Patrick Diveney
The American Cuemakers Association (ACA) is proud to present three special awards at this year’s annual banquet at the Allen Hopkins’ Super Billiards Expo. The Expo will be held April 20-24 2022 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks Pa. The ACA was formed in 1992 to both educate the public on and promote the American made cue, as well as establish a standard of excellence in the art of cue making.
The first award is for the “Cuemaker of the Year.” This award was begun in 2008 to recognize an ACA member who has provided a top quality product in an ethical, honorable, and professional manner through the years. The 2022 ACA “Cuemaker of the Year” award goes to Diveney Cues. Pat Diveney started making cues in 1998. Diveney Cues is now a family operation with his son Danny and wife Fina. They are long standing members of the ACA and can routinely be seen at various tournaments around the country. Diveney Cues are most recognizable by their overlapping butterfly style that is rather unique.
The second award to be presented is the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award.” This award will be presented to Dan Janes of Joss Cue Ltd. Dan Founded Joss Cues in 1968 and is currently located in Towson, MD. Dan works with his son Stephen building cues while his wife Debbie runs the office. Dan has made cues for several BCA Hall of Fame players such as Mike Sigel, Nick Varner, Minnesota Fats, and Jimmy Caras. He has also made cues for many popular celebrities but is probably most known for the cue featured in the movie “The Color of Money.” The Balabushka cue in the case is actually a Joss cue that you can still order today.
The third award to be presented at the banquet on Saturday, April 4, is the “People’s Choice Award.” This award acknowledges the public’s choice of their favorite cue on display at the ACA booth at this year’s Expo. Every ACA member can display one cue which they have built for this show. Attendees at the show can then cast their votes for their favorite cue. The cue maker whose cue receives the most votes will be recognized with the “People’s Choice Award.”
However I’m glad they got their click together and it worked for them(the cue makers who wanted it).. it did start to inflate the cost of custom cues in the early 90’s. And ushered in the era of $200 shafts among other things.
Best
Fatboy
Caused a divide in the cue community a bit. I wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but at the same time I’m not a cue maker and I didn’t have a very strong opposition to it. I had some close friends who are/were cue makers that were really behind it and I had no issue with that.
In hindsight it was probably a good idea.
Tough way to earn a living.
And a good shaft is worth $500