en-us Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:25:52 -0500 info@chicagoapa.com 60 http://chicagoapa.com/ Chicago APA http://chicagoapa.com/ http://chicagoapa.com/common/forumimages/APALogoLrg.jpg 200 148 Brad Hall http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=480 Breaking News Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:26:21 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=480 Week of 8-30-10

Playoffs: It is PLAYOFF week for every division except the 352…they started late.

You can check your final standings, and playoff pairings by clicking on the schedules button on this page. (Upper left side of the home page.)

Playoff schedules: Currently, schedules for 111, 112, 114, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 232, 331, and 332 are on line. (All 8-ball through Wednesday...) I will post and list the finalized schedules for 9-ball and Thursday divisions as I get through the paperwork. There are a few divisions that still have folders out/or make-ups to do. I will list these as I get the data in.

FALL SESSION: The next session starts the week of September 14th…Monday’s start will be pushed back one week because of Labor day. Please call and register your team from the summer if you have not done so already, and re-register your team if your spring team is ready to come back in the fall.

Thanks,

Brad Hall
League Operator
Chicago APA
Phone: 773-575-4157
www.chicagoapa.com
]]> kcaluwe http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=479 Players Looking for Teams Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:12:33 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=479 kcaluwe@hotmail.com
]]> James78 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=478 Players Looking for Teams Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:06:43 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=478 jjk5678@aol.com. Thanks]]> quentinbilliards http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=477 8&9 Ball Leagues Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:57:09 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=477
Quentin Corner Pocket
755 N. Quentin Road
Palatine, IL 60067
847-705-1361
www.quentincornerpocket.com]]> Brad Hall http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=476 Breaking News Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:22:36 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=476 IMPORTANT Info for Division 221…A’s Bar has been sold, and the new owners are not keeping the tables…the team will be changing their home location. Most importantly, the drop spot will move to Nikki’s. Remember that Nikki’s doesn’t open until 5 pm on weekdays.

Yearly memberships due this week: Make sure to pay any unpaid players on your roster this week. If you get your roster next week, and a player is missing…you probably didn’t pay the membership. If there is a problem paying the membership this week, call me to see what can be done.

Patch and Pin Award Program: Don't miss your chance to win a trip to Vegas...All patch and pin awards cost $1 each. That dollar goes into a pot that pays for Vegas trips. 10 players are going to Vegas this year because they won a patch or pin, wrote it down on their cash envelope, and paid their dollar. So if you want your award, and a chance to win a trip to Vegas, please remember to write the award in the space provided on your cash envelope, and PAY the extra dollar. There are a number of you who don’t write the award down, or don’t pay for it. You have to do BOTH to get the award and a spot in the drawing.

Rackless pin shortage: I am currently out of rackless PINS. They are on order, but have not arrived yet. If you have won a rackless PIN, it should be circled, with an IOU next to the circle. I will drop the pins in as soon as I get them.

Pick-up/Drop off procedure: Remember that the drop off policy has changed. The visiting team is still responsible for picking up BOTH sets of sheets for each match, but EACH team is responsible for dropping their own folder off at the end of the evening. If you give it to your opponent, and they don’t turn either folder in, you are still responsible for yours not making it. Bonus points are being lost for missing folders.

Pick-up/Drop off locations: The location where you pick up your folder is written on the front of your envelope. Make sure that it is the one you want. If it is not, please change it to whichever drop spot you prefer. (Drop spots in the city: BG’s, Joe E’s, Christina’s, Ten Cat, Cary’s, Mullen’s, and Morrison Road House. In the burbs: Nikki’s, Clifford’s, and Idol’s. In Forest Park, Kazzbar until they close. If you play in an in-house division, please leave the folders at that location. Lee’s, Idol’s, McCullough’s, and Quentin Corner Pocket.)

Sportsmanship: Also remember that this is supposed to be an evening of entertainment. Good sportsmanship is ESSENTIAL to both teams enjoying the evening, regardless of the outcome of the matches on the table. There will always be rules questions, procedure questions, handicap questions...etc. You don't have to back down on the issue, just address it in a civil manner. It helps to know the rules, but it is even more helpful if you have the rule book available.

Show me the rule: The number one rule in the Chicago APA is "show me the rule". If your opponent calls a rule that you don't believe is a rule, ask them to show you the rule...on paper. If you don't have a rule book, call me. If you can't get in touch with me, the rule doesn't exist. So....if you are going to call and exotic rule, be prepared to show your opponent the actual rule in the book. All teams got a copy of the new rule book at the beginning of the season. If you don't have yours, just write a note on your sheet this week and I'll send a new copy. Just don't leave it in the folder...

Division 223…Deez Nuts is moving. We don’t know where yet, but they are not playing at Pressure any longer.

A change in playoff schedules for this session: I had planned to hold the playoffs on a Saturday at the end of the session, take a week off, and then jump back into league play. Given the Vegas schedule, and the number of players traveling this year...115 in all...I am going to run the playoffs in their regular fashion...Two weeks of playoffs, and then move into the next session. There will be no Challenge of Champions for the summer session. ALL divisions will send two teams to the Citywides...the top point team, and the playoff champion. Please check the schedules on line in the next week for final dates...

"VEGAS TEAMS": Any full teams going to Vegas this session should play their final week's match ahead of time. Please contact your opponent for week 10, and set up a time that is convenient for both of you.



Brad Hall
Chicago APA
773-575-4157]]> Pugsly http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=466&REPLY_ID=608 Local Ad-Hoc Tournaments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:11:20 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=466 Quote:
You're still around?!

The Great and Sexy...
Sun Lee
Monday 8-ball-Dazed and confused
Wednesday 9-ball-Let em see it!
Thursday 8-ball-Kildare's Cavemen!
www.myspace.com/mcigam]]> Brad Hall http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=459&REPLY_ID=606 8&9 Ball Leagues Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:50:08 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=459 Quote:
Hey Brad, I got the date - I'll keep an eye out for the location and time... I don't want to miss this!]]> awognum http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=475 Local Ad-Hoc Tournaments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:18:10 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=475
Open practice begins at 5pm, Tournament starts at 6pm
5's and under in one bracket, 6's and 7's in another bracket

100% payback
$10 buy-in
$100 added to pot with 16 or more players]]> Brad Hall http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=474 Breaking News Mon, 28 Jun 2010 06:56:38 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=474 Almost 120 players going to Vegas: This year we have 6 teams advancing to the National Team Championships in 8-ball and 9-ball combined. We are also sending 6 teams by luck of the draw along with 15-20 individual players…most of whom have won their trips through the patch and pin drawing. In all, there should be almost 120 Chicago APA players in Las Vegas over the term of the NTC.

Second tier team winners: 6 years ago, I started sending two “second tier” teams to Vegas each year. Second tier teams play in the league, but aren’t as competitive as some of the rest of you. (or are just having a bad session…) They pay their money each week like everyone else, but seem to come up a little short in the standings. Their reward for playing and paying through the end of each session is a shot at Vegas in this drawing. Both winning teams get a round trip ticket for each player on the roster, along with half a room of lodging.

Top tier winners: Starting with the Spring session of last year, I took the division level cash payouts and created a fund to send one division winning team to Vegas from each session....as well as one non-winning team from the Citywide tournament. Each winning team gets a round trip ticket for each player on the roster, along with half a room of lodging.

This weekend I spent a lot of time cutting and folding for the drawing. I'm sorry for the delay, but the cutting and folding took longer than usual...a record number of patches and pins were won this year. I finally finished the cutting and folding around 2:30 Sunday morning...and then did the drawing...and the winners are...

