Are You an American Pool Patriot?

[sjm]

July 4 has Americans thinking about patiotism, and JAM touched on the matter of American pool patriotism in another thread. It really got me thinking. What is an American pool patriot, I wondered?

To root for American players, which nearly all Americans who post here do, is simply not enough patriotism for my taste. If we want to be patriotic toward our American players, we must do everything we can to build a competitive environment that prepares our next generation of players to excel by world championship standards.

Those of us in a position to contribute time or money to the cause of American pro pool, as either a) a sponsor or partial sponsor of a tournament or player, b) an unpaid mentor to an emerging American player that shows promise, or as c) an active member of an American pool organization, must do so. Those who produce and arrange tournaments must strive to ensure that the equipment and compeititive climate befits top professional players, and that pros who compete behave as professionals and are treated as professionals. Those in a position to do so must run and/or support pool programs for America's youth.

We all have a role, but the bottom line is that America's professional pool infrastructure needs strengthening. If you're an American pool patriot, you'll participate in the solidification of America's profesional pool infrasturcture.

Will Landon Shuffett, Austin Murphy, Justin Bergman and other promising young American players, go on to be champions? The truth is, they need our help. Let's support them to the max by giving them a competitive climate in America that gives them every chance to develop into world class professionals. Let's be pool patriots, every one of us.

 

[pete lafond]

July 4 has Americans thinking about patiotism, and JAM touched on the matter of American pool patriotism in another thread. It really got me thinking. What is an American pool patriot, I wondered?

To root for American players, which nearly all Americans who post here do, is simply not enough patriotism for my taste. If we want to be patriotic toward our American players, we must do everything we can to build a competitive environment that prepares our next generation of players to excel by world championship standards.

Those of us in a position to contribute time or money to the cause of American pro pool, as either a) a sponsor or partial sponsor of a tournament or player, b) an unpaid mentor to an emerging American player that shows promise, or as c) an active member of an American pool organization, must do so. Those who produce and arrange tournaments must strive to ensure that the equipment and compeititive climate befits top professional players, and that pros who compete behave as professionals and are treated as professionals. Those in a position to do so must run and/or support pool programs for America's youth.

We all have a role, but the bottom line is that America's professional pool infrastructure needs strengthening. If you're an American pool patriot, you'll participate in the solidification of America's profesional pool infrasturcture.

Will Landon Shuffett, Austin Murphy, Justin Bergman and other promising young American players, go on to be champions? The truth is, they need our help. Let's support them to the max by giving them a competitive climate in America that gives them every chance to develop into world class professionals. Let's be pool patriots, every one of us.

You enjoy writing sjm. I like what you are saying. Unfortunately I find that the billiards market can not get off the ground because many who have gained from it do not seem to want to give anything back, with some exceptions. It seems that billiards is a breeding ground for those that can profit and squeeze out what they can, leaving nothing behind. I do not like saying this but it appears to be true.

Frankly speaking it is the league players that are the backbone of this industry. They hold all the cards to the success of billiards. Unfortunately as long as there is no one organization that sits on the top of all the various league organizations, nothing will happen. Billiards needs a charter group of people, not people looking for financial gains rather people looking out for the success of billiards. Given this overseeing organization, quite a bit can be done.

Imagine if every league player were to contribute $2 each year. That equals almost $1,500,000. This money used wisely can generate additional money, help clean up billiards, get advertising from non-pool product manufacturers and get product (billiards) recognition. This money could be multiplied to offer pro tournaments that pay 30 players down to make it worth their while. And if players are making money, many new players would enter the field, or at least those in it would stay.

It would take up a very large post to define the characteristics of this, but in general this is were it needs to begin. How to get the existing billiards organizations to agree to participate? The league players can request participation from their league organization. Yes there is work, but there at least would be hope.

 

[Snapshot9]

Okay ...

What can we do? Well, we could all go get a little tat of the flag with an 8
and 9 ball at the bottom of it.

We can come up with good ideas, that end up being an exercise in futility.

I emailed the UPA, and asked them what they are doing to unite Pool in our
country on different levels? They wrote back, and said what do you mean?
I explained that as one of the premier professional organizations, I felt it was
their responsibility to help promote and unite Pool. I told them I would offer my services having 24+ years of business experience in a professional field(s), and that I could develop a business plan to help unite Pool at different levels.
Well, I got a list of their goals with general administrative type language with
which only a couple could be measured down the line for 'actuals'. Anyway, I was told to submit my business plan ..... I got a kick out of that one.
I told them I would have to work with members of the organization, study the organization before a business plan could be put together using strategic
planning for short and long term goals. That was the last I heard from them.

