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

[atthecat]

CJ, I like how you're comparing pool with a boxing match. Boxing has SO much drama to it and that's what pool tournaments felt like back in the day. My first pro tournament I attended was Jay Helferts LA Open in 1992. It was a magic day for me. Walked in and there were two stadiums of pool!!! Didn't know where to turn first. See the kid Archer play local talent Ron Rosas or go and see Jimmy Mataya talking shit to Dave Bollman! What a choice!
My point I'm getting at is there were so many choices stylistically back then. There were more characters to the game and less robotic playing. I find myself not caring as much lately because the game has gotten so robotic. No offense to these players, but I don't want to see Souguet play Kiamco. No flare equals no drama!
I'm in the music business and there are a lot of similarities. No dynamic personalities because of click tracks, loops and other computer manipulations.
There are NO musical icons anymore. Can you compare Led Zeppelin to any rock band out there today? Miles Davis to who? Stevie Ray Vaughn to who?
Frank Zappa to who? Stevie Wonder to who?
To me, it's the same thing in pool. Who is our Mizerak? Who is our Mark Tadd, Mike Sigel, Jimmy Mataya and Buddy Hall?
To me it's not the tight pockets and cloth that has Robotized the game. I've seen Oscar Dominguez play on a 3 7/8 inch pocket using just as much english on the cue ball and cheating the pocket like he is on 5 inch pocket table.

Here's what I'd like to see. Stream a tournament that was similar to the 92 LA Open. Have the web site look like two stadiums. You have your choice of 4 matches and try to make them varying styles. Make the page dynamic so while you're watching, you can get live updates of the other matches. It would take a lot of work, but it would take off. If stream was actually like going to an event, more people would buy it. Give the viewer a chance to "walk around" like at a really event. 4 choices of matches. 1 featured match with commentary and the other 3 tables just a live mike and single camera angle.
Talking about commentary, you need both a legit knowledgable person like Jay Helfert and comic relief like a Jimmy Mataya. I wanna hear 2 guys that know EVERYTHING about pool bullshitting about pool. Know what I mean?
I'd like to see interviews with the players talking about what turned their playing around, relaxation techniques, what they look for in a cue and other insider topics.
I like the idea of a 15 second shot clock and 9 ball all the way. CJ is right, it has to be fast with a single goal. You make the 9, you win! NO SOFT BREAK!!!
Good luck CJ!
Hope this late night, no sleep rant helps!
By the way, your match against Earl in the 92' LA Open will always be etched in my brain. Talk about drama!!! Everything about that match was magic for the fans. Your 5-9 kick combo and the crowd going shit crazy! Earl talking to himself then firing in insane shots at record speed! How do we bring this back!!! Sigel did great commentary too.

 

[Underclocked]

I would like to see Earl and Hatch in that format. :grin:

 

[ENGLISH!]

It's funny about human nature. Everyone complains about the sport not going anywhere, but when things are brought up that may effectively change the flawed paradigm some people freak out about it.

I'm not saying you, but thinking about doing pro wrestling may be ok to think in terms of BUT.......this has more to do with BEFORE the matches and how we are building characters BEFORE they play. This is when it's done, not DURING the match for pete's sake.

Just think in terms of Boxing when they are doing the pre fight shows and the fans are learning about the Boxer and how they train, and what they do when they aren't training. Then people have an idea about the Boxer before he ever gets in the ring.

They don't try to groom the character while he boxes, just like we wouldn't try to groom the character of a pool player WHILE he's playing. This is where the biggest mistake of all is happening in pool. Pool players don't even get interviewed before or after a match so if they are to show any personality they MUST do it while playing and this DOES NOT WORK.

I'm talking about doing something that's tried and tested. And it's obviously NOT doing the same ole thing over and over that's proven not to be effective. AMEN

CJ,

I'm sorry if you thought I was questioning your true character in my posts yesterday. I was not. Many a good people have fallen in with & have been influence by the 'wrong' crowd & have made mistakes. I just hope you are not doing the same with the 'production' people. (Many mothers do not want their 18 yr. old sons going to the pool hall.)

I agree that more connection needs to be made between the players & the viewing public. I agree that more public viewing of true character & 'characters' would be beneficial. Your attempting to make that happen appears to be a good thing. (The existing connection that is already there is 8 ball, as has been laid out by others.)

