Next step for American pros:move to Asia.

[Celtic]

If the USA didn't accept the Europeans, Pinoys and Asians, The American players would have done better financially. The level of play would not be as high though.

If the USA had been isolationist and not allowed players from other nations to come over and compete and add to the pool scene and instead the international pool scene was fully elsewhere and not within the USA at all the game would be 100% completely dead in the USA by now.

Guys like Mika, Appleton, Dennis, and others that come over to the USA to compete are what help to keep pool in the USA alive. Without them who the heck do you think was going to keep the game going other then SVB and how would even he get the world class training he needs to compete on the global stage? His game has improved hugely because the USA has been fortunate to have some world class foreign players decide to call it home.

 

[leto1776]

There is decent money to be made in Japan (and I imagine several other Asian countries) by well known champions playing challenge matches and exhibitions. The problem is that they need handlers to show them around and handlers don't work for free. Also, famous players in the US are not necessarily famous in Japan. Most of the younger pros in the US, except Shane and possibly Oscar, would not be recognizable in Asia at all and would not command a very high price for challenge matches.

If Shane ever wanted to take an extended vacation in Japan and tour the country while playing pool to support himself, he could definitely do it even after a handler takes out a (large) percentage of his revenue. Other American pros, I'm not so sure.

I was thinking something along these lines earlier today. A smart player with a big time cue sponsor could definitely present the idea of an exhibition tour to his sponsor. He could do several "challenge match" exhibitions with a local national champion, or could challenge local shortstops like the old days.doing this, he not only gets paid for the exhibition, his name reaches an international audience, and he helps his sponsor sell products.

Ex: John Schmidt and XTP are both sponsored by Fury cues. Fury could put on a 5 city exhibition tour of China featuring Schmidt and XTP, a mix of challenge matches and trick shot shows. The fans will be drawn to XTP's name, but by the end of the tour, they'll know Schmidt,too. Who knows, Schmidt could help kick start a 14.1 "revolution" in China.

 

[leto1776]

Maybe you should read it again, Bob. I only gave one example, but anyone with reading comprehension and a little brains would see that the same could be applied to others, as well.

Better yet, how about actually contributing something to the thread, rather than just contradicting everything anyone says. I know pathetic shark hasn't been around for you to reverse troll, but you've contributed absolutely nothing to the discussion at hand, other than shutting down everything anyone says.

 

[leto1776]

I can think of 1000 things better than moving to asia to play pro pool.

#1. Use pliers to remove fingernails..
#2. Chew nails...
#3. Lick a skunks ass...
...
...

And those would help American pro players how, exactly?

 

[NYC cue dude]

I was thinking something along these lines earlier today. A smart player with a big time cue sponsor could definitely present the idea of an exhibition tour to his sponsor. He could do several "challenge match" exhibitions with a local national champion, or could challenge local shortstops like the old days.doing this, he not only gets paid for the exhibition, his name reaches an international audience, and he helps his sponsor sell products.

Ex: John Schmidt and XTP are both sponsored by Fury cues. Fury could put on a 5 city exhibition tour of China featuring Schmidt and XTP, a mix of challenge matches and trick shot shows. The fans will be drawn to XTP's name, but by the end of the tour, they'll know Schmidt,too. Who knows, Schmidt could help kick start a 14.1 "revolution" in China.

Kamui is ready doing this with their elite players.

 

[leto1776]

Kamui is ready doing this with their elite players.

Cool, glad to see a company taking the right steps. If we could get a company to do this with a young up and coming American player, for example someone like Landon Shuffet, these young guns might have a future in pool outside the dismal U.S. Tournament scene.

 

[Mr. Bond]

And those would help American pro players how, exactly?

Sending our top players to another country would help American pool how, exactly?

I'vs got some bad news for you sunshine
Pink isn't well, he's back at the hotel
So they sent us along
As a surrogate band
We're gonna find out where you fans really stand...

 

[Snuden]

Sending our top players to another country would help American pool how, exactly?

I'vs got some bad news for you sunshine
Pink isn't well, he's back at the hotel
So they sent us along
As a surrogate band
We're gonna find out where you fans really stand...

Getting them out of their comfort zone and adapt to new situations, hell, they might even learn a thing or two.

 

[PINKLADY]

Sending our top players to another country would help American pool how, exactly?

I'vs got some bad news for you sunshine
Pink isn't well, he's back at the hotel
So they sent us along
As a surrogate band
We're gonna find out where you fans really stand...

thanks for standing in - i am busy w/ Chinese New Year, which shuts down @ 5+/- days. till AUG containers land.

 

[leto1776]

Sending our top players to another country would help American pool how, exactly?

I'vs got some bad news for you sunshine
Pink isn't well, he's back at the hotel
So they sent us along
As a surrogate band
We're gonna find out where you fans really stand...

Without money, there are no American players. The money in American pro pool simply isn't there,excepting a few.

I never really said anything about helping American pool,anyway. Simply helping the players.

 

[westcoast]

I wonder what types of opportunities exist in the Philippines for them. Perhaps they could make some money in match ups (although they may be underdogs against relative unknowns) and the cost of living must be cheaper

 

[leto1776]

The cost of living would certainly be cheap in the PIs, but not sure the money is there to be made, unless gamblers there have big backers.

 

[Celtic]

Sending our top players to another country would help American pool how, exactly?

Do you think Darren, Mika, and other Euro's coming to America to compete and bettering their games has hurt European pool? Those guys honing their skills in America and Asia/the Philippines has helped the Europeans to remain serious threats to win international competitions, while the American's who do nothing but stay in their own country have fallen far behind the world standard and become a non-issue on the world stage when it comes to truly world class pool.

Back when guys like Rodney or Archer were a far more serious threat in any given match guys like Rodney went to Asia to gamble against the top Asian players and become battle hardened, Archer played in all of the major events and sought out action against guys like Busta. Now guys like Rodney and Archer stay at home, avoid gambling top level players in neutral rooms, and have grown soft when it comes to world class pool levels. They have been left behind and it is their own fault.

 

[Mr. Bond]

I never really said anything about helping American pool,anyway.

Precisely.

while the Americans.......have fallen far behind the world standard and become a non-issue on the world stage when it comes to truly world class pool.

This is true to a certain extent, however, making more money and becoming ' world class' are two different things.

 

[leto1776]

Precisely.

Yes.because this thread is titled next step for American pros. as in the players. There are plenty of other threads dedicated to "saving American pool."

 

[CJ Wiley]

We always had to "go on the road" to make money anyway.

Yes.because this thread is titled next step for American pros. as in the players. There are plenty of other threads dedicated to "saving American pool."

We always had to "go on the road" to make money anyway. What's the difference between flying 15 hours and driving 15 hours? Actually I'd rather fly, I have a friend going to the Philippines tomorrow to do some high dollar gambling.....he'll call if there's any action.