View Full Version : Eve of the U.S. Open
The players meeting was at 7:00 p.m., and it started a little late. As soon as we walked in the tournament room, I saw Jimmy Reid, smiling as always.
Danny Diliberto just got in from Boston, a long drive, and he got really lost. He finally found somebody who would let him follow them to Chesapeake Conference Center and paid them 20 bucks.
Tony Robles is here with his young son, whose grown at least a foot since I saw him a year ago.
Corey Duel has a new line of cues out called Woodpecker cues. He was showing Ronnie Wiseman one he designed himself.
InsidePOOL is here and everybody is enjoying the complimentary copy of the magazine. Alex the Lion is on the front cover for winning the WPC. I also got a copy of the U.S. Open program, which has pictures of every single U.S. Open winner. There's a cool picture of Louie Roberts.
Johnny Archer practiced for a spell and looks like he's on top of the world.
Keith has to play Ryan "The Genie Man" McCreesh first round, a guy who lives in our neck of the woods, tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.
The TV table and four tables surrounding it have blue cloth, and all other tables have the traditional green cloth.
I heard they had 199 players, but I'm not sure if that has changed.
Most of the young guns went over to Q-Masters for action.
Not much going on. The conference center is now locked up, allowing the vendors to set up and the clean-up folks to get the room ready for the first day of the Open.
We're staying low tonight and resting for tomorrow! Will report more later.
JAM
vagabond
09-06-2004, 06:20 AM
Thanks for the info
vagabond
70niner
09-06-2004, 04:45 PM
I like reading your threads the best JAM. Thnks so much for giving us a reason to look forward to going and checking my computer. Keep up the informative info.
Keith got knocked in the losers bracket his first round by Ryan "The Genie Man" McCreesh. The match was supposed to occur at 7:00 p.m., but because of the BCn taping of the match on the TV table, the match was rescheduled for 9:00 p.m. Ryan is a friend of ours, and if it couldn't be Keith, I'm so happy for Ryan and wish him well in the A side of the charts.
Well, the next best thing to winning is losing, and that's where Keith sits at the present, in the losers bracket on the B side of the charts. He remains optimistic and will play again on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.
The atmosphere here at the Open, everybody is having a grand old time. The weather is picture perfect, and the Chesapeake Conference Center is the PERFECT venue, getting better every year (IMO).
Saw Efren and Santos this morning eating breakfast at the Holiday Inn, and somebody said Jose Parica arrived and was at the Q-Masters pool room last evening.
Bobby Pickle won his first match, and he's sporting a new hair-do. Always a pleasure watching Bobby play pool. He's an entertainer and a really nice guy in person. He has a line of Pickle cue sticks with a pickle logo on the bottom.
Action is on the horizin, as it always is on the off hours of the tournament. Tony "T-Rex" Chohan has a game lined up for Wednesday evening. I have a feeling that is where I will end up today, since Keith doesn't have to play until Wednesday.
Spirits are somewhat low in my camp, but we're going to try to change this today and hope for the best. As Jimmy Reid says, you must have a positive aura around you when you're playing pool. Keith has licked his wounds and is ready to do battle again, and we can only hope for a better showing on Wednesday.
JAM
Keith got knocked in the losers bracket his first round by Ryan "The Genie Man" McCreesh. The match was supposed to occur at 7:00 p.m., but because of the BCn taping of the match on the TV table, the match was rescheduled for 9:00 p.m. Ryan is a friend of ours, and if it couldn't be Keith, I'm so happy for Ryan and wish him well in the A side of the charts.
Well, the next best thing to winning is losing, and that's where Keith sits at the present, in the losers bracket on the B side of the charts. He remains optimistic and will play again on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.
The atmosphere here at the Open, everybody is having a grand old time. The weather is picture perfect, and the Chesapeake Conference Center is the PERFECT venue, getting better every year (IMO).
