THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409250213
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: U.S.OPEN9-BALL CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
One game away from elimination in defense of his U.S. Open 9-Ball championship, Earl Strickland wasn't very happy with folks who wanted him to lose.
He staved off one loss early, but his hunt for a third consecutive title was ended later in Saturday's action.
Strickland, knocked into the losers bracket Friday night by veteran pro Steve Mizerak, Strickland ran into a red-hot Charlie Brinson in the morning set.
A capacity crowd of 770 focused their attention on table No. 3 as it appeared the 51-year-old Brinson, from Richland, N.C., would end Strickland's two-year hold on the Open title.
Brinson needed a single win in the last five games to claim his first victory ever over Strickland.
``I've never beat him but I thought I had this time,'' said Brinson. ``But when I didn't win that next-to-last game, I felt like I would lose it.''
The outspoken 33-year-old Strickland twice stopped play to chide spectators who were vocally letting him know they were pulling against him in his 13-12 win.
In the evening matches, Tommy Kennedy eliminated Strickland from the tournament, 13-8.
After the first match, Strickland lashed out at ``those who want to make this a circus.''
``People were trying to disorient me,'' he said. ``I can't concentrate with that kind of action.
``I'm only human, you know. I don't mind if they talk a bit. But our game is like golf. And that noise distracts me. It makes me mad.
``This isn't football or baseball. It takes enormous concentration.
``I know people say I'm crying. But you don't see any tears in my eyes, do you? I just want to help make my sport better.''
ARCHER'S AIM: Good things always seem to happen in pool rooms for Johnny Archer.
Only 25 years old, he's firmly established among the leaders on the Pro Billiards Tour in both ranking and earnings. He was the 1993 World 9-Ball champion.
But he will tell you the happiest time in his life came when he was playing in a tournament at Raleigh and met his bride of one year. They were married two days before he played here in last year's Open.
``Shannon was selling raffle tickets to win a cue stick,'' said Archer. ``I didn't win. But I did manage to get a date with her. And then I won the girl.''
Shannon, studying to become a paramedic, came in this weekend to watch hubby play.''
PURSE UPDATE: The tournament winner today will get $15,000 instead of $20,000.
It was voted to pay out prizes to all 88 players.
The new prize list has $8,000 for second place, $5,000 for third and fourth, $2,500 for fifth and sixth, $2,000 for seventh and eighth, $1,600 for 9th through 12th, $1,300 for 13th through $16th, $1,000 for 17th through 24th, $750 for 25th through 32 and 100 for the last 56.
THE LONG TERM: Don Mackey, commissioner of the Pro Billiards Tour, said he would like a long term commitment from Chesapeake that a convention center is in future plans. ``With that, we would be interested in making plans to be here for the next 10 years,'' he said.
``That would provide stability for the players and the sponsors if we could sign a contract for 10 years.''
Added Mackey: ``Billiards . . . is the biggest impact sport on Las Vegas, not boxing.
``We just want the people of Chesapeake and this area to know what we have to offer.''
LATE ACTION: In the 7 p.m. round, Rodney Morris defeated Jose Parica, 13-4; Kim Davenport defeated Cliff Joyner, 13-11; Efren Reyes topped CJ Wiley, 13-9, and Buddy Hall beat Mizerak, 13-12. by CNB