Could this happen to a pool player?

The Answer is.....Maybe???

Professional Pool has been marketed under many variations the last 30 yrs.,unfortunately,the conflicts of the Trade Association(BCA),Organizations(MPBA,PBA,UPA,et al),and the Players,have created obstacles to developing a Product that is presentable to Investors. Yes,the NHL,NFL,and MLB have massive sponsorship for their Events,due to their ability to blend the Individual Identity of the Player into the Identity of the Organization,with the purpose of selling that Identity to the Buying Public.
While working for the Billiard Congress I acquired a Handbook from the NFL Players Group,which has that little logo on the endorsements from everything to Terrible Towels to Fatheads. It helped me understand why Pro Players are Owned by Teams Owned by OWNERS in an Organization that Makes a Profit by Selling the Product.
Will such development work for Pool? The Answer is Maybe.
Thank you JAM for the post.
 
Part of the problem, as we have all discussed in this forum many times, is pool's image in mainstream media. :(

I was watching a murder documentary the other night, and in one scene, they were describing a man who had a shady background of loan sharking. One of the scenes they showed in the background was, of course, a rack of 8-ball on a field of green. :grin-square:

Truly, I do believe pool shined brightest when Fats and Mosconi were showcased on ESPN. Everybody wanted to see how mad Fats would make Willie, and the feud was an ongoing attraction. Whether you liked pool or not, this was fun to watch.

I wish I could think of something like this that would work in the year 2010, but my ideas are only opinions of what I think may work. I'm working on one thing now that may give pool a spark, but time will tell. :smile:
 
Having competed at both, I think it can happen much easier to a bowler than a pool player. Like golf, bowling nowadays is all technology driven. Given the equipment and lane conditions today, many tournaments are simply crap shoots. That's one thing I like about pool. There really haven't been any technological breakthroughs that suddenly make the game remarkably easy. No matter what, you still have to execute the shots, whereas in bowling, the lanes can be done in such a way that you can throw the ball anywhere on the lane and still be in the pocket.

FWIW, the 846 in my screen name represents my high 3 game series in bowling (267-279-300). I never bowled any pro tournaments, but did bowl some amateur ones.
 
Winston846 said:
Having competed at both, I think it can happen much easier to a bowler than a pool player. Like golf, bowling nowadays is all technology driven. Given the equipment and lane conditions today, many tournaments are simply crap shoots. That's one thing I like about pool. There really haven't been any technological breakthroughs that suddenly make the game remarkably easy. No matter what, you still have to execute the shots, whereas in bowling, the lanes can be done in such a way that you can throw the ball anywhere on the lane and still be in the pocket.
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That is a good observation, but pool does have rack riggers a/k/a as "rack mechanics." :o

Winston846 said:
FWIW, the 846 in my screen name represents my high 3 game series in bowling (267-279-300). I never bowled any pro tournaments, but did bowl some amateur ones.
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That's pretty cool! :)
 
JAM said:
Part of the problem, as we have all discussed in this forum many times, is pool's image in mainstream media. :( ...
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Just something to think about - the image may not be so bad these days thanks
to televised WPBA and Trick Shot events which actually are entertaining.
 
I would imagine the average job doesn't pay 40-50K a year. So why would someone need to keep earning money if they won 40K? Not saying I would stop working or stop trying to make more money if I won 40K, but isn't 40K for a years wage pretty good?
 
Highly unlikely. The closest might have been Tommy Kennedy but he was more than just an avid amateur pool player when he won the open.
 
Bigjohn said:
She will probably soon regret her encouragement as she will be kicking his a$$ for not taking that $75. per hour GM pays to assemble seat belts.:frown:
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I know a lot of people that work or worked at GM, and none have ever made $75 an hour! lol! Not even engineers make that kind of change there! You have been WAY misinformed my friend. Top pay is like $28 for non-skilled and $34 for skilled. I know, because I am on a similar pay scale.


Joe
 
I work in the Auto industry, and as much as I dislike going to work, I am VERY grateful for my job. I dont miss work, and I do my job well. I have never been in a position where I could choose between chasing a dream or staying where Im at, but I would likely stay where Im at. I applaud the guy for doing it, but I know other people that took buyouts, chased their dreams, and failed miserably. If it were just me, it would be a lot easier, but I have a family that I have to take care of. I make good money, but I am the only income in my house, and I like it that way. My wife and son go to school, and I work. I always say I want my son to have a better life than me, and I just couldnt gamble that on a shaky career where I may or may not be able to support myself, let alone a family. I really hope this guy makes it though, I am honestly rooting for him!

