John Barton
New member
bomber said:Lets see If I can make everyone mad! Here is the way it looks from the outside looking in on big time pool:
You didn't make me mad, but I am not quite sure what your points have to do with the topic. But I will address them anyway.
1. Not a lot tournaments because there is no legitimate money in pool.
Depends on what you consider legitimate. Actually there are a lot of tournaments, just not a consistent amount and no regular Men's/Open tour in the USA for pros.
2. You need sponsors to have tournaments.
Not really. A tournament was just concluded in Olathe where all the participants put up $3000 each and all the prize money came from entry fees.
3. We dont have sponsors because the general public could care less about
pool.
4. It seems that a WHOLE lot of people in pool want something for nothing.
How do you figure that? Example please?
5. A WHOLE LOT of people act like they are owed something now, for
something they did 20 years ago.
Who are these people? Perhaps though if we did a bit more 'remembering' and honoring those who "did something" 20 years ago then we'd be better off instead of disrespecting them.
6. Pool has a bad reputation for a reason...deal with it...its the truth.
Pool has a bad reputation? If it still does what does this have to do with the topic being discussed in this thread?
7. Pool players need to become organized and form a QUALITY players union if they want to change any of this stuff.
Agreed. Nothing new here. But what does this have to do with the topic?
8. There needs to be a TRUE unified governing body of pool that EVERYONE recognizes.
Good luck.
9. Just because you are great at something...doesnt mean you should be rich.
I didn't see anyone say it should. However being great at something should at least get you respect for being great at it.
10. If you thought you were gonna get rich playing pool...you were wrong...go to school and get a damn job. (Sorry, I just get tired of listening to crying about how much money people make...FOR PLAYING A GAME!!!!!!!)
It's a game and it's a sport and for some it's a profession. I don't think any top players harbor any illusions that they are going to get rich playing pool. Many dream of it and the IPT seemed like it was going to make it a reality to achieve wealth through pool. However many pro players are rich already if you consider that they manage to exist doing what they love on their terms rather than being shackled to a 9-5 job. I didn't really see anyone crying in this thread about how much money they don't make though.
Listen, I make 35,000 a year and work my tail off and I teach school. I influence the lives of hundreds of students every year and i make a whopping 35,000 a year. I have never once complained about my job and I have never once complained about my pay. I knew it was tough and pay diddly squat when I got into it. I am SICK and TIRED of pool players thinking that they deserve huge payouts in tournaments and stuff. They play a game for a living that 99% of the public could care less about. THINK ABOUT IT!
What does this have to do with the thread? Just because you personally don't complain about your pay doesn't mean that it is commensurate with the work you do. Plenty of folks, me included, feel that it is ridiculous to have underpaid teachers when CEO's, actors and athletes make millions. But since pool players ARE in fact quite underpaid as a group they do have every right to complain about the status quo. Especially if their earnings opportunities are further diminished through favoritism.
Listen, you guys...I love pool and I love pool players...but these discussions make a lot of people sick on this board. It gets really old. You must realize that pool is not a major sport and most people in the mainstream dont care. There is a ton of work to do in order to make this game great or whatever...but it is being done extremely wrong. My suggestion is to get a real job if you are not happy, and play this game as a hobby like the rest of us or begin to FIX the problems instead of fighting all the time.
Part of fixing a problem is identifying it in the first place. Squeaky wheel - grease.....
I know that a lot of people will bash me for this post...I dont care. I love all of you folks and I love this board...but a lot of people on here need to start living in the real world. Another too...another poster made a great point about some of the more "veteran" posters. Just because some of us are young or we are new to the board, doesnt mean that our comments are invalid. Maybe some a fresh perspective is what the board and pool needs.
Maybe, is this your fresh perspective? As a teacher which system is better to reward your students on? Merit or Popularity? What do you teach them, that they should play the political game and strive to be popular so they will be universally liked and get all the invites or that they should strive to accomplish things that are beneficial? Do you suggest to them that they should keep quiet when wrongs are committed or should they stand up for what is right?
Peace
Aaron
Peace begins within.
