I can see that logic, Lou, but the one thing we both recognize is pool had emotion or a personality on TV, thanks to Willie and Fats.
Is Charlie Williams the most powerful man in pro-pool?
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I can see that logic, Lou, but the one thing we both recognize is pool had emotion or a personality on TV, thanks to Willie and Fats.
the stars must be aligning
Wow, Lou and I agree on an entire post, the stars must be aligning.
Wow, Lou and I agree on an entire post, the stars must be aligning.
Wow, Lou and I agree on an entire post, the stars must be aligning.
So what you and Lou are saying is we need another pool movie?
A good pool movie, though, one with grit and realism.
I can see that logic, Lou, but the one thing we both recognize is pool had emotion or a personality on TV, thanks to Willie and Fats.
Yes, and having Howard Cosell doing the commentating didn't hurt either. To be honest, other than Earl we really don't have any recognizable "personalities" in the game, of the same stature to the general populace.
Lou Figueroa
You can't really manufacture them or it comes off as disingenuous and even cheesy
Not entirely, we were in agreement about the real life rivalry between Fats and Mosconi and what the keys were to that competition on Wide World of Sports.
Real Life Drama and Characters are Interesting. You can't really manufacture them or it comes off as disingenuous and even cheesy. There are many people that are experts at character development, they work with plays, movies, concerts and TV. This is NOT a job for anyone in the pool industry, it must be done by true professionals that understand character positioning. imo
Remember, actors don't act like themselves, so the personalities in pool now or before are not what's going to be successful. We need actors to play a role AS A PERSONALITY, just like on The Colbert Show or The Daily Show, it must be entertainment driven, not someone trying to act like themselves, that's certainly not the right strategy. Fats played a character, he wan't like that in real life or should I say his "personal life".
So what you and Lou are saying is we need another pool movie?
A good pool movie, though, one with grit and realism.
Not entirely, we were in agreement about the real life rivalry between Fats and Mosconi and what the keys were to that competition on Wide World of Sports.
Real Life Drama and Characters are Interesting. You can't really manufacture them or it comes off as disingenuous and even cheesy. There are many people that are experts at character development, they work with plays, movies, concerts and TV. This is NOT a job for anyone in the pool industry, it must be done by true professionals that understand character positioning. imo
Remember, actors don't act like themselves, so the personalities in pool now or before are not what's going to be successful. We need actors to play a role AS A PERSONALITY, just like on The Colbert Show or The Daily Show, it must be entertainment driven, not someone trying to act like themselves, that's certainly not the right strategy. Fats played a character, he wan't like that in real life or should I say his "personal life".
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I'll say the same thing to you as Lou. Stay tuned. I recently heard it through the pool grapevine that something is brewing in this regard.
So what you and Lou are saying is we need another pool movie?
A good pool movie, though, one with grit and realism.
The problem is that even with a good movie there is no place for whatever energy the movie generated to go to. When "The Hustler" came out there were far more pool rooms in operation -- most bowling alleys had pool rooms as part of the Brunswick construction model. So when the movie came out there were places for people to go play pool and get into the game or rekindle a lost passion for it. Nowadays, not so many. And though "The Hustler" engendered a boom in the industry in the 60's, I think that today, because of the fracturing of our entertainment culture, it'd be near impossible to get the same kind of "bounce."
Lou Figueroa
it's "when" it's going to happen.
There are many things brewing, I for one, hope there's competition, because that's what will speed things up. I've been approached and I know Shannon, Johnny, and a couple others have been approached as well. The question isn't "if" it's going to happen, it's "when" it's going to happen.
There will be some pool based reality shows within the next year, I'll bet on that, and very soon I'll bet really high.
I'll say the same thing to you as Lou. Stay tuned. I recently heard it through the pool grapevine that something is brewing in this regard.
There are many things brewing, I for one, hope there's competition, because that's what will speed things up. I've been approached and I know Shannon, Johnny, and a couple others have been approached as well. The question isn't "if" it's going to happen, it's "when" it's going to happen.
There will be some pool based reality shows within the next year, I'll bet on that, and very soon I'll bet really high.