Congratulations to the “second tier” winning teams:

1. The Rack Pack spring session, from Excueses
2. Muppet Masters summer session, currently from Morrison Road House

Congratulations to this year’s “top tier” drawing winners:

1. Summer Session -- Straight Shooters - Div 224
2. Fall Session -- Nice Rack – Div 331
3. Spring Session -- The Levee – Div 226
4. Citywide -- Lawrels - Div 426

Individual winners: We had almost 5,000 patches and pins won this past year. With a few dollars added from the players fund, this will allow 10 players to go to Vegas this year. Each player wins a round trip ticket to Vegas, and half a room lodging. To qualify for this drawing, a player has to meet the following criteria:

1. Play on a summer roster, or be on a team that regularly returns in the fall.
2. Write their name legibly on the cash envelope, indicating what patch or pin they should receive.
3. End the Spring session on a team without a past due balance.
4. Finally, they can win only one trip to Vegas per year…Anyone on a team already advancing to Vegas will be ineligible for the drawing.

There were two “unlucky” players who won’t be too unhappy…Steve Franz and Ken Dickshes both were drawn as individual winners in the patch and pin drawing. “Unfortunately”, they are already going to Vegas because their teams have won trips. With that said, here are the names that were drawn this year. Everyone except Ken Dickshes and Steve Franz have won a round trip ticket, and half a room of lodging.

1. Dave Lindeguard
2. Jamie Gonzalez
3. Tom O’Brien
4. Charly Sinkovits
5. Marco Aviles
6. Ken Dickshes
7. Bill Ruman
8. Freddy Artuz Sr.
9. Ernie Rubio
10. Chaz Howard
11. Mike Schatz
12. Steve Franz


Newly Wed Game: Starting last year, I opened a spot for any couple of APA players who wanted to get married in Las Vegas at the Riviera during the National Team Championships. The first couple to take advantage of this trip was Rob and Laura Varada. This year no one applied for this trip, but Heinz Saegebrecht did celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary…so lacking a couple who wants to get married, I’m making a substitution…and a rule for the future. I will hold two tickets and one room open for one couple per year to go to Vegas and get married…unless there is another couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. 50th will always trump inaugural.

MVP: Starting this year, I am sending three MVP’s to Las Vegas. There will be an MVP tournament at the end of each session, and I will send one MVP from each. Nelson Rodriguez won the first tournament at Lee St. Billiards, and Marty Mc Nichols won the second at Idols. The third MVP will be determined on June 17th…the date of the last MVP tournament.

Congratulations to all of the above patch, pin, and team winners. I will be calling to confirm names and availability for all winners. I will make the rooming assignments, but feel free to call me if you see a friend on the list you would like to bunk with. I will add specific flight times and dates to this post shortly.


Brad Hall
Chicago APA
773-575-4157]]> Brad Hall http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=473 Breaking News Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:29:27 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=473 Citywide winners...Summer session delayed.

The 2009-2010 season is done, and we have our winners. Congratulations to our Vegas bound Citywide teams…

The eight ball teams are:

Section 8 Captain Gary Leyson Host location - South Port
Wah…Wah…Wah - Captain Doung Thai - Host location - Jersey’s Sports Bar
Chicago Slim - Captain Jeannine Cornelius - Host location - Seven Ten
Good n Plenty - -Captain George Angelos - Host location - Idol’s Sports Bar
Tree Out of 5 - Captain Dustin Johnson - Host location - Ham Tree

We also have one nine-ball team going to vegas:

Hard Pack - Captain Thomas Fang - Host location – Cary’s Lounge

The tournament was the biggest we have ever held….70 teams participated when all was said and done.

This was also the first time we have ever held the tourney at two separate locations. Overall, it was a great success…though there were some logistical problems that will be fixed the next time we run a twin location tourney.

Because the tourney took longer than anticipated it ate into planning time for the summer session. The upshot is that the summer session will not start this week.

The first week of play will be June 21st through the 28th. It will run through the week of August 23rd - 26th.

I will post schedules 25 hours before the day of play for whatever day you are playing.


