Am I the only one that thinks...

[jhanso18]

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH POOL!!!!!!!!!

I enjoy every time I get to go play. I couldn't care less about the struggles of the pro players. Sure I like to see them play, but any pro that can make an alternate living, seems to prefer NOT to make their money by playing. Sure the pro's can't do this and that, and blah blah blah. Who cares??? The BCA event coming up will be HUGE for amatures, and a great time.

Why do the pros need to be able to earn a payday for all to be right in pool??? They knew the road they chose, when they chose it. Kind of reminds me of a school teacher that went to school for 8 years to be a teacher KNOWING they don't get paid shit! Then complains about his/her pay once in the roll. We can say conservatively that like 50% of pro's can't make it on pool alone, and we still have up and coming guys trying to make it happen... A kid like Landon is going to college, and we all know he could make the cut. What does that tell you????????


Either way I'm just kind of sick of hearing all the negativity around pool. I love the game for what it is. I try to improve constantly. I enjoy the gambling, tournaments, custom cues, and interesting people. I love all games as well! That is more than enough to think there is NOTHING wrong with pool for me!!!

I love pool, sue me...

Justin

 

[Mikey Town]

Wow, Justin... You are so selfish

 

[jhanso18]

Wow, Justin... You are so selfish

I know. Just got a little sick of reading all the negativity, and the "woe is me" treads for the poor pro pool players, and how pool needs to change and blah ****ing blah!!!

I figured I would just throw out there that I LOVE POOL, and I don't give a shit about all the bickering.

On a positive note, I played a guy last week that I thought for sure I was donating for a lesson, and I came out ahead. I was riding that high all week!!!

 

[Mikey Town]

I know. Just got a little sick of reading all the negativity, and the "woe is me" treads for the poor pro pool players, and how pool needs to change and blah ****ing blah!!!

I figured I would just throw out there that I LOVE POOL, and I don't give a shit about all the bickering.

On a positive note, I played a guy last week that I thought for sure I was donating for a lesson, and I came out ahead. I was riding that high all week!!!

Nice job! Gotta love it when the donator suddenly becomes the collector.

 

[CreeDo]

I gotta admit, it's hard for me to care about things that don't directly affect me either.
The game itself (balls, pockets, table) feels fine.

Simply from a non-emotional point of view, just looking at the facts,
pool has gone into some kind of slump. Fewer pool halls, worse payouts,
less popularity than it used to enjoy.

Right now, the slump doesn't terribly affect you, you still probably
have a place to shoot, people to play against, good matches to watch.
We don't need pool to be the the NFL or PGA or the super bowl.

I think the worry is that if keeps on a downward slide, people will start having to drive 50 miles
to find a pool hall, there will be no matches to watch even on the internet, and tournament payouts
alone will not support anyone, even though they have poured their life into practicing and mastering it.

 

[Shannon.spronk]

I really feel about the same way. I do want the pro players to succeed, but if they do not then it really makes no difference to me. I just want my local room to have an open table when I go down there to play.

 

[robsnotes4u]

Great post

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH POOL!!!!!!!!!

I enjoy every time I get to go play. I couldn't care less about the struggles of the pro players. Sure I like to see them play, but any pro that can make an alternate living, seems to prefer NOT to make their money by playing. Sure the pro's can't do this and that, and blah blah blah. Who cares??? The BCA event coming up will be HUGE for amatures, and a great time.

Why do the pros need to be able to earn a payday for all to be right in pool??? They knew the road they chose, when they chose it. Kind of reminds me of a school teacher that went to school for 8 years to be a teacher KNOWING they don't get paid shit! Then complains about his/her pay once in the roll. We can say conservatively that like 50% of pro's can't make it on pool alone, and we still have up and coming guys trying to make it happen... A kid like Landon is going to college, and we all know he could make the cut. What does that tell you????????


Either way I'm just kind of sick of hearing all the negativity around pool. I love the game for what it is. I try to improve constantly. I enjoy the gambling, tournaments, custom cues, and interesting people. I love all games as well! That is more than enough to think there is NOTHING wrong with pool for me!!!

I love pool, sue me...

Justin

Especially the analogy of the teachers, I hate when they complain

 

[bdorman]

There is nothing wrong with anything.

I woke up this morning, alive. The sun rose in the east, there was food in the fridge and my wife was almost as glad as my dog to see me.

I don't know why everybody's so upset about stuff.

