Holy crap... I just figured out why pool is not TV popular.

Billiard Architect

Billiard Architect

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Ok bear with me for a minute. Every one of these sports/games have one thing in common and they all have tv viewership....

Bowling
Golf
Football
Baseball
Nascar
Tennis
and in an obscure way poker

Even our half sisters across the water (england) snooker and (japan) 3 cushion)... Can you figure out what it is???

Scoring!! Scoring breeds competition... Hell even my 5 year old son can figure out who is winning a game by scoring. I know you say there is scoring in pool. They count how many matches you win by who sinks the 9. Lets say we change golfs rules just for a minute and see how interesting it would be to the viewer.

Mitch Lawrence: "Welcome to a beautiful day here @ pebble beach for the PGA Open I welcome my beautiful wife who will be anouncing with me today the Striking Viking Ewa Lawrence"

Ewa Lawrence: "Thanks Mitch todays match looks like it is going to be a doozy. We have Tiger Woods playing against Phil Mickelson. Looks like Phil won the coin toss so lets pick up the action."

Mitch Lawrence: "While we wait for Phil to tee off lets get a quick rundown on the rules... It will be an alternating Tee off with both players playing the same ball. If a player commits a foul by either going out of bounds or not making a legal shot then their opponent takes over where the shot lies. The last player to sink the putt wins the hole. Whomever has the most holes out of the round wins that round. We will be playing 2 rounds and if we have a tie @ the end we will have a playoff to decide who wins. Now lets go to the tee and see Phils first shot. What do you think Mataya will he be using a putter on this 384 yard shot @ the green"

Ewa: "No Mitch I would assume he would be using a Driver because the first shot is very important not only strategically but it sets up how the rest of the hole will be played."

Mitch: "Wow he really got a hold of that one ohhh but it looks like it will just roll off the fairway. Well you know what that means Tiger will get the second shot."

Ewa: "Mitch it looks like Phil didn't take the wind into account on that shot so now Tiger will get to play the second shot there in the rough. Oh Mitch he got a great shot on that one oh it is on the green and rolling, rolling, is it? is it??? oh just missed it."

Mitch: "At this time I would like to thank Franks Construction for enlarging the holes to 4 feet in diameter before the match today and Sardo tees for perfect ball height every time. So what do you think Ewa will Tiger be using his driver on this shot?"

Ewa: "I believe he will be using his putter this time mitch as you can see he is sitting around 2 feet from a 4 foot hole. Ohhh it looks like he mis-stroked that shot. Looks like Phil will have an easy hole out here"

Mitch: "After seeing a miss like that I would guess that Phil will want to use his Driver here to avoid the mistake that Tiger did."

Ewa: "No mitch he is only 6 inches from that hole so he too will stick with his putter. And there you have it Phil wins the first hole."

Mitch: "heh heh heh Look @ Tigers expression from the Hole Cam. You gotta love these angles we bring to you."

35 minutes later...

Mitch: "Well thank you for joining us on a great match today. We saw two of the greatest players in golf rip through this course with Tiger taking both rounds easily. Lets go to the PGA shot of the match where Tiger Jumped the ball over Phils foot and it fell in the hole."

Ewa: "So from both of us here in Pebble Beach. Thank you and have a good day."
------------------------------

Pool or Pocket billiards used to be very popular back in the days of Greenleaf, Mosconi, Crane and Lasiter. Why? I believe it was because you had a sense of competition from the scoring that 14.1 had. If you were told that someone ran 127 and out you would say... "Wow thats impressive" Now if I told you that someone won their last 5 games for the win it doesn't sound as hard.
 
I have held out for a long time that one pocket would be the best game for television for this and many other reasons. The only drawback is the length of some of the games...maybe this could be solved by editing...but many people seem to think the game is too complex and slow...kinda like watching paint dry, grass grow, etc. I on the other hand believe the game is quite simple compared to golf or football...I also appreciate the strategy.
I thought Ronnie Allen had a good idea several years ago when he suggested that 8-ball should be played with only solid colored balls. Something like 7 red balls, 7 yellow balls and a black 8 ball...think he called it casino pool...he said it would make it easier for the viewer to discern the status of the game (much like scoring) at a glance.
It is my opinion however, that the camera work in television pool is THE major problem...it could be done much better with a little effort.
 
