Clarification: Sharking vs. Entertainment?

[onepocketron]

Entertainment is one thing, sharking is another. I don't care what the guy is doing when it is his turn at the table. Like Fats used to do, interact with the audience, tell jokes, tell stories on so on....this is entertainment. No problem.

Folks that resort to sharking while their opponent is at the table show they are insecure in their skills. For the most part, they don't really believe they can beat their opponent with only their skills. Since they don't feel they can win on skill set alone, they resort to distracting their opponent to gain an edge. How sad is that?

 

[Slide Rule]

I think that during a match you should sit down and be quiet until it is your turn to shoot.

One more time. Sit and be quite until your turn.

 

[Ky Boy]

This is an interesting thread and most responders have firm views ---but let's take an open minded review and just consider breaking the paradigm.

Pool has steadily lost the general publics interest since the waining of The Hustler. Pool is a great sport but there are so many more options available for entertainment now. Players love to play but spectators have lost enthusiasm.

The paradigm is be respectful while the player is shooting. A break in the paradigm would be to have the players and especially the fans be more actively involved such as in the NFL, NHL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and on. Golf on the other hand maintains quiet respectability and is successful.

The Keith McCreadys and Minnesota Fats of pool have always generated a great deal of enthusiasm that brought crowds any time they came into a pool hall. They showed respect for their opponents but engaged the crowds. In the USA the crowds were expected to be still and quiet. Some of you may have examples of various crowd behaviors in other parts of the world. I would like to hear these.

What are your opinions of a more lively player/fan engagement to increase the popularity of pool?

Thank you for your response as well as the others. I have been busy and not responded to this thread like I want to. I have read each response so far and agree with ALL of them. BUT there does come a point when pool needs to find a way to be entertaining. The 'sit down and shut up until it's your turn" response is very closed ended and, while it too has it's place, is not a be all end all for players and spectators.

Has another poster had stated in another thread, nearly everyone knew the Mike/Dennis hatch was going to have some fireworks in it and is in part the reason the match created the draw it did. Justin with TAR knew it as well as I am assuming that is why he mic'ed the players. Or at least that's why I feel he did it. Because it is quite obvious a match between Ralf and Thorsten would have no need to mic the players as you know they will strictly follow the sit down and shut up unwritten rule.

I started this thread as I saw a real need to make a distinction between sharking and entertainment. I am disappointed it hasn't garnered the proper attention I feel it deserves. If one had clearly read my opening statement I said that players must be required to be respectful at all costs during a match.

Minnesota Fats talked a lot of crap to Mosconi during their matches and the crowd eat it up. I am not saying it is right or wrong but it did create a spark to keep the crowds interested. And when we hear those stories today people react with intrigue and realize the entertainment value it added to the game back then. But fast forward those same type of antics to present day and people say we can do without that behavior.

So, which is it??

Again, the DCC has all the matches you could ever ask for in terms of player behavior. And they all draw a crowd.