Can Pool players really affect Pool Organizations or Not?

[Snapshot9]

Can Pool players, assuming you had enough support, really affect Pool organizations or not? Are the people in charge of Pool organizations really like elected officials that no matter if a majority wants something, they just override it with what they think it is best.

I guess, what I am asking, can you as a Poolplayer be a change agent for the betterment of Pool or not?

I realize the level of difficulty changes a lot between local, regional, and national levels. But, are the Pool organizations listening to the players or
not. I think a lot of players that have the best interests of the sport at heart feel helpless sometimes on being able to bring about changes that
would help our sport and how it conducted and thought about by the public.

Can we make a difference or not?

 

[ridewiththewind]

Can Pool players, assuming you had enough support, really affect Pool organizations or not? Are the people in charge of Pool organizations really like elected officials that no matter if a majority wants something, they just override it with what they think it is best.

I guess, what I am asking, can you as a Poolplayer be a change agent for the betterment of Pool or not?

I realize the level of difficulty changes a lot between local, regional, and national levels. But, are the Pool organizations listening to the players or
not. I think a lot of players that have the best interests of the sport at heart feel helpless sometimes on being able to bring about changes that
would help our sport and how it conducted and thought about by the public.

Can we make a difference or not?

You know, I used to believe that one voice could effect change. Or even a group of voices. But I am beginning to believe, sadly, that this may well not be the case. I believe that once corruption starts in an organization, it is very much like a virus, and it tends to spread quite prolificly.

Lisa

 

[Tbeaux]

Don't get down Lisa. I can point to one very good example of how one person CAN effect change. Solly (Solartje) had some real problems with the way things were setup in Belgium (national level), he talked to other players who agreed with his views and they very quickly (matter of days) were able to get the governing body (BPBF) to make changes.

Terry

 

[ridewiththewind]

Don't get down Lisa. I can point to one very good example of how one person CAN effect change. Solly (Solartje) had some real problems with the way things were setup in Belgium (national level), he talked to other players who agreed with his views and they very quickly (matter of days) were able to get the governing body (BPBF) to make changes.

Terry

Yeah, but was he dealing with a bunch of women?! The key word here being women...Lol.

Lisa

 

[Tbeaux]

Yeah, but was he dealing with a bunch of women?! The key word here being women...Lol.

Lisa

Lisa regarding women see my LAST post on the thread "Politics has taken the place of quality play". Women are currently in the catsbird seat in pool and don't appear to know it.

Terry
Edit reason- I'm not gooderer in proper writing!

 

[catscradle]

Can Pool players, assuming you had enough support, really affect Pool organizations or not? Are the people in charge of Pool organizations really like elected officials that no matter if a majority wants something, they just override it with what they think it is best.

I guess, what I am asking, can you as a Poolplayer be a change agent for the betterment of Pool or not?

I realize the level of difficulty changes a lot between local, regional, and national levels. But, are the Pool organizations listening to the players or
not. I think a lot of players that have the best interests of the sport at heart feel helpless sometimes on being able to bring about changes that
would help our sport and how it conducted and thought about by the public.

Can we make a difference or not?

Scott, I think it is just like any kind of politics. The more local and smaller the organization the greater the ability of 1 person or a small group effecting it. To effect a national organization, like the APA for instance, takes a concerted effort by a small group to organize a large group into an effective force. I don't think anybody in pool considers it important enough to do all that work.

 

[Tbeaux]

To effect a national organization, like the APA for instance, takes a concerted effort by a small group to organize a large group into an effective force.

Exactly the problem.

I don't think anybody in pool considers it important enough to do all that work.

I'm not so sure about this. I think there are plenty of people who consider it important and some are doing things. They're just each doing their own thing. Question becomes is this approach holding things up or pushing things along albeit slowly?

Terry

 

[Blackjack]

Can Pool players, assuming you had enough support, really affect Pool organizations or not? Are the people in charge of Pool organizations really like elected officials that no matter if a majority wants something, they just override it with what they think it is best.

I guess, what I am asking, can you as a Poolplayer be a change agent for the betterment of Pool or not?

I realize the level of difficulty changes a lot between local, regional, and national levels. But, are the Pool organizations listening to the players or
not. I think a lot of players that have the best interests of the sport at heart feel helpless sometimes on being able to bring about changes that
would help our sport and how it conducted and thought about by the public.

Can we make a difference or not?

Scott

Peg Ledman has done so much for the WPBA (as well as Vicki Paski) but they have had the cooperation of the women that play on the tour, as well as core sponsors that have stuck with the WPBA through the rough times as well as the good times. The main problem is that the other end of the sport has always gravitated towards the cash, with little or no thought given to the pre-existing problems that have brought them down in flames in the past. Unless the focus is on organization (instead of prize funds and other benefits) then sadly, mistakes will be repeated. The WPBA has come a long way since the "split" but there were many sacrifices that were made initially. The tour went through a lot of growing pains, but today it is the result of teamwork instead of individualism. So can players make difference? Only if they want to. I tip my hat to everyone that has been part of making the WPBA what it is today - includng the regional tours that have served as a platform to the professional level. It takes cooperation from all involved to work towards a common vision of the sport.

 

[Snapshot9]

Yes, that is true..

Yeah, but was he dealing with a bunch of women?! The key word here being women...Lol.

Lisa

Lisa ... That is true. When I was in Information Systems at Learjet, everyone knew not to bother me until I had my coffee in the morning.
Then when I was Payroll Supervisor with 4 people working for me, 3 of them women. If by chance, I happened to forget to say 'Good Morning' to one of them because I was preoccupied, or just needing coffee, they would pout for 2-3 weeks at a time, until it usually came up later on in a meeting to find out what was bothering them. The pettiness that existed between the women, more than once, became intolerable at times, and had no place in a professional business setting.

