2009 Nationals, Day 1

[Alex_Moiseyev]

John, Richard Hallet also played his GAYP World Title Match with Ron King on the ship in 1997 or 1998 I guess. I am welcoming you in Master Division, time for action !!! Remember - all masters are just only over ambitious amateurs

Kim is hero and kamikadze (did I spell this word correctly ?) !

I wish Frank fast and easy recovery. This is HIS and Gene Lindsay tornament which they were dreaming for years.

Regards,

Alex

[Eric Strange]

I think that this is seriously unfair that Albert Tucker should be allowed to play in Majors considering hes already won it... what... 2 times??? Give me a break. I could understand if it was 3-move, or he hadn't competed in the division at nationals before. Tuck is a master level GAYP player and should compete as so. Someone in the ACF told me that Alan was saying that I sandbagged Minors in 2007 because I was above a minors level. The fact was that it was my first checkers tournament and I had no idea what to expect. By allowing a known master level GAYP player to compete in majors after hes already won the tournament is just stupid in my opinion and its actions like that which give the ACF a bad name. I play with players on a regular basis who could compete at the highest master levels in both GAYP and 3-move who would never think twice about supporting the ACF, or attending a tournament just because of things like this. I am glad that I didn't show up for nationals this year. Go ahead and give Tuck his 1st place prize and let him go home.


-Eric Strange

[Eric Strange]

Yes there may be something to gain from "Whining". Maybe someone could come up with an idea that actually works for placement in a national tournament. Since I don't like crying about things without giving an easy way to resolve the problem I will give my idea. Which may not be the best but it seems common sense in my world. If you win minors you go to majors... if you win majors you go to masters... if you come in LAST place in masters then you can choose to go back to majors and same with majors to minors. That will at least eliminate people playing under their ability just to win. About Tuck not having it sewn up. Well we will just let the rest of the tournament decide who's right. I'd bet dollars to donuts I win.

-Eric Strange

[Eric Strange]

Hopefully what I taught you will come through at Majors Josh (if you don't forget it all). GL

[Eric Strange]

I am well aware of that rule and the statue of limitations... according to that rule I could play minors again. Does that make it right? I am saying that some of the rules and last minute ways of doing things aren't thought through and should be reconsidered for future events. Instead of just making a decision, why not ask peoples opinions and get some different ideas and maybe take a vote? There are people who support and work with this organization well and some who think they know what they are doing and don't. People who cannot handle jobs they are assigned to them (for whatever reasons... I wont go into that). I am not saying this judged solely on my opinion but of many members in the ACF both young players and players who have been apart of this for a long time and are very involved closely with the handling of it. I do understand also that people do not have the time nor the will to pitch in and help and that seems to be the crutch that's leaned on. People who are and were willing to help have gotten sick of what is going on and have given up because their voices haven't been heard and opinions not considered and work that has needed to get done, hasn't. (again not a personal opinion but that of many members whom I've spoken with). I am not trying to bash the ACF or it's senior leaders I am simply saying that it can and needs to get better. Not only this game... but this organization is slowly dying. Everyone knows that something needs to get done and I know most of you feel the same way I do. I love this game and I do not want it to perish to video games and everything else out there. The world is with the internet and the website hasn't been updated in FOREVER. I am currently working on a checkers website that will have hundreds of thousands of archived game play to be watched played out on a java applet. I already have the entire OCA database loaded into it and study it often. Eventually I will turn it into an actual play site as soon as I find a good enough Java coder to do it for cheap or get some donations in order to fund a private coder. So I am not sitting here preaching and not doing anything about it. We take trips all over to find new and upcoming checkers players. Even got Kondlo to come here from South Africa. There are at least 5 I can think of who play just as good or better who play online with me. Has anyone reached out to them and got them to a tournament? One of them lives 20 minutes away from Alex M. I have gotten way off subject but that's ok because I needed to get all of this off of my chest. We really should get with the times. I will stop my crying, whining, preaching or whatever you want to call it. Thanks

-Eric Strange

[Eric Strange]