HittMan said:
I have held out for a long time that one pocket would be the best game for television for this and many other reasons. The only drawback is the length of some of the games...maybe this could be solved by editing...but many people seem to think the game is too complex and slow...kinda like watching paint dry, grass grow, etc. I on the other hand believe the game is quite simple compared to golf or football...I also appreciate the strategy.
I thought Ronnie Allen had a good idea several years ago when he suggested that 8-ball should be played with only solid colored balls. Something like 7 red balls, 7 yellow balls and a black 8 ball...think he called it casino pool...he said it would make it easier for the viewer to discern the status of the game (much like scoring) at a glance.
It is my opinion however, that the camera work in television pool is THE major problem...it could be done much better with a little effort.
Click to expand...

id like to see straight pool played on tv...i dont know how to play it well but i know people would be amazed at how many balls were made once the rack was busted open!
 
BigLip said:
id like to see straight pool played on tv...i dont know how to play it well but i know people would be amazed at how many balls were made once the rack was busted open!
Click to expand...


This has been my argument for a while now. I actually don't know how it would be received but honestly, there's a part of me that just doesn't care anymore. They're putting SEVEN BALL on television!!!! Why not straight pool? Even pool players don't play 7-ball!

I think there's a lot one could do with a televised straight-pool match that wouldn't affect the cost of production. High runs could be actively tallied, for starters. Also, it allows for records. With this alternating break 9-ball stuff, you cannot set any records of any kind. I mean, everyone enjoys focusing on the competition between two players BUT we also take notice in personal achievements. Straight pool allows that far more than any other game.

At the very least, they need to consider other games. Prior to my argument for straight pool, I was a big advocate for 8-ball. I still am, to a certain extent. Why not play the game of the masses? It just makes no sense to me. I think it's time that we treat 9-ball as one of many until the audience tells us which should be dominant. Who knows, we could be very surprised with the results.
 
Great Posting - Johnny "V"

Some very valid points and well said.
I also like the HittMan/Ronnie idea about 8 Ball.
It is still THE ONLY Game the general public can relate to. The idea of say 7 red balls & 7 blue balls, with a yellow 8 ball - could work!

TY & GL
 
OldHasBeen said:
Some very valid points and well said.
I also like the HittMan/Ronnie idea about 8 Ball.
It is still THE ONLY Game the general public can relate to. The idea of say 7 red balls & 7 blue balls, with a yellow 8 ball - could work!

TY & GL
Click to expand...
i agree. it might be dumb to some people, people who already have knowledge of the game but it's a great idea for the general public.
 
OldHasBeen said:
Some very valid points and well said.
I also like the HittMan/Ronnie idea about 8 Ball.
It is still THE ONLY Game the general public can relate to. The idea of say 7 red balls & 7 blue balls, with a yellow 8 ball - could work!

TY & GL
Click to expand...

Yeah but if you make the game a "called shot" game, how is the player going to indicate which ball and which pocket? Point to the ball with his cue?

Barbara
 
My 2 cents

I would love to see the top women and the top men play in a few of the big tournaments. Why not? Do you think the woman in the Indy 500 will bring in more women spectators? You bet your ass it will! If she had won, every woman in the US would buy a t-shirt with her and her car on it. We don't need the seperation. Anybody ever think about this?
Purdman
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
This has been my argument for a while now. I actually don't know how it would be received but honestly, there's a part of me that just doesn't care anymore. They're putting SEVEN BALL on television!!!! Why not straight pool? Even pool players don't play 7-ball!
........

At the very least, they need to consider other games. Prior to my argument for straight pool, I was a big advocate for 8-ball. I still am, to a certain extent. Why not play the game of the masses? It just makes no sense to me. I think it's time that we treat 9-ball as one of many until the audience tells us which should be dominant. Who knows, we could be very surprised with the results.
Click to expand...


8-ball would be great on TV. More people play 8-ball tavern leagues than 9-ball on 9ft tables. There is more stragtegy to 8-ball than 9-ball.

I am more suprised that Rotation is not on the tournament menu...
 
Barbara said:
Yeah but if you make the game a "called shot" game, how is the player going to indicate which ball and which pocket? Point to the ball with his cue?

Barbara
Click to expand...

Heaven forbid, but we may have to ask the Boro Nut. In England they play a wierd game of '8 ball' with 7 yellows, 7 reds, and a black. I cannot recall if the game was call shot, and if so, how one designated a particular yellow. Boro ? I do recall the very strange rule for after a foul. The incoming player gets 2 turns !

Dave
 
To become more popular you need popular players like Phil Helmuth in Poker or Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, etc. Earl Strickland came close. We need more personality in the game like Earl that viewers can route for. Televised pool does a poor job of presenting the players personalities. What we end up seeing is mechanical robots with scowling faces. They should televise more charity fun events where the players are allowed to interact and show who they are. Then when they play in a serious match we can route for the player we like. That's what it is like in the pool room.
 
