Pool Cue News and Review

Lots of intersting stuff to talk about.  On the pool side, there were a couple of first round upsets with Debbie Schjodt and Megan Minerich getting kicked to the one loss side after their first match.  Thus far in the second round, Anna Kostanian got bounced to the one loss bracket, losing 9-8 to Joanne Ashton.

In other news, it seems that the WPBA/TAR experiment is off to a rough start.  Apparently the number of people watching the event was way below what was expected.  I don’t feel much like writing about it though, so if you want the details you should check the discussion thread about the lack of viewers on the AZBilliards site.

Back tomorrow when I’m in a less craptastic mood.

I wanted to wait on commenting on this until it became official.  Yes, Jasmin Ouschan has officially been suspended for two events as a result of ditching out on the Pacific Coast Classic to play in the 10 ball event.  Now I know this isn’t going to be a popular viewpoint, but I’m impressed with the WPBA for girding their proverbial loins and taking action.  The rules around getting a waiver are pretty clear in the WPBA handbook:

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Tournament Waivers Granted
Tournament waivers are granted for the following:
1. WPBA-recognized regional tour events (both domestic and international).
2. Non-competitive exhibitions, trick shot shows, or instructional efforts with one or more WPBA players.
3. Competitive exhibition matches involving up to four players in which each player receives only an appearance fee. No title or prize money is offered.
No event may be televised or taped for video distribution in whole or in part, other than for news media without the prior consent of the WPBA.

Tournament Waivers Requested
A tournament waiver must be requested for the following:
1. Any non-sanctioned or non-recognized event, in the U.S. or abroad, where you are engaging in professional competition.
2. Any competitive event televised, taped for video distribution, or for media (prize money or not).
3. Five or more players playing in a competitive exhibition event.
4. Any event within a hundred mile radius of a WPBA tour stop city within 15 days prior to or following a WPBA tour stop.
5. Any competitive event where the player can win $1,000.00 or more.

(Source, WPBA Player Handbook 3.06.08)

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Based on the rules outlined in the handbook, no one should be surprised that she didn’t get a waiver.  Jasmin broke the rules and now she’s getting spanked.  If you want to play in the WPBA, you play by their rules.  Jasmin chose to skip an event to play in a conflicting tournament and these are the consequences.  Letting her off the hook would open the door in the WPBA for anyone to skip a tournament whenever they wanted so to protect the integrity of the tournament they did what they had to do.  The following is what Jasmin had to say about the suspension:

“Of course I am surprised about the decision and disappointed but I also have to understand the WPBA who wants to protect their tour. But I made my decision in time and announced it according to their rules. As a sportswoman I stand up to my decision that I chose to play in a World Championship, which was sanctioned by the World Pool Association (WPA) the only institution in our sport which has also the WPBA as a member. I think it was the right decision since a World Championship is one of the highest event in sport. That these two events were conflicting is not my fault but now I am the one who has to pay for it.“

Look, I like Jasmin.  She’s a really sweet girl and a ratings juggernaut for the industry.  I hate the fact that this is not good for the relationship between Jasmin Ouschan and the WPBA (who frankly really needs her in the same way the PGA needs Tiger Woods), but it had to be done.   That being said, she is appealing, so don’t be surprised when the suspension gets reduced from 2 events down to 1.  It will be a fair compromise and will allow the WPBA to save face.

Alright alright.  The brackets are up, so naturally I’m going to rip through ‘em and look for the interesting matchups.

First Bracket
Yu Ram Cha vs. Cristina De La Garza

Yes, DLG is totally overmatched but still… two exceptionally talented and foxy ladies matching up means it will be absolutely worth watching.

Tiffany Nelson vs. Michell Monk

I’m calling an upset on this one.  I really dig Michell’s game and while I just plain dig Tiffany, her shooting has been pretty erratic as of late.

Second Bracket
Debbie Schjodt vs. Asia Cycak

After a disasterous two and out at the last WPBA event, its going to be really interesting to see if Debbie can turn it around.  Unfortunately, the bracket gods did not smile upon her.  If she gets past Asia in the first round, she’ll likely meet Ga Young Kim in the second round with that winner moving on to face Gerda Hofstatter.  Perfect example of why the WPBA needs to have a real seeding system.

Third Bracket
Heather Lloyd vs. Kim Shaw

Ok, so here’s another upset special.  I love Heather Lloyd making it past Kim Shaw in the first round.  Heather’s been playing really well as of late and if she can take down Shaw in the first round, her bracket sets up very nicely (except for a potential matchup against Xiaoting Pan).

Fourth Bracket
Sarah Rousey vs. Nicole Keeney

Well duh.  Of course I’m going to be following Little Miss Sunshine herself, Ms. Sarah Rousey.  That’s not the only reason I chose this as a feature matchup.  I really dig Nicole Keeney.  The girl is a total sweetheart.  A little shy, but pretty damn adorable.  Since the TAR guys decided to put this match on the PPV, I’m probably going to have to break down and order it.  Damn you TAR!!

By the way, once again conspicuous by her absence is one Jasmin Ouschan.  That will mean that Jasmin has blown off the last two WPBA events.  She blew off the Pacific Coast Classic to be in another tournament and who knows why she’s skipping this one.  I’m not gonna say it because I know you all are right there with me on this one.

