How to Increse Pool Popularity

blueridge

blueridge

Banned
I posted this in another thread, but it got buried in all the other posts so I'll post it here too.

In order for pool to gain the popularity it deserves, it needs to be made more appealing to the average laymen who is not a serious pool player. The only way this is going to happen is if the television networks that air pool (ESPN) glorify the unsavory aspects of the game that appeal to the non pool playing television viewer. That being the gambling and hustling aspects of the game, and trash talking and sharking. This is what the average non pool playing view wants to see. The pool community needs another Minnesota Fats to put the game on the map. Some loud mouth hustler who's charismatic and entertaining to watch and listed to. The audio portion of the match is essential to get non pool players to tune in.

Since we have very little video footage of Fats, we have to go with the next best guy to put pool on the map. If you want the television ratings to go through the roof, which is the only way pool's ever gonna gain significant popularity, all you have to do is air every Earl Strickland match that's ever been played, with full audio so you can here everything he's saying. Just put a mike on Earl, and televise every match he plays. If that doesn't increase the ratings, nothing will. People who don't even play pool would tune in to see a good Earl melt down. This is precisely the strategy they use in poker, with Phil Hellmuth. It worked in tennis with John McEnroe. It worked in boxing with Mohammed Ali. It works in the NFL and NBA with loud, arrogent, athletes. People want to tune in to watch the guy they love to hate.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Uhm, no.
..
Click to expand...

Um, yes contrary to what you so articulately asserted. Pool is in a pretty sad state. People who don't even play pool would tune in to see the match scenarios that I've described.
 
Honestly, pool needs some kind of kick from big sponsors. Party Poker is doing their part hosting some events, but I have to wonder why at the World Poker Tour events, they toast Budwesier, and now Amber Bock. It seems that especially considering the fact that the majority of pool leagues (in my area anyway) are bar leagues, a big beer sponsor would be a perfect match for pool. And we all know pool needs that corporate dollar.
 
blueridge said:
Um, yes contrary to what you so articulately asserted. Pool is in a pretty sad state. People who don't even play pool would tune in to see the match scenarios that I've described.
Click to expand...
Right, and Morton Downey Junior was going to beat Nightline and The Tonite Show.
 
Club Billiards said:
Honestly, pool needs some kind of kick from big sponsors. Party Poker is doing their part hosting some events, but I have to wonder why at the World Poker Tour events, they toast Budwesier, and now Amber Bock. It seems that especially considering the fact that the majority of pool leagues (in my area anyway) are bar leagues, a big beer sponsor would be a perfect match for pool. And we all know pool needs that corporate dollar.
Click to expand...

Can't get a corporate dollar without a product the public wants to see.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Right, and Morton Downey Junior was going to beat Nightline and The Tonite Show.
Click to expand...

You're missing the point. I'm not suggesting that pool would overtake golf or bowling or poker or anything else in ratings if we did the things I proposed. Non pool players aren't going to watch what they see as boring matches. They need to be livened up with more of the qualities that non pool players will appreciate and tune in to watch.
 
beatdeadhorse.gif
Twice in the last 40+ years Pool has become very popular, because of the Cast, Crew, and Movies Hustler, and Color of Money.

Sadly the kids in YEAR 2008 are in to Video Games, and things that happen fast, and do not have IMHO the desire to Play Pool.

The kids spend too much time in front of Computers, Talking on Cell Phones, and TEXT MESSAGING.

Just this a.m. I am going over to my Grandson home, and the little kids are on the corner waiting for the School Bus, and most are on their Cell Phones.

IMHO 7 & 8 y/o?s do not need a Cell phone, or to ride the Bus to School that is 3/8 Mile from Home.
beatdeadhorse.gif
 
As myself and a lot of other people on here have said in the past, "pool won't get a big sponsor until it has one (1) organization to speak for it." Name one sport with a big sponsor that doesn't have an organization. They don't even want to talk to anyone that is not at the top of a sports org about sponsorship. Johnnyt
 
they need to make another pool movie. one that does well in the box office. it worked for street racing (the fast and the furious). people were putting 20k into 10k cars to make them as fast as a 20k car stock would be after seeing that movie.
 
blueridge said:
If you want the television ratings to go through the roof, which is the only way pool's ever gonna gain significant popularity, all you have to do is air every Earl Strickland match that's ever been played, with full audio so you can here everything he's saying. Just put a mike on Earl, and televise every match he plays. If that doesn't increase the ratings, nothing will.
Click to expand...

So you're going for the "lowest common denominator" demographic, eh?

Earl throwing a tantrum = ratings! Joe Sixpack'll love it! Train wrecks always equal great ratings!