I just spoke with my wife about all of this and she said that she would be more than willing to help in any way she can. Spreadsheets, calculating ACF rating and whatever else she can do to help. She's very good with computers and can even program in HTML. So if you read this Alan or Kim or whoever else has a difficult job. You can send her an email if your interested in more assistance lauries88@gmail.com. I hope this helps

-Eric Strange

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Congratulations to all with good start ! I'm glad to see that my friend Alan Millhone, ACF President, just proved again the famous quote ... "there is only one way to prove pudding - eat it !" Concerning Albert Tucker I can say that he is good in both Divisions: Masters and Majors. In Majors his level is on top, in Masters - around 50% or close. Also don't forget about his age - some tournaments he still plays extremely well, as real Master, but sometimes his level is shaking and drops.

Jack Francis probably underestimate Alan and was punished. For Richard Hallet it is really very hard task in this (and any other) event, because everyone plays against him for draw only.

John, thanks for giving me Frank phone in hospital, I will call him tomorrow. Maybe checker players send him "Get well" card ?

Regards,

Alex

[tommyc]

Well Eric i think you are to be commended on your work in checkers with the computer knowledge you have you are doing great things,which is the way forward for the young generation of players to come .Your work prob goes unrecognised mostly im sure but stick with it you are doing great things and its what the ACF needs is young fellas like you .

On the other subject of Tuck........well id have to say these situations arise in almost every sphere of the game regardless of country and has been a subject close to my heart for a long time. I have tried to make suggestions but like yourself found they fall in deaf ears unfortunately.I d be almost as concerned abt players actually playing "above " themselves as was the case in BEIJING but it happens often at other levels too.

Im not familiar with the ACF rulings so i wont get into that but i agree somethings needs doing and your input should be important.

[Michael Holmes]

I have not been looking at the postings too much lately. Eric, what do you do for the ACF? or am I misreading what TommyC posted?
One thing is for certain, it is best to post complaints in private and tactfully. I know I started something with offering my help to be the games processor and started the excel typed version then the next time it was comments until finally Moiseyev produced a format very similiar to his book. No one is paid to help the ACF so while you might not enjoy or like all that is there----try to remember all that is there has been given to you FREE! for you but at the expense (money and time) at others. I have helped off and on and I can honestly say it is very hard to squeeze in the time. Send Alan or Dr. Beckwith a personal note if you truely want to help things change.

On a different note, seeing the results of this tournament is quite exciting.

[tommyc]

[quote="Michael Holmes"]I have not been looking at the postings too much lately. Eric, what do you do for the ACF? or am I misreading what TommyC posted?


Yes im afraid you are right Michael ...................you have misread my piece.I would like to add tho that the energy and interest of guys like Eric should be harnessed, unfortunately it may not.!!

[Eric Strange]

Yeah Michael you did misread... I am trying to help the ACF by getting online players to tournaments and getting a more Checkers oriented play site for study and play. My wife is willing to do spreadsheets and anything the ACF needs help with. The only reason I brought my opinions to somewhere I knew everyone would be reading was because whispering in someones ear doesn't fix the problems. Since that's what's getting done and OBVIOUSLY hasn't worked I will go ahead and try a new approach.
But thanks for your concern regarding my tactfulness.

-Eric Strange

[Eric Strange]

Just 1... Nationals in 2007... I am currently working on Organizing District 9 tournament since Gerry is busy this year. I would go to EVERY tournament held if I could but work with a wife and a 1 year old gets to be a pain. But just for giggles?? What point are you trying to get at? enlighten me

[Eric Strange]

