Break August 2006 a bi-monthly guide to Billiard Congress of America member services

BCAin this issue: EnjoyPool.com sponsorships • Fond Farewells • Challenge the Stars a Success • New Dates for 2007 International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo in Vegas

Sponsors Win Big in Vegas Fond Farewell! EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships Ducoff & Long sign off in August In its first year as the renamed EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships, the BCA’s marquee professional event commanded attention for players and sponsors alike. The The August Back to Billiards Expo in Baltimore will mark the final, official ESPN production was taped for delayed airing in July, where it once again offered a appearances for both BCA Executive high-visibility platform for BCA supporters. Director Stephen D. Ducoff (who is retir- ing) and former Marketing Director Amy Long (who is Leading up to the televised semi- and final rounds, sponsors enjoyed brand exposure helping out, one last time). for their official product lines in the larger arena setting. Once the main events began, marketing escalated with rotating ad banners along the perimeter of the show table. As announced earlier in the Each of the official event sponsors were featured in a series of timed placements that year, Ducoff will retire from the BCA at the end of Amy Long - Queen of all that is good and beautiful. guaranteed that their brand backdrop would be seen by millions of ESPN viewers. August. Long was tapped to become the Marketing Like the EnjoyPool.com banners shown in the photo below, each of the official prod- Director for the Colorado Springs Convention and uct sponsors were featured in position throughout the taped semis and finals. Visitors Bureau in June, but agreed to assist the BCA in “This device has been very successful for the BCA, a part-time capacity through the summer and its sponsors,” stated Marketing Director Amy transition period.

Long, “The brands are clearly displayed for the tele- During special events in Baltimore, both vision audience, and we like what it adds to the pro- BCA veterans will have one last chance to duction value.” say goodbye to the billiard community. They’ll both be sorely missed! May 14-20, 2006

Billiard Congress of America The Stars came out in Vegas!

Ewa Laurance not only participates at the event, she also sits on the BEF Board of Directors

Challenge The Stars Benefits the Billiard Education Foundation To What End? Thanks to all the participating pros Funds raised by the BEF at the The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) reported that the Challenge the Stars Benefit are used to stars were out and shining brightly at its annual Challenge the underwrite the annual academic schol- Stars event, held May 16 at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in arship program. Over 130 high school Vegas. Top billiard pros took challenges from highly-skilled and admiring fans who made donations to the BEF seniors applied for this year’s grants, Scholarship Fund in exchange for the chance to test their met- and eight scholarships were awarded to: tle against the world's greatest players.

Participating pros were , Tony Crosby, Max Eberle, BEF Excellence in Education winner: , , , Jeanette Lee, Kyle Smith (Lafayette, CO.) Tony Robles, Laura Smith, Marco Tschudi, Bob Weimar, Vicki Paski and BCA Hall of Fame members Loree Jon Jones, BCA Scholarship winners: Ewa Mataya Laurance, and Robin Dodson. Gregory Gaskin (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.) Christopher Kaltenbach The pros donate their time during the BCA-hosted Players and bidders lined EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships, and a long list of (Newtonville, Mass.) up to take part. BCA-member companies Dorothy Mix (Camino, Calif.) donated product and services for the silent auction, including: Conor Parker (LaGrange, Ill.) Adam Cue Company, Perfect Shaft, Cue-Tech School, Jessica Ray (Avon, Conn.) Tiger Products, Smithlin Custom Cues, Viking Cues, Megan Skinner (Des Moines, Iowa) Competition Sports, Lou Sardo Products, Go Billiards, Joshua Strazanac (Holland, Mich.) Connoisseur of Custom Cues, Jerry Olivier Custom Cues, RT9 Designs, Castillo Leather Goods, Schuler Cue, Stealth, Predator Challenge The single Excellence in Education the Stars! Products, PoolDawg.com, Hard Times Billiard Supply, Randy Goettlicher and the Billiard Congress of America. recipient earns a $5,000 award (over 2 years), and seven individuals receive The BEF was assisted by the following volunteers and BCA $1,000 toward their freshman year Pool League referees who also donated their time to make the event such a success: Randy Goettlicher, Claude Gragg, Tom Riccobene, Shanna and John Lewis, expenses. Robyn Maloy, Tommy Ray, Jerry Johnson, Paul Hargrave, Aric Beckwith, Scott Hutchinson, Bethany Sutphin, Yale Downs, Genaro Vasquez, Kristie Womack, CC Strain, Buddy Harper, Mike www.billiardeducation.com Cox, John Leyman, Larry Ward, Lance Kepler, Avvilla Fisher, Wendy Kennedy and Hal Sparrow. Entertainment and trick shots were provided by Okinawa Slim. www.billiardeducation.org International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo June 21 - 23, 2007 • The Sands in Vegas “Ante Up” today at BCAExpo.com! h o s t e d b y B i l l i a r d C o n g r e s s o f A m e r i c a BCABreak August 2006 Billiard Congress of America BCA BREAK • August 2006

Executive Director: Stephen Ducoff Lifestyle Promotions in the Works Editor: Linda Mojer Production Manager: Ginni Francis Pool is more than a game…more than a sport…it’s a lifestyle! Families want to spend

The BCA Break is published bi-monthly more quality time together. They want to enhance the look and enjoyment of their as an insert to Billiard Retailer and made avail- home. They want to Enjoy Pool! Earlier in the spring, BCA members were offered a able online as a download at chance to reach over 100 million potential customers with exciting new multi-media BCA-Pool.com. promotions. BCA Board of Directors Gregg Hovey (Pres)...... Olhausen The first was a “Living in Style” episode that will focus on communicating the many Mike Baggett (1VP) ...... Cue & Case Ivan Lee (2VP)...... Iwan Simonis benefits of having a pool table in the home (as well as all the necessary accessories for a Renee Poehlman (Sect.) ...... APA great home recreation room!). Each of the half-hour shows in this 13-part series will air Pat Conners (Treas.) ...... AMF a minimum of 20 times, with a combined reach of more than 70 million households on Nick Alexander ...... Clicks Billiards Jeri Brown...... American Games affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and targeted national cable networks. Sean Cummings ...... Brunswick Dan Dishaw...... American Cuemakers Following the “Family Solutions” episode, an 8-second billboard will invite viewers to Kathy Etheridge ...... Showcase Billiards Mark Griffin ...... BCA Pool League visit www.enjoypool.com to easily connect to each of the sponsors’ websites and locate Barry Hart ...... Viking Cue a BCA Member retailer in their area. Exclusive to the participating sponsors, the seg- Jim McDermott ...... Magoo’s Billiards ment will feature a pool table, cue, cloth, lighting, rack, balls, chalk, décor, jukebox, mag- Bob Radford ...... Antique Billiards Kathy Vegh ...... Danny Vegh’s azine, amateur league, bar/barstools and a game/poker table. The taped segment is Eric Weber...... CueStix scheduled to air from August 23 - September 20. Billiard Congress of America 4345 Beverly Drive, Ste.D Colorado Springs, CO 80918 The second promo was the Tel: 719-264-8300 “BallBusters” event in Fax: 719-264-9400 www.bca-pool.com Baltimore, a made-for-TV www.enjoypool.com “pool party” featuring 12 top

BCA National Staff finishers from past BCA pro Stephen Ducoff ...... Executive Director events, competing in a Diane Bryant ...... Accountant three-person team, single- Ginni Francis ...... Graphics/Production Alison Hall ...... Office Manager elimination 8-Ball format. Tanya Holmes ....Asst. Director/Trade Services Carolyn Lewis ...... Director/Trade Services Co-hosted by Mitch and Linda Mojer ...... Director/Communications Kathy Simmons ...... Member Services , the show will highlight pool on a set designed to replicate a well-

appointed home recreation Rack ‘em up & play with Pros like room. Three original hours Jeanette “The Black Widow” Lee and Ewa “The Striking Viking” Laurance, are guaranteed on ESPN, then watch yourself on ESPN!!

Our Vision: Achieve a united, growing, beginning in October 2006 more info @ enjoypool.com prosperous and highly regarded billiard industry and running indefinitely. through BCA leadership. A flyer promoting the Ballbuster’s event was distributed to Baltimore room owners and retailers, as well as being Our Mission: Enhance the emailed to thousands of league players in that region. success of our members and promote the game of billiards.