24 + 52 = 76


THANK YOU!!!!!!!


EricK
Veteran



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 154
Location: Chicago
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject: US Open thank-you
thread

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Just completely exhausted after two days of non-stop table hockey set-
up, play, and running two big tournaments, so if I skip anybody here,
please know it wasn't intentional. I thought about waiting until I
recover, but I think time is of the essence when it comes to thank-
yous, so…

First off, let me thank all the players who traveled to the Stiga US
Open and Coleco US Open this weekend. Players certainly have their
choice of tournaments on both boards to go to, so we take it as a
sign of honor and respect that you chose us. We're only as good as
the players who come out to play, so thank you. As long as you keep
coming, we'll keep putting them on.

*Thanks to John Power. We never would have hit the heights we did on
the Stiga tournament without John driving cross-country with his
Coleco s-slots to create a whole big tournament from scratch in just
six weeks. We had incredible response and hope to do it again,
perhaps on a Sunday so players can get in more games. He brought "it"
big time this year and took an always-great weekend and made it
special.

*Greg Scoma: for gathering scores all weekend, posting some Friday
night results online, and for taking over running one of the pools
during the playoffs Saturday. And providing several Coleco s-slot
games. And for stepping up to the plate and knocking one out at a
crucial time…driving the Brothers Cote to the bus station (a 45-
minute each-way trip in a city that's foreign to him). We couldn't
have pulled this weekend off without Greg's help.

*Jeff Thill: for gathering scores as always, getting me some lunch,
posting results and doing whatever I asked him to without complaint.

*Rich Thill: for building those absolutely beautiful s-slot games in
a tight timeframe. They played great. (I'm not an s-slot guy or
expert, but I really liked the way Rich's games played and the way
Dave Kraehling's North Stars game played. Smooth.)

*Jeff Farwell: for filling out the playoff bracket poster boards and
always asking what he could do without being asked.

*Paul Brotz: thanks for gathering scores and helping run one of the
divisions during the playoffs, which always get crazy trying to keep
players going and picking their games, etc. And thanks for the t-
shirt! Looking forward to Detroit next March. Thanks to Paul and Tim
Walker's recruiting efforts, the DTHL came out in force this year.
Paul and Josh also are rapidly improving, and Paul used his old Munro
skills to shine in the Coleco tournament.

*Pierre Chastenais: thanks for the score sheet innovation and for
helping the A pool playoffs moving along. And for always supporting
our tournaments, wherever they're held.

*Joe Salazar: for gutting it out Saturday even though he was
recovering from being sick.

*Peter Basdeckis: he's a newcomer to the Chicago TH world, but he
played both events and brought his fine-looking Blackhawks s-slot
game to the festivities.

*Dwayne Stegner: I'd never seen his Munro games in person until
Saturday. Wow, they are sharp looking. Lotta craftsmanship went in
there. I've never played Munro much, but the high quality, classy-
looking games are enough to make me want to play in the WTHA next
season. And to his wife, Darlene, for doing her best to input scores
on Friday night when I got pressed into service playing as well as
running the show.

*Thanks to all the Coleco guys who played Stiga, and to all the Stiga
guys who played Coleco. I really appreciate support of both events.

*Paul Ruiz: thanks for keeping this site up-and-running. Being able
to post live updates here was a great thing. And for the souvenir
puck, and for supporting our tournaments.

*John Medema: he helps every year with setup and cleanup, two of the
most thankless jobs. And this year, he gathered scores. In short, he
fills in wherever needed in a significant way. With Garry gone, John
is helping to fill the void in keeping the tournament going.

*Candy Butler: thanks to Garry's wife for coming out to present the
Garry Butler Memorial Trophy to the winner. She had to wait a little
longer than I think she wanted to (given the lateness of some players
and the OTs that inevitably occur in the playoffs, the event ran
longer than advertised), but I'm glad she was there to honor Garry's
presence. I managed to avoid getting choked up about Garry, a U.S.
Open co-founder who as you know passed away from cancer in October
2005, but it was difficult.

And lastly, thanks to Jim Rzonca, around whom all of this revolves.
If it weren't for his dogged determination to put on top-notch events
with high-quality games and trophies and prizes, none of this would
happen. He lives and breathes this stuff every single day, since 2002
with nary a break.

