future in pocket billiards
- Thread starter juspooln
- Start date
Nope..........
No.
Tiger is a product of the media as much as anything. The first true top golfer that's black (half), dominant college and amateur career followed by a 60 million contract before his first pro event.
That is what brought a lot of new people to golf as viewers. Many people followed Tiger because of the attention.
The guy who won the US Open last year will never be as attractive for golf as Tiger was.
Shane is an excellent player who has really come into his own and in my opinion can stlll get better. But he doesn't transcend the sport and he certainly doesn't inspire his fellow pros to change their habits. Even though they see Shane practicing the break for an hour before a match they won't do it.
The big fitness freaks in pool have long been Mika, Thorsten and Charlie Williams.
Pool is not a blip on the media radar. No pool player is interesting to the media except for the occasional filler piece.
No media, no tv, no one cares. That's life in the 500 channel, 24/7 internet age.
I am not saying it will happen over night, it didn't end up in this state over night. look at the streams how many views they are getting compared to say 3 years ago( the interest is there) and when SVB is playing the views go up. People definitely like to watch him and pull for him. I think he could get younger people interested the way Tiger did . Remember Tigers fellow competitors didn't stat hitting the gym and practicing 8 hours a day till they got fed up with being beat by 10 strokes and more and now look at this generation of golfers it a given if you want to succeed
You should look at Minnesota Fats and Jeanette Lee, and how they approached marketing. Compared to other players who are better skilled, they're more well known to the public than any of our current top champions.
Shane may have beaten Mika and Earl for money, but he doesn't have a $15 ramin wood cue at Walmart with his name like Minnesota Fats or Jeannette Lee.
Shane may have beaten Mika and Earl for money, but he doesn't have a $15 ramin wood cue at Walmart with his name like Minnesota Fats or Jeannette Lee.
Does shane have a Rolex? I think that would be a good sponsor. Not that it would ever happen but I saw he has been rockin the watch with the glove. 
Marketing is everything and we definitely have the base. In a few year' s maybe he will have a 30$ cue at Dicks :thumbup:
People know/knew who Steve Mizerak was. Remember the Miller Lite Commercials and his travels to the UK to play Snooker greats Steve Davis and Jimmy White. A school teacher who became a Professional Pool Player.
"who do you think you are? Mosconi...." who hasn't heard that quote from a non-pool enthusist while playing in a random bar... Mosconi is one of the best and has been for over a half century!
Paul Newman, Tom Cruise and Jackie Gleason are well known for their pool playing via their rolls in the Color of Money and the Hustler..
And the most famous reindeer of all>>> Rudolph "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone!! The question is not who knows who he is...the question is who doesn't know who the Dean of Green is !!
Even as colorful as Mike Sigel was and for his contribution to the COM is nowhere near as popluar as the for mentioned above. We know who he is, but the general public doesn't..
Look at greats like Johnny Archer, Nick Varner, Earl Strickland, Jim Rempe and countless other names will never be reconized by general sports/games enthuiest and least here in the United States...
SVB is a world class player but will never be the Tiger Woods of the pool world (as far as reconizable popularity is concerned). Professional pool here in the US is not even a blip on the radar compared to games/sports like Snooker, Pro bowling and Golf. Even Professional Darts gets airtime on ESPn from time to time.
"who do you think you are? Mosconi...." who hasn't heard that quote from a non-pool enthusist while playing in a random bar... Mosconi is one of the best and has been for over a half century!
Paul Newman, Tom Cruise and Jackie Gleason are well known for their pool playing via their rolls in the Color of Money and the Hustler..
And the most famous reindeer of all>>> Rudolph "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone!! The question is not who knows who he is...the question is who doesn't know who the Dean of Green is !!
Even as colorful as Mike Sigel was and for his contribution to the COM is nowhere near as popluar as the for mentioned above. We know who he is, but the general public doesn't..
Look at greats like Johnny Archer, Nick Varner, Earl Strickland, Jim Rempe and countless other names will never be reconized by general sports/games enthuiest and least here in the United States...
SVB is a world class player but will never be the Tiger Woods of the pool world (as far as reconizable popularity is concerned). Professional pool here in the US is not even a blip on the radar compared to games/sports like Snooker, Pro bowling and Golf. Even Professional Darts gets airtime on ESPn from time to time.
I was just stating for people who don't follow golf the things Tiger changed like fitness
If there was something good for the media to cover they would even if only at a local level
with all of the people playing pool at least once a month Cue makers case makers pool table makers magazines streamers pool rooms leagues and regional events just to name a few someone cares:wink:
Well for starters does Shane have a marketing agent? Maybe he should talk to Jeanette Lee, and find out who is her marketing guru.
Taking a different example from golf, when Michelle Wie turned pro at 16, she wasn't a member of any professional tour. Her face was on the news constantly and in the media.
In this day of Justin Bieber, (Think Spice Girls for the older generation, and for the really old timer think of the Monkees
turning someone into a star is now more of a science than black magic art.
The immediate strategy is avoid canabalizing marketing, meaning don't go after the pool sponsors. Look for sponsors outside of pool.
