Villains, brawlers and rowdies, or Not all is quiet in Pool kingdom (№2 (20) from June, 09th, 2009)

Get acquainted: Mr. Scandal «Erl Striklend is the world provoker!» – has in a fit of temper thrown Darel Pich after a match on the Cup of Moskoni-2007. And it is impossible to disagree with it. Really, Striklend is considered the most large-scale and, I will not be afraid this word, the deserved rowdy of a pool. The ingenuity sometimes gets it in really unprecedented distances. It, without reflecting, can curse the judge, send far away organizers or state to spectators, with feeling having asked
Them to "shut up". But most of all Striklend likes to mock at contenders, sarcastically making comments on their each step and when those will be indignant and threatening with punishment. He is able to finish to the handle even the most reserved sportsmen and to look illegal actions in behaviour an example ных. And if Erl Striklend does not start the dispute developing into the opened
Confrontation, – consider, the match has passed in vain.

Here all some "feats" from its long track record. In the World championship on a pool of 2003 Striklend has clung to миляге to Steve Devisu. According to eyewitnesses, on arena he behaved really disgustingly: touched the opponent, swore at public, and also made a complaint to referee Mikaele Tabb. Next day the American brawler appeared with a bunch of flowers which has handed over to the girl as apologies. However before Steve Devisom it was not going to justify. Besides, Striklend has publicly accused all the others: «Matchroom Sport» – in подсуживании to the favourite, a broadcasting company «Sky Sports» – in excessive demonstration of repetitions of unsuccessful game for it, and spectators – in moral pressure.

This case was so remembered that it even have brought in the annals online of encyclopaedia Wikipedia. Further – it is more. In a match противТомаса Engerta Striklend from a rage has broken the кий. During a meeting with Anybody Van ден Berg it has by turns called all members of his family, and then has deliberately carelessly shaken hands with the contender with a kind «do not wait from me for respect». On a cup Moscow horses of last year Striklend has sworn with Ralfom the Bough, having declared in the end: «You not much stand in game – to you have simply carried». Therefore, that though somehow to "recoup", the national team of Europe has prepared a children's dummy which then and have thrown in Striklenda: a pier, than the child played, if only did not cry. But hardly such actions somehow will affect it. Unless will even more strongly anger.

With the not numerous billiard companions of Striklend behaves not less excentricly. According to Markusa Shamata, the American adores to strew stories how by a youth has contacted the Mafiosi, about the unsuccessful marriage, about political views, and in the end to add: «I am simply intolerable, all I stir and I stir the language! It would be necessary to me to stick a mouth already!».

To journalists from Striklenda sometimes too gets. When I have for the first time suggested it to make interview, it parried: «it is not necessary. I boring, old and at me was not present a teeth». But already next day its mood was changed, and he has approached to me to communicate. Our conversation has turned out interesting and even somewhere heart-felt. But not all so carries. Стрикленд likes to represent the bad guy, and before television cameras and for a long time!

Certainly, such behaviour does not remain without attention. Collect Striklend all protests written on it, it, likely, could paste over with them walls in the house. But disgraces, as a rule, descend to it from hands, and against it anybody is not going to apply serious sanctions. For organizers of competitions to discharge Striklenda of affairs – all the same what to make commercial suicide. Public wishes to see it at a table even if it denies. And Striklend perfectly understands that to what.

«Look around, – he has told to me in the World championship of 2004. – you see all these people? They have come to look at me! If I have not arrived, them half was less. They want show, and I give it to them». So, whatever mad was Striklend, he knows the own worth. It is such here the Malicious genius of a pool in a flesh.

From everyone – on ability But, of course, not all scandals are based on one Striklende. The world of a pool is full of quarrels and small altercations: all also you will not remember. Precedents occur constantly, almost on each tournament, in each country and in each separate "party". Is more often it happens behind a billiard table, at witnesses, is more rare – behind side scenes. To present full chronology of incidents it is unreal, therefore I will simply result a little fresh, остреньких examples.

