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Cruel Pool Shoes

Posted on 27. Feb, 2013 by Mike Fieldhammer.

Well, someone has finally done it. They’ve come out with shoes designed for players. Let me be more clear: shoes for Pool Players.

It’s not Brunswick Corporation, who has been around for 150+ years, not Simonis which has been around for 333 years, not even Predator who has branded themselves into a beerish/NASCARish puke-fest. Nope. The company is Black Heart. Never heard of them? I don’t blame you. They are a fairly new cue tip company which makes leather tips in Brazil, I think. Marketed by a company in Europe, I think. I tried a couple of them last year and wasn’t too impressed.

Anyway, I have been a fan of donning the proper footwear for pool since my college days. Here’s an assortment of my finest (not cruel) pool shoes from the last 25 years. You may want to click on the photo to see a larger size to soak in the gloriousness (or goriness) of these puppies.

These guys have seen a lot of table time. I always thought that comfortable and functional footwear was an often overlooked component to high level play. My criteria for shoes clearly didn’t (and still doesn’t) include fashion. I wanted shoes that my feet didn’t slip around in and shoes that didn’t slip around on the floor. Pool room and tournament flooring can be anything from crappy press down vinyl tiles, industrial carpet, commercial carpet, hardwood court, rough and unlevel concrete, and even ice rink flooring cooled before they flood with water. All of these shoes perform well. My only gripe is the best looking —and most appropriate for the task looking— squeak with every step and footfall.

From Left to Right and Back to Front- 2 pair ECCO sailing shoes, Classic Airwalks, Stiga, Nike Free, Adidas.

From the back left to right:

Blue Ecco sailing shoes
Sh#t Brown Ecco sailing shoes (the first purchase of the two pair)
My very favorite and original pool shoes. Airwalks! I always thought of the carrot on the toungue as the prize money at the end of my pool stick.
Stiga table tennis shoes. I went through a phase of wearing track suits from table tennis companies. C’mon, it is a sport kind of like pool.
Nike Free custom ordered in 2005. I would have ordered them in green, but I could sense the “Blue Cloth” trend coming.
Classic Adidas. These get the most notice and comments of any of my shoes. I save them for special occasions. It should be noted that these were a gift from a gal. I would never have the sartorial savvy to select such sensible shoes. (A lot of alliteration…) These are the squeaky wheels.

I’d have had my whole last name on the tongue if they were high-tops.

Looking for grip and athletic performance.

Now here’s the announcement from Black Heart Tips:

Baby needs a new pair of shoes.

Not bad. You can read more about the tips and shoes at http://www.bhtips.com

Game on!

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BCAPL/CSI Move to the Rio Hotel Las Vegas in July

Posted on 06. Jan, 2013 by Mike Fieldhammer.

Here’s a lazy Sunday night blog post. Below is the information on the new dates for the CSI (BCAPL) events that have been in May at the Riviera for many years.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CSI Launches US Open 8-Ball Championship at the Rio in July 2013

CueSports International, Henderson, Nevada (January 4, 2013) – CueSports International (CSI) is expanding the roster of professional tournaments at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas in July 2013. CSI will introduce the inaugural US Open 8-Ball Championship on July 23-27, sponsored by the American Cuemakers Association.

The new event will follow the well established pro events produced by CSI – the 14^th US Open One Pocket Championship and the 5^th US Open 10-Ball Championship. As with the 10-Ball event, the US Open 8-Ball Championship will be $25,000 added and a 2013 Billiard Congress of America (BCA) Points Event. The two BCA Point Events will be held back to back under one roof, greatly assisting US players in their quest for pro points while keeping travel expenses lower.

The combination of CSI US Open events in July is truly unique. In the course of 10 days top US and international players will have the opportunity to play in three professional level tournaments in three separate disciplines with a combined total of $60,000 added. The US Open 8-Ball and US Open 10-Ball fields will be limited to 96 players and the US Open One Pocket will sport a 64 player field.

In 2010 CSI, which is also the parent company of the BCA Pool League (BCAPL) and USA Pool League (USAPL), launched the US Open 10-Ball Championship in conjunction with the BCAPL National Championships, known as “The Greatest Pool Tournament in the World!” CSI added HD live video streaming by TheActionReport.com (TAR) and free stream feeds to each of the host hotel rooms. In 2011, CSI added the US Open One Pocket Championship and the 14.1 High Run Challenge. For 2013, “The Greatest Pool Tournament in the World!” will present three new events: the US Open 8-Ball Championship by CSI, the 2013 WPA World Artistic Pool Championship, and the 25th Annual Junior National 9-Ball Championships, which is produced by the Billiard Education Foundation (BEF).

New also in 2013 – spectator general admission to all three CSI pro events, the world artistic pool and junior national competitions, and the 14.1 challenge will be FREE to the players competing in the BCAPL & USAPL National Championships (July 17-27, 2013) also being held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

For more information about the 1^st US Open 8-Ball Championship, 5^th US Open 10-Ball Championship and 14^th US Open One Pocket Championship please visit www.playcsipool.com. For information about the 37^th BCAPL National Championships please visit www.playbca.com and for information about the 3^rd USAPL National Championships please visit www.playusapool.com. View pro and amateur pool action on the CSI YouTube page, http://www.youtube.com/user/CueSportsIntl

CueSports International is dedicated to creating more choices for all players. CSI supports the WPA/BCA structure to govern the sport and to promote an organized hierarchy for pool player advancement. In the past 8 years CSI has directly paid out $8,000,000 to players. CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League and the USA Pool League. CSI also produces independent events such as the US Bar Table Championships, the Jay Swanson Memorial, the US Open One Pocket Championship, the US Open 8-Ball Championship and the US Open 10-Ball Championship. Visit www.playcsipool.com, www.playbca.com, and www.playusapool.com for more information about CSI and its divisions.

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Media Contact:
Holly Dimmick
CueSports International
2041 Pabco Rd
Henderson, NV 89011
Phone (702) 719-7665
Fax (702) 307-1609

www.playcsipool.com
www.playbca.com
www.playusapool.com

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Seco Varani Interview, Part I

Posted on 05. Jan, 2013 by Mike Fieldhammer.

Last month, I drove down to Faribault for a haircut. Seco Varani agreed to let me ask him some questions while I sat in his barber chair for a trim. It’s my pleasure to show you part 1 of the interview. Stay tuned for more of the chat.

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32nd Annual Seco Varani KC Club Tournament

Posted on 04. Jan, 2013 by Mike Fieldhammer.

Well, it’s that time of the year. Time for the 32nd annual Seco Varani KC Club Pool Tournament. 32 Players each day. 8-Ball on Saturday and 9-Ball on Sunday. Tournament directors Rich and Bev Arendts keep this event running smoothly and held the locals only event today. Here are the results.

The big player auction for the 8-ball begins at 10:30 (I think) and here’s the list of players.

Derek McMaster
Seco Varani
Mike Fieldhammer
Charlie Garza
Jeff Van Sickle
Rory Hendrickson
Tony Piazza
Jamie Pluta
Micheal Perron Jr
Dan Voeller
Matt Benton
Demi Jelatis
Gene Albrecht
Nick Marsolek
Tim Tonjum
Josh Shones
Ken Thomas
Shawn Minick
Guy Thompson
Tony Zierman
Kris Brenke
Ty Wilson
Rick Tonjum
Josh Raines
Johnny Meyer
Dustin Morris
Weston Broad
John Stich
Sean Johnson
Brandon Guse
Nate Rinehart
Matt Bussert