OK, the Black Bear is over.......

[Rick Laton]

Now let's talk about the Get A Grip! I've laid low and let the Black Bear have it's fun. Now it's our turn. Who is gonna make NC this year? Mr. Klembla, it looks like you have a little spare change in your pocket. Care to come to NC and add to it or give it back? We might could find you some competition down here if we try hard enough. I do think you are left handed champion a couple years back. Wanna come and try to win right handed as well? We would be honored to have you again. Socrates F. said he may come pull 171 Masters. Should be real tough to win that class don't you think? How about a Randall/Bagent match up right handed? How about Jake Smith and somebody? Get him back in the groove. How about Jake Smith and Robert Plyer/ Daniel Worley? How about Bob Brown and Mike West? How about me and Mark Harrison against Corey Ruiz and Ray Jenkins? How about Popeye Vs Brutus? How about Batman VS the Joker? Help me out here! I need some drama !!! Where is Pete Milano when you need him !!!!

Seriously.... Who's coming?

[Tommy Russell]

I hope being that it's scheduled the same day as the ct. state that it does not effect the attendance, seems there should be some way the state directors could get together and avoid this. I could see if was a different sanction but there both AAA right? Seems like as long as the AAA has been around that this could be prevented. I'm not tring to come off as a prick, just curious. If I was the promoter to either one of these tournements I would want as many as I could to show and having two state tourneys on the same day don't seem to be the most productive way of having the best turnout.

[Rick Laton]

Tommy,

We try to NOT schedule any tournaments on the same day but it's impossible. We stayed away from the Black Bear tournament and then we stayed away from the Arnold Classic. We also stayed away from Sam Cooper's Ohio State tournament. This coming up weekend is Super Bowl Sunday and that is hard to have it that weekend either. The place that I rent was only available on certain weekends and there were a couple other dates that I had tied up personally. I do hate that I am having mine on the same week as Chris G. but it could not be helped. I have not told him this personally but I am very sorry for this. I couldn't get my crap together this year in time to do it in January. Left me with very few weekends to choose from. I'm sure that we will both be hurt by it but it was unavoidable. Hope this clears it up for you.

Ricky Joe

[Tommy Russell]

I would rather have it same weekend as a NFL event than same day as a state AAA event but I'm not running it so I guess it don't matter what I think.With that said I can't wait for it and I hope there's a great turnout, just giving my opinion and yes you cleared it up for me, Thanks

[Chris Gangi]

Yes....we do try and avoid having tournaments on the same day but....sometimes it happens.

The reason My tournament is in February and not January is simple...The Naa tournament was set for 1 week after my normal time so I decided to change the date....I have plans the first 3 weeks in February and I also did not want to interfere with other local tournaments.....Granted I was upset to see Get a Grip scheduled for the same day in Feb as the CT State Championships....but hopefully we both should be OK seeing as how we are over 700 miles away.....

[Rick Laton]

Yes Chris, I think we will be okay. It is unfortunate. But you know what, I have found that MOST people can't afford to go to 2 tournaments a month anyway. Most of us old timers can't pull two weekends in a row and have trouble pulling with a week rest in between. Most are going to only go to one if they are the same month. We'll get together next year and make sure it doesn't happen again. Hope your tournament goes well.

Ricky Joe

[Tommy Russell]

Hey Rick, We've got 13 from NENC coming as of now, most novice guys, a couple of kids & women.

[Rick Laton]

Awesome !!