Billiards Digest Hits the Nail on the Head

[thefonz]

Only in this country is pool having a problem. We just dont have any players that can get the public's attention. These guys are not worth watching and the pool media hasnt created any buzz around them either.

China, Japan, Europe, Canada the game is doing well, on TV and expanding.

Gambling wont help the game, we need players and a form for them to be seen.

The game is far from well in Canada.

Thefonz<== still can't make up his mind whether bar leagues (bca/vnea) killed pool, or kept it from dying years ago.

 

[JAM]

You got to be kidding...

the 'ordinary' American has never been a 6 time world champ...hasn't been to 50 something countries, hasn't been a club champion. (golf)

Hasn't been very many 'dull' moments in Earl's life...he's far from ordinary.

I'd have to agree with this opinion wholeheartedly. Earl is a character, the stuff that movies are made from. He's actually a Southern gentleman most times, once you get to know him. His personality when he's competing exudes killer instinct. That's what makes Earl tick. He wants to win. Show me somebody who doesn't want to win, and I'll show you a loser. :wink:

 

[Pre-Flag Master]

Reality TV
Wrestling
Poker
Shows where people get kicked off of islands because of their conniving cohorts
Shows where people are publically humiliated because they can't hold a tune
Stars who wreck cars and lives while stoned
Presidents caught in flagrante delicto

America loves epic fails even more than successes--we'll remember a naked prince shooting pool, long after we've forgotten who won what during the last Olympics.

So...yes, if Earl would bang someone over the head with a folding chair at a major tournament, it'd be a YouTube hit.

Totally disagree. When you see pool on ESPN again, that's when you will know that pool has made a comeback. You don't see the list of crap you mentioned on ESPN. I'm not saying I know how to fix it, but I don't think it will be fixed by associating pool with activities that can be perceived as "low life". The suggestions about movies about people with "flaws" such as drug addiction and gambling are a bad idea in my opinion. Main stream America is the target audience. The worst flawed people we want interested in pool are people who smoke too much and maybe drink A LITTLE too much.

As John Schmidt said if the average pro pool player could make $100,000 a year and the better players could make $250,000 per year and up, then parents would start encouraging their kids to play. Then, maybe colleges would start having pool programs and scholarships, such as Nick Varner went through.

Meanwhile, parents are not going to encourage their kids to play pool while the image of pool and pool halls remains seedy.

I don't know HOW to get there, but what needs to be done to fix it is inject real money into winning such as the IPT was doing (and playing 8-ball as the game was a great idea too IMO) and clean up the seedy image of pool.

Fatz

 

[JAM]

Well, well, Prince Harry makes headlines again, this time not about his nakedness. Somebody should give that kid a customized royal pool cue. That would at give pool a little media attention.

Here he is on the cover of a magazine. I guess the royal family is trying to save face [pun intended.] :grin-square: