The 2010 BCAPL has brought the world of pool some gladness and some sadness.  Fist, let’s talk about the good stuff –  The Women’s Open.  402 of the top amateur women hit the Riv for a little game of King of the Hill (yeah, I know it should be Queen of the Hill, but that just sounds a bit to femme).  And the tiara goes to… Miss New York City, Gail Glazebrook!  Every once in a while, good things happen to the nice people.  This week, karma made it rain to the tune of $4900 and the completely sweet and adorable Glazebrook scored herself another amateur title.

As for a recap, it went a little something like this:
Them tight jeans and the fashionista lean
She hit the floor, she hit the floor
Next thing you know
Gail got dough dough dough dough, dough dough dough dough

(Photo props to NYC Grind, yo!)

And now for the sadness.  This event was a microcosm of everything that’s going on with pool lately.  Despite what you might hear, no one was spending.  Attendance looked way lighter than previous years.  The entries in many of the events were light.  Women’s masters? 62 entrants.  Women’s grand masters? 22 entrants.  Women’s team grand masters? 12 entrants.

Me personally, I blame Greece.  And the banks.  And the housing market.  And the auto industry.  And the Etrade baby.  Its gonna be a while before shit starts improving.  More rooms will close.  There will be cuemakers that shut down and/or quit the biz.  Here’s the sunshine on the mangy dog’s ass though: Regardless of how bad the economy gets, people will keep playing pool.  Right now pool isn’t even 5 minutes ago.  Its out.  Not trendy, not fashionable, just out.  Does that mean that it won’t make a comeback?  Of course it will.  The cool kids will want to play pool again, it’s just going to take some time.  More on that another day (maybe next month for that little Pool Synergy thing…)

As for me, I’m pullin’ my drinking boots on tonight.  If you see someone over at Wasted Space that looks a little like this on the dance floor, yes, that is your beloved PCN guy.