Joe
 
> I bring this up from time to time about the PBA. At one time,the bowling PBA was only one line away from the pool PBA (Joe Kerr) in the Akron,Oh phone book,and the office was right upstairs in the same building.

Guess who owns the whole PBA,including all media rights? Retired Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen. The story is that after he retired,that he decided one of his personal quests was to hold a PBA Touring Pro card,which in essence means he's a 230 avg bowler. He couldn't get there,but in talking to executives,he found that the PBA was on the verge of bankruptcy,so HE BOUGHT IT. He restructured a few things,and now the top 50 are guaranteed a chance to make a living at the game (kind of like the IPT promised),they have an active TV contract,outside industry sponsors like Lumber Liquidators,Denny's,etc.

MOST sponsorships in bowling are kind of like pool in a way,where the sponsor's contributions are more in the form of free or real cheap equipment,and maybe the bigger names get a small check to cover travel expenses,but to the best of my knowledge,none of them are paid big money to use a particular brand of equipment like Earl was Cuetec. Some of them are also house pros at a bowling facility,so their employer may pay some expenses.

To most of the pro bowlers,even free equipment is a pretty sweet deal,considering how much their equipment is versus it's working life. I met HOF bowler Mike Aulby at a tournament years ago and he said that in an average MONTH of practice he would simply wear out 6 brand new balls,and that he was happy to have been successful enough to get good sponsorship cause equipment would be costing him 800 a month out of pocket at the time. High end bowling balls are 150-200 bucks a pop now. That would be like wearing out 6 Predator shafts. Imagine 1200 a month in equipment alone,on top of travel. Tommy D.
 
Jam opens a great observation

Teach them and they will come... As the House Pro at Hardtimes Billiards, Sacramento we are in our 11th year with Del Campo High School. With over a couple thousand students that have gone through our Billiards PE class, this has not only helped business but is a platform for teaching credibility.

I work with Gary Summerhays, whose brother just retired from the Champions Golf Tour, and he too has become a good player. He even has a table at home now so when his 12 children visit they have a Competitive activity. Key word "competitive"

This is not rocket science. The PBA, PGA, MLB, NFL, Etc. has a strong component on education embedded in their marketing scheme. Once capable to compete, like our auto work, he has an avenue to pursue.

POOL DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH HOUSE PROS, NOR A PATHWAY TO THE PROS. IMO - UNTIL THIS HAPPENS NO MARKETING EXPERT COULD EVER SELL A PRODUCT.

I know other components are necessary, but we must start somewhere and as one poster mentions Shuffett or Murphy winning may help. FYI - Murphy has already taken an extended leave from our sport. Why...?
 
JAM said:
I think you may be right.

You know, on this forum over the years, I see golf and tennis being compared to pool, but, in reality, there is no comparison between these games/sports.

I do think bowling is a better fit if one compares pool to another game/sport.

Of course, even these bowlers have an "organization" by way of the PBA (Professional Bowlers of America), which is something that is sorely lacking for the pool players.

Most believe this is the problem with pool and have written about it extensively on this forum. Check out the PBA website for bowlers: Professional Bowlers of America

Sheesh! They are labeling this new bowing champion "The Anti-Tiger." :grin-square:

The difference that I can see initially between bowling and pool is the non-industry sponsors. Bowling's got Bayer Aspirin, Etonic, Pepsi, Geico, just to name a few.

Interestingly, they separate the ladies from the gents too, with a so-called "Women's Series." They also have a Regional Tour and a Senior Tour. Everything seems to be under one umbrella of the PBA.

This year's Bowling Championship was sponsored by Lumber Liquidators -- never heard of them :o. The article states this is one of bowling's most prestigous titles that Smallwood won.

But look at Smallwood's money earnings: His victory put him at the top of the PBA earnings list for the 2009-10 season with $69,100 through eight events and he was tied with Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa., for the lead in the PBA Player of the Year points race.

As most know, this can be deceiving because about half of those earnings go towards expenses, UNLESS these bowling sponsors are paying his way.:wink:
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Nice story , i'd like to throw out a few thoughts. Television has dictated to the PBA how it formated it's final matches , it was a stair step format, then they changed it. I think the tournament leader had to bowl two matches to win instead of one.

