Maybe somebody can explain this to me..

P

PlynSets

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Why is gambling bad for pool?

I read that Tap guys dealio.. and he refers to the people gambling in "the pit" (never been there, but will probably attend next years) of the valley forge as "Garbage." Then I guess he took some excerpts from some clowns article and they referred to them as more or less the drakes of society.

So what is good for pool "leagues?" No offense to league players, but I swear 95% of them are bangers at best, and the guys that are good, certainly didn't become good playing league pool. They were good from another source (can't imagine what that would be..) and then joined a league after the fact.

This is one of those backwards things to me.. Everybody likes to talk down to people that have any kinda nuts to throw some cash up. It would seem to me that at best it's becuase they lack it themselves possibly?

They say it's bad for pool. It kills interest, yet when the movie "The Hustler" (Note the name isn't "The League Player") there was a huge explosion in pool. The color of money (again a movie about gambling, hustling, etc..) there was another one.

Point in fact, lets bring it on home here a little bit. To the people that frown on it so much. Take a look at the 1st page here..

We have some threads..

Weight Given or Taken aka Gambling thread started around the same time as another thread

Revised 8 ball Player skill rating system Non gambling thread..

44 Views (in about 5 minutes) for the gambling thread, and 3 views for the non gambling..

Another just off the top of my head example from this very own board..

Kid Delicious wants a piece of Corey.. Well I don't think their playing for gold stars. This ain't kindergarden, you don't get points when you do something right? Views.. 2535 On a 3 page thread..

Whereas we have a STICKY thread at the top for who potentially might be sent to play in the US Open, for crying out loud, with only 2,158 views..

I think it's time that this TAP guy, and everyone else that seems to frown so much on gambling, and call people like myself "garbage" to STFU (which stands for Shut The **** UP), and learn how to play. Just becuase you don't have the nuts to step up and play doesn't mean you should be talking down to the people that do. That goes double for whatever dip**** wrote that article.

A better way of wording that for future reference would be.. "Future players of the IPT, Future champions of the game." Not prostitutes, and kids, and too many tatoos.

Personally I'd much rather read a bad article about gambling, then a good article about league matches.. But why does it always have to be portrayed in such a negative light?

Where do people come up with this nonsense that it's so "horrible" for the game?

Why is it that people "long for" gambling stories to be told by Grady Matthews? Why not that "league match" he saw back in vegas back in the day.. LOL You tell me which one is ultimatley so horrible for the game? Hell.. Where did Grady even get his name from? Where do any pool players get there names from.. LOL Certainly isn't from playing for free. You can go up and down the coast of California and mention the name "Louie Ulrich" and somebody in the joint has some story about him.. He's got a "name" playing pool.. Must be one hell of a league player eh?

Make pool boring (or more boring to watch) to the general public, and the game is dead.. Make it interesting, and the public will come. Jesus their watching a show called "deal or no deal" that is nothing but pure gambling? Gambling is bad how?

PlynSets (and damn proud of it)

DJ
 
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Gambling bad for pool? Whoever said that???

Anyways, you got a lot there in your post. My feelings aren't as strong as yours on the matter, but I certainly do think the gambling police got it all backwards.:cool:
 
It is certainly not "gambling" itself that is bad for pool; it is actually one of the attractions of the game that add to the mystique. HOWEVER, if pool is ever to become a big-time sport (and yes, it once was and could be again), then the gambling part among the professional players will have to go. Nothing ruins the credibility of a sport faster than the public's perception that the outcome of the contest may be fixed (for "gambling" purposes). Baseball and football had it right when they banned their participants from betting on their sport (even, as with Pete Rose, they are betting on their own team).

Banning pool gambling is NOT the way to make it a big time sport; but certainly necessary if it ever becomes a sustainable big time sport. JMO
 
Welcome to the church of what's happenin' now.............I'm Reverend Leroy!
Today's sermon deals with the eeeevils of gambling!
 
