Pro Pool players courting disaster

Seems like we've been through this before, just sayin. The pool world is in a frenzy:sad: that's what usually happens when there is no unity (or money) and the players are just as confused as ever .However, you can't blame the players for taking a stance on the curtain, in spite of what others may feel. From a players perspective there really isn't a future in professional pool in the state that it's in now and for decades before:deadhorse: Yes Mark and Gregg are the best in what they do, however, they can only do so much and apparently it's not enough when they're up against a carrot dangler like Bonus Ball.:shakehead: Was it unethical to schedule Bonus Ball conflicting with other scheduled events? Of course, but who really knows why it happened? The problem is that it did happen and there's absolutely nothing anyone can do at this point but to wait and see what happens. I'm sure that what ever happens it's not going to change professional pool for the worst, it can only get better, or stay the same. I have noticed that there are some people that were united at one time but have been divided by this quandary, sad to see that, however, I believe that they are intelligent enough to see through this in time.

My advice for the professional player would be to gamble with Bonus Ball but at the same time honor their allegiance to the promoters that have been supporting them through the years, if at all possible. That would be the prudent thing to do. Like Nike...just do it.

Bill Incardona
 
Succeed

CJ Wiley said:
The reality is this economy is tough for more people than just "pool players"....there's millions of people in the world that would LOVE to have that "9 to 5 job" you speak of...unfortunately, there isn't one for them.

One thing I know about we pool players, we will do what it takes to survive. I just received an email from a soldier over seas, it puts things in perspective for me. While we enjoy this "American quality of life" there are those right now making sure we can continue. I want to personally thank them and please forgive us for our petty "bonus ball knocking"......there are more important things to "knock".

We should all want Bonus Ball to succeed, not for anything else other than human compassion and NOT wanting our fellow humans to suffer. Don't make any mistake Pool Players and Many Others these days are suffering with no apparent hope for survival other than "good will". 'Life is the Teacher'
Click to expand...

Cj.. Don't get me wrong. I hope Bonus Ball does succeed.

That is what is great about this country. If you have a vision and your willing to put the time and effort into it the sky is the limit if it should blossom.

As Clint Eastwood once said in the Movie "Magnum Force". "A mans got to know his limitations"

Just out of curiosity, what pecentage of Pro Pool players would take a 9 to 5 job if there was one available to every one of them?

Don
 
Poolshootindon said:
Cj.. Don't get me wrong. I hope Bonus Ball does succeed.

That is what is great about this country. If you have a vision and your willing to put the time and effort into it the sky is the limit if it should blossom.

As Clint Eastwood once said in the Movie "Magnum Force". "A mans got to know his limitations"

Just out of curiosity, what pecentage of Pro Pool players would take a 9 to 5 job if there was one available to every one of them?

Don
Click to expand...

Every single pool player on the planet has plenty of regular jobs available to them. No one earth who is free is barred from working.
 
heard they are installing pocket cameras today. pretty sporty stuff,


Billy's post made lots of sense to me.


all the talk in the world is cheap what happens in the next 18-24 months will answer most everyones questions im sure.
 
Although I admire Pro players, who wouldn't want to be able to play even half as well as most of them.

That said, I spent many summers on the road riding in a Motor Cycle Thrill Show.

At age 32, I took a bad fall with another motorcycle and broke my left leg in four places.

After being laid up for a year, I realized that I no longer had the reflexes or the stamina
to continue so I cut back my travels to playing a couple of spots a year.

Even tho that I knew those hot shot years better be behind me or I was heading for trouble both financially and physically, it was a tough decision because the thrill still says
In your blood.

Just like I was, the thrill of playing pool, traveling on the road etc stays with you, I can understand why it's tough for many to just quit. It's in your blood.

That's why I can sympathize with the guys on this one. Might be their last shot at putting some steady money in their pockets when the writing has been on the wall for some time now. Can't blame em for giving it a shot.

All good times do come to an end in some cases and it is with that, ya have to stop living the dream and think about settling down. And if by settling down means to get a job that pays regularly, then maybe that's what has to happen.

That said, I do wish there was much better scheduling involved so that our long time promotors don't get hurt, and hope they all can get along in the future. With the future of Pro pool being in question, it's not good to be stepping on anyone's toes
That has the same goal in mind.

Within a year or two, everyone might be standing there, scratching their heads wondering what the heck
Just happened.
 
Last edited:
nathandumoulin said:
The difference is that my crew works 60 hour weeks (136 hours this week alone EACH). The players play 3 hours. They are not more important than the players, but I have every right to be concerned about my crew "burning .
Click to expand...

FYI

136 hours in one week divided by 7 days is 19.4 hours in a 24 hour day! You guys make of this what you will!!!

Kd



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Kid Dynomite said:
FYI

136 hours in one week divided by 7 days is 19.4 hours in a 24 hour day! You guys make of this what you will!!!
Click to expand...

meth is dangerous:eek::eek:


just kidding, they aint doing dope, Nathan for as long as i known him now 5 years, 4 on the low has always been balls to the wall in everything he does, tattoos, piercings(your a bit old for the snake bites buddy), pool, video work, pool related video work. He rolls hard, he is super smart, talk with him sometime-this internet dont show the real person, in rare cass like Jay Helfert who writes so strong-you get jay.


Nathan had directed and produced great pool video-especially some streams. he put his camera guys on the correct shot-they know how to play and pick up the correct shots for thise of us who know a thing or 2 about playing pool.


I will stand for him and his character 8 days a week, BB aside.
 
wincardona said:
I'm sure that what ever happens it's not going to change professional pool for the worst, it can only get better, or stay the same. I have noticed that there are some people that were united at one time but have been divided by this quandary, sad to see that, however, I believe that they are intelligent enough to see through this in time.

My advice for the professional player would be to gamble with Bonus Ball but at the same time honor their allegiance to the promoters that have been supporting them through the years, if at all possible. That would be the prudent thing to do. Like Nike...just do it.

Bill Incardona
Click to expand...

In the aftermath of another unsuccessful Mosconi Cup, much talk on the forum centered around how America, which is starting to fall of the map in international competition, can get back to international prominence. Many on this forum noted that the Asians and Europeans (few of whom will play bonus ball except as occasional alternates) are outworking us, practicing harder and playing with more commitment. Few Americans who post here believe that the Asians or Europeans are inherently more gifted as players than Americans, and yet it is undeniable that Americans have virtually nothing to show for their efforts in WPA events over the past five years.

If Bonus Ball is what the Americans (Shane and Mike Dechaiane excepted) will be practicing and playing, then the gap between them and foreign players who continue to hone their skills in rotation pool games will increase.

Bonus Ball may hinder the progress of Americans who hope to regain competitiveness on the world pool stage, but that's OK if Bonus Ball proves sustainable. If it doesn't however, Americans may see some of the events on American soil disappear and come out of this exeriment less prepared than ever to compete on the international stage, where the real money is in tournament pool.

The sport of Pool may come out of a Bonus Ball flop just as strong, but I fear that American pool will not. The American pro will likely lose some events and will be far less prepared for international competition, which might become the only source of a significant income.

American pool is not that strong right now, but it can get a lot worse if bridges are burned with the major American promoters and American skills in rotational pool are diminshed.

Hoping for the best and wishing all associated with Bonus Ball the best of luck.
 
Last edited:
I can see it with Nathan, just strikes me as that type of guy.

At least when you put your head down for the night, you won't have any problems sleeping. But better watch your health, it can catch up to pretty quick and bite you on the butt.

I used to pull this action off quite frequently in my younger days when we didn't run log books so I know what happens.

Of course, I also had some help in the form of white crosses, black beauties and Christmas trees.
 
sjm said:
(...SNIP...)
If Bonus Ball is what the Americans (Shane and Mike Dechaiane excepted) will be practicing and playing, then the gap between them and foreign players who continue to hone their skills in rotation pool games will increase.

Bonus Ball may hinder the progress of Americans who hope to regain competitiveness on the world pool stage, but that's OK if Bonus Ball proves sustainable. If it doesn't however, Americans may see some of the events on American soil disappear and come out of this exeriment less prepared than ever to compete on the international stage, where the real money is in tournament pool.
(...SNIP...)
Click to expand...

I think that if the pros are spending so much time playing BB that their 9-ball skills deteriorate, that would indicate that BB has been a huge success.

Also, BB has a sequence component and, from my admittedly limited experiments, you have to move the CB around the table in 9-ball-like ways fairly often. So any such impact should be small.

In fact, I'm not even sure about the premise: does playing a wider variety of games make you worse in each individual one? Or does it expand your skill set and improve creativity in a way that makes you better at each one? Has Shane's 9-ball dropped off now that he's been playing a lot of one-pocket? Or have his kicks and safes jumped up a notch?