How you make that connection happen is potentially the problem. The characters you mentioned may have employed others to help them create & project their public personas. The key words there are 'employed others', they themselve employed others individually. It was individual efforts, not a contrived effort by the sport promoter itself as in wrestling & roller derby.

I understand boxing's pre fight hype & boxing has often been questioned by the public for fixing fights. As I have said, if the public percieves that one's 'character' is an 'act', if you're acting evil then you can 'act' the part of the vanquished & lose on purpose. Especialy if you are salaried or have a monetary interest In the 'production'. (I was an investigative auditor for 15 years. Follow the money.)

Maybe it was just your use of the word act, 'good & evil', etc. that made me associate your production ideas to wrestling & roller derby. I now understand that you 'intend' to seperate the 'hype' from the actual true competition. I am merely pointing out what a fine line & slippery slope you may be attempting to walk in the public's perception.

You may walk the wire over the falls to success, or... you may fall off & take Pocket Billiards with you. It is a resposibility as well as an opportunity.

Just my friendly observations.

Regards,

 

[efirkey]

Pool would be a lot more interesting to people if they could bet on it. Then they would have a vested interest in the outcome of the game. Sweating a match is a lot more interesting than watching a match.

 

[efirkey]

Boxing has lost a lot of it's popularity over the years as well

 

[duckie]

Here are the viewing habits of 58 year male pool player:

I've never watched a reality based show of any kind.

I've never watched a MMA or boxing match.

I've never watched poker.

I've only watched golf sitting at the local golf course having lunch and that was the only thing on TV.

The only pro football I may watch is the 9'er and thats only cause the wife takes over the TV.

The only pro sports I truely watch is motor racing, even then I recorded them so I can FF through the commericals and other "entertaining" things they do that does nothing but take time away from watching race, whats happening on the track.

I FF through the racers interview.

I'm watching racing for racing, not some back story that has nothing to do with racing.

The same goes with watching pool. The only thing wrong is it either 9 ball or 10 ball and not 8 ball. So, thats why I seldom watch pool also. Its the wrong game for me to be watching and has nothing to do with the how entertaining the players are.

If you are watching pool to be entertained by the antics the the players, ie a comedy show or drama show type thingie, then you need to look at yourself and ask if you are truly a pool player or someone that plays at pool.

The beauty is in the game not the players. It is getting old that no one want to promote pool on its on merits, but wants to make it like xxx.

I went to a 3 cushion tourney, and the difference between that tourney and a pool tourney was night and day.

The 3 cushion players and fans had class. Proper behavior was required and expected at all times.

Basically, as one of what I call the "New Age" player, I would rather be part of a class act and not some bastardized version of pool.

 

[CJ Wiley]

the object is not to be totally positive, just totally real

CJ,

I'm sorry if you thought I was questioning your true character in my posts yesterday. I was not. Many a good people have fallen in with & have been influence by the 'wrong' crowd & have made mistakes. I just hope you are not doing the same with the 'production' people. (Many mothers do not want their 18 yr. old sons going to the pool hall.)

I agree that more connection needs to be made between the players & the viewing public. I agree that more public viewing of true character & 'characters' would be beneficial. Your attempting to make that happen appears to be a good thing. (The existing connection that is already there is 8 ball, as has been laid out by others.)

How you make that connection happen is potentially the problem. The characters you mentioned may have employed others to help them create & project their public personas. The key words there are 'employed others', they themselve employed others individually. It was individual efforts, not a contrived effort by the sport promoter itself as in wrestling & roller derby.

I understand boxing's pre fight hype & boxing has often been questioned by the public for fixing fights. As I have said, if the public percieves that one's 'character' is an 'act', if you're acting evil then you can 'act' the part of the vanquished & lose on purpose. Especialy if you are salaried or have a monetary interest In the 'production'. (I was an investigative auditor for 15 years. Follow the money.)

Maybe it was just your use of the word act, 'good & evil', etc. that made me associate your production ideas to wrestling & roller derby. I now understand that you 'intend' to seperate the 'hype' from the actual true competition. I am merely pointing out what a fine line & slippery slope you may be attempting to walk in the public's perception.

You may walk the wire over the falls to success, or... you may fall off & take Pocket Billiards with you. It is a resposibility as well as an opportunity.

Just my friendly observations.

Regards,

Yes, the rule of thumb is "people like people like themselves", so the key is always in the similarities, not the differences. I would say if you ask the "average person" what their similarities to pool players are they would say "there aren't many, I"m not a hustler, con man, and I"m honest, hard working and sincere".

