if you look at Boston Billiards, Westside Charlies, Magoos & other popular BIG Pool Rooms & sports bars... you'll see Pool isn't dead.
At this point in time we have dozens of equipment makers, lots of great cue makers, more Instructors & Pool Schools.
Maybe your little corner of the world is dead, Tulsa OK is busier than beehive & we got more action than the law allows... come on down !
At this point in time we have dozens of equipment makers, lots of great cue makers, more Instructors & Pool Schools.
Maybe your little corner of the world is dead, Tulsa OK is busier than beehive & we got more action than the law allows... come on down !
Gambling should be associated with pool because that's what will draw spectators.
Poker has gained popularity BECAUSE of gambling, not DESPITE gambling.
Poker has gained popularity BECAUSE of gambling, not DESPITE gambling.
What's wrong with all of you? Why do you need newspaper headlines, and spectators, to validate your game? Why even have this lame discussion? Shame on you Bernie, for your blatant attempt at getting an arguement going.
Who gives a crap what the world watches on TV? Go play the game you love.
Oh, woe is me...more people watch NASCAR than pool...I think I'm going to shed a tear. Oh no, more people watch tractor-pulls than hockey. I think I'll give up our national game.
Who gives a crap what the world watches on TV? Go play the game you love.
Oh, woe is me...more people watch NASCAR than pool...I think I'm going to shed a tear. Oh no, more people watch tractor-pulls than hockey. I think I'll give up our national game.
I don't see how anyone can say that pool is dead. Pool is alive and well and growing. New players are starting in league every day. Hold a tournament, and players will show up. Try to get a table in the local pool room on a Friday or Saturday night. It seems like the game of pool is very healthy. Now if you mean Professional pool, there is a lot lacking. The WPBA is holding it's own, but there is no way for many to make a living as a professional pool player. If there was a successful men's pro tour, that wouldn't change much. How many of us have a legitimate chance to make a good living doing nothing more than playing pool. Granted, it would make things better for the people who are at the pro level, but I don't see how it would have any impact on 95% of pool players in this country. We are already playing regularly, and having fun doing it. How would your life be different if pro level pool was bigger?
I don't think pool is dead. I think hustling pool is dead. Your average Joe can see women running out racks on Television several times a week. He cannot be suckered into being hustled like the average person could have pre pool on television. Are there less hustlers now? I know for a fact many people get into pool to make money gambling not because they love the game like myself. Everyone knows several people who paid their way through college playing pool. I doubt that happens any more.
efirkey said:
College???
How many pool hustler do you know who attended college?
BackPocket9Ball said:
A good question, I daresay I knew none, I may be as good as any players I knew in college, and I'm no hustler by any stretch. As a matter of fact I only know 1 person who knew 1 person who hustled his way through college, and he was only hustling spending money, not tuition, room and board, books, etc.
Anyone getting good enough at pool to hustle and good enough grades to get in college (back in the day that is, you only have to be breathing to get in college today) would have run into a serious time crunch.
T
THE SILENCER
Guest
to highsea, i said, morons idiots, people that play pool poorly think pool is fun. pool should not be portrayed as fun! get that through your skull. if people think pool is fun, it will get no respect. pool isn't fun, it's surgery. one false slip, and you die! this is what needs to be portrayed to the average joe shmoe. pool is serious, heart pounding, thinking ahead. it should reek of seriousness, not, hey, donna, let's shoot pool and then see a movie. ok, let's do it. pool needs respect, i don't care if it ever gets popular, i do care, that in the future, rows and rows of seats are filled up in stadium style in pool halls all around the usa. and people watching are enthralled, hanging on every shot. respect, the game, lower that rap music, and get serious.
T
THE SILENCER
Guest
to backpocket9-ball, this discussion gambling vs not can go on forever. i believe that pool should be taken naked, on it's on merits. as is. no gambling, no rap/disco music. no trendy $20 burgers. no bullshit. just pool in a modern nice place, with spectater chairs for the players, and cushy movie theatre seating for the spectaters. serious, in your face, let's play pool. i want to live in a world where pool is as serious as cancer,aids and terrorists. i want people to shiver when they hear, such and such are playing each other at rack e'm down the block, i think we could still get seats. today when the average human being thinks of the game pool, two things come to their minds. oh, pool, thats a game, a fun game. like checkers. my sister molly went out on a date last night and she played pool. pool is fun. the other misconception is -- pool? isn't that for hustlers? for no good crooks. stay away from that game ben, they will take you for all you got! them there guys are sharks, no good for nothings. those are 2 things i would love to see go bye bye. if allison fisher and ralf souquet went on regis, and letterman, and demonstrated pool in the year 2004, people may slowly come around to see, it's not their fathers pool hall.
catscradle said:
Max Eberle went to Viriginia Tech, Nick Varner went to Purdue, Steve Mizerak went somewhere -- besides that, I don't know of any pro pool player who went to college.
catscradle said:
I have met several people who said they paid their way thru college playing pool. Of course I say "let's play some" and soon find out that they can't run 3 friggin' balls.
Fortunately I can occasionally run 4.
BackPocket9Ball said:
I think Jon Kucharo was a collegiate champ.
T
THE SILENCER
Guest
just to clarify my original post pool is dead. my meaning was, pool gets no respect, and just does not get the respect it deserves. for a player who is quite good as myself, this pisses me off to no end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the reason why earl strickland gets crazy, is the exact same reason. he wants pool to be looked at as a serious game, like chess.