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BGonline.org Forums
In defense of DC local cheapskates
Posted By: Barry Silliman In Response To: In defense of DC local cheapskates (Bill Riles)
Date: Friday, 12 June 2009, at 4:18 a.m.
Bill writes: However, I will say that those who profess to favor the promotion of backgammon and then won't attend an ABT tourney in there own backyard lose a lot of credibility in my book -- especially when they've travelled to play in other ABT tourneys.
Actually Bill, any self-professing conservative who willingly goes to the liberal stronghold of D.C. loses a lot of credibility in my book.
Seriously though, not sure if this is directed at me or Koca or both. I'll let Koca defend himself on this one, I've done enough defending of him already. I have never played in more than 3 ABT events in a year and I have no plans to increase this number in the immediate future. I earned zero ABT points in 11 tries at Advanced but moved up to Open anyway. I've played Open three times- Towson, Charlotte and Pittsburgh, where the entry fee as you know is in the mid $200s. This is what I am comfortable with, and already a stretch to my budget. I'll tell you what, if you will pay my invoices from Carnegie Mellon University for the next two years, I promise you I will play in every ABT event for the next two years.
If I had even once played in $500 entries like Vegas or Howard's new tourney in Jersey City but did not play the US Open then you could maybe call me out.
As far as the US Open was concerned, I was not once contacted by Chiva about helping out despite being a local director in DC for 9 years. That is okay, I did not take offense, because I am not a big fish in the backgammon pond and he may not have ever heard of me. (Or maybe he did try to contact me. I get about 2000 spam e-mails to my club website e-mail address for every legitimate inquiry, no exaggeration).
But nevertheless, while in Pittsburgh I personally offered Bill Davis my assistance for the US Open, and I would have gladly shown up just to be on the staff even without playing had he needed or wanted my help, but he said he had things under control with Robin and Jeb.
I am glad to hear that the reviews from those attending was positive. It is nice to not hear any stories of traumatic events taking place at the tournament. Chiva has said all the right things in his posts about the event, appears to have a very good attitude and was very complimentary of the American players. I think he paid his dues here and I predict that he will have much better turnout next year, wherever he holds it. I know that I missed a fun event, but I didn't attend it for reasons that I've already explained, which frankly are nobody's business by my own, and I will apologize to no one.
You of all people Bill should respect people's rights to make free decisions in accordance with their own self-interest without passing judgment, isn't that at the essence of conservatism?
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