Oscar Dominguez and Amar Kang split

[Roger Long]

I just read the report on the AZB home page where Oscar and Amar split 1st & 2nd place winnings in the Mezz West State Tour 10-ball tournament in Sacramento this past weekend. Although that might have been the merciful thing to do in a tournament where the second set of the final match wasn't going to begin until 3:00am on Monday morning, it does absolutely nothing to help the long-standing situation we've had with "pro" pool in America.

In a sport that should be trying to draw live audiences to its events in order for its hosts to stand a chance to recover their expenses, and one that should be trying to develop interesting programs that could draw TV audiences to the screens so that advertisers could warrant investing their advertising dollars, we instead have one that insists on holding the same old types of events that pursue large fields and then drag everything out only to give no clear winner in the end. Why would anyone be interested in watching that? It's not even any fun to read about a split in the tournament reports. I don't care to hear anything about two people splitting money and points. I always want to know who won.

Whether it be limiting the fields, or shortening the races, or something else, I think our sport is broke and needs fixing. What do you think?

Roger

 

[bdorman]

I don't think pool is broken. It's just not cut out for television.

Let's build on what we've got, rather than trying to change the game into something it isn't.

 

[cleary]

I just read the report on the AZB home page where Oscar and Amar split 1st & 2nd place winnings in the Mezz West State Tour 10-ball tournament in Sacramento this past weekend. Although that might have been the merciful thing to do in a tournament where the second set of the final match wasn't going to begin until 3:00am on Monday morning, it does absolutely nothing to help the long-standing situation we've had with "pro" pool in America.

In a sport that should be trying to draw live audiences to its events in order for its hosts to stand a chance to recover their expenses, and one that should be trying to develop interesting programs that could draw TV audiences to the screens so that advertisers could warrant investing their advertising dollars, we instead have one that insists on holding the same old types of events that pursue large fields and then drag everything out only to give no clear winner in the end. Why would anyone be interested in watching that? It's not even any fun to read about a split in the tournament reports. I don't care to hear anything about two people splitting money and points. I always want to know who won.

Whether it be limiting the fields, or shortening the races, or something else, I think our sport is broke and needs fixing. What do you think?

Roger

This isn't the US Open... it's not the Derby City or some prestigious and sactioned tournament... IT'S A REGIONAL TOUR! A weekend escape for pros and amateurs who enjoy pool and the possibility of actually winning some money. It's not for fans to watch, it's for players to play.

It's so hard to even respond because I get the feeling you're so out of touch with reality that you cannot understand that a tournament like this has zero influence on the popularity of our game.

 

[Roger Long]

And why isn't it cut out for TV? It should be. How can pro players ever expect to get paid on a level with pro players from other sports if they can't put on something that is cut out for TV?

Roger

 

[cleary]

We have similar tournaments and tours here in NYC and people slit them as well. At 5am, a split is a win.

 

[cleary]

And why isn't it cut out for TV? It should be. How can pro players ever expect to get paid on a level with pro players from other sports if they can't put on something that is cut out for TV?

Roger

 

[cleary]

And why isn't it cut out for TV? It should be. How can pro players ever expect to get paid on a level with pro players from other sports if they can't put on something that is cut out for TV?

Roger

Do you see a difference?

Basketball:

Pool:

 

[Roger Long]

This isn't the US Open... it's not the Derby City or some prestigious and sactioned tournament... IT'S A REGIONAL TOUR! A weekend escape for pros and amateurs who enjoy pool and the possibility of actually winning some money. It's not for fans to watch, it's for players to play.

It's so hard to even respond because I get the feeling you're so out of touch with reality that you cannot understand that a tournament like this has zero influence on the popularity of our game.

I'm in a pool room and around pool players of all levels six, and sometimes seven, days a week. Virtually everything I do to make a living is pool related. That's my reality. What's yours?

Roger

 

[cleary]

I'm in a pool room and around pool players of all levels six, and sometimes seven, days a week. Virtually everything I do to make a living is pool related. That's my reality. What's yours?

Roger

I'm the art director for a very large sports network. In fact, we have 3 channels and reach give or take 20 million tvs. Our main focus is NBA and NHL live games but we also have other sports such as college football, college basketball and even poker and sometimes pool.

So, that's my reality.

 

[Roger Long]

I'm the art director for a very large sports network. In fact, we have 3 channels and reach give or take 20 million tvs. Our main focus is NBA and NHL live games but we also have other sports such as college football, college basketball and even poker and sometimes pool.

So, that's my reality.

So you know something about art direction. That's nice.

Roger

 

[MitchAlsup]

Here is an idea:: Instead of a time clock per shot, have a time clock per race.

For instance, each pairing gets 0:59 hours on a table. The person with the most wins at the end of the hour wins. Table is granted to the next pairing at the first minute of the subsequent hour.

Race to 1 hour, not race to 7, 9, 11, 13 games.

 

[cleary]

So you know something about art direction. That's nice.

Roger

And nothing about the television industry. Nothing at all...


some people are born with a brain and others with a stroke. I assume you have one of these but I've never seen you play.

 

[DAVE_M]

So you know something about art direction. That's nice.

Roger

And what do you do for a living? You're a pool instructor. That's nice.

Cleary is telling you like it is and you're getting upset. Chill out, bub.

Pool is NOT for television. Deal with it. Pool is about as fun to watch as some kids playing a Pokemon card game. It might be exciting for the other kids that play, but I sure as hell don't want to see that junk.

 

[BRussell]

I just read the report on the AZB home page where Oscar and Amar split 1st & 2nd place winnings in the Mezz West State Tour 10-ball tournament in Sacramento this past weekend.

I'm not sure why people are disagreeing with you about this. I'm surprised that tournament directors even let players do it. And if it was going to be that late, it was bad planning.

 

[filluptieu]

This is a good read... LOL sorry Roger but Cleary is right... and to be honest I don't want to play past 3 am LOL

 

[cleary]

And what do you do for a living? You're a pool instructor. That's nice.

Cleary is telling you like it is and you're getting upset. Chill out, bub.

Pool is NOT for television. Deal with it. Pool is about as fun to watch as some kids playing a Pokemon card game. It might be exciting for the other kids that play, but I sure as hell don't want to see that junk.

He won't get it... I sit in meetings almost everyday about ratings. If pool had an audience and were marketable, NBC would have a mouthful Shane's balls right now but guess what, it's just not enjoyable to watch for most people. But this guy knows 8 different diamond systems so he's an expert on everything. lol

 

[cleary]

I'm not sure why people are disagreeing with you about this. I'm surprised that tournament directors even let players do it. And if it was going to be that late, it was bad planning.

Because this wasn't the world f*cking series it was a regional pool tournament. The only people watching the finals were the people playing it and the TD who's sleeping in the corner at 4am

 

[DAVE_M]

Because this wasn't the world f*cking series it was a regional pool tournament. The only people watching the finals were the people playing it and the TD who's sleeping in the corner at 4am

We split the $250 pot at the last local 8-ball hole in the wall tournament. I guess I should keep it quiet. Roger might get angry.

 

[cleary]

We split the $250 pot at the last local 8-ball hole in the wall tournament. I guess I should keep it quiet. Roger might get angry.

Sports Illustrated will just have to put you both in the cover...

 

[King T]

You got that right!!

I don't think pool is broken. It's just not cut out for television.

Let's build on what we've got, rather than trying to change the game into something it isn't.

All we need to do is get the APA level player up to BCA standard..., and get some of the top BCA or short stops up to AAA or Pro level so that the game keeps growing.

The game is fine and it always has been.