Pool is dead.

[JAM]

...As someone said, there are no cheat codes or shortcuts to mastery of that game.

Of course, the mastery of hustling definitely requires some skill, very different than the cheat codes. :grin-square:

 

[shinigami]

don't be too quick to judge

lol @ videogames requiring skill

Now I personally stopped playing video games (cept for the occassional Wii games) but you can't dismiss them so easily.

The top gamers have MASSIVE amounts of skill, a byproduct of natural skills and tons of practice. Maybe you think it's easy because, naturally, video games are designed so that the initial learning curve is not too steep.

However, like with all things in life, to be the best, it requires an insane amount of skill. Getting over that plateau of expert to the realm of "godlike"...not too many people have the skills or the dedication for it.

 

[teedotaj]

lol @ videogames requiring skill

wouldn't you consider mastering elements of a game requiring skill? The fact that some are better than others at these games supports the idea that there is a degree of skill involved.


Anyways, I do agree video games in my view are not considered sport.

Here's wikipedia's take on the Sports:

"Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. Sports commonly refer to activities where the physical capabilities of the competitor are the sole or primary determiner of the outcome (winning or losing), but the term is also used to include activities such as mind sports (a common name for some card games and board games with little to no element of chance) and motor sports where mental acuity or equipment quality are major factors. Sport is commonly defined as an organized, competitive and skillful physical activity requiring commitment and fair play."


Physical capability is not necessarily a requirement although it is the common consensus.

 

[SCCues]

The bottom line is that sponsor money goes where there is interest. Videogame players get big purses and big sponsorships because they have companies backing them like Dr. Pepper, Intel, AMD, Dell, Microsoft, etc. Pool players get what comes from an industry that relies on small companies for support. Go to the Major League Gaming homepage and you'll see what I mean. Presented by Gamestop, a $3.6 billion dollar company, Powered by XBox (Microsoft), a $177 billion dollar company.

The real issue here is the goal of the industry. For Microsoft, their goal is to get an XBox in every home. They price it competitively (currently 199 bucks) and make it affordable for all income levels. When was the last time you saw anyone in the billiards industry come up with a goal of getting a pool table in every home?

Then there's the elitist attitude of the "players" vs. the "bangers". The casual players are the future of the industry. The more bangers come to play, the bigger the reach of the industry gets. Get a critical mass of people playing pool and homes with pool tables and the sponsors will come. No offense to any of the current sponsors, but the industry isn't going to grow by relying on cuemakers, table makers, online stores and such as title sponsors.

Next time you're in a pool hall and some banger is flailing away, instead of hustling him and making him hate the game and the industry, try playing with him and <gasp> helping him with his game. Next time you see someone playing with an import cue, be happy that they're playing pool instead of crapping on them and their gear. The market for the $100 import cue is way bigger than the market for the $2500 custom cue.

/rant off

You make some good points in this post, thanks.

James

 

[grindz]

Wow, some of you are downright depressing....

If you counted.......I would feel pretty sure that there are more people today who would say they 'play pool' than 30 years ago. I would also feel pretty sure that there are MORE.....WAAAAY more tournaments today than back then. Just look at all the tours today, all the leagues. I'll give you that the gambling may have been higher, I don't really know.

WTH with all the negativity...... I hear and enjoy many of the great stories of the past roadies, but it's few and far between that there is any mention of having a gun to the head or a parking lot beating. Now that's glamorous....NOT.

Pool is a great game....it has and will stand the test of time, just like tennis, or golf. People just have more choices now.....and last time I checked there are still only 24 hours in a day. Enjoy each one....you just never know if you'll be here for another. Play on!!!:wink:

td

 

[poolplayer2093]

i think thats mostly because people that play a lot of video games drink and eat a lot of junk food. monster energy drinks redbull dr pepper etc..... hot cheetos

it's just like that episode of south park with the world of warcraft stuff

 

[shinigami]

i think thats mostly because people that play a lot of video games drink and eat a lot of junk food. monster energy drinks redbull dr pepper etc..... hot cheetos

it's just like that episode of south park with the world of warcraft stuff

This episode was hilarious...

 

[JAM]

If you counted.......I would feel pretty sure that there are more people today who would say they 'play pool' than 30 years ago. I would also feel pretty sure that there are MORE.....WAAAAY more tournaments today than back then. Just look at all the tours today, all the leagues....

Thanks for your thoughts, and I appreciate your view on this topic.

I strongly disagree that there are more tournaments today than 30 years ago as it pertains to professional-caliber pool.

Social shooters, bar players, and leagues may have more opportunities today than 30 years ago. That, I do agree with you.

Today, there are several tours which no longer welcome so-called "pros" to compete in their events, but amateur players are welcome.

My thoughts on this thread pertain to professional pool as a sport, not the social arena of pool.

I do think that social pool may be thriving today, even though pool rooms are closing down more and more in recent times.

It is good to learn that Arizona, where you hail from, have way more tournaments today.

Playing pool recreationally is fun and cost effective. Competing in pool on a professional level is difficult financially.

The best time I ever had in my life with pool was when I played on the leagues. :smile:

 

[tucson9ball]

Early games......

Asteroids.... the very first level.... just blow up all of the asteroids until there's just one tiny piece of the last one left and don't blow it up. Just keep blowing up the random alien ship that shows up and you'll destroy any high score posted anywhere. If you find someone who thinks they're good at that, bet and make sure they go first.