Brad Hall
Chicago APA
773-575-4157]]> knishi http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=472 Local Ad-Hoc Tournaments Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:33:35 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=472 awognum http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=471&REPLY_ID=602 Local Ad-Hoc Tournaments Sat, 12 Jun 2010 01:54:05 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=471 Quote:
I would have tried to pass the word on... but with 28 hours notice, I really can't help you.. sorry]]> Brad Hall http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=470 Breaking News Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:57:30 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=470 There is no league play this week.
Citywide tournament this weekend. (June 11, 12, and 13th)
Summer session starts next week. (June 14-21)

Citywide Tournament: The Citywide tournament is being played this weekend. If you are a qualified team, and have not reserved your slot yet, please call the office immediately. The choice or start date (Friday at 7:30 pm or Saturday at 10:00 am) and tournament location (Idol's Sports Bar at 1601 N Rand Rd. in Palatine, or Fox and Hounds at 910 W. Dundee Rd. in Arlington Hts. --- They are within 1 mile of each other.) is still open, but will be given on a first come first served basis.

Summer session: The summer session starts next week, and plays through the August 27th. It is typically more laid back, shorter, AND more important for teams wanting to win trips to Vegas.

It is a great time to "try" the APA if you are not already a member, or to try a new division, format, or team if you already play in the league. Please call or email the office if you are interested in "expanding" your APA experience.

$100 incentive for new teams: There is still time to register a team for this session. I will continue to offer a cash incentive for players who build new teams. ($75-$100 depending on team makeup and host location.) Call me for more details. Phone: 773-575-4157 Email: brad@chicagoapa.com

Schedules on line: Because I always have teams coming in, or changing locations at the last minute, I don't post schedules until the day before play. (If I posted them earlier, they would be guaranteed to change frequently in the week before session starts...so the early schedules would just confuse the issue.) Schedules for the summer session will be on line at 6:00 the day before play. Eg: Monday schedules on line by 6:00 Sunday, Tuesday schedules on line by Monday at 6:00.

Brad Hall
Chicago APA
773-575-4157]]> quentinbilliards http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=469 8&9 Ball Leagues Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:10:20 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=469
Quentin Corner Pocket
755 N. Quentin Road
Palatine, IL 60067
847-705-1361
www.quentincornerpocket.com]]> Brad Hall http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=468 8&9 Ball Leagues Mon, 24 May 2010 16:40:10 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=468
The NEW TEAM INCENTIVE IS STILL IN EFFECT. If you bring in a new team to play summer session APA, I will pay you up to $100. Please call me for more details.

Brad Hall
Chicago APA
773-575-4157]]> Brad Hall http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=-1&TOPIC_ID=461&REPLY_ID=600 Local Ad-Hoc Tournaments Sun, 23 May 2010 22:30:14 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=461 Quote:
Thanks to all who participated in the Quali-fiver board

the winners were

Andrew Wognum Skl 3
chris LeGrand Skl 3
Nic Bell Skl 3
Tom Neubauer Skl 5
Marco Ilagan skl 5

These people deserve a big hand and will be in the regional
next stop VEGAS???

I will be doing one for 5-6-7 Level players before the June 15th
window closes, So if you interested, give me a call or an email.



Gregg Taylor
League Operator
Chicago Central APA
773-750-8470
chicagocentralapa@comcast.net]]> Brad Hall http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=467 Breaking News Fri, 21 May 2010 20:38:30 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=467
Check your division schedule for playoff pairings. If you don't see your team in the pairings, or the Top Point Winner position, you didn't make the cut. If you think you should have, but didn't, please call me to verify points.

Divisions will be listed and updated as soon as I get the info to do so.

Right now, All divisions up to and including 426 are set. The team and individual stats are up to date in all of these divisions.

I will add divisions to the above list as I get them.

Chicago APA Playoff Procedures

Congratulations on making the playoffs. Most rules are the same as your regular nights of play, but there are a few that are different, and come up with some regularity. There are also some “regular” rules that come into play more often in playoffs. Here is a list of some of these rules.

1.NEW FOLDER DROP OFF RULE. The winning team is responsible for returning the folders tonight. It does not matter who is home and who is away. The WINNING team MUST return the folders. (You have a much larger stake in getting them back to the drop spot, so I assume that you will be more responsible about getting them turned in. This is for the PLAYOFFS ONLY.)

