It isn't about the news hitting the web, it is how few people see or care about that news. But sure it is historically ignorant that a newspaper that millions read that covered billiards was somehow more relevant to the health and popularity of the games than a few niche websites and web videos that manage to attract HUNDREDS of eyes.
Anyone who thinks that pool and billiards has not already seen its best days (by a very wide margin) is the very definition of delusional.
Since pocket billiards is still very much thriving, and it doesn't have an inherent life-span as living things do, how can we be absolutely sure that it's best days have already happened?
Surely you realize that at various points in the history of cue sports , the public side of pool has repeatedly faced "extinction" from the mainstream.
And the industry fought back, so to speak, with massive media campaigns, marketing and hoopla. They even banished the word "pool", as it was clearly obsolete and these were professionals not pool room bums.
The "Golden Age" as it is fondly recalled is not unlike the results you might find on a Billboard top 40 record chart. The results you see on a top 40 list do not actually indicate if one musician is a better musician than another. No, the top 40 simply indicates the results of who's marketing campaign is working best.
Brunswick spent millions "legitimizing" pool with contract players and a self-fed and self-serving entertainment monopoly. But deep down, their game is the same as it is today, it just so happens that Brunswick was spending large to sell more tables by PRODUCING more PR for the game.
It's the PR that made the golden age, not the mind blowing numbers of players, because we still have plenty of those to this day.
Take a few moments and add some numbers.
Take the entire prize fund from the U.S. Open 9 ball....
Add that to the prize fund of the U.S. Open 8ball
And the U.S. Open 10ball
And the. American 14.1 championship
And Mike Zuglins events
And the DCC
And the Mosconi Cup
And the Apa nationals
And the bcapl nationals
And the tap nationals
And the vnea nationals
And the Accustats events
And all the regional tours and events
What you will quickly realize is the fact that literally millions of dollars are being paid out and likewise SPENT on pool and billiards every single year. Which happens to also be proportionately more than what was being spent on pool during the "Golden Age"
How golden is golden
Which company or person can take pro pool back to its former " glory' ? I don't know. But that's not to say that it can't happen. Enough money can make anything popular.
