(Part One of Three. Yes, Three. Please Stop Moaning. Jaspers!)
Dear Gentle Readers,
As absolutely no one has requested, I’m reporting for duty to ponder:
1) The state of professional pool, American edition.
2) A possibly enhanced relationship between professionals and amateurs. (See Part Two.)
3) A fresh (so far as I know!) way of thinking about the promotion of our favorite sport. (See Part … well, you can figure it out!)
The spark?
At first I thought it was amusing, or at least droll, when a stream commentator at a major event (Derby City) remarked, “Want to become a world-class pool player? Divorce your wife and live in your car.”
Or words to that effect. Affect? Effect.
However, once you unpack that toss-away statement, it takes but a heartbeat of reflection to grasp the American sadness that those comments convey about our own American Dream.
You know that dream. That unique longing, that optimistic yearning, that so-positive visualization of talent, hard work, reward. Yep, that dream, the reward one.
So, can it be true -- divorce, car naps, possibly even fast food consumption -- are these factors really the reality facing some of our top-level pool professionals these days?
Sigh.
On the obverse side, my understanding is that within the amateur arena -- leagues, beer bets, friends, family -- the scenario is rather robust. Woo woo!
Good for them. Great for them!
Unfortunately, professional pool seems to be cratering. At least here in America.
Amateurs 1, Professionals 0.
Accurate?
My very uninformed overview is …
It’s terrific that hordes of pool enthusiasts go out on a regular basis to bang the balls around. As I would love to do, if I had the time.
But.
It’s not so terrific that there’s so little American awareness of -- nor appreciation for -- the breathtaking talent of our country’s elite pool players.
Solutions from the pool forums?
Here are some of the recent suggestions I’ve lamped:
> The next ‘Hustler’ turns everything around. Or, perhaps, ‘Color’ does.
> A Powerball winner turns everything around.
> Bonus Ball turns everything around.
> A television executive turns everything around.
(Here, I do think that a highly-placed corporate honcho -- such as a Disney exec who is comfortable with multi-platform media venues -- could weave a cohesive and creative marketing strategy for pool into something. Actually, into something pretty swell!)
> What else? What am I missing?
Plaintive inquiry is my life,
Sunny
Dear Gentle Readers,
As absolutely no one has requested, I’m reporting for duty to ponder:
1) The state of professional pool, American edition.
2) A possibly enhanced relationship between professionals and amateurs. (See Part Two.)
3) A fresh (so far as I know!) way of thinking about the promotion of our favorite sport. (See Part … well, you can figure it out!)
The spark?
At first I thought it was amusing, or at least droll, when a stream commentator at a major event (Derby City) remarked, “Want to become a world-class pool player? Divorce your wife and live in your car.”
Or words to that effect. Affect? Effect.
However, once you unpack that toss-away statement, it takes but a heartbeat of reflection to grasp the American sadness that those comments convey about our own American Dream.
You know that dream. That unique longing, that optimistic yearning, that so-positive visualization of talent, hard work, reward. Yep, that dream, the reward one.
So, can it be true -- divorce, car naps, possibly even fast food consumption -- are these factors really the reality facing some of our top-level pool professionals these days?
Sigh.
On the obverse side, my understanding is that within the amateur arena -- leagues, beer bets, friends, family -- the scenario is rather robust. Woo woo!
Good for them. Great for them!
Unfortunately, professional pool seems to be cratering. At least here in America.
Amateurs 1, Professionals 0.
Accurate?
My very uninformed overview is …
It’s terrific that hordes of pool enthusiasts go out on a regular basis to bang the balls around. As I would love to do, if I had the time.
But.
It’s not so terrific that there’s so little American awareness of -- nor appreciation for -- the breathtaking talent of our country’s elite pool players.
Solutions from the pool forums?
Here are some of the recent suggestions I’ve lamped:
> The next ‘Hustler’ turns everything around. Or, perhaps, ‘Color’ does.
> A Powerball winner turns everything around.
> Bonus Ball turns everything around.
> A television executive turns everything around.
(Here, I do think that a highly-placed corporate honcho -- such as a Disney exec who is comfortable with multi-platform media venues -- could weave a cohesive and creative marketing strategy for pool into something. Actually, into something pretty swell!)
> What else? What am I missing?
Plaintive inquiry is my life,
Sunny
