Pool Cue News and Review

In my neverending efforts to bring little rays of sunshine to our cloudy industry, I’m really pleased to bring the news of the Louis Panullo Charity Tournament that’s going on this weekend courtesy of Tony Robles (who happens to be one of the truly good guys in this industry).  Among the participants are Allison Fisher, Jeanette Lee (no snarky nicknames when she’s doing something altruistic), Mika Immonen, Jasmin Ouschan, Caroline Pao, Gerda Hofstatter and the dangerously dreamy Liz Ford.  Proceeds go to The Michael Magro Foundation to children with cancer and their families.

Keep doing nice things and I’m going to start having trouble being all snarky.  Well, actually I probably won’t have much trouble being snarky, but keep doing nice things anyway.  In all seriousness, I’ve got much love and respect for all the participants in this event.  Anyone in the NY area wanting to check it out should head over to the Cue Bar in Bayside.

4518 Bell Blvd
Bayside, NY 11361
(718) 631-2646

Not much news going on until the Carolina Classic, but since we’re on the topic, it seems there’s a new ladies satellite tour and they got a sponsor.  According to their press release, the Carolina Ladies 9 Ball Tour is now going to be called the Carolina Ladies J. Pechauer Tour.  As always, terms were not announced which typically means it isn’t an all cash deal but seeing as I’m too lazy to ask, I’ll just leave it alone.

Speaking of J. Pechauer, there’s always been something that I’ve wondered.  How exactly do you pronounce Pechauer?  Is it “Peach Hour”, “Peh Chower” or “Pee Shower” or some other pronunciation that I’m not thinking of?  Seriously, someone tell me because I’m always calling it the last one (shocking I would go for the pronunciation that syncs up with my 12 year old humor I know).

Anyway, I’m always happy to see another ladies tour so congrats to Alicia Putnam on the score!  Here’s the rundown of the first season of tour stops.

Fat Cats Billiards
Arden, NC
October 11, 2008
$500 added open women’s event (pros welcome)
Entry $35(+$15 green fees), $25+gf for juniors or military, $5 off for league members, free green fees for seniors over 65 yoa
Tour card $20/year or $15 single event
Registration 11am, Players Meeting 12pm

Crooked Cue
Waynesville, NC
November 8 - 9, 2008
828-456-2802
$500 added

November 22-23, 2008
Grady’s
Lexington, SC
$750 added

February 21-22, 2009
Grady’s
Lexington, SC
$750 added

If you haven’t been following this story, Jasmin Ouschan is seriously taking it to the men in the Straight Pool Championships.  After making it into the single elimination rounds, Jasmin took down Mika Immonen 200-174 and rolled Oliver Ortmann to the tune of 200-133.

This puts Jasmin in some very impressive company, next playing legend Francisco Bustamante in the semifinals.  The winner of the Ouschan/Bustamante match will play either Niels Feijen or Nick Van Den Berg.  Go get ‘em Jasmin and show ‘em what you’ve got!

As always, the updated brackets can be found on AZ Billiards.

I’ve been trying to put this off for as long as possible, but its time to move the PCN Threat-o-Meter needle into the red.

How bad is it for the billiards industry?  Really bad.  As first reported on Billiards Digest, the BCA has warned that they will finish their fiscal year with an $800,000 loss.  Now before you all start ringing the death knell for the BCA, keep in mind that according to their annual report, they had a little over $3,000,000 in cash and assets prior to this loss.  The BCA still has plenty of dough, they just need to be a little more careful with their spending moving forward.

And that brings us to the really bad news.  Hasta la vista BCA/EnjoyPool/GenerationPool 9 Ball Championships.  The Hall of Fame ceremony is going the way of the dodo as well.  Not a big surprise considering the fact that these two events are an annual $150,000 sinkhole but damn does it suck to see the best looking billiards event on TV bite the dust.

I’ll tell you what really chaps my hide about the 9 Ball cancellation.  The massive losses can be blamed squarely on the location of the trade show.  North Carolina was pretty disastrous, especially when you keep in mind that the BCA generates 2/3 of its revenue from the show.  North Carolina was Steve Ducoff’s final donkey punch to the BCA and the billiards industry.  Even with the loss, cutting the 9 Ball event seems a bit extreme.  After all, the trade show will be back in Vegas next year, which means more attendees and more booth space sales.  This really makes you question what exactly the BCA is going to be doing to promote pool and billiards (which was their founding mission after all).

In a couple years, the BCA will be back in the black but the tradition of the 9 Ball Championships will remain six feet under.  Cummings said that he would consider outsourcing the event to someone else, but we all know how well that works.  Who are you gonna outsource it to?  One of these chumps that hangs the cardboard signs throughout the arena and fills the rafters with guys in coveralls passing around a mason jar filled with moonshine?

If the new BCA Board President had any long term vision for the industry, he’d keep the tournament alive.  I guess that’s what you get though when you ask someone who runs a boating company to head the BCA board.  Its not like Brunswick has anything to do with pool anymore.  Just read their annual report and you’ll see that there’s barely a mention of our beloved little industry.  Hell, Brunswick doesn’t even break billiards out as a seperate categoy.  They lump it in with their bowling division.

Sorry if I’m not my normal jovial self this morning.  I swear I’ll return to the Castle Snarkdom soon, but pretty much everything about this announcement really rubs me the wrong way.

Ok, if you didn’t get to see this article about Johnny Archer and Earl Strickland in the Wilamette Week paper, you seriously have to click over and read it.  This is some seriously funny stuff.  For those who don’t trust me (isn’t that just about everyone?) here are a few snips from the article:

“Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer breaks an eight-ball rack like he is having savage, powerful sex. I break a rack like your baby sister.”

“Strickland, 47, is not a good teacher. He reminds me of Will Ferrell’s film persona Ron Burgundy, if Burgundy played nine-ball.”

“I quickly realize I am dealing with a rare breed of human, a narcissist with an affinity for verbal abuse. My favorite one-liner of the day: ‘My cue is like a Cadillac and y’all are driving Volkswagens.” Turning to me, he adds, “Your cue isn’t worth 10 cents.’”

The closing quotes from the article are beyond priceless:

“Archer turns to me and says, “What is it with Portland women?” He is wearing a black T-shirt that says “The Scorpion” on the front and back, and he is drinking a Bud Light.

“What do you mean?” I say.

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind hefty women, but I would say 95 percent of the girls in this town have bellies that are too close to the dinner table.”

“Careful, motherfucker, he’s writing a story on you,” says Cantrill.

“Think I give a fuck? What’s he gonna say, ‘Johnny don’t like hefty women?’”

Johnny don’t like hefty women.”

Read the article at Wilamette Week