Article by Badi Nazhat

[lfigueroa]

I was at Tunica and got to experience the entire event and the Pro players did nothing wrong....
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The pros played in the Ultimate 10Ball and then left the main event high and dry, abandoning The Southern Classic for the sinking ship that is BB.

And as Greg told me on several occasions, the main goal of the Southern Classic was to prove to Caesars Entertainment Corp. that pool was a viable sport and to establish a stepping stone that might have eventually lead to a third major event in Atlantic City. With three events -- DCC, SC, and AC -- he would have had sufficient concept validation to a establish a tour, with big-time sponsorship behind it, and the potential of broadcasting rights. But the whole idea died when Harrah's ran the numbers and concluded there was insufficient player support. Oh well.

The pros did nothing wrong.

Lou Figueroa

 

[justadub]

The pros played in the Ultimate 10Ball and then left the main event high and dry, abandoning The Southern Classic for the sinking ship that is BB.

And as Greg told me on several occasions, the main goal of the Southern Classic was to prove to Caesars Entertainment Corp. that pool was a viable sport and to establish a stepping stone that might have eventually lead to a third major event in Atlantic City. With three events -- DCC, SC, and AC -- he would have had sufficient concept validation to a establish a tour, with big-time sponsorship behind it, and the potential of broadcasting rights. But the whole idea died when Harrah's ran the numbers and concluded there was insufficient player support. Oh well.

The pros did nothing wrong.

Lou Figueroa

Tap, tap, tap.

 

[336Robin]

The last few sentences break my heart: There is no sense of urgency on any front, be it player, federation or governing body, to rescue a drowning pastime from the chilling waters. All seem patient to wait and see if the lake evaporates instead. Because that would be easier.

Another one bites the dust in the wonderful world of pool.

Thanks, BCA organization, for doing nothing and allowing professional pool to die. I hope those industry members who enjoy the benefits of the BCA and dismissed professional pool from its interests are happy now. I'd use a few more choice words in this post, as I've been up since 1 a.m. working, but I better sign off for now. :angry:

Jam,
I think we all feel the same way you do about Pool in general and not just Professional Pool. Our legs were taken out from under us and there is no way to substitute that support other than create another organization with a solid intent to support the Industry that it was designed to serve.

If that were done I think it would take a decade to get infrastructure and money coming in to be able to seed things that would make pool grow and in my mind pro pool would be the last on the list to get support because if the grassroots cant survive then pool is in trouble all the way up.

I read the letter that started this thread and its a sad statement of affairs and as hard as I have tried to put together something that would work for a trade show, its made me refocus my energy and stop butting my head against the wall.

I posted a thread a week or so ago requesting some pictures, so I could put together an email to send out to people that would forward it to people in their address books that might want to learn to play.

I got no pictures whatsoever.

I see that among pool players its me, me, me and there is no good will much left. Not even to promote the sport we all love.

There were hundreds of photographers at Edison, NJ and I'm sure there were a bunch at the US Open. I hope they continue to have events to go take pictures and sell to magazines and Im sure they read my post.

Im not sure its the same sport we all grew up with at this point. I have about decided to turn the page and just chill myself before I lose or spend a bunch of money that would have been better spent on something else and on someone that might actually appreciate it.

 

[JAM]

Jam,
I think we all feel the same way you do about Pool in general and not just Professional Pool. Our legs were taken out from under us and there is no way to substitute that support other than create another organization with a solid intent to support the Industry that it was designed to serve.

If that were done I think it would take a decade to get infrastructure and money coming in to be able to seed things that would make pool grow and in my mind pro pool would be the last on the list to get support because if the grassroots cant survive then pool is in trouble all the way up.

I read the letter that started this thread and its a sad statement of affairs and as hard as I have tried to put together something that would work for a trade show, its made me refocus my energy and stop butting my head against the wall.

I posted a thread a week or so ago requesting some pictures, so I could put together an email to send out to people that would forward it to people in their address books that might want to learn to play.

I got no pictures whatsoever.

I see that among pool players its me, me, me and there is no good will much left. Not even to promote the sport we all love.

There were hundreds of photographers at Edison, NJ and I'm sure there were a bunch at the US Open. I hope they continue to have events to go take pictures and sell to magazines and Im sure they read my post.

Im not sure its the same sport we all grew up with at this point. I have about decided to turn the page and just chill myself before I lose or spend a bunch of money that would have been better spent on something else and on someone that might actually appreciate it.

I must have missed your post about wanting photographs. I have some. Mine are not professional, of course, but I do have a few. The majority of them have Keith in them. :grin-square:

But I have some of players without Keith too. Let me know what kind of photos you're looking for at railbirdjam-at-AOL-dot-com. I can send some.

 

[336Robin]

Thanks

I must have missed your post about wanting photographs. I have some. Mine are not professional, of course, but I do have a few. The majority of them have Keith in them. :grin-square:

But I have some of players without Keith too. Let me know what kind of photos you're looking for at railbirdjam-at-AOL-dot-com. I can send some.

Thanks I appreciate it when I get some motivation back I will.

 

[Maniac]

The promoters have an obligation to the players as well. The players are paying 100% of their expenses, bringing their talent, practicing and putting in a lot of hard earned time, and getting paid 0.....unless they win.

How would you like to dedicate your life to playing a sport at the highest level and be up against this negative business situation and unhealthy scenario.

Well.....what can anyone do, really???

The solution to this problem creates a double-edged sword scenario.

For instance: A promoter (like Badi) wants to throw professional pool players a $100,000 bone. He promotes a pool tournament...gets 64 players coming BY INVITATION...pays for their travel...pays for their lodging...demands no entry fee monies. After three or four days of this AND paying for the expenses of the venue and all workers associated with it...how much of that $100,000 do you think would be left for the prize fund???

I can assure you...if there was ANY money left for prize funds...it wouldn't be enough to draw anyone to the location for the tournament.

So, for all practical intents and purposes...the players...IF they want a decent payday for the top finishers...are going to HAVE to pay their own expenses to travel and play in these tournaments.

You have to spend money to make money...but only if you're GOOD ENOUGH to make money. Why should the last place finisher in that tournament be privy to any of that $100,000.

When people went out on the road hustling with friends or by themselves to make money, were the expenses paid by the people they hustled...or did their travel/lodging/food money come out of their own pockets?

You win...you come out ahead...in hustling and in tournament play.

How are you going to change that without people stepping up with bottomless pockets who are mad at their money getting involved???

That's why there is a saying: "You have to earn a living". "Earn" being the key word!!!

So...DO the promoters really have an obligation to the players? An OBLIGATION??? When it's their (the promoters) own money they're putting up???

IMO, I think not. If the pool players don't want to show up on the promoters dime, then hey....he can just keep his hundred grand and move on to something else. Which is what one of them has done, if not more.

Maniac

 

[Island Drive]