Not all players are able to behave in hands. Obscene expressions and kicks on a table – a commonplace with which sin practically all. However sometimes emotions go too far. Excellent acknowledgement to they be Fabio Petroni who has completely justified image of the temperamental Italian, acting on tournament «Super Billiards Expo» in Pennsylvania. Having made unsuccessful blow in a match against Gejba Ouena, it that was urine was knocked by a head about a table … then with a serious trauma, blood-stained has been taken to hospital. Now Fabio has already recovered, but the unpleasant stain on its reputation remains. Minute fieriness has assigned to it an image of the "inadequate" person.

Sharp statements have done much harm to Kori Duela image. Having lost Imranu Madzhidu on the Cup Moscow horses of 2006, he has declared to journalists that in all the contender is guilty. Ostensibly that constantly waved a towel and prevented to concentrate to it. Дуэл named Madzhida «a shame for a pool» and has told that such villain should be debarred from professional competitions. Later, the truth, apologies have followed. Дуэл has tried to explain, what not absolutely it meant, and Madzhid
In general anything to itself the guy. But a year later the history has repeated – this time Toni Drago became object for attacks. The offended fans of modular Europe in the answer have noticed that Duel «communicates with Striklendom too much and was typed from it bad». Anyway, but undoubtedly one: to the young American now will be very uneasy to get rid of a label of "growing up change of the world provoker».

Today it is almost impossible to find пулиста which would not be got mixed up in one conflict. Differently, swear and row all – as far as possible. Such here a restless kind of sports …

And, time affairs are so rigidly, there is a natural question: and how as regards the hand-to-hand?. Fights?! The pool is noted by serious fights. Not hockey all the same. And further threats to knock the contender кием anybody usually does not come. But separate incidents nevertheless happen. So, in 2006 on the Asian games in the Fur-coat scandal has shaken a national team of China. Young пулистка Zhou Mengmeng has appeared in print with the statement that its partner at the command of Tian Pengfej has subjected to its beating and the sexual insult. Business has received wide publicity therefore it was forbidden to both sportsmen to act at competitions in the country throughout a year.

The head of the Administrative centre of billiards of China Young Junan so has commented on the decision: «It is usual quarrel of two young men, and it is not necessary to take out it on public court. Similar problems dare silently, in a command. Fieriness of Zhou harms to kind image of China on international scene – for it it too should be punished». Here so in Asia billiard rowdies wash away guilt.

Sometimes in fights appear officials are got mixed up even. Last year I was present on the youthful European championship when the representative of modular Albania has begun to touch contenders. When to it have rebuked, it has threatened girls-referees. The problem managed to be hushed up, but in the same evening the Albanian appeared in restaurant of hotel and has made fight with referees-men. It was necessary to "deport" next day it from competitions. Scandals of the "higher" category But the biggest resonance make scandals in organizational circles. All players suffer from it, and also a pool as that. The most obvious, scandalous and already прямотаки навязший in a teeth the case is falling IPT.

The given theme on hundred times have chewed all who feel like it: from mass media to players on boondocks of clubs. But it and it is no wonder – the price of this scandal was estimated in millions dollars! Hardly players will take out from here any lessons for the aspiration to the big earnings is ineradicable. But will recollect IPT still many long years – and all bad words. Yes only the life is not necessary on a place, and on change to scandal with IPT the new has come. This time involved there were old partners: the European federation лузного billiards and the French company "Kozoom". Two organisations have beaten pots, having dispersed suddenly and completely not friendly.

The essence of the incident which has occurred on Euroround in Paris, consisted that company "Kozoom" responsible for TV-translation has left a place of carrying out of tournament – amicably, all structure. Has left with them and photographer Dzhej Pi, many long years belief and the truth serving EPBF. Considering that it touched interests of the third party – bookmaker company "BWin" which relayed matches on the site in a mode it-lajn, the situation was created really scandalous.