This doesn't seem fair because you and I know it's not true, but honestly "how would people know what pool players are like, they only hear the negative stereotype descriptions". This is why I say it's SO IMPORTANT to develop characters in a systematic way to bring out the real, human charateristics that can be related to.

And the object is not to be totally positive, just totally real. Then the "average person" can realize on their own that we're just regular people, a lot like them. 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[CJ Wiley]

find that "magic bullet" or combining forces with others that have the same vision

CJ, I like how you're comparing pool with a boxing match. Boxing has SO much drama to it and that's what pool tournaments felt like back in the day. My first pro tournament I attended was Jay Helferts LA Open in 1992. It was a magic day for me. Walked in and there were two stadiums of pool!!! Didn't know where to turn first. See the kid Archer play local talent Ron Rosas or go and see Jimmy Mataya talking shit to Dave Bollman! What a choice!
My point I'm getting at is there were so many choices stylistically back then. There were more characters to the game and less robotic playing. I find myself not caring as much lately because the game has gotten so robotic. No offense to these players, but I don't want to see Souguet play Kiamco. No flare equals no drama!
I'm in the music business and there are a lot of similarities. No dynamic personalities because of click tracks, loops and other computer manipulations.
There are NO musical icons anymore. Can you compare Led Zeppelin to any rock band out there today? Miles Davis to who? Stevie Ray Vaughn to who?
Frank Zappa to who? Stevie Wonder to who?
To me, it's the same thing in pool. Who is our Mizerak? Who is our Mark Tadd, Mike Sigel, Jimmy Mataya and Buddy Hall?
To me it's not the tight pockets and cloth that has Robotized the game. I've seen Oscar Dominguez play on a 3 7/8 inch pocket using just as much english on the cue ball and cheating the pocket like he is on 5 inch pocket table.

Here's what I'd like to see. Stream a tournament that was similar to the 92 LA Open. Have the web site look like two stadiums. You have your choice of 4 matches and try to make them varying styles. Make the page dynamic so while you're watching, you can get live updates of the other matches. It would take a lot of work, but it would take off. If stream was actually like going to an event, more people would buy it. Give the viewer a chance to "walk around" like at a really event. 4 choices of matches. 1 featured match with commentary and the other 3 tables just a live mike and single camera angle.
Talking about commentary, you need both a legit knowledgable person like Jay Helfert and comic relief like a Jimmy Mataya. I wanna hear 2 guys that know EVERYTHING about pool bullshitting about pool. Know what I mean?
I'd like to see interviews with the players talking about what turned their playing around, relaxation techniques, what they look for in a cue and other insider topics.
I like the idea of a 15 second shot clock and 9 ball all the way. CJ is right, it has to be fast with a single goal. You make the 9, you win! NO SOFT BREAK!!!
Good luck CJ!
Hope this late night, no sleep rant helps!
By the way, your match against Earl in the 92' LA Open will always be etched in my brain. Talk about drama!!! Everything about that match was magic for the fans. Your 5-9 kick combo and the crowd going shit crazy! Earl talking to himself then firing in insane shots at record speed! How do we bring this back!!! Sigel did great commentary too.

We like the way you think and that example of the 92 LA Open is spot on. the characters were there at that time and the atmosphere was "created" although it was natural at that time. I think I finished 3rd in that tournament, and that was how I got exposed to professional pool. This is why when people say now "this is just how it is" I know they have just accepted something that has evolved without management, without direction and without understanding of entertainment and the components of what it takes to do a concert, show or movie.

After being in the nightclub business and doing many large concerts and shows on a weekly basis. We did an event EVERY friday that averaged 2500 people and had different aspect to it in an ongoing progression of entertainment qualities. From the music, to contests, to celebrity placed events, we were always thinking about the next way to entertain people (and generate business). Has professional pool been doing this? Really???

Realistic people accept things that way they are and try to conform to them. Unrealistic people DO NOT accept things they way they are and refuse to "conform to them". I refuse to accept that pool has no entertainment value other than what's accepted and shown today.

Let's be unrealistic.... you have to be to be in the entertaiment business.

