Recently the BCA Pool League advisory board recommended changes in the structure
of the national tournament that dramatically impacts the team events and
the Master players in particular. The BCA Pool League adopted those recommendations
and, as stated in the press release on BCA Pool League Policy changes, as
of the 2007 8-ball championships Master level players will not be allowed
to play in the Open Team division.
Historically there have been issues with what to do with the better players,
the fact that they are the minority yet have more money added to their events
to bring the payouts within range of where the enormous numbers the Open divisions’ entry
fees automatically boost those divisions to, as well as the fact that because
there is more money in the Open divisions, many players do not want to achieve
a Master ranking at the national level and it is common knowledge that some
players even cheat, or dump matches to keep from having to move up.
This is a tough and sensitive issue that impacts nearly all the league members.
This month On The Wire posed the question ‘Are the payouts structured
the right way?’ and immediately received passionate arguments from both
the Open player’s perspective, as well as the Master player's. If you
would like to have your own opinion voiced, please email On The Wire at: onthewire@aol.com.
We can also be phoned or faxed.
We encourage players to get involved and help shape the direction the sport
takes.Regionally we have always struggled with, and for whatever reason this
year I noticed Nationally that the open divisions are paid more than the master
divisions (maybe it has always been that way - I thought in the past that money
was added and the payouts were the same at the top positions?? This year the
master divisions received all the added money - but as an example the Open
team won $12K while the Master team won less than $8K?). Please bare in mind
that the money is not the issue in my opinion - it just happens to be the compensation
the competitors receive for their accomplishments. I realize that there are
more average players than accomplished players which naturally makes for a
bigger pot with bigger numbers - but isn't that part of the problem we face
with people having a poor attitude about better players and people not wanting
to get better because they want to maintain the best of their position - which
is clearly as an average open player (with many who really aren't open
players - but guys who just don't quite have enough heart to compete
and suffer defeat - despite the fact that they very well can compete, but may
not be favored the majority of the time?)
What happens when the open competition grows to a point where the payouts
in the top positions offer more than the pros? There are less people in the
pro divisions - maybe they should get even less? Is it just me? Am I the only
one who thinks the whole structure is completely screwed up? I understand that
the player advisory board for the BCA voted unanimously to disallow master
players from playing on open teams - now not only are we screwed in singles
- we can't play on teams - how is that supposed to work for the female enthusiasts
whose numbers pale in comparison to those of the men's? At lease (which
I am in no way saying I like) the men have enough master players in their respective
regions to draw upon and have a decent division. I just can't see how it is
good for this sport that as a player gets better and achieves more, he
is penalized with smaller payouts and tougher competition - it's like all the
average players out there would like to see people who play better than them
stuck on some island to duke it out for themselves. Better players are really
getting a bad shake in my opinion – I would really like to know what
you think?
Thanks, Carissa
Dear Carissa,
I believe you are 100% correct
in saying that the better players are the ones who suffer in the game of
pool. In my opinion, professional tournaments should always have a bigger
prize pool than any amateur tournament. All sports should encourage players
to become great - to be the best. But in this game, people need to "sandbag" in
order to get the dough. If the pro events had a heavy payout then I
think many great players would emerge.
In my opinion, things such as handicaps just keep the "sandbaggers" around.
Why should a great player run out when they can sandbag, get weight and play
just good enough to win?
Pro players work hard to get their games to where they are ... and are they
compensated for their efforts? Hardly. What they are left with are playing
in select tournaments (since they are usually blacklisted from every tournament
from weekly local events to big amateur events) and only to find that the prize
pool is weak.
Pool is a funny game ... the better you become, the more you get screwed.
Hope my opinion helped! :) Connie Rim
Danny Burdick
One thought on the subject is that no matter what the pay-outs are in the Open
Divisions ONLY the top 4% move up to the next level, that's why the Masters
Division takes so long to build. If the percentage for moving up were higher
the Masters Division would grow faster and receive the bigger
payouts.
Figuring out at what level does a player in the Open Division become a lower
level master is the hard part since obviously there's no comparison to the
Glenn Atwell's or Stan T's who have a lot more experience in the Masters Division. I
know top 4% is the standard but adjustments are always being made
to accommodate different situations and I think this might be one of them.
