Q&A

[Grand Puba]

Hey Everybody...

I thought I'd be the first to offer any advice on the wonderful game of foosball. This forum could be a great way to share ideas and thoughts. If any of you have any questions in regards to "any" aspect of the game post them here and let's get a dialogue going.

Grand Puba

[Grand Puba]

Okay, I'll get it started since everyone seems to be a little bit keyboard shy.

How can we help Lorainne and Mike grow the weekly dyps to a regular 20 teams? Any toughts?

Grand Puba

[nick]

Lee and I had (with almost all, if not all the credit going to Lee were it should go) been trying to do this for the last few years. One big problem is that we now are pigeon holed into a bar. With little or no exposure to show off this great game we play.
One of the best experiences I ever had to get foos going was, with posters with peoples names and results on it. And posted as yuo walked in the building. Lee tried this at wv billiards but they wouldn't let him put it out in front as I had been able to at Plaza. Lets face it every one loves to brag and show off there name in the lights(persay).
Another problem is, while it is great to have our Sunday get togethers there is really no incentive to practice or get better. Look how many players are resigned into boredom with it. Or at least to stay up on your game. At Plaza, they let me put together trophy tourneys every 6 weeks. That always made you stay up on your game and even gave you a reason to get better. Lee really tried to do that at WV billiards. The only problem was WV billiards nickle and dimed him to death and we ended out getting more players from out of state than in state. Also Plaza I was allowed to get the trophys 4 weeks ahead to display and create a curiousity and interest, Lee I believe he had like a week to week and a half to order and display bacause nobody would kick the money in.
There really is nothing on the indivdual levels to win. Right now people are resigned in to thinking that they will hope on the draw. And if they don't draw well maybe next time. And that is frustrating to those of us who bust are behinds and have players consistently lets them down. From not trying to improve or become more competetive. Really why should I or as alot of other players have said in the past, practice and come out and give it my all to win if the other players don't put in the same, away from the tourneys to get better. While I know most people say it is only a game but to those who play to get better and be more competetive against the big guns it isn't fair.
I know this response is going to be unpopular. But the fact being, is the towns and citys were foos is doing well, the bottom line is everyone practices to get better and be more competetive and to play at a higher skill level. Don't think so go to Idaho, Colorado etc... were it is extremely tough competetion. While our top players will win most of the time, there less ranked rookies and semi pros are much more skilled players than ours.
That is only my oppinion and is not shared by this station or its sponsors L.O.L.
But one big difference is finding a location that will believe in what this game can do on a revenue stand point (what is in it for them). Well if there is no incentive to play than there really is nothing in it for them.
I know I am going to get ripped on for this, but that is OK. I tell you why because a guy like Scott Reynolds (who is a WARRIOR) goes out and busts his ass every week and never complains. But you no what, because he is not Mori most players are all resigned in defeat that they won't win. And that is not fair to a guy like Scott. If you gave it your all and tried to improve as much as that animal has, you would be thinking about winning instead of next weeks draw.
So if you really want to get the tourneys bigger and better we need to raise the level of competetion across the board. Tommie will tell you this people move to Denver and Northern California to play against those guys because they are so good. That in turn raises the competetion and participation level.
Well here it comes I will take all your ripping like a man. But if you don't want the truth don't ask the question.
Nck

[Grand Puba]

"nick" adds some good points as to how participation can be improved. After I sifted through the mess this is what I've found;

1) "nick" feels that a display of current points and rankings would help foster interest.

2) "nick" feels that trophy tournaments should be held on a regular basis and that these trophies should be put on display to help draw interest.

3) "nick" talks about the current state of the players dedication to improve and the effect it has on the level of play indicating that this affects tournament participation.

If these are wrong, sorry! That's what I got out of it.

Well let me address One point I feel is worth noting...

1) I believe that the Sunday's are not conducive to growing the game, especially in "our" state. Alot of players are left looking for places to play other then Sundays because of their religious obligations. However, Sundays are great because we can start early and possibly leave early but the place isn't as lively as I'd hoped it to be. The location is great but nobody is there on Sundays. This hinders the growth of the tournaments, again you are relying on the current player base and not adding to it with fresh new players. If the tournament were on a Saturday or Friday it would draw attention and interest from other patrons who may eventually play in a tournament.

I do think that the current TD's are doing a great job and hopefully this forum will allow them to get some great ideas to help make their jobs easier.

Grand Puba

PS. One last thing. It would be nice if some of the players that read this board start posting their opinions rather then just watching all the time. If we are to become a foos community we need to act like one and work together to help it grow.

[nick]

I know it ran on but the issues are real (way to many cocktails while replying). I do believe you are right in everything you said especially on the Sunday issue. But the game is so stagnent in participation that there really is nothing to play for.
I do appreciate what Mike and Lorraine are doing, they are doing a great job. And Lumpys is by far the nicest place we've played in SLC. Great Job guys.
This is not there fault but do to circumstances we've taken the opportunity for young players and minors out of the equation. How do we develop young players if we can not make contact with them
and show them the game itself.
I've been thinking about this for awhile, I'll put up the first $500.00 torwards a $1500.00 tourney if we can have it where kids can play also.
This will be last post I will ever make on this site.
You know it was long winded but it was true and how I felt about the state of the game. At least I've got the balls to speak up. That is why I didn't start the other site I talked about. Because nobody says shit but they will mock my what I have to say.
So I put my money where my mouth is put up or quit asking what can we do.
Nick

[Grand Puba]

Nick, by no means was I trying to mock you. I actually commend your efforts towards trying to create an open dialoge.

I too believe that the lack of availability to younger aged players is a hinderance towards growing the game. It appears that special efforts will have to be made to attract that demographic. However, this is how it's been for years. Unless someone can convince a wealthy individual to open an "arcade", which will inevitably fail because of in-home gaming systems, it is nearly impossible to find a location that will accomadate younger players. The question now becomes how do we get younger players involved, and where is a location that will suit everyones needs?

I could only wish that others would chime in and feel this board with their 2 cents. With any luck us foosers as a group can unite to better the situation for all.

Grand Puba

[Grand Puba]

I just realized that Nick offered up 500 smackers towards putting together a $1,500 tournament. Hopefully the powers that be (uhhum, Mike & Lorraine) will take advantage of this.

So, what would it take.

We'd need tables! Could or would Mountain Coin be willing to loan a couple of additional tables for a weekend?

We'd need a location! Where would you be able to hold an all weekend tournament that could accomadate old drinking foogies and youngsters? How about a bowling alley? FatCats comes to mind. They have a bar, arcade, food, tons of room and is owned by Mountain Coin.

That's a good start. Does anyone else have any input?

Grand Puba

[Foosfest]

I'm sorry I didn't get to make the foosball tournament last Sunday and see the Boise guys. I've been so unusually busy I have not even been able to look at this site. Thank you all for your input. Taking all the comments into consideration, Mike and I will do whatever we can to improve on what we've got.

Let's think about the positives, which are great considering when WVB decided not to have tournaments anymore we could have been high and dry and instead we secured a very cool place. We all want the same thing and that is to get the best we can get, but we have to do things in steps. What we need most of all is ACTION. Those who have posted have taken ACTION in getting their thoughts across. The day I walked into Lumpy's to try to get tournaments going, I took ACTION. I promise you guys that Mike and I will take action to improve on what we have. We do want to add an additional night at Lumpy's, but we have to prove to Lumpy's first that it's in their interest.

Apparently, from what I understand from LaRae, there is a new and really nice bowling alley (5530 S. VanWinkle Express) called Brasstunes and they have three tables in there and are interested in tournaments. I just spoke to LaRae and they have not yet been approached on what would be needed from them. They will be contacted shortly and hopefully we can get this going - it's sounds like a really nice place where the kids will be able to play. I've offered to help LaRae and I suggest that anyone who has a interest in improving the sport take action to offer to help and get behind this possibility.


Nick what was that you were saying about a donation??

You guys that have posted are great, and you are being heard for sure by me and Mike. All of you out there who are lurking, ask yourselves, "What is it that I can do for foosball"? If everyone does even one small thing to help the sport in some way, that's progress.

Please chime in with thoughts, ideas, and most of all, ACTION.

Regards,
Lorraine

[nick]

First $500.00 torwards a $1500.00 tourney were kids can play in the tourney. Similar to all the other ones Lee put together for them.
Nick

[SlapShot]

Lorraine,

I appreciate your response. It appears that you have tried your best and are making some progress. As I've attended almost every tournament over the last month I've noticed a significant drop in participation. It has again become stagnant. When you mention that if everyone take a little action things will improve, it brings to mind something that I've always tried to encourage the players to do, which is to try and bring one additional person to every tournament. Whether it be somebody that hasn't come for a while or someone who has never played, if everyone brought just "1" person each the tournaments would be double the size. I've done this just about every time I've come down but I think it's going to take a group effort to really make it grow.

Another thing, as was mentioned in an early post, I find the location to be very nice but "extremely" boring on Sunday's. Sunday Foos Sucks! Again, I REALLY like the location but the atmosphere is horrible on Sundays. It's just so dead in there it's hard to convince people to drag there asses to the tournament and promise them they are going to have fun when the place is dead. I think promoters tend to forget that in order to keep people coming back the most important thing for them to experience is FUN!

Lastly, as I've mentioned on another thread, it would be nice to get 2 new tables rather then playing on the 2 10+ year old tables that are there. $1 per rack is more then we've ever payed locally to play foos and these are probably some of the worst tables that we've ever played on.

That's it for Now!

Slap Shot