Saw Efren and Santos this morning eating breakfast at the Holiday Inn, and somebody said Jose Parica arrived and was at the Q-Masters pool room last evening.
Bobby Pickle won his first match, and he's sporting a new hair-do. Always a pleasure watching Bobby play pool. He's an entertainer and a really nice guy in person. He has a line of Pickle cue sticks with a pickle logo on the bottom.
Action is on the horizin, as it always is on the off hours of the tournament. Tony "T-Rex" Chohan has a game lined up for Wednesday evening. I have a feeling that is where I will end up today, since Keith doesn't have to play until Wednesday.
Spirits are somewhat low in my camp, but we're going to try to change this today and hope for the best. As Jimmy Reid says, you must have a positive aura around you when you're playing pool. Keith has licked his wounds and is ready to do battle again, and we can only hope for a better showing on Wednesday.
JAM
Thanks for that fine report, makes me feel like I am there. Was that you sitting right in camera line at Keiths match? The telecast broke down so did not see a lot, got too busy to watch the replay. If you see Tony wish him luck from all his friends at Fast Eddys in California. We will be rootin for him.
Thanks
Thanks for that fine report, makes me feel like I am there. Was that you sitting right in camera line at Keiths match? The telecast broke down so did not see a lot, got too busy to watch the replay. If you see Tony wish him luck from all his friends at Fast Eddys in California. We will be rootin for him.
Thanks
Suki, Tony, Keith, and I just got back from the shopping mall. Tony wanted to buy a nice pair of slacks for his match, and so we went shopping. He's in great spirits, been on the road a while and is a little travel-weary.
Met a guy from New Jersey who is promoting a new tour with $300,000 added coming from a BRAND-NEW sponsor in the sport: Hilton Hotels. There will be tours, OPEN TO ALL, around the country, the first stop in Florida, next Pittsburgh. The only stipulation is that the player must stay at the Hilton while in the tournament and, of course, gets a great discounted rate. If this takes off, it could be the shot in the arm for pool and may bring in new sponsors. With larger money payouts, it will draw more interest in the sport (IMO).
Allen Hopkins is here, and he was passing out fliers to a big event he's going to have at the Hilton Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, November 19-20, 2004. ADMISSION FREE TO ALL SPECTATORS! $130,000 prize purse, $50,000 added guaranteed, ESPN telecast semifinals and championship rounds. It will be called the "Skins Billiards Championships."
Brady Behrman is working on a website for the Hilton tour, and we should all be hearing more about this in the coming weeks. BTW, when I was talking to the Hilton promoter guy, I mentioned the popularity of one-pocket, the game of choice of most action players, and suggested a one-pocket tournament. He said he may be able to throw in a one-pocket tournament or two down the road.
There is never a dull moment here at the Open. One can stroll over to the Conference Center, the venue for the tournament, which is adjacent to the Holiday Inn. There is always many HAPPY people standing out front engaged in conversation. Luc Salvas just popped up yesterday and was celebrating a recent third-place win in a major tournament. The Canadians have a strong presence here. Just saw Alex Papulyan arrive today, and he now has dual citizenship with Canada and Philippines, so that he can play in the lucrative Asian pool tournaments representing the Philippines. With the new higher-purse tournaments coming our way soon, Alex may have many venues to choose from.
Not a lot of spectators here so far this week. The first BCn and televised match was Keith and Ryan, and out of the 200 or so spectators, half of them were folks like me, friends of the players as well as players themselves. Many people will be arriving Friday, though, which hopefully will fill the house. Every single evening, all ladies who walk in the door receive a long-stem rose, courtesy of Barry Behrman, the Open promoter. He has done this every year in memory of his mom and has a story about it which is written in the U.S. Open program guide.
Doug Carter of Stroketrainer is the first vendor booth you see when you walk in the tournament room, right next to InsidePOOL magazine, and Dave Hodges of Quick Clean is on hand, making sure the tournament tables stay clean between all matches. The Stroketrainer is a hit at the Open, catching the interest of many. Lots of cue-stick vendors, too. Met Doctor D, the lady responsible for the Billiards Workbook. Her booth is drawing a lot of spectators as well.
