Governing Body of What??

[Island Drive]

With the internet, Skype and ones ability to work from home, I'm all for removing the wording....''Governing Body of Pool'' from the BCA and forming a new entity to represent the Game.

Personally....within todays Virtual World, we the people....who truly are concerned about the sport and its development should create, and implement a NEW governing body of pool.

The BCA wording no longer fits the animal, but diminishes it. When it first came into formation in the forties, those involved were surely concerned and cared for the Sport....which it was, before and after WWII.

Gamblers soon created nine ball, and it seemingly eroded the history of Greenleaf/Hoppe and Willie Mosconi.

We all can see the Earl frustration within Willies actions during the TV shows that slowly diminished his greatness and thus....started making pocket billiards appear more like a Game, which is how it's perceived to this day in the states.

I don't know how to go about forming this ''we the people'' for our sport, but I surely will gladly insert my perspectives from a fifty year immersion. Pool will never go away because it combines art, with sounds and competitions. The arts come from ones soul and living life like any animal that evolves and makes their way thru their time here.

Wish I could write as well as Jam....:yeah:

 

[JAM]

With the internet, Skype and ones ability to work from home, I'm all for removing the wording....''Governing Body of Pool'' from the BCA and forming a new entity to represent the Game.

Personally....within todays Virtual World, we the people....who truly are concerned about the sport and its development should create, and implement a NEW governing body of pool.

The BCA wording no longer fits the animal, but diminishes it. When it first came into formation in the forties, those involved were surely concerned and cared for the Sport....which it was, before and after WWII.

Gamblers soon created nine ball, and it seemingly eroded the history of Greenleaf/Hoppe and Willie Mosconi.

We all can see the Earl frustration within Willies actions during the TV shows that slowly diminished his greatness and thus....started making pocket billiards appear more like a Game, which is how it's perceived to this day in the states.

I don't know how to go about forming this ''we the people'' for our sport, but I surely will gladly insert my perspectives from a fifty year immersion. Pool will never go away because it combines art, with sounds and competitions. The arts come from ones soul and living life like any animal that evolves and makes their way thru their time here.

Wish I could write as well as Jam....:yeah:

You write just fine. I agree with every word you wrote. :yes:

We're all dancing in the dark here. Nobody gives a hill of beans about professional pool, except people like you and me, pool aficionados. League and recreational players won't benefit from a governing body of professional pool, so they have no interest.

Until there is a legitimate tour a la IPT that is based on qualifications that are earned by competing in events to be a member of the tour, then there will never be legitimacy in our sport. To think that you and I can pay $500 to compete in the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship, that speaks volumes.

Can you imagine being able to compete alongside Tiger Woods in a pro golf tournament? :killingme:

Therein lies the problem. Everybody points fingers at the others, but nobody seems to be able to come with a plan to fix what's broken.

The magic that you and I enjoy in pool is what needs to be emphasized in a way that mainstream people can appreciate and see what we see. Minnesota Fats with his gift of gab made pool fun for mainstream America. Willie Mosconi brought a sense of professionalism to pool by the way he carried himself. Today's pro players are dancing in the dark, as are we.

Recreational pool will survive just fine, but professional pool continues to circle the drain. I'm optimistic, though, that something just might happen right around the corner in the pool world when we least expect it. What that is, I'm not sure. It won't be anything we are familiar with today. Only time will tell . . .

 

[Johnson]

"we the people" can't even agree on which chalk to use, you'd need a small group of industry insiders that know the ins and outs of all aspects of pool and have great integrity, guys like sjm, jay helfert, bob jewett, dennis walsh etc. and the first order of business would be an actual set of rules! look @ snooker the game is virtually unchanged for a century or longer? they can't even use plastic ferrules which keeps the history of the game intact

 

[MapleMan]

If another alphabet soup organization is gonna take over pool it needs to kill the old circuit. Are u ready to see the end of the open and wpc. They are dying anyway. They need to get the best players and bar them from other events. Or else they'll just run to the highest bidder. More fans would be needed. The only pool advertisement that I have seen in my life has been apa posters at the bar. League pool is huge, why not put pro posters next to league tables. This is a grass roots thing. When pro players go to a local room do you see ads all over town with a date and time because I doubt it. At the very least we could attract more fans and players by advertising the game ourselves. We can control that part while some group of suits argue over pools next acronym

 

[Island Drive]

Since I couldn't sleep after my OP here's some starting thoughts.

