I don't think anybody outside of pooldom even has a clue about just how unique this culture really is.
For example, when hollywood does a movie on pool, we get Tom Cruise swirling & twirling his "Balabushka" (like anybody would really risk dropping one of those!) while slicking his hand thru his hair. That is so FAKE. If somebody came in to most of our real action joints and tried to do something so stupid, in all likelihood, that stick & a part of his anatomy would become partners and he would hop out like he was riding a pogo stick.
To really show the reality, they would need the whole cast of characters that we have in a real pool room. My idea would go something like this.
First, it would have to start out like a series of one hour shows on ESPN. Just like poker has exploded in popularity, pool needs to follow that train of thought. Start with the Derby City Classic. Interview the players and the fans sweating the match that would be featured. Include the world class woofing. Have a "Bucktooth" in the background yapping it up. Go from table to table and show key moments in the selected matches. Who knew who Phil Helmuth was before the camera started following him around and giving him enough air time to show his personality? Does anybody think that most of our greatest players are known to John Q. Public? But, if somebody had a camera on Earl Strickland (ssshhh for now, Jimmyleggs, here me out...
) for as much time as the poker boys get, that that kind of behavior wouldn't attract more fans? Then, you have someone following SVB around, with interviews of him spliced in between matches. How about recording Grady & Billy just having breakfast together? In other words, building up the interest in pool by first building up interest in a cast of characters.
This has worked for series like "The Contender" and the UFC, as well as poker. When outsiders develop an interest in the characters / players involved, then an interest in the game should follow.
My contention is to follow the map layed out by the poker boom. Get colorful & witty announcers (imagine Billy & Grady unleashed), key in on the personalities of the characters, quirks & all, show the excitement and tension among the railbirds & follow these guys or have a series thru-out the tourney, and the real side of pool that has captured us will be exposed to the general public.
If somebody came to a U.S. Open 9 Ball Championship and tried that "Werewolves of London" BS, I would look for somebody like JohnnyT to make splinters out of the nearest house cue!
We're in the age of REAL-TV. Let's show them what we really got to offer!
(This has TAR written all over it for their next step)