In the same evening billiard mass media have received the post card from the head of company "Kozoom" Ksave Karrera. «At the very beginning of cooperation we had big plans and hopes», he wrote. «However after we have not wanted to participate in the project poolmatch.tv, relations have started to spoil … Without the prevention our logos have been removed from a site of Eurorounds and from banners on TV-arena. It became a sure sign of that teamwork comes to an end. Relations with EPBF always were under construction exclusively on trust. Till last moment there was no legal contract on cooperation though we about it repeatedly asked. When I have suggested ours to" partners »to sign a regular waybill, they have refused and have declared that it will be all the same if« Kozoom »will leave … Therefore we have simply collected chambers and have left home. Photographer Dzhej Pi Parmenter has expressed solidarity with us, and now it is forbidden to it to appear on arena with the chamber …».

Certainly, EPBF has the point of view on the dissonance reasons. However the official press release of federation plainly does not explain anything. As a matter of fact, it is written in haste and sent after to the letter «Kozoom». Between lines the desire to smooth impression of scandal and with honour to leave a ticklish situation is read: «As all of you, likely, know, our cooperation has come to an end. When the similar happens it is always sad. However such are business laws». Further there are confused explanations supposedly «the parties not always converge in vision of the purposes», and it, in turn, «makes responsible for acceptance of the corresponding decision». The author of the press release David Morris has specified that besides a professional component there were also other factors which have affected mutual relations. But which – «here to describe not a place».

Too обще, too not clearly. I have addressed for explanations to president EPBF of Gre Lendersu. It has reacted to my inquiry is much more live and is concrete. «The main reason on which all it has happened, – dispute round copyrights to a photo- and a video production, – he has noted. – the rest concerns emotions». However, Lenders from them to abstract not a smog, and has emotionally enough added:« I only wish to pass an opinion on one moment in the letter «Kozoom». They assert that it have not paid. It is bosh! As of January, 2009 we have carried out of all financial obligations. And «Kozoom» to us till now should 6 DVD which and have not sent. They have started us to blackmail and demand to pay expenses forward. Therefore we consider that will be correct, if «Kozoom» and Dzhej Pi never return. Henceforth it is forbidden to them to visit our tournaments. And we now carry on negotiations with other companies which will come on replacement «Kozoom». Sounds, of course, convincingly, yes only ever since and until now a photo from tournaments EPBF differently as poor-quality you will not name. And the good photographer obviously does not suffice them.

There are still some facts speaking at all in favour of the European federation. So, the salary of the people providing translations for bookmaker office "BWin" was considerably cut off. In particular, the federation paid to mobile commentators 75 euros a day for 3–5 matches whereas quotations «BWin» made 75 euros for a match. Where other money went – easy to guess. Representatives «Kozoom» assert that of them made profit not less. However we will refrain from definitive conclusions. Who is right – to solve to you.

The race for power generates problems on all continents. In February of this year conditions round Billiard and снукерного the congress of Philippines (BSCP), headed by Enom Makabentoj have become aggravated. Dissatisfied with a policy of a present management sportsmen and managers have created the new organisation – Association billiard менеджерови players of Philippines (BMPAP). As they said, Makabenta, also I show щийся the president of the promotion company «Raya Sports», possesses excessive powers which he often abuses. In particular, him accuse of "an unjustified" choice of participants of tournament «Guinness 9-Ball Tour». Members BMPAP whom among the other Pagulajan concern, Flight and Bustamante, urge to boycott tournaments BSCP. The answer of Makabenty and the company was the following:« Our competitions always were popular at players, therefore if someone does not wish to participate in them is there will be their loss, not ours ». It is obvious that the conflict reasons much more difficult, deep and to us, Europeans, are not always clear. And than all will end – will show time.
So, scandals in a pool were, is and will be. From it not to get to anywhere, and well-known «Children, let's live in peace and friendship!» Here will not help. To us as to observers, it is necessary to hope only that in the quarrels billiard figures will not go too far, and despite separate problems the pool strongly will not suffer.

Julia Petrov