Anyone Else See The PCSL Pool Match on ESPN?

Bavafongoul

Bavafongoul

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I couldn’t believe it but I watched a replay of a broadcast of ProCueSportsLeague pool being played on ESPN.
It was the match of Allison Fisher & Johnny Archer vs. Jennifer Barretta & Fedor Gost played on a 7’ Diamond
table. The game involved a race to 30 points or 15 mins. time limit per game. It’s played with 9 balls (1 black,
4 purple & 4 orange balls). There are 3 spots on the table; one in the middle and one at the head and foot spots.

The black ball is in the middle of the table. The 4 purple and 4 orange balls are racked on the foot spot in a 9 ball
position but the 9th ball is outside the rack and it’s black sitting on the middle spot. The balls are worth 1 pt. for
purple, 2 pts. for orange and 3 pts. for black. They must be pocketed in that order and so the black ball after being
pocketed is spotted again on the middle spot until there’s only 1 purple, 1 orange and the black ball. Any unintended
pocketing of more than 1 ball results in the extra ball(s) being spotted again. It is a scotch doubles format and you
keep shooting and breaking until you miss. Any balls pocketed on the break don’t count but you get to keep shooting.
The balls must be pocketed in the order of first a purple, then a orange and next is the black ball that gets respotted.

I hope I haven’t confused you but it was a different format that was interesting to watch and it was real pool on TV. Heck,
it’s not all that I’d otherwise hope it might be but it was pool. Jennifer & Fedor really dominated the 3 games in the match.
 
How was the game? Was it interesting and exciting? Did the game have strategic depth or perhaps cool shots?

Ive said it before: I am convinced new poolformats are possible. If something like this is really fun to play and watch that would be great.

Im still kinda sad that bonus ball was set up so commercially. Allthough perhaps that was THE way to create a viable new variant. But many people were turned off by it. And I think I read the pros were not really positive about the game itself.
 
it was awful

hard to imagine the meeting where the concept was approved

when it fails I think it will reinforce TV's decision not to air pool, truly a shame

maybe if they could get Joe Rogan to do live analysis of the Mosconi Cup or some amateur 8 Ball finals there might be a draw but with all due respect, players that are nearing the sunset of their careers playing an unknown game just doesn't cut it (even for a pool starved fan like myself)
 
Ken_4fun said:
I watched it and wondered if just regular doubles 8-ball would have been better. Simpler to watch, everyone knows the game.

JMO
ken
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Of course that would make more sense. I’m guessing 99% of the viewers had no idea what was going on as opposed to just playing 8-ball, which all recreational pool players are familiar with.
 
9ballhasbeen said:
That is disrespectful to both Snooker and Hillbillies, lol. I've seen better produced junior-high kick-ball games.
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I read some comment that this was a last minute effort filmed in the basement of a convention center, which explains a lot. But still you think someone involved would have made some effort to look professional, or at least hide the extension cords and use something other than a $5 folding table.
 
DaWizard said:
How was the game? Was it interesting and exciting? Did the game have strategic depth or perhaps cool shots?

Ive said it before: I am convinced new poolformats are possible. If something like this is really fun to play and watch that would be great.

Im still kinda sad that bonus ball was set up so commercially. Allthough perhaps that was THE way to create a viable new variant. But many people were turned off by it. And I think I read the pros were not really positive about the game itself.
Click to expand...

if a game has legs it will grow by itself, organically. this guy has been trying to promote bonus ball since the 90's and i have yet to see or hear about anyone wanting to play it
 
Is there any link to it on YouTube or any other place it can be viewed on demand??

Curiosity has gotten the best of me after a friend told me about it.
 
Bavafongoul said:
I couldn’t believe it but I watched a replay of a broadcast of ProCueSportsLeague pool being played on ESPN.
...
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Here is a previous long thread about the show.

Pool returns to ESPN….

I thought this was a joke at first but apparently not. I don’t see how the game will be a challenge for Fedor unless I’m missing something in the rules. https://procuesports.com/
forums.azbilliards.com
 
I’m embarrassed. For the sport and the players. I taped it. It’s just not made for TV. I watch a lot of it online but this was a disaster. Switched over to Little League baseball and I’m looking forward to seeing Needville Texas play in the LL World Series next week.
 
Jimmorrison said:
It’s not a thing, most of the old school pool halls are gone.
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Some are still there. Chris’s on Milwaukee Ave in Chicago was my home for ten years. Loved that place and the players as well. So many great times there! Still alive today!
 
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