Perhaps the image of the smoky pool hall filled with shady characters trying to hustle one another never was that accurate.
It did make for good movies -- see "The Hustler" and "The Color of Money" -- which in turn was good for business in local pool halls that in many cases provided cheap family entertainment.
But then public smoking bans took effect, gas prices went up, and high-quality video game systems kept would-be players at home. As a result, the number of pool players is down, and the pool halls they once frequented are becoming fewer and far between.
The above-referenced article, entitled Behind the 8-Ball, hit the nail on the head. A few pool room owners give their thoughts on the dying pool room era in Sioux City. It's amazing to read that, considering this is Shane's home turf. If I had a pool room in that area, I'd be capitalizing on that. Shane would be in every parade, every marketing opportunity available: South Dakota Kid Becomes Champion of the World.
According Larry Perra, owner of Corner Pocket, Gary Beebe who owns Carom House, and the Gearys (Ken and Diane) who recently closed Bank Shot Billiards in Sioux City, pool just isn't a money-making business anymore.
"To have a business dedicated just to pool isn't as feasible," said Shane Tyree, membership and communication manager of the Billiard Congress of America in Broomfield, Colorado.
Some areas of the country, especially in the southeast, are seeing pool halls disappearing. Pool is holding steady in the Midwest.
"I wouldn't necessarily say it's disappearing. It's more in the background," Tyree said.
That's kind of the nature of the game, Beebe said. He's seen pool halls come and go, but many small-town bars still have pool tables and leagues.
"It's cyclical, but people always come back to pool," Beebe said. "Pool will always come back."
Well, well, well, I guess BCA's Tyree's remarks won't be popular to the BCA's industry members. I tend to want to believe Gary Beebe.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. It's the pool leagues today that are keeping American pool afloat. Would a movie be the boon to pool in 2012 that it was in 1986 when TCOM came out? I'm not so sure. I think it is going to take a bigger media blitzkrieg to put pool back on the map. Gone are the days of Willie vs. Fats on ESPN and the road warrior days of Fast Eddie Nelson.
The definition of American pool in the 21st century is up for grabs, and if I have my say about it, I will figure out a way to get pool back on the map in the United States. Stay tuned, as the best is yet to come.
Ken and Diane Geary play pool at Bank Shot Billiards in downtown Sioux City in August. The pool hall closed this summer.
It did make for good movies -- see "The Hustler" and "The Color of Money" -- which in turn was good for business in local pool halls that in many cases provided cheap family entertainment.
But then public smoking bans took effect, gas prices went up, and high-quality video game systems kept would-be players at home. As a result, the number of pool players is down, and the pool halls they once frequented are becoming fewer and far between.
The above-referenced article, entitled Behind the 8-Ball, hit the nail on the head. A few pool room owners give their thoughts on the dying pool room era in Sioux City. It's amazing to read that, considering this is Shane's home turf. If I had a pool room in that area, I'd be capitalizing on that. Shane would be in every parade, every marketing opportunity available: South Dakota Kid Becomes Champion of the World.
According Larry Perra, owner of Corner Pocket, Gary Beebe who owns Carom House, and the Gearys (Ken and Diane) who recently closed Bank Shot Billiards in Sioux City, pool just isn't a money-making business anymore.
"To have a business dedicated just to pool isn't as feasible," said Shane Tyree, membership and communication manager of the Billiard Congress of America in Broomfield, Colorado.
Some areas of the country, especially in the southeast, are seeing pool halls disappearing. Pool is holding steady in the Midwest.
"I wouldn't necessarily say it's disappearing. It's more in the background," Tyree said.
That's kind of the nature of the game, Beebe said. He's seen pool halls come and go, but many small-town bars still have pool tables and leagues.
"It's cyclical, but people always come back to pool," Beebe said. "Pool will always come back."
Well, well, well, I guess BCA's Tyree's remarks won't be popular to the BCA's industry members. I tend to want to believe Gary Beebe.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. It's the pool leagues today that are keeping American pool afloat. Would a movie be the boon to pool in 2012 that it was in 1986 when TCOM came out? I'm not so sure. I think it is going to take a bigger media blitzkrieg to put pool back on the map. Gone are the days of Willie vs. Fats on ESPN and the road warrior days of Fast Eddie Nelson.
The definition of American pool in the 21st century is up for grabs, and if I have my say about it, I will figure out a way to get pool back on the map in the United States. Stay tuned, as the best is yet to come.
Ken and Diane Geary play pool at Bank Shot Billiards in downtown Sioux City in August. The pool hall closed this summer.
It sure doesn't sound like she's promoting pool. Isn't that what the BCA should be doing? Oh, damn, I digress again. :embarrassed2:
