Opinion #12
| My Take on this issue |
written by: Ron Merseal
I never said when I closed Alexander’s I was giving up my right to speak my mind on any Arizona pool related issues that I felt I
had more than enough knowledge about to comment on. I have read, very closely, the opinions of Claudia Justus and Dennis
Orender. I am not writing this opinion to argue with either. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect both and give both
credit for sticking their necks out as regards to any subject that pertains to Arizona pool. And believe me when I say that publicly
expressing an opinion on Arizona pool (in writing) is most definitely sticking your neck out. I just want to comment on a few
things that I feel I have some knowledge about.
No one, maybe other than myself, has any idea what Mike Howerton is up against in regards to running the AzBCA State
Championships. The politics alone, regarding Arizona pool, is nothing short of overwhelming. Howerton is in a no win situation.
No matter what he does, as he puts together the annual AzBCA events, will ever be good enough.
The one subject that appeared to me to get the most discussion from Claudia and Dennis is about the team Dennis captained
which consisted of, “Arizona World Beaters”, to say the least. And why they were in the men’s team event to begin with. Right
now there are not enough teams that would qualify as Masters teams to hold a separate event for them. That leaves Howerton
with a major problem. Does he let them play in the team event or does he tell them that they are too good and therefore he can’t
let them in. In other words, do you exclude, based on the current circumstances, five players who have worked so hard to get to
their level of play from the State Championships. Let’s pretend, just for a moment, that Howerton decided to not let them play.
Let’s say the team that finished second in this year’s event won the event because the World Beaters were not allowed to play.
When Howerton hands the 1st place trophy to that team, should it be noted that they won (probably) because the best team was
not allowed to play? I personally would rather finish second than win because the best team, on paper, was not allowed to play.
Oh, and by the way, the team entry form for the 2008 Championships, very clearly only had a box for men’s/mixed teams and in
no way mentioned Masters teams. If that was not a clear indication of what was to happen in Payson, then I don’t know what
is. And…… one more thing regarding this issue. In 2007 a team of four (9) and one (10) rated player, won the men’s team
event in Parker. This event included the 2006 State Championship team captained by Larry Eans and the current 2008 “World
Beaters” team. Say it ain’t so. I was on that 2007 team and I can tell you for sure, we were, (on paper) the third or fourth best
team in the tournament. Winning that 2007 AzBCA State Championship with not one, but two, World Beater teams in the field
was one hell of a feat. But it happened and made that win all the better. In 2007, my team won and we won by defeating the best
Arizona had to offer. How in the world can it get any better than that?
My hopes for the future of Arizona pool is that the politics will be set aside and ALL the league operators will work with the other
movers and shakers in the Arizona pool world to help with the problems and issues that arise. Even if you disagree with some of
the things you see or hear, work with those who can change those issues. Please, don’t try to make a point through rumors.
When you, as a person at the forefront, don’t support or work with the other mover and shakers, you may feel good about
yourself, but in the long run you really hurt the players who rely on you to make decisions in their best interest.
Ron Merseal
had more than enough knowledge about to comment on. I have read, very closely, the opinions of Claudia Justus and Dennis
Orender. I am not writing this opinion to argue with either. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect both and give both
credit for sticking their necks out as regards to any subject that pertains to Arizona pool. And believe me when I say that publicly
expressing an opinion on Arizona pool (in writing) is most definitely sticking your neck out. I just want to comment on a few
things that I feel I have some knowledge about.
No one, maybe other than myself, has any idea what Mike Howerton is up against in regards to running the AzBCA State
Championships. The politics alone, regarding Arizona pool, is nothing short of overwhelming. Howerton is in a no win situation.
No matter what he does, as he puts together the annual AzBCA events, will ever be good enough.
The one subject that appeared to me to get the most discussion from Claudia and Dennis is about the team Dennis captained
which consisted of, “Arizona World Beaters”, to say the least. And why they were in the men’s team event to begin with. Right
now there are not enough teams that would qualify as Masters teams to hold a separate event for them. That leaves Howerton
with a major problem. Does he let them play in the team event or does he tell them that they are too good and therefore he can’t
let them in. In other words, do you exclude, based on the current circumstances, five players who have worked so hard to get to
their level of play from the State Championships. Let’s pretend, just for a moment, that Howerton decided to not let them play.
Let’s say the team that finished second in this year’s event won the event because the World Beaters were not allowed to play.
When Howerton hands the 1st place trophy to that team, should it be noted that they won (probably) because the best team was
not allowed to play? I personally would rather finish second than win because the best team, on paper, was not allowed to play.
Oh, and by the way, the team entry form for the 2008 Championships, very clearly only had a box for men’s/mixed teams and in
no way mentioned Masters teams. If that was not a clear indication of what was to happen in Payson, then I don’t know what
is. And…… one more thing regarding this issue. In 2007 a team of four (9) and one (10) rated player, won the men’s team
event in Parker. This event included the 2006 State Championship team captained by Larry Eans and the current 2008 “World
Beaters” team. Say it ain’t so. I was on that 2007 team and I can tell you for sure, we were, (on paper) the third or fourth best
team in the tournament. Winning that 2007 AzBCA State Championship with not one, but two, World Beater teams in the field
was one hell of a feat. But it happened and made that win all the better. In 2007, my team won and we won by defeating the best
Arizona had to offer. How in the world can it get any better than that?
My hopes for the future of Arizona pool is that the politics will be set aside and ALL the league operators will work with the other
movers and shakers in the Arizona pool world to help with the problems and issues that arise. Even if you disagree with some of
the things you see or hear, work with those who can change those issues. Please, don’t try to make a point through rumors.
When you, as a person at the forefront, don’t support or work with the other mover and shakers, you may feel good about
yourself, but in the long run you really hurt the players who rely on you to make decisions in their best interest.
Ron Merseal