We Get What We Deserve

[PoolSharkAllen]

You can see the warehouse nature of the locale in the photos posted, what with all the corrugated steel bay doors. I hope things get better for those that like the event.

Lou Figueroa

Lou,

I don't agree that pool deserves to be in the state that it's in. If you want things to get better, you need to do your part to help effect that change.

IMO, it would help tremendously if you could specifically state the things about the SBE (or any other event) that you found to be lacking so that other people can respond to it and perhaps even improve upon it.

 

[lfigueroa]

Lou,

I don't agree that pool deserves to be in the state that it's in. If you want things to get better, you need to do your part to help effect that change.

IMO, it would help tremendously if you could specifically state the things about the SBE (or any other event) that you found to be lacking so that other people can respond to it and perhaps even improve upon it.

PSA, I don't think pool should be in the state it's in either, but some things that are done do seem to perpetuate, rather than dispel, a poor image for the sport. What I do is go spend money and support events that I think deserve it. Those that I personally think don't deserve it, don't get it. I know it's just one guy and all, but...

As to outlining shortcomings -- others credible members of the forum have posted what they perceived to be the problems in couple of other threads: Shermancs, JoeV, Rayshooter, TheBook, Eric, and there's Rich's poll that has some discussion on the matter. As I've said elsewhere, while the most recent event was the spark, I was thinking about pool in general and how other events are run too.

Lou Figueroa

 

[JAM]

PSA, I don't think pool should be in the state it's in either, but some things that are done do seem to perpetuate, rather than dispel, a poor image for the sport. What I do is go spend money and support events that I think deserve it. Those that I personally think don't deserve it, don't get it. I know it's just one guy and all, but...

Do you *really* go to pool events because you want to support pool?

Most people attend pool events because they (a) want to compete in said event; (b) want to watch said event; or (c) want to have a good time.

American events are dwindling each and every year, the latest major blow being the Seminole Pro Tour.

American professional pool is a joke. Recreational pool, league play, and social shooting is where it's at.

IOW, pool is now a recreational game. I don't believe it is a sport anymore. Pool events such as SBE and the like are more geared for league play and trade shows. That's where, if any, money is to be made in pool today.

 

[lfigueroa]

Do you *really* go to pool events because you want to support pool?

Most people attend pool events because they (a) want to compete in said event; (b) want to watch said event; or (c) want to have a good time.

American events are dwindling each and every year, the latest major blow being the Seminole Pro Tour.

American professional pool is a joke. Recreational pool, league play, and social shooting is where it's at.

IOW, pool is now a recreational game. I don't believe it is a sport anymore. Pool events such as SBE and the like are more geared for league play and trade shows. That's where, if any, money is to be made in pool today.

You are misinterpreting what I said: I like to play pool. And so, when I feel the bug to go out and play in a tournament, I choose events that I enjoy, or at least don't make me too unhappy because: they are in a decent venue; offer some amenities; and are run with some intelligence, consistency, and sense of fair play.

Financially, I know I take the worst of it when I go and play in open events populated with pros and shortstops far better than me, so I consider it a donation, or support if you will, to the players prize fund and the promoter who makes dough on the event, while I only get a nice warm feeling and maybe a T-shirt.

Lou Figueroa

 

[JAM]

You are misinterpreting what I said: I like to play pool. And so, when I feel the bug to go out and play in a tournament, I choose in events that I enjoy, or at least don't make me too unhappy because: they are in a decent venue; offer some amenities; and are run with some intelligence, consistency, and sense of fair play.

Financially, I know I take the worst of it when I go and play in open events populated with pros and shortstops far better than me, so I consider it a donation, or support if you will, to the players prize fund and the promoter who makes dough on the event, while I only get a nice warm feeling and maybe a T-shirt.

Lou Figueroa

If you had to venture a guess, how much money have you invested in pool and how much have you made as income?

My personal experience is six figures invested.

 

[lfigueroa]

If you had to venture a guess, how much money have you invested in pool and how much have you made as income?

My personal experience is six figures invested.

Not that much

Lou Figueroa
OK, I'm a little ahead
if you count the occasional wager

 

[JAM]

Not that much

Lou Figueroa
OK, I'm a little ahead
if you count the occasional wager

We enjoyed an income from gambling and pool tournaments at some pool events, but the expenses far outweigh everything, sad to say.

Coming in third place at the Open, for example, paid 10 dimes, but after expenses -- entry fee, travel, hotel, food, a week off of work with no income for me -- being away from home that entire 8 days was definitely not worth it for me personally. I can't make money when I'm out there spending money. And though winning 10 dimes seems great, we're still stuck from all the other pool tournament expenses.

I will say it was fun at the beginning of my pool journey on the tournament trail, but going to two, three, and four tournaments a month got old really fast for me. Living out of a suitcase, even staying at decent hotels and not the typical hourly rate dumps some pool players stay in, being on the road was not pleasant. I missed my dog terribly too. :sorry:

Going to pool events should be fun, like a pool vacation, so to speak, and if you have a job, you can only attend two or three a year -- maybe.

