comparing top pro pay

[ShootingArts]

Pick a game or sport, any of them! It is a longshot to become rich. Players in the NFL have an average two year career the last I knew with a lifetime of pain and minor injuries at best. Maybe one in a million or less that dream of playing in the NFL make it, and that might be your best chance at a pro game or sport career.

The odds suck at being in the top one or few percent in the world or less at anything, and that is what it takes to be a pro. Look at olympic athletes. Technically amateurs but most never had a childhood to get to be world class. The chinese government and others are selecting children, babies, with potential when they are three years old and telling them and their families where they will go to school and what pursuit they will follow to try to be world class in, the best in the world.

It's not easy to be a financially successful pool player, but don't kid yourself it is much easier to be financially successful anything else in the sport or game world. Generally speaking, you have to have a gift, and a hellacious work ethic! If I had a child that wanted to be an athlete I would try to guide them to a noncontact low impact sport with long careers.

It isn't easy in pool and pool may be one of the tougher sports or games to be financially successful in but it is a mistake to think it comes easy for any success at sports or games. There are few sports I would encourage my children and grandchildren to play. Pool is lower than most things on that list. That isn't to say other things are easy though.

Hu

 

[jeephawk]

Joking aside, I think the game needs to be shown to the public with the respect that it deserves. Show people how hard pool really is and why champions want to win so badly, despite how difficult it may be. A majority of people still think pool is a really easy bar game. They also need players they can root for, as with any sport. On the off-chance that someone outside of pool stumbles upon a match on YouTube, they have zero information about any of the 2 players shooting. The gameplay by itself has proven for years that it alone cannot grasp the attention of the average person.

But shown how? Specifically? There are always lots of "sounds good" ideas but like some of the stuff above, what's the reality of it?

Great segment on 60 minutes with SVB once upon a time - but what network that attracts significant viewers is going to invest (meaning sponsors going to pay for the ads) in a show or series about pool that isn't a tournament? Tournaments are shown where they are shown because that's what they command for ratings and sponsorship. You can always do the human interest bits that are produced as part of that, but without tournaments becoming popular enough to be shown on networks people are interested in, that seems unlikely to happen. Just showing inside look into the world of professional pool on its own? If people were watching that, they'd be watching the tournaments - IMO it's the interest in the competition and game itself that gets the eyes and sparks whatever interest there may be in background stories, not the other way around.

 

[maha]

no matter how hard you work at it and how much time you put in, if you do not have the required eye hand coordination and ability you will never be top or even close to pro speed.

so if you cant play tennis, golf, hit a baseball, play ping pong, well with some effort, you are never going to be a great pool player.


and if you do and desire to be a pro player you will see such fast improvement without hard work that will have you eager to try.

does any one think those great players from the past put in work and drills to get where they were. no, they gambled under pressure for hours a day in the pool room. and had that eye hand coordination that propelled them quickly to a top speed.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

just a thought: based on tournament winnings

only the top 10 pros in the whole world make as much, or more than a new york city cop gets in salary after 5 years. $126,000.
and only the top 40 players in the world starting salary for a cop. $66,000

all below that cant afford to even live in n.y.c. without a second job.

NYPD Offers a pension, with 20 years service, Pool dont.

 

[jeephawk]

NYPD Offers a pension, with 20 years service, Pool dont.

But the whole New York police officer bit is a contrived comparison anyway --- as of a few years ago less than 1/2 of the officers lived in New York City - simply couldn't afford the high cost of living - officers just starting out are living with family or looking for roommates - it's a problem and when adjusted for cost of living it isn't any real $120,000 after 5 years BUT that doesn't include overtime, which IMO if you've got to earn a lot of OT to make ends meet, its not much of a sustainable way to live, but again it's common and supplements regular income. Tough living and what very few players are making a living at pool, they're not suffering by comparison to NYC police officers for all sorts of reasons.

 

[skogstokig]

Pick a game or sport, any of them! It is a longshot to become rich. Players in the NFL have an average two year career the last I knew with a lifetime of pain and minor injuries at best. Maybe one in a million or less that dream of playing in the NFL make it, and that might be your best chance at a pro game or sport career.

