Another "pool popularity" thread

Keith Jawahir

Keith Jawahir

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So, I just remembered this while having a conversation with a buddy of mine. When I was in Hawaii, Terry Scott came out to (The famous pool hall on Oahu), and of course it was a big APA event. Terry gave speeches, kissed babies, autographed boobies, took pictures with people, basically got treated like royalty. A few months later, Rodney Morris was out there, and every time I saw him, he was there hanging out, and hitting balls around. Even on the APA day, nobody really came up to him, everyone pretty much left him alone. It absolutely amazed me that nobody had any idea who Rocket was. Here you have all these enthusiasts of the game, and they have no idea that one of the best players in the world is right there across the room. And this highlights one of my issues with the APA(the biggest one being that I've been told to sandbag by every single person who's asked me to play on their team). Can anyone help me make sense of this? What does the APA contribute to the larger sport?
 
There Great for Business!!!

The APA is the developmental league for Pool. Its where we the players can find new blood and bring them into the BCA League. I have told 10-20 APA players that they are good enough now to play BCA and many now do.

I have also told many of the APA players to start playing in the local 8&9 Ball tournamaents once their level of play has improved or to help improve their level of play, so the APA gives no-players a place to compete and work on their games, while being able to have some succeses and winning at their current level.

Lastly, The APA is good for business. I have had untold numbers of APA players ask what type of cue to buy, what type of glove or chalk orchalk holder I use, they buy what the players buy. They also keep the pool halls full and they spend money!!
 
I am starting my third session in APA. Started as a 4, now a five and was top gun last session. I have never been ask to sandbag.
 
Its due to a lack of reasonable media coverage that the common man doesnt recognize a "great player" or pro when standing right next to them.

Small symptom of a (much) bigger problem.
 
What if pros gave clinics at apa meets and had sign up sheets for lessons? there has to be come way that the 2 worlds can have some common ground.
 
If APA didn't exist, I wouldn't be playing pool. Its an fun night out of the house, and some good competition to boot. I would love to watch pro events on TV, other than trick shots and women, but it ust doesn't get coverage. Honestly, I consider myself a fan, but I can count on one hand the number of pro matches I have seen in recent memory.

One of the current problems with pool is that while fewer and fewer people are smoking, it seems like a HUGE percentage of the people that play pool smoke. Most parents do not want their kids around smoke, so its hard to introduce kids to pool. Not an anti-smoking rant, just stating facts. Until more kids get involved, pool will continue to have a very small market, an it would be smaller still without leagues like APA.

-Dave
 
BobTfromIL said:
Ok I give, who is Terry Scott? Yes, I'm serious.
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Search me, I googled and got some english actor. Of COURSE an actor on TV (and comedian) will be more recognizable and approachable than a pool player.

I don't get Terry's relation to the APA unless this is a different Terry Scott we're talking about.
 
I agree with Coach Ditka. If it weren't for APA I wouldn't be playing. As for BCA having better players...I guess that depends on the area. I didn't see that when I played BCA in Allentown PA. They just had mostly different players. In fact I found that the BCA had a lower class of people there. I would personally love to find a league that had better competition than the local APA here but I haven't seen it.

I think that the APA has been the life blood of the pool industry. Without it most people wouldn't ever play.
As for sandbagging...I've heard it for years...and been told to sand bag more than once.
 
I really don't understand why pros don't put on free clinics/lessons when their at a local pool hall, assuming the hall and league operators would promote it heavily.

Get your face out there! Many attendees will then pay for a private lesson or an advanced group lesson. The more people who recognize the pros, the more likely pool will get media coverage.
 
Yeah, I feel ya dog, those friggin English actors are always showin up in the pool halls round these parts, taking up all the publicity and recognition, while poor pro players just sit around. Damn you English actors, damn you!!!
 
George said:
The OP may have meant Terry Bell, one of the founders of the APA. This is just a guess on my part.
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Yeah, that's who I was trying to refer to. I wasn't sure about his name and I didn't want to just say "that APA bozo". i typed in "apa terry" into google and scott was the first thing that came up. sorry for the confusion.
 
Keith Jawahir said:
So, I just remembered this while having a conversation with a buddy of mine. When I was in Hawaii, Terry Scott came out to (The famous pool hall on Oahu), and of course it was a big APA event. Terry gave speeches, kissed babies, autographed boobies, took pictures with people, basically got treated like royalty. A few months later, Rodney Morris was out there, and every time I saw him, he was there hanging out, and hitting balls around. Even on the APA day, nobody really came up to him, everyone pretty much left him alone. It absolutely amazed me that nobody had any idea who Rocket was. Here you have all these enthusiasts of the game, and they have no idea that one of the best players in the world is right there across the room. And this highlights one of my issues with the APA(the biggest one being that I've been told to sandbag by every single person who's asked me to play on their team). Can anyone help me make sense of this? What does the APA contribute to the larger sport?
Click to expand...

I've been playing for just over 8 years now. If most pros walked by me, I wouldn't have a clue. Why is that? Because I've got no real exposure to them and most don't give a rat's behind about getting face time.

The sandbagging thing is worn out, try something else. I've never bagged and I laugh at people that think they do, because most have a hard enough time winning as it is when they need to.

What does APA contribute? I don't know, what has Little League contributed to Major League Baseball? I'm getting pretty tired of hearing people ask what amatures are doing for pros.

King T said:
The APA is the developmental league for Pool. Its where we the players can find new blood and bring them into the BCA League. I have told 10-20 APA players that they are good enough now to play BCA and many now do.

I have also told many of the APA players to start playing in the local 8&9 Ball tournamaents once their level of play has improved or to help improve their level of play, so the APA gives no-players a place to compete and work on their games, while being able to have some succeses and winning at their current level.

Lastly, The APA is good for business. I have had untold numbers of APA players ask what type of cue to buy, what type of glove or chalk orchalk holder I use, they buy what the players buy. They also keep the pool halls full and they spend money!!
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What he said. There are some bars in the Portland area that have league Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdays and Sundays. That makes a huge difference in a bar's patronage/sales.

Mr. Bond said:
Its due to a lack of reasonable media coverage that the common man doesnt recognize a "great player" or pro when standing right next to them.

Small symptom of a (much) bigger problem.
Click to expand...

How many lawyers do you think would recognize the Supreme Court justices? Iirc, one of them once said that they loved their job, because it was one of the highest in DC and they could still go out and about without being bothered/recognized.

Keith Jawahir said:
What if pros gave clinics at apa meets and had sign up sheets for lessons? there has to be come way that the 2 worlds can have some common ground.
Click to expand...

Yeah, wouldn't that be something.. somebody should let us know if it happens. I always thought that would be the best thing, for them to show up around a bunch of amatures and put themselves out there. Sadly, that's too much work for some.
 
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