Sporting Ladder

When I first got involved with short track speed skating in the early fifties, us kids competed and trained and then drove to skating meets on the weekends throughout IL, WI, MO, IN, IA, and Minnesota to compete. In our youth we got really cool blue ribbons with golden print for First, then second was Red and ??? there was third place. We got pictures in the local town newspaper, and since I was a hot shot early on, I was invited to talk in a local am radio show. As a kid WOW, all this attention was neat, and it also made my parents proud and it built character. As I got older, 10-11 we started getting Nice trophies for the win, and coooooooooooL medals that were pinned on our jersey shirts with pictures taken for the local and possibly the Chicago Tribune. When I was fourteen, I went to West Allis WI and skated (pack skating, same as Apollo Ohno)in the Nationals, I won it, not expecting to, but I was maturing quickly that year. Next, I was traveling/flying on a PLANE!!!! with Terry McDermott (Olympic 400m Gold medal winner) in a DC 10 (before jets) to Buffalo NY to skate in the North American Championships and I don't know how, but I won that also, so I was effectively, the best indoor short track speed skater on the planet, but I wanted the Gorgeous golden medals and ended up with two firsts and one second. Money was NEVER in play with ANY competition and was not the driving force, the attention and recognition I got for my hard work was what I truly enjoyed, and I also liked being in the newspaper, especially the Tribune and the Sun Times. Winning money, was for the pros, but there still was NO Olympic short track events at the time, it was all steered towards Outdoor 400m tracks, not the shorter, Nascar type of racing we did, which was fun, because the girls were also prevalent, and being a teenager, that is a KEY mixture for success. Money should be Entirely removed from our sport at its inception to adulthood if one wants to tend to the fields and plant and wait for harvest/which the pros will then deal with. By this time your educated/hopefully, you've put your time and work in, and you'll then know if you want to keep on at this endeavor. To me, once I got to outdoor, 1/4 mile tracks, I found it to be NO different than being a weightlifter, you had to get stronger and stronger train more an more, that I had NO interest in. Like comparing 24 hrs of lemans to a 250 mile nascar race, tho I know NOTHING about nascar, but the comparison seems relative.

Combining Money/youth is a Core problem. With parents supplying their children with room/board/education/transportation and such, the sport by exposing their kids to Real Life, does build the other half of there offsprings CHARACTER and Self. Good parents know this, they are unable to build the other half of ones self, society and outside influences and ??? are as important in youth as everything else.

 

[CreeDo]

Thread drift coming . . .

JP, do you or anybody know what this process is called to take a photograph, as depicted below, and make it look like an art drawing?

Okay, carry on back to the Article by Badi Nazhat.

There is a fantastic oil paint filter for Photoshop by PixelBender.

This is that, combined with photoshop's canned watercolor effect for the abstract blotchy background,
plus a little sharpening etc.

 

[Kid Dynomite]

As a Touring Pro Player:

Needs: Stable income
Wants: Health Insurance, 401k , wealth, exposure
Things they would or could give up/negotiable: Time, lessons, autographs, Legal Rights to use their image in all forms of Media:

As a Federation/Association:

Needs: Stable income
Wants: Growth , Profit, Security
Things they would give up/negotiable:


I started examining the industry and noticed something above! The Touring Pro Player has a need that is contrary to the best interest of the sport. Some Touring Pro Players have kids to feed, mortgages to pay, and very little else going for them! All their eggs are in the Billiards Basket! Self preservation is paramount and just like a cornered animal they are VERY DANGEROUS!!!

The Federations, BCA & WPA has this same need that is contrary to the best interest of the sport as well. The directors of these agencies have kids to feed, mortgages to pay and very little else going for them! All their eggs are in the Billiards Basket! Self preservation is paramount and they too are like a cornered animal and they are VERY DANGEROUS!!!

So, how do we extract these people? How do we change the psychological dynamic?

KD

 

[Ghosst]

The promoters have an obligation to the players as well. The players are paying 100% of their expenses, bringing their talent, practicing and putting in a lot of hard earned time, and getting paid 0.....unless they win.

How would you like to dedicate your life to playing a sport at the highest level and be up against this negative business situation and unhealthy scenario.

It's easy to criticize the professional players.....but it's also very difficult to put yourself in their shoes...

Another thing that's pertanent is the Pro Players are not paid. That means they are not required to do any specific job. Someone puts up money in hopes that they come and play and they expect them to act a certain way (that is never clearly defined)......then if things go wrong the players have been somehow blamed.

CJ I don't want to wade into the battle of the wall of words but some of this stuff you're writing is getting silly. The only person you can blame for your career choice is yourself. If you decided to work in a factory it's not the factory's fault you work there, or that they don't pay you what you want. By the same token no pool player can blame anyone else for their earnings.

I feel bad there's no retirement plan for players, but that's not anyone's fault. Look at bb, look at what they have done to the sport. The players are still backing it, not as loudly, but where is the written apology to CSI? The chance to have a future in pool by working with CSI and maybe getting involved with amateurs is gone now too. They could have been paid to sign pictures and teach until they were too old to walk. But no, someone held out a $1000 cheque so let's burn it all to the ground. Great business plan.