The odds suck at being in the top one or few percent in the world or less at anything, and that is what it takes to be a pro. Look at olympic athletes. Technically amateurs but most never had a childhood to get to be world class. The chinese government and others are selecting children, babies, with potential when they are three years old and telling them and their families where they will go to school and what pursuit they will follow to try to be world class in, the best in the world.

It's not easy to be a financially successful pool player, but don't kid yourself it is much easier to be financially successful anything else in the sport or game world. Generally speaking, you have to have a gift, and a hellacious work ethic! If I had a child that wanted to be an athlete I would try to guide them to a noncontact low impact sport with long careers.

It isn't easy in pool and pool may be one of the tougher sports or games to be financially successful in but it is a mistake to think it comes easy for any success at sports or games. There are few sports I would encourage my children and grandchildren to play. Pool is lower than most things on that list. That isn't to say other things are easy though.

Hu

exactly. and the more money in the sport, the more people will try, and the competition will be harder. in soccer they're picking out 12 year olds to the academies. by the time you're 15, if you haven't been shown interest, the already slim chances are minimal.

at least in pool there is a chance for a 28 year old to shine on the big stage, like ameer ali. or perhaps most famously, tommy kennedy when he beat archer.

then we have all those sports that takes a lot of dedication and effort with almost no reward, like olympic wrestling. 15 years of brutal practice, bronze medal because of politicized refereeing, almost no financial payout.. distance runners, cross country skiiers, pay is dependent on equipment sponsors and instagram likes.. rowing is one of the most physically demanding sports, but their prize money is just bragging rights. these people sacrifice a lot more in terms of quality of life than pool players.

 

[sciarco]

Stay in school get an education keep pool as a hobby and enjoy playing, i know a couple lawyers that play pool as a hobby.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

But the whole New York police officer bit is a contrived comparison anyway --- as of a few years ago less than 1/2 of the officers lived in New York City - simply couldn't afford the high cost of living - officers just starting out are living with family or looking for roommates - it's a problem and when adjusted for cost of living it isn't any real $120,000 after 5 years BUT that doesn't include overtime, which IMO if you've got to earn a lot of OT to make ends meet, its not much of a sustainable way to live, but again it's common and supplements regular income. Tough living and what very few players are making a living at pool, they're not suffering by comparison to NYC police officers for all sorts of reasons.

Rookie NYPD Pay is 55K a year, the pay is terrible. That is why most New Cops room with 3-5 other Rookie to make ends meet.

 

[Dan White]

I think the key word here is "olde".

I agree with SJM. While pool may not quite be there yet, I think the day is fast approaching where a young man who has some ability (even in the U.S.) wouldn't be crazy for making a go at it...provided he chooses to "turn professional". Steven Pressfield wrote a great book called "Turning Pro", and it's about becoming a professional in any discipline. It's a great book.

The players now that are making money are "professionals". They do what needs to be done to succeed...even if they don't want to do those things. They have no glaring weaknesses in their games. They practice every aspect. They travel all over all the time. They understand that part of becoming a professional is curating a life that can support pool now and support them when they cannot play pool anymore. This means they refrain from substance dependency and promote themselves as ambassadors for other businesses and their own businesses...particularly their own businesses. I was watching an accu-stats match where Mark Wilson said that Aloysius Yapp made 20 trips to China to play Chang Jung-Lin even 9-ball sets...and lost them all. Now look at Yapp. That is a professional.

Fedor hired someone to film him and help him with his Youtube channel (in addition to keeping a serious practice routine). This was extremely smart, and I don't know why every other pro with a little bit of change doesn't do the same. The smart ones, to various degrees, are cultivating a youtube / instagram stream of income. (Fedor, Niels, the Fillers, Alex, etc.).

When you consider the opportunity to chase a dream vs. non-dischargeable school loans to work a job that you will lose to A.I., I am not sure pool isn't fast becoming a "non-crazy" option...provided the player is going to be a professional as I have described here.

Finally, I am not going to name names as that seems impolite. However, on occasion at the DCC, I have seen several TOP players with their "lady friends". All of these players...ALL OF THEM...had an 8 or above with them, and none of them (in my estimation) would be with the same company of women, if they were a schoolteacher or accountant. It's good for a guy's love life to be at the top of a male hierarchy with a touch of globetrotting. What's it worth to travel the globe and bag hotties from 25 to 35? It's not nothin'.