AGAIN…the WINNING TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RETURNING THE FOLDERS THIS WEEK. Mon-Tues are due WEDNESDAY afternoon by 3. Wed-Thurs are due by Friday before 7:00 pm.

2.First to 3 wins. The first team to win 3 individual matches wins the night. There is no need to play past the third win for either team.

3.Only pay for what you play. You do pay for the matches in playoffs, but only for the ones you play. 3 matches = $18. 4 matches = $24. All 5 matches = $30. A forfeit counted as one of your three wins counts as a match played.

4. Four matches for eligibility: All players need 4 matches played with their team this session to be eligible for playoffs with this team. (10 matches with another team and two with this one does NOT meet the requirement.)

5.Ineligible players can sit with their team, and discuss strategy, but can NOT coach.

6.All male 2s become 3s for the playoffs. This starts at the first level of post season play, and continues through the Citywide tournament in June. They also count as a 3 for handicap purposes.

7.Stay under 23: Even if you only play 3 or 4 matches, you still have to show that you could have stayed under the 23 point rule if you had played all 5 matches. (You have to have players on your roster that would have allowed you to play 23 if you had played all 5 matches. Eg: If you play 20 points of handicap in 4 matches, you must have a 3 left on your roster, even if they are not actually on site that night. Going over the limit, even with non-played players is a loss of match. Please be careful, and call if you have questions about this one…before you get into a bad situation.)

8.NEW TABLE RULE: Playoffs can be played on any size table. Short walls and other impediments are no longer a reason to move a playoff match. The home team won on this table, they should be allowed to play on it for playoffs.

9.NEW COACHING RULE: Twos and threes only get one coach.

IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL 773-575-4157.
I WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM NOON ONWARD EACH PLAYOFF NIGHT.
If I don’t answer immediately, please send a text.
Don’t leave voice mail.
Winners should text the final results when the match is over.


Brad Hall
Chicago APA
773-575-4157]]> Brad Hall http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=464 Breaking News Sun, 16 May 2010 14:12:55 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=464 The Monday session is over: The playoffs have started, and they are posted on line. ANYONE can view the schedules. Click the schedules rollover button on the left side of the home page, and go to your division.

For Mondays divisions: This would be week 18...but go by the date to be sure. The Top point team is also listed for each division. The top point team moves directly to the Challenge of Champions (June 5th and 6th. Please read the information about this tourney, and contact me with your preference of start date. I will try to give everyone their preferred start date.)

The pairings work the same way that the regular schedule does...the first team listed is the HOME team. The visitors pick up the paperwork, and the WINNING team is responsible for returning them after the match. (YES, the winning team takes BOTH sets of sheets and returns them. If the sheets don't make it in on time, I may advance the loser instead, so be sure to turn in your sheets on time.) Winning teams should also text the outcomes to my phone at 773-575-4157. It will speed up the pairings process for next week. Thanks.

The tie breaking process is listed in your team manual. (The team manual is also available on the website in the printable documents section.)

For the rest of the league: This is the last week of play. Please text your match outcomes to me at 773-575-4157...use team numbers to help eliminate confusion. (EG: Team 11501 beat Team 11509 3-2.) If one player from each match texts me, it will help get the playoff pairings set for next week sooner. You will see the pairings listed in the regular schedules in week 19. Top point teams will be listed as well.

More to follow...



Brad Hall
Chicago APA
773-575-4157]]> larry knapp http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=463 General Pool Discussion Sat, 15 May 2010 15:56:08 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=463
I read in a pool magazine an instructor course named Cue-U College of billiard instruction. I sent away for the information on the course which costs $650.00 for two days of instruction and was impressed with the information sent to me by Bob Radford, senoir instructor.So at Christmas time, I asked my wife to buy me the course for a present. I was all set to go to there school located in Rockford, Illinois in Feb.2010.

