I realize now that I sounded like "piss-on-your-parade" guy. I applaud anyone's efforts, and it sounds like a well thought out idea from pro talent of some renown... I guess what I listed are the pitfalls that I hope are well guarded against. Like I said, I'd still watch it over another storage locker sales variant.
Pool, poker & pain
- Thread starter SpiderWebComm
- Start date
Great. Pool's image goes from a bunch of skilled scammers to a bunch of unskilled scammer meatheads. That'll help.
The audience for this is brutality fans. There are plenty of those, but adding low level pool and poker will only distract from what they really want. It might air (what doesn't these days?), but it won't last.
pj
chgo
^^^^^^^^^^^this^^^^^^^^^^
See --- I think that's where a lot of people have it wrong. Pool doesn't HAVE an image to speak of. I wish it had an image of scammers, hustlers and meat-heads because maybe then it'd be interesting and on TV. Pool's image is non-existent because quite simply: no one cares. It's boring. Watching two dead-pan boring guys hardly ever miss playing a game the audience at home doesn't understand for amounts of money that rival Girl Scout cookie sales is worse than watching hair product infomercials at 3pm.
Pool isn't on TV because of it's image. Unless people realize that, we're never going anywhere. Unless people can stare at themselves in the mirror and admit that no one cares about pool because pool is the most boring thing to watch on TV ever paired with the fact the major event purses are less than local handicapped dart tournaments --- we're doomed.
I don't think the audience is brutality fans. Keep in mind, fighting comes after a push with pool and poker. Just because I watch Pawn Stars doesn't mean I'm a fan of pawn shops. I think the fans of PPP are those who like fun and high-energy excitement paired with the entertainment of the chirping that comes along with most gambling endeavors. Most people don't realize this, but MMA has THE MOST DIVERSE demographics of any sport on the planet. Meaning, guys, gals, young, old ---- all watch the UFC. Although the BCA likes to tout pool's awesome demographics, it's total BS--- people playing barbox pool in a bar while waiting for a drink don't count. If you only count people who GO to events, we're our own demographics. There are very few outsiders who care to watch.
In regards to "adding low-level pool and poker" --- that's another guess that's incorrect. There will be NO bad pool players on the show. In fact, PJ, you couldn't beat a single player on the show with the 7-ball. Not all are mega-elite players but ALL can play. Of the pool, poker and MMA--- pool-playing will be weighted the heaviest in getting on the show. I believe Blair will have some elite MMA fighters acting as coaches on the show--- so viewers will get to watch someone evolve from a hack fighter to maybe someone with some form who can defend themselves.
Pool, by itself, will NEEEEEEEVER hit prime-time unless it rides the coat-tails of other prime-time sports OR players start playing for enough money to make it interesting. If players are on TV playing for a million bucks (or somewhere close), people might begin to take interest. Watching them whack balls around in a US Open for $50k is just interesting enough to have it air right after a Wonder Bra commercial at 4:30am. So, unless a gazillionaire wants to jettison their cash to help a sport they're not passionate about ---- there's only one option left.
I'm sure not all people here are poker and/or MMA fans, but three things should be obvious: 1) BOTH are MEGA successful and have huge followings (the audience for PPP will mostly be regular people -- not hard-core pool players) 2) Having two Emmy-winning producers on board increases the odds of the show being well thought-out, well-written and entertaining (i.e. they KNOW how to get ratings) and 3) ANY exposure for pool on TV aired during prime-time is a GOOD THING. Right now, people don't even think pool is still played and if they do--- they do not care.
Sorry for the long rant--- like PPP or hate it isn't the point. I just want to make sure I lend enough perspective for people to realize pool is an abject failure on TV for a lot of reasons and IMAGE is NOT one of them (although it seems to be a constant factor for people not liking PPP).
The ppp website lists 14 guys as contestants, including Tony Crosby (they misspelled his name) and Lee Brett. I didn't recognize any of the others as pool players. Rodney Morris is the pool coach.