They show the PBA finals live. They lanes are of a standardized size , i believe balls have to be the same circumference , though weight can vary. NBA courts , NHL rinks , MLB baselines , and the fields that NFL games are played on are standardized size.


The NBA , NHL , and MLB are all subsidized by the taxpayer with arenas , rinks , and stadiums payed for by you. In turn the salaries of players are inflated because franchise owners get sweetheart deals and don't pay for their upkeep , you do.


Pool is more akin to boxing and other combat skill forms of entertainment. Several sanctioning bodies etc. You will never have the kind of exclusivity other games and sports have unless you the government to remove the rights of people.

Pool is portable in that you can use an established pool room or another venue and set up tables for a tournament in a day.People can hold tournaments anytime they want without sanctioning , would you want it any other way?


The future of televised pool is the internet through streaming , and if it advances to where streaming becomes more reliable it will make things better. At this time using streaming you get to see every shot with no editing , the only problems being the technical glitches.


I think some people want pro pool tournaments to have high payouts and a higher television profile , thats good , but probably not going to happen. Even the women are limited to taped events with occasional showing.

Just the opposite on the streams mostly men's events. In this country there is to much competition for ad money from entertainment games and sports with companies only allowing some much for advertizing budgets , and they are going to put it where they think it is going to have the most impact.
 
I wonder why they were suddenly interested in him coming back to work? They should have offered him a sponsorship and a job....
Maybe like 3days a week(with full-time pay of course) plus pay all his expenses to bowl in every tourney of his choosing...
I would do this without question...I could use the insurance..=)
 
Jam
That was a great story. My dad was also in the same situation where he worked for general motors and lost his job. Trust me when i say if that guy was good with his money he wasnt hurting before he won that tourny.
 
"JAM good read".

I think bowling has to be one of the most boring games invented. Sometimes when I have a easy run out I tell people "if I don't get out from here I'll take up bowling". One of the funnier movie lines has to be Randy Quaid (Kingpin) saying "I'm intimidated to be in the presence of so many great athletes".

I do think you're right about comparing pool to bowling (same type crowd with similar payouts).
 
That 50 Grand may not be all he actually won!

He may well have received some nice sponsorship offers after winning the top honors. Could be that he figures to make more bowling with sponsorship & endorsements so he figured he take a shot at something other than a 9-5er even if in todays economy, it would be hard to turn your back on auto workers benefits.


just more hot air!


Sherm
 
tigerseye said:
I wonder why they were suddenly interested in him coming back to work? They should have offered him a sponsorship and a job....
Maybe like 3days a week(with full-time pay of course) plus pay all his expenses to bowl in every tourney of his choosing...
I would do this without question...I could use the insurance..=)
Click to expand...

If he was an hourly-paid worker, him winning the tourney had nothing to do with GM calling him back. Its all based on seniority and production. Even if he was salary though, GM is not gonna care whats going on, lol. They have their own fish to fry.

Joe
 
If you watch a pro bowlers tournament you'll see that all the top bowlers are covered with sponsor patches on their shirts. They aren't doing that for free. The 40 grand for that one tournament may not seem like a whole helluva lot on the surface but you gotta remember that he's got sponsors putting money in his pockets and saving him money on equipment. Not to mention that he probably plays in a lot of other tournaments and if he's cashing in at least half of the time he's probably close to 100k a year.

10 years ago I was ranked number 1 in the billiards association here in Shizuoka, Japan. I was supposed to go to the All-Japan amateur tournament. The guy in charge of the billiards association said "You can't go, you're not Japanese." I had been to that tournament 5 times before that. This guy was the new leader of the association. Anyway, that pissed me off so bad that I literally quit playing pool right then and there. You know what I did? I took up bowling as my hobby. I did alright with it. I never got to be where I was a huge threat in a tournament but I got my average up to 193. My highest game was a 283.

I follow bowling now but don't go as often to play. I started back at pool about 4 years ago. I haven't gotten to a point where I want to compete again though. That whole deal left a bitter taste in my mouth and I refuse to put money into the association. I don't put enough effort into getting my game back to do anything in a tournament anyway. I'm completely happy playing with the guys at the pool hall and not having any ties to the association.
MULLY
 
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