As far as behavior ... come on. No one had to sit me down at work and explain that I wasn't allowed to light the building on fire. It's kind of a given. No one said, don't scream and curse in the office and yet I don't do it. Do people need every little tiny thing pointed out to them before they learn how to act like a gentleman?

Being an excellent pool player doesn't grant you any rights whatsoever. It does not make you a better person. It does not absolve you of being a responsible adult. How many more tournaments will get shut down before any of them figure out where the problem is? When there are none left will it then be because of AZB forums there's no money in pool? Who can you blame next?

 

[JoeyA]

As a Touring Pro Player:

Needs: Stable income
Wants: Health Insurance, 401k , wealth, exposure
Things they would or could give up/negotiable: Time, lessons, autographs, Legal Rights to use their image in all forms of Media:

As a Federation/Association:

Needs: Stable income
Wants: Growth , Profit, Security
Things they would give up/negotiable:


I started examining the industry and noticed something above! The Touring Pro Player has a need that is contrary to the best interest of the sport. Some Touring Pro Players have kids to feed, mortgages to pay, and very little else going for them! All their eggs are in the Billiards Basket! Self preservation is paramount and just like a cornered animal they are VERY DANGEROUS!!!

The Federations, BCA & WPA has this same need that is contrary to the best interest of the sport as well. The directors of these agencies have kids to feed, mortgages to pay and very little else going for them! All their eggs are in the Billiards Basket! Self preservation is paramount and they too are like a cornered animal and they are VERY DANGEROUS!!!

So, how do we extract these people? How do we change the psychological dynamic?

KD

Solid thoughts Kid Dynomite but you may want to add in the most important negotiable item of all, "behavior" in private and public life. It is a bitter pill to swallow for some but it is a necessity if pool is to be embraced by the public and private institutions which control the way sports work.

Like SJM and others, I believe the public's perception of pool has to be changed and that can only be done by the players. Their behavior; their very words and their actions must change before the public and private institutions (with real money) decide to be a part of our microcosm.

While I choose to gamble and appreciate the art of hustling, it is not a good thing for pool as a sport. The perception of pool by the public is not a pretty one. Even the movies that we cherish as pool players help to cement the public's perception of pool players as scoundrels and people to be avoided or at least observed from a distance.

I don't think gambling and hustling will ever leave the pool world completely, just as it hasn't left the rest of the sports that have become successful. Personally, I enjoy gambling at pool and appreciate the art of hustling although I don't participate in it like I once did. As I have gotten older and more mature, I realized that there are some who are capable of defending themselves and others who are not.

I don't like the idea of stealing money from those who match up poorly or stealing money from people who have families to support. I have done all of these things in the past, so I don't want anyone to think that I am modest in that regard. I just have come to the realization it is simply wrong to take someone's hard-earned money that they can ill-afford to lose. It is one of the reason's that I choose who and when I gamble with others.

I appreciate the stalwart players of the road. For the most part, they are a seasoned bunch, whose lifestyle requires them to be skillful in all areas of gambling. The truth is I would play any of them for competition alone but they like others need an income to support themselves and sometimes their families. (I try to contribute as little as possible to their cause.) I enjoy matching up with the players from the road for sporting money and so do many people from my part of the country. So it is not with a narrow look down my nose that I suggest that gambling is a bad thing for individuals. Gambling in general is a bad thing for a sport. (And I would give it up in heartbeat if it meant for our game to prosper). Hopefully, others will come around to this way of thinking.)

This is just my opinion and I'm sure others may not agree and that's ok too.

JoeyA

 

[JAM]

There is a fantastic oil paint filter for Photoshop by PixelBender.

This is that, combined with photoshop's canned watercolor effect for the abstract blotchy background,
plus a little sharpening etc.

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I don't know if I have Photoshop on any of my computers, but I'm going to look to see if I do. I love that. :smiling-heart:

 

[JuicyGirl]

But to have to promote the whole thing including the TV is going nowhere.

