If I hear "pro rules" one more time...

[cubswin]

I may just throw something at the tv. Kevin T acts like running a wide open 8 ball table with ball in hand is hard, and only pro's play ball in hand, table open after the break 8 ball.


On the positive side see they are throwing in plenty of girls and slick production on fox. Much better than espn.

 

[junior718]

wuts the point in playing on rugs???? 8ball is so boring to watch to start with...its even more boring when they cant even draw the ball without smashing it.

 

[Colin Colenso]

I may just throw something at the tv. Kevin T acts like running a wide open 8 ball table with ball in hand is hard, and only pro's play ball in hand, table open after the break 8 ball.

For the average Joe Schmoe, which represents probably 38 million of the 40 million occassional pool players in the US, running an open table is akin to watching someone walk up stairs on their hands. They couldn't do it in a thousand tries.

It is smart to try to appeal to them. Maybe after they see and learn more, they can begin to appreciate the finer aspects of the game.

 

[Hunntyr]

I may just throw something at the tv. Kevin T acts like running a wide open 8 ball table with ball in hand is hard, and only pro's play ball in hand, table open after the break 8 ball.


On the positive side see they are throwing in plenty of girls and slick production on fox. Much better than espn.

I agree with you on both counts.....I Tivo'ed it and am watching it right now, they are in set 2 and the comentary is making me sick. The other thing is watching Mike play reminds me of watching a 6 or 7 in the APA shoot. How he was popping up during his stroke, not following through etc., Doesn't look too "Proffesional" to me. OK, I am off to watch the rest now..Those girls are nice lookin

 

[Cane]

I may just throw something at the tv. Kevin T acts like running a wide open 8 ball table with ball in hand is hard, and only pro's play ball in hand, table open after the break 8 ball.

On the positive side see they are throwing in plenty of girls and slick production on fox. Much better than espn.

Yeah, sounded silly to those that play with BIH rules or World Standardized Rules, but to the average bar player, the 50,000,000 that they spoke of, a great number of those don't KNOW what the World Standardized Rules are and think BIH is something that's only for 9-Ball.

I agree on the production. Top notch.

wuts the point in playing on rugs???? 8ball is so boring to watch to start with...its even more boring when they cant even draw the ball without smashing it.

Junior, To those of us that grew up playing on "rugs" it's doing nothing more than bringing back the status quo we knew in our youth. Players that know nothing but the fast cloth of the present may find trouble playing on the high nap cloth. It takes a little more stroke than is required with the fast cloth, and we'll just have to see what kind of problems that poses for some of the young players who have never played on that kind of equipment.... btw, I don't consider 8-Ball boring at all. I consider it an excellent game of skill, whether played or watched, that required more strategy, thought and consideration than is required to just "count to 9".

Later,
Bob

 

[Nostroke]

wuts the point in playing on rugs???? 8ball is so boring to watch to start with...its even more boring when they cant even draw the ball without smashing it.

It's called 'nap cloth' by the way.

 

[Guru]

I got a little tired of that term myself ("pro rules"), and I don't think comentary is really KT's strength. To play devil's advocate on the BIH part; to the average joe-sixpack a tournament player is close to a "pro," and those are typical tournament rules. They are very commonplace to us, but if you go sliding that cueball past "the line" in the average bar, you're going to have a fight on your hands.

I give it one thumb up. I hope it gets better, but more than than, I hope it gets to continue.

 

[Schmohawk]

My God this must have really sucked because there are none of the usual cheerleaders here cannonizing KT.

 

[Guru]

My God this must have really sucked because there are none of the usual cheerleaders here cannonizing KT.

Nah, they're asleep.

 

[theoneandonly]

I was

not a big fan of the IPT on FSN.....I like watching 9ball over 8ball any day of the week...id also rather listen to allen hopkins talk.....Maybe its me, but i always thought it was tougher to run a rack of 9ball as opposed to 8....I still think that....I am not a fan of the rug, or the game....id rather watch the ladies on ESPN...just my 2 cents

 

[XMit]

Running a rack on a 7 footer with high nap cloth with 14 other balls to navigate around is not as easy as everyone talks about.
Running nine balls on a nine foot table, where there is much more room between balls and the cloth is faster than a ferrari....much easier.
Just as an example, everyone talking about how many racks of nine they can string together. How many racks of eight can you string together???
Nine ball is good for a few things...it's a good betting game and a good TV game.


Lets not forget the roots of the game folks.

 

[Josh Palmer]

Kt

I have to disagree with you. I think this guy is more equipped in knowledge than we know. He is not a top player, so give him a break- he is educating the public(general public) on the myths that bar rooms all over the country have succumbed to. For the pool afficianado, it did not have the pool content we are used to, but the marketability standpoint I think he gives Efren the 7. I was impressed by his first event, and I think it shows how connected, and able he is. Seems to me that people shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, or be so critical when it can only do good for pool. As long as he feels like giving away the money, bring it on KT. When the top players all vie for the big money, I foresee some great commentary, and great exposure from a well done production. The fact that he has seeded the hall of fame players may give him a chance to do some background on those honored with accolades. I am excited to see the incorporation of celebrities also. Nothing like being rich and connected.

