Responce to Jerry Forsyth Article

JoeW said:
I too think that Macguy nailed it. Pool is a pass time for most people. It is not perceived as a sport by the general public anymore than badminton or ping pong except by those of us who get serious. It is something that one does not something one watches.

I doubt it has ever been much of a spectator sport for more than a few spectators. The field is too small.

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So what happened back in the days of the 20's and 30's when the winners of pool tourneys were discussed in the News Papers and crowds gathered to see tournaments and exhibitions? Sure this was before TV but from what I read about the history of pool, it was once wildly popular in the populace. Mike Shamos could probably provide the actuall numbers.

Perhaps one of the reasons pool isn't popular anymore is that it hasn't fallen into the path of everyone wins. If you look at many little league sports every member of every team gets a trophy just for going to practice and sitting on the bench because they are all "winners". I think that mentality has alot to do with what's wrong in our country and the growing sense of entitlement in our youth. Pool requires disciplne, practice, self-study and overcoming challenges. It's a wonder anyone picks up a cue anymore.
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wow you are wrong

Cleary, you are way wrong. I dont think there is ANYONE, and I MEAN ANYONE that got in to PROFESSIOANL billiards beucase of the hustle or the gamble. People want stability and you can't get that with a gamble.

Also you are wrong the masses don't and WON'T ever accept gambling. In the color of money, when Tom Cruise dumped, that was the biggest let down in pool, that scene casused a number of people to hate pool.

Just like they hate Pete Rose, and others who have dumped or changed the game from what it was supsoed to be. Suposed to be a game of skill, the best player wins.

You are way off base with your comments. Sorry dude.
 
dr9ball said:
JoeW said:
I too think that Macguy nailed it. Pool is a pass time for most people. It is not perceived as a sport by the general public anymore than badminton or ping pong except by those of us who get serious. It is something that one does not something one watches.

I doubt it has ever been much of a spectator sport for more than a few spectators. The field is too small.

Snipped...|

So what happened back in the days of the 20's and 30's when the winners of pool tourneys were discussed in the News Papers and crowds gathered to see tournaments and exhibitions? Sure this was before TV but from what I read about the history of pool, it was once wildly popular in the populace. Mike Shamos could probably provide the actuall numbers.

Perhaps one of the reasons pool isn't popular anymore is that it hasn't fallen into the path of everyone wins. If you look at many little league sports every member of every team gets a trophy just for going to practice and sitting on the bench because they are all "winners". I think that mentality has alot to do with what's wrong in our country and the growing sense of entitlement in our youth. Pool requires disciplne, practice, self-study and overcoming challenges. It's a wonder anyone picks up a cue anymore.
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TAP TAP TAP............ dr9ball, well put and well said. Great point!
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DrMikeUSN said:
Also you are wrong the masses don't and WON'T ever accept gambling. In the color of money, when Tom Cruise dumped, that was the biggest let down in pool, that scene casused a number of people to hate pool.
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Man, you are WAY off base on this one. I don't know anyone and I mean anyone who hates pool because of that and I know a lot of non players who saw the movie and liked it. Matter of fact, I don't know anyone who hates Pool for any reason. Most just don't care for it because there is no instant gratification, takes too long to learn, too hard to play well, the list goes on and on but it sure ain't because of the hustling and playing for money.
 
Pushout said:
Man, you are WAY off base on this one. I don't know anyone and I mean anyone who hates pool because of that and I know a lot of non players who saw the movie and liked it. Matter of fact, I don't know anyone who hates Pool for any reason. Most just don't care for it because there is no instant gratification, takes too long to learn, too hard to play well, the list goes on and on but it sure ain't because of the hustling and playing for money.
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I agree, I used a stong word to make a point.
 
DrMikeUSN said:
Cleary, you are way wrong. I dont think there is ANYONE, and I MEAN ANYONE that got in to PROFESSIOANL billiards beucase of the hustle or the gamble. People want stability and you can't get that with a gamble.

Also you are wrong the masses don't and WON'T ever accept gambling. In the color of money, when Tom Cruise dumped, that was the biggest let down in pool, that scene casused a number of people to hate pool.

Just like they hate Pete Rose, and others who have dumped or changed the game from what it was supsoed to be. Suposed to be a game of skill, the best player wins.

You are way off base with your comments. Sorry dude.
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HAHA, wow. Ok man... NOBODY got into pool to gamble.. good call :rolleyes:
 
DrMikeUSN said:
Cleary, you are way wrong. I dont think there is ANYONE, and I MEAN ANYONE that got in to PROFESSIOANL billiards beucase of the hustle or the gamble. People want stability and you can't get that with a gamble.

Also you are wrong the masses don't and WON'T ever accept gambling. In the color of money, when Tom Cruise dumped, that was the biggest let down in pool, that scene casused a number of people to hate pool.

Just like they hate Pete Rose, and others who have dumped or changed the game from what it was supsoed to be. Suposed to be a game of skill, the best player wins.

