Pro Pool players courting disaster

[StraightPoolIU]

IMO, ESPN missed the mark by not immediately working with those involved in Europe to rebroadcast the Mosconi Cup as exciting as it was. And they always have missed the mark with advertising on pool matches. To all the marketing idiots at ESPN or major companies. Pool players buy common goods, not just pooldawg products. We buy beer, soft drinks, medicines, hell, even Viagra! But all you see during the limited televised pool matches is pool merchandise.

It doesn't directly relate to Bonus Ball, but the reason those companies don't advertise isn't because they think pool players don't use their products or only care about buying pool stuff. It's because there aren't enough viewers per broadcast to warrant buying the ad time. Industry sponsors do view this time as valuable because their products only have a targeted market in any case.

 

[Johnnyt]

When was the last time the player list was updated for the Ultimate 10 ball and is there a players list yet for the Southern Classic that will be held right after the Ultimate in the same venue? Johnnyt

 

[Diamond69]

Good answer. I missed that point of view.

 

[1 Lone Wolf]

Beer and soda

It doesn't directly relate to Bonus Ball, but the reason those companies don't advertise isn't because they think pool players don't use their products or only care about buying pool stuff. It's because there aren't enough viewers per broadcast to warrant buying the ad time. Industry sponsors do view this time as valuable because their products only have a targeted market in any case.

Why don't Budweiser or Nike step. And don't forget Coca Cola, A lot of league players drink these drinks and most wear shoes ??

 

[Slasher]

Seems strange that a new venture putting money into pool has divided and seemingly miffed quite a few people, why is that?

 

[BryanB]

Seems strange that a new venture putting money into pool has divided and seemingly miffed quite a few people, why is that?

Because they think the sky is falling. Don't you know, Bonus Ball is out to corner the pro players into only playing Bonus Ball therefore killing all other events

 

[Cuemaster98]

The pool industry is a shrinking pie...billiard halls are shutting down every week and there are less people playing pool every day....all this has a trigger effects...no pool on TV...no players in the pool hall...no exposure to the game to youngster and on top of all that the stigma of the game and pool rooms.

Having said all that, there are successful leagues and pool halls that have taken advantage of the situations to expand and update their room. Steinway Billiards in Astoria, New York did just that with the closure of Master Billiards.

My point is that with BB, at least they are looking to expand the market and re-introduce Pool to the general public with a new spin to the game. The old tournament events like (SBE, Derby Classic, Pro tourney, etc) are great for existing pool playing community but they not doing much to help expand the general market perception of the pool industry and are not helping much with bringing new players into the pool rooms. There are not many investments if any that are been made by any pool associations to bring the benefit of pools to the general public so as it stand pool and all related entities will continue to suffer.

So if I was a pro player, I would be choosing to play with BB and hoping that other event organizers chooses to work with BB to ensure that they don't have conflicting schedule.

I was really hoping that the Pool 300 concepts and their league ideas would have taken off. I think they have a good concept for a new game as well that would be have helps improve the market for the game in general.

I personally think that in order to get the game of pool industry back to where it is....we need to start with making the game fun and available to the younger generation. By this, I mean...the industry shouldn't be targeting pro players to help with this industry...they should be targeting the new generation of kids as soon as they are able to pick up a stick and move on up the ladders. Once the industry become a growing pies, the issue with Pro and events issues will take it's natural courses.

One of my idea was to develop a teaching system that can be implemented with a belt system like Karate organization to train young players and help develop the basic skills for competitiveness and help them built values that are similar to those taught in Martial Arts Dojos all around the world. Instead of having different styles in martial arts...we would have different training systems (my CM360 reference system) vs CTE etc...O. It would be cool to be see all pool halls been turned into Family Centers that caters to all level of plays (food, alcohol, game centers, with dedicated area specifically for teaching new players (kids been the main goal).

Those are just some of my thoughts and ideas for this market.

