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Chat Area => Archives => Topic started by: bbtuna on March 31, 2008, 04:02:19 PM

Title: HOFC Summary
Post by: bbtuna on March 31, 2008, 04:02:19 PM
Hope to hear detail about the prototype tables from someone there but here are a couple of my observations from the results

* Rico Tripled...again - he is the most amazing story ever in foosball in my opinion
* I hear Todd Played forward
* Tommy A seems to continue to improve
* The same 15-20 players in Open are at the top as always with the exception of
* Ryan Moore who continues to push to the top of the top and Hagerman and Harrington who seem to be on their way into the fresh pro-master ranks

E. Cervantes is pushing in Semi-pro I look forward to watching him move up
and, I think one of the best and most compelling stories of the tournament is...

Rick Martin
1st Pro Doubles
1st Semi-Pro Doubles
1st No-Pro DYP
1st place No-Pro Mixed
4th Semi-Pro Singles

Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: TSR_Brad on March 31, 2008, 06:43:45 PM
Las Vegas is a poop-hole. That is my summary.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: bbtuna on March 31, 2008, 07:52:11 PM
do you mean the hotel, the tournament, or the whole city

do you think it would be better in a nicer hotel
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: TSR_Brad on March 31, 2008, 10:37:05 PM
Quote
do you mean the hotel, the tournament, or the whole city

Yes, yes and yes.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: Daniel on April 01, 2008, 12:03:45 AM
I was there and it was very cool.  It was a lame turn out and only had 78 tables setup.  My brother in-law liked the proto type foosers and said it was fun hitting banks shots and was even able to hit a double bank from the back.  As for Rick Martin I played him in Semi-pro singles and he kicked my ass.  That was one nasty push kick with lots of options.  As for Zeke Cervantes this has to be his last chance to win a Semi-pro event before he goes pro hope he does it at worlds this year.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: EDGEER on April 01, 2008, 01:02:54 AM
Now Brad.  I had a very nice room to stay in.  It had marble floors, a shower, a whirlpool bath, walk-in closet, living room, couch and loveset with recliner, formal dinning room table and 2 toilets.  It cost me less than a $100 a night.  How can that be considered a dump.  ::)
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: TSR_Brad on April 01, 2008, 01:21:55 AM
Vegas is awful. Hence, anything contained within its limits (including any hotels, or tournaments hosted by said hotels) is by default a poop-hole. And my room cost way less than yours. ;)
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: bbtuna on April 01, 2008, 11:26:31 AM
Brad,

I thought you were a Tornado homer and here you are baggin on your boys...

so it sounds like you are saying that don't like Vegas  and no Tournament held in Vegas by anyone at any location will meet your approval...basically, sin city is not your bag, not your cup of tea, not your order of nachos

I am very disappointed, I expect a more balanced, objective, politically correct opinion from a professional sports broadcaster  :P
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: TSR_Brad on April 01, 2008, 11:52:45 AM
I'm not a homer for anyone. I'm a foosball fan.

I'm in a bit of a pissy mood this morning (sitting in McCarren waiting for my delayed flight) so I'll reserve making too many comments.

I will say that there needs to be serious changes in our game otherwise I don't see a bright future. The HoFC used to draw three times as many players, outdrawing Worlds. Don't believe the crap about no player base in Las Vegas. The Maloney Effect was still evident thru the course of the tournament. Treat your customers like crap, they'll stop buying.

It's easy to become cynical when you see your passion die of neglect.

One more thing... Actually go to tournaments before doing all the armchair quarterbacking. I've been to a lot of tournaments in last couple of years and I've watched it wither. I've literally had a ringside seat.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: bbtuna on April 01, 2008, 10:50:10 PM
Your vantage point brings more negativeness to the situation, texture to the pain, and it opens wounds I have not and hope not to experience

But, i don't have to go to the tournaments to see and feel the effects of the decline of foosball in the US, it is not only at large regional’s or “tour” stop tournaments it is at the local scene and it is with table changes that trickle down to my table

it impacts the bar game…how many places you can find a table, the condition of the tables, the type and number of people who play

for 3 years I have been on both boards reading nearly every post, every day, written on every subject, I can hear the frustration, the anger, the bitterness

I want it to be different too, yours are not the only one’s who have been crushed
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: Gstillwellar on April 02, 2008, 05:51:15 AM
TRUE........

Brad, What changes do you think need to happen?

Quote
It's easy to become cynical when you see your passion die of neglect....I will say that there needs to be serious changes in our game otherwise I don't see a bright future. The HoFC used to draw three times as many players, outdrawing Worlds.



Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: TSR_Brad on April 02, 2008, 10:42:00 AM
Forgive me if I game off harsh yesterday. Lack of sleep will do that to a person. I don't have time to write everything that I'd like to... most probably wouldn't like what I have to say.

Charles... You can only form a partial picture of the situation if you're not present to see how things really are. I would estimate that maybe half of what you'll read on all the boards and forums is based in actual fact. Much of it is hearsay or flat out guesswork. Do I know everything that's going on in the game? No, but I stay informed enough to have a little more accurate picture than most of the internet experts.

