Sam's Club Announcment

We'er happy as heck to have Sams back in SLC this year, and even happier to have the regional in Vegas. We weren't able to go to the NM regional last year (kids graduating from college), but no conflicts this year. Any California teams that want to come up to SLC and cook in 40 degree weather come on up. :laugh:

There seems to be a misunderstanding. You are not required to cook in a Sam's contest so if it's too far or on a bad date or you don't like the water situation just don't sign up. I hope that helps.
See you in Tampa!

Jorge said:

The only thing I'd disagree with is Sam's reading these forums. I can guarantee, even without being told, that their IT department is aware of what is said about them. They have more than ample resources, and to not do so would be foolish. Wal-Mart/Sam's does strike me as being foolish very often when it comes to business.

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Dude, you would freak if you knew. It's not the IT guys though.

They don't care what we are saying here. As long as we do not get in to the "core operations". But they are not naive.

Very happy to see a contest up in Washington State, it is going to be fun cooking in either 6' of snow or 4" of rain a day, feel sorry for the California teams, make sure you bring your goulashes and a good warm coat and check ahead of time to see if the passes are clear.


:rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain:

Why would you drive to Lexington from Alabama? If you move on its a longer haul for the regionals?

These people have some nerve, sponsoring 31 contests nationwide with half a million dollars in prize money. Then they expect us to drive to them and not even have the decency to provide running water.

Yup, this is the kind of thing that's going to ruin competition BBQ..........


Am I missing something?

I have been reading this thread with some interest and fail to understand why the "Sam's" bashing. It appears that they go out of their way to spread the contests around. As an example, looking at the number of stores in the US, Texas (73) has almost twice as many stores as the next closest state which is Florida followed by California a distant 3rd. Additionally, I shop in more Sam's clubs in my small part of Dallas than the State of Washington has (3, all in the Seattle area).

As far as selecting a club for the contest, it is a mystery to me because I know for a fact that their newest endeavour, which is a double decker with a Wally World on top and Sam's below in an "L" configuration with 3 levels of covered parking and one of the highest grossing stores, period, received absolutly no consideration for this. I was business member of the year at this club several years ago and know most of the staff personally and they don't have a clue either.

Let us, as BBQer be thankful for the event and payout and, as Dr. BBQ stated, YOU DON'T HAVE TO COOK THEM IF YOU DON'T WANT! Support of this and other events that MMA has brought forward, has put money in my pocket, as well as a bunch of other cookers and, especially the GC's at each level for the last two years. Just ask them what the tax rate was on their winnings.

Can someone please give a quick run down of the registration process? Yes, I know you have to be a KCBS member.

I believe registration begins on Jan 9. You have to register online through the KCBS website

blackeyedpig said:

Can someone please give a quick run down of the registration process? Yes, I know you have to be a KCBS member.

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- Team registration for the 2013 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour begins on Jan. 9, 2013 at 7 PM CDT
- $250 entry
- KCBS website
- 30 teams per event maximum
- 1 contest registration, only

I just don't get it folks...all this ranting and raving over nothing...boohoo this...boohoo that...get over it! :drama: We're happy as hell to get a local event up here! For cryin' out loud we're happy to get ANY KCBS events up here! I guarantee you it will be very well received and most of all not taken for granted...at least not by us. And guess what...everyone gets a 20x40 space...20x40...it's like bbq heaven! Un-farkin'-real...:tsk:

No local this year in Hawaii, again.....and we are 100% OK with that!

Props to Sams for providing the opportunity for all of you cooks on the mainland. :thumb:

The thing I enjoy is competing against passionate competitors.
You have to "WANT" to compete in this event.
It takes effort to enroll, it takes effort to get to the site, it takes effort to compete, and it takes effort to win and move on.
No slackers allowed, just dedicated teams who love the effort it takes to go against like minded competition.

Getting a call in a weak field is nothing like getting a call against those who compete at the highest level.

You'll never be the best until you beat the best!

If my local compadres wanted to cook Sam's in the past it was a 900 mile drive (one way) to Salt Lake City or 1,225 to San Diego. Damned right, PNWBA folks are pleased to see Sam's is coming to Renton, WA. (Scratchin' my head over only having 6 days to be at the regional in Las Vegas - 1,200 miles away but what the hell. I won't qualify anyway!) Damn right Sam's knows what they are doing. Bazillion dollar corporation, folks. They don't do ANYTHING by accident. Finally, take another look at that map. The one lone pin in the region consisting of Mont, Idaho, Ore & Wash is there for the very first time, unless I'm mistaken. Yeah, we're KCBS members, up here. We cook the VERY few KCBS events we get but mostly cook PNWBA events because they're scheduled most EVERY weekend through the season. Thanks SAM'S. We're really looking forward to it!