Along these lines, when the first generation Pac Man came out, people learned the patterns for each level. Ever wonder how people scored millions and played for hours on end? How could they eat or use the restroom?................Safe place...after each level, you start again in the middle toward bottom of the screen. The game naturally would send you left if you don't touch the joy stick. Force the joy stick to the right and sharply down, this is a safe spot and you could literally walk away for hours with no fear of being eaten by a ghost. Only works at beginning of new screen. Just a lil trivia.
As for pool being dead......well, not for everyone.

 

[JAM]

This episode was hilarious...

Why do the computer gamers all have pimples on their face?

 

[shinigami]

Why do the computer gamers all have pimples on their face?

South Park is famous for greatly stretching an already exaggerated stereotype. Yes I am sure there are many gamer who have pimples, but regular people have pimples too!

This picture is just to show you that, yes, there are gamers who don't have pimples

 

[shamrockhoax]

Okay, okay. I must admit, this oldster does not know what "ATM" means, other than it's a place I go when I need money.

However, the words you wrote after it seem to express EXACTLY my thoughts. Pool did used to be BIG in the U.S., didn't it? That's why they all flocked to our shores from every country in the world to experience pool, American style.

Today, it is quite a different matter. Pool tournaments are not as prevalent as they used to be in the U.S. Gone is the Windy City Open, Glass City Open, and BCA "Invitational" Open. Pool tournaments are being held overseas on a more frequent basis today, than in yesteryear.

These kinds of happenings should help illuminate, at least to most Americans, that it will take some news-breaking happening to put pool back on the American map, not to mention that the existing lot of American pros is currently dwindling.

There are not as many Americans pros today in 2008 as there were in 1988, as one example. :sorry:

ATM = at the moment

You make a great point, and I agree with you. I think that the news-breaking will happen and pool will become as big as or bigger than it ever was in the US. Maybe another Fats, a virtual-pool game, or another decent movie will come along and ignite the spark again.

Look what online poker has done for Texas Hold Em.

 

[PoolBum]

"DR PEPPER plans to announce on Wednesday that, for the first time, it is promoting a professional athlete on bottles that it will distribute nationally. But the shaggy-haired athlete on the label is not a traditional sports star: he?s a 21-year-old who has a three-year, $250,000 contract to play video games."

Video gaming has been more lucrative as a profession than pool for some time now.

 

[JAM]

South Park is famous for greatly stretching an already exaggerated stereotype. Yes I am sure there are many gamer who have pimples, but regular people have pimples too!

This picture is just to show you that, yes, there are gamers who don't have pimples

So it was one of those stereotypes of gamers on South Park. I get it now.

Kind of like this stereotype picture of pool players. This may be what some non-pool folk think of when they envision pool, unfortunately. :frown:

 

[JAM]

And then there's this jolly Tibetan player.

Check out the condition of the outdoor equipment, and he's still having a grand old time! :smile:

 

[poolplayer2093]

South Park is famous for greatly stretching an already exaggerated stereotype. Yes I am sure there are many gamer who have pimples, but regular people have pimples too!

This picture is just to show you that, yes, there are gamers who don't have pimples

there've been a couple of cases of people playing these games until they died. hell i read a story yesterday (CNN i think) of a couple getting divorced because, in the game world of warcraft, he had sex with a virtual prostitute

 

[grindz]

I can see your paradigm........

Thanks for your thoughts, and I appreciate your view on this topic.

I strongly disagree that there are more tournaments today than 30 years ago as it pertains to professional-caliber pool.

Social shooters, bar players, and leagues may have more opportunities today than 30 years ago. That, I do agree with you.

Today, there are several tours which no longer welcome so-called "pros" to compete in their events, but amateur players are welcome.

My thoughts on this thread pertain to professional pool as a sport, not the social arena of pool.

I do think that social pool may be thriving today, even though pool rooms are closing down more and more in recent times.

It is good to learn that Arizona, where you hail from, have way more tournaments today.

Playing pool recreationally is fun and cost effective. Competing in pool on a professional level is difficult financially.

The best time I ever had in my life with pool was when I played on the leagues. :smile:

And know that it is shaped by pro. and road background......but your view often fails to encompass the whole of pool. Pro is probably .....what....1/100th of a percent of total players. I know that this forum has a skewed % of higher players but that is not the future of pool IMO.

In the past a "pro" player had NO chance IMHO of making a living off pool unless they gambled also. I don't see much difference today, except the gambling side is greatly diminished with the www info out there.

Everything changes.....but pool has stood the test of time. Don't get discouraged....:smile: and there is a reggae song (if I could) I would play for you...it goes..... 'don't worry... be happy'. Always good for a smile or two. :smile: Best to you and yours..

td

 

[grindz]

Is the title...

So it was one of those stereotypes of gamers on South Park. I get it now.

Kind of like this stereotype picture of pool players. This may be what some non-pool folk think of when they envision pool, unfortunately. :frown:

"Cool cats"? :smile:

I LIKE it!!

td

 

[the420trooper]

Okay, okay. I must admit, this oldster does not know what "ATM" means, other than it's a place I go when I need money.

I'm thinking "At the moment".

(Funny that Mrs. JMHO, FWIW, wouldn't know that.)



Edit: Looks like someone beat me to it.

 

[grindz]

When did........

And then there's this jolly Tibetan player.

Check out the condition of the outdoor equipment, and he's still having a grand old time! :smile:

UJ Puckett go to Tibet?

td