Fatboy Orange 5

muskyed

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
You know, when you keep making pool balls better and better, and they last as long as they do, you have to do something to get new sales. Sure, there will still be sales of the standard balls, but by bringing a new version out, there will still be a certain percentage of new sales by some that just have to have them even though the standard version they have is great.
As to Emilys stance, who knows, maybe the more that some complain, she's just digging her feet in, or possibly she was approached by Aramith in the first place, as someone that could help promote their sales of a new version of balls and are giving her a percentage of sales.
 

Chili Palmer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
You know, when you keep making pool balls better and better, and they last as long as they do, you have to do something to get new sales. Sure, there will still be sales of the standard balls, but by bringing a new version out, there will still be a certain percentage of new sales by some that just have to have them even though the standard version they have is great.
As to Emilys stance, who knows, maybe the more that some complain, she's just digging her feet in, or possibly she was approached by Aramith in the first place, as someone that could help promote their sales of a new version of balls and are giving her a percentage of sales.

I'm more inclined to believe the first part of that statement, but we can do that also ;)
 

L.S. Dennis

Well-known member
At the risk of sounding too political, much as Putin underestimated the consequences of going into Ukraine, Emily didn't realize the result of her cavalier decision to change our traditional pool ball colors. Certain things run deep. I wonder how the British people would react if they changed the ball colors in their snooker matches to our traditional pool ball colors? Changing the cloth color to shark skin grey is one thing, our pool ball colors is quite another!
 

Scratch85

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
Maybe Matchroom chose to make a simple change in ball colors, to give the complainers something to complain about, while they got their tournament game straightened out. A little misdirection to keep their name in the conversation, until they figured out the other logistics.

Just a thought but it seems like they got their schedule, break format, venues and rankings all figured out, while we complained about the color of two balls. I’m a Matchroom fan. I’m 62 years old and have been trying to view professional pool since I was a teen. It is better and more easily viewed now than it has ever been, in my lifetime.


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L.S. Dennis

Well-known member
Maybe Matchroom chose to make a simple change in ball colors, to give the complainers something to complain about, while they got their tournament game straightened out. A little misdirection to keep their name in the conversation, until they figured out the other logistics.

Just a thought but it seems like they got their schedule, break format, venues and rankings all figured out, while we complained about the color of two balls. I’m a Matchroom fan. I’m 62 years old and have been trying to view professional pool since I was a teen. It is better and more easily viewed now than it has ever been, in my lifetime.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nobody is denying that what Matchroom is doing for pool is not a good thing, scratch that great thing! That's not what's at issue here, people are simply voicing their opinion on a mistake made with their ball colors (Emily herself admitted that it was probably a mistake, but refused to make changes and said "just go with it" I believe is how she put it during one of her first US Open interviews when the subject came up). I don't know if she signed some sort of contract with the company who produces the balls but if not why not just rectify this, make everyone happy, put this thing to bed and move on. This isn't rocket science!
 
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tomatoshooter

Well-known member
Changing the cloth color to shark skin grey is one thing
I played on some gray tables and I really liked it. Everyone else I talked to likes it, too. Then again, there has always been variation in the color of the cloth, but the balls were the same color until what, 20 years ago? I think it was necessary then because many cameras and TVs often made it hard to tell which ball is which. Now, much the time, I can real the actual number.
Maybe Matchroom chose to make a simple change in ball colors, to give the complainers something to complain about, while they got their tournament game straightened out. A little misdirection to keep their name in the conversation, until they figured out the other logistics.
That's a very good point.
 

j2pac

Marital Slow Learner.
Staff member
Moderator
Gold Member
Silver Member
Nobody is denying that what Matchroom is doing for pool is not a good thing, scratch that great thing! That's not what's at issue here, people are simply voicing their opinion on a mistake made with their ball colors (Emily herself admitted that it was probably a mistake, but refused to make changes and said "just go with it" I believe is how she put it during one of her first US Open interviews when the subject came up). I don't know if she signed some sort of contract with the company who produces the balls but if not why not just rectify this, make everyone happy, put this thing to bed and move on. This isn't rocket science!
Well said.
 

FunChamp

Well-known member
To me, complaining about Matchroom events because you don't like the color of the five ball is the equivalent of complaining about a Mercedes Benz because you don't like the ashtray. To Fatboy's credit, he has toned it down a lot of late on this subject.
To me, always thinking everything Matchroom does is great is the equivalent of thinking Kim Jong Un is a great leader simply because that's all you have.
 

8cree

Reverse Engineer
Silver Member
The worst part about the WRONG colored balls is not for us full-time pool fans. It's a deterrent for the casual viewer. When I try to show the guys at work a match,their first reply is why in the hell is the table Grey? I explain that's how 'Matchroom' does their tourneys, kind of like a signature. I can see it in their faces. It's a turn-off... then the confusion multiplies when they notice the balls are not traditional colors and now they pretty much have no desire to keep watching the match. Even with me explaining and helping along the way. So yea... it's self depreciation that she apparently doesn't mind. Oh well, I'm gonna still watch it but if she REALLY wants to grow the sport(especiallyin America), there's a simple way to boost it up.
 

skogstokig

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
At the risk of sounding too political, much as Putin underestimated the consequences of going into Ukraine, Emily didn't realize the result of her cavalier decision to change our traditional pool ball colors.
To me, always thinking everything Matchroom does is great is the equivalent of thinking Kim Jong Un is a great leader simply because that's all you have.

come on, don't hold back on the analogies
 

mista335

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
As to Emilys stance, who knows, maybe the more that some complain, she's just digging her feet in, or possibly she was approached by Aramith in the first place, as someone that could help promote their sales of a new version of balls and are giving her a percentage of sales.
It was Emily Fraser who approached Aramith because the red and pink balls looked too similar on mobile devices. She explained this in an interview with Karl Boyes.

