9-ball APA pool

Long-term readers know I love my pool league. Last year we went all the way to Las Vegas with my team. This year I intend to go back with both the 8 and 9-ball teams. Then I plan to rock the national APA tournament.

That's the plan anyway.

So here is the latest video of my 9-ball team from last night as we won, with some bumps in the road. I had a great mash-up song mixed to the video, but it got pulled by Youtube. So that's why there is no sound at the moment.

Hope you enjoy the video

2009 list - Top Videos of M V Consulting, Inc.

Throughout 2009 M V Consulting, Inc. (the parent company of Black Entertainment USA) has really delved into the video arena. We spent the year creating and improving our ability to provide quality videos, for commentary and entertainment value.

We appreciate all the views we have received, and will continue to bring you the best of what we can provide. And we did notice what you our readers and the public loved, and what was of less interest. So here are the top 5 videos of 2009 as determined by views by you:

The top of the list is definitely an entertainment value video.

T-Shirt Car Wash


Number 2 is on the other side of the spectrum. This was a video commentary on the first news event of the year, that the major media as ignored all year long.

Oscar Grant murdered by police - commentary by Michael Vass


The 3rd place video goes to another entertainment value video, part of a review of a bar. It seems, I'm guessing, that guys pushed this video higher than most of the rest.

Scoreboard Binghamton NY


Going in another direction again, the fourth place video of the year goes to a sports competition. Las Vegas was great and the competition was fierece. I look forward to going back.

Las Vegas APA pool tournament - round 2


And rounding out the top 5 videos is another sports related video. This is of course just the beginning of talk in the US about the World Cup in 2010.

2010 World Cup Groups - and England vs. USA


So as you can see from the collected videos out production values ahve increased substantially throughout the year. We will continue in that quest, and look forward to your comments and viewership in 2010.

Please do let us know what videos you enjoyed, and would like to see more of. Your feedback is always valued.

**As a bonus, here are a few of my favorite videos not created by M V Consulting, Inc.

Ataque de Pánico! (Panic Attack!) 2009


Franken Denies Lieberman an 'Additional Moment' to Continue Speaking on the Senate Floor


The Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody


The Obama Stimulus: Predictions vs. Reality


Alchemy at World of Vass - yes I know it's another of mine. I just thought it came out really well for a commercial.

The PGA without Tiger Woods - does it matter?

And so it begins. Now that Tiger Woods has decided to step away from golf while he and his wife resolve the now public issues, advertisers and golfers are running from him. The greatest golfer, arguably ever, is quickly learning who his friends are.

I won't speak about what Tiger did or his wife's reaction. That is a private matter for them both. But I will comment on the reaction this is having. And like dominoes the effect is just triggering more and more reactions.

Gillette is now the first of the major advertisers to step away from Woods. While not quite running, they are going to quickly minimize the ads that feature Tiger. Gillette claims this is their attempt to help Woods minimize his public presence. Which oddly enough sounds more like they are trying to not piss of women that might buy their product because they somehow link it to Woods actions.

So far Nike has remained the most dedicated to Tiger of all the advertisers. Which makes sense as Tiger has done everything they could have hoped for with their golf equipment line. With Woods out of competition, it's hard to know exactly what will happen to future ads in 2010. Still I think there will be something that features Woods and Nike. And I commend that in at least the fact that they acknowledge what was done for them. Plus I hate rats fleeing a sinking ship, before it starts to sink.

In the world of golf there are mixed comments. There are those that wish the Woods family encouragement in their efforts to resolve this issue. There are those that have shared their feelings about similar troubles, like John Daly. These are respectful comments that I think make sense, though the best are those that refuse to speak about a private matter.

Then there are golfers like Colin Montgomerie. His comments that focus on his ability to win now just annoy me.

"I feel that it gives us more opportunity of winning these big events now."

It rings petty, considering that it is an admission that were the best golfer in the world around, he and others like him, could never have a chance. Montgomerie is just not that good.

I can't wait to see how Montgomerie feels when he sees what winning without the presence of Woods means. Inevitably the prize purses in the PGA are going to drop without Woods. The viewership of televised events, and likely the number of events covered, will drop. A Lot. Because no one really cares if Colin Montgomerie wins, but everyone cares if Tiger plays.

