Bye, Bye, Ms. American Pool Pie!

Jam,

What a difference a few months make. At the end of last summer the IPT had me thinking "finally a fully well heeled pro tour is up and running"...boy, did that fall apart in a hurry. I think that was the final straw for me and my hopes for American pro pool. I'm to far down the road to go out and pound my head against the wall in the regionals, where third place won't pay expenses. I am glad that pool seems to be doing well in other parts of the world, Europe & Asia but I have given up on American/Pro pool for the most part.....not in my life time.......Sad......

JAM said:

For the last several decades, pool in America as a sport has not gained any momentum. The reasons are plentiful and have been discussed right here on this forum on many occasions, with a variety of insights from around the world. Of course, this is exactly why AzBilliards is the premier pool-related website on the Internet, bar none!

Tours have come and gone here in the States. Some of them had such great potential, the Camel tour and the MPBA as two examples, and I hasten to say it, but today the IPT, which gave so many aspiring pros and existing pros a renewed sense of enthusiasm and hope, appears to be a sinking ship.

Manila will host four nation team events in the coming year. Philippines embraces pool. The WPC which was held in the Philippines this year was "heightened by the dramatic victory of lanky Ronnie Alcano who defeated German ace Ralf Souquet in the finals before a wildly cheering hometown crowd and millions more watching on television."

If you have not been privileged enough to see the awards presentation of the recent World Pool Championship which occurred at the conclusion of the incredible final match between German Ralf Souquet and Filipino Ronnie Alcano, it demonstrates why Philippines is today and will continue to be the pool mecca of the future: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJN7OmDynn0

Check out the recent article on AzBilliards Main Page: http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.cfm?storynum=4127

Pool is growing in popularity today, and it is in the Philippines, in particular. The fever and excitement is continuing to rise in the Philippines, and rightfully so. I'm happy to see it happen, to see so many great pool events on the horizon, but I do sense that the pool climate here in the States as it pertains to professional pool is changing.

Any thoughts?

JAM

Click to expand...

The American pool scene sucks for the Pro to Semi-Pro level player. In Asia, a Pro or Top level player is quite well regarded.

I have seen this first hand participating in the 2004 WPC in Taipei, Taiwan (pool continues to grow there).

For the amateurs and dilettantes it is alive and well. Take a look at the APA Member #'s..........250,000 strong and growing. Also for many of them, there is plenty of pool on TV, so the perception is pool is strong.

Basically I think how well or poorly the sport appears to be doing depends on one's perspective and position within the pool ranks.

Jazz music and jazz musicians have been going through this since.... well... since time began.

Jazz musicians have always been disregarded as serious artists by the US public while in Europe and other parts of the world, in stark contrast, jazz musicians are genuine heroes of the art and music worlds who are revered as the talented genius artists they really are. They are stopped in the streets for their autographs! Back here, in their home country, nobody ever even heard of them. Same with pool.

You have to be able to understand the incredible touch, dexterity and intelligence that goes into running a difficult rack. Most folks just can't see it. They just can't see what is transpiring as a truly artistic pool player manipulates whitey. And... I might as well add... They just don't give a damn.

With most everyday common folks in the US pool is all about Minnisota Fats and jazz is all about Louie Armstrong. Nobody ever heard of Keith McCready or Keith Jarrett.

What a shame. What an incredible waste.

I think it's time for a new approach to professional pool in the US. I believe the copycat approach of selling pool and building an audience in the US the same way golf, bowling, and others have done has been tried and failed. And as far as the IPT goes, the sooner it is over, the sooner a new approach can begin.

I'm beginning to think that television coverage needs to be the second priority. The first priority should be holding events in front of crowds of live and enthusiastic spectators. If more spectators attend events, the cameras will follow.

The problem right now is that the existing professional tournament formats with dozens, or hundreds of players all competing at once provides a poor player to live spectator ratio. If professional pool in the US is to expand, this is going to have to change.

I would like to see a tour separated by region that plays out with individual matches over the course of a season with a final playoff among regional winners. The individual matches could be played one at a time in local bars or pool halls that would already have a built in pool friendly audience. A single poster with the pictures and names of the two players competing, hanging in the match location a month ahead of time would probably be all that you need to do as far as local promotion.

I could go on and on with the details, and this is just one idea, but generally what I'm saying is that I think, especially in the US, that the game needs to be taken to the audience rather than waiting for the audience to be taken to the game.

