Reyes vs Strickland "The Final Showdown", Demonstrates the Lack of "Hype" in Pool.

As mentioned in the introduction of this blog, I will be sometimes discussing the current state of pocket billiards. Unfortunately for our great sport, it has been on the decline in popularity for decades now and after last weeks results from the Reyes/Strickland challenge match the future does not look any brighter.

Every pool player that has held a cue long enough to learn the game has heard of Efren Reyes and Earl Strickland, two of the best of all time. In 1997 still riding the success of the 1986 film "Colour of Money" a challenge match was issued between these two greats. The game was 9 ball race to 120 games winner takes all for 100,000 and this match was dubbed "Colour of Money." The match was truly epic and can be seen on youtube in its entirety for free, mind you, one needs to clear a weekend in order to watch it all as this match took 3 days to play.

The hype this match received was uncanny; it actually shook the world it was so entertaining. I find myself watching it a few times a year nearly a decade after I was introduced to it. Now the match that took place last week was once again over three days and was hyped in the same manner. Being that these are two legends with a storied history and here is one more event to ad to their legacy. However the excitement was just not there. I have not seen any numbers regarding the PPV audience, furthermore I have not seen an article or a blog anywhere boasting its success.

My quick assessment would be the lack of money that the players were competing for is what hurt the hype for this match. Because when these two names face off in a tournament bracket people take notice - even today 30 plus years into their rivalry. So logic would dictate that a challenge match between these two would garnish a lot of attention and a lot of PPV money. But I think a lot of people took my approach to this match, which was "I already saw them play for $100,000. Is it really a rematch if the winner of all three sessions receives less than $10,000?"

All credit to Allision Fisher (www.nycgrind.com) and Inside Pool Magazine for even having an event like this. However this matchup, if billed properly, could have provided some much needed hype. There was not enough build up to this match, there was no significant sponsorship and the prize fund was not enough to gather the attention these two deserved.

The promoters of our great sport need to stop doing "rush jobs" in these challenge matches. I know money is tight and bills need to get paid but these productions need the proper time and billing to receive the hype required to bring pool back to the forefront of popular culture.

Happy New Year Pool Junkies

First off I would like to wish everyone a Happy New year and may your 9 balls not rattle all year.These past two weeks have been busy for me with work and family as the holidays always are however I did find some time to attend a few tournaments.

On the 27-28 of December I hit the road to Saint-Hyacinthe to play in a 1000 dollar added handicap tournament. 63 ppl showed up and the Calcutta was 4600 so their was some money to be won. In my first match I played an A player who recently beat Quebec legend Alain Martel in a Pro tournament. He was spotting me 2-9 and unfortunately lost on the hill. But not without controversy as in my opinion my opponent attempted to shark me and did so successfully. Once I was shooting a 9 somehow all his equipment found its way to the floor in a loud crash. Then I played a very difficult full table combination on the 9 to bring myself to the hill first then he screams foul. Accused me of hitting another ball during my follow through however my Girlfriend who was watching never saw it, neither did a few others and I did not feel it. But he made such a dog an pony show out it I was forced to re-rack. After these incidents there was a noticeable drop in my performance and it cost me the match. So of course one of my new years resolution is to acquire a better mental game that handle these type of players.

I was able to get a handle on my game after that match as I grinded out the B side afterwards for 5 matches and finished tied for 13 and just in the money. My good friend Justin Miller who 2013 was a real coming out party for, continued to impress as he finished 4th and lost to the guy who eventually won the tournament. Miller played a solid game as he is AA and spotted over 50% of the field.

Little did I know just a few days after I made my New Years Resolution I would get a chance to put it to practice. My first match this past Saturday in AA tournament in Pierrefonds Quebec did not start out well for me as I was down 2-6 when my opponent decided to take a break. I took this moment to wash my face relax and refocus and it payed off. As I quickly found my game and began my comeback. However once I got to 6-7 he accused me of cheating by marking two games at a time, which is impossible as I did not even get to the paper to mark the game I just won. Then after that, twice I had him on 2 fouls but he would not let me call him on it, said it did not happen and tried to take advantage of my poor french by making me explain each time exactly how he got to two fouls. Needless  to say once again I was rattled and my preformance once again suffered long enough to lose 7-9. I bounced back next set 7-4 then lost a hill match to a strong player. I left this tournament disappointed as I knew I let a guy who I should of, could of, and would of have beat, get the best of me with cheap tactics. I could lay the blame on him but there are many more like him out there and if I am going to reach my goal and get to the next level I will have to learn to block this stuff out. But man is it frustrating sometimes. Till next time.

Payouts can be found at www.webillard.com