Does anyone take pride in a league anymore
- Thread starter Poke_N_Hope
- Start date
here is a league with 18 teams.... you be the judge
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=4790149&postcount=67
The 9-Ball league at a local bar was just last night. Music played, people laughed and teammates sharked each other more than their opponents. Lots of fist bumps and friends catching up. A few deflated looks at some hung 9-balls, a few laughs when players hooked themselves and some shots there's no way were planned that made B players look like Efren. The super bowl was a hot topic, there was about a 15 minute stretch of Caddyshack quotes and bad Rodney Dangerfield impersonations and these days, lots of talk about who might draw a pro at the USBTC and get destroyed.
...and be the envy of the others.
The league director recruits new members and teams, finds subs when players can't make it, keeps the jukebox going, runs the break contest, makes sure every one knows which table they're on, settles any disputes, smiles, laughs and is the reason most of us are there.
No one is going to get rich in our league (including the director) but it's a pretty good way to spend a Monday night with friends. I doubt any of them do it for money.
...and be the envy of the others.
The league director recruits new members and teams, finds subs when players can't make it, keeps the jukebox going, runs the break contest, makes sure every one knows which table they're on, settles any disputes, smiles, laughs and is the reason most of us are there.
No one is going to get rich in our league (including the director) but it's a pretty good way to spend a Monday night with friends. I doubt any of them do it for money.
I was the VP of a small BCA league & then stepped down to be the LO for the division I play in. I changed many things to make it easier. No driving to bars to pick up or drop off anything, about 1-2 hours data entry & then mass email. This is 2015 & there are ways around that. People who run the other nights get some money but I refused. My night is not handicapped and many of the best players in town weren't playing in it, but instead on another night for a different BCA league. But when I put out flyers for 100% payback (which nobody else offers) to attract more players can you guess what happened? Nothing, nothing changed & nobody cares. In my area there aren't that many pool players (per capita) and every league imaginable. So, to say LO's aren't doing a good job seems short sighted. If, I can take some $ (which I wont) and have the same amount of teams & the same amount of complaining then where is the motivation not to get some money? I do it cause my hope is all the great players in our area will realize this is where it's at & be a great, great night of pool, tough matches week in & week out that even if u play well might find yourself going 1-4 because you were broke & ran on nearly every match.
My first question would be why do you think that pool leagues should be charity non-profits? Whatever your argument is could just as easily apply to any other business in existence, whether it be Walmart, your wife's hair stylist, your favorite local restaurant, the company that built your house, other sports like the NBA and NFL, etc, yet you don't expect anybody else to be charity non-profits. Why should pool be any different from anything else?
And since you think pool league owners should be obligated to run their leagues as charity non-profits as a labor of love, my next question is why aren't you running a league for free as a labor of love and charity then? The very reasons you don't run a league for free, such as that you expect to be paid for your work, that it would take away from your time to do other jobs that would earn income, that you don't want to be away from your family that much, that it interferes with other necessary life obligations, etc, are all the same reasons why league owners aren't doing it for free either, just like you aren't.
The league I help run in Boston is essentially a non profit. The house takes 30% of the fees for their table time and the remaining 70% goes straight into the prize fund. There are three of us running it and the only money ever taken has been for supplies (and that has been minimal). Is it a labor of love, yes; do I have zero to no patience for those who complain YES. Like I say many times, If you can't offer a solution to your complaint please don't bother complaining.
Seems like a great thread to introduce myself to AZ. I started playing 8/9 ball at the age of 7 and just completely stopped in my early 20s. I'm 33 now and just joined a league (8/9 balls plays at the same time) for the first time in ten years. I always enjoyed playing league as a warm up in my college days (I would rather gamble), but now I really respect it. Between a full time job and working on my masters, league is my only night of relaxation.
Welcome to AzB! Already a Gold Member too :thumbup:
Here is the popular pool league thread: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=345063&page=134
Anyone who gets frustrated with league play, is in the league for the wrong reasons. It's good relaxation, as you've said. It's something that can be taken serious, without being taken very serious
I agree completely. I love to play, period. I don't play APA for a Vegas trip though I'd gladly go if we won our local championship. I don't play BCA for the money though I'll take what I get at the end of the session. After all I spend on dues, quarters , and beer I know it won't pay me back. I don't care. I just enjoy playing and enjoy the competition. These non-league players always seem to think that no actual good pool gets played but that's simply not so. We have plenty of strong players in our leagues here that play strong pool..league has nothing to do with it. I also know plenty of guys that say they play for money that really don't play all that well. Just because you decide you're a money player doesn't mean you're better than all league players. That would be a very dangerous generalization. I don't gamble, I won't,I can't. I make a small salary working for a living and enjoy my life outside of that as much as I can. I enjoy the league format and get plenty of satisfaction from the level of competition without losing my wallet to some guy who is on the hustle. I don't need to prove a damn thing to any gambler...just my team mates. I'm good with that.
I don't know, maybe it's just in the Northeast but, we have had two areas go up for sale within the last ten years and both were north of $500,000 to purchase.
Now, I don't know about anyone here but, I would be hard pressed to spend that kind of money on a franchise that doesn't pay me well.
With that said, both were sold quickly which tells me that, after looking at the books, they were both deemed to be solid money makers.
JMHO...YMMV
Koop
Now, I don't know about anyone here but, I would be hard pressed to spend that kind of money on a franchise that doesn't pay me well.
With that said, both were sold quickly which tells me that, after looking at the books, they were both deemed to be solid money makers.
JMHO...YMMV
Koop
Probably an APA league in which you own something no one else can. You purchase the area and no one can come start an APA in your area. Our BCA league has no value (IMO) due to there's nothing tangible to own. I could likely start another, competing BCA league and get it sanctioned and be in business tomorrow (I say likely as I'm not 100% sure but believe this to be true).
A good friend of mine just purchased the APA in the area where I live and I absolutely believe he can and will make good money.
People can say what they like about APA player (ers), but their business model is solid and a money maker.
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