WPBA 2006 - the SJM Awards (I need advice)

[sjm]

Well, the curtain will close Sunday on another WPBA season, and a great one it has been.

As you all know, the ladies of the WPBA all aspire to win an “SJM award” at the end of the year (no, these awards are not recognized by the WPBA). Let’s see where the ladies stand entering Saturday’s play at the Nationals.

SJM WPBA Player of the Year

Nominees: Allison Fisher, Karen Corr

Overview: Both skipped the world championships. Allison won at Michigan City, the US Open and the Nationals. Karen won at North Carolina, Florida, and at Peoria. Karen also won at the Challenge of Champions.

This is probably the closest WPBA player of the Year race in years. Fisher won three events, but won two of the very prestigious events. Corr won four
events, but came up empty at the tour's biggest events.

And the SJM award goes to .......... This is a tie, they must share the award.

SJM WPBA Rookie of the Year

Nominees: Xiaoting Pan, Pam Treadway

Overview: Pam Treadway played some great pool this year, especially at the BCA “playpool.com” Open, where she made a nice run to finish seventh. Xiaoting Pan cracked the top 16 in her rookie campaign. She beat Allison Fisher twice. She finished third at Peoria.

Of course, Pan is not a rookie in pro cuesports, so that needs to be considered.

And the SJM award goes to: Pan Xiaoting is WPBA Rookie of the Year and Pam Treadway wins the SJM "Cuesports Rookie of the Year" award.

SJM WPBA Most Improved Player Award

Nominees: Monica Webb, Kim Shaw, Megan Minerich

Overview: Monica Webb, highly ranked a year ago, further established herself as a dominating presence on tour and has become a TV round fixture. Kim Shaw found her game again in 2006, and looks like she’ll end the season ranked in the Top 8. Megan Minerich had some breakout wins over quality opponents this year, too, and raised her game a notch.

And the SJM Award Goes to: Monica Webb

SJM WPBA Eight Ball Player of the Year

Nominees: Allison Fisher, Gerda Hofstatter, Sarah Ellerby

Overview: Each enjoyed some success in the two IPT events played, but Sarah Ellerby managed to reach the third round at Las Vegas, an accomplishment neither Allison nor Gerda managed at either Vegas or Reno.

And the SJM Award goes to:Sarah Ellerby

Congratulations to all the winners.

 

[Nostroke]

SJM-There is no way I could help you with this. I will defer to your superior knowledge and memory. I enjoy the tournies but usually everything is forgotten in a month. The exception being sometimes i will take note of an up and comer who i think plays super super, often only to find that she was just having one of those moments ( Liz). You may already be aware of this.

Anyway it is too hard for me to separate any of your choices which are all excellent but i will note your exclusion of Megan from the Most Improved Player category. Im pretty sure she was just given that out in LC so perhaps she should be a late consideration.

 

[cuetable]

Hi SJM

How are you shooting?

I like your idea. One suggestion I have is to gather the players' stats from all tournaments this year.

Total games played
Total games won
Total matches played
Total matches won

If possible:
Total numbers of break and run
Total numbers of 9 on the break


I believe the numbers can be found somewhere and will provide an objective answer.

To decide on the most improved player, you might have to dig up more files from the past.

The Challenge of Champion scores can only be included in both players are in it since it is not an open event.


Care to share some ideas for our shot contest?

 

[bruin70]

ROY....
does ouschan qualify? one tourney was enough for me to see quality. and she was strong in the 14.1 in nj as well.

 

[Nostroke]

ROY....
does ouschan qualify? one tourney was enough for me to see quality. and she was strong in the 14.1 in nj as well.

I think Miss Ouschan has only played in the BCA which is not really a WPBA event though it's pretty friggin close. Anyway awards such as these are generally reserved for players who have reached WPBA Touring Pro Status which Miss Ouschan has not due solely to lack of opportunity im sure.

 

[sjm]

I think Miss Ouschan has only played in the BCA which is not really a WPBA event though it's pretty friggin close. Anyway awards such as these are generally reserved for players who have reached WPBA Touring Pro Status which Miss Ouschan has not due solely to lack of opportunity im sure.

That's right. In WPBA-land, a player is considered to be a rookie in the year in which they become a touring pro. Jasmin may well be a future Rookie of the Year.

 

[Eydie Romano]

Karen is, and always will be my favorite.

Monica rocks as well!

 

[Cuedog]

Along with all of her other accomplishments, at 7 months pregnant, Pamela Treadway, comes away with 5th place in the New Mexico event, and a ESPN debut. That should eliminate all doubt.

Pamela Treadway for Rookie of the year.

Gene

 

[azhousepro]

I don't know. If you can beat Allison Fisher twice in one year, and your last name isn't Corr or Ouschan then you are pretty deserving of an award.

Mike

Along with all of her other accomplishments, at 7 months pregnant, Pamela Treadway, comes away with 5th place in the New Mexico event, and a ESPN debut. That should eliminate all doubt.

Pamela Treadway for Rookie of the year.

Gene

 

[Nostroke]

I don't know. If you can beat Allison Fisher twice in one year, and your last name isn't Corr or Ouschan then you are pretty deserving of an award.