Williebetmore said:
Banning pool gambling is NOT the way to make it a big time sport; but certainly necessary if it ever becomes a sustainable big time sport. JMO
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Is that why big time sports are so boring? :)

Seriously, I can see the stuff about calcuttas and dumping matches and so on hurting pool's image in the oh so puritanical collective perception. But I think the initial poster was talking about non-tournament related action. Still, when pool becomes a big timer and the DCC goes, it will have taken a deeply impoverishing dip IMO.

cheers
 
Excuse me, you seem to be the one name calling and putting people down. I don't gamble yet I could care less how much you do. Live and let live my friend. I don't necessarly care what the TAP guy may have said, I just didn't get pisses off at him and start slamming anyone who doesn't gamble.
Lighten up dude. You are the one who should STFU, and you know what that means don't ya. JMHFO
Purdman
 
Williebetmore said:
Nothing ruins the credibility of a sport faster than the public's perception that the outcome of the contest may be fixed (for "gambling" purposes). Baseball and football had it right when they banned their participants from betting on their sport (even, as with Pete Rose, they are betting on their own team).

Banning pool gambling is NOT the way to make it a big time sport; but certainly necessary if it ever becomes a sustainable big time sport. JMO
Click to expand...

This is certainly a step in the right direction. Pool needs to attract sponsors outside of its own venue. It needs to become more mainstream to attract these sponsors like Coca-Cola or Pepsi or Nike. Look at golf. Sure, there's gambling in golf - the Skins Game is the biggest example and it's even televised. But golf is a respected sport because it's not driven by gambling and a golfer doesn't have to depend on gambling to sustain a livelihood.

Barbara
 
Gambling is looked down upon by the same people that go to church every Sunday, then rush to work on monday to check thier stock portfolios. (hypocrites) Fact is, you gamble when you cross the street, board an airplane, drive to work, drive to church or eat blowfish. Just different stakes.

If it was up to me, and somepeople should be really glad it's not, there would be a lot of things legalized. I don't think that it's the governments place to legislate morality. ie gambling, prostitution so on and so forth.

They should stick to crimes where people are hurt, theft, assault and murder.....
 
First off I don't see that many people on here complaining about the gambling that goes on. Secondly, most of the complaining I've seen lately people complaining that they can't get some sucker to bet his paychech that he can beat someone that he can't beat.
 
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i try to tell many novice players i meet, that its crucial to their game to gamble, and try to tell them its not for the money, but for the experience under pressure.

I can see where someone might have pressure from their team in their super awesome 8ball league final, but it aint the kind of pressure where if you miss this nine, you aint making rent this month. Its a different kind of pressure, and hardens a player. Gambling is not a necessary part, but certainly helps speed up the process of learning to play under pressure.

Of course there will always be the people who are quick to seize the opportunity to make big $$ gambling. Its no different that any other economical opportunity, like a new product coming out on the market. If they have the skills to take big $$ from people then so be it.

Just seems like all the people who say "no i dont gamble" are always the bangers. Anyone whos decent at pool, has, will, or does gamble, its part of the game!
 
PlynSets said:
Why is gambling bad for pool?

I read that Tap guys dealio.. and he refers to the people gambling in "the pit" (never been there, but will probably attend next years) of the valley forge as "Garbage." Then I guess he took some excerpts from some clowns article and they referred to them as more or less the drakes of society.

So what is good for pool "leagues?" LOL.. No offense to league players, but I swear 95% of them are bangers at best, and the guys that are good, certainly didn't become good playing league pool. They were good from another source (can't imagine what that would be..) and then joined a league after the fact.

DJ
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I know you're hot, but lighten up a bit on the league players. There are several leagues and most have a higher echelon that could not remotely be construed as bangers. All players started out as bangers and many, many fine players started in leagues. Some even still play in leagues. ;)

Players like Orcollo and Kiamco are listed in the BCA Nationals competition (Grand Master division) and so are many IPT players.

It's a way to test skills against others in a fun atmosphere, and the first taste of pressure. Many league players also gamble. Just go to Nationals and see the action after hours.
 
