No game like it

jackpot

jackpot

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just sitting here wondering why in the hell this isn't the most popular game
in the world. I don't buy that bad image crap. When it was the most popular
it had a lot worst image than it has now and you had to wait to get a table.
Pool has so many things going for it. Such as: You can play for years, and
years without a great drop off in your game. You can play year round. Doesn't
matter what size you are. You can play by yourself. You can gamble at it.
You can play 24 hours a day, weather doesn't matter. You can mingle, talk,
and play the best players in the world, even if you can't run 3 balls.( Is there
any other game or sport that gives you this kind of access to its champions)
And the one thing that makes it the coolest of all games THE CUES. No other
game even comes close. I don't know of any where the tool used to play the
game with is not only for playing but also a work of art. What other game
would someone pay thousands of dollars for the instrument used to play the
game with no intention of using it. Just sit and stare at it, and love every
minute of it. What the hell is the matter all these people that don't get it.
jack
Free SJD
 
My two cents is that for those exposed to pool it takes a little bit of skill to play and a lot of skill to play well. So unless their exposed to some instruction or interest they give up because its to hard to play even casually.

Bowling and darts at least on lower levels don't require a lot people can drink and at least have some kind of a result.

Jim Rome said on a show when asked by a caller why he didn't cover bowling Rome said he only covered sports. The caller said bowling is a sport Rome replied any game where you can drink beer and play isn't a sport.
 
jackpot said:
Just sitting here wondering why in the hell this isn't the most popular game
in the world. I don't buy that bad image crap. When it was the most popular
it had a lot worst image than it has now and you had to wait to get a table.
Pool has so many things going for it. Such as: You can play for years, and
years without a great drop off in your game. You can play year round. Doesn't
matter what size you are. You can play by yourself. You can gamble at it.
You can play 24 hours a day, weather doesn't matter. You can mingle, talk,
and play the best players in the world, even if you can't run 3 balls.( Is there
any other game or sport that gives you this kind of access to its champions)
And the one thing that makes it the coolest of all games THE CUES. No other
game even comes close. I don't know of any where the tool used to play the
game with is not only for playing but also a work of art. What other game
would someone pay thousands of dollars for the instrument used to play the
game with no intention of using it. Just sit and stare at it, and love every
minute of it. What the hell is the matter all these people that don't get it.
jack
Free SJD
Click to expand...

Just earlier today, our crews were working on power lines by a golf course (one of the more high end ones around town), and I had to pause and watch as these completely amateur golfers of all ages, with ultra expensive equipment/clothing/grounds fees/membership fees drove all over the place, chasing balls into tree lines and out of bounds.

It looked like a ton of work, and in the high noon sun, they were melting.

I immediately thought of how great pool is - how its the best sport to play and when you put in the work, you can clearly see skills improving and advancing. You can play it year round! Up here, the golfers maybe get 4 good months to play before the weather changes to storms and blizzards.

I had a deep feeling of gratefulness--just being thankful to understand this game and be involved so deeply in it. I love this sport and the art that it becomes when watching it played to perfection.

i only wish I could convince those nutty golfers to take it up as well and find the enjoyment that I get, because they sure looked like they weren't having fun.

Great thread by the way. Random pool thoughts are the best.
 
jackpot said:
Just sitting here wondering why in the hell this isn't the most popular game
in the world. I don't buy that bad image crap. When it was the most popular
it had a lot worst image than it has now and you had to wait to get a table.
Pool has so many things going for it. Such as: You can play for years, and
years without a great drop off in your game. You can play year round. Doesn't
matter what size you are. You can play by yourself. You can gamble at it.
You can play 24 hours a day, weather doesn't matter. You can mingle, talk,
and play the best players in the world, even if you can't run 3 balls.( Is there
any other game or sport that gives you this kind of access to its champions)
And the one thing that makes it the coolest of all games THE CUES. No other
game even comes close. I don't know of any where the tool used to play the
game with is not only for playing but also a work of art. What other game
would someone pay thousands of dollars for the instrument used to play the
game with no intention of using it. Just sit and stare at it, and love every
minute of it. What the hell is the matter all these people that don't get it.
jack
Free SJD
Click to expand...
Playing pool is a very contrived activity. To start with you need a pool table. Not always an easy thing to find. If a few kids want to play ball all they do is go play.

If you want to play tennis all you need is a racket, a ball and a wall to hit it against. You can even play at golf in your back yard. Playing pool is kind of a bit more involved.
 
The game is TOO REAL!!!

You cant market the authenticity and purity of the sport to the general masses.

Its like a baby taking a straight shot of cocaine like Tony Montana did...lol.

Too powerful. Too much skills are required.

(just a fun example)

In basketball, the rim is 10' in the air. Most people cant dunk.

This is why the Slam Dunk Contest is captivating to some.

They like to see an exclusive few do something that they cant do performed at its highest level (i.e. like an AccuStats MIH event)

Now, you lower the rim to 6', everyone and their friend can now dunk. (i.e. league play)

You have to 'dilute' it for it to be 'captivating'.

And when you got mass participation, you got $$$$.

The artform loses its 'prestigeness'.

Wutang
 
Last edited:
Good points

wutang said:
The game is TOO REAL!!!

You cant market the authenticity and purity of the sport to the general masses.

Its like a baby taking a straight shot of cocaine like Tony Montana did...lol.

Too powerful. Too much skills are required.

(just a fun example)

In basketball, the rim is 10' in the air. Most people cant dunk.

This is why the Slam Dunk Contest is captivating to some.

They like to see an exclusive few do something that they cant do performed at its highest level (i.e. like an AccuStats MIH event)

Now, you lower the rim to 6', everyone and their friend can now dunk. (i.e. league play)

You have to 'dilute' it for it to be 'captivating'.

And when you got mass participation, you got $$$$.

The artform loses its 'prestigeness'.
Click to expand...

I agree, though I think that pool could be marketed if the money people in sports weren't making billions with feetball and dunkin.

When I became a basketball fan a few years back (I saw Wilt play before he joined the NBA), it was a different game. I believe the average height of pro players was 6'3". Now it's about 6'9". Today there are players who can dunk while standing flat-footed! I know it can't happen, but I think it would make a better pro game if the rim were raised six inches.

I've often thought that a league with a 6' height limit, played on a 9'6" basket would be interesting. One reason being that at 5'8 1/2 I could dunk like Mike with a 9' rim.
 
As somebody else said there's an unusually high threshold for getting interested in pool. It takes time/skill to be enjoyable, it's expensive, it's not a spectator sport, and it has an unsavory reputation.

What's not to like?

pj
chgo
 
Which one are you referring to? There are many games to pick from.
I personally think One Pocket is the game of choice, but that's me. :)
 
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