Why don't you guys put a pressure on BCA, UPA, APA, [ABC, DEF, GHI] and other acronym organizations to merge. Ever heard of "too many cooks spoiled the broth?" Well, this is not the case. It's more like "too many cooks offering mediocre broths."

It's because in the end the majority of league players don't know or care about the pro game, don't aspire to be a pro and could care less about watching pros play. The majority of casual players don't even know that pool is played professionally or even that there are such things as $500 pool cues.

No one is making them care. No one is making pool exciting to watch and exciting to play.

The World Poker Tour made poker exciting and inspired millions of people to start playing competitively. Even if that competition was only in local tournaments.

The WPT didn't do this by copying WWF and Boxing nor did they try and make actors of the players. No, they showed the audience the hole cards and allowed the players to be themselves. The WPT made their own original format and tweaked it until it worked.

The IPT had a chance to do something like this and they wasted it. They couldn't do anything better than to show cut up montages with cheesy copies of other formats. If they had taken the advice of some sensible people and planned this better then they could have captured the attention of the American mainstream and made pool into a popular sport again. That is "sport" as in attracting more people to compete rather than treat is as a casual pastime.

For example the IPT shows leading up to the finals of each tournament could have been made up of "critical" games where the players fate hung on that game. With all the games played at the IPT there were certainly plenty of these games each round and plenty of associated drama. When the WPT shows the tournaments they focus on the big plays at various tables around the room.

And no JAM, a sport is not defined by the existence of professional players. Swimming is a sport and there are no professional swimmers. At least not defined as such. Springboard Diving is a sport and there are no professional divers, no professional table tennis players (at least I don't think there is pro table tennis tour) and so on.

In America there might just be too much competition for viewer's attention to interest people in pool. Our proffesional sports dwarf other countries in terms of fan participation. Even soccer crazy Europe doesn't quite go as far as we do in support of our favorite teams in all the sports. Serioulsy from little league on up we are nuts about sports. We don't have time for a pansy barroom activity like pool to take it serioulsy as a professional endeavor. $10,000 for first place, Tiger doen't even put on his shoes for that.

So the IPT stepped up and figured that monster payouts would cause the world the stop and take notice. Why should they? $350,000 for first in pool? Big deal, there were probably 50 news stories with more money involved around known entities during the same time period. As far as that goes, when was the last time that SportsCenter reported who won a World Poker Tour event? Try never. CNN - Never. ABC - Never. How about when a golfer wins the Masters - everyone reports that. Everyone reports when Serena breaks a toenail.

You want to lament the state of pool then start with the BCA - it has had 50 years to keep pool popular with the mainstream. At one point pool was front page news. What happened? Then go with the WPA. If any oraganizations should have been working with media to make pool a popular sport then it should have been these two.

I would ask the BCA how many press releases they have sent out this past year with results of tournaments? Why isn't every tournament in America listed on the BCA website? Have you looked at the WPA website? It's a joke. Truly. When the WORLD POOL ASSOCIATION can't have a comprehensive website then there is little chance that pool will get much farther than it is, in America or worldwide.

Da Poet said:

I think it's time for a new approach to professional pool in the US. I believe the copycat approach of selling pool and building an audience in the US the same way golf, bowling, and others have done has been tried and failed. And as far as the IPT goes, the sooner it is over, the sooner a new approach can begin.

I'm beginning to think that television coverage needs to be the second priority. The first priority should be holding events in front of crowds of live and enthusiastic spectators. If more spectators attend events, the cameras will follow.

The problem right now is that the existing professional tournament formats with dozens, or hundreds of players all competing at once provides a poor player to live spectator ratio. If professional pool in the US is to expand, this is going to have to change.

I would like to see a tour separated by region that plays out with individual matches over the course of a season with a final playoff among regional winners. The individual matches could be played one at a time in local bars or pool halls that would already have a built in pool friendly audience. A single poster with the pictures and names of the two players competing, hanging in the match location a month ahead of time would probably be all that you need to do as far as local promotion.

I could go on and on with the details, and this is just one idea, but generally what I'm saying is that I think, especially in the US, that the game needs to be taken to the audience rather than waiting for the audience to be taken to the game.

Click to expand...

Very well put......

We have to build an intrest with the "in" people, before the casual people will follow.

Here is a perfect example.

I played a couple of racks, with one of my co-workers. He shoots like he just picked up a cue stick last week. I ran a rack on him, and after I put the 8 down. He looked at me and said "i thought you were good", I laughed and said i just ran a rack. He responded with "so what, your last 4 shots were almost straight in. Even i can make those".

See my point.

a few thoughts...