Saw a shaved-head Marcus Chamat of Sweden, and he's been around the globe, traveling to multiple tournaments.
Brooke of HardTimes in California, Tang, and David Hemeth (sp) are here. Tang won his first match on the TV table. David lost his first round playing on the TV table and stated he did pick up his speed towards the end of his match, but it was too late. They had just gotten off the airplane at 11:00 a.m. and had to play a match at 1:00 p.m., which I'm sure added some pressure.
Daily coverage is being provided by InsidePOOL magazine and can be found at InsidePOOL Magazine Website (http://www.insidepool.com) The current issue of the magazine is now available for a free download.
JAM
Suki, Tony, Keith, and I just got back from the shopping mall. Tony wanted to buy a nice pair of slacks for his match, and so we went shopping. He's in great spirits, been on the road a while and is a little travel-weary.
Met a guy from New Jersey who is promoting a new tour with $300,000 added coming from a BRAND-NEW sponsor in the sport: Hilton Hotels. There will be tours, OPEN TO ALL, around the country, the first stop in Florida, next Pittsburgh. The only stipulation is that the player must stay at the Hilton while in the tournament and, of course, gets a great discounted rate. If this takes off, it could be the shot in the arm for pool and may bring in new sponsors. With larger money payouts, it will draw more interest in the sport (IMO).
Allen Hopkins is here, and he was passing out fliers to a big event he's going to have at the Hilton Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, November 19-20, 2004. ADMISSION FREE TO ALL SPECTATORS! $130,000 prize purse, $50,000 added guaranteed, ESPN telecast semifinals and championship rounds. It will be called the "Skins Billiards Championships."
Brady Behrman is working on a website for the Hilton tour, and we should all be hearing more about this in the coming weeks. BTW, when I was talking to the Hilton promoter guy, I mentioned the popularity of one-pocket, the game of choice of most action players, and suggested a one-pocket tournament. He said he may be able to throw in a one-pocket tournament or two down the road.
There is never a dull moment here at the Open. One can stroll over to the Conference Center, the venue for the tournament, which is adjacent to the Holiday Inn. There is always many HAPPY people standing out front engaged in conversation. Luc Salvas just popped up yesterday and was celebrating a recent third-place win in a major tournament. The Canadians have a strong presence here. Just saw Alex Papulyan arrive today, and he now has dual citizenship with Canada and Philippines, so that he can play in the lucrative Asian pool tournaments representing the Philippines. With the new higher-purse tournaments coming our way soon, Alex may have many venues to choose from.
Not a lot of spectators here so far this week. The first BCn and televised match was Keith and Ryan, and out of the 200 or so spectators, half of them were folks like me, friends of the players as well as players themselves. Many people will be arriving Friday, though, which hopefully will fill the house. Every single evening, all ladies who walk in the door receive a long-stem rose, courtesy of Barry Behrman, the Open promoter. He has done this every year in memory of his mom and has a story about it which is written in the U.S. Open program guide.
Doug Carter of Stroketrainer is the first vendor booth you see when you walk in the tournament room, right next to InsidePOOL magazine, and Dave Hodges of Quick Clean is on hand, making sure the tournament tables stay clean between all matches. The Stroketrainer is a hit at the Open, catching the interest of many. Lots of cue-stick vendors, too. Met Doctor D, the lady responsible for the Billiards Workbook. Her booth is drawing a lot of spectators as well.
Saw a shaved-head Marcus Chamat of Sweden, and he's been around the globe, traveling to multiple tournaments.
Brooke of HardTimes in California, Tang, and David Hemeth (sp) are here. Tang won his first match on the TV table. David lost his first round playing on the TV table and stated he did pick up his speed towards the end of his match, but it was too late. They had just gotten off the airplane at 11:00 a.m. and had to play a match at 1:00 p.m., which I'm sure added some pressure.
