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Vol.4, No.12 — July 23, 2007
EnjoyPool.com ● BCAExpo.com

 ::  THE 2007 JUNIOR NATIONAL 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS RECENTLY CROWNED THE 2007 WINNERS … and was a resounding success. Over 130 players representing 29 states and Ontario, Canada, demonstrated great talent throughout the week of July 12-15, 2007. The event was held in conjunction with the ACUI Collegiate 9-Ball Championships at Minnesota State University, Mankato.  Below are the results of the 2007 Junior National 9-Ball Championships:

19 & Under Boys’ Division:
1st: Richard Barney (Mont Alto, Pennsylvania)
2nd: Christopher Futrell (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
3rd: Tyler Van Wulven (La Mesa, California)
4th: Daniel Rakin (Daly City, California)

14 & Under Boys’ Division:
1st: Landon Shuffett (Greensburg, Kentucky)
2nd: Joshua Newman (Bessener City, North Carolina)
3rd: Chad Behnke (Farley, Iowa)
4th: Michael Perron, Jr. (Mendota Heights, Minnesota)


2007 Junior National 9-Ball champs pose for the camera at the conclusion of the tournament.
Photo Credit: Inside POOL Magazine

19 & Under Girls’ Division:
1st: Mary Rakin (Daly City, California)
2nd: Nicole Keeney (Littleton, Colorado)
3rd: Allison Hardwick (Evansville, Indiana)
4th: Chelsea Hardwick (Evansville, Indiana)

14 & Under Girls’ Division:
1st: Briana Miller (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
2nd: Nicole Jaynes (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
3rd: Amy LaCanne (Faribault, Minnesota)
4th: Courtney Frank (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Nearly 350 people attended a banquet on Thursday, July 12, to welcome the junior players, to honor the winners of the ACUI event and to congratulate the 39 recipients of the 2007 Academic All-American Awards. Special guests at the dinner included reigning world artistic pool champion Tom “Dr. Cue” Rossman, Jerry Briesath of “The Pool School” and Shane Van Boening, 2007 World 10-Ball Champion.

Along with trophies and prizes, all winners of the four divisions were given a $1,000 scholarship, as well as a berth to represent the U.S. in the upcoming Junior World Championships.

Sponsors of the 2007 Junior National 9-Ball Championships included: Billiard Congress of America; Brunswick Billiards; Simonis Cloth; RST2 International; Aramith Billiard Balls; Predator Cues; Ozone Billiards; Dr. Cue Promotions; Minnesota State University, Mankato; ACUI; BEF; and Mankato Convention & Visitor Bureau.

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 :: 2007 ACUI CHAMPS NAMED

The Association of College Unions International (ACUI) … recently announced its 2007 Collegiate International 9-Ball champions. Now in its 70th year, the international championship was hosted at Minnesota State University, Mankato, July 10-12, 2007, in conjunction with the Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) Junior National Championships.  

Eleanor Callado, of San Francisco State University, made history this year in the women’s division as the only player ever to have snatched four ACUI titles (2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007), and California State University at Los Angeles’ Andy McKinn held the top spot in the men’s division.  Full results of the ACUI National Championship tournament are available online. 

The 30 male and 19 female players in the event represented over 600 collegiate contestants who vied for a shot at the international title by first winning their campus championship and later finishing in the top tier at their regional championships. This was the third year that the ACUI Collegiate tournament took place alongside the Junior National Championships. For more information about the collegiate pool season, visit acui.org and click on “Student Programs.”

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 :: RESEARCH STUDY REVEALS CONSUMER ATTITUDES TOWARD BILLIARDS

In early 2007 … the Billiard Congress of America (BCA), in partnership with Ellison Research, of Phoenix, Arizona, conducted the first comprehensive quantitative research study of the general public to gauge consumer attitudes toward the game of billiards. The study was conducted through online panel interviews among 1,026 randomly selected people who reside in the United States and are 18 years of age or older.

The overall sample comprised three segments, including people who own a billiard table, people who play the game of billiards, and people who neither play the game of billiards nor own a billiard table. Specific objectives of the study also included obtaining information about the influential factors behind purchasing a pool table, as well as obtaining baseline information about playing habits and what influences people to play the game of pool.

Results of the study were recently presented during the 2007 BCA Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, and are now available to BCA members. If you are a BCA member and are interested in receiving a CD containing the research results, contact Kari Freeland, BCA membership coordinator, at 866.852.0999 or via e-mail at kari@bca-pool.com.

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 :: ESPN ADDS 9-BALL AIRDATES IN OCTOBER

After high rating numbers ... the women's final from the EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships have been picked up for re-broadcast on ESPN2 through mid-September. All times are shown as Eastern and added dates are:

  • Saturday, August 25, 2007: 3:00 p.m. (Semi-Final)

  • Saturday, August 25, 2007: 4:00 pm (Final)

  • Monday, September 17, 2007: 7:30 p.m. (Final)

  • Monday, September 17, 2007: 8:30 p.m. (Final)

In addition, ESPN2 will rebroadcast all of the men’s championship action in September (all times shown are Eastern):

  • Monday, September 17, 2007: 11:00 p.m. (Semi-Final)

  • Tuesday, September 18, 2007: 7:00 p.m. (Final)

Bookmark the online broadcast schedule under the "Follow" tab at EnjoyPool.com, to look for future air dates and times. And always check your local listings for last-minute programming changes.