To his point.

The whole TV thing will continue to go no where as long as your viewership is some random number close to zilch and ticket sales are also bleak at best. Just two things that are in stark contrast to the Asian, European and UK markets. What makes those markets so different than ours?

In the UK, whether it's snooker or pool they are both done with a strict dress codes, competitors must maintain their composure and posture. Oh, they get testy when someone sneezes but when they run a fantastic game it's a roar that you hear, that's energy (or $$$). In Asia, it's more about bets, it's an event for all to see, neighbors, friends, kids all ages and even a chicken can join in the game. This may be at a local bar, or on the street next to the McDonald's in any crook and crannie of any country or island in the region. And when the events are on, it's show time. They have energy, that's what it's all about, and why we watch them on TV or Online.

JG

 

[CJ Wiley]

80% of the players that go to any of these "Pro Tournaments" LOSE MONEY.

CJ I don't want to wade into the battle of the wall of words but some of this stuff you're writing is getting silly. The only person you can blame for your career choice is yourself. If you decided to work in a factory it's not the factory's fault you work there, or that they don't pay you what you want. By the same token no pool player can blame anyone else for their earnings.

?

That goes without saying....however wanting a better quality of life is a God given right for these players......it'a actually written into the American Constitution.

I don't make my living from playing pool and haven't in several minutes.....I speak for those that are suffering and still being blamed by people that KNOW they can't speak....if they speak they will get "black balled"......this is the "business bullying" - and it's sad, very sad.

80% of the players that go to any of these "Pro Tournaments" LOSE MONEY. This isn't a job, it's something else. Then, after they pay their own expenses and support the event to the best of their ability they are blamed for the event not being successful. Then when they ask the promoter what "success" means to them they get nothing.

'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[justadub]

That goes without saying....however wanting a better quality of life is a God given right for these players......it'a actually written into the American Constitution.

I don't make my living from playing pool and haven't in several minutes.....I speak for those that are suffering and still being blamed by people that KNOW they can't speak....if they speak they will get "black balled"......this is the "business bullying" - and it's sad, very sad.

80% of the players that go to any of these "Pro Tournaments" LOSE MONEY. This isn't a job, it's something else. Then, after they pay their own expenses and support the event to the best of their ability they are blamed for the event not being successful. Then when they ask the promoter what "success" means to them they get nothing.

'The Game is the Teacher'

It's very easy to generalize, and place blame, often where it doesn't belong. Thus, it is fair to say that many of pool failures are not the fault of the players.

However, in this SPECIFIC instance, I feel the players have some culpability. They used the Bonus Ball scheduling fiasco as leverage, trying to make a point I suppose. Only they really know. Now they get to reap the rewards for that stance.

The point us this. People who intend on making money playing pool need to support those who provide them that opportunity. Else why provide that opportunity, ie the tournaments themselves.

This SPECIFIC tournament would have provided more money for more players than any other here in the US. To not get support from those who stood to benefit the most is indeed puzzling, at the very least.

 

[Island Drive]

Solid thoughts Kid Dynomite but you may want to add in the most important negotiable item of all, "behavior" in private and public life. It is a bitter pill to swallow for some but it is a necessity if pool is to be embraced by the public and private institutions which control the way sports work.

Like SJM and others, I believe the public's perception of pool has to be changed and that can only be done by the players. Their behavior; their very words and their actions must change before the public and private institutions (with real money) decide to be a part of our microcosm.

While I choose to gamble and appreciate the art of hustling, it is not a good thing for pool as a sport. The perception of pool by the public is not a pretty one. Even the movies that we cherish as pool players help to cement the public's perception of pool players as scoundrels and people to be avoided or at least observed from a distance.

I don't think gambling and hustling will ever leave the pool world completely, just as it hasn't left the rest of the sports that have become successful. Personally, I enjoy gambling at pool and appreciate the art of hustling although I don't participate in it like I once did. As I have gotten older and more mature, I realized that there are some who are capable of defending themselves and others who are not.