I think your misunderstanding who I am and what I do.... I spend HOURS upon HOURS everyday to help the game of checkers and dump LOTS of money into it. I have been a dedicated "serious" checkers player for over 14 years. and considering I work a normal job and run 2 businesses + advertise checkers and promote the game... I think I do plenty for this game. As for the ACF maybe you didn't read my post a few posts ago about helping out in any way needed (Michael Holmes should probably read that to). I have mentioned plenty of times that I am not bashing anyone but asking them to listen to opinions which tommyc agreed "falls upon deaf ears". I spoke with one of these people who have supported checkers and the ACF for over 40 years who read my posts and said that he agrees with everything I said. I never said doing any of this was EASY. Before u try and argue my points a sentence at a time... maybe try re-reading it a few times and let all the words soak in would be good practice instead of jumping to conclusions. So before you TRY and come back with a decent response to this post... why dont you try and think of ways you can better the ACF instead of coming sideways against a person who is trying. Oh and one more thing.... I am getting pretty sick of everyone defending the ACF on the bounds of (They are doing it for free, nobody has the time). God help us if someone actually wants the website updated someday or the transcripts for the national 07 games that you payed for actually be sent to you!!!! All i am saying that if you CAN'T do your job because you don't have the time then find some help. God forbid someone actually sues the ACF for not providing services that they actually paid for. No wonder checkers is a dying game. Who can we blame but ourselves. That is why I am trying to extend a hand to our dying game and our dying organization while others are sitting back and using the same old school techniques that haven't worked for the past decade, so why would they now? Perhaps, if we would actually reach out to the younger generation, we could have more players join the ACF, thus generating more revenue AND have more support for the website and new technology that the younger generation knows more thoroughly than most of the current ACF members. But, we would also promote good social networking with the younger generation, other than XBOX Live & Myspace!! Perhaps it would give them a reason to learn something that is not only a game, but teaches consequences for their actions, like John Cardie has made a point of. All I've been trying to say is that the ACF will not be around much longer if this continues, that's all I'm worried about. But go ahead and preach about how hard everything is, when there are multiple options to make things easier. All it takes is a little thinking ahead and it would make the ACF all the better. Why should we be ostracizing potential new members, we should be embracing them and welcoming them with open arms. We need to put the ACF's name out there in the world, most people I run across in Yahoo Checkers, POGO, and other checkers sites do not even know what the ACF is! How can we expect to keep this organization running if we close our doors to the people who love the very thing this organization stands for? MY WIFE AND I HAVE SAID IN A PREVIOUS POST THAT WE ARE BOTH WILLING TO DONATE TIME TO THE ACF TO BRING THE AMERICAN CHECKER FEDERATION UP TO IT'S POTENTIAL. Instead of wasting time on bickering back and forth with you, why don't we both use the wasted time here to do something productive? We are throwing away our time while the ACF is obviously starving for someone's help. However, I do wish to thank you for keeping the tournament updated on here. Just remember rating is very important to people especially the young generation who is very competitive. Lets not have this take 2 years before we see the updated ratings. My wife will be happy to calculate it... shes very good at math.

-Eric Strange

[tommyc]

Very well said Eric..............isnt it nice to see a mature head on young shoulders,im sure if yu were channeling you energy into some high flying business directors would be vying for you signature,i must say you cut a fine figure in you reply to "John " hopefully John will see you as a friend of checkers soon before he makes a complete ":!:" of himself.

John has shown a flair with his excellent reports and writings which he is so good at ,this seems to be his "forty" its such a pity he wastes his time giving you grief ,for what from an "outsiders" point of view is a purely childish arguement,which is going nowhere.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Hello, John and Eric !

John, I think Eric with his wishes, intention to do something valuable and criticism is absolutely OK and this is normal process of growing baby - from criticism to constructivism I see immediately that one thing he and his wife can do for ACF which is highly wanted and expected - restore supporting and running ACF ratings. We stopped doing this couple years ago or so. This is very bad and painful that we are losing our traditions and heritage, because ACF rating existed for decades.

I will talk with Alan and Richard about acceptance Eric 's and his wife effort. I know that this is something which can be easy done but effect and benefits will be tremendous.

Eric, thanks for your enthusiasm and intention to do something and improve things. We, ACF and ACF members needed it badly.

And of course Eric website can exchange links with ACF website which make this connection and relations more stronger.

Eric, I also can assure you that John is very nice guy, You have to work together.

Tommy, John already finished his doctoral thesisc, however he is not in his "40's", he is younger than 30 ! As far as I know - his major is old English literature.

Regards,

Alex