mnorwood said:
Ever so often I post a thread about my thoughts on the pro game and this topic has been a constant theme on this board for as long as I have been reading it. Of late I have come to the conclusion that sites like TAR and youtube are the future of the sport. Men's pool is virtually non existent on t.v. and you get paid more to win in pro scrabble than pool (no joke, look it up). Internet broadcasting is the only way market the sport. I think more efforts need to be made to enhance this method of broadcasting the sport. Honestly, how many more years do you see the DCC and US open surviving? Another side thought is Asia. A poster in another thread pointed out that American players need to play abroad, I agree. To here colin colinso tell it pool is all the rage in china.
Where is that Colin? I miss his posts!
American players are more and more playing abroad today, I think. This is definitely a sign of the times up ahead. The sponsors are more forthcoming overseas than here in the States, which is one reason why I see professional pool thriving well elsewhere, at least the way I see it today.
This is not to say that I don't want it to succeed here, but I find it difficult to envision professional pool growing in America.
Of course, with the new tour that is being talked about in recent times, this could all change. The leagues is where it's at for pool in America, and if pro pool could piggyback on the success of the league players, with a legitimate ranking system, et cetera, then who knows. Sponsors may decide to give pool a shot in the arm.
American cuemakers, such as Scruggs and Black Boar, seem to have great success in selling their custom-made cues overseas, more so than here in the States. Production cues are more popular in America than a nice custom-made Black Boar, as an example.
The Internet is the direction of pool, I agree. Pool ain't on TV very much, unless it's an old rerun or a replay. I don't think I will ever in my life see a live pool match on American TV. I hope I am wrong.
JAM
