Big Money Mike
Registered
Hello AZers!!!!! This is my first post so it may be a little long and sorry if I misspell any words. My name is Mike Laney I am from Alabama now residing in Tennessee (ironic isn’t it) I have been playing pool about 30 years my favorite game is One Pocket. I wanted to give some of my input on pool and The World Classic.
Pool is a sport/hobby that is very hard to market to the general public, lets face it if you were not a pool nut like us you probably would watch a football, basketball, or baseball game before you would turn your TV to watch pool. With that being said it is hard for large industries out side of pool to put money into because all the companies are looking for one thing ROI (Return on Investment). Yes they put a lot of money in golf, football, basketball, baseball, and soccer, just to name a few. However when they put this money up they look at how big of an audience will they capture? And that my friend is the big difference drawn between pool and golf for the large corporations’. Can pool get a lot bigger? Of course it can but it would take everyone that is involved in my opinion, like for instance do you ever see a commercial on TV for the APA, BCA, Cue Tec, Diamond Billiard Products, and Brunswick Billiard Products at any time other than at a WPBA event on ESPN? All of these companies need to be known to the general public and what products they offer.
The players would also have to come up with some by-laws that govern the sport and abide by them. Here is one example of a sport that is governed with by-laws Golf is governed by the USGA and the PGA is governed by the USGA rules as well as the PGA by-laws. In order for success to come you have to have a plan for success and it always starts with the individual, what have you done to make the sport successful? This is the question that the entire industry needs to answer including the players and spectators.
In order to get outside help from large corporations the pool industries needs to have a plan to get the general public interested in all aspects of the sport from Juniors, Leagues, Amateur , and Professionals, as well as becoming familiar with their products. This will build both respect and image for pool and billiards. I know there are a lot more things to be fixed in the industries but until everyone wants to achieve the same goals it will be a tall task.
My take on the World Classic: First I want to thank Taylor Road Productions and all that was involved in making this event possible. It is a down economy and you guys take on such a large task I commend you for that. I hope all of the goals were meet and the one that were not that you can improve and meet next year. I was unable to make it the tournament this year but have been following it online and yes there was not enough coverage, but I will give them a pass this year because the One Pocket match between Shannon and Efren was worth it. I just hope Taylor Road Productions takes all of the criticism in stride and makes changes where they can to make the next event better.
Thanks for reading and would enjoy any comments or critics.
Pool is a sport/hobby that is very hard to market to the general public, lets face it if you were not a pool nut like us you probably would watch a football, basketball, or baseball game before you would turn your TV to watch pool. With that being said it is hard for large industries out side of pool to put money into because all the companies are looking for one thing ROI (Return on Investment). Yes they put a lot of money in golf, football, basketball, baseball, and soccer, just to name a few. However when they put this money up they look at how big of an audience will they capture? And that my friend is the big difference drawn between pool and golf for the large corporations’. Can pool get a lot bigger? Of course it can but it would take everyone that is involved in my opinion, like for instance do you ever see a commercial on TV for the APA, BCA, Cue Tec, Diamond Billiard Products, and Brunswick Billiard Products at any time other than at a WPBA event on ESPN? All of these companies need to be known to the general public and what products they offer.
The players would also have to come up with some by-laws that govern the sport and abide by them. Here is one example of a sport that is governed with by-laws Golf is governed by the USGA and the PGA is governed by the USGA rules as well as the PGA by-laws. In order for success to come you have to have a plan for success and it always starts with the individual, what have you done to make the sport successful? This is the question that the entire industry needs to answer including the players and spectators.
In order to get outside help from large corporations the pool industries needs to have a plan to get the general public interested in all aspects of the sport from Juniors, Leagues, Amateur , and Professionals, as well as becoming familiar with their products. This will build both respect and image for pool and billiards. I know there are a lot more things to be fixed in the industries but until everyone wants to achieve the same goals it will be a tall task.
My take on the World Classic: First I want to thank Taylor Road Productions and all that was involved in making this event possible. It is a down economy and you guys take on such a large task I commend you for that. I hope all of the goals were meet and the one that were not that you can improve and meet next year. I was unable to make it the tournament this year but have been following it online and yes there was not enough coverage, but I will give them a pass this year because the One Pocket match between Shannon and Efren was worth it. I just hope Taylor Road Productions takes all of the criticism in stride and makes changes where they can to make the next event better.
Thanks for reading and would enjoy any comments or critics.