I don't like the idea of stealing money from those who match up poorly or stealing money from people who have families to support. I have done all of these things in the past, so I don't want anyone to think that I am modest in that regard. I just have come to the realization it is simply wrong to take someone's hard-earned money that they can ill-afford to lose. It is one of the reason's that I choose who and when I gamble with others.

I appreciate the stalwart players of the road. For the most part, they are a seasoned bunch, whose lifestyle requires them to be skillful in all areas of gambling. The truth is I would play any of them for competition alone but they like others need an income to support themselves and sometimes their families. (I try to contribute as little as possible to their cause.) I enjoy matching up with the players from the road for sporting money and so do many people from my part of the country. So it is not with a narrow look down my nose that I suggest that gambling is a bad thing for individuals. Gambling in general is a bad thing for a sport. (And I would give it up in heartbeat if it meant for our game to prosper). Hopefully, others will come around to this way of thinking.)

This is just my opinion and I'm sure others may not agree and that's ok too.

JoeyA

Joey, as adults we know, is difficult to remove the spots from a leopard, and nearly impossible unless you have a Large pile of Carrot$. My hard core pool player thinking has evolved over time and completely changed like yourself. I've found money to no longer drive my desire, and often in the past have felt sorry for my opponent and let up during my shot. I now question why I first played, but how the Great Game has enriched my life and others, that's my Real payoff Now. To get a real taste of old school thinking....''hard core pool players'' getting involved in discussions @ one pocket . org, you'll find those I speak of quickly, but they will never go away, I don't expect it, as every forest has such a diverse layering of Animals. Once the PGA came into fruition, those animals kept being pushed further and further into the forest. What I see now, the color and player commentators on TV NEVER talk about the MONEY, and if they do, its a slip up and they know it INSTANTLY. They want the TV viewers to see Everything But the MONEY. Gee, there must be a reason........................... CJ says ''the teacher is the game''....ad nauseum....I'll turn that around and say, ''all the game has seemingly done is perpetuate beating of the:deadhorse:''....I think he meant, you learn from you missed shots, because within that shot lies your answer to your mistake.

 

[Bella Don't Cry]

Here's my little 'primer' for pro pool's success for what it\s worth. First of all the BCA should have spent the last twenty years making pool/billiards into an interscholastic sport, instead of fighting a losing battle to get it into the Olympics. I mean it's a total 'no-brainer' for all of them to sell more equipment, and make more money. How they dropped that ball is anyone's guess. I mean come on, they have field hockey, water polo, chess, badminton and cheer leading teams competing in high schools all across the country, and often at great expense to the school. A pool team requires no expensive equipment or uniforms, no large playing field (a vacant classroom is big enough), and one coach is adequate. Plus kids of all ages love to play the game. HELLO!

This has been done successfully in a relatively few school districts already in California, Pennsylvania and Texas with zero support from the BCA. Can you imagine kids growing up playing pool? And why not is all I have to say!

Poker became popular on TV for two reasons, BIG money and being able to see the player's hole cards! And there you have it. There is inherently NOTHING wrong with our game that needs fixing. It's a great test of skill just the way it is. If there was a tour with a regular series of televised events (any network is okay - High Stakes Poker started out on the Travel Channel. ESPN is NOT the only game in town!) and serious prize money to be won (maybe 500K total with 100K to the winner) people would watch! That is my contention until proven wrong. Of course to do this takes backing ($$$$) and to date we've seen little of that, other than a brief moment with Trudough. When the BCA was flush with money they dropped the ball here too. They could have funded a twelve event tour for 2M and failed to do so.

What any television network wants is continuity for a full 'Season', not just a single event. IF someone could create a true "Tour" of professional pool tournaments I believe a television network would be interested. Of course having sponsors attached to it is a prerequisite as well. Like someone else said on here, Pool is a sport that could be owned by anyone who has deep pockets, just like Paul Allen who took over the pro bowling tour.

Best of all, if there ever was a true pro pool tour, the sport would grow by leaps and bounds. Kids (you know, the ones who started out playing in high school!) would have a reason to pursue playing pool as adults. It would be a career opportunity, just like being a golfer or a tennis player. It's not a magic formula, seems to work pretty well for other sports. And PLEASE don't tell me about pool's bad image. That's so much horseshit! Pool's image is just fine, with myriad celebrities and wealthy people owning pool tables in their homes and nearly everyone having tons of respect for the ability of the game's top players. I've seen this first hand for myself.

-----

Here's my little 'primer' for pro pool's success for what it\s worth. First of all the BCA should have spent the last twenty years making pool/billiards into an interscholastic sport, instead of fighting a losing battle to get it into the Olympics. I mean it's a total 'no-brainer' for all of them to sell more equipment, and make more money. How they dropped that ball is anyone's guess. I mean come on, they have field hockey, water polo, chess, badminton and cheer leading teams competing in high schools all across the country, and often at great expense to the school. A pool team requires no expensive equipment or uniforms, no large playing field (a vacant classroom is big enough), and one coach is adequate. Plus kids of all ages love to play the game. HELLO!

This has been done successfully in a relatively few school districts already in California, Pennsylvania and Texas with zero support from the BCA. Can you imagine kids growing up playing pool? And why not is all I have to say!

Poker became popular on TV for two reasons, BIG money and being able to see the player's hole cards! And there you have it. There is inherently NOTHING wrong with our game that needs fixing. It's a great test of skill just the way it is. If there was a tour with a regular series of televised events (any network is okay - High Stakes Poker started out on the Travel Channel. ESPN is NOT the only game in town!) and serious prize money to be won (maybe 500K total with 100K to the winner) people would watch! That is my contention until proven wrong. Of course to do this takes backing ($$$$) and to date we've seen little of that, other than a brief moment with Trudough. When the BCA was flush with money they dropped the ball here too. They could have funded a twelve event tour for 2M and failed to do so.

What any television network wants is continuity for a full 'Season', not just a single event. IF someone could create a true "Tour" of professional pool tournaments I believe a television network would be interested. Of course having sponsors attached to it is a prerequisite as well. Like someone else said on here, Pool is a sport that could be owned by anyone who has deep pockets, just like Paul Allen who took over the pro bowling tour.

Best of all, if there ever was a true pro pool tour, the sport would grow by leaps and bounds. Kids (you know, the ones who started out playing in high school!) would have a reason to pursue playing pool as adults. It would be a career opportunity, just like being a golfer or a tennis player. It's not a magic formula, seems to work pretty well for other sports. And PLEASE don't tell me about pool's bad image. That's so much horseshit! Pool's image is just fine, with myriad celebrities and wealthy people owning pool tables in their homes and nearly everyone having tons of respect for the ability of the game's top players. I've seen this first hand for myself.

-----

Just in case you didn't read it the first time. This is 2000% accurate :thumb up:

Take care of the 4 E's and the rest will take care of itself...
EDUCATION
ENTERTAINMENT
ENFORCEMENT
ENVIRONMENT

With a modest budget (e.g. paying a wage - why should people work for free?), a dedicated team with full COMMITMENT can make necessary change by pursuing the 4 E's correctly. :thumb up:

The art of anything...
STRATEGY - PLAN - OBJECTIVES - ACCOUNTABILITY - OUTCOME - MEASURED SUCESS

 

[cleary]

Yes, this was obvious at the event, it was doomed to fail before it ever started!!!

Let's make some educated guesses on the questions I presented:


Quote:
Originally Posted by CJ Wiley View Post
The thing Badi has to look over is his promotional "action list". Who's responsibility was it to do the following tasks that make up a well executed promotion: The ONLY thing the players were expected to do is show up and play, there was no charity or special event scheduled. When we used to play major tournaments there was always charity events and Pro Ams scheduled.....what's happened to this??? This is not the player's job!