Awwww, your pool room closed. Too bad. I've got a table at the community rec center.

Can't find anyone else who wants to play? That's why God invented the Ghost.

 

[StraightPoolIU]

Yeah I understand where the OP is coming from. The reasons why I'd like to see pool rise in popularity is because 1. More and nicer pool rooms so I wouldn't have to drive so far to play 2. Easier to watch pool because it would be on television 3. Easier to find books and magazines (It still blows me away that you can find magazines in the bookstore for every topic except pool including astronomy and the wild west.) and 4. Easier to buy pool stuff. Right now I have to basically get stuff online and pay shipping where as there might be more supply stores/pro shops with more products if pool was more popular.

 

[JesseBfan]

I gotta admit, it's hard for me to care about things that don't directly affect me either.
The game itself (balls, pockets, table) feels fine.

Simply from a non-emotional point of view, just looking at the facts,
pool has gone into some kind of slump. Fewer pool halls, worse payouts,
less popularity than it used to enjoy.

Right now, the slump doesn't terribly affect you, you still probably
have a place to shoot, people to play against, good matches to watch.
We don't need pool to be the the NFL or PGA or the super bowl.

I think the worry is that if keeps on a downward slide, people will start having to drive 50 miles
to find a pool hall, there will be no matches to watch even on the internet, and tournament payouts
alone will not support anyone, even though they have poured their life into practicing and mastering it.

As usual CreeDo nails it. If only you would reply to every single post, others wouldn't even have to haha. Jk of course

 

[Black-Balled]

As usual CreeDo nails it. If only you would reply to every single post, others wouldn't even have to haha. Jk of course

Yeah, I no longer read his posts coz I always feel the same way and rarely say it as well. I am probably gonna put him on ignore, as he is choking my post count.

There is wrong with pool, but 'how much it pays' is not it, it is the fact that there are too many predators out there who take from the pros, bleed them for a bit and leave them owed.

I have no solution, but I know wrong when I see it.

I think pool pays exactly what it is worth to the people paying it.

 

[44Runner]

I worry about exposure for the next generation. Sure pool is fine but I do worry if it continues to slump it will start to disappear.

 

[boogeyman]

Something being wrong with a sport is all relative. (Business) cycles wax and wane; that's life. BUT if anyone thinks that what happens in the sport doesn't affect you then you don't see the big picture.

If BB, a new tour, a fascinating new pool-personality, etc. comes into the picture then guess what? Everyone does better. When Tiger Woods came on the golf scene everyone eventually made more money.

Here's an example, let's say BB does take off, that means those 40 players or so will get a paycheck. Chances are they will have or want to miss a big regional tourney. That means an "open" spot for another player to get a chance to make money. It's called the "trickling-down" effect. It happens folks. If pool gets more popular, for whatever reason, that could lead to more pool rooms or more tv time, or more sponsorship, or money tourney prizes. Nobody plays in a vacuum....unless you have your own private table. Even then isn't it cool to play around/with others? Hmmm.

 

[Sloppy Pockets]

I really feel about the same way. I do want the pro players to succeed, but if they do not then it really makes no difference to me. I just want my local room to have an open table when I go down there to play.

Well, if the sport doesn't start bringing in new players, the first thing you may notice just before your local pool hall closes is that there is always a table available.

I live near a really nice room with beautiful Diamond tables, both 7' and 9' and in really good condition. There is tons of room around the tables, and this room actually hosts a couple of legs of the Joss tour (the 9 footers came from the Turning Stone event a few years ago). Below is a photo I took a while back of the room at 9:45 PM on a Friday evening.

The whole time we were there, there was just the two of us and a couple older guys playing straight pool. This shot was taken just as we were about to leave but before they turned off the two table lights. I doubt anybody entered the room after we left, over two hours before closing.

It wasn't much better this past Tuesday, when they have an "all you can shoot" special - $8/person from 4 PM to closing. There was a grand total of 10 guys playing the entire time we were there, meaning that the owner netted a grand total of $80 for the night. No one appeared to be drinking except for my wife and I, so the poor barmaid got a $10 tip from us for two beers.

How long can this beautiful room possibly weather this lack of business before the owner has to close? That's the reason why I feel that what goes on in pool at the top level affects me personally. We simply need lots more new players getting involved in the sport, and anything that leads to renewed interest in pool is in my own best interest.

