Pool Is Back To A Rich Man's/Women's Game

[Johnnyt]

It appears to me that pool has become a rich man’s/women’s (family is well off) game like golf, tennis, the Olympics, and many other sports for those that don’t have a full sponsorship. Not too many years ago young men and women could make it on their own talent w/o the help of family. Now with prices for travel, hotels/motels, food, lessons, and everything else, very few of the poor to middle-class can make it on their own.

Today up and coming players, both male and female need to work at a good job 40+ hours a week or have their own businesses if they want to pursue pool at the highest levels and play in all the big tournaments around the world. Hell, most young players can’t afford to travel across three or four states w/o financial help. Very few can work 40+ and get to the top of any sport. So if they have to work 9-5 they are handicapped from the start. Some will say that if you want something bad enough you will find a way. I say, not today w/o financial help in some way To me it’s very sad to see this. Johnnyt

PS:I meant just tournament pool.

 

[hdgis1]

Johnny - this is America in the new millenium. The pull yourself up by your bootstraps idealogy is long dead and the sad reality is that if you dont have it, the likelihood of ever getting it is pretty slim. And by the way, what you have suggested is true of just about everything.

Chris

 

[avmaster]

Times have changed, there are many players but they don't persue the skills now days as in days of old.... I think I have to agree with your thoughts on this subject, except, I don't see many well heeled players......

 

[Tokyo-dave]

I'd have to disagree. Most every really good shortstop or above local caliber player I've ever known couldn't come up with $50 to put in his gas tank, but could always find a way to raise 2K in 30 minutes to match up with somebody.
Most of the good players I've been exposed to didn't have a full time job outside of the pool hall, many didn't have a ride, many didn't have their own place, a full fridge, life insurance, 401K ect.....................
But it's always because of the low maintenance life they're living that they could spend 7 days a week playing pool.

dave

 

[ridinda9]

It appears to me that pool has become a rich man’s/women’s (family is well off) game like golf, tennis, the Olympics, and many other sports for those that don’t have a full sponsorship. Not too many years ago young men and women could make it on their own talent w/o the help of family. Now with prices for travel, hotels/motels, food, lessons, and everything else, very few of the poor to middle-class can make it on their own.

Today up and coming players, both male and female need to work at a good job 40+ hours a week or have their own businesses if they want to pursue pool at the highest levels and play in all the big tournaments around the world. Hell, most young players can’t afford to travel across three or four states w/o financial help. Very few can work 40+ and get to the top of any sport. So if they have to work 9-5 they are handicapped from the start. Some will say that if you want something bad enough you will find a way. I say, not today w/o financial help in some way To me it’s very sad to see this. Johnnyt

"Most young players can't afford to travel across 3 or 4 states w/o financial help." That is such an intriguing and revealing statement about their elitist attitudes toward the game of pool today . Todays "professional" players see themselves as "better" than the "hustlers" of old , and can't imagine the idea of walking into a pool hall with $5.00 and having to turn it into their nights room & board . They assume that 'going to a tournament' means flying directly into that city , taking a cab to the hotel , and another cab to the tournament site . Maybe making the drive in their personal car - but they certainly wouldn't consider 12 hours on a Greyhound , followed by a couple more on the city bus.
Even more foreign to them is the idea of leaving for that tournament 3 weeks early , and scufflin across 3 states , playin whatever $3/rack games become available . Yep , there's an awful lotta Motel 6's & BuckDoubles in livin' that way , but think about it - what are your real road expenses - $20 per day gas in the car , $50 cheap motel , $10 buys a lot of Burger King , and ten dollars for starter drinks at the bar. The motel , by the way , is your last expense , and optional . You can always sleep in the car at Wal-Mart (or sweet talk a lonely waitress into takin' you home . . .)
Nope , pool doesn't pay like the NBA . Cuz we don't HAVE an NBA.
Til then , ain't no use complainin' bout the state of professional pool , cuz there truly ain't no professional pool.

 

[chevybob20]

The New Mellinium? Huh? This is a very bad perception. The truth is more people today are becomming millionaire's than evrnefore and this is including the bad economy. Don't fall for the crap the media and universities are shoveling.

Get out there and find a way.

 

[ceebee]

QUOTE "Til then , ain't no use complainin' bout the state of professional pool, cuz there truly ain't no professional pool. UNQUOTE

Sadly the quote above is true. When the game gets behind one voice & one philosophy, we will have a chance to gain some corporate sponsors. There are lots of players in this USA. When that number decides to work together, there will be companies that will listen.

 

[Ghosst]

...I don't see many well heeled players

Sad truth that is. But who really has time for manners between shots with the shot clock ticking and the crowd demanding their SMASH before the Ritalin wears off. Go Go Go! Faster Faster Faster!! Screw the ball back? No way! Gotta SMASH!

I heard an interesting quote watching snooker; "If people want to watch a form of snooker that's shorter, has less tactics, and has more luck involved there's already a sport out there that does that for them; pool." I laughed so hard when I heard that I had to clean the coffee from my screen.

If people think that's uppity, here's one other quote from the commentator, "If you're just joining us, we just want to let you know the match is running a little long so we're going to stay here with the snooker." When was the last time that happened on ESPN? I'll take the uppity if it means more air time. But I think the whole of the viewing public would have to see what avmaster is saying before it could ever change.

 

[hdgis1]

I would be willing to bet that we simply hear more about it now then in times when the economy is good. What better way to keep the middle class content than convince them that all their hard work and diligence is gonna pay off in the end?

Chris

The New Mellinium? Huh? This is a very bad perception. The truth is more people today are becomming millionaire's than evrnefore and this is including the bad economy. Don't fall for the crap the media and universities are shoveling.

Get out there and find a way.