 

[erikido]

So I don't know what u guys are referring to. Is there a new TV show which they play pool on Fox(or FSN). Sorry, I live in a box without a box, boob tube that is. So what day/time is it on etc.

 

[rackmsuckr]

So I don't know what u guys are referring to. Is there a new TV show which they play pool on Fox(or FSN). Sorry, I live in a box without a box, boob tube that is. So what day/time is it on etc.

I suggest you go up and read all about the International pool tour, either at their site (www.internationalpooltour.com) or read the threads in the King of the Hill tournament heading.

 

[buddha162]

Running a rack on a 7 footer with high nap cloth with 14 other balls to navigate around is not as easy as everyone talks about.
Running nine balls on a nine foot table, where there is much more room between balls and the cloth is faster than a ferrari....much easier.
Just as an example, everyone talking about how many racks of nine they can string together. How many racks of eight can you string together???
Nine ball is good for a few things...it's a good betting game and a good TV game.


Lets not forget the roots of the game folks.

First of all, they're playing 8-ball on 9 foot tables, which makes it a complete joke when you have 2 pros shooting at 7 open balls. Your argument would make sense if 9-ball didn't require you to run out in sequence.

-Roger

 

[junior718]

Junior, To those of us that grew up playing on "rugs" it's doing nothing more than bringing back the status quo we knew in our youth. Players that know nothing but the fast cloth of the present may find trouble playing on the high nap cloth. It takes a little more stroke than is required with the fast cloth, and we'll just have to see what kind of problems that poses for some of the young players who have never played on that kind of equipment.... btw, I don't consider 8-Ball boring at all. I consider it an excellent game of skill, whether played or watched, that required more strategy, thought and consideration than is required to just "count to 9".

Later,
Bob

any good 9ball player can compete in 8ball.....a good 8ball player cant compete in 9ball....imo...am i wrong?.....if so would u bet on that?

 

[catscradle]

I may just throw something at the tv. Kevin T acts like running a wide open 8 ball table with ball in hand is hard, and only pro's play ball in hand, table open after the break 8 ball.


On the positive side see they are throwing in plenty of girls and slick production on fox. Much better than espn.

I thought Kevin Trudeau made Mitch Laurence sound good, can you imagine that? See my comments under the "Long live Kevin Trudeau-very impressive show" thread. Suffice it to say here I thought this show was awful. Long live Pat Fleming and Bill Incardona. If you want to see what real professionals look like playing 8-ball order the Accu-stats Invitational 8-ball Tournament tapes from Accu-stats. Warning they play so good it's boring at times.

 

[pooltchr]

KT is a business man, and has created a product that he wants to sell. If he limits his customer base to the hard core players like those of us on this forum, he would be doomed to failure. I think the format and programming is going to have wide appeal to the general pool-playing public, which is more likely to make the tour a success.
Looking at it from that perspective, I think he did a pretty darn good job.
Steve

 

[Jaden]

i'd bet on that.

any good 9ball player can compete in 8ball.....a good 8ball player cant compete in 9ball....imo...am i wrong?.....if so would u bet on that?

If they are truly good at eight ball then they most certainly have some experience playing nineball. Nineball is just too popular of a game today for that not to be the case. I can't imagine anyone really being good at eightball and not being able to play nineball.

In high caliber eightball, it is more difficult to play safe and it takes more detailed thought. A lot of the safeties played in nineball can be memorized, where as in eightball they have to be intellectualized. There are also more balls in eightball making getting shape more difficult and the liklihood of trapped balls higher. I presonally don't think eightball is anywhere near as fun as nineball, but don't make the mistake of thinking that at that level it's not a difficult game.

The thing that makes eightball an easier game is that the majority of people that play it on a regular basis aren't as proficient as the majority that regularly play nineball.

 

[satman]

IMO, yes

any good 9ball player can compete in 8ball.....a good 8ball player cant compete in 9ball....imo...am i wrong?.....if so would u bet on that?

In my opinion, yes, you're wrong. It's 2 totally different games. I know plenty of good 9 ball players who can't see a pattern when playing 8 ball. I'm not saying they can't play, but they are subject to get beat by someone who they may be able to give the 6 playing 9 ball. Anyone who plays good 8-ball or 9-ball is capable of playing the other game well too. It's just a matter of learning the little in's and out's. I started to watch the show last night, but decided to go to bed. I hope it does well for pool, but the little bit of commentary I heard, I'd rather listen to Mark Wilson, Danny Diliberto, and several others. Just my opinion, Sam