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Besides the handicap system and variety of playing abilities, one aspect that makes the APA/Camel Championships
experience so unique is the action that occurs away from the felt. The 1999 Championships featured more surprises and excitement than ever before. Some of the highlights included the return of the Pool
Emporium, which housed more vendors than ever before. The Molson 9-on-the-Break Contest was set up there, and generated over $4,100 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Camel Corner Pocket unveiled the all-new Speed Shot competition, paid the shooter with the fastest time sinking three balls a daily purse and awarded APA
member Natris Morris a Diamond pool table for recording the fastest time of 4.6 seconds. Other attractions in the Camel Corner Pocket included free Nitro (glow-in-the-dark) Pool, a mini pro practice arena
and the Camel lounge, a hang-out area where players could relax with a cold one and a Camel. Celebrity appearances at the Camel Pool Party included ESPN SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn, WPBA
heartthrob Ming Ng, the legendary Steve Mizerak and Penthouse Pet Alexus Winston, who all competed in a poolside challenge match. While players enjoyed free food, drinks and the pool in the pool, "Dr. Cue"
Tom Rossman demonstrated the lighter side of the game with some of his famous trick shots. APA Fan Favorites J.R. Calvert, Tommy Kennedy and "Razor" Ray Shultz signed autographs and pulled off a few
tricks of their own. It took Bobby LaSage, a skill level 6, two attempts to execute the Falcon Trick Shot Challenge, but he persevered and left town with a limited edition Falcon cue of his own. New
APA sponsors Molson and Jack Daniel's got in on the festivities as well, setting up booths and awarding special prizes to APA visitors who stepped up to their tables in the MiniMania tournament room. With
the best of the best from the Camel Pro Billiards Series shooting it out next door in the Riviera Pro 8-Ball Open, APA poolplayers found themselves once again engulfed in a pool paradise. |
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