The big question to the PGA and professional golf, even advertisers, has to be what will happen if Tiger comes back? What happens if Tiger doesn't come back, or he is incapable of the dominance he has had in the sport? What happens to all the charities and organizations that Woods created and sponsors? Perhaps John Daly summed it up well

" They always say there is no one bigger in golf than the game itself. But Tiger is."

Somehow I think it's going to be quite a while before we see ads like the following again:





And it will be a long time before we see this in golf videos



Sadly I think we have all witnessed the end of the Tiger Woods era. No matter when he comes back, I think his spirit has been broken. He will still win, and he will break records. But the greatest moments of his career will likely be behind him. In a way it's just a shame to know we will never see what he could have been. And we will never see his kind of ability again in our lifetime, of that I am sure.

What England is saying about playing team USA

Well it only took a second before fans of the US soccer team felt a twinge of pain today. Once we found out that were were playing England in the first match of the World Cup group play the plan became who else might we have a chance against in the group.

But there was huge commentary across the world. Well likely not about the US or our chances to win (though 66-1 is the best odds I ever recall for a World Cup), but about all the various match-ups. One thing I noticed was how British sports commentators were reacting to the news (I don't pay attention to American sportscasters when it comes to soccer).

It seems that Team USA is giving some in England a pause, if only momentarily. Which might be the 2nd best result that could have happened. The best of course being an overly confident boasting - which there is still time for.

There just isn't anything better than hearing anyone consider the American futbol team and use terms like tough and out-muscling. It's not as good as over-powering and strategic, but I take what I can get.

But is this fear they are speaking of, or just a low scoring match?

(Video contains the pre-group odds as well as commentary and dates of play times)

The college football play of the year

OK, in the past I have provided videos of a hole in one that made $1 million dollars. I have shown video of futbol players that make the tricks of basketball look lame. I have even found video of the world's fastest goal in soccer - sure to never be broken, maybe not even tied.

But this video really stands out from the rest. It just makes you think, "What in the hell were they thinking?"



And no it was not your computer, there was no sound in the video.

But I really would have loved to hear whomever came up with the idea for that play. Can you just imagine them trying to explain the no look over the shoulder pass. Can you imagine what the rest of the team was thinking?

The team that made this play was Bethel College, during a huge win for the team. The Quarterback is Garrett Hiebert #16, making the catch was tight end Joel Maple #40. This will certainly make the highlight reels of sports for the year.

Sometimes speed is all you need (well maybe luck too)

The more I watch futbol, the more amazed I become with some of the things that happens on the pitch. But in this case what happened has nothing to do with the skill of the players as much as how fast it happened.

At the start of a game in Saudi Arabia, a striker took a wild shot towards the goalie from the mid-field line. It's not something anyone ever really tries. It's a hard shot to make from that far out (like making a field goal in American football from about 55 yards out), and even if you do there is a goalie standing right there. For the goalie it should be an easy save. So the shot really isn't ever tried.

But like climbing Mount Everest, or going to the moon, striker Nawaf Al Abed figured he'd go for it and see what happens.

Watch carefully or you will miss it.



That is the official fastest gaol in the world. It stands at 2 seconds into the game. And I do not think a goal can be done faster than that. Nor do I think you can make one luckier than that. I know the goalkeeper was thinking just that. As well as, "what just happened?"

A pretty amazing a world record setting moment. Seems apt for my 1500th post. And still going strong.

APA 8-ball featuring Greg Cordero

As I have mentioned before, I am a member of the Guys & Dolls APA 8-ball and 9-ball pool teams. Since I joined the teams we have won every season (except 1), and qualified to go to Las Vegas for the national competition. But that is because of the team effort.

While I have plenty of videos showing how I play pool, and explaining defensive shots, I am continuing to detail the other players on each on my teams. It is the combination of all our skills that have allowed us to dominate the Central New York region.

Today I will be focusing on Greg Cordero. Long-time readers will recall Greg from the interview I did with him back in 2008, discussing the mortgage and home buying markets. Greg is a real estate broker.