National amateur championships in 14.1, ten ball and eight ball.

Minimum age to compete 13 years old and older.

Return these games to their original rules.

Have all venues non smoking and allow underage players access if accompanied by parents.

Make it a non profit organization with its long term goals set in place well before ANY implementation of any venues.

Have state and then National Championships for each discipline, with MONEY not the targeted goal. This will up the quality and character of play, and minimize the old adage....''what's in it for me'' and remove the Gamblers from steering the ship.

Strict dress codes, and look hard at how the classy Europeans handle their snooker venues.

Eight ball disciplines to be played on seven footers.

All excess funds from the non profit to be put into escrow to fund an eventual pro tour.

These are random thoughts, starting thoughts, with ALL ideas subject to change, scrutiny and reinterpretation as matter progress and evolve with time.

We would all like to see Our Congress removed and replaced and have our government rebooted....it feels like the time has come to do the same for the sport of pool. Pool is still perceived as a GAME, when its truly one of the great arts.

There is so much bad stuff out there that hasn't worked, just remove those aspects from the business model and BEGIN.

One other item, have Jam draft all final documents before final approval, in a non partisan manner.

 

[oldzilla]

I really hate the word "congress"

It has been made a mockery by those who trample its existence.

Why not use "forum" or "commitee" something else to change the perspective of any efforts !

:groucho:

 

[elvicash]

With the internet, Skype and ones ability to work from home, I'm all for removing the wording....''Governing Body of Pool'' from the BCA and forming a new entity to represent the Game.

Personally....within todays Virtual World, we the people....who truly are concerned about the sport and its development should create, and implement a NEW governing body of pool.

The BCA wording no longer fits the animal, but diminishes it. When it first came into formation in the forties, those involved were surely concerned and cared for the Sport....which it was, before and after WWII.

Gamblers soon created nine ball, and it seemingly eroded the history of Greenleaf/Hoppe and Willie Mosconi.

We all can see the Earl frustration within Willies actions during the TV shows that slowly diminished his greatness and thus....started making pocket billiards appear more like a Game, which is how it's perceived to this day in the states.

I don't know how to go about forming this ''we the people'' for our sport, but I surely will gladly insert my perspectives from a fifty year immersion. Pool will never go away because it combines art, with sounds and competitions. The arts come from ones soul and living life like any animal that evolves and makes their way thru their time here.

Wish I could write as well as Jam....:yeah:

Do you think you can get the BCA to relinquish there position of pool relative to pool in the US with the WPA. If you put together something with that goal in mind I would be willing to sign a petition or perhaps even buy a membership. Here are some ideas that would be the focus of an organization I could support.

Promote pocket billiards as a sport
Educate players (manners, honor, rules, technique, instruction)
Get pool in schools and colleges,
Promote pool as a college sport,
Promote pro pool - attract sponsors, media outlets,
Attract audience to events
Pool on TV
Pool on Internet (funnel viewers to pool streams paid or free)
Attract viewers to TV/Internet
Have a website that is actively updated
Post upcoming events
Post results of past events
Develop statistics so pro's and high amateurs can be compared

 

[Roger Long]

With the internet, Skype and ones ability to work from home, I'm all for removing the wording....''Governing Body of Pool'' from the BCA and forming a new entity to represent the Game.

Personally....within todays Virtual World, we the people....who truly are concerned about the sport and its development should create, and implement a NEW governing body of pool.

The BCA wording no longer fits the animal, but diminishes it. When it first came into formation in the forties, those involved were surely concerned and cared for the Sport....which it was, before and after WWII.

Gamblers soon created nine ball, and it seemingly eroded the history of Greenleaf/Hoppe and Willie Mosconi.

We all can see the Earl frustration within Willies actions during the TV shows that slowly diminished his greatness and thus....started making pocket billiards appear more like a Game, which is how it's perceived to this day in the states.

I don't know how to go about forming this ''we the people'' for our sport, but I surely will gladly insert my perspectives from a fifty year immersion. Pool will never go away because it combines art, with sounds and competitions. The arts come from ones soul and living life like any animal that evolves and makes their way thru their time here.

Wish I could write as well as Jam....:yeah:

My feelings, exactly, Bill.

Roger

 

[Roger Long]

Do you think you can get the BCA to relinquish there position of pool relative to pool in the US with the WPA.

