Cue Ethics and Sponsoring

This is a tough subject to write about because it's taboo.

A good friend of mine was newly sponsored by a cuemaker in the 90s.  At the time, he had become a recent top pro and was making a name for himself across the USA.

He was offered a GREAT deal on a cue sponsorship (his first big, true sponsorship).  That usually entails photo-shoots for magazines and monetarily, they get a percentage of your winnings as they help pay for part of the trips to big tournaments and entry fee costs (as I recall).  And for this particular sponsorship, a cue was designed by him and made especially for him. How exciting!

But the crazy part of this story that I DO recall vividly, is my friend absolutely loved the cue he was already and currently shooting with.   And the custom cuemaker was well known for making extremely solid cues.

The pro got his new (sponsored) cue and tried it out.  But, after playing with it a little bit (few months), he noticed a remarkable difference. So.... he asked his custom cuemaker if he would make an exact replica of his new cue.  Since the previous cue felt more comfortable and solid, and because he could control the cue ball better with it, the pro knew it would help him out better in his tournaments to have that cue he was already used to.  So, he gave the design specs of the new sponsored cue to the custom cuemaker and he made him a cue with the exact same design.  And that's the cue he ended up playing with in his tournaments.

No one knew.

Don't get me wrong, he really did LOVE the cues of his sponsors, but his previous custom cuemaker just made more a solid cue and the pro was accustomed to it.  And as we all do, we think of what is best for winning and so he came up with that idea (I presume it was his idea and wasn't something that was done often?)

Just like golfers and their golf clubs, pool cues are the life and blood of our profession.

As I type this out I am having an extremely uneasy feeling about sharing this, though.  Should I really post such an indiscretion?

But, I am sure there are celebrities drinking Pepsi who endorse Coca Cola.  Or, are driving their new sponsored Mercedes, but really love with Audi.  Or, promoting a certain brand of shoes, but really love Nike (as examples).

But to really consider he had an exact replica made so he could still be shooting with his beloved cuemkaer's cues proves why that particular custom cuemakers' waiting list was so long.

Maybe this occurs a lot and I don't know it?  Still, something "interesting," huh?

Don't even ask me who the cuemaker, sponsor, or pro was - I wont tell you.



 

Winning Can Lead to Other Opportunities

I hadn't ever thought about this before.

After I won the BCAPL Texas State tourney, I mentioned that it crossed my mind to see if I could get sponsorship from someone for my ACS Team, to kinda ride the the wave of success I was having.

Well, last week someone called me and wanted to interview me for a new online billiard magazine, since I just had a great April and May.

The next day, I received ANOTHER call to get interviewed!  This is from one of the top billiard magazines so I was even more excited!

Each interview asked different questions about my wins - how I overcame jitters, what's next (not thinking ahead I told them), how I got my nickname, which wins had more meaning, and of course some details about the win, etc.  It was really fun!

But, I guess winning can lead to even MORE opportunities as I was actually (I still can't believe this) approached by a CUEMAKER who wants to make me my own custom cue (that I design)... FOR FREE!  So, I would have a cue sponsor.  OMGosh!

I can't believe it!!

This is WAY early, but if this comes to fruition, you know I'll be writing about it here in this blog.

I already have 4 custom design cues (even though I had to let two go) and I thought the final one would be my last..... but maybe not.  Wow!

Omega Sponsor, ACS, Dream Come True

After I won the BCAPL Texas State tourney and was on the cusp of winning the Scotch Doubles in that same event, it all of a sudden hit me to see if Mike Hoang and his company Omega Billiards Supply would like to sponsor my women's team to the ACS Nationals tourney

I figured, the worse that could happen was he would just say no.

We have asked other companies to sponsor our team, but the most we received (while VERY happy about this) was team shirts being paid for, and then those pool rooms get their names and advertising on the shirts they paid for.

I only stated the facts to Mike, that I thought we would have a good chance winning both women's team events, and I was riding on a successful frenzy, also.

He said yes!!  I was SO excited he believed in us!  He paid our team entry fees, and we bought and made new shirts that showcased Omega Billiards Supply:

(thank you to Andy White of Irving Ink and Thread for the short-turn-around, quality shirts!) 

John Lewis who runs American Cuesports (ACS) has done a fine job for the last 10+ years.  I don't know if he realizes that he makes dreams come true by running this league.

To become a National Champion is a dream come true.

I told both him and the Tournament Director that they made dreams come true by hosting the event! Yes, I told them with tears in my eyes!

And every day I would walk by Mike's booth and at the end of the day and give him an update.

Day One:  "We are still on the winner's side of BOTH the 8-ball and 9-ball!"

He would smile back.

Morning of Day two:  "We are playing for the hotseat today!"

End of Day two:  "Hey Mike," (huge smile on my face). "We play in the finals tomorrow, for BOTH events!"

Day three, about noon: "Mike, we just WON the 9-ball event!  I told you!"

Day three, about 5pm: Mike was watching our match, as it was right in front of his booth, "We won the 8-ball, too!!"

To have support was AMAZING and much-needed money-wise, too.  We can't thank him enough for his support and belief in us.

To ACS and Omega, making dreams come true!  A HUGE THANK YOU!!