pool is dieing, what are you doing about it?

Fatboy

Fatboy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have 2 friends staying here with me at the moment, one grew up with a snooker table and he is a D+ player but comes with some great shots, his dad has a 12' box, he is about 27 and has moved out buit plays once in a while. He is here working with/for me on a marketing gig.

The other guy is 20 and the other night was the first time in his life he EVER played 20 years old and never hit a ball??? That was impossible a few years ago, absolutely 100% impossible to be 20 years old and never played pool once, and he didnt grow up living a sheltered life at all, he is well educated, travelled professional photographer, this kid has his shit together and has never hit a ball. WOW where is pool going??? There just isnt the interest, parents arnt like Jerry Benke who taught all his kids how to play, pool isnt being passed down. its getting passed off.

pool is dieing, what are you doing about it?
 
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Fatboy.......................Both my son and daughter play. Son is 10 years old...............daughter is 14. My son is more into it which I can understand. However my daughter can hold a cue and make balls. It will NOT die in my house!!

Mike
 
The first time I walked into a pool hall was when I was 16 years old. I went into Star Billiards in El Cajon with a few high school friends. After my parents found out where I had been, they didn't let me out of the house for 3 months. My parents were over protective and had a complete misconception of the pool hall... I actually didn't hit another ball til 4 years later, lol.
 
Well, I patronize two local rooms for a total of at least 15 hours a week. I talk up the game every chance I get. I would gladly donate a couple of hundred to get a straight pool tournament going, but I don't have the promotional skills to do it myself.

Dave Nelson

But I don't think the game is dying.
 
I have lived in two towns recently with well over 50,000 people each. Neither had a decent poolroom, one doesn't even have a pool room. I'm not much for bar play. So my only option is driving one hour each way. Thats not going to happen on a routine basis. Pool has been dying in north central Indiana for a long time.

I would love to take my two children to play but it's not worth the hassle. Last place I went I had three 16 year old punks come up wanting me to gamble. They were pretty mouthy about the hole ordeal. I had my 7 and 12 year old with me. You can't just go to a poolroom and have a good time. Everything has the typical poolroom stigma.
 
I think a better question is, "what can I do about it?"

In my mid-twenties, always dragging my non-player friends along, part-timing in my local hall in exhange for pool time, and beyond buying licenced merchandise, I can't say that I have much influence outside of that.

TAR = Genius, IMHO. You don't seem to feel the heat on ESPN like you do in these matches. It's a shame that they can't produce them more often, and get the circulation they deserve.

edit: Do the BCA/APA or any other affliation or brand offer scholastic scholarships? maybe sponsor a weighted college tournament? The few I attended had pretty awesome rooms, given the circumstance. Maybe that would take some of the kids I know out of the casinos....
 
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The other day I was at a business dinner and the discussion of hobbies came up. I mentioned pool and was going to just let others do the talking but my wife proceeded to drop the part about me winning the collegiate nationals. The discussion that followed was interesting.
"So your a hustler?"
"Werent you worried about getting beat up?"
"Those places scare me"
"Mispent childhood"
all that and more came out of the mouths of the laymen at this dinner, including one guy that runs a thriving business in the Phillipines. I would have thought he of all people would have more of an interest and understand the beauty of pool, but nope not a bit.

Until the greater population who doesnt play pool has a better image of the game, the love of the game will have to be propagated by existing players, because there is no cavalry charge coming over the hill at any time from the general masses. Non pool players continue to view pool as a seedy pastime, played in smoky, dangerous joints where you might catch something. The sad part is that they are not far off, but they see only the surface of pool, just one aspect of a much larger picture. I just wish there was a way to distill the feeling you get when you make a tough runout, or the satisfaction you get when you command the balls to perform in a specific way and they obey. If they could do that it would be a blockbuster seller to the masses. Then poolrooms would be on every block of america and kids would be telling their parents, "I want to be a professional pool player when I grow up" And their parents would actually smile.

Ted Harris is building me a 52" cue with my son's name on it for Xmas. I plan to encourage but not push the game of pool on my sons. Right now there is no future as a pro player in the USA that I can see wanting for my sons, but they will always have their old man to play if they want a game.
 
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your last sentence says it all

Your last sentence says it all. What we are most concerned with dying is professional pool and anyone that has children wants a better life for them than professional pool is likely to offer, particularly mens pool. Pool as a game is doing fine. Pool as a sport or career stinks. Doesn't seem likely to change although I hope I am wrong.

Hu


uwate said:
The other day I was at a business dinner and the discussion of hobbies came up. I mentioned pool and was going to just let others do the talking but my wife proceeded to drop the part about me winning the collegiate nationals. The discussion that followed was interesting.
"So your a hustler?"
"Werent you worried about getting beat up?"
"Those places scare me"
"Mispent childhood"
all that and more came out of the mouths of the laymen at this dinner, including one guy that runs a thriving business in the Phillipines. I would have thought he of all people would have more of an interest and understand the beauty of pool, but nope not a bit.