Dear Carissa,
My opinion is vastly different from yours. I was appalled at the payouts at
the BCA. There were 22 Master teams in the men’s division and as you
stated the payout was almost 8K. Where in the Open division there were, how
many teams? And the payout was only 12K? Its pretty simple math to me. There
are by far more open teams than master teams so shouldn't the pay be more
for the open? As far as Master's being able to play on open teams I disagree
with that too. There were some teams at the BCA that were LOADED, to say
the least. So how is that fair to the average Joe team from nowhere that
comes to compete with, what they assume will be average teams? For the seasoned
pool players we all know who are and are not master players and maybe even
rationalize why they choose to load a team in the Open division. I think
that the Master players should step up to the plate and play in the division
they should have been playing in all along and then the monies will grow.
Until then the teams that play in the open division, because they are open
teams, should have a shot at winning some of that cash, given the chance
they can make it past the loaded teams that should have been in the masters
to begin with.
In my opinion in order to compensate the competitors for their accomplishments
lets let them play with players of their own level of play. Then the monies
would be more evenly disbursed because the players would be more evenly disbursed.
I think 8K was one hell of a payout given the fact that there were only 22
teams competing and my hat goes off to all 22 that stepped up to play in that
division. Drawing a line between an "open player" and a "master
player" is a tough line to draw but lets compensate all the TRUE open
players that go and compete with all heart and soul to try and snap one off
and then step up to the master division and be proud to be there.
Thanks Carissa, great subject
Janet Neitzel
Julie Hunter
It has been that way forever. I also think there should be incentive to
move up and into new ranks. And as far as teams, I don’t know the solution
but it should be tossed around and talked about.
Dear Carissa,
You have nailed it right on the head, two years ago I played Willie Gin,
who managed to "petition" his way into the open division because he "couldn't
handle" (my opinion) the masters division. We were playing, (I was
playing) to get into the top 8 to become a master, a feat I have been working
for since I started playing seriously, we were in the 13- whatever bracket
playing for the next match, he beat me on the hill and I stayed around to watch
his next match after hearing his "story" of why he was in the open,
he DUMPED to the next guy, (placing him 9-12th) which of whom I have beaten several
times before just so the following year he could play in the open! I
respect Willie and his game but his tactic was unfair and justly governed by
the BCA. What can you do? It's too bad that so much of this sport
is money motivated and that, I believe is what the problem is. Why can't
the BCA take some of the money from advertising sales and add it to the masters
event, or something, the money shouldn't be limited to the entry fees! The
open players are going to bitch, but if you think about it the only open
players that will complain are the ones who shouldn't be there anyway and
always seen
to place in the top money brackets, (just out of becoming a master)!
It’s only my opinion, and if Willie reads this, sorry bro, it’s
just my opinion!
Matt
Frank Giordano
There are no good and bad players, there are just customers! Any tournament
is just like opening the doors to any retail establishment. Provide a clean,
well-lit environment for your customers with friendly staff to serve them.
The draw and table assignments must be completely random to avoid any possible
interpretation of favoritism, and the prize fund distribution should be disclosed
by a formula: winner takes half (or a third, or two thirds...) and each loser
category receives an amount that is a certain fraction of a higher loser
category. It's all very easy when the entire process of the tournament is
disclosed for the customers to view and inspect. When you go to the drug
store in need of Aspirin, think of the effort that is put forth by the staff
to assist you in finding it.
I was in retail management for 18 years--customer service specialist. Then
in 2001 I quit and went back to college to complete my BA degree in Mathematics.
I just achieved that this month. Now I'm looking for teaching work and currently
work/play at Classic Billiards in San Rafael,
California. I just returned from Reno where I assisted tournament Director
Linda Silva run the USPPA Handicapped tournament as well as the Reno Open.
I believe Pool, and more specifically, 9-ball allows a player to express ones
self. There is no good or bad self-expression. Just like some people are more
entertaining than others, some players score better than others. But to say
that more entertaining people are better than boring ones is the same as saying
that players that score better than others are better than others.
Anyway, the cream of any tournament will rise to the top. And until it is dangerous
to go outside (depleted ozone layer, etc.) pool will never enjoy the popularity
that outdoor sports enjoy (golf, tennis, etc.).
Frank Giordano, Mathematician