Bob Radford wrote me a letter saying that I was the only student and asked if I would be willing to take a class further down the road. I agreed and was put back to March 2010. In March, I tore up my knee and called Cue-U and asked them to put me back again. Bob Radford said he had to call the other student to see if it was all right to be put back to another class. It seems he was sick also and said it was alright with him. So we were both recycled to April 2010. On Easter Sunday, I became severely sick with strepococcus bovis (blood poisoning) and ended up in the Veterans Hospital in North Chicago Illinois.

I was in the hospital for a week and a day and was unable to attend the billiard class through no fault of my own. My wife called Cue-U (815-963-6666) to inform them of my situation and they became very rude to her and to me later when I was able to call one week before the class. They said they were tired of messing with me and they would send my wife a refund less $100.00 that they had to pay for an instructor to teach me. They did send $550.00 back to my wife less the one hundred dollars which in a letter they stated was for a deposit and said it was their policy which is not listed on their web site or in the information they sent me. It's not the hundred dollars. I would give it to a good cause if it were returned. As far as I am concerned ,they cheated my wife out of the money.

I have contacted the BBB in Rockford to complain about their business practices. They have taken my complaint. I have contacted my APA league operator so he could get the word out to the 2000 plus members of the APA league in Chicago, Illinois to avoid this instruction school in Rockford, Illinois. I understand I am only one person and $100.00 is not a great deal of money. It is just not right to have no policy and keep my wife's $100.00. Please do not think of
attending this school. If they have done this to me they will do this to you should you become ill.
]]> erica http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=460 General Pool Discussion Tue, 11 May 2010 10:18:10 -0500 http://chicagoapa.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=460
3 years ago prior to our team going to Las Vegas for Nationals, my teammate (now my husband) Joe Schwartz and I went to Peoria to CueSport College Pool School (labeled as "the oldest professional pool school in the world"). We received private instruction (including videotaping and individual one on one critique) and the cost included lunch each day and the hotel stay. We both believe that it was a very good experience and would recommend it to others. Some of the instructors were a bit more focused than others, but all in all, they knew how to evaluate and teach. Here's their website: http://www.cuesportcollege.com/

ANYWAY--

There is also Cue-U, College of Pool & Billairds in Rockford, which states "Play Better Pool in 2 Days"! This is where my friend/teammate and fellow APA member Larry Knapp enrolled after his wife bought him the session as a Christmas Present. (here's the website: http://www.cue-u.com/). He signed up for the Sat/Sun course in late February. On February 1, they contacted him and asked him to reschedule as they only run the class with at least 2 players. He rescheduled for March 20/21. About a week before, he tore up his knee and contacted Cue-U to ask for a reschedule. They contacted the other player who coincidentally, was also ill and was happy to reschedule. They signed up for April 17/18. Unfortunately, on April 4, Larry became extremely ill, was taken to the emergency room at the North Chicago VA and admitted into their ICU with septic shock (look it up--most people die). After a week in the ICU, he transferred to a general floor to finish IV antibiotics for another 8 days and went home. Meanwhile, his wife called Cue-U and asked for a reschedule because of his searious illness. They stated that there would be no more rescheduling and they would send her back her check, less $100 to cover their expenses of hiring an instructor. She asked again to merely reschedule since Larry really wanted to play there and noted that it wasn't his fault that he got so ill. The secretary transferred the call to the prinicapl of the pool school, Bob Radford. He replied, "it's not my fault either" and this was their policy. However, nowhere on their website and nowhere in the confirmation literature Larry received was there mention of a deposit (refundable or otherwise) or a cancellation policy (note that they cancelled his first course).

The Better Business Bureau and the Illinois Attorney General's Office have opened files on Cue-U in Rockford to investigate this practice. Larry doesn't care about the $100 for himself--he'll donate it if he gets it back. He just doesn't want them to have it.

As a side note, the Peoria facility has been notified of the situation and although their fee for their 2 day course is higher, they have offered to take Larry at the Cue-U rate once he gets strong enough to go.

Class act, no?

Stand up to aim, stay down to shoot--Erica Danos, Chicago APA]]>