Mike

That is true but got me thinking perhaps some leeway/consideration to Miss Treadway as XTP was ranked 3rd or 4th by The WPA (no B) before she ever played a WPBA event. She was a seasoned vet in Asia, having won the very prestigious "All Japan" tournament twice i believe. Even GYK was not World ranked as high as XTP when she started in the WPBA. Pam Treadway on the other hand was just a regional tour player and not for very long either. She went from Planet Pool Events to RT to WPBA very quickly.

For that reason which is not allowed to be considered I am sure, I am considering it anyway and backing Miss Treadway for the award!!

 

[av84fun]

Allison


Pan

Webb

 

[sjm]

Anyway it is too hard for me to separate any of your choices which are all excellent but i will note your exclusion of Megan from the Most Improved Player category.

Yes, that was a mistake. I have added her to the nominee list.

 

[Cuedog]

I don't know. If you can beat Allison Fisher twice in one year, and your last name isn't Corr or Ouschan then you are pretty deserving of an award.

Mike

They are both excellent players Mike, but I remember Pamela beating and putting Xiao-ting Pan out of the Enjoypool.com Open 9-Ball Championships the last time they played. (Pamela was only 17 years old at the time.) Pamela ended up with a top 16 finish as I recall, eventually losing to Jasmin Ouschan.

That ought to be worth something towards giving Pamela a leg up.

Maybe Pan has Allison's number, or at least did on those occasions. But, as I mentioned above, Pamela beat Pan. Now, just because of that sequence of events, do I think for a moment that Pamela can give it to Allison on a regular basis? Of course not.

Common opponents is a great tool by which to measure skill level, but I believe that head to head is more accurate. With that in mind, I realize that was only one match, but that is all we have to go on. Let me reiterate that, that match took place on the one loss side with the to combatants fully realizing the consequences of losing again.

Final note: Pamela Treadway is still only 18 years old. What level player were most of us at the tender age of 18?

Gene

 

[cuechick]

I'd love to see an award for Heart ... Helena Thornfelt would be my pick...her come back against Jasmine in Vegas and her actual selfless demeanor!

p.s. maybe I'll make your list next year SJM, I just won my 1st Q'er last month!! I think I'll be playing in Florida 2007!

 

[Nostroke]

I'd love to see an award for Heart ... Helena Thornfelt would be my pick...her come back against Jasmine in Vegas and her actual selfless demeanor!

p.s. maybe I'll make your list next year SJM, I just won my 1st Q'er last month!! I think I'll be playing in Florida 2007!

Oh Yeah- Congrats on that-pretty cool.

 

[Timberly]

I'd love to see an award for Heart ... Helena Thornfelt would be my pick...her come back against Jasmine in Vegas and her actual selfless demeanor!

p.s. maybe I'll make your list next year SJM, I just won my 1st Q'er last month!! I think I'll be playing in Florida 2007!

Congrats on winning your first Q'er! Be sure to let us know which event you'll be playing in so we can cheer you on.

As for Rookie of the year... Pam gets my vote. I'm a little biased of course but I think her accomplishments to date at such a young age speaks volumes. When I first met Pam she was 16, had just won Valley Forge, and was working two jobs. She's got a strong game and a ton of heart.

 

[cuechick]

Oh Yeah- Congrats on that-pretty cool.

Thanks Davey, the TD never submitted the article to Az so it kind of slipped by...
I am pretty excited and hopefully will see you in Florida and probably Vegas too!

And thanks Timberly!

 

[sjm]

p.s. maybe I'll make your list next year SJM, I just won my 1st Q'er last month!! I think I'll be playing in Florida 2007!

Wow, you just made my day. That's really exciting. Good for you. Bravo!

 

[sjm]

The more I think about Rookie of the Year, the harder it is to get away from Pan Xiaoting. In her eight events, she finsihed in the top 16 in all eight events! Simply amazing.

Pam Treadway played well this year but did not have only one top five finish, at the US Open. Pan Xiaoting had three top fives (5th at Michigan City, 5th at Florida and 3rd at Peoria) and, on reflection had one of the best rookie campaigns that I can ever remember. The only WPBA players having had better rookie campaigns that I can think of since the formation of the WPBA Classic Tour in 1993 are Jeanette Lee, Allison Fisher, Karen Corr, Kelly Fisher and Ga Young Kim.

Still, like Ross Perot, I'm all ears.

 

[Nostroke]

The more I think about Rookie of the Year, the harder it is to get away from Pan Xiaoting. In her eight events, she finsihed in the top 16 in all eight events! Simply amazing.

Pam Treadway played well this year but did not have a top five finish. Pan Xiaoting had three top fives (5th at Michigan City, 5th at Florida and 3rd at Peoria) and, on reflection had one of the best rookie campaigns that I can ever remember. The only WPBA players having had better rookie campaigns that I can think of since the formation of the WPBA Classic Tour in 1993 are Jeanette Lee, Allison Fisher, Karen Corr, Kelly Fisher and Ga Young Kim.

Still, like Ross Perot, I'm all ears.

Let me paraphrase myself. Pam Treadway is a real rookie in Pro Pool. XTP is not. If you do not consider that which is the norm in many sports, XTP it is.