BazookaJoe said:
Welcome to the church of what's happenin' now.............I'm Reverend Leroy!
Today's sermon deals with the eeeevils of gambling!
Click to expand...

...and, remember, this Wednesday evening in the church basement: Bingo!
:D
 
PlynSets said:
Why is gambling bad for pool?

....

PlynSets (and damn proud of it)

DJ
Click to expand...

I've nothing against gamblers or gambling although I don't gamble. Not because I think it's wrong, or I don't have balls, I just think it is unnecessary to enjoy pool. If some people need to gamble to enjoy pool (or life for that matter) that's their business.

However, I would like to know what's your problem with league players and people who don't like to gamble. As much as it is inappropriate for Sam from TAP to insult you and other gamblers, it is just as inappropriate for you to jump all over the case of people who choose not to gamble.
 
prolecat said:
i try to tell many novice players i meet, that its crucial to their game to gamble, and try to tell them its not for the money, but for the experience under pressure.

I can see where someone might have pressure from their team in their super awesome 8ball league final, but it aint the kind of pressure where if you miss this nine, you aint making rent this month. Its a different kind of pressure, and hardens a player. Gambling is not a necessary part, but certainly helps speed up the process of learning to play under pressure.

Of course there will always be the people who are quick to seize the opportunity to make big $$ gambling. Its no different that any other economical opportunity, like a new product coming out on the market. If they have the skills to take big $$ from people then so be it.

Just seems like all the people who say "no i dont gamble" are always the bangers. Anyone whos decent at pool, has, will, or does gamble, its part of the game!
Click to expand...


I can see where someone might have pressure from their team in their super awesome 8ball league final, but it aint the kind of pressure where if you miss this nine, you aint making rent this month.

We have another word for the people who do this, HOMELESS!
Purdman:D
 
Million $$$ poker? isn't that gambling?

Does Poker have a better reputation than pocket billiards?

IMO the 'gambling' image of pocket billiards only HELPs to increase the exposure. Two of the greatest pocket billiard movies of all time, "The Hustler" and "The Color of Money" were about gambling and were huge successes at attracting the 'non-pocket billiards' audience.

The general public (at least movie goers) does show a repeated interest in gambling movies (pool included).

What pocket billiards is up against is the other Major Sports. When the advertisers fund MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, NCAA (football and basketball) NASCAR and the PGA, what is left over for pocket billiards?

IMO this is why pocket billiards is so popular outside the US. There isn't any competition from the Major Sports (other than Soccer).

Will pocket billiards ever reach the status of a Major Sport? Only time will tell. I for one, would like to see the 'status' improve, but I don't think gambling will detract from the popularity. It could only help bring in more non-pocket billiard audiences. Somthing pocket billiards is sorely lacking.
 
homeless, well some of those kinds of players can often be found sleeping under table xx in the back :)

I found it pretty funny when one time a friend told me about a specific hustler who used to sleep under "table 18" in a jacksonville pool hall... lol maybe he lost HIS rent
 
Alright, so maybe I came down hard a little on the league players. I have no issue with league players to be quite honest. Point in fact my g/f (just starting to play) is going to be joining a league here in the next week or two. I won't let her get to heavy into the league play after this 1st twelve week session though, becuase I think it will actually start to detract from her game, then do anything to help to improve it.

DJ
 
PlynSets said:
Alright, so maybe I came down hard a little on the league players. I have no issue with league players to be quite honest. Point in fact my g/f (just starting to play) is going to be joining a league here in the next week or two. I won't let her get to heavy into the league play after this 1st twelve week session though, becuase I think it will actually start to detract from her game, then do anything to help to improve it.

DJ
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You won't let her? what she doesn't have a mind of her own?:(
 
I think the gambling issue is way over hyped. When is the last time you heard of a pro dumping? Gambling is a part of every sport / game. Some industries totally rely on gambling to keep them alive (horse racing), but are televised nationally on network TV. I think gambling is an integral part of pool. Now why can't I get a money game these days?
 
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