{Yes I know the audio is missing. Youtube pulled the music I had set. I will fix that soon.}



I still love that triple bank shot he does in the video. Greg is a 5 ranked pool player in 8 and 9-ball.

There are plenty of other pool videos, and others, at my youtube channel. Check them out if you have the chance.

Also, please remember to check out the online store World of Vass and my latest online store Alchemy at World of Vass. You might find something you like, and I appreciate the support.

gooaall! - the hard way

Soccer is a sport that is growing in the U.S. But often there are some that think the game just doesn't have interesting moments. While fans of futbol know this to be untrue, here is something that might help prove the point.

Southern Methodist University was playing No. 16 Tulsa. A frshman named Ryan Rosenbaum, who is a defensive player, kicked the ball to clear it from his teams side of the pitch (field). He not only cleared his side, he made a moment that stands out.



95 yards, essentially a football field. That's impressive. And not only was it the first goal for the freshman Rosenbaum - it was his first shot on goal! What a way to start off.

This has been a week for the upstarts indeed. I wonder if they will move Rosenbaum to offense now?

Tiger Woods beat by a kid

So let's say that you are at the opening of the first Tiger Woods designed golf course in the U.S. Let's say that to officially open the course, Tiger hits a drive from the first tee. Then he hits another since the first went to the trees. Now Tiger turns to you and says "you want to give it a try?"

What do you do?

Well if you are over the age of 12, you stand there dumbfounded with a mixture of feelings both wanting to give it a shot and completely filled with fear as everyone in watching. Plus there is the psychological factor that if the best golfer in the world couldn't hit it straight on this course, how could you?

Again I say over the age of 12. Because Mark Benevento decided to take on the challenge from Woods. And take it on he did indeed...



Yes there is nothing like outdriving the best golfer in the world, especially when there are witnesses.

And you have to give it to Tiger Woods. While his shots were hardly the best he has ever hit, he complimented Benevento and pumped the kid up. Many a celebrity would react differently if they were shown up at their day job, but Woods showed a respect that sadly is uncommon today.

Who knows, Tiger might have just inspired his future competition.

Defensive shots in APA 8-ball

In 8-ball making shots always feels good. But when you are playing in the APA league there are times when making a crazy 4 bank or more shot is not the best answer. In fact, regardless of skill level, there are times when a properly place defensive shot will be the key to winning any game.

The following video is of an actual game. Michael Vass, in the red, is a skill level 5 APA pool player. The opponent is a skill level 6. Both can make difficult shots with a decent level of assurance that it will work. But rather than making the extremely hard shot, and thus opening the table for the opponent to win, defensive shots were used.



This is just one case where defensive shots can be critical. I have seen many matches decided by a well place defensive shot. Especially in Las Vegas during the National competition. Never underestimate the usefulness of this technique.

Planning for APA Las Vegas Nationals in 2010

I really haven't posted any of my APA pool league videos in a while. Actually since I got back from Las Vegas and the tournament there. So for those that follow how my teams and I are doing, a quick update. (I'm still ranked a 5 for the time being in both 8 and 9 ball)

So far my 8-ball pool team, Guys & Dolls, is leading the league. It's the same team of guys, minus one and added a woman, that went with me to Las Vegas. Currently we are already qualified for the competition match in 2010 to earn a spot back at Las Vegas. Our plan is to get back there and take first place this next time, now that we know what to expect.

As for 9-ball, my team is in 2nd place. I am captain of this team, so I feel good about that news. This team also has qualified for a try to get the Las Vegas trip. I admit my game is off the mark just a bit lately (I dropped from 4th in the entire league to 25th recently), but the team is a solid group and winning big.

The following runs gives you an idea of where I am right now. My shots are decent, with a couple of harder difficulty shots going well (ie the shot at the 43 second and 1:38). Just not finishing off as much as I should be. No doubt my concentration is off due to the economy and its impact.

