Exactly right.
Most of the infractions cited in this thread are very trivial, but they do tend to paint the wrong picture of our game and create the wrong impression. Your post effectively underscores the lack of respect for their own sport that far too many pool players exhibit. Most, especially on AZB, pooh pooh the importance of it, but those who do so shouldn't dare question why pro pool as presently constituted will never attract the kind of sponsors seen in the two major individual sports, golf and tennis. Pro pool players will continue to attract only those sponsors who will tolerate their poor self-respect (not to mention their deplorable tendency to chop before the finals of an event).
Where far too many pool players get it wrong is that they think that getting paid exuberantly would be the catalyst for presenting themselves with the highest standards of professionalism. It's just the opposite --- they'e got the cause and effect backwards. Presenting themselves and their sport with the highest standards of professionalism can be the catalyst for getting paid exuberantly.
It was when Barry Hearn realized all of this and got the snooker players to buy in that the sport of snooker took off. It didn't happen over night, instead taking years and years, but it did happen. This is a major reason why Matchroom's growing presence in pool is a potential breath of fresh air in our sport.
Remember the tuxedo tournaments? Remember the IPT with everyone dressed in suits?
Why arent the players rich? Why hasnt the game skyrocketed after these efforts?
It isnt the presentation, good or bad or otherwise.
No one cares about pool.
Its 2019 in one of the most diverse countries in the world. Sources of sport and entertainment abound. It isnt 1953 with only a few things to watch on a b/w television.
No one cares.
Can they be made to care? As a general population no, I dont think they will ever care about pool.
Holding onto the pipe dream that pool will be a big thing in America, while noble, has proved fruitless for decades.
Any success this game might get, is from marketing it to the people who already play it on a regular basis. League players.
The league players that so many on this forum hold disdain for, are the ones keeping most of the industry alive and financed. They should be the target audience.
Remember the custom motorcycle craze about a 15ish years ago? American Chopper, and all the spin offs? Custom builders coming out of the wood work to cash in on the craze?
Thats exactly what it was, a craze. A fad. Its dead and over.
Poker while still going strong, is no where near the numbers it once had when Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP. Is it dying? Maybe. I think the fat lady is warming up, but only time will tell there.
Pool had its heyday with the American culture. Now its a niche game, that carries a lot of baggage.
This is coming from someone who has loved this game since before I started kindergarten. I would love for it to be successful.
However, I am a realist.
