How many would like to see pool like a championship fight? CJ Wiley

[CJ Wiley]

Pool is very much like Boxing, but instead of flurries of punches you have flurries of shots, or at the upper level flurries of racks. Instead of hooks and jabs you have draws and stuns, instead of knock out punches, you have knock out breaks, instead of ducking and dodging you're kicking and playing safe, you don't lose blood but you do lose pride, instead of 15 rounds you must win 15 games.

9 Ball is the best TV Game, it's fast and easy to understand because there's always just one target for the fans to follow. Like Boxing there's a pre show of the brutal training the two players have to go through to compete. And of course the championship Belt. How many fans would like to see a pool match billed like a championship fight? I have a feeling we're going to incorporate some of these qualities to make it interesting in this "New Age of Pool"..... 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[Tramp Steamer]

Would we have to wear those trunks. I really don't have the legs for shorts.
What about trash talking. You know, stuff like, "Your mother's so fat that if she put on a suit of armor she'd look like a ball bearing."
And the girls in bikinis that hold the cards telling everyone what inning of One Pocket your in. I'd like that. :smile:

 

[canwin]

Pool is very much like Boxing, but instead of flurries of punches you have flurries of shots, or at the upper level flurries of racks. Instead of hooks and jabs you have draws and stuns, instead of knock out punches, you have knock out breaks, instead of ducking and dodging you're kicking and playing safe, you don't lose blood but you do lose pride, instead of 15 rounds you must win 15 games.

9 Ball is the best TV Game, it's fast and easy to understand because there's always just one target for the fans to follow. Like Boxing there's a pre show of the brutal training the two players have to go through to compete. And of course the championship Belt. How many fans would like to see a pool match billed like a championship fight? I have a feeling we're going to incorporate some of these qualities to make it interesting in this "New Age of Pool"..... 'The Game is the Teacher'

Well CJ, You have alot of qualities that I find admirable and one of the best qualities you have is imagination which I tend to think is a hallmark of a champion but in this day and age of extreme sports, I think that all the training as you have in other sports to get in the arena or ring and go all out is diminished in billiards by the option of playing safe so many times. Which brings me back to my point. If the general public hasn't found BIH exciting, how can it be made exciting for the general population ? Are you going to consider that option?
Canwin

 

[Nostroke]

We already have most of that and no one cares-What good is a metaphor?Besides building interest in a Championship match is not what is needed. The US open, WPC, DCC are not suffering nor are the leagues at the other end of the spectrum.

It's Semi pro and the every day pro segment that is hurting. Ive stopped wondering why the regular public cant see what we 'cultists' see-they just dont! It's been that way for at least 30 years and with all the alternatives available these days, it's less likely to change now than ever before.

 

[Majic]

the concept is interesting, but anything but the same old 9 ball.

6 ball, 12 ball

 

[Luxury]

congrats on getting the Mosconi Cup captain spot! I'm surprised there aren't 10 page threads shouting Hallelujah!

 

[Dunnn51]

Pool is very much like Boxing, but instead of flurries of punches you have flurries of shots, or at the upper level flurries of racks. Instead of hooks and jabs you have draws and stuns, instead of knock out punches, you have knock out breaks, instead of ducking and dodging you're kicking and playing safe, you don't lose blood but you do lose pride, instead of 15 rounds you must win 15 games.

9 Ball is the best TV Game, it's fast and easy to understand because there's always just one target for the fans to follow. Like Boxing there's a pre show of the brutal training the two players have to go through to compete. And of course the championship Belt. How many fans would like to see a pool match billed like a championship fight? I have a feeling we're going to incorporate some of these qualities to make it interesting in this "New Age of Pool"..... 'The Game is the Teacher'

Wow, kinda like the association to boxing the hype, the trash, then who goes down and who's on top .
I would like to see it more like a jousting competition in the days of yore.
More noble, where you came from,who mentored you, etc. :thumbup:

 

[TheThaiger]

Pool is very much like Boxing, but instead of flurries of punches you have flurries of shots, or at the upper level flurries of racks. Instead of hooks and jabs you have draws and stuns, instead of knock out punches, you have knock out breaks, instead of ducking and dodging you're kicking and playing safe, you don't lose blood but you do lose pride, instead of 15 rounds you must win 15 games.

9 Ball is the best TV Game, it's fast and easy to understand because there's always just one target for the fans to follow. Like Boxing there's a pre show of the brutal training the two players have to go through to compete. And of course the championship Belt. How many fans would like to see a pool match billed like a championship fight? I have a feeling we're going to incorporate some of these qualities to make it interesting in this "New Age of Pool"..... 'The Game is the Teacher'

9 ball isn't fast. I've said it ad nauseum, but pool speeds up or it dies.