The professional pool tournament trail is not worth it. It is no wonder the industry sponsors of the BCA dropped professional pool like a hot potato. What used to be exciting for me is now a nightmare that just got worse and worse.

Whoever said there's no place like home got it right.

 

[Maniac]

What used to be exciting for me is now a nightmare that just got worse and worse.

This little reminder of the past, when pool was a wonderful thing (still is of course, just a bit off-kilter), put a smile on my face. I still use that Grady Seasons line myself from time to time!!!

Maniac

 

[JCIN]

If you had to venture a guess, how much money have you invested in pool and how much have you made as income?

My personal experience is six figures invested.

This is not to pick on you JAM it really isnt but that mindset right there is why pool sucks in a nutshell.

Go ask a golfer, bass fisherman, hunter, drag racer or damn near any other thing how much income they make off their recreational hobby and they would look at you like you were speaking Vulcan.

Pool is the only game/sport/hobby I have experienced where it is expected that people should get more money out of playing it than they put in.

Now I know you are talking playing the game for a living and I see your point but the mindset is the same through out the game at all levels it seems.

I have recently goten back into shooting pistol and rifle competitions. Every Monday I go shoot a steel match that costs $20 to enter. You know what they add? $0. You know what they pay back? $0. $20 is the fee for the people who set up and do all the work to allow me to do something I enjoy. No one expects to make money at it because it is a hobby/passion/game. In pool a great many people feel like if they dont at least have a chance to take out more than they put in then its some kind of scam or not worth it.

 

[JAM]

This is not to pick on you JAM it really isnt but that mindset right there is why pool sucks in a nutshell.

Go ask a golfer, bass fisherman, hunter, drag racer or damn near any other thing how much income they make off their recreational hobby and they would look at you like you were speaking Vulcan.

Pool is the only game/sport/hobby I have experienced where it is expected that people should get more money out of playing it than they put in.

Now I know you are talking playing the game for a living and I see your point but the mindset is the same through out the game at all levels it seems.

I have recently goten back into shooting pistol and rifle competitions. Every Monday I go shoot a steel match that costs $20 to enter. You know what they add? $0. You know what they pay back? $0. $20 is the fee for the people who set up and do all the work to allow me to do something I enjoy. No one expects to make money at it because it is a hobby/passion/game. In pool a great many people feel like if they dont at least have a chance to take out more than they put in then its some kind of scam or not worth it.

Thank you for sharing your opinion.

I still have not recouped the six figures I lost, and the quality of my life has forever changed because of my pool journey.

THANK GOODNESS, I did not quit my day job, and I still have a home -- at least so far. I have a dog that loves me, a man who cares about me, and hopefully, I won't grow old alone. I can't say the same for other pool peeps.

I didn't have anyone to sponsor me in pool; I was the sponsor. Every dime came out of my pocket.

 

[Maniac]

This is not to pick on you JAM it really isnt but that mindset right there is why pool sucks in a nutshell.

Go ask a golfer, bass fisherman, hunter, drag racer or damn near any other thing how much income they make off their recreational hobby and they would look at you like you were speaking Vulcan.

Pool is the only game/sport/hobby I have experienced where it is expected that people should get more money out of playing it than they put in.

Now I know you are talking playing the game for a living and I see your point but the mindset is the same through out the game at all levels it seems.

I have recently goten back into shooting pistol and rifle competitions. Every Monday I go shoot a steel match that costs $20 to enter. You know what they add? $0. You know what they pay back? $0. $20 is the fee for the people who set up and do all the work to allow me to do something I enjoy. No one expects to make money at it because it is a hobby/passion/game. In pool a great many people feel like if they dont at least have a chance to take out more than they put in then its some kind of scam or not worth it.

Great post Justin!!! This is how I've felt about this subject for a long time now.

Between you, Hu, myself, and quite a few others here on AZB, we could probably put together (if we had backers of course ) a shoot-n-shoot tournament. Pool and rifles/pistols. THAT would be a BLAST (pun intended!!!).

Stay cool, my friend!!!

Maniac

 

[JCIN]

Thank you for sharing your opinion.

I still have not recouped the six figures I lost, and the quality of my life has forever changed because of my pool journey.

THANK GOODNESS, I did not quit my day job, and I still have a home -- at least so far. I have a dog that loves me, a man who cares about me, and hopefully, I won't grow old alone. I can't say the same for other pool peeps.

I didn't have anyone to sponsor me in pool; I was the sponsor. Every dime came out of my pocket.

Yeah I can't relate to any of that at all.

 

[JAM]

Yeah I can't relate to any of that at all.

I hope you someday will find somebody to share your heart with. It has a way of changing one's outlook on a variety of things in life. Sadly, some folks go an entire lifetime never having love in their heart. I hope that is not, and never will be, you.

 

[dardusm]

eivi, I think you're missing my point. I could care less whether any particular event, let's use the SBE as an example, is run any which way. I went a few years ago and didn't like it and don't go now. Equally, there are a few other tournaments that I could go to, but don't like they way they're run, so I don't go to those either.

