Possible reason why pool isn't popular with the masses.

JoeyA

JoeyA

Efren's Mini-Tourn BACKER
Silver Member
I don't know if anyone has read the following article but it gives me pause to think about it.


February 26, 2011




In a recent ranking of people and organizations in billiards today, philboxing.com placed azbilliards.com as the fifth most influential 'person(s)' in the sport of billiards.


“#5 AZBilliards.com

“AZBilliards.com (USA) - With the majority of votes coming from US soil, this US based company still managed to receive several foreign nods. A pioneer of up to date news online for pool, AZbilliards.com has become synonymous for pool news throughout North America and even other parts of the world. Founded and created by Mike Howerton, who still runs and maintains the iconic news site, AZBilliards is a fountain of information for any pool enthusiast. AZBilliards has brought together fans, industry members, promoters, and players alike to share news and communication in the pool community. - philboxing”

In fact, eight of the ten ranked 'people' in the survey were organizations or promotional companies versus actual players who have major influence in the sport. Bata Reyes, a Philipino world champion ranks at number three, and the combination of Allison Fisher (Duchess of Doom) and Jeanette Lee (Black Widow) came in tied for number 10.

This ranking, and the revelation that organizations are the primary influence in the sport, could be the determining factor why billiards is not as popular a sport in the US. Even the sports of football, baseball, and basketball have evolved towards the popularity of individual athletes over the team or sport itself. It is very easy to remember five or more of the top 10 football players, or NBA stars, but chances are very slim that anyone could pick three of the top 'people' in billiards.

That azbilliards is ranked five is a fantastic testament to the work this organization has done in Arizona, around the country, and for the game of billiards.
 
Masses

JoeyA said:
I don't know if anyone has read the following article but it gives me pause to think about it.


February 26, 2011




In a recent ranking of people and organizations in billiards today, philboxing.com placed azbilliards.com as the fifth most influential 'person(s)' in the sport of billiards.


“#5 AZBilliards.com

“AZBilliards.com (USA) - With the majority of votes coming from US soil, this US based company still managed to receive several foreign nods. A pioneer of up to date news online for pool, AZbilliards.com has become synonymous for pool news throughout North America and even other parts of the world. Founded and created by Mike Howerton, who still runs and maintains the iconic news site, AZBilliards is a fountain of information for any pool enthusiast. AZBilliards has brought together fans, industry members, promoters, and players alike to share news and communication in the pool community. - philboxing”

In fact, eight of the ten ranked 'people' in the survey were organizations or promotional companies versus actual players who have major influence in the sport. Bata Reyes, a Philipino world champion ranks at number three, and the combination of Allison Fisher (Duchess of Doom) and Jeanette Lee (Black Widow) came in tied for number 10.

This ranking, and the revelation that organizations are the primary influence in the sport, could be the determining factor why billiards is not as popular a sport in the US. Even the sports of football, baseball, and basketball have evolved towards the popularity of individual athletes over the team or sport itself. It is very easy to remember five or more of the top 10 football players, or NBA stars, but chances are very slim that anyone could pick three of the top 'people' in billiards.

That azbilliards is ranked five is a fantastic testament to the work this organization has done in Arizona, around the country, and for the game of billiards.
Click to expand...

JoeyA,
This is quite a conundrum but it has a common thread. There is no organization of the players of pool under one umbrella. If there were and everyone put in a dollar pool would have representation and pros would have tournaments and grass roots initiatives would exist.

Just this site alone has 45000 members if we chucked in $10 a piece we could save pro pool with added money 10,000 for 45 events a year.

Its a serious issue. We are fragmented and alone each one of us. We need an organization to ask for funds that people respect and would throw $10 at and see if it works.

I see it like this: How can we ask anyone to love us, if we don't love ourselves?
 
Last edited:
336Robin said:
JoeyA,
This is quite a conundrum but it has a common thread. There is no organization of the players of pool under one umbrella. If there were and everyone put in a dollar pool would have representation and pros would have tournaments and grass roots initiatives would exist.

Just this site alone has 45000 members if we chucked in $10 a piece we could save pro pool with added money 10,000 for 45 events a year.

Its a serious issue. We are fragmented and alone each one of us. We need an organization to ask for funds that people respect and would throw $10 at and see if it works.

I see it like this: How can we ask anyone to love us, if we don't love ourselves?
Click to expand...

I will accept the $10 donations at my paypal account and keep the money in escrow until we have an organization to properly represent the pool world. If the 45,000 members donate $10 each that will be $450,000.00 . That's a tidy sum to get things rolling but hardly enough to right the good ship's listing. We'll need more. Oh wait. Where do we invest this money and with whom?

JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
I will accept the $10 donations at my paypal account and keep the money in escrow until we have an organization to properly represent the pool world. If the 45,000 members donate $10 each that will be $450,000.00 . That's a tidy sum to get things rolling but hardly enough to right the good ship's listing. We'll need more. Oh wait. Where do we invest this money and with whom?

JoeyA
Click to expand...

On AZ Billiards I would ask sjm/Stu. Johnnyt
 
JoeyA said:
I will accept the $10 donations at my paypal account and keep the money in escrow until we have an organization to properly represent the pool world. If the 45,000 members donate $10 each that will be $450,000.00 . That's a tidy sum to get things rolling but hardly enough to right the good ship's listing. We'll need more. Oh wait. Where do we invest this money and with whom?

JoeyA
Click to expand...

