Wow! What a thread.
To be honest, though, despite all the controversial, and occasonally harsh, posts found herein, most of what's been written makes a lot of sense. Here in these AZB parts, most of us are very passionate about our sport and the shape of its future, and most of us have something useful to add to the analysis of American pro pool's past, present and future.
As we've seen, we're not all on the same page as to how things have been done or should be done when it comes to the planning for and administration of American pro pool events, and that's OK.
Still, here in the world of pro pool, there are certain economic realities with which we must all come to grips, the first of which is that the blind application of economic principles to the American pro pool proudct is an iffy proposition in and of itself.
In most sectors of the economy, there is adequate supply and as new suppliers enter, those least capable of delivering the product in a way that meets the needs of consumers are driven out, leaving supply right where it should be. The absence of those suppliers lost, at least in theory, does no damage to the economic sector.
Contrastingly, for products where supply is insufficient, suppliers are not only more important, but they, predictably, exert more power over the delivery of the product. Tempting as it may be to drive imperfect suppliers away, it is impractical to do so, because it would make things worse, as the instantaneous emergence of alternative suppliers cannot be counted on.
The American pro pool tournament is, sadly, an example of a product where supply is insufficient. It is for this reason that I find the feduing among the many producers and would-be producers of pro pool events so dispiriting. The economic realities of our sport demand that we encourage every supplier of American pro pool events.
Why make it all so personal? Producers of American pro pool are in short supply, and every single one of them is precious, and worthy of being treated as such by others who truly care about American pro pool and its future.