> my "glass 1/2 full thoughts" are, we are in the down swing of the pool pendulum....it's GOT to get better from here soon! it always does.

> TCOM started the last BIG BOOM in pool.....why?...I dunno, but it happened fast, and lasted quite a while. We need to study why it boomed from the movie. Was it timing?, or was it some grand coincidence?...nah!

> I like the idea of..."telling the kids they CAN'T do it" when people think it's taboo, they flock to it like, back room poker games, underground cock fights, strip clubs, choppers, piercings,...etc. there nothing like keeping something secret that makes it most elusive.

I know it was WAY cool to be part of the TCOM boom. New rooms everywhere, learning to gamble and make games, meeting new people, getting a nickname, playing in my first tourneys.....meeting my wife at the grand opening of a pool room! It will happen again....and I'm waiting patiently!

Gerry

Already a couple of exceptional replies to JAM's post, DaPoet and Roadie in particular. Here's my take on American pool vs pool in the Philippines:

Pool is, at present, more deeply embedded in Filipino culture, than in American culture. For this and other reasons, their system produces countless exceptional pool players, and their players have continuously made the grade in the premier international events, earning my respect and admiration. Then again, Filipinos have far fewer entertainment choices than Americans, and as a less developed country than America, they are drawn to participant sports that are inexpensive relative to others. Pool is one such sport.

Before the days of television and also before the boom in the American economy that followed World War II, Americans were drawn to pool much more than today. Ralph Greenleaf made an income that was nearly as much as that of Babe Ruth, the highest paid and most celebrated baseball player. Back then, in the years that followed the Great Depression, Americans had insubstantial disposable income and fewer entertainment choices, somewhat like the Filipinos of today. Today, however, Americans have countless entertainment choices and pool must compete harder than ever for the American entertainment dollar. There is no reason to think that this will change anytime soon, as the entertainment landscape continues to expand at a vigorous pace.

I’d have to say, without restraint, that there is nothing going on in the Philippines with respect to pool that makes me jealous in the least. As pool is so deeply embedded in their culture, they a) will continue producing countless great players, and b) can expect financial support from within. This financial support is not an entitlement, but something the Filipinos, by committing themselves to the sport, have earned. They have a great love for the game, and I must concede that I admire the sincere respect and adoration they showed for Souquet at the WPC. Still, let’s not forget that no member of the pro ranks has been more successful against Efren Reyes than Ralf Souquet, and that he earned their respect the hard way.

At the pro level, pool in America is a niche sport, and while its profile can and must be raised, it is not ever going to be a top sport. At the amateur level, however, pool is alive and well, just as Crown City Corey has noted. Measuring the health of pool by considering pro pool alone doesn’t really make sense. In the eyes of most, pool is a game played in a bar on a small table.

Then again, every May, more and more amateur players, now over 10,000 of them, bring their best games to the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, few of them even remotely interested in or even marginally concerned about the pro events being contested simultaneously just two hundred feet down the hall. I’ve always seen BCA week as the single biggest opportunity for American pro players to bond with the American amateurs, but, in my opinion, and based on having attended the last eleven BCA weeks, the opportunity is squandered by far too many of the pros.

In the best of all worlds, pro pool in America would sell itself, but we must all be wise enough to realize that it isn’t happening. For that reason, I reckon that making pool really matter in America means, among other things, having the pros sell themselves to the countless amateurs and juniors who play the game, bonding with them when possible, presenting themselves well in the pool halls of America, and by conducting themselves with dignity.

The bar can be raised for American pro pool, if we choose to raise it.

JAM said:

For the last several decades, pool in America as a sport has not gained any momentum. The reasons are plentiful and have been discussed right here on this forum on many occasions, with a variety of insights from around the world. Of course, this is exactly why AzBilliards is the premier pool-related website on the Internet, bar none!

Tours have come and gone here in the States. Some of them had such great potential, the Camel tour and the MPBA as two examples, and I hasten to say it, but today the IPT, which gave so many aspiring pros and existing pros a renewed sense of enthusiasm and hope, appears to be a sinking ship.

Manila will host four nation team events in the coming year. Philippines embraces pool. The WPC which was held in the Philippines this year was "heightened by the dramatic victory of lanky Ronnie Alcano who defeated German ace Ralf Souquet in the finals before a wildly cheering hometown crowd and millions more watching on television."

