Sponsor For US Mosconi Cup Team
- Thread starter watchez
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SJM - "Picking up where Celtic left off, I find this ridiculous. Shane's attainment of the WPA #1 ranking would do more for the image of American pool than anything that could happen at the Mosconi. It has been quite a long time since an American stood atop the WPA rankings, and American performance in the major WPA ranking events like the China Open, the Japan Open and the World 9-ball Championships has been generally dismal.
Shane is playing the best pool of his life and should strike in Japan while the iron is hot.
If Shane is doing this to look like a good team player, Bergman, Hall, Schmidt and Deuel should do everything in their power to tell him otherwise and to encourage him to play in the WPA Japan Open. Shane is a good team player whether he goes to Japan or not.
To be honest, this move isn't what you'd expect of Shane, who committed himself to playing in all the big overseas WPA rankings events last year, and surely has his sights on becoming the WPA #1 ranked player, which would bring great esteem and attention to American pool."
I would think that Shane is probably a Rock star in Japan. Pool needs to grow here. I can't imagine it would do much for American Pool if he were to play in Japan. It would still have no media coverage here. If he is here with his team and they travel maybe new potential players come out to see the best in the world. If he went to Japan the only people that would watch is us, we already do. It would be great if he won there and had another notch on his belt, but the only ones that would notice would be the ones that already do.
I looked and I didn't see much on the evening news or in the paper (any paper) about how Shane didn't chose not to play in Japan.
I don't think the image needs improvement as much as the sport needs to grow. Shane staying here and talking up the Mosconi Cup with his team (if they do) will help a little but it's better than nothing. In thee end I doubt that it matter anyway, except to SVB, who will be short any prize money he would have won in Japan
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Two posts since 2012. Hmm . . .
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This is not about Shane's reputation in Japan, but instead about growing the image of American pool with the very substantial and multinational audience that the WPA Japan Open draws. That might not seem important, but at a time when American pool's image has hit bottom, it would help. Yes, having a WPA #1 ranked player would bring additional attention to American pool, which could possibly pay off in more opportunities for American pro players down the road.
Shane, quite sensibly, is the poster boy for American pool right now, and his planned absence at the WPA Japan Open is, as I see it, a big negative.
Ask a Team Europe member if they'd skip the WPA Japan Open on the grounds of Mosconi team solidarity --- then wait for them to stop laughing at the question.
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Okay. Just because it's your birthday today, that doesn't mean you can be a smartie pants.
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I would third or fourth that. Shane has always been a team player and an MC vet. He will be asked to play most singles at least 3 or 4 singles. Playing in a singles tourney like All Japan is best preparation for him.
Latest WP rankings has Shane just about 600 points below Niels http://www.wpa-pool.com/web/rankings
:grin-square:
I can see both viewpoints about Shane's attendance overseas and the ranking points.
But let's be real about this. We're talking about pool here. Do you think any of those ranked players are benefiting from their ranking? This isn't an Olympic sport. Their ranking won't assure them a spot in next year's Olympic Games. This pool ranking won't even buy you a cup of coffee.
I could see if there was some financial benefit to the ranking, but what benefit is there? Bragging rights?
Pool is the only sport where ranking points and tin cups won't keep a roof over your head.
But let's be real about this. We're talking about pool here. Do you think any of those ranked players are benefiting from their ranking? This isn't an Olympic sport. Their ranking won't assure them a spot in next year's Olympic Games. This pool ranking won't even buy you a cup of coffee.
I could see if there was some financial benefit to the ranking, but what benefit is there? Bragging rights?
Pool is the only sport where ranking points and tin cups won't keep a roof over your head.
Let me ask you a hypothetical question. In the year 2014, what puts more money in a pro-caliber pool player's pocket? Tournament winnings, gambling, or sponsorship monies.
He will also play in 3 doubles matches.
The guy that has been undefeated in 3 straight US Opens playing 9 ball needs prep work on how to play a singles match? Please tell me more.
First prize at the Japan Open is about $20,000 (best guess) and the way Shane is playing right now, he'd be my pick to win it. In the context of what pool professionals earn, it's a huge opportunity.
FYI, WPA ranking gets you into things like the World Pool Masters and the World Team Championships, two very high purse events. In countries in which the Olympic committee provides money to pro players, failure to maintain a high WPA ranking may mean the end of a player's funding.
Finally, as others have noted, a high WPA ranking makes more sponsorship available to a player.
Still, JAM, you're premise that the ranking isn't worth what it ought to be is valid, especially for American pros.
That is the whole point. If Team USA wants to be competitive with a team of Europeans who will all be competing at the peak of world class pool they have to put themselves out there on the same stage.
Nowhere in my post did I even begin to suggest that SVB "only" should go to the Japan Open, "ALL" of the players from Team USA should be going to the Japan Open and competing in it and supporting each other over there. That is what Team Europe will be doing.
Exactly.
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Say that to Rory McIlroy after he won The Open :grin:
ya for tournament entry fees of few hundred dollars will not affect much. But for Challenge matches where each comes out with $50K or $10K it can skewed the winnings. eg. http://www.azbilliards.com/people/5718-danny-smith/ Danny Smith beat Appleton recently and won $20K but $10K is his own entry fee. Take out how own $10K from his total winnings of $28.9K and his winnings will be less by one third
JC
Coos Cues
I was thinking of the demographic of the people interested in watching. Pool, like most other sports is dominated by the young and healthy, with the folks who used to be young and healthy whose interested in watching. It does have one of the longest shelf life for players though.
Are the advertisements you see while watching the NBA geared toward young Blacks or foreigners?
JC
All 5 members of the European team will be at the Japan Open?
I guess it is nice that their countries, etc. support them in doing so. But getting back to the original point of this thread -- without a sponsor the US team can't afford to do so. You and others post off handily that the US players should all be going to the Japan Open. Where should the $12,000 (expenses to do so) come from? Going to Japan is not like going to a regional event in Memphis for the weekend.
I would send SVB only to Japan. He's the only guy who can expect to cover expenses and then some. Further, it's not about tuning up for the Mosconi, but instead about allowing a player who has committed himself to playing the full contingent of major events across the globe to continue doing so.