You could probably get the WPA to dump the BCA, instead,

Roger

 

[elvicash]

Roger I think you are right I doubt the BCA would be willing to let go even though they actual do not seem to do anything to actual push the sport it is a sad state of affairs. Pool is currently in retrograde the Ultimate 10 ball is no more, Tunica is no more and Mark G is cutting back his activities. Rooms are closing, the playing base is aging and the future is not bright for pool on its current path.

Would not have to be that way, you and I both know it is a great sport more than just a game. Easy to play impossible to truly master.

Where are you at BCA, what are you governing, what direction do you want pool to go in the short and long term? Does anyone from the BCA actually post here on AZ? Has AZ got anyone on the board at the BCA? It would be good to cross pollinate the BCA with people who want to promote the game as much as the suppliers of pool supplies.

How many people are on the board at the BCA?

Does someone actually own or control the BCA, I know it is a non-profit perhaps it could be owned and reorganized.

 

[Island Drive]

Do you think you can get the BCA to relinquish there position of pool relative to pool in the US with the WPA. If you put together something with that goal in mind I would be willing to sign a petition or perhaps even buy a membership. Here are some ideas that would be the focus of an organization I could support.

Promote pocket billiards as a sport
Educate players (manners, honor, rules, technique, instruction)
Get pool in schools and colleges,
Promote pool as a college sport,
Promote pro pool - attract sponsors, media outlets,
Attract audience to events
Pool on TV
Pool on Internet (funnel viewers to pool streams paid or free)
Attract viewers to TV/Internet
Have a website that is actively updated
Post upcoming events
Post results of past events
Develop statistics so pro's and high amateurs can be compared

Cart before the horse....the BCA is in the rear view mirror from my position. They had over three million in reserves and were avg 1.1 mil in profit doing the trade show in the 90's-2000's. Hell they were netting up to 120K in room rebates at the Rivera/May in their prime. Then they went to Charlotte 08? pretty sure, and netted 60K after it was all said and done. This is from the horses mouth, not mine, and this is a Clydesdale from WI.
In middle school and high school sports we play for pride, and a trophy and for the team. Playing for Cash only will never till the farm.
I've still got Only my Huebler Cup trophy and two trophies from my HS speed skating days, the rest are in the trash, or I gave em away. I don't want to see the next generation get the samo/samo....our game stands the test of time and is pure physical art, with sounds where I'm coming from. We're lucky to have a Picasso still alive (Efren) tho he's a gambler due to survival, but humble and Real, and does not come with All the spots of a tiger since he's human and realizes change is needed too.

 

[Scott Lee]

Fortunately, Bill, you're not in charge of making that decision.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

With the internet, Skype and ones ability to work from home, I'm all for removing the wording....''Governing Body of Pool'' from the BCA and forming a new entity to represent the Game.

Personally....within todays Virtual World, we the people....who truly are concerned about the sport and its development should create, and implement a NEW governing body of pool.

The BCA wording no longer fits the animal, but diminishes it. When it first came into formation in the forties, those involved were surely concerned and cared for the Sport....which it was, before and after WWII.

Gamblers soon created nine ball, and it seemingly eroded the history of Greenleaf/Hoppe and Willie Mosconi.

We all can see the Earl frustration within Willies actions during the TV shows that slowly diminished his greatness and thus....started making pocket billiards appear more like a Game, which is how it's perceived to this day in the states.

I don't know how to go about forming this ''we the people'' for our sport, but I surely will gladly insert my perspectives from a fifty year immersion. Pool will never go away because it combines art, with sounds and competitions. The arts come from ones soul and living life like any animal that evolves and makes their way thru their time here.

Wish I could write as well as Jam....:yeah:

 

[Island Drive]

Fortunately, Bill, you're not in charge of making that decision.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

If you see the time of my First post I was woken up thinking about Badi's clarification of what forty years of samo has done to me/thrice over. The way I see it, that's just and expression, a comparative but I was annoyed and fired it off that way. I'll see them in the rear view mirror, as they have scuttled the ship for too long. In know way do they represent the entity it once was, and for us to expect that is asking the impossible, as it should be. Governing body of Amateur Pool is one of thousand options. I'm in charge of nothing, but the tipping point Badi created is a good thing, I'm on that horse now, and hope ta see ya in the front seat, not the mirror, so to speak.
If it wasn't for High School Football/Basketball where would the pros come from??????????????????????????????????????