If you have not been privileged enough to see the awards presentation of the recent World Pool Championship which occurred at the conclusion of the incredible final match between German Ralf Souquet and Filipino Ronnie Alcano, it demonstrates why Philippines is today and will continue to be the pool mecca of the future: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJN7OmDynn0

Check out the recent article on AzBilliards Main Page: http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.cfm?storynum=4127

Pool is growing in popularity today, and it is in the Philippines, in particular. The fever and excitement is continuing to rise in the Philippines, and rightfully so. I'm happy to see it happen, to see so many great pool events on the horizon, but I do sense that the pool climate here in the States as it pertains to professional pool is changing.

Any thoughts?

JAM

Click to expand...

It's not the end, tho it feels/smells and tastes like it, it's actually the beginning. 07 will have allot to offer, wait and see you'll feel it coming.

Just one angle to think about...

Great posts to all.
I particularly find agreement with SJM's parting shot that we can raise the bar if we choose to (or something close to it).
In my mind, this is the angle that has made all the difference to our American scene. I seriously doubt a Philipino youth is raised to believe pool is a walk on the dark side of life. It has been legitimized by the famous faces in the game. I cannot accept "lack of entertainment diversity" - a negative argument, as a major factor when there are so many positive reasons (we all know the player list) to pinpoint attract fans and players to the sport.
We, in America, must accept responsibility for the position we occupy. Every time someone dumps a match, steals the money, hustles a newbie, etc (anything your Grandmother would be ashamed of you for) and we accept it, we lower the game, ourselves, and the fans expectations. Until we are able to stand behind that no single person is greater or bigger than the game and regulate ourselves so that the public might actually believe they are viewing something honest and real...We cannot win.
We could more easily market ourselves something like championship wrestling at this moment because it is not much (less) of a stretch in the minds of average America than acting (much less getting) legitimate.
Do you want to know why the money keeps disappearing? Because we let it and accept it when it happens. Instead of never playing pool for any organization that stiffs us we say "it's the only game in town" and give permission to the next guy to do it. That is not backbone, that's pitiful.
We must demand integrity from ourselves and others before the public will consider us honorable.
I am no longer willing to forgive any manner of insult from someone because they happen to play pool well. Alternately, I am likely to set them a higher standard because I want them to realise the importance of their position.
If you think it isn't important just consider the condiitons under which most of my/our early heroes died...the list is long and out of respect I will not name them under this circumstance...sick, penniless, hopeless to the last man (actually their are a few exceptions). These guys had a dream and gave their lives to the game as they saw it. Unfortunately they have proven, once again, to have been their own worst enemies...taking the easy (short-term route). Until we can project to the public that pool is a legitimate character builder for our youth, we have no real plan for anything greater than our next meal. Until we accept that practice, coaching and mentorship is the easy part of becoming a pool professional while living as an example is the difficult goal to which we aspire, we are left fooling ourselves over-intellectualizing about the details while the craft that houses us all careens out of control.
Just my opinion, you be the judge.

Opinion From An Old Pool Scuff

JAM said:

For the last several decades, pool in America as a sport has not gained any momentum. The reasons are plentiful and have been discussed right here on this forum on many occasions, with a variety of insights from around the world. Of course, this is exactly why AzBilliards is the premier pool-related website on the Internet, bar none!

Tours have come and gone here in the States. Some of them had such great potential, the Camel tour and the MPBA as two examples, and I hasten to say it, but today the IPT, which gave so many aspiring pros and existing pros a renewed sense of enthusiasm and hope, appears to be a sinking ship.

Manila will host four nation team events in the coming year. Philippines embraces pool. The WPC which was held in the Philippines this year was "heightened by the dramatic victory of lanky Ronnie Alcano who defeated German ace Ralf Souquet in the finals before a wildly cheering hometown crowd and millions more watching on television."

If you have not been privileged enough to see the awards presentation of the recent World Pool Championship which occurred at the conclusion of the incredible final match between German Ralf Souquet and Filipino Ronnie Alcano, it demonstrates why Philippines is today and will continue to be the pool mecca of the future: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJN7OmDynn0

Check out the recent article on AzBilliards Main Page: http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.cfm?storynum=4127

Pool is growing in popularity today, and it is in the Philippines, in particular. The fever and excitement is continuing to rise in the Philippines, and rightfully so. I'm happy to see it happen, to see so many great pool events on the horizon, but I do sense that the pool climate here in the States as it pertains to professional pool is changing.

Any thoughts?

JAM

Click to expand...

