How do you 'give back' to pool?

TheThaiger

TheThaiger

Banned
The game is dying. I contend it's dying because few if any put the game ahead of themselves. Players are selfish and greedy, taking what they can and giving nothing back.

So, what do YOU do to help the long term health of the game?
 
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I am not that good of a player myself, but I think I understand the game very well. At my local room, I ask some people who show some interest in the game, but are lacking a lot of knowledge and techniques to play with me (split table time). While the table is running (i'm paying for part of it too!) I would take some table to tell them what they are doing wrong and describe the ideal position plays.

I think the game of pool is about getting better, while having fun in the process where players of different levels can play together and enjoy the game without having guys eyeing the bad player's wallet. Greed is a big part of the pool culture here and that does not help the game at all.
 
Just patronize your local room because if you don't do that, it'll go under, and THEN where will you be.
 
TheThaiger said:
The game is dying. I contend it's dying because few if any put the game ahead of themselves. Players are selfish and greedy, taking what they can and giving nothing back.

So, what do YOU do to help the long term health of the game?
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I have a different take on it. There's too many Sasquatch-type personalities in pool that take, take, take and manipulate those who they believe will stuff their pockets. It ain't only the pool player who's the hustler.

In the end, pool is not a money-making venture for anyone, whether it's the pool player, a pool room owner, or a magazine publisher. It is usually a labor of love to those who do give it their all.
 
Since I enjoy tournaments soooo much I personally give back by only buying things from the sponsors of pool tournaments and only play in the rooms that have tournaments. For me it's a win-win as the more products the sponsors sell the more they can give back to pool through sponsorships for tournaments and then there is more money in the events. And the more I go to and play in pool rooms that have tournaments I feel it means they are more likely to have more tournaments I can play in.
 
For pool hall owners: Form an informal organization with other proprietors for the purpose of coordinating league and tournament schedules, clinics, sales, etc. In other words, COOPERATING to improve their customer service and promote pool instead of trying to run the competition out of business. My experience over 56 years is that there is plenty of business for everyone without being cut-throat. Check out my message regarding what billiards establishments should offer customers to really promote the game properly and MAKE MONEY!
 
Crazy, but the first thing that instantly came to my mind was to travel the country with a hammer and paper bag. When you find a pool room, put the paper bag over your head, run into the room with the hammer and smash the $h!t out of the jukeboxes.

That may give pool a fighting chance in the future. :smash:
 
Over the years I have sent or helped send many players to major and regional tournaments. I try to buy billiard products only from companies and people that sponsor tournaments. Only time I don't is when product is marked up way too high like some chalk, tips, and cues. I buy ppv's from TAR and others. I help support free streams...but not as much as I should. Johnnyt
 
Well, I recently tried to help promote a local pool event, to no avail (no $ in it for me either). Additionally, I have run pool tourneys for nothing as well.

I also freely share my knowledge (though limited - ha ha) with anyone who wishes to learn, play and discuss the game. I'm just a player and a fan, who wishes that pool had more folks like me who are interested.

Too bad I have to work, or I'd do more. Damn work...
 
the games been dead for 10 years.

Righteous Hustle is dead.... Gentlemans game is dead.
The money game is full of a bunch of Crooks, Bums and Crybaby's all ripping eachother off, or just trying to take advatage of eachother anyway that they can.

To many governing bodys in the Amature tournament scene. used to be if you wanted to play a tourney you could come off the street and get into it. Not anymore, and now they Punish the better players, Masters, by not letting them play alot of the little local tournaments. So whats the point of becoming a Better Player besides personal love of the game??

What do i do for pool????
I play the game....with my friends and have a good time.
Nobody here should feel like they have to do anything for the game.
i Will say that all these different Govt body's are splitting a dying segment way too thin....BCA, ACS, VNEA...WTF!!!
also theyve killed off all the fun little local bar league's (combination of the above mentioned, the economy, and the policing of .08 bac.).....entertainment/Machine Vendors running the league's ,

the scene is rediculous, at least around here.
 
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TheThaiger said:
The game is dying. I contend it's dying because few if any put the game ahead of themselves. Players are selfish and greedy, taking what they can and giving nothing back.

So, what do YOU do to help the long term health of the game?
Click to expand...
Very easy:

Attend your local room and spend some money.
Attend more local tournaments.
 
RDeca said:
the games been dead for 10 years.

Righteous Hustle is dead.... Gentlemans game is dead.
The money game is full of a bunch of Crooks, Bums and Crybaby's all ripping eachother off, or just trying to take advatage of eachother anyway that they can.
Click to expand...

Which is precisely why those of us that aren't crooks, bums & crybabies should do something about it. We need to reclaim the game.
 
TheThaiger said:
But is that sufficient?
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You didn't ask who was "giving enough" to pool, you asked who was "giving back". Putting money into pool halls and tournaments (and sponsors of the same) is giving back. Whether it's "enough" is a completely different conversation.

Incidentally, a couple months ago I was practicing during a league night on one of the pay tables, and somebody bought in. I broke, ran a couple, played safe, he missed, I ran out the rack. He was walking away and I was about to buy back into the table when I heard him tell his buddy, "I don't even know how he DID that!" So I told him I'd show him. I paid in, racked, broke, and played a game by myself, talking through each step in the process of each shot. Then I bought him another game and coached him through each shot, which he almost won. ;) Two weeks later he joined my league and is loving it.

Sometimes it's the little things that have a payback for pool. I think being a worthwhile person in the time you spend at the table can be a huge payback, even if "all you're doing" is going to the pool halls and tournaments whenever you can. Don't belittle people for not giving enough, encourage them to give more.
 
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