I have downloaded some matches off of DC++ and the eight ball ones to me are more enjoyable to watch.
I would also like to see an event of the players playing with either of these conditions
1- set layouts with ball in hand. If they miss then they do not get a point.
other players shoot the same layouts. Field narrows by a leader board
like golf.
2- players playing the Ghost in one on one matchups. First to 10 or
something. Player one breaks and takes BIH and trys to run out
Player B either gets a chance to tie him by doing the same or to negate
his point by running out.
IMO fans would understand the leader board format and the not missing part.
Players would not have to worry about the rack as much and would have a
chance to tie each other adding drama.
I would love to see Archer playing Efren the Ghost in a race to 10 and the winner has to win by two. The match would be great.



Jude Rosenstock said:
This has been my argument for a while now. I actually don't know how it would be received but honestly, there's a part of me that just doesn't care anymore. They're putting SEVEN BALL on television!!!! Why not straight pool? Even pool players don't play 7-ball!

I think there's a lot one could do with a televised straight-pool match that wouldn't affect the cost of production. High runs could be actively tallied, for starters. Also, it allows for records. With this alternating break 9-ball stuff, you cannot set any records of any kind. I mean, everyone enjoys focusing on the competition between two players BUT we also take notice in personal achievements. Straight pool allows that far more than any other game.

At the very least, they need to consider other games. Prior to my argument for straight pool, I was a big advocate for 8-ball. I still am, to a certain extent. Why not play the game of the masses? It just makes no sense to me. I think it's time that we treat 9-ball as one of many until the audience tells us which should be dominant. Who knows, we could be very surprised with the results.
Click to expand...
 
Johnny "V" said:
Now lets go to the tee and see Phils first shot. What do you think Mataya will he be using a putter on this 384 yard shot @ the green" ...
Click to expand...

A putter?? lol

Mmm, would love me some Tiger Woods ;)
 
You can't compare pool to golf, football, nascar etc. because each of those sports have their own elements that draw their own fans. Everybody likes pool, but what the average viewer sees on TV is nothing but repetition on a 9" rectangle. They understand squat about the game so when they see someone making cut shot after cut shot they get bored and change the channel. The pros have such good position play most of the time the audience are seeing the pros constantly make fairly simple shots. Imagining myself as a recreational or casual player, watching someone make easy-medium shots on massive pockets for an hour or two, I would get bored and change the channel, no doubt about it.

I think what hurts the game are the audiences that attend the televised pool events, especially the WPBA. They clap at everything. In the male events I noticed the audience has a tendency to clap on tougher shots that are made. The audience at the women's events clap at EVERYTHING. Allison makes a routine positional shot and draws the cueball back a foot, everyone claps. WHY!?!? I am guessing that most of the people in the audience play the game on a regular basis, and can draw the cueball back 12 inches on a straight in shot, SO WHY THE HELL ARE YOU CLAPPING?! Imagine how this looks to someone just tuning in at home. They see the same thing, over and over and over, cut shot after cut shot after cut shot, audience applauds every shot. This is going to make the person who just tuned in think, "This is all it has to offer, how boring". Why? Because if people are clapping then obviously something special has happened. The viewer doesn't see anything special, and thinks that a simple draw shot is something special in pool, and loses interest.

So, next time you are at a tournament and someone starts clapping for an easy shot, start a fight! I mean really beat the crap out of that person. :cool:

We need to figure out why pool is so popular in Taiwan. That place rivals the Phillipines now in the game's popularity. There are tons of 14 and 15 year old kids there that play world class pool. Why? Because their parents like the game too. Their parents support them when they play pool for 10 hours after class. Sometimes they play pool IN CLASS, because alot of schools have pool tables! I've got no clue why it's so big over there, perhaps someone here can fill me in.
 
i love watchin pool matches but not on tv. the announcers on tv are dont really get into the match on a high level. they talk about the game as if nobody knows basic strategy and half the time they are making mistakes. so as a pool player i hate pool on tv. it is too boring and fustrating to listen to.
 
LastTwo said:
...I think what hurts the game are the audiences that attend the televised pool events, especially the WPBA. They clap at everything....So, next time you are at a tournament and someone starts clapping for an easy shot, start a fight! I mean really beat the crap out of that person. :cool:
Click to expand...

I disagree. Is pro hoops hurt by the fact that the crowd cheers after a made free throw, a proposition that is better than 75% at pro level. Is pro golf hurt by cheers for the three foot putt successfully holed, over an 80% proposition at that level? Should we not cheer when Pedro Martinez strikes out the opposing pitcer because it was almost a foregone conclusion he would? Are viewers deluded into believing that the free throw was difficult or that the holing of the three foot putt was a monumental achievement? I don't think so.

Sports fans applaud even the most modest accomplishments of those they are cheering for, and that's as it should be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top