Sorry I can't support this endeavor in any fashion, Dave.
He'd have no shot. We might statistically push in poker and pool but he'd never beat me in the CIRCLE OF TRUTH. Not his fault though, I'm 1/2 his age... so that doesn't count.
Lou would prob lay on me like an elephant seal and let the clock run out.
That section of the site is old. Prob won't be updated until production begins.
All of the non-supporters will support once pool is on TV and people start walking into pool rooms again.
If you're not an MMA or poker fan fine..... Personally, I don't care if this were called: POOL, GO-FISH and STEP-AEROBICS....
If it means people pay attention to the pool part and gives our sport exposure, I'd support it. That's the difference.
In the meantime, by the way, there are no (stress NO) other viable plans to get pool into the prime-time tv-land. Nothing current and nothing planned. I know they're trying something different with Bonus Ball, but giving pool a new name and colored balls without a long-term gazillion-dollar pay-out plan--- I don't think it will get there.
If you have to pick someone up and drop them on their teeth to get high ratings -- it is what it is. The truth hurts... maybe that's why it's THE CIRCLE OF TRUTH.
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I have to agree with the others who believe this is a bad idea.
I good fighter who can read people and understands the intricacies of poker at an above average level would win and pool would be irrelevant, who can play pool with 1 or 2 eyes swollen shut and/or an arm pulled out of the socket??....lol.
Edit: I'm pretty sure Joe Rogan won't drop his cash cow UFC job to join some other show with MMA in it just because he enjoys banging balls once in a while. Come to think of it the UFC can probably go into the petty cash drawer, toss $50k to the guy who thought this show up and then throw it all in the nearest trash compactor, just like the oil companies did to electric cars in the 80's...lol
I good fighter who can read people and understands the intricacies of poker at an above average level would win and pool would be irrelevant, who can play pool with 1 or 2 eyes swollen shut and/or an arm pulled out of the socket??....lol.
Edit: I'm pretty sure Joe Rogan won't drop his cash cow UFC job to join some other show with MMA in it just because he enjoys banging balls once in a while. Come to think of it the UFC can probably go into the petty cash drawer, toss $50k to the guy who thought this show up and then throw it all in the nearest trash compactor, just like the oil companies did to electric cars in the 80's...lol
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Great post and spot on. Unfortunately, people haven't come to the realization yet that after 50 years of not having a well-funded pro-tour (well = PGA-like or BOWLING-like), they'll never have it. The ego of playing pool well and wanting pool to succeed on its own is ok, it's just in vain unfortunately (and history proves that).
Fighting only comes after pool/poker, btw. Rogan would fair great as a contestant. Many people don't know that's he's a TOUGH DUDE and plays pool well above average.
Pretty courageous, Joey.
How 'bout you and me? You play better pool, I don't play poker and I'm older than you. You got the nuts if you got the nuts...
pj <- he'd kill me
chgo
I'll ask Blair if there's a senior's division.
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Some say I am a senior killer or maybe it was a killer senior.
The caption on Patrick's & my episode would be: "HEAR PATRICK'S WAIL!":grin:
LOL. I can't argue with that, but I think the missing element is money (look at snooker in England), not cheap tricks.
pj
chgo
The population in England loves snooker (they prob know most of the players too). The population in the US doesn't know pool exists and probably still can't name a single pool player other than Minnesota Fats.
It's a chicken or the egg. You'll never have pool arrive without money and unless it arrives, they'll never play for big money.
Poker is entertaining - MMA is entertaining - pool is boring.
Poker makes bazillions - MMA makes bazillions - pool is broke
I suggest that pool has a lot to learn from poker and mma and could only benefit from being associated with them.
I would like to see you, Joey and Spidey in a one pocket round robin with Ray streaming it. It could be called the "Aiming System Showdown." Hook it up!!!:grin: