A Chance to Change Pool's Image?

[sjm]

As the curtain very gradually rises on the IPT tour, the most compelling questions have been answered. We know who is and isn't on the IPT roster, we know when the first event is, we know who will play in the first event, we know where it will take place, and we know the format and purse structure. We know who the tour director is. A few questions remain unanswered, but I suggest it's best to turn our attention elsewhere.

Whether this venture succeeds or fails, the IPT may well offer the players of today greater visibility than they have ever known. Every single participant in the upcoming IPT event will be very well compensated for playing. I'd suggest that, in view of this, each player should:

a) dress elegantly for this event (with this big a prize fund, let them all dress as well as Kim Davenport always did)
b) show more sportsmanship than is typically seen in pro pool (in this regard, let them all behave like Tony Robles and Ralf Souquet)
c) behave with proper demeanor and etiquette both inside and outside the tournament room (tour director Deno Andrews will be a very positive influence in this regard because of his long-term association with three-cushion billiards)

Increased visibility will result in either a) reinforcement of all the negative stereotypes associated with pool or b) increased respect for pool professionals. I hope the players recognize this and choose to act in a way that will shed a positive light on our game.

To me, this seems like a unique and possibly one-time opportunity to change pool's image. If the opportunity is squandered, it will be a shame.

 

[vagabond]

As the curtain very gradually rises on the IPT tour, the most compelling questions have been answered. We know who is and isn't on the IPT roster, we know when the first event is, we know who will play in the first event, we know where it will take place, and we know the format and purse structure. We know who the tour director is. A few questions remain unanswered, but I suggest it's best to turn our attention elsewhere.

Whether this venture succeeds or fails, the IPT may well offer the players of today greater visibility than they have ever known. Every single participant in the upcoming IPT event will be very well compensated for playing. I'd suggest that, in view of this, each player should:

a) dress elegantly for this event (with this big a prize fund, let them all dress as well as Kim Davenport always did)
b) show more sportsmanship than is typically seen in pro pool (in this regard, let them all behave like Tony Robles and Ralf Souquet)
c) behave with proper demeanor and etiquette both inside and outside the tournament room (tour director Deno Andrews will be a very positive influence in this regard because of his long-term association with three-cushion billiards)

Increased visibility will result in either a) reinforcement of all the negative stereotypes associated with pool or b) increased respect for pool professionals. I hope the players recognize this and choose to act in a way that will shed a positive light on our game.

To me, this seems like a unique and possibly one-time opportunity to change pool's image. If the opportunity is squandered, it will be a shame.

hi,
Mega Dittos
Vagabond

 

[Celtic]

a) dress elegantly for this event (with this big a prize fund, let them all dress as well as Kim Davenport always did)
b) show more sportsmanship than is typically seen in pro pool (in this regard, let them all behave like Tony Robles and Ralf Souquet)
c) behave with proper demeanor and etiquette both inside and outside the tournament room (tour director Deno Andrews will be a very positive influence in this regard because of his long-term association with three-cushion billiards)

Hmm. This is my take on the 3 points.

A) I agree to a point. No sneakers, no jeans or shorts (normal slacks are fine), all shirts must have a collar. Pretty much the same dress code as a standard golf course. I DONT want to see a similar thing to snooker where everyone is in tuxes and looks identical with all of their own personality removed from their apprearance.

B) Sportsmanship is nice, but I also want to see personality. Ralf Souquet is a great pool player but he is boring to watch. He is like a robot completely lacking emotion. I would much rather watch a Keith McCready, who this previous US Open played with total sportsmanship yet did not do so in a dry manner that lacks personality. I think emotion and personality are going to be a major key to gettting alot more people to tune in and watch this sport. They need to see the John Daly's and Fred Couples of the pool world because it is those players that the fans love to watch that draw the spectators. You dont have to be boring to be a good sportsman. See Alex Pagulayan or Keith as a prime example. This sport will live and die on whether Alex and Kieth and the other players with charisma can win the public's heart.

C) I agree I guess, but proper demeaner is a pretty broad statement that can mean almost anything. Alot of people would see Reyes playing a match in the practice room for $2000 as poor etiquette, I on the other hand would not and would think that kind of thing wont hurt the sport any more then a poker player would hurt the sport throwing quarters for $5000 a throw, that kind of thing would probably add to the fans interest more then anything as they like watching that sport because of the high rolling lifestyle it portrays.


I guess what I am saying is lets NOT try to copy snooker, lets instead try to go more towards a poker style of presentation. Lets not try to make each pro into a mindless robot with zero emotion, lets instead embrace all the unique personalities that this sport offers and promote them.

 

[SlimShafty]

As the curtain very gradually rises on the IPT tour, the most compelling questions have been answered. We know who is and isn't on the IPT roster, we know when the first event is, we know who will play in the first event, we know where it will take place, and we know the format and purse structure. We know who the tour director is. A few questions remain unanswered, but I suggest it's best to turn our attention elsewhere.

Whether this venture succeeds or fails, the IPT may well offer the players of today greater visibility than they have ever known. Every single participant in the upcoming IPT event will be very well compensated for playing. I'd suggest that, in view of this, each player should:

a) dress elegantly for this event (with this big a prize fund, let them all dress as well as Kim Davenport always did)
b) show more sportsmanship than is typically seen in pro pool (in this regard, let them all behave like Tony Robles and Ralf Souquet)
c) behave with proper demeanor and etiquette both inside and outside the tournament room (tour director Deno Andrews will be a very positive influence in this regard because of his long-term association with three-cushion billiards)

Increased visibility will result in either a) reinforcement of all the negative stereotypes associated with pool or b) increased respect for pool professionals. I hope the players recognize this and choose to act in a way that will shed a positive light on our game.

To me, this seems like a unique and possibly one-time opportunity to change pool's image. If the opportunity is squandered, it will be a shame.

I agree, we do need some change, but I firmly disagree on b.

a) OK, but the what celtic said, I don't think they should all dress the same, ie Mike wears a suit, I don't want all of them to do that. I would rather see them dress nice, but with originality, like maybe one guy wants to wear a cowboy hat I nice dress shirt and bluejeans, thats cool with me. I guess what I'm saying is have a dress code, so say a guy doesn't wear a T-shirt and look like he just woke up.

b) Disagree, I don't want Earl to change one bit thats a draw, I want each person to be themselves as best as possible or more so, I want Mike jawing like made, and shaking his head, if anything I would like more players to express themselves even more! This doesn't have to be unsportsman like, nobody should talk when the other player is shooting, I would even call that a foul, but if your shooting, go right ahead and talk, let the players have a character.
To many pool players are very .....how do I put this NOT VOCAL ENOUGH!! heck most are more quiet then PGA golfers, ever watch golfers, they get mad, (just try and snap a flash before a shot) they yell, they even yell at the ball it's a hoot...sit ball SIT SIT!! get right baby get right...lol I want to hear these guys! I want to see emotion, agony of defeat and the thrill of victory. I want to see good pool and some entertainment too, some of the best matches I have seen were on ESPN back in the day with Earl and Mike going head to head, talk talk talk...why does the general public know FATS before players 10 times better then him, guess

c) Agreed, they must act completely professional, and as best as they can outside the tour, I think it's vital that players promote and be active with their local pool communities. I know many show up at certain rooms, but the all need to make an effort (at least in the early stages) to reach out and greet as many local players as they can. I would love to see local rooms have a meet and greet or free exhibition to promote the tour and talk to fans about the tour. This is the easiest way to get the tour more notice and make fans out of some new players. I know way too many league players that love pool and don't know Efren Reyes, thats like going to a high school baseball team and the players not knowing Mickey Mantle or Barry Bonds! players should be very visible in their country or community. I think there are enough players from different location around the country to touch almost every pool area with an IPT member, they could even hand out promotional items.

And I totally agree that its a very unique time and maybe the only opportunity for pool to be noticed. see I don't really fall for the bad image thing, I think it's more a no image thing

 

[JAM]

I've got mixed feelings about changing the image, so to speak. I like seeing the players in all their full glory, BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER the matches. Most TV coverage of pool offers very little in the way of interviews and individual player coverage.

I think if mainstream America, as an example, were offered the chance to see pool the way some of us know it, it would promote the game/sport.

A couple of the BEST story-tellers are Hall of Famers Buddy Hall and Nick Varner, and whenever they make an appearance, the crowd draws near. Definitely two of the good guys in today's pool world!

And how about my one of my favorites, Ewa Mataya Laurance. The first time I met her in person and got a chance to speak to her was at Allen Hopkins' Super Billiards Expo 3 or 4 years ago, though I was kind of star-struck and didn't speak. Keith and I were walking around the vendor booths checking out their wares, and as we strolled by one vendor booth, Ewa caught Keith's glance and said, "Hey, you." She then walked over and talked to Keith for a while, a nice colloquy of pool talk mixed with personal pleasantries, the two of them friends from a long way back. I couldn't help but notice that Ewa is very beautiful and so friendly with personality-plus. I like Ewa's style.

I remember the first time I laid my eyes on The Netherlands' Niels Feijen. He was at the U.S. Open in 2003. I was sweating bullets because my counterpart had to play him, and Niels had recently established a record on file in which he broke and ran out the table 15 times in a row. I learned that, at that time, he was sponsored by his country's Olympic Committee, and when Niels walked into the Chesapeake Conference Center, he looked fit as a whistle. With his blond spiked-up hair and his picture-perfect physique, he reminded me very much of a super action figure on TV. In person, he is as nice as can be and speaks English excellent with no accent, a quiet charmer and a "babe magnet" (LOL) according to Billiards Digest magazine. And ladies, just in case you're wondering, he's taken. His girlfriend Katrina is not only gorgeous, but she is a pro player, too. The two of them make a great couple and seem very happy together.

If TV coverage can capture the cool things about the game/sport, the characteristics and traits of the players individually, this would be a plus, IMHO.

Picture of Niels Feijen and Keith McCready at the 2003 U.S. Open.

JAM

 

[berry]

Nice story about Niels Feijen, Jam.

He shot the 15 racks against Don du Bois who is my team mate and I have seen a couple of those racks, not knowing he was going to shoot 15 of them...
He is still sponsered by the Dutch Olympic commitie, every player in the Netherlands who gets a medal on the Europeans or is a top 5 in the WPC gets a monthly money support. It's a great system that alows players to improve and go pro.
Niels and Katrine live together now in the Hague Holland. Katrine got a job next to playing pool. This weekend she got a silver and a brons medal in the Dutch championships...


Good thing that Niels and Nick van den Berg are playing in the IPT and also Alex Lely (European 8-ball champion) will play the IPT only he is not selected for the King of the Hill.

Berry

 

[Snapshot9]

Event ..

They should do more interviews than what has been done
in the past, both with players and fans. Throw in some
with foreign players, comparing differences in the sport and
lives of them vs. American players.

They should dress nice, but I do not think Tux's should be
required. I do not want anything hindering their ability to
play the best they can. I am sure that Deno will be a positive
influence in this area. He is used to the elegant 3-C events,
so I am sure he will add a nice touch.

People love Danny Basavich on camera because he is a
character, and his personality comes through. They need
to use him as a model interview when interviewing other
players. Interesting, a little friendly woofing, some humor,
and the goals ahead of him.

The women players should not be overlooked for interviewing,
because every Pool player and enthusiast is highly interested
on how well they will fare in the tournament. And this will be
a good test to see just how far the women's skill level has
improved compared to the men players. And it will help answer
a pending question whether women all over the country should
compete with men players in open tournaments, and the benefits
and drawbacks of doing so.

It should be a very nice event, professional, with some interesting
insights and humor, and very well played 8 ball matches. That's what
I am hoping for.

 

[i210mfu]

I guess what I am saying is lets NOT try to copy snooker, lets instead try to go more towards a poker style of presentation. Lets not try to make each pro into a mindless robot with zero emotion, lets instead embrace all the unique personalities that this sport offers and promote them.

Kudos, Celtic
for this last sentence. I totally agree.....you need to built emotions to draw attention and spectators. As a comparison lets take Tennis. Ivan Lendel was a great player but cold as Ice while players like Becker or McEnroe where crowd entertainers and good players because the showed their emotions. I sure don't like Earls blackouts once in a while but you either love him or hate him. This will polarize the spectators into fans & enemies (don't know a better word I am a foreigner) and I believe that only by this you can create something like lasting attention.

It also would be nice to have some (but fair) public knowledge about rivalarys (spelling ??) amongst the top pro's. If they all pretend to be best buddies, this wouldn't help to increase spectator recognition....But keep in mind it should be handled fair. Think about it like the promotional match ups in boxing.

By the way....

Does anybody know which Pro can't stand some other Pro??????

Regards,

Markus

 

[landshark77]

Well, IMO in order to change pool's image...or to make pool a wider known sport, the masses need to be reached. KT and his crew throw a good pitch and we'll have to just wait to see what the outcome is. The potential is there, however, aside from these threads and other pool related sites, how is the gen. population hearing of this event?? Or are they? Is there any local advertising going on in FL? In my area we have at least one HUGE name that will be playing in this tourney...for a LARGE sum of money...yet not a word of this on TV, radio, or in the paper.

Several months ago a lady opened up her can of Maxwell House coffe only to discover it packed with Jiff Peanutbutter...this made the front page...but Mr. McCready's participation in a ground breaking event has yet to even stir a letter to the editor.....

The gen. population needs to be informed of an event to care. We can sit here all day and play for millions of doallars a rack, in tuxedos, at an advanced payed tie and coat event and it won't do jack for pool if the masses don't care. Next time you guys are at the PH or at leauge night ask the everyday people what they think of the IPT and see what they say. I got five that says they respond to something along the lines of, "what??"

 

[vagabond]

Well, IMO in order to change pool's image...or to make pool a wider known sport, the masses need to be reached. KT and his crew throw a good pitch .........
Next time you guys are at the PH or at leauge night ask the everyday people what they think of the IPT and see what they say. I got five that says they respond to something along the lines of, "what??"

Hey LandShark,
U made a very good point.
If Efren steps out of pool room for a smoke,even the next door liquor shop guy does not know who this guy is and does not even care.I am confident that K.T will change it in a positive way.

 

[Snapshot9]

Just a thought ...

So many pool and league players are just Pool room oriented
or local city oriented though. Maybe, it would be a good idea
to print out some of the important and interesting threads on
here to post on a Pool room, bulletin boards (Most Pool rooms
have bulletin boards from what I have seen). People do read
them, especially if you tell them that something good about
Pool is posted there.

 

[macguy]

Well, IMO in order to change pool's image...or to make pool a wider known sport, the masses need to be reached. KT and his crew throw a good pitch and we'll have to just wait to see what the outcome is. The potential is there, however, aside from these threads and other pool related sites, how is the gen. population hearing of this event?? Or are they? Is there any local advertising going on in FL? In my area we have at least one HUGE name that will be playing in this tourney...for a LARGE sum of money...yet not a word of this on TV, radio, or in the paper.

Several months ago a lady opened up her can of Maxwell House coffe only to discover it packed with Jiff Peanutbutter...this made the front page...but Mr. McCready's participation in a ground breaking event has yet to even stir a letter to the editor.....

The gen. population needs to be informed of an event to care. We can sit here all day and play for millions of doallars a rack, in tuxedos, at an advanced payed tie and coat event and it won't do jack for pool if the masses don't care. Next time you guys are at the PH or at leauge night ask the everyday people what they think of the IPT and see what they say. I got five that says they respond to something along the lines of, "what??"

They spend 20 million making a movie and another 20 million publicizing it. This thing seems to have no PR at all so far beyond a web site and free Internet boards. I know no one who knows a thing about it but me around here. The WMA sounds good, I think that is why they picked them their name is a buzz word, but what are they getting paid to do? Just signing with them to impress people will not get the job done. Why aren't their stable of players hitting the TV circuit from Letterman to Regis? They talk about a 7 to 10 million dollar annual budget , it will take that and more just to publicize it right much less have money to give away as prize money. It seems like all the money talked about is in the prize funds where is the promotion money that is required to make this thing go. I know they are answering questions but it still looks like there is something wrong here. You still have phone numbers where all you get is an answering machine with an old message. Can't they even afford a secretary, and the convention center still say they have no contract for a tournament in November/December. What are all these great people they have hired doing?

 

[Celtic]

By the way....

Does anybody know which Pro can't stand some other Pro??????

Earl and Ralph are most definately not friendly. I think if they match up in a late match for huge cash on the IPT it would be a VERY interesting battle due to that very fact.

 

[sjm]

These are superb responses and have caused me to change my opinions.

As noted, dressing ellegantly doesn't mean dressing formally. I agree.

As noted, sportsmanship matters, but it must not be permitted to detract from the theatrics of the event and the ability of the players to show their animation and personality.

As has been noted, the game's past, even it's seedier side can be presented and celbrated within the boudaries of good taste.

In fact, on reflection, the only thing I think I got right in my original post is that the increased visibility offers the pro players a very unique opportunitiy to define themselves and their sport. I hope they take full advantage.

Thanks to all for the education.

 

[landshark77]

In fact, on reflection, the only thing I think I got right in my original post is that the increased visibility offers the pro players a very unique opportunitiy to define themselves and their sport. I hope they take full advantage.

Not to be a bubble buster SJM, but how has invisability increased???

 

[sjm]

Not to be a bubble buster SJM, but how has invisability increased???

No doubt, Lanshark, I'm being a bit speculative here, but the fact is that this pool tour is the first ever that has brought on a big-time marketing outfit to manage its publicity. I feel strongly that this will, ultimately result, in a very visible tour. Only time will tell, but I'm very optimistic.

 

[rackmsuckr]

They should dress nice, but I do not think Tux's should be
required. I do not want anything hindering their ability to
play the best they can.

Another reason why tuxes should not be worn:

http://www.rhsager.com/photos/uncategorized/penguin.gif

 

[Cornerman]

Picture of Niels Feijen and Keith McCready at the 2003 U.S. Open.

JAM

I disagree. I think this is a picture of Steve Lipsky, but Keith and Niels got in the way

Fred

 

[ironman]

It will be intense!

We might see something a little different here.
A lot of players have played for a lot of money in their lives and most pros know how to handle the heat. This though is different.
This is the chance of a lifetime for most and they are thinking about that each and every day as many are practicing as they never have before. They have changed their lifestyles (rest, exercise,eating habits etc) as a part of their preparation for this event.
I would not anticipate a very loose and festive attitude from most. They have an oppritunity to make history and to change the rest of their lives and it WILL AD TO THE PRESSURE.
This to me adds to the excitement of the whole thing even more. Some will handle the heat, and some won't. Most know though, that you have to play your best and play your style or you don't have prayer. It may sound odd, but this adds to the pressure.
Personally, I wish them all the best, and I truly wish everyone of them could come in 1st.
Just think about all the SAVERS that will be negotiated?

 

[sniper]

I definitely agree the players shouldn't have to wear tuxedos, everytime I've watched snooker the players are always wearing tuxes and they all look the same, like a bunch of clones! I think the IPT rules for their dress code are perfect, they ensure the players won't dress like slobs but still leave them with the freedom and creativity to be different from one another.