So.... 1) Who's to blame for our current state of affairs and 2) what can be done to change things? My very brief answers to both questions; 1) All parties involved bear a share of the responsibility. 2) Many things but first and foremost is a change in attitude by all parties involved. I guess I need to include myself in that last one too.  >:(

I may feel like expounding on things later but I'm in recovery mode and my brain is still on Vegas time.

BA
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: bbtuna on April 02, 2008, 11:49:03 AM
deleted by bbtuna
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: TSR_Brad on April 02, 2008, 12:39:17 PM
Wow... now who's in a pissy mood?

I don't think I ever said other people's opinions weren't valid. But what is an opinion worth if it's formed by incomplete or erroneous information? And who's pulling an "education club" as you like to call it? I think I'd be more in the "intellect club" because I try to allow my opinions to be formed based on FACTS and DIRECT OBSERVATION instead of basing them on things I read on the internet. How's that for logic?

That's all I've got. I'll shut up now.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: bbtuna on April 02, 2008, 01:29:27 PM
deleted by bbtuna
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: TSR_Brad on April 02, 2008, 01:48:48 PM
Intellect, Education same thing...

No, they are far different.

Quote
In one breath you try and take the position that you are not saying people's opinions aren't valid and in the very next sentence you explain why people don't have valid opinions. Absolutely classic.

You presume that I think I am always right. My point is that an informed opinion holds far more credence.

Quote
otherwise, don't tell me I don't have an opinion of value because I haven't seen what you have seen

You haven't seen what I've seen. There. Snobby enough for you?
Quote
are just so tired of us pee-on-big-mouth-know-nothings firing off opinions on things we just can know anything about because we haven't sat in the booth

That's pretty close to the mark. But I also go well past just sitting in the booth. I talk to many, many people at tournaments. I LISTEN to them... what's going on in their foosball world, their ideas, what they like or don't like about an event or foosball in general.

Quote
... unfold your new, insightful, and revolutionary vision for the future of foosball

I have no revolutionary vision for the future. Plenty of other people have that area covered.

Quote
I wait, bowed and humbled oh mighty all-knowing one, spare this worm your wrath and please, please condescend from your position on high and reveal the truth

Keep waiting. I've got an appointment for crown fitting this afternoon. And after that, I'm having someone feed me grapes.

Wow... I'm feeling a little bit Homey-ish.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: chance37 on April 02, 2008, 05:00:13 PM
brad your comments did come off wrong...sometimes forum posts definatley can be taken the wrong way depending on whos reading it, but when I read what you said, I thought it came off a bit snobby.  But it didnt bother me as much as others becasue I know I don't have to go to the tounaments in vegas or anywhere for that matter to know this sport is in bad shape..To hear it from people that have been around for the ages doesnt make you anymore of an expert...just watch the interviews with Todd,Tommy, Terry and gummy at kentucky and just go to a local bar or pool hall or even worse a Rec center for kids and find a table..thats enough proof for me....but thanks for your insights to the tournment in Vegas I was gonna go, but no beginner events......how can you not like Vegas? 
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: EDGEER on April 02, 2008, 05:07:29 PM
I miss Homey   :(

It is a little difficult to write down the complexities of our sport.  On one hand you have more and more money being put up for grabs at more and Moore tournaments (Pun intended).  I suspect that if you take a survey, more people played in a tournament greater than $1000 last year than any year since the colaspe on TS.  You also have a group people working very hard to make the USTSF succeed.  You also have Tornado making some needed design changes that the players want.  But then you have the USTSA's two events with shrinking attendance in conjuction with production flaws making there way to our tournaments.  It's is not all bad or all good.

The twins in Vegas are no more than advertisment for Tornado foosball.  The HOFC is important because of the AMOA show is held during the same week.  Sure Tornado would like to get a better value for their advertising and marketing dollars, but in the end they are just that "advertising dollars".  The competition for players between Mary Moore and the USTSA is good in the long run.  Eventually, players will return to the USTSA's tournaments as Mary brings Tour type events to new players.  It is a give and take, right now Mary is taking but in the long run she will increase the player base and thus increase the players that go to Vegas.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: bbtuna on April 02, 2008, 06:10:34 PM
deleted by bbtuna
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: TSR_Brad on April 02, 2008, 07:03:03 PM
Now you want to toss around insults? This was interesting up until now.

