I love straight pool, and I have been positive towards the Dragon promotion events in the past, because, like them or not, at least they are SOMETHING. WPA has done NOTHING for straight pool, what so ever. But I have kind of changed my stance on this recently. I really think WPA should no longer sanction straight pool events. Let it be its own thing and just abandon all support. These zombie events by Dragon do nothing but string it along as a sideshow, a joke to pass the time while the players are waiting for the next "real" event. The virtual event is doubly so.
It hurts me that people now consider 9 ball the sport. The luckiest, stupidest and lamest game in all of the pool universe, except maybe 7 ball. But that is the reality of it. Pools home is in Asia now, and apart for Japan, they don't care for straight pool at all. They want to see jump shots made with gaffe cues, wired wing balls and pattern racking, because that is fun for some reason I'll never understand. At least it's not call safe 10 ball, that's the only redeeming quality, apart from that it's a total shit show.
Straight pool would be better off with its own federation. At least then there could theoretically be a world championship. It wouldn't attract the big stars, but I don't particularly care, since those guys generally don't care about straight pool. If there isn't enough interest to hold such a championship, then maybe it doesn't need a championship. Maybe it could just be a game that is played and enjoyed.
The dream would be to go back to the roots of the game, the 10 foot table with reasonable but not too small pockets. Maybe even change up the equipment to be more like it was back then, less reactive balls maybe, different cloth, make it something completley unique, yet authentic. My suggestion would be 10 foot tables with snooker height which is slightly taller than modern pool tables, like in the old days. Maybe the rubber of the rails could be made to resemble the antique tables too. It could be a real gentlemans sport with a nostalgic feel. Proper old timey cues even, possibly. Naturally ivory and clay balls are out of the question, but the plastic could be made to emulate those materials and they could have that old time look too. I'd love to both watch and play that sport. If I ever become rich, I'd get one of those table/ball/cue sets made.
In the mean time I'll enjoy playing straight pool and playing the few events that I actually can, while I can, because I can see this sport going down the drain. The number of players keep dwindling every year, and the WPA will never hold a WC again, it seems. I'll give it 5 years in my country before the events are cut out all together. Maybe the Eurotour will keep it for 10, but I doubt it.