I really appreciate your post and "latenight rant", it's refreshing to me. I expect to get a lot of "kicking and screaming" comments if I represent a different way of showcasing pool. If that weren't the case I would be basically "conforming" and trying to "get approval"....and that's not likely.:wink:

Also glad that match with Earl and I is still in your mind, that means a lot to me and that's also what I'm talking about. You remember that because it stood out after all these years and you've probably seen several matches since then. I know we can raise the level of entertaiment in professional pool and do it in a classy, stylish, professional fashion. And still capture that special "magic bullet" that it so desperately needs RIGHT NOT.

We're comitted to finding that "magic bullet" or combining forces with others that have the same vision. I certainly know it will take a team effort and I have a pretty good start right here in Dallas Texas. If anyone wants to get involved you can always reach me at cj@cjwiley.com or on FaceBook...LikeMyAthletesPage

 

[ENGLISH!]

Yes, the rule of thumb is "people like people like themselves", so the key is always in the similarities, not the differences. I would say if you ask the "average person" what their similarities to pool players are they would say "there aren't many, I"m not a hustler, con man, and I"m honest, hard working and sincere".

This doesn't seem fair because you and I know it's not true, but honestly "how would people know what pool players are like, they only hear the negative stereotype descriptions". This is why I say it's SO IMPORTANT to develop characters in a systematic way to bring out the real, human charateristics that can be related to.

And the object is not to be totally positive, just totally real. Then the "average person" can realize on their own that we're just regular people, a lot like them. 'The Game is the Teacher'

CJ,

I highlighted a few key words in you reply & I think you mis-spelled 'real eyes'.:wink:

I wish you nothing but success,:thumbup2:

 

[CJ Wiley]

I respect your ability to focus

Here are the viewing habits of 58 year male pool player:

I've never watched a reality based show of any kind.

I've never watched a MMA or boxing match.

I've never watched poker.

I've only watched golf sitting at the local golf course having lunch and that was the only thing on TV.

The only pro football I may watch is the 9'er and thats only cause the wife takes over the TV.

The only pro sports I truely watch is motor racing, even then I recorded them so I can FF through the commericals and other "entertaining" things they do that does nothing but take time away from watching race, whats happening on the track.

I FF through the racers interview.

I'm watching racing for racing, not some back story that has nothing to do with racing.

The same goes with watching pool. The only thing wrong is it either 9 ball or 10 ball and not 8 ball. So, thats why I seldom watch pool also. Its the wrong game for me to be watching and has nothing to do with the how entertaining the players are.

If you are watching pool to be entertained by the antics the the players, ie a comedy show or drama show type thingie, then you need to look at yourself and ask if you are truly a pool player or someone that plays at pool.

The beauty is in the game not the players. It is getting old that no one want to promote pool on its on merits, but wants to make it like xxx.

I went to a 3 cushion tourney, and the difference between that tourney and a pool tourney was night and day.

The 3 cushion players and fans had class. Proper behavior was required and expected at all times.

Basically, as one of what I call the "New Age" player, I would rather be part of a class act and not some bastardized version of pool.

This is all very interesting, but I do have one question "you watch auto racing???" I respect your ability to focus because I have tried, but could never develop that type of concentration.

 

[CJ Wiley]

Of course it would still be brutal, but not life threatening.

I would like to see Earl and Hatch in that format. :grin:

I have brought up having a "Match to the Death" and no one will even comment on it. Of course there would be a time that you could "buy out" for a lesser amount. Of course it would still be brutal, but not life threatening. :wink:

 

[CJ Wiley]

I watch every play and several times a game I feel like I"m being "dumped"

Pool would be a lot more interesting to people if they could bet on it. Then they would have a vested interest in the outcome of the game. Sweating a match is a lot more interesting than watching a match.

That's for sure, you couldn't pay me enough to watch a sporting event unless I was betting on it. Then I watch every play and several times a game I feel like I"m being "dumped" or the refs are being paid off. :shrug:

 

[CJ Wiley]

This is one of the main business flaws in the whole professional pool scenario.

Presumably you're thinking about having a stable of players, much like Hearn's Matchroom snooker revolution in the 80s.

Will they be salaried?

I don't think you should have a situation where everyone isn't getting paid. That's the main thing going for Bonus Ball, they're paying all the players a salary. When I met with them I went against what I was told and didn't conform to being a "yes man", but even though I pointed out some weaknesses, their main strength is they ARE creating synergy. If they make a few "adjustments" they may make a profit, but they have a long, difficult road ahead of them. They don't realize their "magic bullet" yet.