Here endeth the thread.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: bbtuna on April 02, 2008, 10:52:09 PM
deleted by bbtuna
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: Old Meister on April 03, 2008, 08:04:18 AM
Me thinks you guys, BBtuna and TRSBrad are too much alike to be comfortable with each other. As far as what is good for our sport, the best path to that is to replace the negatives with positives. You can kick a negative around all day long and it will still be a negative.  Good ideas with long term planning are what is needed. Right now there is a resurgence of Boomers coming back to the game and with them their families. Many of those old foosers were 70's and 80's players and find the play of the present day Tornado tables to be disappointing because they can't do the shots that they did before. Ed Geer went along way to rectifying that situation in the new man configuration. A positive. Money is what drove the industry back during the TS tour and it will take some really smart, outside the box, thinkers to create a do-able scenario that once again make the pro tours big and growing. Hopefully without making drastic table changes every other year like TS did.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: deadbarfoos on April 03, 2008, 09:21:20 AM
there wasnt any Maloney Effect as far as i could see (maybe i missed it ?? :) ) but i thought this years HOF was the most stress free event EVER! maybe it could be blamed on 200+ something players and it was easy , maybe my attitude improved this time around ,but i was always nice to anyone who came to the stage regardless of the situation. working with Phil/Link on stage was a plus. and i scored better in my events i played in ,its a first step in the right direction



Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: bbtuna on April 03, 2008, 12:05:29 PM
OM,
I am not sure I know what you mean by us being alike but it isn't important, I take yours and Ed efforts as a peace making jesture and I appreciate that...I am sorry for letting that get under my skin, I am going to go and edit my posts...I want the same thing Brad and you and others want and that is the game we love to get healthy and exciting...so, I will influence as I can armchair and all and I will encourage anyone eles' efforts to do the same

Deadbar - Ben,

I have been at several tournaments where you worked the front and your customer facing skills are very good, they are lucky to have you...the sport is lucky to have you dedicating your time toward making the sport better and the spot you work at is a place that can not be under-valued...I don't know if I have ever said it before and even though many others have it can be said enough...thank you very much for all you do with tournament management and notification, you do a really fine job...and you have a damn good smart game as well...hope to play you again some time in the future, in the meantime, good luck
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: Sniffler on April 03, 2008, 01:10:20 PM
Quote
I have been at several tournaments where you worked the front and your customer facing skills are very good

 This is a good point and I believe it's something Valley has sorely overlooked. They need a customer/player liaison person. Especially for the newer players who come out and don't have a clue how things are run or who to talk to when you have a question. I can tell you my first major when I walked up to the stage with a question nobody would even make eye contact with me. I felt like I was the Home depot.

 On the other hand I went to one of Mary's tournaments as a newbie and she was so nice and understanding. HUGE difference.

The last VIFA tournament I went to was the 2 flight maloney debacle. That tournament sucked rhinocerus and I haven't been back since. That guy was such a full on dick to everybody.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: TSR_Brad on April 03, 2008, 01:15:29 PM
Let me rephrase... the "Maloney After-affect." Bill ran a lot of people off and they've decided they don't have to put up with it. Hence the horrible turnout. I just can't help thinking back to only 3-4 years ago. I really thought foosball was on the cusp of really taking off... Participation and interest was running very high. Then the "A/B Qualifier - Championships Events - Change-for-the-sake-of-change" fiasco put those hopes directly into the toilet. And I suspect that if Carma had not been there at Worlds there may have been foosball's first lynching.

I don't know if they can reverse that.... they've got a lot of work to do between now and September to do try and turn things around.

And Ben... I think the tournament seemed easier because the ball and chain you've had to wear recently was back in Wisconsin shackled to someone else's ankle.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: papafoos on April 03, 2008, 01:39:03 PM
I'm glad to see Ben back.  I had just about decided to not go to world's this year, frustrated with the way the bracket were run last year.  When he told me he was going to be back this year, I started reconsidering.  So, if I go to Vegas this September and get pounded, it's all Ben's fault.

Carma was the only shining light last year.  She was kind enough to work with me and not call my match when I had to go back to the room and get Scott.  Try that with some of those other clowns.

Mary is always good in her people relations, as is Link.  Maybe things are headed in the right direction.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: This Week In Foosball on April 04, 2008, 12:50:12 AM
Brads right. About everything.....plus...for those that didn't know, the "foosball rate" was higher than the regular room rate...That's right.........So if you booked you room under the "foosball rate".........You......Got.....SCREWED!!!

How doe's that feel.....I know I'd be pissed....

Isn't a group suppose to get a discounted group rate?...Isn't that why you ask for the rate?......If it was the same as the regular rate that would be one thing, but when it's HIGHER than the regular rate......hmmmm.......two words.......GOT.........SCREWED.

Makes you wonder.........whats up with that.

see you at worlds....lol.

comments welcome.
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: B,inSA on April 04, 2008, 01:14:58 AM
this week in foosball has been crazy for me
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: Old Meister on April 05, 2008, 06:52:25 PM
Good to see you take the high road Bbtuna. I respect your introspect. A valuable quality for sure,,,
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: bbtuna on April 05, 2008, 10:22:17 PM
thank you on several levels, I appreciate you taking the time to try and slow things down and then to say something positive to me

lets go foosball ey!?
Title: Re: HOFC Summary
Post by: Old Meister on April 06, 2008, 09:37:07 AM
That is going to happen someday Bbtuna, it's on my to do list,,,,foos in KC w/ Bbtuna and Chatreuse. ;)