In 1931 billiard players were playing for bigger purses then they are today; and they played in three piece suits or tuxedos, not rags or jeans with holes in them like today. Jesus, is it a surprise to anyone that NO ONE but relatives and close friends want to come to these tournaments.
As stated by Jimmy M, media has contributed largely to the success of many sports. So why not pool. Well, for a start; let’s take some of these scruffy players and give them haircuts, shaves, and a bath an MAYBE someone would like to watch them display their talent on TV.
This isn’t going to be popular with many people, but I’ll give a case in point:
Last week-end I was at the opening of the Planet Pool tour in Laurel, MD. It looked like a third of the field was bussed in from Bellevue for the week-end to play pool. Now: for those of you that were there, honestly ask yourself this question. Would you actually sit in front of a TV with your family and watch these people play pool? Poor Willie Hoppe, Ralph Greenleaf, Willie Mosconi, etc.; these and other great players of the past must be turning over in their graves, after putting SO MUCH of themselves into the game of billiards to have it ruined by two bit hustlers trying to make it in the tournament ranks. If you want to be a hustler, then be a hustler and stay away from tournaments so that people with some class can again TRY to resurrect the game of billiards to the level it was in the 1930’s. OR, maybe you can take some of your purse money and purchase some decent clothing to bring up the image of billiards.
Here’s something you people may not know.
Many, many, many pool players have tried in the past to further the game of pool by getting the media involve but where undermined at EVERY attempt to do so; mainly by OTHER players who wanted to cut in on the action but ACTUALLY destroyed the WHOLE concept that was trying to be created.
Simply put, the GREED of a few destroyed it for EVERYONE
As stated by Jimmy M, media has contributed largely to the success of many sports. So why not pool. Well, for a start; let’s take some of these scruffy players and give them haircuts, shaves, and a bath an MAYBE someone would like to watch them display their talent on TV.
This isn’t going to be popular with many people, but I’ll give a case in point:
Last week-end I was at the opening of the Planet Pool tour in Laurel, MD. It looked like a third of the field was bussed in from Bellevue for the week-end to play pool. Now: for those of you that were there, honestly ask yourself this question. Would you actually sit in front of a TV with your family and watch these people play pool? Poor Willie Hoppe, Ralph Greenleaf, Willie Mosconi, etc.; these and other great players of the past must be turning over in their graves, after putting SO MUCH of themselves into the game of billiards to have it ruined by two bit hustlers trying to make it in the tournament ranks. If you want to be a hustler, then be a hustler and stay away from tournaments so that people with some class can again TRY to resurrect the game of billiards to the level it was in the 1930’s. OR, maybe you can take some of your purse money and purchase some decent clothing to bring up the image of billiards.
Here’s something you people may not know.
Many, many, many pool players have tried in the past to further the game of pool by getting the media involve but where undermined at EVERY attempt to do so; mainly by OTHER players who wanted to cut in on the action but ACTUALLY destroyed the WHOLE concept that was trying to be created.
Simply put, the GREED of a few destroyed it for EVERYONE
Last edited:
) but I felt like a fish out of water. Jeans are definitely more comfortable and practical for sitting around for a couple of days waiting and waiting for matches to be called, what with the wrinkles and all.