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True dat with the advent of the digital age entering into the fray. Kids stay at home behind their computer monitors or TV screens playing games instead of going outside of their home to venture into other competition games, as one example.
I still believe, though, that a movie might provide the jumpstart needed for pool. That movie Hunger Games jumpstarted archery, as an example. Archery sales have gone up since that movie. Archery, all of a sudden, is cool, seeing Jennifer Lawrence shooting!
It was a good movie, and if pool could get a movie, like Rounders was for poker, with a legitimate plot, not a cheesey plot, with good actors, it could sell. It might be just enough to get people out of the house and playing pool again, making pool hip enough to generate interest at least.
Pro pool, in particular, as it is today sucks. I don't even like watching it on TV, and I love pool. What I do prefer, though, is sweating a one-hole game between two action players, listening to the banter, sweating each shot. That's because I have an interest in the one-pocket game if I'm there sweating it. I either have a wager in the game or I may know one of the players; thus, the personality or emotional aspect. This is the missing ingredient in pool today with robotic emotionless players that most people have never heard of and don't give a hoot about.
These trends can turn around very quickly.
These trends can turn around very quickly. I had a business a few years ago that had 20 pool tables, when I saw things changing I went to 15, then 5, then 0. That may sound negative and it is, however, I could easily go the other direction if pool got hot again. In ONE DAY I can from no pool tables to 20 or 30 and never break a sweat (the movers may break one though).
This point is valid, creating pool rooms out of nightclubs, bars, or game rooms is very easy and affordable.
These trends can turn around very quickly. I had a business a few years ago that had 20 pool tables, when I saw things changing I went to 15, then 5, then 0. That may sound negative and it is, however, I could easily go the other direction if pool got hot again. In ONE DAY I can from no pool tables to 20 or 30 and never break a sweat (the movers may break one though
).This point is valid, creating pool rooms out of nightclubs, bars, or game rooms is very easy and affordable.
These trends can turn around very quickly. I had a business a few years ago that had 20 pool tables, when I saw things changing I went to 15, then 5, then 0. That may sound negative and it is, however, I could easily go the other direction if pool got hot again. In ONE DAY I can from no pool tables to 20 or 30 and never break a sweat (the movers may break one though
This point is valid, creating pool rooms out of nightclubs, bars, or game rooms is very easy and affordable.
No. It's not about trends -- it's about the world we live in in 2013 and that its not the 60's, 70's, or even the 80's anymore with few TV stations and no internet.
People still do the same things they did 50 years ago but the markets are now so diffused that you are not going to get the same kind of results for almost any endeavor. Any business thinking about the good old days, and how things trended back then, needs to recalibrate it's thinking or someone is going to be in for a *big* disappointment.
Lou Figueroa
So true. This is greatly evidenced by the bankruptcy of many longtime newspapers, who just went belly up. They could not complete with the immediate gratification of news on the Internet. My neighbor still gets a newspaper every morning, but me, I prefer to get my news from my computer.
Believe it or not, I have been working on approaching the White House with something pool-related. Timing is everything, as they say. I think if I can get it in the right hands, though, I might have a shot at President Obama at least acknowledging pool.
Now, before the NPR people come on this thread and blast me with political views, this has nothing to do with politics. If there was a Republican, an Independent, a Libertarian, or Tea Party member in office, I'd do the same thing.
I swear that I think it would make a headline. Pool is alive and well at Camp David and in the White House. Presidents play pool, dag nab it.
So true. This is greatly evidenced by the bankruptcy of many longtime newspapers, who just went belly up. They could not complete with the immediate gratification of news on the Internet. My neighbor still gets a newspaper every morning, but me, I prefer to get my news from my computer.
Believe it or not, I have been working on approaching the White House with something pool-related. Timing is everything, as they say. I think if I can get it in the right hands, though, I might have a shot at President Obama at least acknowledging pool.
Now, before the NPR people come on this thread and blast me with political views, this has nothing to do with politics. If there was a Republican, an Independent, a Libertarian, or Tea Party member in office, I'd do the same thing.