Daily coverage is being provided by InsidePOOL magazine and can be found at InsidePOOL Magazine Website (http://www.insidepool.com) The current issue of the magazine is now available for a free download.
JAM
GREAT REPORT,
TELL ME HOW MANY TABLES THEY PLAY ON. AND YES DURING THE BROADCAST LAST NIGHT I NOTICED NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE BUT I KNOW IT WILL PICK UP. GLAD TONY IS RELAXED BUT HE WAS AT THE PECHAUER TOURNAMENT AT MY PLACE LAST MONTH AND LEFT SO I KNOW HE HAS TO BE TRAVEL WEARY. I HOPE HE AND HIS STAKE HORSE DID NOT GO BROKE. YOU HAVE TO KEEP TONY AWAY FROM THE NON POOL GAMBLING VENUES.
THANKS AGAIN.
SEE YA
Remember the thread about shooting your ball in your opponent's hole? Well, it happened again tonight. Benny Conway, Jr., played Keith a little one-pocket on a practice table in a separate room where the players' chart is posted on the wall. Keith spotted him 10 to 6 for some small change. Benny shot his ball in Keith's hole, and immediately after, Keith shot his ball in Benny's hole. The 11:00 p.m. matches had just concluded and the players and spectators were coming in to view the players' chart and witnessed it. After they both looked at each other with that deer-in-headlights look, they decided to play the game over.
Scott Frost and Pookie have an appointment to play one-pocket at Q-Master's pool room, with Scott spotting 10 to 7 for one 5-ahead set and then 9 to 7 for the second 5-ahead set. When the 11:00 matches concluded, the crowd excited the Chesapeake Conference Center and went straight for the pool room.
Jimmy Reid had to play Troy Frank on the TV table and lost 11 to 5. He said he was so hot underneath the TV lights that he couldn't stroke the ball, commenting he wish he had a glove under that heat. Jimmy had to switch bridges and use a sinch bridge because he couldn't slide the cue, even with powder on his hands.
Met an old friend of Keith's named Ming. She and Keith enjoyed reminiscing about being on the road with Jay Helfert. Ming was one of the four women who competed at the recent Mohegan Suns Trick Shot Challenge that Jeanette Lee won. It is supposed to be televised on ESPN in November. She's been playing for 7 years and is in the top 20 of the women's pro tour.
Barry Behrman, the U.S. Open promoter, also owns the Q-Masters pool room, located about 10 minutes away from the Chesapeake Conference Center. It is a great pool room for viewing pool matches and action games, with bleachers and plenty of seating. It is open 24 hours during the U.S. Open week. He recently got large photos of every U.S. Open champion and hung them up on the ceiling of the back room.
Tonight, there was a bigger crowd. I think there are 15 or16 Diamond tables in total, and they are using the Sardo rack. The red-S cue-balls, according to Keith and Jimmy Reid, are lighter than the blue-dot and both of them agree that the Aramith balls are "lighter" than other balls. It is their opinion, too, that the balls deflect because they are lighter. The red polka-dotted cue-balls are used on all tables with blue cloth. There are five tables felted with blue cloth, and the others have the traditional green; Simonis, of course. Jump cues are allowed. The TV table has the blue cloth.
Just a snippet of some of the activities...
JAM
hemicudas
09-08-2004, 11:51 AM
Thanks, JAM. You are da,,,,,,,,,,girl.
Remember the thread about shooting your ball in your opponent's hole? Well, it happened again tonight. Benny Conway, Jr., played Keith a little one-pocket on a practice table in a separate room where the players' chart is posted on the wall. Keith spotted him 10 to 6 for some small change. Benny shot his ball in Keith's hole, and immediately after, Keith shot his ball in Benny's hole. The 11:00 p.m. matches had just concluded and the players and spectators were coming in to view the players' chart and witnessed it. After they both looked at each other with that deer-in-headlights look, they decided to play the game over.
Scott Frost and Pookie have an appointment to play one-pocket at Q-Master's pool room, with Scott spotting 10 to 7 for one 5-ahead set and then 9 to 7 for the second 5-ahead set. When the 11:00 matches concluded, the crowd excited the Chesapeake Conference Center and went straight for the pool room.
Jimmy Reid had to play Troy Frank on the TV table and lost 11 to 5. He said he was so hot underneath the TV lights that he couldn't stroke the ball, commenting he wish he had a glove under that heat. Jimmy had to switch bridges and use a sinch bridge because he couldn't slide the cue, even with powder on his hands.
Met an old friend of Keith's named Ming. She and Keith enjoyed reminiscing about being on the road with Jay Helfert. Ming was one of the four women who competed at the recent Mohegan Suns Trick Shot Challenge that Jeanette Lee won. It is supposed to be televised on ESPN in November. She's been playing for 7 years and is in the top 20 of the women's pro tour.
Barry Behrman, the U.S. Open promoter, also owns the Q-Masters pool room, located about 10 minutes away from the Chesapeake Conference Center. It is a great pool room for viewing pool matches and action games, with bleachers and plenty of seating. It is open 24 hours during the U.S. Open week. He recently got large photos of every U.S. Open champion and hung them up on the ceiling of the back room.
Tonight, there was a bigger crowd. I think there are 15 or16 Diamond tables in total, and they are using the Sardo rack. The red-S cue-balls, according to Keith and Jimmy Reid, are lighter than the blue-dot and both of them agree that the Aramith balls are "lighter" than other balls. It is their opinion, too, that the balls deflect because they are lighter. The red polka-dotted cue-balls are used on all tables with blue cloth. There are five tables felted with blue cloth, and the others have the traditional green; Simonis, of course. Jump cues are allowed. The TV table has the blue cloth.
Just a snippet of some of the activities...
JAM
The guy I practice with and I are over 60 and we do that consistently. lol
Could you find out the real skinny on the ring game changing in to Thursday. That is a disaster as far as I am concerned for BCN. Not only did people pay for it they made plans to watch together among other plans that went awry and now it also will conflict with the opening of football season. Wow not very professional.
Thanks again.
hemicudas
09-08-2004, 03:09 PM
The guy I practice with and I are over 60 and we do that consistently. lol
Could you find out the real skinny on the ring game changing in to Thursday. That is a disaster as far as I am concerned for BCN. Not only did people pay for it they made plans to watch together among other plans that went awry and now it also will conflict with the opening of football season. Wow not very professional.
Thanks again.You are right, Suki. Rob Sykora is in the process of hammering the final nails in his company's, BCN's, coffin. He can not get away with lying to his customers time and again.
Rob,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,DO THE RIGHT THING,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$Bill
Lots of upsets at the Open. Probably, the biggest was when the current Virginia State 9-Ball Champ, Chris Loar, beat Jeremy "Double J" Jones, last year's U.S. Open winner, 11 to 3 (I think). Chris runs a pool room in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The winner of that tourney got a free entry to the U.S. Open provided by Camel Cigarettes. Look for Chris to have a strong finish in this year's Open.
Keith and Danny DiLiberto (sp) commentated a match for BCn between Chris Furtrell, a local 14-year-old player, who plays out of Q-Masters. Chris is the current 2004 BCA Juniors Champion for 14-year-olds and under. The match began with a few stumbles, and at one point, the score was 7 to 6, racing to 11. The hot and bright lights must have been a factor in the several uncharacteristic mistakes made by Jeremy, allowing Chris to surge forward.
North Carolinean Young Gun Keith Bennett playing Mike Davis in the winners' bracket was an exciting match. Keith let Mike know he was there early by running 5 racks, and Mike could only look on and hope for a chance to get to the table. Davis showed quite a bit of heart by coming back from the 5-pack, making the score as close as it was in a nail-biter, 11 to 9, with Bennett the victor.
