JAM said:
My take on it is that the gambling/hustling aspect of pool is where it seems to shine here in America. When "The Color of Money" movie came out in 1986, pool's popularity surged upward.
Poker is pure gambling, and though it's hard for me to accept the fact that poker is a sport, it is accepted by mainstream America. It's on several TV stations 24/7 now, and there are non-poker industry sponsors paying big bucks to have their names associated with poker.
Gambling seems to have taken America on by surprise in recent times. Internet poker sites are booming. People tune into TV stations and watch the so-called "poker pros" competing for tournaments around the world.
I do not know for how long poker will be popular, but I can't see its popularity fading at any time soon.
If pool could be presented on a platform to attract mainstream America, which in these times can only be had via TV, then and only then will curious onlookers bite. Currently, pool on TV just doesn't seem to grab folks in. I know some pro pool players who can't watch pool on TV because it doesn't capture their attention.
It is obvious that throwing millions of dollars into pool tournaments will not work, as evidenced by several IPT events. Nobody outside of the existing American pool culture seemed to take notice.
So my theory is that pool must be presented in a completely different way than it is being done today. Pool players dressed in three-piece suits competing in fancy ballrooms will not work. Today, pool players on TV show less emotion than Buckingham Guards. It's like they're just going through the motions, executing shots. Mainstream America doesn't understand why a triple-bank shot in the corner pocket is brilliant. That's the biggest problem, IMHO.
In sum, I think the gambling/hustling aspect of American pool is exactly what needs to come forth. If American society accepts poker, enjoys watching it on TV, seeing the poker pros chatting it up with each other, dressed in their shorts and baseball caps, then maybe pool should follow this route. It is obvious that all other avenues have been tried and failed. It's time for something new.
JAM
Jam,
You have made some pretty astute observations, imo. Although I agree with you on the gambling/reality aspect, that this could ultimately "sell" to a viewing public, sadly the sponsors do NOT.
Up until recently, the World Summit of Pool was an annual event held in NYC. A few years ago, the event was held in Grand Central Station in the city and was sponsored by a company out of the pool industry, Amber Rock beer (michelob?). The speculation around this new partnership created a national buzz within the pool industry. Pool had finally broken through with "beer", the drink of choice in every bar and poolhall in the country. The partnership of beer and pool has long been thought of as the "natural" marriage with regards to sponsorship.
To the UPA's credit, and after much cajoling, the deal was signed and the event was ultimately broadcast on ESPN.
Want to know what happened?
The beer sponsor had signed up a bit reluctantly, very much aware of the seedier side of the game. But they took a chance. And of course, pool once again, shot itself in the foot.
The sponsors were on hand at the event. Some of the companies representatives even came "undercover". What they witnessed, much to their disgust, and ultimately the reason why they have withdrawn from future sponsorship, was the tournament director, at a booth, in between matches, and in plain sight, making book on the very matches he was "directing" AND "officiating". And that was the end of beer.
How any sports organization, or tournament, can allow that, along with callcuttas, savers and the occasinal player throwing a temper tantrum and unscrewing mid match, is beyond me. Main stream sponsors are aware of the baggage that comes along with this game, and are afraid to "gamble" on it.
Could you imagine, a player reaching the finals of a telivised event, getting a bad roll, or call, and mucking the balls and quitting? Apparently, the sponsors can.
As far as the main difference between poker and pool goes, once learned, even an amatuer poker player can enter an event and beat any pro, at any time. The regular "Joe" can sit at home watching poker and tell themselves, I can do this, and go enter an event and even win. Pool on the other hand, is very different. The average player watches the game on TV, sees how "easy" it looks, goes to a bar or pool room, and cant make 3 balls. They get frustrated, and the dream is over.
Pool in the US is surely in trouble. The UPA is no longer a mens tour, rather an organization that now puts on 2 or 3 events a year. Effectively, there is no national mens pro tour in the US. sad but true.
rg
