A different perspective on the Mosconi Cup
- Thread starter NYC cue dude
- Start date
I agree with what you've said about the players' behavior, but I don't agree that it makes any difference to potential pool sponsors.
The sponsors' problem with pool is that there aren't enough viewers. They don't care if a match is non-stop trash-talking with the occasional punch thrown in for good measure. I don't see sponsors running away from football, baseball and basketball even though those sports have even more unsportsmanlike conduct than pool.
In fact, I'd show this Mosconi Cup tape to any sponsor instead of showing them a typical (boring) pool match. The Mosconi Cup had:
1) an enthusiastic and engaged audience. Compare that to a DCC match where most of the audience is over 65 year old and half are dozing off!
2) Very good commentary that matched the pace of the game. Although I did miss commentators talking about why they lost their last match, their personal lives and what's wrong with pool.
3) Player emotion! It's great that players (and audience) celebrate every rack won at the Mosconi Cup. On the other hand, if I were a sponsor I'd tell every player that I'll pay for any cue that gets smashed. You missed an easy shot -- the viewers are upset -- but you walk away from the table like nothing happened?
Long and short, I'd use any Mosconi Cup tape as a sponsor-promo over any other tournament tape.
The sponsors' problem with pool is that there aren't enough viewers. They don't care if a match is non-stop trash-talking with the occasional punch thrown in for good measure. I don't see sponsors running away from football, baseball and basketball even though those sports have even more unsportsmanlike conduct than pool.
In fact, I'd show this Mosconi Cup tape to any sponsor instead of showing them a typical (boring) pool match. The Mosconi Cup had:
1) an enthusiastic and engaged audience. Compare that to a DCC match where most of the audience is over 65 year old and half are dozing off!
2) Very good commentary that matched the pace of the game. Although I did miss commentators talking about why they lost their last match, their personal lives and what's wrong with pool.
3) Player emotion! It's great that players (and audience) celebrate every rack won at the Mosconi Cup. On the other hand, if I were a sponsor I'd tell every player that I'll pay for any cue that gets smashed. You missed an easy shot -- the viewers are upset -- but you walk away from the table like nothing happened?
Long and short, I'd use any Mosconi Cup tape as a sponsor-promo over any other tournament tape.
Somebody please answer how does the American player whose wheels in life have pretty much fallen off care much about anything let alone the MC? How many of you would switch lives with Hatch or Morris or Earl?
There is very little way to earn an average living in pool.
But now we are back kicking this dead horse every year...
There is very little way to earn an average living in pool.
But now we are back kicking this dead horse every year...
The only comparison I have with my limited amount of time on the professional pool tournament trail is the IPT. When it was initially formed with 150 members to the tour, when the players were asked to jump, they responded by saying how high. They dressed up in suits for every public appearance. There were rules in effect. Ecah player wanted to succeed on this tour because the lure of an income and the chance to have pool become a professional sport was attractive.
We have none of that today. In fact, most regional tours have banned pro players for competing in them, and if they do, they got top pay a higher entry fee and/or spot their opponents the world. Last one-hole tournament Keith was in, he hadn't picked up a cue in years, and he had to spot his opponent 13 to 3 in one-pocket, as an example.
They go to the U.S. Open, and as they are knocked out of the tournament, they're making savers with each other to help with the exhorbitant expenses they inclur to attend the prestigious week-long event.
Bonus Ball comes to the scene, basically gives them hope, much like the IPT, and they all jumped at it like a kid in a candy store. Nothing else mattered except the opportunity to FINALLY earn a weekly wage that would give them a decent way of life.
Yeah, I know, I know. Before anybody says it, nobody asked them to be a professional player. They should be out there working like me, 16-hour days, 7 days a week, if they want to surive.
It's easy to blame the pro player for dancing like a monkey and acting like one in public, but they've got nothing to lose at this juncture. They definitely have nothing to look forward to.
I say cultivate the youth, build a platform, bring in new blood, but don't throw the baby out with the bath water. And don't sentence our American pros to death.
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1992.
NYC cue dude said there is no money in that type of behavior.
Is this better?
Crazy is good for tv. Crazy gets ratings. Crazy brings in money.
NYC cue dude
Banned
NYC cue dude
Banned
1992.
NYC cue dude said there is no money in that type of behavior.
Is this better?
Crazy is good for tv. Crazy gets ratings. Crazy brings in money.
And look at them now. (At least McEnroe has managed to keep his head above water)
A_Lake
Politico-Kido
Pool is not simply just running out...
Hi AZers,
Lets look at it this way, this year's Mosconi Cup can be perceived as the shift from "Attacking Pool" to "Tactical Pool". Below is a simple equation to explain it all:
Spot the 9-ball + Break box + Alternate break
= Many dry breaks + Difficult run outs + Low cue ball control after break
= More Push outs + Safeties + Break & Scratches + Jumps + Kicks
= Tactical Pool
Actually the Mosconi Cup was much more demanding this year in terms of table knowledge rather than simply clearing the balls. Players such as Shane and Earl who are highly aggressive tend to fall short when kicking or playing safe or pushing out or jumping balls. Its quite clear that the Americans lost in these aspects.
