This is a really tough one.
It really sucks what you have to tolerate to be a professional pool player , man or woman. People are going to hate this I know but the simple fact is no one (in the grand scheme of things outside of other pool players) really wants to watch pool , therefore sponsors get little too nothing for thier money , therefore there is no money put into the game and no money to get into the pockets of the players that deserve it. Anyone one willing to put any money into a Tourny is going to have to cover every possible base to make it worth while to do so. Another unfortunate byproduct of the above is 'generally' what some of these people consider to be 'worth while'. Your going to have to try and capitalize on anything that will get people to watch whether it be good play , pretty women or whatever. Sometimes it's almost like a circus which is an absolute shame.
Now this is where I get flamed into oblivion . . .
This has been a fact of the game of pool forever. I know this is death to say but , why anyone would make pool thier primary source of income is beyond me and they really should have known better. I've been playing pool since I could reach the height of a table , before that really , and it has always been the same. The lives pool players have to lead to survive is nothing I would wish on anyone. I agree with ALL the complaints , seriously without question but these people made the career choice and have to consider this part of thier choice. I could have been a full time artist . . . and most likely been starving my whole life. I could have been actor and lived in the same car , there are alot of things I would have loved to do 'for a living' that I knew no one or at the very least an infinitesimally percentage of the participants do. So now , I hate my job and do all the other things for my own personal enjoyment and I'm sure have less to be sorry about. I made the choice to have a better living and the knowledge knowing I can provide a better life for my family. I know they are happier about it too. That is one more thing to love.
I see high level pool in a similar light to olympic sports. You train your entire life (gymnast , skater , etc) to try and be the best in the world knowing full well that there really is no 'career' there. You do it because you truly love the sport and have an undeniable burning deep inside to compete at it and show the world you are the best. These are all good and wondeful things but is that alone enough ? Only 'you' can make that decision and then 'you' must live with it.
I say all this with the absolute deepest respect and admiration for these people. Thier talent and devotion in the sport is awes inspiring. You all have my sincerest wishes for success and happiness and I pray that you get all you deserve and worked so hard for.
Jay.
I'll take the "8", and aint gotta like it!!!
