Yeah, that's the same old song most who aren't familiar with the professional pool world sing on this forum. I've heard it a million times before.
Let's Bring The Discussion Of Pool Player As Job Over Here
- Thread starter watchez
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Yeah, that's the same old song most who aren't familiar with the professional pool world sing on this forum. I've heard it a million times before.
Maybe we should throw all the professional pool players in a cage and throw tomatoes at them. I kind of think that's how most on this forum feel.
Of course, logic applies in any career choice. Logic applies to whether I'm going to continue posting on this thread if I get nothing but negative feelings about its content.
You are "coming of age," grasshopper.
You are "coming of age," grasshopper.
CLICK
This is the first post in a month that you have made that I agree with.
You are "coming of age," grasshopper.
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Yeah, that's the same old song most who aren't familiar with the professional pool world sing on this forum. I've heard it a million times before.
JAM - I could see your viewpoint if pool was drawing huge paying crowds or being seen on TV with advertisers and the pro pool player wasn't getting paid for their skill and entertainment. But the fact obviously is that is not the case. And whether we argue it is the fault of the BCA, the pro pool player himself, or the ignorance of the fans that caused this doesn't matter. So the pro player has to get with his peers or get behind someone and figure out a way to initiate positive change.
Untili that happens, there will be no livlihood for the pro pool player and it willl remain the same.
You come from the school of thought that blames the pro player for the current state of affairs. I come from the school of thought that industry needs to step up to the plate, just like Lou Butera said. The BCA is at fault here and needs to either sh*t or get off the pot and relinguish their representation of North America to the WPA.
There is something on the horizon that might put American pool back on the map, but until I see a little more by way of concrete evidence, I can't talk about it.
That said, there are some *existing* professional American players caught in a Catch-22 right now, thanks to the BCA. Sure, they can go flip burgers and sell hot dogs, and then we will have no professional players.
I'm sure that will suit the majority of the American pool culture just fine. Hopefully, it will happen after I'm dead. I want to enjoy what little there is in professional pool while I'm still here on this Earth.
Earl Strickland has more titles than any other American in my lifetime, and yet he struggles big time. He's treated just like any other pro with no championship title, required to sleep in flea-bag hotels, people's couches, and sometimes can only afford fast food for a meal. I'm sorry, but I think that sucks a big weenie. Earl Strickland and any other pro player of his caliber deserve a little bit better than that, and if this American pool culture has no respect for pro players, then so be it.
Earl Strickland or any pro can get a steak dinner (well maybe a nice fish dinner cause I don't eat red meat anymore except for a special occasion) from me anytime.....but the last pro player I helped, when I met him face to face, gave me about 2 seconds of recognition if you even want to call it that, not even a hand shake, turned his back on me and walked away. I can retell the entire story if I need to.
The pro player before that I helped, I put up in a hotel suite in a local casino for two days while he was staying here. In this case, it didn't cost me anything as my friend is a player host at the casino and helped me out as a friend cause this is what friends do for each other. But it did save the player some money and make sure he wasn't staying in the flea bag motel you described. And I did go out of my way to arrange it all, meet him at the hotel to check him in and make sure it was all squared away. I had his phone number so we could communicate and arrange his room etc. He was gracious and thanked me. When I sent him a text two months later, he couldnt' take 5 seconds out of his busy 14 hour a day practice schedule to reply to me.
I understand I am a nobody and maybe I should or should not expect human decency from a pro pool player. Maybe I shouldn't group people together but instances such as this is why myself and others have their opinions on who is at fault for the state of pool today. The pro pool player still can't think 4 seconds ahead in his life.
And I need you to explain the BCA issue more. I agree they do nothing. But what does it matter if they have a voice to the WPA? What authority does the WPA have for the professional pool player that I am missing? There is no pro tour. There is no points system. There are no qualifying events.
The pro player before that I helped, I put up in a hotel suite in a local casino for two days while he was staying here. In this case, it didn't cost me anything as my friend is a player host at the casino and helped me out as a friend cause this is what friends do for each other. But it did save the player some money and make sure he wasn't staying in the flea bag motel you described. And I did go out of my way to arrange it all, meet him at the hotel to check him in and make sure it was all squared away. I had his phone number so we could communicate and arrange his room etc. He was gracious and thanked me. When I sent him a text two months later, he couldnt' take 5 seconds out of his busy 14 hour a day practice schedule to reply to me.
I understand I am a nobody and maybe I should or should not expect human decency from a pro pool player. Maybe I shouldn't group people together but instances such as this is why myself and others have their opinions on who is at fault for the state of pool today. The pro pool player still can't think 4 seconds ahead in his life.
And I need you to explain the BCA issue more. I agree they do nothing. But what does it matter if they have a voice to the WPA? What authority does the WPA have for the professional pool player that I am missing? There is no pro tour. There is no points system. There are no qualifying events.
I didn't express it very clearly, but my last sentence I wasn't talking about Earl in particular, rather I was talking about all people.
Life is difficult.....and professional pool players don't make it any easier.
To what appear to be the simplest questions, we will tend to give either no answer or an answer which will at first sight be reminiscent more of a strange catechism than of a straightforward affirmatives of the core issues with professional pool players.
Life is difficult.....and professional pool players don't make it any easier....such is life.
'The Game is the Teacher'
watchez;4554026..but the last pro player I helped said:
To what appear to be the simplest questions, we will tend to give either no answer or an answer which will at first sight be reminiscent more of a strange catechism than of a straightforward affirmatives of the core issues with professional pool players.