Wish we could get a casino or offshore gaming site to take bets.

The proposed Sam's contest in Baton Rouge, LA is 16 miles from an eleven-year old contest that raises money for St. Jude and the Dream Day Foundation. This established sanctioned contest (not with KCBS) has had anywhere from 35-61 teams. It is obvious to me that KCBS and Sam's do not understand BBQ in Louisiana. This is why KCBS needs some type of regional representation! The farther you get from KCMO, the less KCBS cares about BBQ, judges, or cooks. Here, I am using the phrase KCBS to mean the 20-50 people associated with the office, board, and other insiders, not the 15,000 plus other members.

I don't believe that the locations and dates have a lot to do with KCBS. It appears to be more of logistics about going from one contest to the next, week after week. Sam's along with MMA pick locations and dates and then check for other KCBS contests in the area since it is a KCBS sanctioned contest. Most of the time, other sanctioning bodies do not even consider what others are doing as there are no established communications except via phone calls after the fact.

If you feel strongly enough about the scheduling, then contact the folks who are in charge, MMA, and discuss it with them. Last year, there was a problem with one of the locations chosen that only the local people were aware of. This information was communicated to MMA and they, in discussions with Sam's, made a change.

Bringing it up on a forum is well and good and allows you to vent and gather addition support for your position but, it won't acheive the desired results, only direct communications with the actual people doing the schedule can accomplish change.

I am grateful for the Sam's Club sponsorship of this series and I think it is great for the "sport" of BBQ.

It is a little disappointing to see no contests in CA, which is a very fast growing BBQ region. Most of the issues I have seen in past contests were due to scheduling conflicts. Most notably regionals that conflicted with pre-scheduled large state events.

In the end it is up to the organizers and sponsors to make the decisions that they think will best serve the program. I wish them all the best in making this a successful series of events that will continue on for years to come.

I also wish all the brethren teams that sign up the best of luck and success for their cooks!

Is it the opinion of some that if some one throws enough money your way, you lose all rights to openly question or critique him? I don't argue that this is Walmart's party. They can bring whatever toys they want, allow whomever they want to play, and take them home whenever they see fit. I also agree that no one is required to play, but I don't think it means that people should be made to feel badly for voicing opinions that aren't complete praise. Whether or not you feel that this is good for KCBS or BBQ, and whether or not you participate, you should be allowed to speak your mind, especially if you do it respecfully.

Just my humble opinion,

dmp

dmprantz said:

Is it the opinion of some that if some one throws enough money your way, you lose all rights to openly question or critique him? I don't argue that this is Walmart's party. They can bring whatever toys they want, allow whomever they want to play, and take them home whenever they see fit. I also agree that no one is required to play, but I don't think it means that people should be made to feel badly for voicing opinions that aren't complete praise. Whether or not you feel that this is good for KCBS or BBQ, and whether or not you participate, you should be allowed to speak your mind, especially if you do it respecfully.

Just my humble opinion,

dmp

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I agree whole heartly. It just how it happens that can be taken wrong. As an example a previous poster could have worded it differently and would have garnered support from a bunch of us.

Instead of
"The proposed Sam's contest in Baton Rouge, LA is 16 miles from an eleven-year old contest that raises money for St. Jude and the Dream Day Foundation. This established sanctioned contest (not with KCBS) has had anywhere from 35-61 teams. It is obvious to me that KCBS and Sam's do not understand BBQ in Louisiana. This is why KCBS needs some type of regional representation! The farther you get from KCMO, the less KCBS cares about BBQ, judges, or cooks. Here, I am using the phrase KCBS to mean the 20-50 people associated with the office, board, and other insiders, not the 15,000 plus other members."

It could have read "The proposed Sam's contest in Baton Rouge, LA is 16 miles from an eleven-year old contest that raises money for St. Jude and the Dream Day Foundation. This established sanctioned contest (not with KCBS) has had anywhere from 35-61 teams. I wonder if anyone knows or has thought of this. Whom should I contact to discuss this with a possiblilty to change the date or location?"

I think that this would at least get discussion and consideration at MMA and Sam's but might not get the desired results.

I was, in the 70 plus years of my life, taught that you are a part of the solution or you are the problem and to never present a problem without a proposed solution. It gets the ball rolling so to speak.

Just my .02 and thank you for at least reading.