:: Breaking News - Page #14 ::
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Arizona Pool Scene www.azpoolscene.com
Finally….and it’s about time! November 15th, 2005
The Arizona State All-Around Tour has been in existence for only two years. The tour was mildly
successful in 2004 and then grew to ten very successful events, making up the 2005 edition of the tour.
I think everyone would agree that pool might be the only sport where the better you get, the more
accomplished you become, the fewer tournaments and opportunities you have to compete. Most pool-
rooms have realized that to get the numbers they need to survive, they have to run tournaments that will
“draw” the players. Many more times than not, those tournaments will be eight or seven and under’s or
scotch doubles events. Pool room owners are forced to live with that reality whether they like it or not.
Until the Arizona State All-Around Tour became a reality, the higher rated players have had very few
opportunities to showcase their talents. What makes this even more disturbing is the fact that the pool
fans in Arizona are also denied the opportunities to watch (sweat) the play of Arizona’s best players
except for less than a handful of events. This all changed when Mike Howerton created the Arizona
State All-Around Tour back in 2004.
No one starts anything from scratch without making some mistakes along the way. The “Tour” is no
exception to this rule. The smart move in situations like this is to learn from those mistakes, don’t make
the same mistake twice, make the necessary changes, and drive forward. This is exactly what
Howerton has done as the “Tour” moves into its third year, starting in January of 2006.
If reality surfaces, from what I hear Mike Howerton is working on for the 2006 edition of the tour, the
players here in Arizona are just a couple of months away from having a tour that might be as good as
any state tour nation wide. That’s correct….nation wide!
My understanding is that Mike is just days away from locking up a “major” pool table manufacturer as
the title sponsor for the 2006 All-Around. I may be a little premature in announcing this but my hopes
are high this will indeed become reality. If Mike gets this done, the benefits this title sponsor will add to
the tour are huge. The ten events for 2006 will become $1000.00 added as the sponsor and hosting
rooms will add $500.00 each to each event and the winner of the All-Around for 2006 will be presented
with a pool table from this sponsor.
Other plans include bonus money to the eight and under player that accumulates the most points, a
bonus to the female player that accumulates the most points, and other attractive incentives to build the
fields as large as he can.
Keep an eye on the Arizona Pool Scene (Breaking News) for the hopefully formal announcement of
these plans. Join me in hopes that these plans do indeed become reality, because, if they do, Arizona
pool will hit the map!
Update.........November 18th, 2005
Reality has indeed surfaced! I just learned the "major" pool table manufacturer mentioned above has
committed their sponsorship to the tour. Olhausen Billiards is now the "Title Sponsor" of the Arizona
State All-Around Billiard Tour. Olhausen has committed to add $500.00 cash to each of the ten 2006
tour events, along with a Olhausen pool table to be presented to the winner of the 2006 tour. This
brings the added money for each event to $1000.00 as the hosting pool room will also be adding
$500.00.
I have also learned Ted Schuman, the individual who is bringing Poker Pool to Arizona, has committed
to adding $2000.00 cash to the All-Around prize fund. My understanding is this cash will be divided up
among the top point placers for the 2006 tour and the top female finisher, with $1000.00 going to the
2006 tour champion. What that means, in case you have not been paying attention, is the 2006 tour
champion now stands to be presented with, at least, a new Olhausen table and $1000.00 cash for his
or her 2006 tour championship. Not to mention the cash the winner will receive from each event along
the way. Understatement............"That's pretty darn good!"
Ron Merseal
The Arizona State All-Around Tour has been in existence for only two years. The tour was mildly
successful in 2004 and then grew to ten very successful events, making up the 2005 edition of the tour.
I think everyone would agree that pool might be the only sport where the better you get, the more
accomplished you become, the fewer tournaments and opportunities you have to compete. Most pool-
rooms have realized that to get the numbers they need to survive, they have to run tournaments that will
“draw” the players. Many more times than not, those tournaments will be eight or seven and under’s or
scotch doubles events. Pool room owners are forced to live with that reality whether they like it or not.
Until the Arizona State All-Around Tour became a reality, the higher rated players have had very few
opportunities to showcase their talents. What makes this even more disturbing is the fact that the pool
fans in Arizona are also denied the opportunities to watch (sweat) the play of Arizona’s best players
except for less than a handful of events. This all changed when Mike Howerton created the Arizona
State All-Around Tour back in 2004.
No one starts anything from scratch without making some mistakes along the way. The “Tour” is no
exception to this rule. The smart move in situations like this is to learn from those mistakes, don’t make
the same mistake twice, make the necessary changes, and drive forward. This is exactly what
Howerton has done as the “Tour” moves into its third year, starting in January of 2006.
If reality surfaces, from what I hear Mike Howerton is working on for the 2006 edition of the tour, the
players here in Arizona are just a couple of months away from having a tour that might be as good as
any state tour nation wide. That’s correct….nation wide!
My understanding is that Mike is just days away from locking up a “major” pool table manufacturer as
the title sponsor for the 2006 All-Around. I may be a little premature in announcing this but my hopes
are high this will indeed become reality. If Mike gets this done, the benefits this title sponsor will add to
the tour are huge. The ten events for 2006 will become $1000.00 added as the sponsor and hosting
rooms will add $500.00 each to each event and the winner of the All-Around for 2006 will be presented
with a pool table from this sponsor.
Other plans include bonus money to the eight and under player that accumulates the most points, a
bonus to the female player that accumulates the most points, and other attractive incentives to build the
fields as large as he can.
Keep an eye on the Arizona Pool Scene (Breaking News) for the hopefully formal announcement of
these plans. Join me in hopes that these plans do indeed become reality, because, if they do, Arizona
pool will hit the map!
Update.........November 18th, 2005
Reality has indeed surfaced! I just learned the "major" pool table manufacturer mentioned above has
committed their sponsorship to the tour. Olhausen Billiards is now the "Title Sponsor" of the Arizona
State All-Around Billiard Tour. Olhausen has committed to add $500.00 cash to each of the ten 2006
tour events, along with a Olhausen pool table to be presented to the winner of the 2006 tour. This
brings the added money for each event to $1000.00 as the hosting pool room will also be adding
$500.00.
I have also learned Ted Schuman, the individual who is bringing Poker Pool to Arizona, has committed
to adding $2000.00 cash to the All-Around prize fund. My understanding is this cash will be divided up
among the top point placers for the 2006 tour and the top female finisher, with $1000.00 going to the
2006 tour champion. What that means, in case you have not been paying attention, is the 2006 tour
champion now stands to be presented with, at least, a new Olhausen table and $1000.00 cash for his
or her 2006 tour championship. Not to mention the cash the winner will receive from each event along
the way. Understatement............"That's pretty darn good!"
Ron Merseal