 

[Colin Colenso]

Lisa ... That is true. When I was in Information Systems at Learjet, everyone knew not to bother me until I had my coffee in the morning.
Then when I was Payroll Supervisor with 4 people working for me, 3 of them women. If by chance, I happened to forget to say 'Good Morning' to one of them because I was preoccupied, or just needing coffee, they would pout for 2-3 weeks at a time, until it usually came up later on in a meeting to find out what was bothering them. The pettiness that existed between the women, more than once, became intolerable at times, and had no place in a professional business setting.

I smell trouble...

 

[Billy_Bob]

Billiards has a long history of resisting change. As I recall (from reading), when leather tips were first discovered, many players continued to play without leather tips. Just a wood stick without any tip.

Today playing without a tip would seem silly!

And then rubber cushions were invented. I think prior to this, they stuffed the cushions with cloth or horse hair. Needless to say, the rubber cushions added quite a bit of accuracy to the game. However there was a lot of resistance from players as to playing with rubber cushions.

I recently switched a small local tournament to playing with BCA rules instead of "bar rules". Well this was a BIG battle for me with some players. Although the majority of players who go to these tournaments know and prefer to play with BCA rules, the minority of players put up a big battle to not play with these rules. But we are over the hurdle and things are running smoothly now.

I read somewhere that all politics is local. You can help the sport locally. Help to improve the image of billiards. Some local suggestions on things which need doing...

-Get local bar tournaments to use written BCA rules instead of "bar rules".

-Provide BCA rule books to players who do not know BCA rules and help them learn the rules.

-Get rid of those oversized bar table balls. Coin-op tables can be modified to accept same size same weight magnetic cue balls. Find out who in your area can modify the table(s), then take up a collection and pay for the modifications yourself. Get same size same weight magnetic cue ball here...

(These balls will work on some tables without modification.)
http://www.poolndarts.com/index.cfm...37e6f2c10-4D7739B0-D61C-4F06-BC47C3401E62078D

 

[pillage6]

At the UPA tournament in Atlanta there was an interesting discussion about changing an existing format.

The tournament was listed as "winner break", but the promoters wanted to change it to "alternate break" and took a vote at the player's meeting. Well everyone pretty much agreed to the format change and it was over........so we thought. After about 30 seconds one player changed his mind saying that they shouldn't change the rule at the tournament. It's not fair to the players that had been practicing to the advertised format and it's not a good move to try and change a rule at the player's meeting.

So the promoters again changed the format BACK to the original format of "winner break", which prompted more grumbling from the players. One player even threatened to pull out of the tournament due to the lack of backbone that the promoters and directors where showing.

Right or wrong one person had an effect on the decision for the whole even after a decision was reached. This may not hold true for every discussion, organization or player, but for this instance it worked.

 

[Solartje]

im not sure how it goes in america, but here in belgium, our BPBF is not very big, we only have around 300-400 registered players, and yes, one person can change something in my country. As long as your comments are constructive not destructive, as long as u back it up with evidence instead if tin air, as long as u know how to get in touch with the guys who CAN do something about it, no point in telling to the toilet lady that they should ban jumpingcue's... hope u see my point, but i guess at the end it all depends on how open the big guys are.

in my case, almost all of the BPBF guys are ranking poolplayers like u and me. its not like a actual job like it is in the USA (right?) and u can just go to them at any ranking event, talk between matches and a nice bear and tell what is on your mind. Also all poolhall owners, BPBF guys, tourorganisators etc all read the national pool forums, and they DO react to it. i think in our country they have made changes at least twice a year to try to do things better.

maybe its because we are not really a poolnation, where it is considered as a national sport, and we are behind compared to for example the netherlands in talent, amount of players, big tournaments, payouts, well in almost any aspect, and the only way they can change it , is to listen to what people think, even if its someone like Silly solly

but this is in belgium , europe.... i really have no idea how this is in the usa, but it wouldnt surprise me u can just mail the guy from the ipt and say, hey... change this and that.

but we all got to believe we DO make a difference. i didnt think i could either, but thx to the suport here and some good advice it worked. we now have instead of 10 9ball, 1 8ball, 1 striaght ranking, we have 4 9ball, 4 8ball, 4 straight ranking events.

 

[justnum]

if running a pool tournament is just half as bad as it sounds I can't imagine the guys who run the government. But really other than the missed time slots because games run over what could there be to change. I did wish there was more cross-promotionals at the DCC so I know what kind of stuff is out there. As a person new to the pool atmosphere it sure does attract some stiff customers. I have seen these guys gamble money like reese's pieces but who has been hired to do public relations for the sport. I've seen J. Lee do something for people with back problems but that was like a whisper of noise. The educational fund for college I have read about that but it seems like there is little college crossover promotions. Even for the few colleges that do own pool tables its not like the pool organization is targeting them for anything, other than selling them tables and gear.

 

[Ratchet]

One voice can make a difference ,look at Martin Luther King for example ? The thing to it is all in the way you state your case .Thought provoking and fact filled content with a smooth delivery will always attract someone to your
cause ! You may not get the attention you want at first but soon you will find
like minded people who in turn will find other like minded people . It usually wont happen overnite and you may have to dig in and commit to the long
haul but if you are determined to make a difference ,You can and will !

If it werent for one mother raising hell there probably still wouldnt be safety straps in grocery carts ! Its all in the determination and presentation !

Ratchet - but then again ,I could be wrong . lolol

 

[justnum]

among the less notable of thought provoking, fact filled speakers were Hitler. And look what happen afterwards. If pool was presented how wrestling was that would be cool. I mean the people already have back stories all they need to dress up is the game itself but its not traditional. So who knows what the old money guys will back up next.