Sigel-Jones Battle of the Sexes to Launch Million-Dollar Tour
The International Pool Tour, a major new pool organization founded by media mogul Kevin Trudeau, will launch on Aug. 20 with a high-profile, made-for-TV battle of the sexes between Hall-of-Famers Mike Sigel and Loree Jon Jones.
Titled the IPT World 8-Ball Championship, the match will take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, and will be broadcast on national television and in some foreign markets in September.
The winner will take home $150,000, the richest single payday for a tournament win in the history of pool. The runner-up will receive $75,000. The format will be best 2-out-of-3 sets, with each set a race-to-9.
Hoping to stimulate mainstream interest in the event by grafting poolroom conditions to tournament pool, Trudeau has mandated several unusual rules for the matchup. There will be no shot clock, jump cues or breaking from the side rail. Winner will break, and slow-speed cloth will be used.
Trudeau expects a full-fledged series of televised 8-ball tournaments to follow in the next year under the International Pool Tour banner. Each will have a minimum of $1 million in guaranteed prize money.
IPT founder Trudeau, who launched and owns the Golf TV Channel in the United Kingdom, has built a $2 billion global business empire in television, publishing and marketing. He is best known in the U.S. for his many infomercials hawking self-help and holistic health products.
Lee wins Trick Shot Championship
With an 8-7 win at almost midnight Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville CT, Jeanette Lee is the new Ladies Trick Shot Champion
Lee started the event with an 8-4 win over Loree Jon Jones, and then watched as Ewa Laurance defeated Ming Ng 9-5 to set up the match in the finals. Then with Lee’s new baby Cheyenne waiting with daddy up in the room, Lee pulled off the 8-7 win over Laurance in the finals.
The only downside to the win for Lee was that her new daughter Cheyenne was not allowed on the casino floor to see it happen. “This was Cheyenne’s first tournament and she wasn’t even able to see me win it.” said Lee.
The win was worth $25,000 for Lee, while Laurance took home $5000 for second. Jones and Ng each won $2000 for third place.
Pro-Celebrity Pool Tournament Will Raise Money for Asthma
The 8th Annual Sorvino Asthma Foundation’s “Pro-Celebrity Pool Tournament” will take place Aug. 21-23 at the Venetian Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev.
The celebrities scheduled to attend are: Paul Sorvino, Mira Sorvino, Jerry Orbach, Hulk Hogan, James Tolkan, David Brenner, Pat Cooper, Joe Piscopo, Ray Franza, Penn Gillette, Alfredo Versace, Yogi Berra, and others.
The pool players who will be in attendance include: Loree Jon Jones, Ewa Laurance, Fran Crimi, Lou Butera, Allen Hopkins, Paul Brienza, Mike Massey, and Tony Robles.
There will be 8 scotch doubles teams playing 7-ball races to 5. The event will be taped for possible later airing. For more information, contact Charles Ursitti, Executive Director or the Sorvino Asthma Foundation at (212) 941-8686 or Jackie Zlatanovski, Special Events at the Venetian, at (702) 414-1501.
Loree Jon Jones Appearance Moved
WPBA Pro Loree Jon Jones’ appearance on ESPN2’s morning show “Cold Pizza” has been moved back one day. She will appear Friday, Dec. 19. The show runs live from 7-9am and then is re-aired directly after, from 9am to 11am.
Cold Pizza: Breakfast With Loree Jon Jones
Women’s Professional Billiard Association player Loree Jon Jones will appear on ESPN2’s morning show “Cold Pizza” on Thursday, Dec. 18. Jones will be performing trick shots and talking about the women’s pro tour.
“Cold Pizza” is ESPN2’s new morning show which airs live weekdays from 7-9 a.m. ET and repeats from 9-11 a.m. Featuring co-hosts Jay Crawford and Kit Hoover, news anchor Leslie Maxie and national correspondent Thea Andrews, the program combines sports with pop-culture, lifestyle features and consumer advice.
Cold Pizza appearance – Dec. 18 at 7 a.m. ET on ESPN2
Karen Corr: Back on Top?
Karen Corr is fighting back.
Corr had been steadily losing her grip on 2001’s can’t-lose status, letting Fisher take three of the WPBA’s professional events in 2002. It was starting to look like Fisher had completely regained her former dominance. Before the Nationals win, Corr hadn’t posted a victory since the BCA Open in May, and in that event, she triumphed over Vivian Villarreal, not Fisher, in the final.
Corr took home $11,000 for her win, and she holds onto her 155-point lead, which she will bring with her into next season. Fisher’s second place earned her $8,000; Monica Webb to third for $6,000 and Hall-of-Famer Loree Jon Jones took 4th place and $4,800.
Jones and Rempe Elected to Hall of Fame
Loree Jon Jones, 36, and Jim Rempe, 54, have been voted into the BCA’s Hall of Fame. They will become the 42nd and 43rd members of the Hall.
Jones was the youngest world champion when she won the Professional Pool Players Association world 14.1 title in 1981, beating Vicki Paski in the final. “It’s like the ending of a great book. I still want to play, but this makes it easier to walk away now. I’ve had such a fulfilling career. I went into a sport and met more goals than I could have imagined,” said Jones.
Rempe holds numerous titles, was dominant on the men’s scene in the ’70s and is well-known overseas as an ambassador of American pool. Rempe was a holdover from last year’s ballot. “I had a feeling this would be my year,” he said from his Scranton, Pa., home. “I just felt like it was my time. It’s the cherry on top of the cake. The culmination of a life’s work. And to go in with Loree Jon is great,” he said.
While the two players have long lists of achievements, both are still very active. Jones is ranked No. 13 on the Women’s Professional Billiard Association tour, while Rempe has recently topped the field at Joss Northeast regional tour stops.
The newest Hall of Fame members will be inducted at a banquet on July 27 at the BCA International Trade Show in New Orleans.