Back tomorrow with some thoughts on the first round results.

Sean Cummings, the BCA’s version of William Henry Harrison is gone as President of the BCA’s Board of Directors (and he’s gone from Brunswick).  Here’s his letter:

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Dear Brunswick Dealers,

I am departing Brunswick Corporation Friday November 14th after 12 enjoyable years.  I was presented with an opportunity to own a stake in a privately held industrial products company just 10 minutes from my home in Milwaukee.   This move will ensure my wife and I will be in the Milwaukee area to care for aging parents and allow my children to complete high school in a community they have come to love.

Brunswick is fortunate to possess many great brands; however the strength of this company remains in the hands of the dedicated, professional employees and dealers who are without question the best in the business.

While I will miss being a member of the Brunswick Billiards team and broader billiards community, I know I am leaving the Company in capable hands.  Warren Hardie, President of Brunswick Bowling and Billiards along with others at Brunswick Corporation are in the process of interviewing my successor.   We expect this decision to be announced in the very near future.

Most businesses find themselves in the midst of difficult economic times.  However it is helpful to remind one another that throughout Brunswick’s long and storied history, the Company has overcome many challenges during the past 163 years:

* The Great Chicago Fire that destroyed many of the Company’s historical records,
* The Great Depression,
* Prohibition, during which no one was buying beautifully carved back-bars and billiards tables,
* The boom, and then the bust, of the bowling craze in the late ‘60s that resulted in the takeover of many retail bowling centers when proprietors couldn’t pay for the equipment.
* The last major marine industry downturn through the late ‘80s and early ‘90s when more than 30 percent of our dealers went bankrupt,
* Not to mention 43rd, and soon to be 44th, presidential administrations; the Civil War; a couple of World Wars; Korea; Vietnam; and the most recent conflicts.

Brunswick will get through the current downturn.   Brunswick Billiards remains profitable, our product line is stronger than ever, we are taking market share and the Brunswick brand continues to resonate with consumers around the world.

My three years at Brunswick Billiards have been very special.  I look forward to your continued success.

Sincerely,
Sean Cummings

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In other news, it seems that the WPBA has taken another step in the right direction.  After the somewhat bizarre voting process that took place a couple months ago where two people who were not running for the board won seats as write-in candidates, the WPBA’s board has shifted for the better.  According to the WPBA’s press release, the Board Treasurer has stepped down and Mike Howerton of AZ Billiards will be taking his place.  Excellent choice in my opinion, as Howerton has a finger on the pulse of the industry and will be able to bring some fresh thinking to the board.

I keep thinking about the WPBA streaming deal that was announced for this week’s tournament and I asked myself “Self, is watching live pool streaming on a computer the future of pool”?  Now you would think that a conversation between me, myself and I would be easy to control, but I’m telling you, it almost came to blows Fight Club style.

Here’s the deal.  I want to be positive about this, I really do.  But then I start thinking about the IPT challenge matches which pretty much drove me to going Fabio on my keyboard.  I’ve tried watching these matches on my computer screen and I always end up turning them off.  It isn’t that I don’t like live pool because I do.  I’ve hit some of the WPBA events in the past few years and they’re actually pretty entertaining.  What I don’t like though is the one still camera shot with little to no commentary.  It makes me think of when I was a kid watching pro wrestling while the TV was muted.  There’s just something missing when you don’t get to hear the announcer yell at the top of his lungs “Este es el sleeper hold!!!”

Now I will say that I haven’t seen much of The Action Report (the guys who are doing the live stream).  I watched a little of the OMGWTF Death Match, but that was more about seeing my snarky heroine doing The Batusi on some guy.  Even with that, I couldn’t watch much of it.  I just found my mind wandering and eventually just wandered off to rock some Sweet Child ‘O Mine in Easy mode (for the record, I totally rocked a perfect score on that track… I just wish I could get the Axl dance down).

Does this mean I’m down on TAR?  Not even close boys and girls.  I dig the fact that they’re doing something new and trying to get the industry out of the 1970s gutter it loves to wallow in.  I’m good with anyone who’s willing to put up their dough to try something new and different and have a lot of respect for the TAR guys who clearly have the sack to try next gen type stuff.  Its just not my bag is all.

For those of you who are concerned that this could mean the end of pool on TV, I wouldn’t worry too much.  The way it works is that the promoters (WPBA, Billiards International, etc) give the programming to ESPN for free in exchange for the rights to sell some TV ads.  ESPN gets content and the promoter gets some ads to sell in order to recoup costs.  That’s why when you watch a WPBA event you see in any given commercial block something along the lines of car ad, beer ad, APA ad and local ad.  The promoter gets one ad, ESPN gets the rest and the free content.  I’m pretty sure ESPN isn’t going to turn away free content (that they can keep and then run ad nauseum on ESPN Classic) any time soon.

So my loyal reader(s), I encourage you to give the streaming thing a try.  Live,  unedited pool can be pretty entertaining if its done right.  I’d do it but 30 bucks is gonna buy me a ton of new tracks for Guitar Hero.  I just heard they’re releasing Jessie’s Girl as a paid track.  Sweet!!