Are Pros Really Needed?

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
I believe most promoters could do just as well financially w/o the pros. If you look at promoters that put on both an open and an amateur tournament you will see that their amateur does much better and the purse is bigger in the amateur tournament in almost every case. We already know that w/o amatures in the pro tournaments the entry fees would need to be $500-$1000 to pay out big enough and deep enough to get anywhere a full field. The bottom line is you have to be needed before you can start telling promoters and fans what the rules will be. Johnnyt
 
Your Right!!!!!

The Pro's play so well that the keep the non-pro's wanting to improve and practice, but your right about tournament play, we dont need them.

Its nice to watch, but the pro players in the USA dont bring the level of professional behavior that allows the spectator to reall know what to expect..., will they play like pro's or not, who knows with these guys.

APA and BCA keep the ranks growing and from those ranks come the local, regional tourny players that make the tuorny's worth playing.

Pro's in this country, who cares!
 
Most successful promoters need "Stars" to create large audiences, the bigger the audiences the more $$$. So the answer is YES!!! Pool needs stars, Darts, Snooker, Golf, Bowling, all have stars and do good. The lack of stars has hurt pool in a big way. the pro's in pool are stars for us pool people, but not the general public. I have walked around Munich and Cologn with Ralf many times and nobody knows who he is.
 
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Fatboy said:
Most successful promoters need "Stars" to create large audiences, the bigger the audiences the more $$$. So the answer is YES!!! Pool needs stars, Darts, Snooker, Golf, Bowling, all have stars and do good. The lack of stars has hurt pool in a big way.
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I don't think it's all about the lack of stars. It's more like a lackluster of stars. Not many folks enjoy watching emotionless robots run racks. There's just no personality or emotion.

The Mosconi Cup is the only thing that seems to generate excitement in pool, but sadly, it's not broadcast in the United States live.

Most of today's pool stars either live in a car, sleep on a friend's couch, have a generous stakehorse giving them cash, or a spouse who works their ass off to keep a roof over their heads. :eek:
 
JAM said:
Not many folks enjoy watching emotionless robots run racks.
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Look at it this way. Professional players are performing break and runs (what) 40% of the time. Fine and good for them.

Would profession bowling be interesting to watch if the average profession bowler bowled a 300 game 40% of the time?

Would the average drag race remain interesting to watch if the average top fuel dragster ran within 0.01 seconds of the national record each run?
 
I think so.
We had a pro come through town yesterday. Mike Massey came to give a demonstration at one of our local establishments. Many of us shook his hand, watched him play one of our best players, several got autographs, and Mr. Massey, being the true southern gentleman that he is, was very accommodating.
One of the things which I have always been appreciative of, regarding our professional players, is their accessibility. They generally always have time for a quick question, or to look at your new cue, or in my case with Buddy Hall, to borrow a spoon.
If they were gone, I think we'd miss them. :smile:
 
The only real star in my opinion is Efryn,when he plays do the tournaments
have bigger draws,more spectators and profits.
If not,the facts presented tend to make me think that amateur tournaments are better for everyone

I personally think pool is a players game more than a spectator sport.
 
yes and no -

no, because billiards has a dichotomous life in this country; the public side and the private side. the private side has never and will never need pros or tourneys to exist. the love of the game(s) is all that matters.

yes. because public billiards will always be competitive, the "pro" niche will always exist, whether you embelish it with prizes and cash or not. in other words, someone will always want to be 'the best'.
 
Is it an absolute necessity? No. But I think they are needed/desired/used, and it would be less interesting without them. (at least for me)

Besides, I like to have something to aspire to.
 
Without pros, pool is more of a hobby or diversion. With pros its closer to a sport. What you can strive to be. Not just the local guy that runs a couple racks. Pros have the ability to elevate the perception of the game.
 
Mr. Bond said:
yes and no -

no, because billiards has a dichotomous life in this country; the public side and the private side. the private side has never and will never need pros or tourneys to exist. the love of the game(s) is all that matters.

yes. because public billiards will always be competitive, the "pro" niche will always exist, whether you embelish it with prizes and cash or not. in other words, someone will always want to be 'the best'.
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This kinda sums it up.
 
I know that I personally will go out of my way to sweat pros playing. I'll drive a long time, blow some money, etc.

It's not really about "are they necessary" so much as "are they worth it"... if you spend X dollars attract pros to your events, do you make that money back? If so, then keep doing it and god bless ya.

I'd be sad if everyone within a hundred miles said "actually it's much more profitable to just run amateur tournaments". I don't think it's good for pool if guys like me get fewer chances to watch (or play) pros.
 
Of course they are necessary... If it weren't for the pros, who else would you constantly bash?
 
I think the question deserves a discussion. But I think a better question is 'Could pool benefit from treating players of all skill levels equally?' Technology has made it possible to do just that.

The GRAND Tour is moving forward with this as its mission. We believe it is in the interest of pool for players of all skill levels to be given a chance to perform on a stage, and for a prize pool that equals the enthusiasm we share for this game. Give players a chance to be 'a pro for a day' and see what happens.

For more info, check out the homepage of Grand Tour Promotions (link below) and let us know in this thread what you think. I don't mean for this to be a hijack, but I think our project is relevant to this conversation.

Grand Tour Promotions:
https://sites.google.com/site/grandtourpromotions/


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
an equal rights amendment...what could go wrong?

GrandTourPromo said:
I think the question deserves a discussion. But I think a better question is 'Could pool benefit from treating players of all skill levels equally?' Technology has made it possible to do just that.

The GRAND Tour is moving forward with this as its mission. We believe it is in the interest of pool for players of all skill levels to be given a chance to perform on a stage, and for a prize pool that equals the enthusiasm we share for this game. Give players a chance to be 'a pro for a day' and see what happens.

For more info, check out the homepage of Grand Tour Promotions (link below) and let us know in this thread what you think. I don't mean for this to be a hijack, but I think our project is relevant to this conversation.

Grand Tour Promotions:
https://sites.google.com/site/grandtourpromotions/


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...

That sounds good.....an equal rights amendment...what could go wrong?
 
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