Duc.

 

[JAM]

The pool industry is a shrinking pie...billiard halls are shutting down every week and there are less people playing pool every day....all this has a trigger effects...no pool on TV...no players in the pool hall...no exposure to the game to youngster and on top of all that the stigma of the game and pool rooms.

Having said all that, there are successful leagues and pool halls that have taken advantage of the situations to expand and update their room. Steinway Billiards in Astoria, New York did just that with the closure of Master Billiards.

My point is that with BB, at least they are looking to expand the market and re-introduce Pool to the general public with a new spin to the game. The old tournament events like (SBE, Derby Classic, Pro tourney, etc) are great for existing pool playing community but they not doing much to help expand the general market perception of the pool industry and are not helping much with bringing new players into the pool rooms. There are not many investments if any that are been made by any pool associations to bring the benefit of pools to the general public so as it stand pool and all related entities will continue to suffer.

So if I was a pro player, I would be choosing to play with BB and hoping that other event organizers chooses to work with BB to ensure that they don't have conflicting schedule.

I was really hoping that the Pool 300 concepts and their league ideas would have taken off. I think they have a good concept for a new game as well that would be have helps improve the market for the game in general.

I personally think that in order to get the game of pool industry back to where it is....we need to start with making the game fun and available to the younger generation. By this, I mean...the industry shouldn't be targeting pro players to help with this industry...they should be targeting the new generation of kids as soon as they are able to pick up a stick and move on up the ladders. Once the industry become a growing pies, the issue with Pro and events issues will take it's natural courses.

One of my idea was to develop a teaching system that can be implemented with a belt system like Karate organization to train young players and help develop the basic skills for competitiveness and help them built values that are similar to those taught in Martial Arts Dojos all around the world. Instead of having different styles in martial arts...we would have different training systems (my CM360 reference system) vs CTE etc...O. It would be cool to be see all pool halls been turned into Family Centers that caters to all level of plays (food, alcohol, game centers, with dedicated area specifically for teaching new players (kids been the main goal).

Those are just some of my thoughts and ideas for this market.

Duc.

Good read. You have some great ideas, Duc. Thanks for sharing!

 

[StraightPoolIU]

Why don't Budweiser or Nike step. And don't forget Coca Cola, A lot of league players drink these drinks and most wear shoes ??

To reiterate, it really doesn't have anything to do with whether pool players buy or use (insert product name here). Those big companies aren't trying to sell products to pool players. They're trying to sell products to everyone in the country. If pool broadcasts don't reach enough viewers beyond the small audience of pool players interested in watching pool tournaments it's not worth spending the advertising dollars. Thus ends our marketing lesson for today. Please pm for information where you can send your student loan checks. :grin:

 

[CJ Wiley]

the right business model, ALL the players will be getting paid so for 80% of .......

And CJ, to only a minor degree, Jay outlined for those that don't remember (and I am sure that you do) how the Pro Pool Players screwed up that opportunity several times. There is much more to what Jay quickly detailed. And there are many more opportunities that were missed.

Pro Players need to quit blaming the promoters and take some time to look in the mirror.

I have a friend that plays on the Web.com tour (golf). He has made some noise but not won a tournament yet. He qualified with the big boys for the PGA event in Tampa this year but didn't make the cut after two rounds of play. He has sponsors. He made $57K last year in tournament winnings. He has to go to Chile, Brazil and all over the USA to play. And the one thing about him, compared to a pool player, is that he is very aware of his image. Even at his level. He plays on a tour that I run as well outside of real golf and I had a picture on my website of him holding a beer. Due to Google pushes that I have setup, if you Googled his name, it was the first picture that came up. When he saw this, he reached out to me and asked for the picture to be taken down. Why? Because he wasn't sure if that would effect his relationship with any present or future sponsors. What a novelty - a pro player thinking about more than just 5 minutes ahead in his life.

The PGA started out with 3 players, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player (they were all paid every event for their efforts). They played on Shell's Wonderful World of Golf and through TV and their efforts the PGA grew and blossomed. If they started out with a 64 man tournament or 128 people they would have had the same success pool had (until they changed). Pool can't pay tournaments with more than 8 players, so they shouldn't try until they can. The key to creating a business that has "synergy" is to PAY ALL THE PARTICIPANTS. If you don't pay your employees (in a real business) on Friday THEY DO NOT SHOW UP AGAIN.

The key to business is never hire more employees than you can pay. In the pool tournaments 80% of the players lose money by going....is this really such a great deal and does it create "good will" and positive attitudes? Do the players control this situation? No, the promoters are in 100% control of this situation, not the players. The players aren't even given a voice, if they try to "speak their mind" they're usually chastised about it. Do the Pro players think this situation is positive?

Of course not, it's a terrible deal and the players are blamed for not wanting to do it? Are you kidding, I'd never (with a clear conscious) recommend someone go work a job for 5 days (after preparing for countless hours practicing) with a 1 in 7 chance of making a pay check and pay their own expenses too???.....No one would do that in the "real working world". I'll bet nobody that reads this would do it either.......would you???

The players even have to pay an entree fee far above what the PGA charges for their tournaments. What do the players get in return? A chance to maybe make their money back and possibly a profit.What else do they get, towels, water, powder, chalk? maybe

Let's be real, in a major tournament only 10 - 15% of the field has a good chance to win......out of them only ONE WILL WIN. If you get 9 - 12 you may make a few hundred and 13 - 16 you will break about even in the typical Pro Tournament.

How would you guys like trying to get 5th place in one of these tournaments to make enough to live on for the next 3 weeks.....good deal? I have a chance to win these tournaments and it still looks bleak to try because there's NO TV....without TV, there's no Sponsorship opportunities, and without Sponsorship Opportunities you are only playing for "prize money" and this means you have a 20% chance to "break even"' at best......80% of the players will lose money these days in a Pro Billiard Event.

I don't know if Bonus Ball will be a success or not, but it's certainly a better gamble than going up against these kind of odds. They do have the right business model, ALL the players will be getting paid - so for 80% of the players it's a much better deal.

 

[watchez]

The PGA started out with 3 players, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player (they were all paid every event for their efforts). They played on Shell's Wonderful World of Golf and through TV and their efforts the PGA grew and blossomed. If they started out with a 64 man tournament or 128 people they would have had the same success pool had (until they changed). Pool can't pay tournaments with more than 8 players, so they shouldn't try until they can. The key to creating a business that has "synergy" is to PAY ALL THE PARTICIPANTS. If you don't pay your employees (in a real business) on Friday THEY DO NOT SHOW UP AGAIN.

The key to business is never hire more employees than you can pay. In the pool tournaments 80% of the players lose money by going....is this really such a great deal and cause "good will" and positive attitudes? Do the players control this situation?

Of course not, it's a terrible deal and the players are blamed for not wanting to do it? Are you kidding, I'd never (with a clear conscious) recommend someone go work a job for 5 days (after preparing for countless hours practicing) with a 1 in 7 chance of making a pay check and pay their own expenses too???.....No one would do that in the "real working world". I'll bet nobody that read this would do it either.......would you???

The players even have to pay an entree fee far above what the PGA charges for their tournaments. What do the players get in return? A chance to maybe make their money back and possibly a profit.What else do they get, towels, water, powder, chalk? maybe

Let's be real, in a major tournament only 10 - 15% of the field has a good chance to win......out of them only ONE WILL WIN. If you get 9 - 12 you may make a few hundred and 13 - 16 you will break about even in the typical Pro Tournament.

How would you guys like trying to get 5th place in one of these tournaments to make enough to live on for the next 3 weeks.....good deal? I have a chance to win these tournaments and it still looks bleak to try because there's NO TV....without TV, there's no Sponsorship opportunities, and without Sponsorship Opportunities you are only playing for "prize money" and this means you have a 20% chance to "break even"' at best......80% of the players will lose money.

I don't know if Bonus Ball will be a success or not, but it's certainly a better gamble than going up against these kind of odds. They do have the right business model, ALL the players will be getting paid - so for 80% of the players it's a much better deal.

CJ - please stop trying to compare pool to golf because honestly you don't have a clue. It costs about $15K just to go to Q school in order to get qualified for the PGA. All professional golfers - whether PGA, web.com, have coaches they have to pay for. PGA golfers have caddies they have to pay. web.com usually try to find an up and comer or ex college teammate to carry their bag or they will have to pay for a caddy at each of their stops.

And in a golf tournament, there are 150+ contestants -- 75 of them or so make the cut. Those are the ones that make something. The rest get NOTHING for the week.

Exempt players in golf on the PGA tour don't pay entry fees. The ones that are still trying to make it have to pay entry fees ($500 and up), locker room fees and other fees I have listed above. In the other golf tours that are not the highest ranks, the entry fees are actually higher - $500 to over $1000. This is because the payouts in these tours are funded more by the players/entry fees than sponsors or tv money as they are in the PGA.

Team sports - all the contestants get paid. Individual pro sports are just like pool. You have to earn what you make.

My original point is that the pool players themselves have done so much damage as Jay described that it will take a long time to get it fixed. Just like say working out, it takes you 6 weeks to get into better shape but only 2 weeks to get out of shape.

 

[jay helfert]

The PGA started out with 3 players, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player (they were all paid every event for their efforts). They played on Shell's Wonderful World of Golf and through TV and their efforts the PGA grew and blossomed. If they started out with a 64 man tournament or 128 people they would have had the same success pool had (until they changed). Pool can't pay tournaments with more than 8 players, so they shouldn't try until they can. The key to creating a business that has "synergy" is to PAY ALL THE PARTICIPANTS. If you don't pay your employees (in a real business) on Friday THEY DO NOT SHOW UP AGAIN.

The key to business is never hire more employees than you can pay. In the pool tournaments 80% of the players lose money by going....is this really such a great deal and cause "good will" and positive attitudes? Do the players control this situation?

Of course not, it's a terrible deal and the players are blamed for not wanting to do it? Are you kidding, I'd never (with a clear conscious) recommend someone go work a job for 5 days (after preparing for countless hours practicing) with a 1 in 7 chance of making a pay check and pay their own expenses too???.....No one would do that in the "real working world". I'll bet nobody that read this would do it either.......would you???

The players even have to pay an entree fee far above what the PGA charges for their tournaments. What do the players get in return? A chance to maybe make their money back and possibly a profit.What else do they get, towels, water, powder, chalk? maybe

Let's be real, in a major tournament only 10 - 15% of the field has a good chance to win......out of them only ONE WILL WIN. If you get 9 - 12 you may make a few hundred and 13 - 16 you will break about even in the typical Pro Tournament.

How would you guys like trying to get 5th place in one of these tournaments to make enough to live on for the next 3 weeks.....good deal? I have a chance to win these tournaments and it still looks bleak to try because there's NO TV....without TV, there's no Sponsorship opportunities, and without Sponsorship Opportunities you are only playing for "prize money" and this means you have a 20% chance to "break even"' at best......80% of the players will lose money.

I don't know if Bonus Ball will be a success or not, but it's certainly a better gamble than going up against these kind of odds. They do have the right business model, ALL the players will be getting paid - so for 80% of the players it's a much better deal.

CJ, thanks for the history lesson and the nice fairy tale about the PGA. There had been a PGA tour for more than thirty years before Palmer, Nicklaus and Player became top dogs. Maybe you never heard of Snead, Hogan, Nelson and Demaret. There were typically 60-75 players who played in these events during the 30's and 40's. The fields began to grow larger in the 50's. The early PGA tour had relatively small purses, with the winner often getting around $2,000 or $2,500. That was pretty decent money at the time, but it was a real struggle to stay out there. The players hung in there and eventually it blossomed into what we have today.

I still feel the best bet for the success of professional pool is a legitimate pro tour, utilizing a game that showcases the skills of the best players, i.e. Ten Ball on a ten foot table. I think BB will go the way of Seven Ball, a long forgotten "new" game. A true pro tour with substantial prize money would allow more players to make a living from the game. But the nature of individual pro sports (golf, tennis, pool etc.) is that only the best players make the most money. Even in the stratospheric world of pro golf, there are many thousands of grinders trying hard to make ends meet, while they flail away at their dream.

Pro pool is really not that different, with a handful of top players (who travel the world) making most of the money. Even in today's economy the 40K Lee Van just won in China is not chopped liver. So someone is getting the money, it just isn't you anymore. Someone will win 28K in the Ultimate Ten Ball, someone will win 20K in the Bigfoot Challenge, someone will win five figures in the Bank Pool, One Pocket and 9-Ball divisions at the Southern Classic. That's a certainty!

And there will be other substantial prizes for the players who finish high. Yes pro pool is a tough grind, but there is still money to be made if you're good enough. Just ask Shane about that. Most of the top pros also get financial support through endorsement deals. No, it's not big money, but it helps pay the bills. My point being that even in this low ebb in our sport, there is money to be made for the elite players. That is something to shoot for if you're serious about being a pro.

P.S. I promise you that after Bonus Ball has been around a few years and all these guys are getting paid decent money, I will gladly eat my words. Look, if you want to do something good for pool, put on a 50K added event in Dallas. If a dozen guys like you, who have the money, put on a similar event in their home city, there would be a pro tour. TV and sponsorship well could follow if they had something worthwhile to put on the air. ESPN has always asked for a tour, not a single event. I am quite willing to put on a 50K added tournament in Los Angeles if I see something happening like this.

 

[RBC]

Why don't Budweiser or Nike step. And don't forget Coca Cola, A lot of league players drink these drinks and most wear shoes ??

Being one who makes his living in pool, I find myself having this discussion of "what will save pool" all the time. Inevitably, the one thing that always comes up is the giant major sponsor or sponsors. "Why don't the beer companies sponsor pool, or the soft drink companies?" "They have lots of money and all the pool players use their products". The answer is really pretty simple.

All these companies have large, well funded market development departments filled with college educated marketing people. Some probably have the best minds money can buy. These marketing genius' are all pretty much doing the same thing, looking for the next big thing they can use to sell their products. Something like what poker has done. I can assure you that all those departments and all those marketing guys are very aware of pool. They know they could own pool for a very small expenditure compared to what they have to spend. But none of them are willing to put any money into pool. Obviously, they don't think any amount of money can make pool a good medium to sell their products. They have been there and done that and it didn't work.

The moral of the story is that professional pool has an image problem. And when you have an image problem, it doesn't matter what you do, the pubic just doesn't pay you any attention.

It's all about the money, and it can be hard to figure out where it comes from. It doesn't come from sponsors like so many think. It comes from the public choosing to spend their hard earned dollars on products that are related to something they enjoy. How many guys are out there who don't have any kind of a savings account, but own at least one leather NASCAR driver's jacket. If pool can garner those emotions towards it's professional players, the rest will take care of itself. All big money sports that we know of are supported by the fans.

If professional pool doesn't start to focus on making fans, nothing else will matter. If you have fans, everything else will work itself out.

Question:
Just how many people have chosen to pay money to join Tony Stewart's fan club? I haven't looked at it recently, but I'm sure the number is surprising!

 

[CJ Wiley]

I AM comparing pool's situation to universally excepted and practiced business models

CJ - please stop trying to compare pool to golf because honestly you don't have a clue. It costs about $15K just to go to Q school in order to get qualified for the PGA. All professional golfers - whether PGA, web.com, have coaches they have to pay for. PGA golfers have caddies they have to pay. web.com usually try to find an up and comer or ex college teammate to carry their bag or they will have to pay for a caddy at each of their stops.

And in a golf tournament, there are 150+ contestants -- 75 of them or so make the cut. Those are the ones that make something. The rest get NOTHING for the week.

Exempt players in golf on the PGA tour don't pay entry fees. The ones that are still trying to make it have to pay entry fees ($500 and up), locker room fees and other fees I have listed above. In the other golf tours that are not the highest ranks, the entry fees are actually higher - $500 to over $1000. This is because the payouts in these tours are funded more by the players/entry fees than sponsors or tv money as they are in the PGA.

Team sports - all the contestants get paid. Individual pro sports are just like pool. You have to earn what you make.

My original point is that the pool players themselves have done so much damage as Jay described that it will take a long time to get it fixed. Just like say working out, it takes you 6 weeks to get into better shape but only 2 weeks to get out of shape.

I'm not comparing pool to golf, golf is used as an example.

I AM comparing pool's situation to universally excepted and practiced business principles. If you only pay 20% of your workers see how long your business lasts....you know the answer to that, and it's the core issue with the Pro Pool tournaments.

Pro Players are very smart and they know it's a terrible deal and they still try to participate because they do enjoy and like the game/competition. You have to admire them for that, I've been in business long enough that it's much more difficult to play because "I like the game or competition". At the end of the day compensation does play a key role in our decision making......or we suffer the consequences. 'The Game is the Teacher. com

 

[lfigueroa]

Why don't Budweiser or Nike step. And don't forget Coca Cola, A lot of league players drink these drinks and most wear shoes ??

There are a lot of reasons but let me just toss out one: pool does not have a product to sell. Major corporations are not interested in sponsoring a one-off tournament, even if it is a US Open and/or happens every year. (I kinda suspect they would not be interested in a bunch of guys locked up in a studio somewhere a few miles out in the desert, but I digress.) What big money corporate sponsors might want is a national tour. So, IMO, when pool has the semblance of a tour you may see a nibble or two.

Lou Figueroa

 

[flyvirginiaguy]

What big money corporate sponsors might want is a national tour.

Lou Figueroa

Which makes sense to those in business, and the reason RJR/Camel tried to do it.

 

[spanky79]

I'm not comparing pool to golf, golf is used as an example.

I AM comparing pool's situation to universally excepted and practiced business principles. If you only pay 20% of your workers see how long your business lasts....you know the answer to that, and it's the core issue with the Pro Pool tournaments.

Pro Players are very smart and they know it's a terrible deal and they still try to participate because they do enjoy and like the game/competition. You have to admire them for that, I've been in business long enough that it's much more difficult to play because "I like the game or competition". At the end of the day compensation does play a key role in our decision making......or we suffer the consequences. 'The Game is the Teacher. com

Sorry but post pool players are not that smart. This is proven over and over again by not supporting the people who are trying to help them,always being broke, and let see agreeing to dump a tournament before it even started. People hat EARL and he sad part is EARL is one of the SMART ones. He just doesn't know how to talk to people.

 

[CJ Wiley]

"Post" pool players are very smart....very smart indeed.

Sorry but post pool players are not that smart. This is proven over and over again by not supporting the people who are trying to help them,always being broke, and let see agreeing to dump a tournament before it even started. People hat EARL and he sad part is EARL is one of the SMART ones. He just doesn't know how to talk to people.

I happen to think "Post" pool players are very smart....very smart indeed.

