Who is G.M.P.A.?

Roger Long

Roger Long

Sonoran Cue Creations
Silver Member
I picked up a large flier in Bull Shooters (Phx.) yesterday that is announcing the "2nd ANNUAL SOUTHWEST POCKET BILLIARD CHAMPIONSHIPS" scheduled for November with a "$44,000+ Payout Based On Full Fields"

This is supposed to be a 23-event extravaganza with $10K added (based on full fields) and is for all "Amateur League Players from ACS, APA, BCAPL, UPA, VNEA, TAP and other approved, independent leagues." And at the very top of the flier, it says the tournament is being presented by "G.M.P.A."

Now I hate to show my ignorance here, but there is a major tournament being planned right in my back yard by the G.M.P.A., and I have never even heard of this organization before. But I'm not alone. So far, the other locals I've talked to about this don't know who, or what, G.M.P.A. is, either.

Does anyone out there know?

Roger
 
Maybe Greater Maricopa Pool Association....something like that? Or maybe George, Mark, Peter and Andy. :grin:
 
Incredible -- $44,000 potentially added monies and not one mention in the pool print or online media. :eek:

Sounds like they need an Office of Public Affairs or Communications Directorate. :grin-square:
 
JAM said:
Incredible -- $44,000 potentially added monies and not one mention in the pool print or online media. :eek:

Sounds like they need an Office of Public Affairs or Communications Directorate. :grin-square:
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I did google a pdf newsletter from a Phoenix area TAP that mentioned several reschedules because of a GMPA tournament.
 
Thanks for the links folks. It appears that GMPA is doing promotional and/or production work for the ACS, but I still haven't seen where there is an explanation of what the letters G.M.P.A. stand for. I'm not suspicious - I'm just curious.

Roger
 
JAM said:
Incredible -- $44,000 potentially added monies and not one mention in the pool print or online media. :eek:

Sounds like they need an Office of Public Affairs or Communications Directorate. :grin-square:
Click to expand...

Let's face it Jam, pool generally is poorly promoted, even at the major championship level. Take the Woman's World 9 Ball being played right now. We all had to rely on someone in the AZB community to trip across a link to the event and there is not one stream yet found with English commentary. They don't even have the names of the players or the score scrolled across the screen. There is not one bit of info on the tournament on the WPA website other than it is listed on their yearly calendar. The WPBA website also makes no mention of it even though several of their big stars a participating. It seems to me the WPBA should be helping get exposure for their members wherever it can. They should have real time scoring updates and a link to the stream on their website. So should the WPA. Heck, every "World Championship" should have it's own website.
 
Well, I did some more checking and found out that GMPA stands for Greater Midwest Poolplayers Association in Portage, IN. Now I'm curious as to how they became involved in running a large tournament in Phoenix, AZ. Weird.

Roger
 
Roger Long said:
Well, I did some more checking and found out that GMPA stands for Greater Midwest Poolplayers Association in Portage, IN. Now I'm curious as to how they became involved in running a large tournament in Phoenix, AZ. Weird.

Roger
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I only have two questions about this tournament:

Are they posting the money?

Will it be seeded?

:grin-square::wink:
 
Roger Long said:
Thanks for the links folks. It appears that GMPA is doing promotional and/or production work for the ACS, but I still haven't seen where there is an explanation of what the letters G.M.P.A. stand for. I'm not suspicious - I'm just curious.

Roger
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After TrueDough , we all get to be suspicious . . . .
 
Roger Long said:
I picked up a large flier in Bull Shooters (Phx.) yesterday that is announcing the "2nd ANNUAL SOUTHWEST POCKET BILLIARD CHAMPIONSHIPS" scheduled for November with a "$44,000+ Payout Based On Full Fields"

This is supposed to be a 23-event extravaganza with $10K added (based on full fields) and is for all "Amateur League Players from ACS, APA, BCAPL, UPA, VNEA, TAP and other approved, independent leagues." And at the very top of the flier, it says the tournament is being presented by "G.M.P.A."

Now I hate to show my ignorance here, but there is a major tournament being planned right in my back yard by the G.M.P.A., and I have never even heard of this organization before. But I'm not alone. So far, the other locals I've talked to about this don't know who, or what, G.M.P.A. is, either.

Does anyone out there know?

Roger
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Where was the "1st Annual Southwest Pocket Billiards Championship" tournament played????
 
Jack Madden said:
Where was the "1st Annual Southwest Pocket Billiards Championship" tournament played????
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Jack, old friend! Good question. It was also another question of mine. Turns out the 1st tournament was held at Skip & Jan's in Tempe. I do now recall reading something about it in the local billiards newspapers last year. But this year it will be held in Bull Shooters, the best pool room in the world (I might be a little biased here)! :grin-square:

Come on down and play!

Roger
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
I only have two questions about this tournament:

Are they posting the money?

Will it be seeded?

:grin-square::wink:
Click to expand...

These are very good questions. In view of things that have happened with other major tournament payouts, these questions should be addressed soon. I'll see if I can get some answers.

Roger
 
Roger Long said:
These are very good questions. In view of things that have happened with other major tournament payouts, these questions should be addressed soon. I'll see if I can get some answers.

Roger
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Thanks Roger. Actually I posted it in light of the recent thread on Turning Stone and the Players Association. These conditions came up in the context for next year's Turning Stone event. So I wonder if the PA players will play in an unproven tournament with this much money added without posting and seeding since they seem to be asking this of TS. Note: As far as I know this wasn't an official demand of the PA but the subject did come up in that thread.
 
I am curious about this event too, they say $44,000 Added based on full fields, well what is a full field as I do not see any info on that, is a full field 10,000 players?, lol. I hope the event does well but would like more info on it before I play in it. :smile:
 
stuckart said:
It was played last year, October'ish, out of Skip & Jan's in Tempe, AZ.

Full story is posted up on AZPoolScene.com

It's run by Cecil Messer, which is in charge of the ACS, I believe.

Here is the direct link: http://www.mypoolscene.com/Breaking...st-Amateur-Pocket-Billiard-Championships.aspx

I'm going to dig up the stories from last years results.
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Cecil has been involved with the GMPA out of Portage for at least the 17 years I've known about it. I saw him in Vegas last week and he handed me a flier but I didn't give it much attention as it was for a tournament in AZ.
 
Roger Long said:
Jack, old friend! Good question. It was also another question of mine. Turns out the 1st tournament was held at Skip & Jan's in Tempe. I do now recall reading something about it in the local billiards newspapers last year. But this year it will be held in Bull Shooters, the best pool room in the world (I might be a little biased here)! :grin-square:

Come on down and play!

Roger
Click to expand...

Roger,

When in November --- Bull Shooters on 35th & Peoria right??
 
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