This is sorta like saying "Get Tiger Woods off the TV - we don't need someone who is a great sportsman and everyone respects! We need more John Daly! He's a fat drunk asshole, everybody will watch that!"

Puh-leeze.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
they need to make another pool movie. one that does well in the box office. it worked for street racing (the fast and the furious). people were putting 20k into 10k cars to make them as fast as a 20k car stock would be after seeing that movie.
Click to expand...

You're exactly right, and I've got the perfect idea. Make a movie about Minnesota Fats. This would increase pool's popularity by at least 1000%. It would be a huge success. If somebody ever takes this idea and runs with it, they're going to make a lot of money off of it. Movie propaganda does more influence the sheep of society than anything else.
 
Put pool in our schools. It would be a great teaching tool and it would help the students develop thinking skills and strategies.


Also if we could convince MMA, Tapout, UFC, WEC, etc to train their guys to play some serious pool (not world class) but good players then we would see some instant improvement.
 
Last edited:
Johnnyt said:
As myself and a lot of other people on here have said in the past, "pool won't get a big sponsor until it has one (1) organization to speak for it." Name one sport with a big sponsor that doesn't have an organization. They don't even want to talk to anyone that is not at the top of a sports org about sponsorship. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

Uh...an organization like, say, the BCA?
 
New Idea

How about Billiard Golf

Creates courses much like real golf courses but on tables

Allow for jump shots over hazards

Bring new money to the sport combining Pool and Golf revenues

Create a new excitement for pool (treat it like a new game)

Instead of banning jump sticks and large break sticks create the need for new equipment

Would help to bring work for cuemakers designeing new sticks

Pool players would still use learned skills just applied differently

Eveyone get to turn in a score for 18 holes(rather than calling heads and a person run 7 racks and you never shoot a ball)

Courses would be radically unique new and different (rather than going from a diamond to a brunswick)

Instead of ball marking you could play of another players ball(thus pushing him further out and you closer keeping caroms part of the game)

Its an interesting thought ?
 
blueridge said:
You're exactly right, and I've got the perfect idea. Make a movie about Minnesota Fats. This would increase pool's popularity by at least 1000%. It would be a huge success. If somebody ever takes this idea and runs with it, they're going to make a lot of money off of it. Movie propaganda does more influence the sheep of society than anything else.
Click to expand...

With the current trends in entertainment, I strongly feel that a reality TV show would be much more effective that a movie right now. If you chose to show the seedy side, great...would be tricky, because how many gamblers/players want to be put in front of the camera. But you'd need a real player, because we just don't buy Ricky Schroder the Worldbeater.

I just don't think another pool movie would do the trick right now. It would have to be a great movie for anyone but people who already play to watch it. And a great pool movie has already been done.
 
I think some people are right that to get a sudden influx of people wanting to play pool, it would have to be a big part of a major hollywood production.

Also trying to compare Poker to Pool as far as sudden popularity is going to be difficult as you can't really make an online pool breeding ground like you can for poker.
 
New Idea

How about Billiard Golf

Creates courses much like real golf courses but on tables

Allow for jump shots over hazards

Bring new money to the sport combining Pool and Golf revenues

Create a new excitement for pool (treat it like a new game)

Instead of banning jump sticks and large break sticks create the need for new equipment

Would help to bring work for cuemakers designeing new sticks

Pool players would still use learned skills just applied differently

Eveyone get to turn in a score for 18 holes(rather than calling heads and a person run 7 racks and you never shoot a ball)

Courses would be radically unique new and different (rather than going from a diamond to a brunswick)

Instead of ball marking you could play of another players ball(thus pushing him further out and you closer keeping caroms part of the game)

Its an interesting thought ?
 
blueridge said:
You're missing the point. I'm not suggesting that pool would overtake golf or bowling or poker or anything else in ratings if we did the things I proposed. Non pool players aren't going to watch what they see as boring matches. They need to be livened up with more of the qualities that non pool players will appreciate and tune in to watch.
Click to expand...
Pool is only interesting to watch if you know the game.
What pool needs is summer camps.:thumbup:
 
Pool has been dying a slow lingering death for decades. This decline seems to have sped up over the last few years. I do not see this trend reversing anytime soon if ever. I think it's sad, but true. I can't get enough of it myself, and most people on AZB feel the same way I'm sure. I have a Gold Crown in the middle of my livingroom, and I am still at the poolroom 2 or 3 nights a week. Give me a smokey room, some friendly action, and a beer, and I am in HEAVEN. Most folks these days ain't that way though. Too many other things to do I guess. I do a lot of other things too, but when it comes to pool I am addicted.

My name is Joe and it has been 15 hours since my last game of nine ball, but I'm playin' tonight!:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top