What Happened to Justin Bergman?

The true pro players (make a living off winnings alone) are the shortstops who stay in a local area and basically get "paid" by wanna-be-shortstop guys with money. And there are A LOT of these fat-walleted, egotistical amateurs in certain cities.
So yes, shortstops (guys with about fargo 675+ skill) can make 1 to 2k weekly or more (a living) if they entertain the right clientele, but you definitely have to have the social skills to pull it off.
 
Guy Manges said:
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
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iirc the chinese 8 ball championships are top heavy in payouts. buy yea, good money for winners. best payday ever for darren appleton
 
they eliminated the luck in the game so the top players take off all the money which keeps the fields small. and gives others no chance to even pay expenses if they have a decent tournament.
 
Guy Manges said:
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
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Government money for training in basically a dictatorship of a few people in charge, with a national pride that wants China to be the best, along with the exchange rate being heavily in favor of US currency makes living there on a pool player salary not too hard. Cost of living is about $1,000 - $1,400 a month in USD including rent, food and transportation in a good area. Win $20,000 in a tournament and you almost doubled the average yearly salary there. Make $50,000 which is not hard to do for a top player, and you are in the top half of middle class there.
 
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tableroll said:
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.
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That's not a Swanky room. It's a basic AC room and quite crappy.
 
The-Professor said:
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.
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Funny how you wrote only a part of that story🤣🤣🤣 But it doesnt matter, look at the career of both players and you will know who of these two succeeded as a pro poolplayer and who didnt in the long run😎
 
rjb1168 said:
I know he has played really well, but I stand by my statement!
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I tried to get them to play at my place.
Nothing could make it happen.

Then as I recall they were to play in Maine or somewhere and Shaw punked out over 4.25" corner pockets....even after the room offerred to use a standard 4.5". I believe Bergman had already traveled to play.

I mean SVB vs Shaw finally happened again.

SVB vs Filler won't ever happen....they both want to be able to be "the king".
 
marek said:
Funny how you wrote only a part of that story🤣🤣🤣 But it doesnt matter, look at the career of both players and you will know who of these two succeeded as a pro poolplayer and who didnt in the long run😎
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Really??? JB started very young and was probably playing as a 'pro' by the time he was 16. Won a lot of Midwest region tournaments and plenty of action $$. He's paid his bills with a cue for a long time. Beaten a lot of top players for some pretty big scores. Good to see another keyboard-kowboy knocking someone he could never beat. Good job.
 
marek said:
Funny how you wrote only a part of that story🤣🤣🤣 But it doesnt matter, look at the career of both players and you will know who of these two succeeded as a pro poolplayer and who didnt in the long run😎
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But your statement seems to be a dig on Bergman when the truth is its not his talent that has held him back from "succeeding as a pro player in the long run" Its been his decision not to chase it. He clearly has the ability. I've seen him play enough to know that isn't ability or lack of holding him back. Good on him if that makes him happy. I don't think this post was meant to make comparisons or judgments about his ability or decisions. I simply commented because I miss seeing him play and would love to see him competing. That isn't what he wants apparently and that's ok.
 
garczar said:
Really??? JB started very young and was probably playing as a 'pro' by the time he was 16. Won a lot of Midwest region tournaments and plenty of action $$. He's paid his bills with a cue for a long time. Beaten a lot of top players for some pretty big scores. Good to see another keyboard-kowboy knocking someone he could never beat. Good job.
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Apparently you didnt get why I wrote that comment. But thats ok, in your case thats nothing new :)
 
I'll start by saying I'm a fan of Justin's. Played him at the Derby a few years back and he was amazing in every way play, sportsmanship etc. However I don't buy into the whole "travel is to expensive" or "no money to be made". Early this year Fedor made 91k at 3 different tournaments all within 5 hours "driving time" of Justin's hometown. I know Justin doesn't play at Fedor's current speed but there was still plenty of money to be made close to home for Justin.
 
StuartTKelley said:
But your statement seems to be a dig on Bergman when the truth is its not his talent that has held him back from "succeeding as a pro player in the long run" Its been his decision not to chase it. He clearly has the ability. I've seen him play enough to know that isn't ability or lack of holding him back. Good on him if that makes him happy. I don't think this post was meant to make comparisons or judgments about his ability or decisions. I simply commented because I miss seeing him play and would love to see him competing. That isn't what he wants apparently and that's ok.
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If anything it was dig at "The-Professor" who posted a half-truth about JB and JS matchup, thats all :) Justin made his decision about his career few years back and Jayson made his - and the comparison of their respective legacies in pool is quite simple..
 
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MachineGunKelly said:
I'll start by saying I'm a fan of Justin's. Played him at the Derby a few years back and he was amazing in every way play, sportsmanship etc. However I don't buy into the whole "travel is to expensive" or "no money to be made". Early this year Fedor made 91k at 3 different tournaments all within 5 hours "driving time" of Justin's hometown. I know Justin doesn't play at Fedor's current speed but there was still plenty of money to be made close to home for Justin.
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Could be more of "living that life" to stay top speed just gets old. Not everyone is Shane or Ralf.
 
wasn't it the case that air travel was a hindrance? driving a car everywhere adds quite a few more travel hours
 
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