There are not many out there who have loved it more and played as long as I have. From the first day I saw the snooker balls rolling around on the green cloth in the mid 50's to today, when I get lucky and run a few balls in one pocket, the game is magic. When I heard there was a new player around or some one that would lose a little money, I couldn't get there fast enough to find out. This includes Keith at the original Hard Times, and I couldn't believe he could spot me and beat me at one pocket. But he did. But here is my opinion - It is magic when you play, not when you watch. I went to tournaments to play in them, not watch them. I have played in dozens of tournaments I knew I couldn't win. Sure I would have a good set or two and may be even beat a top player and even get in the money, but I wasn't going to beat six or seven top players in a row and win the tournament. Stupid? Some may think so, but I was playing a game I love and spent years learning against the best. I still go to the pool room for only two reasons, to gamble or play in a tournament. With all of the other problems pool has had over the years with promotors and gaining TV coverage, no one has found the answer. But pool hangs on and it always will because it is magic. John Henderson

CrownCityCorey said:

Basically I think how well or poorly the sport appears to be doing depends on one's perspective and position within the pool ranks.

Click to expand...

Um, I think you are selling quite a few people short here. I'm an amateur, and golly, I think I'm smart enough to figure out that there isn't an American Mens Tour. Shucks, I even figured out that the trick shot events on ESPN are like putting a Tae-Kwon-Do studio in a strip mall. Too obtuse? OK, I even figured out how desperate the American pool scene was when they jumped right into bed on the first date (without a condom, no less) with a professional scam artist. Jeepers, I even figured it out when, in 2005 at the Riviera, within the span of ten minutes, Troy Frank and Cliff Joyner tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I wanted to play for $5 a game.

Historically speaking, the top level pool players in America have been shooting themselves in the foot for years now. Time to get off the high horse, stop the whining, and put in some real work.

The catch-22 here is that in order to create a successful tour, they'll have to put the greed and egos aside. Greed and ego are a huge part of what makes a great pool player. The players have failed in their attempts at a tour, so bring in the savior: The Promoter. Oh wait, they've been screwed by many of those (as recently as... well... today). Golly, what a vicious circle.

Before you go off on me for my opinions and or sarcastic tone, please know this: I love this game. It's truly the most beautiful game played, bar none. I would love for there to be a men's tour, something to aspire to. I would love for America to embrace this game, to be able to see, for example, Cliff Joyner playing his other-worldly one pocket or Keith's unorthodox sidearm stroke that is pure butter when he is on.

I, like most everyone esle, don't have the answer. But then again, I'm just a dumb amateur.

HittMan said:

Great posts to all.
I particularly find agreement with SJM's parting shot that we can raise the bar if we choose to (or something close to it).
In my mind, this is the angle that has made all the difference to our American scene. I seriously doubt a Philipino youth is raised to believe pool is a walk on the dark side of life. It has been legitimized by the famous faces in the game. I cannot accept "lack of entertainment diversity" - a negative argument, as a major factor when there are so many positive reasons (we all know the player list) to pinpoint attract fans and players to the sport.
We, in America, must accept responsibility for the position we occupy. Every time someone dumps a match, steals the money, hustles a newbie, etc (anything your Grandmother would be ashamed of you for) and we accept it, we lower the game, ourselves, and the fans expectations. Until we are able to stand behind that no single person is greater or bigger than the game and regulate ourselves so that the public might actually believe they are viewing something honest and real...We cannot win.
We could more easily market ourselves something like championship wrestling at this moment because it is not much (less) of a stretch in the minds of average America than acting (much less getting) legitimate.
Do you want to know why the money keeps disappearing? Because we let it and accept it when it happens. Instead of never playing pool for any organization that stiffs us we say "it's the only game in town" and give permission to the next guy to do it. That is not backbone, that's pitiful.
We must demand integrity from ourselves and others before the public will consider us honorable.
I am no longer willing to forgive any manner of insult from someone because they happen to play pool well. Alternately, I am likely to set them a higher standard because I want them to realise the importance of their position.
If you think it isn't important just consider the condiitons under which most of my/our early heroes died...the list is long and out of respect I will not name them under this circumstance...sick, penniless, hopeless to the last man (actually their are a few exceptions). These guys had a dream and gave their lives to the game as they saw it. Unfortunately they have proven, once again, to have been their own worst enemies...taking the easy (short-term route). Until we can project to the public that pool is a legitimate character builder for our youth, we have no real plan for anything greater than our next meal. Until we accept that practice, coaching and mentorship is the easy part of becoming a pool professional while living as an example is the difficult goal to which we aspire, we are left fooling ourselves over-intellectualizing about the details while the craft that houses us all careens out of control.
Just my opinion, you be the judge.

Click to expand...

Great post! Nothing to add there but WOW!