And that's my point -- if you keep supporting a crappy event you will continue to get a crappy event. If you keep going out to dinner at the same crappy restaurant you're going get what you deserve -- a crappy meal. (And it's not your job to train the server or go into the kitchen or fix the owner's menu.)

Pool players are the greatest apologists in the world and it doesn't matter whether it's KT, or the Galveston bunch, or someone else. Because we'll always be there for them: well, at least he tried; at least they put on an event; it was a first time event (or new venue); you shouldn't bad mouth them; etc, etc.

Anything else in this country and you can find people being taken to task for poor performance, service, goods, broken promises (advertised payouts anyone?), whatever. But at pool we suck it up, make excuses for the promoter, and the crap goes on and on. We deserve it.

Lou Figueroa

I can remember a time before the release of the Color of Money, when there wasn't a DCC or SBE. Using your logic, if we don't attend then the possibility exists that these shows will simply go away and not be replaced by a better product. I would rather have these shows than nothing at all.

 

[PoolSharkAllen]

PSA, I don't think pool should be in the state it's in either, but some things that are done do seem to perpetuate, rather than dispel, a poor image for the sport. What I do is go spend money and support events that I think deserve it. Those that I personally think don't deserve it, don't get it. I know it's just one guy and all, but...

As to outlining shortcomings -- others credible members of the forum have posted what they perceived to be the problems in couple of other threads: Shermancs, JoeV, Rayshooter, TheBook, Eric, and there's Rich's poll that has some discussion on the matter. As I've said elsewhere, while the most recent event was the spark, I was thinking about pool in general and how other events are run too.

Lou Figueroa

I initially said that pool doesn't deserve to be in the current state that it's in. Maybe I was wrong.

Consider the 14.1 Fury Cues Pool Challenge that was recently held. The top two finalists decided to split/chop the prize fund rather than duke it out. As a result, Fury Cues has decided to reevaluate their future sponsorships. I also made a donation to this event and have decided to no longer support future 14.1 events.

Sadly, maybe pool does deserve to be in the dog house.

 

[JAM]

I can remember a time before the release of the Color of Money, when there wasn't a DCC or SBE. Using your logic, if we don't attend then the possibility exists that these shows will simply go away and not be replaced by a better product. I would rather have these shows than nothing at all.

Good point. One of my favorite pool tournaments was the Glass City Open. People complained about the gate fees, et cetera, and meanwhile the organizers were lucky to break even.

Today, sadly, there is no more Glass City Open, no more Seminole Pro Tour, no more Windy City Open, no more IPT, no more BCA Open, fewer regional tours, et cetera.

 

[JAM]

I initially said that pool doesn't deserve to be in the current state that it's in. Maybe I was wrong.

Consider the 14.1 Fury Cues Pool Challenge that was recently held. The top two finalists decided to split/chop the prize fund rather than duke it out. As a result, Fury Cues has decided to reevaluate their future sponsorships. I also made a donation to this event and have decided to no longer support future 14.1 events.

Sadly, maybe pool does deserve to be in the dog house.

Similar thing happened to the Scruggs Tour in my area. The season finale winner sold his right to get a customized Scruggs pool cue to another. When Mr. Scruggs got that call from an unknown entity to make them a customized cue that was supposed to go to the winner of the Scruggs season finale, it soured him on continuing the tour.

It was a pretty cool tour, BTW!

 

[JCIN]

I initially said that pool doesn't deserve to be in the current state that it's in. Maybe I was wrong.

Consider the 14.1 Fury Cues Pool Challenge that was recently held. The top two finalists decided to split/chop the prize fund rather than duke it out. As a result, Fury Cues has decided to reevaluate their future sponsorships. I also made a donation to this event and have decided to no longer support future 14.1 events.

Sadly, maybe pool does deserve to be in the dog house.

I'm sorry to hear that. The 14.1 events are something cool. I am not surprised at all though. That attitude of not caring about anything but the money is what will eventually make me hang it up too at some point.

 

[Nostroke]

I initially said that pool doesn't deserve to be in the current state that it's in. Maybe I was wrong.

Consider the 14.1 Fury Cues Pool Challenge that was recently held. The top two finalists decided to split/chop the prize fund rather than duke it out. As a result, Fury Cues has decided to reevaluate their future sponsorships. I also made a donation to this event and have decided to no longer support future 14.1 events.

Sadly, maybe pool does deserve to be in the dog house.

I heard, and it could be BS, that CW encouraged that so he could make the 'Battle of the Beauties' 70 mi up the road.

 

[stumpie71]

I initially said that pool doesn't deserve to be in the current state that it's in. Maybe I was wrong.

Consider the 14.1 Fury Cues Pool Challenge that was recently held. The top two finalists decided to split/chop the prize fund rather than duke it out. As a result, Fury Cues has decided to reevaluate their future sponsorships. I also made a donation to this event and have decided to no longer support future 14.1 events.

Sadly, maybe pool does deserve to be in the dog house.

I thought the issue was there wasn't enough time to play the final. If Mika and CW chopped it up then that's a shame. Easy fix though play or no pay.