I don't like slow play but the players, prior to say Ralph Souquet -- didn't bother me. Nick Varner could be slow, but it didn't bother me watching him then, and I still enjoy watching his old matches now. Sigel could really milk the clock at times. I actually prefer watching old Accu-stats matches over today's Matchroom version. I applaud Matchroom's production value and I appreciate the talent of today's players, but I find the older matches more compelling.
I think too many on here are missing the big picture. Telling a story is more important, or at least as important, as flying through the racks. I hate slow play as much as the next guy, but there are times when the story needs some space to just be. Let the tension sit and build for a bit. If the players are jogging to their seats to grab another cue -- something isn't quite right.
I can't quite put my finger on it. I know Matchroom is doing a great job but they're not yet telling a great story.
Speed of play is about getting a broader general audience to watch pool, as you surely know.
Those old matches, by the way, still played fairly fast even if a player seemed slow. Most of Nick Varner's matches available on Youtube tend to run between an hour and an hour and a half. Not 2-3 hours or more like lots of WNT matches without clocks.
As for telling the story, the MR commentators are trying to do that. And they mainly do it during safety battles. New WNT rules have led to more drawn-out safety battles, IMO, and there's plenty of time for story telling. WNT has also dipped its toes into written content and they do lots of player interviews now.
Frazer wants more characters in pool and has said the sport needs to highlight them. She also wants rowdier, nosier crowds - something not all pool purists actually want.
Jogging to get a cue doesn't bother me in the least. We see pros in all sports rushing to do things from time to time, the NFL especially. Rushing to get your jump cue and trying to beat the shot clock magnifies the moment.
How is it doctoring the cueball conceptually different from a major league baseball pitcher doctoring the baseball. Yes, it compromises the integrity of the game and can affect the ability of batters to make a living at their trade. Yes, many steps have been taken to limit it. The same must happen in pool.
Typically, a pitcher caught breaking the rules gets a ten-day suspension, and even elite pitchers, including Mets reliever Edwin Diaz in 2024, have been disciplined in this way.
A ban for life might be overdoing it but I am OK with stiff fines and suspensions.
This is a crime, and you would be stealing real money from people. Maybe you can get away with it in your local pool hall, but when we are talking 5 to 6 figure prizes, it is serious and should be treated as a crime.
Which is why it would really surprise me that a Filipino would do such a thing in Saudi Arabia, where Filipinos are basically enslaved, and people are put to death for less.
Once silicone gets on a cue ball and starts moving around the table and hitting the cushions, does it not contaminate the cloth and rails from that point forward? How would you ever remove silicone from the cloth short of alcohol or some solvent?
Defamation is a complicated area of law when someone makes a false statement about you—verbally or in writing—that damages your reputation. Verbal defamation is called "slander." Written defamation is called "libel." Online defamation happens on various platforms, including Facebook.
Public figures, like politicians and celebrities, have to show more than negligence. Public figures have to show that the defendant acted with "actual malice." Actual malice means the defendant made a false statement knowing it was false or with reckless disregard for the truth of the statement. Many defendants argue that what they said about the plaintiff wasn't defamatory because it was true or that it was an opinion and not a fact.
Libel on Facebook in an international context presents complex legal challenges concerning jurisdiction, applicable laws, platform responsibility, and the balancing of free speech with reputation protection. The only one who wins usually in defamation cases is usually the lawyers.
I watched a Window's Open podcast yesterday with Molina Mike and Mike Panozzo on this topic, and I agree with Mike Panozzo, it is "lemmings." [Nota Bene: I had to look up the meaning of "lemmings."]
I also agree with Molina Mike: "Pool players don't necessarily know how to handle themselves on social media, like it's a brand-new world, you know, and the way that they can kind of shoot themselves in the foot, at times, more often than not"—[reminding me (JAM) of Joshua Filler]—"becomes a little cringy and a little awkward. And then it just becomes a little like, oh, man, I don't think you realize, like, in the bigger picture of things, what's going to be affected by it, you know?"
Wasn't Panozzo quick to jump online and criticize Robbie Capito last year for fidgeting in his chair? I'd argue doctoring the ball is a far more egregious offense
There are a lot of events in Asia in September and October, so I would expect most WNT regulars to show up in Manilla.
The WPA has the World 10-ball Championship in the last week of September in Saigon. The WNT has the Peri Open (Da Nang) and Hanoi Open in the first two weeks of October.
Given how cheap Manilla is, I wouldn't be surprised if many players just fly to Manilla from Hanoi and hang around for a week. All the members of the "World" team that will play in the Reyes will also play in the Philippines Open.
If anything, the wax ball controversy might just gin up a big crowd.
Yes, Meucci CF shaft, 30", 12.6mm tip. Shaft was purchased with the cue when originally bought from Meucci so the dice all line up the way they are supposed to.
Beavis and Butthead used to say : " You need stuff that sucks to have stuff thats cool"
There cant always be fun, there must be some dissapointment.
And asking if pool is fun is funny, couse playing pool isnt just banging balls, one needs some kind of a concept to play pool.
Its a thinking game , like a chess.
But not to many people play chess, and i guess not to many people play pool, they are just banging balls.
I would say the procentage of chess players on this forum should be above avg.
looks like a 80's model. what color are the letters in the joint rings? white letters would be earlier and then they switched to gold iirc. is there a logo on buttcap? might contact Steven at JOSS for exact model/date.
Anyone caught intentionally doctoring the cue ball or the equipment in any way should be banned for a year. If they don't already, there should be a player-appointed committee of 5 or 7 of the most respected players (including representation from each relevant geographic area) to rule on matters like this and others (i.e. sharking, etc.). A suspension should require a super-majority (4/5 or 5/7) but not a unanimous vote from the player ethics committee.
Kaci is getting lots of hate for going to social media to call this out - you can criticize the approach but the reality is a week ago I had no idea applying wax/silicone to the cue ball is something that happens and based on the reaction and fall out from these last few days I think it is clear that this is broadly known and suspected amongst the players. They need to take these types of things seriously.