Joey, you do know that of the 45,000 members here.....only a fraction of them ever login anymore....and of the faithful numbers that do....many wouldn't be willing to lend a hand for the cause of professional pool.

So....the $450,000 dollar figure is nothing more than another "save pro pool" pipe dream.

Sorry....I just like to work with facts.

Maniac
 
I would be curious what the numbers would be to number of members who logged on in a 30 day period.

Nick B

Maniac said:
Joey, you do know that of the 45,000 members here.....only a fraction of them ever login anymore....and of the faithful numbers that do....many wouldn't be willing to lend a hand for the cause of professional pool.

So....the $450,000 dollar figure is nothing more than another "save pro pool" pipe dream.

Sorry....I just like to work with facts.

Maniac
Click to expand...
 
Maniac said:
Joey, you do know that of the 45,000 members here.....only a fraction of them ever login anymore....and of the faithful numbers that do....many wouldn't be willing to lend a hand for the cause of professional pool.

So....the $450,000 dollar figure is nothing more than another "save pro pool" pipe dream.

Sorry....I just like to work with facts.

Maniac
Click to expand...

The most members ever online in a single day was 2,962 back in February 2013. I'd double that to estimate the total number of active AZers = 5,924.

I'd like to help, but why would I contribute $10 to increase the prize fund of pool tournaments? Boosting the first-place prize to $15,000 from $10,000 isn't going to result in one more new pool player.

Like politics, pool has to be sold at the local level. Get 100 people to join a league. Ten of them will get serious about the game and take lessons, buy gear, etc. One or two of those will enter regional tournaments. Do that 100 times and you'll find an SVB in the hay.

Sorry, no get-rich-quick schemes.
 
There is saving pool and throwing money at pool. If there was money to be made by an organization for the future of pro pool. There would be plenty of people getting in line to make that money. Does anyone know the number of online viewers from the Mosconi Cup? They should of had another big event set up to follow the Mosconi Cup. So they could track the interest. Not sure if viewership would have grown or dwindled. Just know a lot of people aren't happy with how the losing side handled themselves. That really could have been huge for pro pool in America. Seems they may have taken a step backwards and they have no one to blame but themselves. It's a real shame.
 
Maniac said:
Joey, you do know that of the 45,000 members here.....only a fraction of them ever login anymore....and of the faithful numbers that do....many wouldn't be willing to lend a hand for the cause of professional pool.

So....the $450,000 dollar figure is nothing more than another "save pro pool" pipe dream.

Sorry....I just like to work with facts.

Maniac
Click to expand...

Of course.

My reply was done "tongue-in-cheek".
JoeyA
 
Nick B said:
I would be curious what the numbers would be to number of members who logged on in a 30 day period.

Nick B
Click to expand...

I think that information may be available but I forget where it is located on this site. I know for sure, the daily numbers are available.

JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
I think that information may be available but I forget where it is located on this site. I know for sure, the daily numbers are available.

JoeyA
Click to expand...

I believe it was on the front page, but I can't find it. Johnnyt
 
Someone should start a poll and see just how many people say they would chip in money to support pro pool.
 
dearnold said:
Someone should start a poll and see just how many people say they would chip in money to support pro pool.
Click to expand...

The hum that going on today in different threads indicates that it wouldn't be very many.

JoeyA
 
dearnold said:
Someone should start a poll and see just how many people say they would chip in money to support pro pool.
Click to expand...

I was thinking that there may already have been one at some point in the past.

Maniac (too lazy to search)
 
JoeyA said:
The hum that going on today in different threads indicates that it wouldn't be very many.

JoeyA
Click to expand...

I think there are a lot of American pool players, and many here on AZB, who are just fed up with what is supposed to be "professional pool" in this country.

It's not all the players faults....it's not just the promoters faults....it can't be entirely blamed on the various pool organizations. Everybody involved has a hand in the degradation of professional pool in this country.

It's sad...the state of pro pool here in the States...very near to a total collapse....and with each and every misstep, the problems seem to balloon.

Lots of people think they have the answer....just shows you how bad it really is....so many answers...no simple solution.

Maniac
 
How about pro pool players start giving out relatively cheap lessons.

Maybe something like $100 for 4hrs rather than 2-300 that most charge. Thats not bad for tax-free income and it'll help amateurs improve their game and into the pool rooms more often.

Johnny Archer was letting people play him for $20 a game. :rolleyes:
 
gxman said:
How about pro pool players start giving out relatively cheap lessons.

Maybe something like $100 for 4hrs rather than 2-300 that most charge. Thats not bad for tax-free income and it'll help amateurs improve their game and into the pool rooms more often.

Johnny Archer was letting people play him for $20 a game. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

You're talking about $200 a day.

Providing 8 hours of good, pool lessons not only means working ALL DAY but working very hard. :eek:

JoeyA
 
I admire Efren Reyes when I see him playing money matches with up-and-coming Filipino players. I'm sure he could make easier money doing other things but this let's them test their skills against a world-class player. The roosters crowing in the background are a bonus (who could complain about Strickland sharking them after playing with roosters squawking?).

If I owned a pool hall I'd hire a pro for a day to give an exhibition and free mini-lessons. Exhibition matches with the local big dogs. Promote the heck out of it to all league players and get them in the hall during a slow time. When someone learns something new they'll be back to practice it and play their friends (and maybe take a refresher lesson from the local pro).

And make sure the pro mentions the up-coming tournament with free PPV.
 
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