The most powerful sports network that doesn't give a $hit about pool and never will. Thus- no harm.
TAR 22 Post-Match with Earl & Joe Rogan
- Thread starter Ghosst
- Start date
The most powerful sports network that doesn't give a $hit about pool and never will. Thus- no harm.
I say the fools are those who think they are someday going to discover the secret formula that will make pool as popular as other sports. Earl just knows it's a waste of time and he's pilloried for being forthright about it.
Were the pool players who refused to sign demanding millions? They probably would have signed for a relative pittance but my guess is that ESPN refused to pay even a pittance. If so, you should have taken this as an indication of ESPN's complete lack of interest in pool except as filler material.
Why should they?
There's nothing sad about it. He wasn't being interviewed on ABC. It's just a bunch of guys standing around BS'ing and someone was taping it. Earl knows the primary audience isn't going to be anything other than the AZB forums- not exactly earthshaking ramifications to be taken into account.
It's amazing how these threads veer off into fantasy. Earl's ruining pool with this video? Really? If that's really so then maybe you should bring it up with those who taped it rather than Earl?
I agree with you on that one.
You're way off here man. As you probably know ESPN will customarily show these matches repeatedly over a period of time. The pool players wanted residuals every time the matches were aired, following the initial telecast. This is not done in ANY other sport! Not in baseball, basketball, tennis or golf! When an athlete signs a television release, he gives up his right to any residuals, unlike an actor on a sit-com. This is SOP (standard operating procedure) in professional sports on all television networks and has been forever!
How the lowly pool players thought for a second that ESPN was going to change this long existing policy for them is beyond me. Remember pool was at the bottom of the totem pole then and fighting for recognition on television (so what else is new). Naturally the execs at ESPN turned then down and refused to air the shows (great matches by the way). That cost Richie Florence his sponsorship and effectively put him out of business. This after he had put on about a dozen big money events over the previous four years and awarded over two million in prize money.
I spoke with a friend of mine at the time, a man named Jim Davis. Jim was a notable television director, doing specials like the Bob Hope Special and the Oscars! He said something to me that I never forgot. It went like this, "The absolute best way for an athlete to become recognized is for repeated viewings on television. This is how they become famous the fastest." He went on to add that ESPN was actually doing the pool players a favor by showing these matches over and over again.
So there you have it, another good move that cost pool players dearly for years to come. That incident kind of soured ESPN on pool forever! After that if you wanted to put a pool tournament on ESPN, it was "pay as you go!" Look I don't like to be the bad guy here and tell you all this, but someone needs to tell the truth about what did or did not happen. I DEFY anyone to tell me that this is not exactly what took place at the last Caesars tournament, and why it never aired on TV and why Richie never produced another tournament.
I'll even tell you who played those three matches. Earl played Terry Bell (the APA founder) first for the hot seat and beat him. Then Terry played Dallas West in the losers final and beat him. Then Earl played Terry again in the finals and won it all! I was the TD and what may have been most disappointing to me is that I shot a cool trick shot that was supposed to be on the show. It was the Pyramid Shot, where you stack balls on top of triangles, three rows high. I had ONE CHANCE and one chance only to make this shot because it took too long to set it up. I did it without any marks (or dents) on the triangles or the balls. I made it the first time and they had it on tape. I did hear that they saved that shot and put it on another pool telecast later. I don't know, I never saw it. Oh well! :wink:
Last edited:
Sounds like there was an "ABP" mentality among the players even then. Attempts at unilateral pricing of their product and disregard for what's good for the sponsors and promoters has very deep roots. Even back then, the players had the strange habit of biting the hands that fed them. Lou Butera introduced me to Richie Florence back in about 1980. I liked him and am sad to learn that he was victimized in this way. Tough to disagree with how ESPN handled it.
Participants in these other sports can earn millions. Plenty of incentive to sign the release. They ARE getting paid. The pool players aren't. I can't see blaming them for the unpopularity of pool because they aren't Mother Theresa.
Who says pool players aren't getting paid? Earl had everything paid for in the TAR match. He also has/had sponsors/backers throughout his career. I shed no tears for him.
Pool players, just like baseball players and foootball players, are getting paid in a manner consistent with the revenue they are able to generate for their sport's sponsors and promoters.
I guess I was indulging in the theory of relativity.
For obvious reasons those pool players wanted more. They aren't galley slaves.
What right do we have to demand that they work for nothing to further our favorite past time? They get paid in a manner consistent with the revenue they generate and if it's not enough for ESPN then they have to work for free? They were right to tell ESPN to take it or leave it.
I mean, cripes- we've got guys here griping about paying a dollar for a bottle of water but Earl is supposed to run around playing free for ESPN?
Yes he is and so is everyone else thats asked.
Because thats how you build a sport. The problem with some in this game is they seem to think they deserve the rewards without doing the work. Just playing good doesn't mean a thing in the big picture. Somewhere the best shuffleboard player in the world is making little to no money playing the game and living in anonymity. Just because he is the best at something doesnt mean anything.
First you build a demand for your product then you cash in on it. It won't work the other way around.
There is a big difference between something like a PPV TAR match and the exposure ESPN can bring. One you are supposed to get paid for, one you do for free with a smile on your face. A little common sense on what to ask for when would go a long way.
Last edited:
Well as a positive note JC, the lack of pool on ESPN has allowed TAR to have an outlet.
For those of us who don't know, what did Earl do at the end of the TAR match with Shane? Did he quit Shane?
I'm sure you're not saying that Earl didn't do any work before he won the US Open five times. I'm sure he worked really, really hard. So after all that work ESPN demands he provide free filler material for their zillion dollar enterprise.
It's simple- pool is never going to be popular again. It's too subtle and requires too much of an attention span for the general public. They'd much rather sit on their sofa drinking beer, eating potato chips, and getting fat while they watch physically fit people slam their bodies against each other or run around chasing one ball.
A reality show of Earl Strickland traveling the country hustling pool and talking shit. Two thumbs up!
What are you talking about, I found the clips sad, that's how I felt when I watched it and my personal reaction is not up for debate. Perhaps I should have said "saddening" instead to illustrate how SADDENED I was to see Earl in this state of mind.
I certainly agree that the impact of these videos on pool is effectively zero, so I hope the rest of your confused post is not directed towards me.
I certainly agree that the impact of these videos on pool is effectively zero, so I hope the rest of your confused post is not directed towards me.
Originally Posted by risky biz
"There's nothing sad about it. He wasn't being interviewed on ABC. It's just a bunch of guys standing around BS'ing and someone was taping it. Earl knows the primary audience isn't going to be anything other than the AZB forums- not exactly earthshaking ramifications to be taken into account.
It's amazing how these threads veer off into fantasy. Earl's ruining pool with this video? Really? If that's really so then maybe you should bring it up with those who taped it rather than Earl?"
If I'm stating that my personal reaction is that it isn't sad why is your personal reaction more valid than mine? I at least included some reasons why my reaction was valid which was my main and only other point which you just agreed with so what's confusing you?
"There's nothing sad about it. He wasn't being interviewed on ABC. It's just a bunch of guys standing around BS'ing and someone was taping it. Earl knows the primary audience isn't going to be anything other than the AZB forums- not exactly earthshaking ramifications to be taken into account.
It's amazing how these threads veer off into fantasy. Earl's ruining pool with this video? Really? If that's really so then maybe you should bring it up with those who taped it rather than Earl?"
If I'm stating that my personal reaction is that it isn't sad why is your personal reaction more valid than mine? I at least included some reasons why my reaction was valid which was my main and only other point which you just agreed with so what's confusing you?