Isn't it funny, how they always have goals, but nothing ever seems to help
the sport overall other than trying to get a pro tournament going, and they
have problems doing that. Frankly, I do not see it as an insurmountable
problem to help make progress of uniting Pool on many levels, establishing
a governing body that would oversee Pool in our country, and communicate
with other countries to bring us in sync with other countries. Yes, I know it
would not as simple as I have made it sound, but it can be done with the
right people in charge, and the people in charge should be accountable
to a governing body for their progress towards short term and long term
goals and missions. You have to have something 'worthwhile' to offer, before
people want to invest in it, and they have to see the benefits they are going
to get from their investment.

 

[Blackjack]

July 4 has Americans thinking about patiotism, and JAM touched on the matter of American pool patriotism in another thread. It really got me thinking. What is an American pool patriot, I wondered?

To root for American players, which nearly all Americans who post here do, is simply not enough patriotism for my taste. If we want to be patriotic toward our American players, we must do everything we can to build a competitive environment that prepares our next generation of players to excel by world championship standards.

Those of us in a position to contribute time or money to the cause of American pro pool, as either a) a sponsor or partial sponsor of a tournament or player, b) an unpaid mentor to an emerging American player that shows promise, or as c) an active member of an American pool organization, must do so. Those who produce and arrange tournaments must strive to ensure that the equipment and compeititive climate befits top professional players, and that pros who compete behave as professionals and are treated as professionals. Those in a position to do so must run and/or support pool programs for America's youth.

We all have a role, but the bottom line is that America's professional pool infrastructure needs strengthening. If you're an American pool patriot, you'll participate in the solidification of America's profesional pool infrasturcture.

Will Landon Shuffett, Austin Murphy, Justin Bergman and other promising young American players, go on to be champions? The truth is, they need our help. Let's support them to the max by giving them a competitive climate in America that gives them every chance to develop into world class professionals. Let's be pool patriots, every one of us.

Tap-Tap-Tap
SJM, you and I are going to have a lot to talk about in September.

 

[JAM]

I might classify myself as an American pool patriot, but the (c) clause in today's political environment poses some difficulties. I could be a member of the extreme right conservatism, or maybe I hold a very liberal point of view. Speaking for a minority, though, I support the independent stance at this juncture.

While there are some great American players who are allowed to drink from the same water fountain as their peers, there are others who are instructed to sit in the back of the bus and, in some instances, not even get on the bus with the American brethren of pool players.

I fit the bill for the (a) and (b) clauses, but until there is a level playing field where all pool players are treated equal, I continue to be an observer, watching the continuing inequities affect a small minority, which happens to be where I sit at this time.

It is hard to support an organizational structure which continues along its merry way and ignores those who have been in this game/sport for their entire life, changing rules to benefit some players and changing rules to thwart other players' ambitions.

Currently, there are some players who fall in the minority and represent the white buffalo wandering in the American pool wilderness, hoping to get that one golden opportunity to be all that they can be on a field of green before they get shot down and die.

In essence, we are all members of the Tribal Nation of Pool. Hopefully, there will be a new day a coming on the horizon that welcomes all American pool players, to include the veteran minority, but I don't see it in the year 2005. Thankfully, there are independent entities which exist where players of all caliber are welcome and provided an opportunity to compete on a level playing field.

JAM

 

[sjm]

I might classify myself as an American pool patriot, but the (c) clause in today's political environment poses some difficulties. I could be a member of the extreme right conservatism, or maybe I hold a very liberal point of view. Speaking for a minority, though, I support the independent stance at this juncture.

While there are some great American players who are allowed to drink from the same water fountain as their peers, there are others who are instructed to sit in the back of the bus and, in some instances, not even get on the bus with the American brethren of pool players.

I fit the bill for the (a) and (b) clauses, but until there is a level playing field where all pool players are treated equal, I continue to be an observer, watching the continuing inequities affect a small minority, which happens to be where I sit at this time.

It is hard to support an organizational structure which continues along its merry way and ignores those who have been in this game/sport for their entire life, changing rules to benefit some players and changing rules to thwart other players' ambitions.

Currently, there are some players who fall in the minority and represent the white buffalo wandering in the American pool wilderness, hoping to get that one golden opportunity to be all that they can be on a field of green before they get shot down and die.

In essence, we are all members of the Tribal Nation of Pool. Hopefully, there will be a new day a coming on the horizon that welcomes all American pool players, to include the veteran minority, but I don't see it in the year 2005. Thankfully, there are independent entities which exist where players of all caliber are welcome and provided an opportunity to compete on a level playing field.

JAM

Thoughtfully presented and well-judged, as usual, JAM.

 

[chefjeff]

I think of American patriotism as a rejection of top-down planning, not a call for it.

If this applies to pool, then calls for unity of action could be downright dangerous and destructive.

How about an environment where a pool player can have the opportunity to thrive, if s/he works hard enough and smart enough? This could be called unity of principle.

fwiw,

Jeff Livingston