Will the US Open really make it this year?

Depends on how "cheap" they travel, road partners, eating habits, etc.

Also depends on how the 50k is acquired. Did they play in 5 tournaments or 50?

The simple question you asked can't really be answered without taking an actual player's tournament year, and then looking into how they travel/live.

Obviously the more tournaments it takes to get to the 50k, the more expenses they will have acquired over time. Also, obviously, the people travel alone, who stay in non crappy hotels and eat better than McDonalds food will also have higher expenses.

Well said, and I agree!
 
I find it fascinating that some people act like one day pro pool players had to choose between being a doctor, an astronaut, playing in the NBA or being a pro pool player.

I got news for you folks.....there are a lot of people out there working shitty jobs just scraping by doing things they hate. Why so many want to judge or hate on people who choose to do something they want to do instead of grinding out an existence based on other peoples rules is beyond me.

Who gives a shit how someone else lives their life ? Sitting at a poker table listening to bad beat stories and douchebags blather on endlessly sounds like the second ring of hell to me no matter what it pays. Going into an office everyday trading time for money is right next to it. But I don't come on here and say how silly it is for someone to choose those things.

No one in history has told some young kid "Play pool for a living you will be rich." Any player who acts shocked at what it takes to live the life has no one to blame but themselves. There are ways to make a life in pool. If all you want to do is show up play pool then blow all your money at the casino or track then guess what you would have had a shitty life no matter what your occupation.
 
People wonder why professional pool is dying out in America. Well, the pool industry is a funny lot. They support each other, i.e., the BCA, a membership organization for industry members, provide product and/or monies to promote other industry members, yet they don't support professional pool in a way to promote it.

As Lou Butera once said, Brunswick, Simonis, Aramith, Diamond, Olhausen, and all the others big industry members should be putting on their own tournaments for professional pool players. Instead, these industry members support other industry members and don't really seem interested in professional pool whatsoever.

The pool industry will be successful because of leagues and recreational pool, and unless and until pro players come with a product to sell, this trend will continue.
 
People wonder why professional pool is dying out in America. Well, the pool industry is a funny lot. They support each other, i.e., the BCA, a membership organization for industry members, provide product and/or monies to promote other industry members, yet they don't support professional pool in a way to promote it.

As Lou Butera once said, Brunswick, Simonis, Aramith, Diamond, Olhausen, and all the others big industry members should be putting on their own tournaments for professional pool players. Instead, these industry members support other industry members and don't really seem interested in professional pool whatsoever.

The pool industry will be successful because of leagues and recreational pool, and unless and until pro players come with a product to sell, this trend will continue.

Simonis, Aramith (now basically the same people) and Diamond all support pro pool. See Derby City and Tunica for Diamond. Simonis has sponsored many events over the years. That sponsorship helps promoters to put on the events.

End of the day if pro pool generated interest and revenue there would be big money events every weekend. Most in the pool industry are small companies just trying to carve out a way to survive in a declining industry.
 
gambling in pool is dead if it wants to be brought into the 21st century it needs corporate sponsership and having the title former US open champion might mean something if that ever happens like I sad if the 500 bucks isnt that important might be worth it to a young gun

I'd pay $500 to have an actual US Open Champion trophy and novelty check with my name on it (cash value $0.00) for my basement poolroom. If nobody else goes, I'm in!

Cory in DC
 
Why is there no US national championship? It could be organized similarly to the US amateurs, qualifiers thruout the country by region and then a National Title. That would create some excitement all over the country if promoted properly.:confused:
I'll take a guess: Because the organization responsible for governing pool in the US has neither the resources nor the interest to run a national championship. They used to, with state qualifiers. It was called the US Open 14.1 championships but it was effectively the US national men's professional championship.
 
pool :deadhorse:
It's now just an expensive hobby, get used to it.

If there was any commercial value in it Matchroom could do it in a heartbeat but they won't cause there isn't.
 
If they have the Open I will more then likely be going. Such a good time down there. Even with the janky venue last year I had a blast.

Me too! I had an amazing time. I actually found it easier to get front row seats and get closer to the big matches than at the convention center. Having a VIP pass the last 2 days helped, and the days prior to that I was a bit resourceful and climbed under the rows of tables to get down to front row. :grin-square:


I love that area of Virginia. It's beautiful that time of year.

These days, if I'm going to a pool event, I don't have the mentality anymore of we're "in it to win it." It's more like a pool vacation, recreating, having fun. In the end, that's what pool should be all about: FUN!

Ditto that! As much I hate what has happened with slow to no pay, it's not going to stop me from having a great 4 day trip again (if it's held, lol).

Hanging out with the pros and my buds, seeing old pool friends I rarely get to see, walking to the venue from my room, playing poker in the hotel room, getting into some action at Q Masters - it's such a unique opportunity for us east coasters.
 
But what exactly does it "mean?" At least as far as US players go.....minus a list you can count on one hand, you can't earn a "real" living as a pool player......so minus the bragging rights or "prestige," what does one have to gain by winning(and possibly not getting paid) the US Open?

As far as I know, all US Open players have been paid in the past. Some on time, other's very late but have been paid. The only ones we know that have not received their paychecks are last year's Champ through the 6 position.
 
As far as I know, all US Open players have been paid in the past. Some on time, other's very late but have been paid. The only ones we know that have not received their paychecks are last year's Champ through the 6 position.

I don't know what the current status is of who's owed what, but I know some are being paid in installments. I am not aware of anyone that has never been paid in full from prior Opens. I suspect that all players will again be paid in full sooner or later for the most recent Open.
 
I`ll be suprised if any of the top players bother going this year.

:shakehead:


Sorry to disagree but I think all top players will be there. And if not, it's their loss.

I'll be routing for Brett and Shawn Wilke to win.


And about the payout last year...it's been brutally, hugely exaggerated here on AZBilliards. :shocked:


I will buy coffee and donuts if one person can name 3 people that didn't get paid any money.:smile:
 
I don't doubt that the Open will happen this year nor do I doubt any of the top players will be there just as they always have been. I know I'll be there just as I always have been in the past to support the players, the tournament, & Barry as well as Shannon.
 
They all should have been paid in Full. There is no reason why this did not happen and it is not acceptable.
 
They all should have been paid in Full. There is no reason why this did not happen and it is not acceptable.

It is not 100% verified, but it is my understanding that the players have finally been paid.

what I do know for sure is that much of the staff was not paid what they were promised and some of the staff was not paid at all! I know that for a fact.

Bill S
 
Wild Bill Hickock was playing in a riged Faro game---on of his freinds whispered too him --You know the game is rigged don't you--His responce was --yeah but it's the only game in town
That's about my 2 cents on the U. S. Open and the reason anyone shows up
 
poolguy4u said:
And about the payout last year...it's been brutally, hugely exaggerated here on AZBilliards. :shocked:


I will buy coffee and donuts if one person can name 3 people that didn't get paid any money.:smile:



I hope you have the same attitude towards your employer the next time payday comes and they tell you they'll get around to giving you your full check when they can. Some of these players live on their winnings and it's unacceptable that they are not paid in FULL when the event is over.
 
:shakehead:
Sorry to disagree but I think all top players will be there. And if not, it's their loss.
I'll be routing for Brett and Shawn Wilke to win.
And about the payout last year...it's been brutally, hugely exaggerated here on AZBilliards. :shocked:
I will buy coffee and donuts if one person can name 3 people that didn't get paid any money.:smile:

If one person can name only 2 people, that is too many.

If its been exaggerated so much, why doesn't Barry enlighten us on what the truth is? Or maybe you can? You may have to remove his testicles from your grasp to use the keyboard though.
 
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