Brawlin at the Belmar 2009 - pro competition

To give all my readers a feel of what was seen by those at the 3rd Annual Brawlin at the Belmar BMX Dirt Jump Competition, I decided to fix a camera just on the ramp and capture every jump of the pros. This way you get to hear the reactioon of the crowd and see exactly what the pros did.

The feild of pros was no small group. They included X-Games champions, the winner of the 2008 Belmar competition (Chris Doyle who I interviewed), a local Central New York pro, and a couple of guys from as far as Australia. And the competition was firce. They were all going for the win, and the enjoyment of the crowd.

You really could tell they were all experts as there were many great trick jumps, lots of air off the ramp, and very few crashes or failed jumps. Considering the degree of difficulty, I really was impressed by several of the BMX pros. Though I think that age and experience really too the stage as the older bikers seemed to have the edge.

The following video is basically uneditied. It's the first couple of competition runs for the pros. Out of this group 5 finalists were picked, and they had 4 runs each. I will have a video of that as well.

Pros in the competition include in order:

Adam Rich, Mike Potasney, Ryan Worth, Garrett Williams, Tom Arkiss, Tom Dylan, David Kaye, Chris Doyle, Ben Hill, Tim Rose (Australia), Kye Ashworth (Australia), Chip Slaterly, Pete Schmidt, Brian Foster, Chris Childs



I also plan to make a video of the very best jumps by the pros from the competition. Just give me a bit of time to edit through all the video I took.

Brawlin at the Belmar 2009 - Chris Doyle interview

The first in my series of videos about the 3rd annual Brawlin at the Belmar BMX Dirt Jump Competition held at the Belmar Bar in Binghamton New York is an interview I was able to get before the pro competition with Chris Doyle.

Chris Doyle is a 16 year veteran pro of BMX, a stunt biker, and the 2008 winner of the Belmar competition. He is from Pittsburgh PA, and a really pleasant guy. In addition he is one of the featured riders/actors in an upcoming film of BMX called Xcelerate (I may have misspelled the title) by director Eric Bugbee [more on the movie soon].

The video contains a couple of teaser practice jumps, photos of Chris Doyle in mid-air, and my interview with him.

Video of APA Las Vegas National Pool Tournament

Here is the promised video of Round 2 of the Guys and Dolls 8-ball team at the Las Vegas 2009 APA National Pool Tournament. The quality is not perfect but it is the best that we could make without disrupting the other teams.



Vegas has been fun so far. The tournament is still going forward. More videos, soon.

Movie Preview: Facing Ali

Here is a movie that I am definitely going to see. It is the movie about the Great One. The greatest that there has been. A movie about a man beloved by the world and whose influence helped shape America.

No this is not about President Obama. Not even close. I’m speaking about Muhammad Ali.



This is an intresting and unique insight into the life and career of the greatest sports entertainer of the last century (or number 2 depending on which list of athletes you look at). It is a homage, a tribute, a reflection at how the men that faced the living legend of Muhammad Ali went into and then lived after their battles.

To this day Muhammad Ali is beloved around the world. His name still is known to even children in the far reaches of the globe. Even in Muslim-phobic America, he is cherished. Considering all that, how can you not watch this documentary?

Is this a film for boxing fans? Of course. Is it a film for African Americans? Not specifically but yes. Is this a film that anyone not in the prior 2 groups can see? I would certainly hope you do.

Because Muhammad Ali is more than just a boxer, or just African American. He is not defined by his religion, profession, or skin tone. Most I think understand that, over the age of 35. But for those that never saw a fight of Muhammad Ali, who never saw the television cartoons, or the live interviews this is a must see. Because I believe this will give insight to what a professional athlete can be, and few rise up to become. This movie I believe will touch upon how this man overcame adversity, and nay-sayers, to become known as The Greatest.

There is just nothing more to say. The movie trailer says it all I think.

Tiger Woods at the Masters 2009

I was just browsing around the internet, thinking about the win of Tiger Woods recently and how that will affect the upcoming Masters. I recalled a television commercial that I think nailed it on the head.



But I decided to see if there was anything that better encapsulates the feeling. And I found this gem that I missed completely before. I love it.



It may be a year old but it had me laughing out loud. And it still captures the mood going into the Masters this year I think.