Taking a different example from golf, when Michelle Wie turned pro at 16, she wasn't a member of any professional tour. Her face was on the news constantly and in the media.
In this day of Justin Bieber, (Think Spice Girls for the older generation, and for the really old timer think of the Monkees
turning someone into a star is now more of a science than black magic art. The immediate strategy is avoid canabalizing marketing, meaning don't go after the pool sponsors. Look for sponsors outside of pool.
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I know the state of pro pool in the U.S. right now But why does it have to be that way in five years. look at darts 15 years ago it was booming now where is it everything is down right now even golf pocket billiards has a lot to offer try taking one of your co workers that have never picked up a golf club out for a round and see how much fun they have take them out to play pool with in a few minuets they can pocket a ball and have fun with it and others. There is no doubt pool will never be like it was because of the internet. Its not the only thing that was affected some things adapted and got better some didn't But that's for another thread.Shane is young he has a good story and he is great to model your game and attitude after
I know the state of pro pool in the U.S. right now But why does it have to be that way in five years. look at darts 15 years ago it was booming now where is it everything is down right now even golf pocket billiards has a lot to offer try taking one of your co workers that have never picked up a golf club out for a round and see how much fun they have take them out to play pool with in a few minuets they can pocket a ball and have fun with it and others. There is no doubt pool will never be like it was because of the internet. Its not the only thing that was affected some things adapted and got better some didn't But that's for another thread.Shane is young he has a good story and he is great to model your game and attitude after with the right people around him I think he will be a great asset to the game [
I don't think this is an entirely fair statement to make about Jeanette. When she first came up, she quickly became the WPBA's best player and was regarded as such until physical ailments kept her off the table AND the arrival of Fisher & Corr. With that said, her marketing strategy has always been better but really, her campaign had a lot to work with - she was 25 years old, rocking the pool scene and beautiful. With that said, it's amazing that she's held on to her status, in spite of the arrival of more competition and extended absenses from competition but make no mistake of it, she was the champ.
Well for starters does Shane have a marketing agent? Maybe he should talk to Jeanette Lee, and find out who is her marketing guru.
Taking a different example from golf, when Michelle Wie turned pro at 16, she wasn't a member of any professional tour. Her face was on the news constantly and in the media.
In this day of Justin Bieber, (Think Spice Girls for the older generation, and for the really old timer think of the Monkees
The immediate strategy is avoid canabalizing marketing, meaning don't go after the pool sponsors. Look for sponsors outside of pool.
That's what I was getting too, I think he may be marketable to outside sponsors ,If he could get who ever markets that Fred guy with the high voice that my five year old watches on Nickelodeon he would be set:grin-square:
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I think Shane Van Boening has many challenges at becoming pool's Tiger Woods and many of these challenges are out of his control. For starters, pool isn't golf. I know it's been said before (in this thread and in life) but we really shouldn't devote another thought to thinking that pool is ever going to be as popular. That doesn't mean pool is done. It's just important for us to know our place. We're not on America's mind and that's that.
As well, as great a player Van Boening is, he's not pool's Tiger Woods and I wonder if that sort of level is even possible in pool. We've had Immonen go on an amazing tear and what made it even more amazing is how Deuel seemed to keep pace with him the entire way. What's more, if we were to start a thread titled, "Who is the best player in the past 50 years", we'd all argue over a dozen names (at least) until Jay Helfert stepped in and told us all we were full of shit and he'd be right. We'd all be full of shit. Nobody knows. 9ball statistics mean almost nothing until two guys match up.
Honestly, I don't know if short-set 9ball (or 10ball) can produce a champion for the ages. I don't think you'll ever see a consistent winner (like Tiger Woods) if we're always playing 9ball race to 9. It's just too short. The problem is, any change in format is going to have a direct impact on participation and cost which will affect payout. In the end, the greatest pool player that ever lived might very well be among us but we'll never truly know. Tournament Organizers have to create a format that's enticing to a large audience in order to yield large payouts and that's always going to be the driving force behind this.
As well, as great a player Van Boening is, he's not pool's Tiger Woods and I wonder if that sort of level is even possible in pool. We've had Immonen go on an amazing tear and what made it even more amazing is how Deuel seemed to keep pace with him the entire way. What's more, if we were to start a thread titled, "Who is the best player in the past 50 years", we'd all argue over a dozen names (at least) until Jay Helfert stepped in and told us all we were full of shit and he'd be right. We'd all be full of shit. Nobody knows. 9ball statistics mean almost nothing until two guys match up.
Honestly, I don't know if short-set 9ball (or 10ball) can produce a champion for the ages. I don't think you'll ever see a consistent winner (like Tiger Woods) if we're always playing 9ball race to 9. It's just too short. The problem is, any change in format is going to have a direct impact on participation and cost which will affect payout. In the end, the greatest pool player that ever lived might very well be among us but we'll never truly know. Tournament Organizers have to create a format that's enticing to a large audience in order to yield large payouts and that's always going to be the driving force behind this.
I was not comparing the sports at all or even the popularity of the two together like the old saying its apples to oranges what I'm talking about is what they contributed as individuals to their chosen sport in the state it was in as they entered and the effect they had/ will have on their competition
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