That's because the players that have dragged this game down to shorter races, alternating breaks, break boxes, and all the rest of the bs rules knows they don't stand a chance and therefore wouldn't bother wasting a penny to play against the pros in this format.
The old days are gone. But everything evolves, that's nothing strange.
I have no interest in competing now, and I don't much enjoy watching. I just like casual social play. Rarely do I feel the need to get serious about it, and that's just when some yahoo pisses me off.
So I guess I am not contributing much these days. But I am here, and I enjoy talking about pool. These days I am more about cues, I just enjoy that aspect of it most.
What we have here is a parlor game for gentlemen that became a gambling game played mostly in smokey pool halls where no respectable woman would be seen for a long time.
We got a shot in the arm with The Hustler. Then that faded. Then we got a shot in the arm with TCOM. Then that faded.
There was a time where you would see some pool matches, often exhibitions, on network TV. That was when we had three channels (if you were lucky) and rabbit ears with tin foil on them.
Then there was cable and ESPN of course. Little surges and attempts at making something happen mixed with controversy.
Then there was internet and streaming with little surges at making something happen again mixed with controversy.
All of a sudden TCOM is antiquated, George and Gus are long gone, Saunier Wilhelm is long gone, Brunswick tables have given way to Diamond, people pay thousands for Asian made pool cues, and cutting edge pool cues aren't even made of wood. And as you mentioned...the rules and various schemes...
It's a different world.
But certain things have not changed. Pool is still a parlor game that became a gambling game played mostly in places that serve alcohol. That's what the general picture of pool is in the minds of the masses. And in fact, that's what it is. The lights and cameras, the tuxedos, the polo shirts, the movies...none of that has changed what the game is at the core.
IMHO: What does pool need? It needs to be pool. It needs to be what it is. I don't think it needs anybody to try to force it to be something else. It isn't golf, it isn't tennis, it isn't poker. and it sure as hell ain't the NFL. MMA, or NASCAR.
Capitalize on what it is without trying to make it something else, that's what a creative mind will do.
I love the game and I am proud to be a part of it in whatever capacity I have been over the years.
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