Regular tournament can't do that because only 15% of the players make a profit over and beyond their expenses. This lead to disgruntled staff 100% of the time. This is one of the main business flaws in the whole professional pool scenario.

 

[markgw]

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'

In boxing the 2 guys that are going to fight go on a promotional tour. Their personalities are diplayed to the public and that generates excitement. People know the personality and character of who they are going to watch fight, before the fight. Ali was not the most popular fighter of all time strictly because of his talent in the ring. He had more color and confidence that anyone had ever seen before. I believe CJ is on to something. If people could get to know the players before they see them play I believe that would generate excitement. I play in a world renown rock band and I know for a fact that the fans love to know what we do when we aren't on stage. If Archer and Strickland play on ESPN 9 ball a race to 7 or 9 or whatever, ok fine. But If they were interviewed over and over again a couple of weeks before the match, so the audience could see inside their heads and maybe get a little trash talk from Earl on how Archer is such a slow player he has no chance to beat me with a shot clock>>> for example. Archer comes back with oh really well he's a mindless fool and you you want to see someone get tortured by yours truly tune in Oct.29 th ESPN and see for yourself"-). I think the personalities of the players need to be on display for the fans.....Excitement in the format with shot clocks and whatever will also make the game fast and exciting to watch. I'm glad CJ is trying to come up with answers and I like his theory's and ideas and I hope things work out........

 

[vpbb123]

CJ said...I don't think you should have a situation where everyone isn't getting paid. That's the main thing going for Bonus Ball, they're paying all the players a salary. When I met with them I went against what I was told and didn't conform to being a "yes man", but even though I pointed out some weaknesses, their main strength is they ARE creating synergy. If they make a few "adjustments" they may make a profit, but they have a long, difficult road ahead of them. They don't realize their "magic bullet" yet.

Regular tournament can't do that because only 15% of the players make a profit over and beyond their expenses. This lead to disgruntled staff 100% of the time. This is one of the main business flaws in the whole professional pool scenario.


Our magic bullet is the new strategic game and the concept of professionals playing as teams. We know our magic bullet, always did! Fans need to be entertained and as entertaining as you tell me nine ball is CJ, I just never could see it. I have fun playing it, but watching professionals play it, it's boring to me.

I'd prefer watching amateurs playing eight ball all day long. They miss once in awhile, they struggle to run a table, they got character and they have lot's of emotion, especially the ones that think they should never miss! :wink:

Good luck CJ in what ever you do but we have known our magic bullet for years!

 

[gunzby]

I would love it, but I would hate to see Earl bite off Mika's ear

 

[CJ Wiley]

In search of the magic bb bullet

CJ said...I don't think you should have a situation where everyone isn't getting paid. That's the main thing going for Bonus Ball, they're paying all the players a salary.

Regular tournament can't do that because only 15% of the players make a profit over and beyond their expenses. This lead to disgruntled staff 100% of the time. This is one of the main business flaws in the whole professional pool scenario.



Good luck CJ in what ever you do but we have known our magic bullet for years!

I guess the question is "how will we know "if" this isn't true"?:wink: The thing about discovering the "magic bullet" is defining what the entertainment will be and how it will change what people will anticipate. Just doing teams and a new game/format will certainly be different, but what element of this experience will stand out? This process will evolve and I doubt if anyone can guess what it will evolve into.

 

[CJ Wiley]

The root of the problem is the mental anchor that creates the "Magic Bullet"

In boxing the 2 guys that are going to fight go on a promotional tour. Their personalities are diplayed to the public and that generates excitement. People know the personality and character of who they are going to watch fight, before the fight. Ali was not the most popular fighter of all time strictly because of his talent in the ring. He had more color and confidence that anyone had ever seen before. I believe CJ is on to something. If people could get to know the players before they see them play I believe that would generate excitement. I play in a world renown rock band and I know for a fact that the fans love to know what we do when we aren't on stage. If Archer and Strickland play on ESPN 9 ball a race to 7 or 9 or whatever, ok fine. But If they were interviewed over and over again a couple of weeks before the match, so the audience could see inside their heads and maybe get a little trash talk from Earl on how Archer is such a slow player he has no chance to beat me with a shot clock>>> for example. Archer comes back with oh really well he's a mindless fool and you you want to see someone get tortured by yours truly tune in Oct.29 th ESPN and see for yourself"-). I think the personalities of the players need to be on display for the fans.....Excitement in the format with shot clocks and whatever will also make the game fast and exciting to watch. I'm glad CJ is trying to come up with answers and I like his theory's and ideas and I hope things work out........