 

[DaveK]

The PGA started out with 3 players, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player (they were all paid every event for their efforts)

Here :

http://www.worldgolf.com/wglibrary/history/chpgatr.html

This is a reasonable discussion of the real start of the "PGA". I believe that you are actually refering to the "PGA Tour", which is a bit different than the "PGA of America". As you can see the PGA and the PGA Tour started well before the three players you mention entered their first professional tournament. The key dates are 1916 and 1934.

Having said that the current professional pool scene does appear similar to the state of golf in the 1920s and 1930s .... a bunch of independant tournaments that good players entered if they could get there and pay the entry fee.

Dave

 

[CJ Wiley]

It's great to be "Exceptional", but not in this case

CJ, thanks for the history lesson and the nice fairy tale about the PGA. There had been a PGA tour for more than thirty years before Palmer, Nicklaus and Player became top dogs. Maybe you never heard of Snead, Hogan, Nelson and Demaret. There were typically 60-75 players who played in these events during the 30's and 40's. The fields began to grow larger in the 50's. The early PGA tour had relatively small purses, with the winner often getting around $2,000 or $2,500. That was pretty decent money at the time, but it was a real struggle to stay out there. The players hung in there and eventually it blossomed into what we have today.

I still feel the best bet for the success of professional pool is a legitimate pro tour, utilizing a game that showcases the skills of the best players, i.e. Ten Ball on a ten foot table. I think BB will go the way of Seven Ball, a long forgotten "new" game. A true pro tour with substantial prize money would allow more players to make a living from the game. But the nature of individual pro sports (golf, tennis, pool etc.) is that only the best players make the most money. Even in the stratospheric world of pro golf, there are many thousands of grinders trying hard to make ends meet, while they flail away at their dream.

Pro pool is really not that different, with a handful of top players (who travel the world) making most of the money. Even in today's economy the 40K Lee Van just won in China is not chopped liver. So someone is getting the money, it just isn't you anymore. Someone will win 28K in the Ultimate Ten Ball, someone will win 20K in the Bigfoot Challenge, someone will win five figures in the Bank Pool, One Pocket and 9-Ball divisions at the Southern Classic. That's a certainty!

And there will be other substantial prizes for the players who finish high. Yes pro pool is a tough grind, but there is still money to be made if you're good enough. Just ask Shane about that. Most of the top pros also get financial support through endorsement deals. No, it's not big money, but it helps pay the bills. My point being that even in this low ebb in our sport, there is money to be made for the elite players. That is something to shoot for if you're serious about being a pro.

P.S. I promise you that after Bonus Ball has been around a few years and all these guys are getting paid decent money, I will gladly eat my words. Look, if you want to do something good for pool, put on a 50K added event in Dallas. If a dozen guys like you, who have the money, put on a similar event in their home city, there would be a pro tour. TV and sponsorship well could follow if they had something worthwhile to put on the air. ESPN has always asked for a tour, not a single event. I am quite willing to put on a 50K added tournament in Los Angeles if I see something happening like this.

It's no "Fairy Tale," anyone can ask Sam Snead who won more golf tournaments than anyone in more decades - his total prize money earned was around $750,000 .... and that's lifetime of 6 decades. Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan took over 20 years to make a million dollars. They had to gamble and give lessons to support their families.

TV is the Key. Why have tournaments with 128 Pros where 80% of them starve when you could have a televised tournament with 8 players, and pay them all $5,000 or more. This is the model that Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player used and it worked. This is also the model that 100% of businesses use and pool is the only exception.

Name ONE business that survived years by only paying 20% of their staff......with NO BENEFITS at all for the other 80%.

Pool is the only exception, isn't it about time to "real eyes" this everyone???

It's great to be "Exceptional", but not in this case.

I couldn't free up the time to join the Bonus Ball Team, however, I am rooting for them to succeed. Pro Pool players are starving trying to keep the game alive, and it's not a pretty sight. I have compassion for their situation because I've been there and done that.....in a much better time and it was still very challenging to be successful.

I think we all have some important things to learn, and......'The Game is the Teacher'