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 :: BILLIARDS IN THE NEWS

Allison Fisher … recently secured her 49th WPBA tour victory winning the Florida Classic in Holiday, Florida, June 27-July 1.  On her way into the TV rounds, Fisher escaped with two hill-hill victories. [ more ]
MEMBER MARKETING 101 ... From "52 Ways to Make Pool Everybody's Game"


TIP № 39
Host an interior design
workshop to spark ideas and generate sales.

STRATEGY:

Many people have the misperception that pool tables are unattractive.  Not true!  Tables are designed to enhance the look of any home, from traditional to ultra-modern.  Interior design workshops can turn a reluctant homeowner into an enthusiastic buyer or compel a table buyer to think in terms of the “whole room” and make additional purchases such as furniture and décor.

EXECUTION:

  • Contract with a local interior designer to hold free workshops at your store.

  • Develop a schedule, such as "Accessorizing Your Recreation Room" or "New Trends in Color."

  • Promote through print, the Internet, direct mail and in-store signage.

  • List the workshops in the "Things to Do" section of your local newspapers.

  • Give out coupons for purchases made within 30 days, a summary of the presentation and product brochures.
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 :: BCA SPOTLIGHT

New BCA Board member Brian Rosselli … got his start in the billiards industry while working a summer job during college as a manufacturer’s representative at The Bloom Company, where he learned the grassroots of the business from many of the most influential people in the industry.  After completing his Bachelors of Science degree in Business at California State University Northridge, Rosselli went to work full time with The Bloom Company.  Rosselli says he has never looked back since.

In 1996, he began working for Olhausen Billiard Manufacturing, Inc., where he currently serves as the national sales manager, implementing national sales promotions, administering sales training, representing the company at national sales events and trade shows, sustaining and cultivating dealer relationships, advising on advertising and marketing campaigns, and contributing creative advice and ideas to enhance all aspects of the Olhausen brand.

Rosselli believes that the BCA is definitely headed in the right direction, and his main goal as a new board member is to focus on marketing the industry.  “The BCA will offer a unique opportunity for various industry participants to unite as allies to work toward the common goal of advancing the game of billiards and its institution, which is a benefit to all parties involved…we’re all in this together,” said Rosselli.

As Rosselli says, “we sell fun,” and he wants the billiard industry as a whole to get back to marketing the game as an experience and a lifestyle that everyone can enjoy.  Unlike other sports, billiards can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and it allows friends and family to interact with each other. “What family wouldn’t love to have a billiard/game room in their home with all the trimmings?” asks Rosselli.

When not working, Rosselli enjoys watching and playing sports, especially golf, and spending time with his family.  Rosselli and his wife, Adrienne, have been married for 11 years and have two children, Danielle, 6, and Nicholas, 4.

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 :: BCA NOTES & NEWS BRIEFS
BCA PRODUCT
HIGHLIGHT

The 2007 BCA Official Rules & Records Book ... contains the World-Standardized Rules for 8-Ball, 9-Ball, 14.1, One Pocket and many other popular games, along with fully illustrated schematics, diagrams and sketches. The book also includes BCA Hall of Fame biographies, tournament results and records, and instructional tips.  Pricing and ordering information can be found online at the BCA Member Store.  

 
SAVE THE DATE!

BCA International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo
June 12-14, 2008
Charlotte Convention Center
Charlotte, North Carolina
COMING UP ...

>> AUGUST ... APA National Team Championships in Las Vegas, August 17-25
... EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Women's Semi-Finals and Finals Rebroadcast on ESPN2, August 25

>> SEPTEMBER ... EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Women's Finals Rebroadcast on ESPN, September 17
... EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Men's Semi-Finals Rebroadcast on ESPN2, September 17
... EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Men's Finals Rebroadcast on ESPN2, September 18

>> OCTOBER ... 2007 WPA World 9-Ball Championship for Wheelchair Players, Tampa, Florida, October 1-4
... 32nd Annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, Chesapeake, Virginia, October 14-27

>> NOVEMBER ... APA U.S. Amateur Championship, Atlanta, Georgia, November 2-4
... BCAPL Qlympics, Louisville, Kentucky, November 1-18
DATES ANNOUNCED FOR
WPA WORLD 9-BALL FOR WHEELCHAIR PLAYERS

The National Wheelchair Poolplayers Association (NWPA) … has received written communication from the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) that they have been given permission to conduct the 2007 WPA World 9-Ball Championship for Wheelchair Players.

The event will be held October
1-4, 2007, at Planet 9 Ball in Tampa, Florida. The details of this event are being finalized and will be distributed soon.

If you have any questions, contact Jeff Dolezal, NWPA president, at 703.817.1215 or via e-mail at jdolezal@cox.net.
... FOLLOW THE ACTION ... with continued ESPN airings of the EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships, August 25, September 17 and September 18.
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An exclusive service to Billiard Congress of America Business Members, the BCA Member Update is announced via e-mail twice monthly and archived online. Please forward, print and circulate this newsletter widely and feel free to submit your comments or contributions to Robin Dahlen, associate managing director.
Copyright © Billiard Congress of America

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