Bullfighting at 11 yrs old is wrong in every way

Sometimes you just can’t believe what you read. And even video is not enough to get things to sink in.



What can you say about this?

Well the first thing that caught my attention is the fact that the child started in this profession at the tender age of 4. That is just way too young.

Now I realize that animal activists are enraged at the thought of a bullfight. But stepping away from groups that tend to go off the deep end on anything that they disagree with, I still find this horrible.

Given that cultures around the world have sports or activities that I might disagree with. Hell, there are activities in the U.S. that I just have to shake my head at. But my preference of futbol, or my dislike of stir fried milk has nothing to do with this.

I have to wonder if Michelito is going out and risking death, because even a young bull can easily kill a child, because of his own passion or that of his father. Is this the equivalent of child beauty pageants? Is this a father’s quest for continued glory via his son?

It sounds like it to me. It’s not the bullfighting that upsets me. And if this kid were 18, maybe even 16, I wouldn’t question it. But he is 11, and even in foreign countries children are not the equal of adults when it comes to decisions and consequences.

Worse yet, if the Guinness Book of Records accepts what this child has done it will be a motivation for other parents to have their child try to break the record. And there is no argument against this. For every record there is someone trying to break it, and capture their 15 seconds of fame. So if the record becomes 6 bulls and 11 years, the next try might be 10 and 5 bulls. Or 9 and 4 bulls. Where does it end? Where does our global societal concern for children outweigh our global need for more risky and deadly sporting fetishes?

Will it take the death of Michelito at 12 to say this was wrong? Or the death of some other child trying to break the record?

This reminds me of a statement I have said many times before.

“Just because we can do it, does not mean we should.”

This kid could be the Tiger Woods of bullfighting, and it still does not justify what he is doing. At least in my opinion. Obviously the father disagrees. But so do parents that give their kids drugs to keep them quiet, or those that let their kids get married off at puberty to 50 year olds. And society agrees that the parent is wrong there.

Worst of all has to be the crowds that come to see such a sporting event. Often in bullfighting the question is who will win, the bull or the matador. But with a child in the ring the question for spectators becomes ‘will I see this child die in front of my eyes’. And I cannot fathom why anyone would pay to see the potential of that outcome.

This is wrong. Maybe I’m just an uncultured American – but if I am I can live with that lack of culture. I hope that someone slaps some sense into the father and prevents the future potential of death and/or disfigurement of this child.

Pool shots around the world

Well I was looking around as some billiards trick shots and I ran into this French pool video. This is a great trick shot, but I have to wonder how difficult it was to practice and work out the shot.



Not to be out done the Japanese have a bit of pool finesse as well. Here is a video clip of a Japanese television show featuring a guy that really knows how to make a shot. I have to say that I was really impressed with the champagne glass shot and the best to me was the 16 ball trick shot.



Now as I’m going through these international, televised, pool events I continue to think about why the Olympics refuses to add the game to the competitions. It just doesn’t make sense.

I mean look at this next video. The table may not be regulation size, and it may not be in Las Vegas or some other fancy place, but you cannot question that he spent a long time working to be able to do each of these shots.



Yet not to be outdone are Americans.



Now please, someone, explain to me why a game with so much diversity and challenge is not in the Olympics.

Ronaldinho in 2008

With fall approaching and the start of the 2009 season getting closer by the day I thought it was a good time to take a look at Ronaldinho (Ronaldo de Assis Moreira) in 2008. There is no question that I think he is one of the greatest players, and is at the top of the sport currently. So I present a few video clips of him in action this year.



For those wondering what are his best goals, I also found this video. I like the number 1 kick from 2006. Falling backwards and in! That is talent.



And let us finish with a bit more from 2008



One thing is for sure, Ac Milan and Ronaldinho will make the 2009 season exciting.

Try this with an Xbox360 or PS3

Ok, so I got into a Futbol video kick for a bit. There are some really good ones out there. Inparticular there is this one. Now this is going to be a short post.

American kids may have the money and access to a Playstation 3 or an Xbox 360, but I want you to do this one with either system.



‘nuf said.