Allen Hopkins played Canadian Luc Salvas on the TV table, and they both came out a little sluggish. Hopkins had a shot on the 9-ball to make the score 3 to zero, and the ball skidded. Allen lost the game, and it seemed like all the momentum went Luc's way. Sure enough, it cost Hopkins 3 games from missing that 9-ball. Salvas ran 2 more racks to get a secure lead of 6 to 3. Allen then got the score 6 to 4, then 6 to 5, and then something funny happened. From that point, it was all Luc Salvas.
Mississippi's Finest from Hattiesburg, Little John, will face Tony Robles tomorrow afternoon. He's playing well this tournament and is full of confidence. He's hoping to climb the charts and stated he doesn't care who he plays.
Marcus Marquez from Texas lost to Neils Feijen well after midnight. When I left the Conference Center, Kid Delicious was still mid-match. Ronnie Wiseman knocked Tony "T-Rex" Chohan in the B side of the charts in a real close match, 11 to 9.
Tomorrow at 1:00, Keith McCready will play Ike Reynolds, a good one-pocket player. I saw him practicing tonight, getting ready for the match. Hope Keith brings his A game. Some players in the losers' bracket have their next matches on Friday, five in one day, 11:00, 1:00, 3:00, 7:00, 9:00.
Today, there were many more spectators filling in the bleacher seats. Ronnie Wiseman said when he arrived for his 9:00 p.m. match, he couldn't find a parking space in the Conference Center parking lot. This is a great turnout, and I believe this weekend, it will be packed.
I have to say, the smoking lounge, with tent and all out front, is a favorite place to hang out. There are two picnic benches. Efren, Bustie, and Santos were playing cards this afternoon in front of a huge crowd of curious onlookers.
Earl Strickland conceded a hill game to his opponent by not allowing him to run the remaining 7 -- yes, I said SEVEN -- balls. The score was 10 to 9, and Earl just quietly packed his three cue cases and walked out.
Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
JAM
Keith McCready was defeated by Ike Runnels at 1:00 p.m. today, 11 to 10 in a nail-biting match. Keith made a terrific combo on the 9-ball and scratched, giving Ike ball in hand. Ike is a great one-pocket player from Chicago.
Now, with the tournament out of the way, action is on the horizon.
JAM
Keith McCready was defeated by Ike Runnels at 1:00 p.m. today, 11 to 10 in a nail-biting match. Keith made a terrific combo on the 9-ball and scratched, giving Ike ball in hand. Ike is a great one-pocket player from Chicago.
Now, with the tournament out of the way, action is on the horizon.
JAM
Speaking of action, the other day you said Pookie and Frost were to play at Q Masters. You gave no report and I am trying to put two and two together, is that match why Frost never made it to his match on time, and had to forfeit?
Lunchmoney
09-09-2004, 02:56 PM
Keith McCready was defeated by Ike Runnels at 1:00 p.m. today, 11 to 10 in a nail-biting match. Keith made a terrific combo on the 9-ball and scratched, giving Ike ball in hand. Ike is a great one-pocket player from Chicago.
Now, with the tournament out of the way, action is on the horizon.
JAM
JAM,
If you get a chance could you tell me how Dan Louie is doing? I know he lost his first match but I haven't been able to find out anything since then. Thanks.
Lunchmoney
Getting ready to go to Q-Masters. Last I heard, Scott Frost lost a set to Pookie and had to quit at 8:00 a.m. for them to go to their matches, which was yesterday. Pookie made it. Scott Frost did not.
Jose Parica just beat Johnny Archer, 11 to 5. Jose was heard saying before the tournament that Johnny has beaten him quite a few times and he was going to really put a lot of effort into winning this match, and that he did. Great win for Jose. Johnny is on the B side, and as we all know, the cream always rises to the top. I'm sure he will be grinding his way up to the finals.
Very exciting here at the Open. More and more folks are arriving, and the place is packed.
JAM
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