 

[sfleinen]

Pool is very much like Boxing, but instead of flurries of punches you have flurries of shots, or at the upper level flurries of racks. Instead of hooks and jabs you have draws and stuns, instead of knock out punches, you have knock out breaks, instead of ducking and dodging you're kicking and playing safe, you don't lose blood but you do lose pride, instead of 15 rounds you must win 15 games.

9 Ball is the best TV Game, it's fast and easy to understand because there's always just one target for the fans to follow. Like Boxing there's a pre show of the brutal training the two players have to go through to compete. And of course the championship Belt. How many fans would like to see a pool match billed like a championship fight? I have a feeling we're going to incorporate some of these qualities to make it interesting in this "New Age of Pool"..... 'The Game is the Teacher'

CJ:

Hate to disagree, but 9-ball ISN'T the game for TV. That's been done, and overdone, and has run its course. The novelty of 9-ball has long worn off, and so has the TCOM effect. There've been attempts to resuscitate 9-ball by showcasing action and entertainment qualities (e.g. "Pool Hall Junkies" and "Ballbreakers"), but these failed as well.

And, the average Joe/Jane Doe, who get exposed to pool in bars, don't know 9-ball, and don't understand it. When they see the player shooting the yellow ball, and then the blue ball, and then the red ball, ...etc., they (the public) don't know why. All they know is "stripes and solids."

Personally, the biggest boost to pool I'd seen in my area occurred during the IPT on TV. Folks I know that don't even play pool, but will play the occasional game in a bar, were GLUED to the TV. And several took up pool seriously as a result (they still play today).

I think the game is 8-ball. Here, you're tapping (and leveraging) something the public is already familiar with. And, as shown on the IPT, the notion that 8-ball is just "runout pool" for the pros (what many rotation players here on these boards think), that was definitely NOT the case during the actual event.

Just IMHO,
-Sean

 

[CJ Wiley]

we've found the "secret bullet" is in the post production

Well CJ, You have alot of qualities that I find admirable and one of the best qualities you have is imagination which I tend to think is a hallmark of a champion but in this day and age of extreme sports, I think that all the training as you have in other sports to get in the arena or ring and go all out is diminished in billiards by the option of playing safe so many times. Which brings me back to my point. If the general public hasn't found BIH exciting, how can it be made exciting for the general population ? Are you going to consider that option?
Canwin

Sure and you are 100% correct in that observation. Pool can be a dull, uneventful spectator experience and that is something we have been thinking through for months now.

We will have the "recipe" soon and it will be unlike "the same ole dull routine". The "pool steak" needs Sizzle and a fresh new presentation that brings out the subtle dynamic of The Game.

The first thing is a SHOT CLOCK, and I'm in favor of 15 seconds after the cue ball stops rolling, and starts when the incoming player approaches the table. That can be adjusted, but it needs to me non stop ACTION.

The place we've found the "secret bullet" is in the post production and we're experimenting on how to bring it to LIVE EVENTS, which in the big picture will be essential. There are also a few rule changes that I feel are important in implementing to bring out the BEST in the Game.

The "Warriors before the War", the "Actors before the Act" and there must be the "Players before The Game".... the Journey to get to the championship and all the statistics, the amazing, seemingly impossible shots... before these displays have an emotional attachment there's a story. There Must be a story of the Journey, before the display of the Destination.
'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[CJ Wiley]

It's fair and even productive to "agree to disagree".

CJ:

Hate to disagree, but 9-ball ISN'T the game for TV. That's been done, and overdone, and has run its course. The novelty of 9-ball has long worn off, and so has the TCOM effect. There've been attempts to resuscitate 9-ball by showcasing action and entertainment qualities (e.g. "Pool Hall Junkies" and "Ballbreakers"), but these failed as well.

And, the average Joe/Jane Doe, who get exposed to pool in bars, don't know 9-ball, and don't understand it. When they see the player shooting the yellow ball, and then the blue ball, and then the red ball, ...etc., they (the public) don't know why. All they know is "stripes and solids."

Personally, the biggest boost to pool I'd seen in my area occurred during the IPT on TV. Folks I know that don't even play pool, but will play the occasional game in a bar, were GLUED to the TV. And several took up pool seriously as a result (they still play today).

I think the game is 8-ball. Here, you're tapping (and leveraging) something the public is already familiar with. And, as shown on the IPT, the notion that 8-ball is just "runout pool" for the pros (what many rotation players here on these boards think), that was definitely NOT the case during the actual event.

Just IMHO,
-Sean

It's fair and even productive to "agree to disagree".

I just know in ALL sports there's one target, in golf there's one hole, in basketball there's one rim/hoop, in football there's one endzone, in hockey there's one goal....teaching the new fans of pocket billiards this concept is simple because it's what they see in every other sport.

Eightball on the other hand is complicated to explain and understand, especially when pros are playing. The subtle things we do to nudge a ball to run out 4 shots later is difficult to absorb and comment on, and with 6 or 7 potential targets, it's just confusing. IMHO 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[ENGLISH!]