I know, it's easy for me to say this as I sit at my desk with health insurance. When I get cancer, I will get treatment...and then I will be gone.

kollegedave

Globetrotting and bagging hotties? I'm in, where do I sign up?

 

[jasonlaus]

Globetrotting and bagging hotties? I'm in, where do I sign up?

Maybe the women players from other countries, not sure I'd want to wife up an American.

 

[jeephawk]

Rookie NYPD Pay is 55K a year, the pay is terrible. That is why most New Cops room with 3-5 other Rookie to make ends meet.

Yes, that's the point.

 

[ShootingArts]

politicized refereeing, almost no financial payout..

That is my picture in my avatar. I learned early to stay away from judged events of all kinds! First time I earned a checkered flag I didn't shut down for another lap. People asked why I didn't. I sat far enough back in my car that they threw the flag after I couldn't see the flagstand and I wasn't taking any chances!

i know a couple lawyers that play pool as a hobby.

I couldn't help a laugh imagining what happened every time there was a close call: "In Reyes vs Strickland it was ruled ... "

Hu

 

[SSP]

WTF?? There's a BIG difference in a serious player and someone who plays for a living. I'd bet EVERY player on here is pretty serious about their game.

I agree, I work hard on my game but I don't think I will ever get to a pro level, should I quit because I can't? I don't think so, I enjoy the game and I have improved dramatically, there are literally hundreds of millions of people who play golf who will never play at a pro level, why can't it be the same for pool?

 

[bbb]

I agree, I work hard on my game but I don't think I will ever get to a pro level, should I quit because I can't? I don't think so, I enjoy the game and I have improved dramatically, there are literally hundreds of millions of people who play golf who will never play at a pro level, why can't it be the same for pool?

i think the issue is
of course if you want to play for personal reasons great
but if you want to play as a professional ie make your living at it
your return on the amount of time and effort it takes to get that good
could be rewarded much higher if you put that time and effort doing something else

 

[Fore Rail]

Your return on the amount of time and effort it takes to get that good could be rewarded much higher if you put that time and effort doing something else.

That is all well & good if the individual has something else.

 

[bbb]

That is all well & good if the individual has something else.

the individual needs to understands his time would be better off doing something else.
its like choosing art history or philosophy as a major in college
there are better choices if your goal is to be self sufficient

 

[Fore Rail]

the individual needs to understands his time would be better off doing something else.
its like choosing art history or philosophy as a major in college
there are better choices if your goal is to be self sufficient

You don't seem to understand.

What if the only thing the individual has is pool?

Meaning this particular person has struck out doing anything else in life & only is good at one thing.

In this instance it would be pool.

 

[jeephawk]

You don't seem to understand.

What if the only thing the individual has is pool?

Meaning this particular person has struck out doing anything else in life & only is good at one thing.

In this instance it would be pool.

Then, based on how you've put it forth, the odds are this 1 in about 8 billion person will be homeless and/or depending on others or the "state" for assistance.

Lots of "what ifs" but this isn't really a reasonable one.

And the other answer is that person will simply be bad at some job (but have one) that will have a 99.9% chance of providing more/any/enough to sustain him or her vs. pool.

 

[Fore Rail]

Then, based on how you've put it forth, the odds are this 1 in about 8 billion person will be homeless and/or depending on others or the "state" for assistance.

Lots of "what ifs" but this isn't really a reasonable one.

And the other answer is that person will simply be bad at some job (but have one) that will have a 99.9% chance of providing more/any/enough to sustain him or her vs. pool.

I'm not talking about some random person off the street.

I am speaking of someone who actually has ability, has shown talent for the game. Someone who has worked hard and cultivated his/her talent.

This someone has nothing else in life & is making a go of it(being successful) playing the game for a living.

 

[jeephawk]

I'm not talking about some random person off the street.

I am speaking of someone who actually has ability, has shown talent for the game. Someone who has worked hard and cultivated his/her talent.

This someone has nothing else in life & is making a go of it(being successful) playing the game for a living.

Yep - very unlikely to make a go of it in terms of making a living and yes, there's always something else to do.