America Loses Dominance in International Pool

[crosseyedjoe]

Thank God we still have Lance Armstrong. Oops, sorry, forgot he's retired. And that other guy is (allegedly) on dope. ouch

Football? America has never been a force in football. Oh, you mean AMERICAN football...

Yes, it's really getting to be a more globally competitive world. America no longer has the advantage in basketball, tennis, golf, billiards, bowling, etc. Blame the lure of the professional leagues. Athletes are flocking to the lucrative sports to the detriment of other sports like badminton, table tennis, and pool. But then again, even in basketball America is a spent force. Maybe all these millionaire athletes have lost the drive to win and are just content with the endorsement dollars.....

Exactly, most professional athletes are more concern now of chasing the "Big Green" which is fine in stage at home. The likes of Kobe Bryant who doesn't want to represent his country is a sad fact. Start representing or just keep whining that foreigners are taking the money and running away.

I might sound too romantic, but competing for an idea bigger than money is the best driving force to win specially in a competition where money is not there.

 

[phoebe choy]

Perhaps the U.S. should ban The Music Man with all those nasty references to pool in the lyrics.

In the threads on what you look for in a pool hall: NO KIDS. So they go on to other activities supported by schools and parents and get instruction on how to improve.

Up here in The Great White North, curling is big. Much participation, fat cash tournaments, and big audiences on TV: 40 pound rocks instead of pool balls crashing into each other. Brooms instead of cues. These players spill more Scotch between games than Americans can win at a pool table.

Maybe the U.S. hasn't made pool bigtime because of it's French orgin.
Which leads to a question: Why no French competitors?

The article points out is that you have to start them young. When I was growing up, I couldn't get into the local pool halls. I only started to play when I beg working with guys who played snooker every lunch hour.

Could someone can comment on Snooker in the U.K.? I've seen references to school leagues but don't know how extensive they are.

Funny, my thoughts after reading this post:

I come from Hawaiian Brian's in Hawaii...same place where Rodney came from. It is a pool hall that DOES NOT have a liquor license and totally is suited for the kids. When I started to play I was 18 and there were a good amount of kids (boys and girls) that beat me easily. Even during Rodney's time (when he was a kid) there was a great amount of talent. But, slowly as time went on, they kids dropped off one by one. There was nothing to look ahead for, like making a career or living out of the game. They got more distracted with the gambling, or hustling part, because everyone needed to make money. It's sad, all the young ones that used to come in and play and that had great natural talent, are gone. They may show up once in a while, but they had no incentive to take it to the next levels. Rodney was and still is the only exception...I tried too, but now I have 2 kids to watch over while Alex does his thing.

Even with a pool hall that allows for kids to come in and "just play", it doesn't matter, with the values kids have nowdays, I don't see America raising any new champions.

It's not the pool halls, it's the mindset of the kids, they won't and can't take it seriously if there is no light at the end of the tunnel = MONEY

They only reson I tried to take it to the next level was because I hated to lose and I WANTED to compete for personal reasons = I just loved to play and I knew I could play (at least with the girls professionally)........but I lived broke. Not to many people or kids for that matter are going to be "groomed" for that lifestyle.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Scaramouche]

Byron Nelson one his last tournament in 1955, the French Open. The prize money was not enough to pay his hotel bill.

"I had to put in another $200."

Now you have Tiger out to get his annual winnings into 8 figures.

With prize money of over a million for some tournaments, if he wins 31 in two years as Nelson did in 1944-45 ....

Perhaps some day pool will offer big pots just like poker. After all, poker players don't dress any better than pool players

 

[Solartje]

I also think that beside the fact that money amounts may not attract American pool players, I kind of feel that just playing 9 Ball may be a killer when compared to the Europeans and Filipinos--I think they're more well rounded--snooker, rotation, etc. JMO

im not sure europe is a good comparison.

almost all opens are 9ball.
the eurotour is played in 9ball.
most rankings and housetournaments are 9ball.

i think one of the reasons organisers like 9b so much, because its a fast game. so the time players have to wait, and the time they go home is reduced.

in my country id say of all the different pooltournaments out there: 60% is 9ball, 25% is 8ball, 15% is 14-1. 9ball really is sadly still THE most popular game in tournaments.

for recreactional players, id say 95% play 8ball, and in germany they LOVE to play straight. theve got the greatest straight pool players around.

in the latest state meeting where i went, they discused about retracting straight and 8ball from our state, so that it would be equal in all states. (aka 9b in all states). but thats just the stupidest thing ive ever heard. they should equalice all the state championships to the international tournaments like the european championship, where 9b, 8b and 14-1 is played. i feel like europe is slightly going to go the US way.. 9ball all the way, and i think it would be a big error.