1) Who chose Tunica over Dallas (where it was last time) as the ideal venue to put on this promotional Pocket Billiards Event? No professional marketer would EVER choose Tunica for a promotion, especially over Dallas Texas (Frisco Texas was where the last event took place, which is a northern suberb of Dallas)

2) Who was hired to take care of the Marketing and Demographic profiles? Apparently NO ONE!

3) Who was hired to do the Public Relations ie: Charities, Press Releases, Local Interest Evaluations and Media Promotional strategy. Apparently NO ONE!

4) Who was in charge of getting the BIG MEDIA ie: Newspaper Stories, Radio Broadcasts and TV Show negotiations? Apparently NO ONE!

5) What was the projection for revenue for the event....did they even have one??? Apparently they didn't have one

6) Who was in charge of the players and management of the event staff?

7) What was the strategy of the Short Term, and Long Term goals? Apparently They had no Short Term OR Long Term planning or goals

8) What would he consider success? Would it be to make a profit, or to generate a certain number of viewers or participants? They Apparently had no Planning so these questions could not be answered.

9) What was the media of advertising and who was in charge of doing the Advertising....ie: Advertising Director Apparently they no one doing ANY advertising

10) What was the strategy to develop good will within the industry ie: AZbilliards, and other internet sources that connect to the fans? Apparently no one was in charge of public relations with AZbilliards or any other billiard related internet site/fan base


NO CHARITIES INVOLVED
NO PRESS RELEASES SENT OUT
NO ATTEMPT AT TELEVISING EVENT
NO PUBLIC RELATIONS
NO MARKETING
NO ADVERTISING
NO SHORT OR LONG TERM PLANNING
NO CHANCE FOR SUCCE$$

"When a promoter is not planning for success, they are actually planning for failure" - The Game of Pocket Billiards


These are just guesses, and "apparently" they are pretty accurate. I've been involved in consulting for various businesses and have been directly involved in several 40-80k Promotions.

To "BLAME" the players for this Event not being successful is ludicrous, especially when there was no PRO AM and they didn't have a business plan for the event so there was no chance for success.......success was not even defined or projected, let alone achieved. If this EVENT was a pool match everyone would be swearing it was a "DUMP".....at best it was doomed from the very first day

Every time you post with different sizes and colors, my mind turns into mash potatoes and I skip it. Can you please, from now on, try to type like a normal human so I'll actually feel like reading?

 

[briankenobi]

That goes without saying....however wanting a better quality of life is a God given right for these players......it'a actually written into the American Constitution.

'

You must be refering to the line "...and the pursuit of happiness." The key word is pursuit. Too many people think they are entitled to happiness. You are not. You are entitled to pursue what makes you happy. That doesn't mean it will happen. Not everyone can win, even though people believe that and teach that.

 

[briankenobi]

Poker became popular on TV for two reasons, BIG money and being able to see the player's hole cards! And there you have it. There is inherently NOTHING wrong with our game that needs fixing. It's a great test of skill just the way it is. If there was a tour with a regular series of televised events (any network is okay - High Stakes Poker started out on the Travel Channel. ESPN is NOT the only game in town!) and serious prize money to be won (maybe 500K total with 100K to the winner) people would watch! That is my contention until proven wrong. Of course to do this takes backing ($$$$) and to date we've seen little of that, other than a brief moment with Trudough. When the BCA was flush with money they dropped the ball here too. They could have funded a twelve event tour for 2M and failed to do so.

One thing our sport needs that other sports have is OUTSIDE sponsors. Look at golf. How many car and insurance sponsorships do you see? Having outside sponsorships is the key to large purses. But you have to have something that they can get behind and want their name on. In the 10ball thread a dress code was brought up. For something to be considered “professional” you have to have a strict dress code. Look at golf. Everyone dresses nice and looks professional. Even in tennis, they look professional. When you go to an “open/pro” pool tournament, you have people that have backwards hats, oversized t shirts, and jeans. If I am the exec of Pepsi, and this is considered professional, I wouldn’t put my name on this.