I swear that I think it would make a headline. Pool is alive and well at Camp David and in the White House. Presidents play pool, dag nab it.
Good luck with that. (No, really.)
BTW, here's a good link you might enjoy about the Mosconi v Fats thing:
http://www.billiardsdigest.com/untold_stories/fats.php
Lou Figueroa
This unfortunately has been done in everything EXCEPT pool
I will assure you of one thing, if a Pool Movie comes out there will be a HUGE BOOM in table sales, and a mad scramble to put pool tables in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys and roller rinks.
Yes, it's not about "trends" it's about changing and adapting with the times. This unfortunately has been done in everything EXCEPT pool and that's a shame. Again, it's just temporary, everything is in an ever changing universe. Pool's not the exception, it's the sample example, now it's just time to steer it in a better, more productive direction.....for everyone.
I will assure you of one thing, if a Pool Movie comes out there will be a HUGE BOOM in table sales, and a mad scramble to put pool tables in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys and roller rinks.
Yes, it's not about "trends" it's about changing and adapting with the times. This unfortunately has been done in everything EXCEPT pool and that's a shame. Again, it's just temporary, everything is in an ever changing universe. Pool's not the exception, it's the sample example, now it's just time to steer it in a better, more productive direction.....for everyone.
You can make all the assurance you want but that's not the way things work nowadays.
The odds of a movie with the right script, stars, director, and production values being made to have anything approaching the impact you're describing is near zero. IOW, it can't just be a "pool movie," it has to be the right kind of pool movie with the right components. Good luck with that.
Lou Figueroa
It's amazing what can happen when the right thing is said at the ideal time .....
I have some awesome Fats stories from the few times I've been around him. His wife, T Bell and I became good friends and she actually stayed with me on her last visit to Dallas - she shared many personal pool stories with me. Fats actually gave me a compliment that I will always remember and it drove me to accomplish more than I might normally have. It's amazing what can happen when the right thing is said at the ideal time - it can change lives and "move mountains"
Here's a picture of the last time I was with Fats in person. He was quite a man, and I respect what he did for pool through the character of "Minnesota Fats".....RIP Rudolf Wanderone
I can see that logic, Lou, but the one thing we both recognize is pool had emotion or a personality on TV, thanks to Willie and Fats.
I have some awesome Fats stories from the few times I've been around him. His wife, T Bell and I became good friends and she actually stayed with me on her last visit to Dallas - she shared many personal pool stories with me. Fats actually gave me a compliment that I will always remember and it drove me to accomplish more than I might normally have. It's amazing what can happen when the right thing is said at the ideal time - it can change lives and "move mountains"
Here's a picture of the last time I was with Fats in person. He was quite a man, and I respect what he did for pool through the character of "Minnesota Fats".....RIP Rudolf Wanderone
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I believe the only people who are entitled to see the million dollars are perhaps the players captains which I believe make up a committee if I do recall correctly for Bonus Ball, I personally do not think I am even supposed to see the million dollars. What kind of business has to show a public forum the monies because someone is on here putting out misinformation?
For a good while we were all quiet about it and agreed amongst ourselves it was best not to talk about certain things nor get into heated debates on here so we did besides Barry who has been on here. Bonus Ball was ridiculed for being silent for awhile but we are getting closer to starting and as Nathan said it will be right when its go time. When Bonus Ball is ready to announce some of the other stuff in the game plan it will, I believe then it will finally make sense with all the pieces of the puzzle that have everyone puzzled will come together to show the whole picture.
This is the first time ever something like this has been undertaken with building a venue, organizing teams and a brand new game with many things never done before production wise with pool. I doubt any of the top promoters in the pool industry could have done it without any mistakes or issues along the way.
One thing is for sure that my opinion is a bit biased and I realize that as does Nathan and anyone involved with it but what about your opinion or Marks, are your opinions unbiased? There are people who want to see it fail for their own reasons and will get a chuckle out of it or are pissed off because its not being done the way they would like it to be or these delays are causing them so much trouble or they just do not get it. There are other people who support it just because they like pool and seeing top players perform regardless of the game and also people who just do not like the game and think its silly which is fine too.