Cory
 
100% ....the reality of Pro Pool from an outside perspective

Poolshootindon said:
Cj.. Don't get me wrong. I hope Bonus Ball does succeed.

That is what is great about this country. If you have a vision and your willing to put the time and effort into it the sky is the limit if it should blossom.

As Clint Eastwood once said in the Movie "Magnum Force". "A mans got to know his limitations"

Just out of curiosity, what pecentage of Pro Pool players would take a 9 to 5 job if there was one available to every one of them?

Don
Click to expand...

100% if the job was something they had a passion for, and Bonus Ball may be that job.

Look at the alternative: You can go to another "job" called a Pro Pool Tournament where they expect you to PAY to work, with another 100 or so "workers" of the same trade. Then, they promise if you do better than 75% of the other "workers" they will give you some of your money back.

If you do REALLY well they will give you more than your money back. 74% of these "workers" will lose money for working just as hard at preparing in their own way......oh, yes and all the workers have to pay for 100% of their food, travel, room, equipment, powder, wardrobe, etc.

Their only real drive comes from the passion they have for the Game......a Game that would advise them not to undertake such a negative situation. The Game would advice them not to because any consultant would advice a worker not to subject themselves to these type situations. In most states you MUST pay minimum wage, however, in this "Pro Tournament" scenario the Labor Laws do not apply.

People can actually Charge their staff to work without any chance of recovery. Then, if they {the players} find something else that will pay 100% of them (Bonus Ball) they are ridiculed for NOT being loyal to the scenario that makes most of them suffer a severe financial punishment.

We sincerely wish the best for the entire staff of Bonus Ball and every player that's doing what they MUST do to survive. If there's every anything we can do for their cause we will at NO CHARGE.....We've been in this situation on the Road, where we had to win to eat.....where no one was on our side, and would laugh if they thought we were broke or struggling......We have no grudges and understand this is human nature to an extent, the "dark side" of human psych.....we will do whatever's necessary to help if they need a hand. 'The Game is our Teacher'
 
Last edited:
nathandumoulin said:
This is correct. I pulled 84 hours in 4 back to back shifts earlier in the week.

Troll all you like, but you won't slow me down.
Click to expand...

Why are you working so hard -- the construction fiasco delayed this 8 months giving you and your crew plenty of time to get things beyond hammering nails in order.
 
watchez said:
Why are you working so hard -- the construction fiasco delayed this 8 months giving you and your crew plenty of time to get things beyond hammering nails in order.
Click to expand...

Joy of being salaried... 8months of not having to do anything is made up of 6 weeks of ohhhh my god I am gonna die......

Actually i would bet that the crew couldn't do what was needed until the contractors were done... But the other story was much better for getting a chuckle =)

For Nathan and Lee I wish nothing but good luck with BB truthfully from the bottom of my heart.. As far as going forward... I hope the streams that have become rivers can be forded.....

Chris
 
The Renfro said:
Joy of being salaried... 8months of not having to do anything is made up of 6 weeks of ohhhh my god I am gonna die....
Click to expand...


lol, not quite. :P

The work comes from about 8,000 lines of code that runs the entire system, knows what player is at the table shooting what ball automatically for the entire season, records all stats automatically, auto injects all stats into our dynamic custom made graphics overlay engine (score tickers, player comparisons, rankings, etc), drives the shot and game clocks automatically, updates the entire website stats pages after each shot automatically, has our own PPV streaming platform that costs us pennies in bandwidth (rather than thousands per week), iOS and Android support, auto-scaling video resolution that checks your bandwidth every 5 seconds and auto adapts for best performance, built in member chat, fallback to ustream system in case of stream failure, etc.

And that's just the web portion, let alone the tech in studio, which has over 600 cables and pieces of hardware.

People can laugh all they want, but they have absolutely no idea of the tech that I've built into this over the past few months. I'm not bragging either, as until it all works in a real world environment, it means nothing. Im just explaining how far we've pushed this, and how little anyone really knows about what's going on in this studio.

It may take us a few weeks to get it all running live, but we will start at around 80% and slowly implement these latest bells and whistles. Same with the show opener and graphics. We will reshoot all these aspects the first week while all the players are here in the new studio, and then have the new graphics and intro ready for week 2-3.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top