Again, if I forgot anyone who did anything, it wasn't intentional.
It's not that I didn't take note of your contribution; I'm just brain-
dead after the last two days. Please e-mail me and I'll edit this
post. See you all next year!


Sincerely,

Eric
http://www.lemonttablehockey.com

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carlo bossio
CTHA - CCTHF Laison



Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 368
Location: MTL
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:52 pm Post subject:

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Great stuff Eric. Well you know, Joe Salazar was sick so nature made
it so he'd win the Raffle.

Congrates to everyone there, I think people are starting to realize
how much effort goes into these things even though they cannot
understand the full lenghts of it all unless they actually go through
it themselves.

None the less, the big numbers that are drawn shows that we've got
great potential.

Only thing we need to watch out for are ego's and gelousy. Imagine
each & everyone of us helping one another, being possitive and happy
for the other when he acheive's something positive that has to do
with table hockey etc, etc. That would be great no?

I think we are moving in the right direction, all we need is to
continue advertising ourselves in hockey arenas, schools, and
anywhere else sports related.

King Carlo

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jsal35
Minor Leaguer



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 6

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 4:40 pm Post subject:

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I would like to thank Jim and Eric for putting on another
professional event. Mr Rich Thill for his work of art s-slot re
builds! John Power and Greg Scoma for making the S-slot game a
reality in Chicago. Even with all those guys working hard, it wouldnt
be as great if it werent for all of the travelling players who make
the US Open what it is, the professional US championship.
Big thx to Carlo Bossio for donating a custom S-slot. A re-creation
that is truly superior to the original. Now that I have
his "Canadiens" arena at home I hope to put some good time on it.
Unfortunately for me I wasnt feeling too well Fri night and had to
cxl, but felt well enough to play in the Saturday marathon. Which
ended up being lucky for me, because I won Carlo's beautiful game.
Big thanks and kudos to Rob Chargo. And of course, congratulations to
Bernie Kunzler.
No one exhibits more qualities of a champion than Mr Bernie Kunzler!
Now I can get back to recovering from a massive table hockey
hangover!

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Paul
Site Admin



Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Posts: 110

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 4:57 pm Post subject:

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I'll probably update this post later on, but I just want to take a
moment and say thank you to the Chicago gang for two great
tournaments.

As always Jim, the Stiga games were in great shape. You won't find
better tables anywhere on the tournament circuit. In the three years
that I've attended the tournament the games have gotten better and
better each year. I really don't think the games can get any better
then this year. Great job J.R.

Eric the tournament ran smoothly thanks to you for managing it.

Thanks again guys. More to follow.

Paul

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Jim Rzonca
ACTHF Owner



Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 392

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:10 pm Post subject:

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Right on Eric! What a fantastic ****U.S. OPEN**** weekend in Lemont.
I would also like to thank ~ Phil Hamilton TABLEHOCKEYGAMES.COM for
the Stiga Games and the rods necessary to make this ****STIGA U.S.
OPEN**** army of games right for this event. Thank you to my father
Jim Rzonca, John Medema, Jeff Thill, Rich Thill, Peter Basdeckis and
Eric Krol for helping me set the events. Thanks to Garry Butler's
brother Steve Butt for tending bar. Thanks to my lovely wife Judy and
2 daughters Claire and Julia for serving our guests. Thank you Carlo
for your CARLECO raffel game offering but even more so for getting
Cote's to Chicago! Thanks to Dwayne Stegner Mr. World Table Hockey
Assocation for bringing his BEAUTIFUL games to the ****STIGA U.S.
OPEN*** for everyone to enjoy. BIG THANKS to the Lithuanian World
Center and the Lemont VFW Post for the 2 fine venues! Eric Krol set
up, played in and ran both events without 1 problem. Ive never seen
anything like it. Its quite amazing really folks.. Eric Krol is by
far The Most Valuble Player of this weekend and PRINT IT! There's
more. It will come.

For those who could not make it to the ****U.S. OPEN**** this go
round, no worries. You will get this same opertunity again in 6 short
months in Las Vegas January 2008 at the Lets Play Hockey
International Table Hockey Championships AND 1 year from now in
Chicago at the****U.S. OPEN**** weekend July 25-26 2008 in Lemont
Illinois.

RIDE THIS WAVE!!!!!!
Jim Rzonca