She did go on to say that we're not changing anything.
 

ChrisSjoblom

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Let's face it, there's probably not a single person in America who is pleased about the ball color change, but it's a small issue, not a big one. Yes, it was a mistake. After all, the four has been purple for a century. At this point, however, there aren't many who are complaining, and any suggestion that Matchroom is being defiant despite a significant outcry for reversion to the old colors in misinformed.

It's time to move on.
I disagree that it is time to move on from this if we really want the colors changed back. By your own estimation nearly all Americans would prefer a return to the old colors, and I hold that keeping up an outcry is necessary if this is going to take place. In the history of the world in general and specifically in western democracy nearly every change, for good or for bad, has begun with and was sustained by a vocal minority that would not stop promoting their position.

Populations, be they of a nation or a community centered around a common interest, tend to be apathetic and somewhat pessimistic on average. The majority will accept pretty much any condition that is set over them whether they like it or not as long as the condition in question doesn't hurt too much. For most, changing it seems like a lot of work, and some worry that the efforts for change may actually make things worse. They rationalize their acquiescence by saying, "It's just a small thing, and overall things are okay. Why rock the boat?"

However, introduce a vocal and determined minority into the situation and you will see support for that minority's position grow within the general population, with the desired change being the eventual outcome. There are various reasons for this which would take too long to describe here, but the point is that it consistently does happen. The process can be fast or slow, but if started and sustained by that vocal minority it will almost certainly have the desired effect. A few examples of this are our own American revolution, Christianity in general and the rise of Protestantism, or the relatively recent changes being made by the LGBTQ rights movement.

I'm not equating changing the 5-ball back to orange with any of these large social movements, but the nuts and bolts of instituting a change are the same.
 
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sjm

Older and Wiser
Silver Member
To me, always thinking everything Matchroom does is great is the equivalent of thinking Kim Jong Un is a great leader simply because that's all you have.
Don't know anyone who thinks that. In my write up of the UK Open, I included this:
... there were two things that could have been better. Spectator chairs on the outer tables were of poor quality. Also, there was nowhere for the players to place their cues on the outer tables. Most of them chose to rest their cues against the all-metal player chairs but cues were often falling to the ground, which was a shame ...
Yes, I realize that Matchroom gets some things wrong, but they are producing the most entertaining and enjoyable professional pool product in my 48 years around the pro game. They are growing the game in a way that I dreamt of but never thought I'd see in my lifetime. Pool has never been in a better place than it is now and global participation in Matchroom events is growing dramatically. The production values on display at a Matchroom event exceed any I have ever seen.

No, in my lifetime, Matchroom isn't, to use your words, "all we have" but instead the best we've ever had.
 

bbb

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
To me, complaining about Matchroom events because you don't like the color of the five ball is the equivalent of complaining about a Mercedes Benz because you don't like the ashtray. To Fatboy's credit, he has toned it down a lot of late on this subject.
tone it down "of late"????
havent seen fatboy on the site in many months
icbw
 

FunChamp

Well-known member
Don't know anyone who thinks that. In my write up of the UK Open, I included this:

Yes, I realize that Matchroom gets some things wrong, but they are producing the most entertaining and enjoyable professional pool product in my 48 years around the pro game. They are growing the game in a way that I dreamt of but never thought I'd see in my lifetime. Pool has never been in a better place than it is now and global participation in Matchroom events is growing dramatically. The production values on display at a Matchroom event exceed any I have ever seen.

No, in my lifetime, Matchroom isn't, to use your words, "all we have" but instead the best we've ever had.
Not too me. I don't find it entertaining at all and don't really care for most anything they do. It's just my opinion. Obviously lots of folks like it but there really isn't any viable competitor either.
 

skogstokig

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
At the risk of sounding too political, much as Putin underestimated the consequences of going into Ukraine, Emily didn't realize the result of her cavalier decision to change our traditional pool ball colors. Certain things run deep. I wonder how the British people would react if they changed the ball colors in their snooker matches to our traditional pool ball colors? Changing the cloth color to shark skin grey is one thing, our pool ball colors is quite another!

matchroom sports is the promotor of 2 or 3 events on the snooker tour: the championship league, challenge of champions and maybe one more. these events get more criticism by traditionalists than any other event, aside from maybe the shootout. mostly because they have changed the dress code (century old tradition there, as well) by allowing players to play in polo t-shirts instead of waist coats. also the races are shorter, it's race to 3 in the now ongoing event.

my take is the same there, their events give more opportunities for the players to make money, more snooker to watch for the fans and any objections i may have over petty details are put in relation to this.
 
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