Yes indeed, this is what we call the "magic bullet". It's how to build an emotional attachment to the viewers and there's a science (NLP) to it.

People like people like themselves and that is a universal truth. The problem is when we surveyed a THOUSAND people and ask them to describe they thought of when we said "Pool Player" they said "hustler, con artist, gambler, grab your wallet, shister, boobs, slick, pool hall".

We all know this is silly and people SHOULD NOT think like this. The problem is THEY DO, and this needs to be addressed FIRST, before anything positive can possibly happen in professional pool. I'm NOT being negative, I'm being realistic and I hope the right people are listening.

The Magic Bullet MUST be a plan to change the image of what people are programmed to think of when pool is mentioned. Without this approach our survey said they would not watch pool no matter what the game, how much the prize fund was for or anything else for that matter.

But there was a scenario we introduced that changed their mind. A way to get to know the players in a different way than they imagined. A way that would change how they looked at pool players and what they thought of when the words "pool player" were mentioned.

You see the "magic bullet" isn't about the pool game at all. It's about the pool players and how to change the public paradigm of what pool players are and how they are like them. "people like pool players like themselves". The question then becomes "what's the most effective way to do this in the shortest amount of time?" 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[Tobermory]

Of course, pool did use to be like boxing. There was sanctioning body. Champions were required to defend their titles within a certain period of time, often a few months. The sanctioning body gave the champion and his manager a list of contenders to choose from. There were negotiations between the champion and the governing body about where the match would be held. Check out Mike Shamos's article in this month's Billiards Digest, with a follow-up article in the forthcoming November, issue about the number of championship matches in just one year around the WWI period.

 

[Tobermory]

Like SF Leinen and Celtic, I too feel that nine-ball has had its chance and failed. I go to at least two major tournaments a year and watch a large number of videos and webcasts. I have to admit that I now find nine-ball the least interesting of the cue sports. Texas Express was supposed to save nine-ball, but it actually would have killed it even sooner if it had not been for the Pinoys introducing a new style of kicking. That gave it a reprieve. Perhaps nine-ball would work if we went back to the older two-foul-push-out rules, or required the first player after the break to push out, as I believe Accustats does in some events. This adds a new dimension to the game, something like a doubling cube. There would be a critical decision in every rack.

I love the racking in nine ball. I really mean it. I find it exciting! Other people watch to see whether the breaking player will hit the balls hard or soft, whether he will attempt to force the corner ball or try to pull the one-ball up table along with the cue ball in order to have an easy opening shot. I watch for something completely different. I watch to see in rack-your-own tournaments how many players after driving me crazy with their fumbling over the balls for five minutes have still given themselves a slug rack. Old habits die hard.

I have a non-pool-playing friend who is sometimes forced to watch a nine-ball match. Her complaint is that she cannot make out the sequence of the balls and therefore doesn’t understand what the player is trying to accomplish with the cue ball. One pocket does not labor under that problem. Any person off the street can tell that the one guy is trying to make balls in the left-hand pocket and the other guy is trying to make them in the right-hand pocket. I once showed a different non-pool-playing friend a tape of Ronnie Allen and JR Gay playing one-pocket. For the first seven innings it was duck-and-cover on both sides. Then Ronnie got a shot and ran eight and out, with that smoothness we admire and opening the clusters beautifully. My friend said, almost involuntarily, “Now I get it!”

I’ll make a suggestion for a form of pool that might be more accessible to the general public. Let’s try one-pocket with the following two stipulations: A player wins by 1. Either pocketing eight balls first or 2. Being ahead in the score after twelve innings. If the score stood 6 to 4 in the eleventh inning, the player with the 4 would be having to show some imagination in coming up with banks, combinations, kisses, and caroms—all the stuff that the general public adores. And the break advantage would be mitigated.

Eight ball might work, but the table should not be bigger. It should be smaller. I mean 4x8, not bar-box size. Doesn’t SVB say that the toughest game is eight-ball on the barbox?

As for straight pool, I love to hear nine-ballers say that straight pool is too dull and that the most exciting thing in pool is a hill/hill nine-ball match. Every game of straight pool is hill/hill from the moment the player who loses the lag breaks the balls. Far from putting in some compensation for players getting blanked because they never got to shoot, those who promote pool should pray that half the matches end in a shutout.