So for who knows how long, the Riv has been the go to hotel for pool tournaments. I’m pretty sure that the only people who stay at the Riv during the months of May and August are pool players and let’s be honest, who the hell would want to stay there if they didn’t have to?

Anyway, since the Riv probably won’t be around much past, oh let’s say the end of 2013, leagues are starting to sniff around for other places to host their events. The ACS was the first to leave, announcing that their tournament would be at the Trop next year. Because the Trop is so much nicer than the Riv. But that’s not the point. Where it gets interesting is that the ACS event is now scheduled to overlap with the annual BCA apple bob. As an overhyped figure skater once said “whyyy? whyyyy?”.

That’s right. We’re going to take a small audience and fragment it even further, forcing people to choose. That makes sense. When you’re scheduling an event, use the Super Sweet Sixteen method. Check with everyone else in your circle who’s planning to throw a shindig around that time and work it out so you don’t force people to choose. Especially if you’re the fringe girl trying to compete with a Kardashian.

Because this is the billiards industry, no date conflict can happen without a epic scale pissing match. The ACS changes the date and place which prompts the BCA to send their “here’s why you need to pick our side” letter. The ACS then responds with their “Damn yo! Why you gotta hate? We may be small, but we’re not that small!” retort.

The BCA contends that the conflict will force people to choose while the ACS says that this is better for pool players because they don’t have to spend 5 weeks in Vegas. One could make the argument that the BCA did nothing wrong because their date was already set (which is true). Its also true that the BCA is quite a bit larger than the ACS. Which begs the question of why the BCA felt the need to go on the offensive. The other side of this is that if the ACS was so worried about their members being able to optimize their schedules, they would have started their show right after the BCA show ended (it used to be 2 weeks between the events) instead of having it overlap.

The reality of course falls somewhere in between. The events have a few days of overlap which will likely impact some players, but its not nearly as bad as the BCA wants you to believe. ACS claims that the dates they chose were the only ones available which may be true, although considering the size of their event, almost any hotel in Vegas with convention space (which is almost all of them) would be able to host it.

Whatev. I’m so tired of this crap. Just another example of how the industry is happy to fragment itself into oblivion. What you won’t see though is anyone picking a fight with the APA. If the BCA is a Khloe or a Kourtney, the APA is a Kim. Too bad all the girls can’t just play nice and get along.

See folks, this sort of stuff happens all the time. Instead though, we’re more interested in finding out who airbarreled who and who won the $500 added tournament at the Dirty Sanchez Bar and Grill in Tuscaloosa. That after all is what’s really important.

As for the all important BCA Expo, the next big thing is… yet another tip tool. But I’m sure this one will be the greatest tip tool ever. Oh, and in the education side of the show, big news. Apparently the best way to get business online is <gasp>  Google Adwords! Don’t tell anyone though. This is the big internet secret they don’t want you to know about.  SEO? Fuggetaboutit.  Its all about draining your bank account chasing the dotcom dragon.  Here’s a hint though… you never actually catch the dragon.

Meh. Its Friday and I’m clearly in a pissy mood. I’m Out.

That’s what I’ve got today. BCA Expo is this week though, so I’ll let you know if there’s anything worth looking at (this is me not holding my breath).

Since we’re on the topic, I’ve got a question – how much value is there for a trade event like the BCA Expo anyway? I mean we’re not talking E3 where there’s a bunch of new whiz bang shit and new tech. I’m not hating here, I just don’t get it. Tell me what I’m missing here. Sure, there are some good deals if you write an order at the show, but is it really worth hauling out to Vegas for? Breaking down the costs, you’ve got something like this:

Airfare: ~$200 (depending on where you live)
Hotel: Figure another $250
Food and Entertainment: $400
Car Rental or Cab Fare: $100
Gambling Losses: YMMV

The fact that its in Vegas helps a lot. Instead of Charlotte, Houston or any other godforsaken place, you’ve got the show at a destination where people like going (unless of course those people live a car ride away). I guess that’s the additional value then. You can write off a trip to Vegas, have a little vacay and see some pool stuff.

I dunno, but I did manage to eek out a couple hundred words on the fly.

Is it just me or is there a whole lotta nothing going on this summer (pool related anyway). If only there were some stories to tell that were as interesting as what Danny and Sandy had for their pals, but all is extremely quiet on the billiards front. Some of my favorite pool players haven’t blogged in months, there’s nothing of interest (nothing that has been officially reported anyway) in the industry, I never get to watch any pro events on the tube (since DirecTV doesn’t put Classic in my package), meh. The BCA Expo is happening in a couple of weeks, but I’m not expecting to see anything that blows my mind. I might not even bother to go this year.

I’ve got a couple of bees buzzing in the proverbial bonnet, but not enough time to get into them today. Be back tomorrow-ish with something a little less droll.

This is just one of the many reasons why pool will never be taken seriously as a sport. Think about it. Could you imagine going to a Sox/Yanks game and having the ump say “It’s 7-3, but this is taking way too long. Let’s just jump to the 9th inning”. Its fucking retarded.

For all you people that want Vegas to pick up pro pool for the sportsbook, do you really think this will happen when half the players don’t even know what the rules are from event to event? When it comes to speeding up the game, it all depends on what the TD wants to do. Most will put players on a shot clock, some will lay down other penalties for slow play, but I can’t see one ounce of sense in bumping someone to the hill just to move the game along. Same thing goes with scratches. Sometimes its ball in hand, but other times its in the kitchen.

Why can’t there be one set of rules? When you play any other sport (or game), there is one standardized according to hoyle way to play. It isn’t this “my house, my rules” crap. Hell, it even varies from league to league. APA rules are different than BCAPL rules which seem to be different than other league and org rules. I can’t believe anyone is surprised when the refs jack up a call, since half the time the rules seem to be made up on the fly. Its like watching Joey and Chandler play a game of Cups for crying out loud.

Maybe, just maybe, there wouldn’t be so many arguments and people wanting to throw down if, oh I don’t know, the industry adopted one set of freaking rules and stuck to them. I’m just saying.