You are way off base with your comments. Sorry dude.
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not everyone dumps in pool.
the reason i started to play pool was to gamble thats it.
 
I said Professional pool. Not in the hood, smooth criminal.

Bad image. Not what sponsors and the masses are looking for.

:)
 
DrMikeUSN said:
Cleary, you are way wrong. I dont think there is ANYONE, and I MEAN ANYONE that got in to PROFESSIOANL billiards beucase of the hustle or the gamble. People want stability and you can't get that with a gamble.

Also you are wrong the masses don't and WON'T ever accept gambling. In the color of money, when Tom Cruise dumped, that was the biggest let down in pool, that scene casused a number of people to hate pool.

Just like they hate Pete Rose, and others who have dumped or changed the game from what it was supsoed to be. Suposed to be a game of skill, the best player wins.

You are way off base with your comments. Sorry dude.
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Perhaps my experiences have been different. When I started playing in the mid 80s, everybody gambled. Chelsea Billiards in New York City was world famous for its 24 hour action. George "Ginky" SanSouci readily admits how fascinated he was the first time he stepped foot in Chelsea and how it drew him into pool. A lot of the Joss Tour's best players are former gamblers at Chelsea Billiards and the railbirds that still grace the New York City scene cry over how little action there is now.

That might not be YOUR experience with pool but to think Cleary is "way wrong" is simply not accurate. I can give a rather extensive and impressive list of New York players that would simply say the contrary.
 
Maybe I am wrong, and I can admit it. But I know MANY people who got in the game or the love of it. And who want to pursue the game to the next level, not nessisarily gamble.

What I ment in my comment was that Noone got in to pool to gamble their whole life away. There are WELL known pros now, who spent years on the road gambling, but they have seen the light and realized it has got them nowhere fast.

Would people get in to pool to GAMBLE, if we had prize payouts like golf?

Then lets say golf had payouts like pool, would people get in to golf to gamble at golf? I don't think so. Now, there we some who are gamblers who would, but those gamblers will never be sucsesful professioanls.

The ture professionals need to be shown off, to the general public so we all don't have that negitive stigma against us.
 
JoeyA said:
Cleary,

Don't get me wrong. I like gambling just like the rest of the gamblers but it is strictly for selfish reasons, like all of the other gamblers.

But who has embraced hustling and done it right and did well with it?

The only hustlers I know have barely gotten through life and most of the time, they have gotten by through the kindness and generosity of others, most often family.

I'm curious to know who you think has hustled pool and made a good living at it. For every one you could possibly name (and please don't, as I really don't want you or anyone else to embarass anyone whom you might think made a good living hustling pool) I could name a dozen others who never got a chance to build a nest egg that they could retire on. Hell, most of the hustlers have had enormous trouble just keeping a roof over their heads. It's the embarassing truth about hustling pool. It's worse than playing pool tournaments for a living. I wish it weren't so but it is.

The life of a pool player is like that of a fox; chicken today, feathers tomorrow.

Thanks,
JoeyA
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its hard to hustle now with the cell phones and the net.
show me how many make a good live in tourneys?
 
DrMikeUSN said:
Maybe I am wrong, and I can admit it. But I know MANY people who got in the game or the love of it. And who want to pursue the game to the next level, not nessisarily gamble.

What I ment in my comment was that Noone got in to pool to gamble their whole life away. There are WELL known pros now, who spent years on the road gambling, but they have seen the light and realized it has got them nowhere fast.

Would people get in to pool to GAMBLE, if we had prize payouts like golf?

Then lets say golf had payouts like pool, would people get in to golf to gamble at golf? I don't think so. Now, there we some who are gamblers who would, but those gamblers will never be sucsesful professioanls.

The ture professionals need to be shown off, to the general public so we all don't have that negitive stigma against us.
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the money in pro pool sucks.
 
real bartram said:
its hard to hustle now with the cell phones and the net.
show me how many make a good live in tourneys?
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Are you serious? I know plenty of players that play in tournaments, and make a living. Enough money to live, now they don't live like rockstars, but who does...

You can make money playing tournaments, just have to have a good game, play hard, have a POSITIVE image, get a sponsor and then all you have to do is play.

BUT it takes a positive image.
 
DrMikeUSN said:
Are you serious? I know plenty of players that play in tournaments, and make a living. Enough money to live, now they don't live like rockstars, but who does...

You can make money playing tournaments, just have to have a good game, play hard, have a POSITIVE image, get a sponsor and then all you have to do is play.

BUT it takes a positive image.
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i dont have that
 
DrMikeUSN said:
Are you serious? I know plenty of players that play in tournaments, and make a living. Enough money to live, now they don't live like rockstars, but who does...

You can make money playing tournaments, just have to have a good game, play hard, have a POSITIVE image, get a sponsor and then all you have to do is play.

BUT it takes a positive image.
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i would like your list of players who make a live in tourneys.
im waiting
still waiting
still waiting
still
yep
still
 
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