Saturday and Sunday Sept. 30 & Oct. 1, 2000. Mike Zuglan's Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour opened it's season at Adirondack Billiards in Glens Falls, NY. 58 Players showed to vie for the over $6100 prize fund. The field was loaded with great players and the play was even better than the weather outside. Joe Stanislowki and Bob Talbot added $1500 to the event and where host extraordinare. Saturday started out with all the favorites winning their first match. But in the second round there where some suprises as players like Matt Tetreault was upset by Ed Belliveau, Carmine Lombarto got to Chuck Altomare and won 9-7, Mike Zuglan beat Gary Empey rather easily and the suprise player of the day young Danny Hewitt of Montreal, Quebec beat Frankie Hernandez and then sent Mike Zuglan and Ryan McCreesh to the one loss side. Jim Rempe beat Ted Garrahan, Bob Lewis, Steve Lipsky and Nick Schulman to go on to Sunday unscathed. Canadian champion Luc Salvas won all his matches Saturday along with Bridgeport, Ct star Robbie Saez and fellow Canadian Danny Hewitt. On the one loss side we had Henry Umstead vs Ryan McCreesh, Frankie Hernandez vs Rodney Paradise, Lyn Wechsler vs Carm Lombardo and Mike Zuglan vs Nick Schulman.

What a day Sunday turned out to be. The weather was gorgeous, we had a large crowd of spectators and the play was fast and tight all day. In Sunday's first round we had Luc Savlas up against "King James." The match went a game apiece to 5 when Salvas missed a makeable 9 and Rempe took charge winning the next 3. At 8-5 Rempe missed and easier 9 but Salvas could not recover and Rempe won 9-6. Rob Saez played a really great set against Danny Hewitt and beat him handily 9-4. On the one loss side we had a new comer to the tour Lyn Wechsler playing out of Classic Billiards in Rochester, NY. Lyn played well both days and got to 7/8 position beating players like Carm Lombarto, Steve Lilis and Frank Sorriento. Zuglan beat him to send him on his way. Ryan McCreesh beat Frankie Hernandez 9-7 only to go down to Luc Salvas 9-5. Mike Zuglan got back at Danny Hewitt for the Saturday loss beating him 9-3. Rempe beat Saez to get the hot seat and it was time for Zuglan vs Salvas. This was a great match with safe play and some great shot making. Both players ran two racks at one point early in the set. Salvas got to the hill first and at 8-7 missed a 3 ball and let Zuglan in Mike made the 4, 5 and 6 and had to play safe on the 7. Hitting it just a little too hard you heard him say "don't do that to me" as the cue found its way into the corner pocket. Salvas wins 9-7. Salvas went on to play Rob Saez. They don't call this guy "Machine Gun Luc" for no reason. He beat Saez 9-4 in 23 minutes flat. This guy moves around the table like water on a hot skillet. The finals were set between Luc Salvas and Jim Rempe. Rempe said he was feeling good and his stroke was where it was suppose to be in "Dead Punch" and he showed it. Unlike the first match against Luc, Jimmy jumped out to a 5-2 lead and really never looked back. Playing outstanding 9-ball Rempe to take home the trophy 9-6.

This was and outstanding tournament and only the beginning of what promises to be the greatest season yet for the Joss Tour. With twenty one more stops and over a quarter million dollars at stake, be prepared for the best 9 ball tour in the country. Our hats off to Joe and Bob along with their staff. Glens Falls is a really great town and these people are wonderful host. If you get there stop in. Thanks again you guys.

Final Standings:
1. $1500  Jim Rempe
2.  $1000  Luc Salvas
3.  $ 750  Rob Saez
4.  $ 550  Mike Zuglan
5/  $ 400  Danny Hewitt
6  Ryan McCreesh
7/  $ 250  Lyn Wechsler
8  Frankie Hernandez
9  $160  Carm Lombardo
  Henry Umstead
  Nick Schulman
  Rodney Paradise
13 $100  Lou Ferrara
  Steve Lilis
  Tim Allen
  Ted Garrahan
By: Pat Murray