Life is difficult.....and professional pool players don't make it any easier....such is life.
'The Game is the Teacher'
So you are, like the others, stereotyping all pro players under one umbrella because of your experience with a few. Again, not all pro players are the same.
Student said:
Well, Watchez, you see, the BCA has dropped the ball on professional pool. It started about 10 years ago. It's like a nightmare and has gotten worse and worse.
If professional pool is to *ever* rise to the level of an accepted "sport" with a legitimate tour, the BCA ranking points will be used. Pool used to have a points system and qualifying events, but thanks to the BCA, the professional pool players were ejected from their pool world to fend for themselves. All the years the BCA used to be in existence, this was not the case, but some fat, greedy, self-absorbed -- whatever adjective this forum likes to label the American pro player -- industry member changed all that and turned the BCA into an industry organization that only looks out for its industry members.
Since this is MLK week, I'll just say that even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow in this pool world, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American pool culture.
I have a dream that one day even the United States of America, a country sweltering with the heat of disdain for professional players who suffer from the heat of oppression on this forum, will one day have an American pool tour with ranking points and be treated with the same respect as our brethren players from Europe, Philippines, Asian and Middle East countries.
I have a dream that American pro players will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the stereotype of this forum but by the content of their pool-shooting performance and get paid a decent wage for their talents.
Yes, Watchez, I have a dream today!
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Again I ask -- please identify the source when you quote what someone else said or wrote.
I am saddened to read your description of an American professional pool player. IMO, it is stereotyped. Not all pro players are like you describe, just like not all AzB-ers are trolls.
Pool is cruel to its own, especially here in the United States. If the American pool culture feels the way as described in the above-referenced post, pool will never have any hope to get its one tire out of the mud.
JAM, I am just speaking of it as I see it. Also I said "most" meaning more than half but not all. Obviously Shane, Thorsten, Mika, and many others do not fall in this category. Many second and third tier players are exactly as I have described and why pool has the stigma that it does. I quote you a lot here only because you bring up a lot of points and I wish to express the counterpoints.
JAM, you are sounding as though pro players are all victims and we are all out to get them. Stereotypes exist, people deal with them. Such is life. Consider any portrayal of lawyers or used car salesmen. The point is that the views exist because of those individuals who make them to be true.
If a player's organization actually existed to support the players many who cry that they need support would be kicked out due to their actions. An organization cannot allow cheating, so known or highly suspected dump and bite artists would have to denied access. It is certainly not only the fault of industry.
Earl made a lot of money during his career. His own life choices lead him to the financial state he is in. The industry/BCA or any other entity other than Earl Strickland is certainly not to blame. Earl has for 20+ years been obnoxious to his fans, angry towards his competitors, rude to bystanders, and unappreciative of his sponsors. If a radio or television personality goes off on everyone they lose money. This is what happened to Earl, not some conspiracy.
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Nice post Iba, a lot of that is true.
You guys all have it wrong! The lion's share of the world's wealth is available for the taking....if only the pool player would have the courage to snatch it up through the time honored subterfuge of...HUSTLING THE BAR SCENE UNDERCOVER!!!
It's just common sense really. Oh, yeah. In the event that said player were to find themselves in the unenviable position of having too much cash on or available to their person, they can always just relieve the burdon by a good old fashioned shopping spree. Or better yet, just get into a bad game and problem solved.
Life is easy. There is much wisdom to glean from these sagacious forums.
And when in doubt, come to Kentucky, where the horses are beautiful, the women are fast, and Woodford Reserve flows through the kitchen faucet like pure, clean rain water...
- Booker Noe is the teacher...
It's just common sense really. Oh, yeah. In the event that said player were to find themselves in the unenviable position of having too much cash on or available to their person, they can always just relieve the burdon by a good old fashioned shopping spree. Or better yet, just get into a bad game and problem solved.
Life is easy. There is much wisdom to glean from these sagacious forums.
And when in doubt, come to Kentucky, where the horses are beautiful, the women are fast, and Woodford Reserve flows through the kitchen faucet like pure, clean rain water...
- Booker Noe is the teacher...
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I don't prejudge anything unless I have the facts. I certainly wouldn't exercise prejudice of a professional pool player, just as I would never stereotype all lawyers. My father was a lawyer -- and an honest one at that.
Unfortunately this experience of mine was with two of the so called leaders in the sport.
But you should also note that I began by saying I would help out if I could any pro player to make their life easier for a few moments. So I haven't given up on all of them. It just makes it more difficult to do so.
Ok so the BCA is gone and sounds like should be forgotten. Or maybe the next HOF inductee should have the juevos to stand up there and speak out on this during their acceptance speech. I know, I know -- I am putting responsibility back on the pro pool player to fend for themself.
I have the same dream as well. I thought I made that clear that at least 150 people should make a decent living off pool. But some trends will have to be broken or it will never happen.
Well--Just Maybe the tide can turn. If the Folks On TV Continue to turn Major Leage Football Into Touch Football--We will have something as an alternative to offer to up
Sports Fans Want Action--Think about it,,A Tour Like Golf--and maybe what almost happened a few years ago ---A Senior Tour As Well---I'd Sweat That--Both Catagories
Sports Fans Want Action--Think about it,,A Tour Like Golf--and maybe what almost happened a few years ago ---A Senior Tour As Well---I'd Sweat That--Both Catagories