 

[budonahog]

That is a beautiful room. Have played a couple of Joss tournaments there. I just wished it was a little closer to me.

 

[oldzilla]

Well, if the sport doesn't start bringing in new players, the first thing you may notice just before your local pool hall closes is that there is always a table available.

I live near a really nice room with beautiful Diamond tables, both 7' and 9' and in really good condition. There is tons of room around the tables, and this room actually hosts a couple of legs of the Joss tour (the 9 footers came from the Turning Stone event a few years ago). Below is a photo I took a while back of the room at 9:45 PM on a Friday evening.

The whole time we were there, there was just the two of us and a couple older guys playing straight pool. This shot was taken just as we were about to leave but before they turned off the two table lights. I doubt anybody entered the room after we left, over two hours before closing.

It wasn't much better this past Tuesday, when they have an "all you can shoot" special - $8/person from 4 PM to closing. There was a grand total of 10 guys playing the entire time we were there, meaning that the owner netted a grand total of $80 for the night. No one appeared to be drinking except for my wife and I, so the poor barmaid got a $10 tip from us for two beers.

How long can this beautiful room possibly weather this lack of business before the owner has to close? That's the reason why I feel that what goes on in pool at the top level affects me personally. We simply need lots more new players getting involved in the sport, and anything that leads to renewed interest in pool is in my own best interest.

That is a beautiful room. Have played a couple of Joss tournaments there. I just wished it was a little closer to me.

I'm close to this room too guys.

I try to get in their for the tuesday night 8$ special and play a bit.

But I hear ya, the equipment nowadays is grrrrrreat !

 

[Lucky_Lew66]

i agree with Boogeyman, if you think that the pros dont affect us ,like he said,look at Tiger Woods affect on golf, what happens when nobody plays the game anymore and rooms close and all us unlucky folks that dont have tables at home are screwed, and then we cant buy nice tables and have to play on Sears tables because all the dealers closed as well, i dont know about you but i would rather be shot then to have to play on a honeycomb bed, it all affects us and our passion for the game we love ...Even the knowledge about the game,it used to be you had to read books to get knowledge ,and there was about 10 decent reads on the game,now there are hundreds of cue makers books, instructors,youtube to capture the past great matches and history,i only been playing 25 years and i have seen a big difference

 

[backplaying]

i agree with Boogeyman, if you think that the pros dont affect us ,like he said,look at Tiger Woods affect on golf, what happens when nobody plays the game anymore and rooms close and all us unlucky folks that dont have tables at home are screwed, and then we cant buy nice tables and have to play on Sears tables because all the dealers closed as well, i dont know about you but i would rather be shot then to have to play on a honeycomb bed, it all affects us and our passion for the game we love ...Even the knowledge about the game,it used to be you had to read books to get knowledge ,and there was about 10 decent reads on the game,now there are hundreds of cue makers books, instructors,youtube to capture the past great matches and history,i only been playing 25 years and i have seen a big difference

I agree. One of the biggest things keeping professional pool from being successful is the majority of league players could care less about the pro's, refusing to support them, with many actually hoping for the worse for them. You always hear, let them get a job like I do, which proves my point. I also think league pool ruined most of the gambling. You are right though, pool is alive and well for the league players. If every league player had one dollar taken out for a pro tour, I think that's all it would take and was suppose to be the reason Larry Hubbard and Terry Bell started it. we all know that will never happen for reasons mentioned.

 

[jhanso18]

Pro Pool is a joke, Amateur pool is HUGE. see the MPA tournys if your in the midwest.

League pool shouldn't supply the pro's with anything. Pro's don't generate money, that's why they don't get paid. Amateur league shooters generate lots of money, hence they get paid out, and really not much at that... Leagues are the present and the future of pool.

If some one would get smart and organize a league, with the right structure, it could be profitable and pay the pro players pretty decent... OH SHIT HERE COME THE BB COMMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CreeDo]

Yeah, I no longer read his posts coz I always feel the same way and rarely say it as well. I am probably gonna put him on ignore, as he is choking my post count.

Exactly. I already put you on ignore. But since we agree so perfectly I just predicted what you would say
and then wrote up this fake quote. Was I pretty close at least?

But seriously, thanks Jesse & Walter.

Sloppy: your post depressed me.
I've seen rooms die that had a good atmosphere but lousy equipment.
But to see a room with great equipment still go under... man, I'd blow half my paycheck there if it were close.
The location must suck.