Would we have to wear those trunks. I really don't have the legs for shorts.
What about trash talking. You know, stuff like, "Your mother's so fat that if she put on a suit of armor she'd look like a ball bearing."
And the girls in bikinis that hold the cards telling everyone what inning of One Pocket your in. I'd like that. :smile:

Tramp,

Thanks for the good chuckle.:rotflmao1:

 

[meharis]

15sec shot clock? No way, you must be kidding... 30sec does it imho.

 

[jimmyg]

9 ball isn't fast. I've said it ad nauseum, but pool speeds up or it dies.

I assume you mean like the NY Marathon, Tour de France, Baseball, maybe even Chess.

Sorry to say this..again...but the problem with professional pool is the people involved in it and it's long standing image, which they just reinforce. :sorry:

J

 

[ENGLISH!]

It's fair and even productive to "agree to disagree".

I just know in ALL sports there's one target, in golf there's one hole, in basketball there's one rim/hoop, in football there's one endzone, in hockey there's one goal....teaching the new fans of pocket billiards this concept is simple because it's what they see in every other sport.

Eightball on the other hand is complicated to explain and understand, especially when pros are playing. The subtle things we do to nudge a ball to run out 4 shots later is difficult to absorb and comment on, and with 6 or 7 potential targets, it's just confusing. IMHO 'The Game is the Teacher'

Hi CJ,

Congratulations again on the Mosconi Cup & Your 'Birthday'.

I hope that you are correct. However, Sean has some valid points. I was in advertising for about 5 years & the goal is to increase your market not just define it & cater to it. Many, many more people play & understand 8 ball.

In other sports there are almost always intermediate 'targets', 1st downs, men on base, beating the press, hitting the green, etc. I think people in general understand, as you say, the journey.

I feel with talented commmentary 8 ball can be extremely interesting, especially with say a 20 second shot clock or call your shot 10 ball or call your shot 9 ball. The general public does not want to see a pro slop balls, not even once in a match.

Just my $0.02 worth thoughts.

Good Luck with whatever the final product is.

As for the Mosconi Cup. I hope you can get the guys to shoot the Europeons' livers out & hand them to them so they can eat them with a little Chianti Wine.

Who said 'I'll shoot your liver out & hand it to you' first? Earl, Fats, or soemone else.

Best Wishes,

 

[Hungarian]

And the girls in bikinis that hold the cards telling everyone what inning of One Pocket your in. I'd like that. :smile:

If the girls have to do the cards for every inning of a one pocket match they will be out there a lot walking around. Just wondered if you realized this..:wink:

 

[Tramp Steamer]

If the girls have to do the cards for every inning of a one pocket match they will be out there a lot walking around. Just wondered if you realized this..:wink:

Of course, I did. I can't think of anything that would liven up a televised game of pool more than girls in bikinis. Unless it was girls without bikinis. :smile:

 

[Lock N Load]

Congrats on your Mosconi cup appointment. Happy birthday to you on your day! Enjoy both. Good luck to you and the USA team.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.

 

[Hungarian]

the concept is interesting, but anything but the same old 9 ball.

6 ball, 12 ball

I honestly believe a televised 3 ball ring game format would be very exciting. One tie all tie. With the bikini girls, beer and shite talking....

What we sometimes fail to realize it that the excitement of a great match to us as a cultist is not the same for the average Joe. What Barry Hearn did with darts has a similar potential for pool. His dart league packs 20,000 seat stadiums with one single dart board in the middle of a massive stage. Two old, fat blokes stroll out with a pint of Guinness in one hand and a set of well balanced darts in the other hand. They toss some darts (at a very high level) and the fans go absolutely ape shite.

We in pool have become too serious about the fine details that the average Joe is never going to understand. Pool for me used to be fun to watch when there were real characters who played and talked and entertained.

Now pool is so serious you don't dare make a sound while some stressed out pro is trying to win his rent money.

It's really brutal and has become pretty boring.....

 

[Majic]

I honestly believe a televised 3 ball ring game format would be very exciting. One tie all tie. With the bikini girls, beer and shite talking....

What we sometimes fail to realize it that the excitement of a great match to us as a cultist is not the same for the average Joe. What Barry Hearn did with darts has a similar potential for pool. His dart league packs 20,000 seat stadiums with one single dart board in the middle of a massive stage. Two old, fat blokes stroll out with a pint of Guinness in one hand and a set of well balanced darts in the other hand. They toss some darts (at a very high level) and the fans go absolutely ape shite.

We in pool have become too serious about the fine details that the average Joe is never going to understand. Pool for me used to be fun to watch when there were real characters who played and talked and entertained.

Now pool is so serious you don't dare make a sound while some stressed out pro is trying to win his rent money.

It's really brutal and has become pretty boring.....

count me in