In contrast, the Europeans are pushing out smartly and making jump shots and returning snooks and kicking balls with a handful of rails. The plethora of skills exhibited was those that were needed to win in this format with new break rules.
P.S. I would really love to see the Taiwanese or Pinoy's approach towards this format and breaking rules. :thumbup:
Hi AZers,
Lets look at it this way, this year's Mosconi Cup can be perceived as the shift from "Attacking Pool" to "Tactical Pool". Below is a simple equation to explain it all:
Spot the 9-ball + Break box + Alternate break
= Many dry breaks + Difficult run outs + Low cue ball control after break
= More Push outs + Safeties + Break & Scratches + Jumps + Kicks
= Tactical Pool
Actually the Mosconi Cup was much more demanding this year in terms of table knowledge rather than simply clearing the balls. Players such as Shane and Earl who are highly aggressive tend to fall short when kicking or playing safe or pushing out or jumping balls. Its quite clear that the Americans lost in these aspects.
In contrast, the Europeans are pushing out smartly and making jump shots and returning snooks and kicking balls with a handful of rails. The plethora of skills exhibited was those that were needed to win in this format with new break rules.
P.S. I would really love to see the Taiwanese or Pinoy's approach towards this format and breaking rules. :thumbup:
I would argue that the people in your pictures only had a stage to do the outrageous shit because someone built it based on solid professional conduct first. If every player in the NFL was Ochocinco how do you think it would go over? Why do they ban end zone celebrations? Why not allow guys to do sack dances?
Being wild and crazy in a staid sport is all good once it makes it to the point of having an audience. Just acting dumb before anyone watches doesnt make much sense.
All of this is of course an abstract argument since outside the mosconi cup there is zero interest or chance of any mainstream production of pool in the US.
It happened about 10 years ago when television executives realized they could get 200% of their average viewership for 25% of the cost. Reality TV is extremely cheap to produce compared to the average drama or comedy series.
Cheap production is a real advantage for pool. The cost of producing the Mosconi Cup isn't even a rounding error for most TV productions. It's the viewership side of the equation that's missing.
NYC cue dude
Banned
Thanks for commenting. This thread concentrates on the repercussions for team America's pattern of poor sportsmanship. Not the patterns played on the table.
So based on this thinking I should stage all TAR matches, rig the outcomes and set up fake fights and drama?
Cause thats what makes money and draws viewers right?
Jen....I like and respect you and Keith's opinions on here and most always agree with you...But not this time....Maybe if the public keeps berating these 5 players and coming down on them they will see they are not the primadonna's they think they are...You can't let them get away with the way they acted if front of their fans there watching and watching on u-stream...Why would they ever change if nothing is said? Just like raising a child acting like a brat...If the child is never corrected they will never learn...Those 5 players and their families need this berating...The wives and girlfriends are not dumb.They know their mates were acting bad....If the people on this forum don't do it then who will? They will just continue on in their horrible ways.They need a wake up call...Now....
This won't hurt pool but maybe wake it up...Like the old saying goes,there's no excuse for bad behavior.
By the way...I loved what you said about Earl...People have to realize that Earl has an illness hard to control...I will always love Earl and his game..I wish he didn't act that way but I still love him as a player and a person...Have talked with him in Vegas...A very smart person and really likable... Don't like it when I see him acting that way but he can't help it..Thanks for writing that...
This won't hurt pool but maybe wake it up...Like the old saying goes,there's no excuse for bad behavior.
By the way...I loved what you said about Earl...People have to realize that Earl has an illness hard to control...I will always love Earl and his game..I wish he didn't act that way but I still love him as a player and a person...Have talked with him in Vegas...A very smart person and really likable... Don't like it when I see him acting that way but he can't help it..Thanks for writing that...
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So what you're saying is, its totally acceptable to act unprofessionally and disrespectfully on a world stage, then demand to be treated like a professional and given respect.
Got it. Thanks.
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NYC cue dude
Banned
Those that are busy defending this bad behavior is equally as troubling. Boy, are they going to be surprised going forward when team America no longer has a spot in the Mosconi Cup. Sure, it'll be framed around the concept of being inclusive to other countries, but the truth is that this year Hearn was actually embarrassed by what took place.
In the NFL they still do end zone celebrations and they also do a dance for a sack as long as it's not excessive.
All I'm saying is they knew exactly what they were getting with Earl and Earl didn't disappoint. That attitude draws ratings. Which is why I pointed at reality tv. And clearly somebody is already watching around the world or the production wouldn't have taken place.
And yet they CHOOSE to do this as their profession. The least they could do is carry themselves in a professional manner.
If they're really so distraught, they could always (GASP) find another job.
That depends on YOUR objectives. TAR is your show and you call the shots.
If you want to get lots of viewers and make money, yes.
If you want to present world-class pool matches to a small percentage of the AZBilliards community (like me), no.