Calling all gazillionaires!!!
- Thread starter mnorwood
- Start date
A US national billiard program with a dedicated facility and nationwide chapters would be great. Do i see it happening in the next 10yrs? No. There are junior programs in the US but they are too scattered and not on the same page to really be effective. The BEF does a great job with the resources they have but it could be a lot bigger. Of course $$ is a huge part but just getting kids near a table is a huge challenge. BTW, there is hope. US kid Eddie Vondreau just finished 3rd in the Predator World's Under19's.
Last edited:
middleofnowhere
Registered
I think pool is less a sport then it is a subculture. Within our own little world actually a lot is going on, but the outside world doesn't really know or care about it.
YouTube is full of videos on pool. And when you look at them maybe they got a few thousand views. Meantime you click on a video about how to set up a camping stove and get 150,000 views in 10 days.
I watched a video last night of a guy turning a little 5x8 cargo trailer into a camper. In 2 weeks it had 485,000 views.
I don't really know where I'm going with this other than to say, I don't think the general public cares one bit about pool.
I think in some respects you can't get away from the idea that some corporate people don't really want to be involved with pool. It carries a stigma that while to many is fascinating, others want nothing to do with it.
I think the gambling, living by ones wits, an outlaw so to speak is what the public has always liked about pool. Even when they did these old-timers tournaments years ago, the music was from the sting.
So, the solution to USA pool play at Mosconi Cup is to take on the Russian Gymnastics Model.
There is going to be a backlash to the digital age where it will be considered trendy and cool to get out of the house and go "screenless". I think there will be a demand for non-digital activities for generation alpha. Billiards is half way between a video game and golf so it is appealing in that aspect, similar to how people like upselling older technology as "artisan".
I have watched multiple videos of guys camping in subzero weather with their dog and get like 3 million views in a week or so. Your points are well taken.
Pool just needs one eccentric gazillionaire. If you know the story of Foxcatcher Farms- John DuPont was a huge wrestling fan. He got tired of seeing the US team get boat raced by the Russians and Eastern European countries at International competitions. He decided to get off the porch and do something about it, turning part of the DuPont estate into Team Foxcatcher, where Olympic hopefuls could train for free, live for free, and he paid for travel to wrestling tournaments.
It completely transformed Amateur wrestling in the US...even though he did eventually go crazy and kill our most popular athlete...
For some reason the Algorithm started sending me videos of Asians setting up and camping in the rain with all their fancy tents, stoves, and other tech. It is scary that I will watch those stupid things every time they show up...
If youve ever seen a high school kid develop withdrawal symptoms when they have to turn their phones in at the beginning of class, you would not be so confident in them voluntarily ever going screenless.
They start shaking and picking at their skin if they cant check snapchat every 30 seconds.
With his father being a MD, there is little to no chance he takes on pool as a career.
middleofnowhere
Registered
Just to add another wrinkle, Mosconi cup just took place and nobody knows that even happened except us. You're not going to see the results reported on your local or national news none of the players will be interviewed probably not even by their own hometown media.
There have been several junior phenoms vanish after they went to college over the years. Which suggest to me that they are wise young men.
I could see that happening within a week when it comes to dealing with pool players lolPool just needs one eccentric gazillionaire. If you know the story of Foxcatcher Farms- John DuPont was a huge wrestling fan. He got tired of seeing the US team get boat raced by the Russians and Eastern European countries at International competitions. He decided to get off the porch and do something about it, turning part of the DuPont estate into Team Foxcatcher, where Olympic hopefuls could train for free, live for free, and he paid for travel to wrestling tournaments.
It completely transformed Amateur wrestling in the US...even though he did eventually go crazy and kill our most popular athlete...
Cord
Active member
Yep. Asked 3 different people that I was playing pool with over the weekend what they thought about the Mosconi Cup. All answers were variants on, "WTF is the Mosconi Cup?"
In the echoing words of the cranky olde neighbor: who gonna pay fuh dat?
APA? What were their skill level?
Shit dude i watch Rufus the Bull on YT. This crazy ex-bullrider in arkansas has a 2700lb Hereford bull that's fkn hilarious. I'd honestly watch this over pool. Sad but true. He's big sob:
I see your point..., but the gambling thing cant be a issue anymore. FanDuel, online poker and the popularity of tv poker on multiple channels has brought gambling into every home. Theres no longer a stigma associated with Pool as it pertains to gambling.
The real problem with Pool is that its to hard to play for most people compared to poker, darts, cornhole, shuffle board, bingo..., if you dont play it your are less likely to follow it.
Do the current pros even want any of this?
What America needs is a US Pro tour, like the pro tour in snooker.
Take the top 32 players and start a tour, each player should be fully funded for each event and all 32 get paid.
For each event there would be a qualifier in which the bottom 8 drop out and new 8 get in, this would be an incentive to finish at the top 24 or higher. This will also set up a goal for young up and coming players, to get into the pro tour.
A player that is good enough and finishes top 24 in all the events should be making a good year salary and give them a good peace of mind to focus on the game, practice and train.
Those top 24 will surely do great in time in major international events and the top 5 will surely do better at the Mosconi cup...
Top players will represent the USA in world titles events.
A pro tour like that, can get sponsors and TV time to generate the money needed to fund this.
With time, the money will get bigger if done correctly.
The Chinese billiard scene and the pro snooker tour should really be the case study for this.
If you think that it can't be done, might as well forget all about it and just play APA at the local bar...
I know that there were many tries in he past to do something, but can't give up, must keep on trying until something will catch. This should be done in collaboration with the BCA and any official US sports bodies.
There is also no point in investing in kids if there is no goal.
What America needs is a US Pro tour, like the pro tour in snooker.
Take the top 32 players and start a tour, each player should be fully funded for each event and all 32 get paid.
For each event there would be a qualifier in which the bottom 8 drop out and new 8 get in, this would be an incentive to finish at the top 24 or higher. This will also set up a goal for young up and coming players, to get into the pro tour.
A player that is good enough and finishes top 24 in all the events should be making a good year salary and give them a good peace of mind to focus on the game, practice and train.
Those top 24 will surely do great in time in major international events and the top 5 will surely do better at the Mosconi cup...
Top players will represent the USA in world titles events.
A pro tour like that, can get sponsors and TV time to generate the money needed to fund this.
With time, the money will get bigger if done correctly.
The Chinese billiard scene and the pro snooker tour should really be the case study for this.
If you think that it can't be done, might as well forget all about it and just play APA at the local bar...
I know that there were many tries in he past to do something, but can't give up, must keep on trying until something will catch. This should be done in collaboration with the BCA and any official US sports bodies.
There is also no point in investing in kids if there is no goal.
We have one of those guys in St. Louis, actually just a few blocks from my house.
But, alas, he's into chess. Beautiful facilities, classes, museum/HOF, restaurant, big (big) tournaments, and he's bought up a bunch of primo property to expand.
Lou Figueroa
But, alas, he's into chess. Beautiful facilities, classes, museum/HOF, restaurant, big (big) tournaments, and he's bought up a bunch of primo property to expand.
Lou Figueroa