Until the greater population who doesnt play pool has a better image of the game, the love of the game will have to be propagated by existing players, because there is no cavalry charge coming over the hill at any time from the general masses. Non pool players continue to view pool as a seedy pastime, played in smoky, dangerous joints where you might catch something. The sad part is that they are not far off, but they see only the surface of pool, just one aspect of a much larger picture. I just wish there was a way to distill the feeling you get when you make a tough runout, or the satisfaction you get when you command the balls to perform in a specific way and they obey. If they could do that it would be a blockbuster seller to the masses. Then poolrooms would be on every block of america and kids would be telling their parents, "I want to be a professional pool player when I grow up" And their parents would actually smile.

Ted Harris is building me a 52" cue with my son's name on it for Xmas. I plan to encourage but not push the game of pool on my sons. Right now there is no future as a pro player in the USA that I can see wanting for my sons, but they will always have their old man to play if they want a game.
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Fatboy said:
pool is dieing, what are you doing about it?
Click to expand...


I tri too suport the tornimants when I hav the time. ;)

I go to all the Hopkin's events(when I'm allowed in) as well as the US Open each year, as well as play in a league, plus play in a regional tour stop sometimes.

In fact, I (along with several friends) have been trying to get people to attend the US Open, as well as meet other forum members and play in a fun tourney during the event here:

http://www.billiardsdigest.com/foru...=showflat&Main=27435&Number=282947#Post282947

Unfortunately, there is only so much you can do.


Eric
 
as far as your friend being 20 and never having played pool... I'm 36, coordinated and athletic. I've never played baseball.

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lol.

but seriously I don't believe the sky is falling...

and what I give back, I have brought a dozen or so players into the game that are very good friends who had little interest in pool and are now on my pool team and play several times a week at minimum... I'll also play with anyone for free, teach and offer any little bit of wisdom I have about the game on request, without hesitation.
 
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Beware_of_Dawg said:
as far as your friend being 20 and never having played pool... I'm 36, coordinated and athletic. I've never played baseball.

discuss.
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I am 28 and have never played pool. After reading about it for years on here, I think I may give it a try sometime soon.
 
Fatboy, Jay Helfert just attended my tournament at Danny K's that featured Rotation Continuous. You might ask him what he thinks about this new format for a game.

That's what I'm doing about it. If this game catches on it would be a spectacular spectator sport.

I just need more players to give it a try. All the pros that try it, like it better than all the other rotation type games, including nine ball, ten ball and rotation as we know it.

Danny K
 
I promote the game, when i can. If you do a search under my username you will see that I just posted a thread about what wonderful things my local pool hall is doing and asked anyone in the surronding area to come join in on the fun. I live to play pool..well not before my family and work ..but i love the game. I think by checking the forum pretty often we all are doing something to promote the wonderful sport of billiards. Keep it up
 
i give pointers out to the one young player that stops into the pool hall i go to. other than that what else can i do?
 
uwate said:
The other day I was at a business dinner and the discussion of hobbies came up. I mentioned pool and was going to just let others do the talking but my wife proceeded to drop the part about me winning the collegiate nationals. The discussion that followed was interesting.
"So your a hustler?"
"Werent you worried about getting beat up?"
"Those places scare me"
"Mispent childhood"
all that and more came out of the mouths of the laymen at this dinner, including one guy that runs a thriving business in the Phillipines. I would have thought he of all people would have more of an interest and understand the beauty of pool, but nope not a bit.

Until the greater population who doesnt play pool has a better image of the game, the love of the game will have to be propagated by existing players, because there is no cavalry charge coming over the hill at any time from the general masses. Non pool players continue to view pool as a seedy pastime, played in smoky, dangerous joints where you might catch something. The sad part is that they are not far off, but they see only the surface of pool, just one aspect of a much larger picture. I just wish there was a way to distill the feeling you get when you make a tough runout, or the satisfaction you get when you command the balls to perform in a specific way and they obey. If they could do that it would be a blockbuster seller to the masses. Then poolrooms would be on every block of america and kids would be telling their parents, "I want to be a professional pool player when I grow up" And their parents would actually smile.

Ted Harris is building me a 52" cue with my son's name on it for Xmas. I plan to encourage but not push the game of pool on my sons. Right now there is no future as a pro player in the USA that I can see wanting for my sons, but they will always have their old man to play if they want a game.
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I just gave UWait rep if only for the last part of his post. This may be a part of what needs to happen. I will never forget my Saturday nights growing up. Thats when just me and my dad went and played snooker together. I liked snooker just fine as it is so big in the UK, but it was the attention of my father and the time with him that was important to me. As time went by my game got better and now my Dad was talking about how good I was doing at the game. This makde me want to get better, the better I got the more I loved it and the time with the old man. I am in my own SMALL way promoting pool and bringing two of the greatest players who ever lived out to the general public and pool fans across the USA. I am not adding this to show that I am "doing my part" I am telling this because without my Dad, I would not be playing this small part so he is responsible for what I am doing.
If all of us Dads, Uncles, Moms and aunties made a personal commitment to take our sons, daughters, nieces and nephews once or twice per month to play, I think that you will not only bring new life into the game but also build a VERY VERY special relationship thith that family member that they will never forget. JMO.
 
Beware_of_Dawg said:
as far as your friend being 20 and never having played pool... I'm 36, coordinated and athletic. I've never played baseball.

discuss.
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My guess is MOST people encounter the game somewhere in life rather a bar or a night out with the boys. "more apt to encounter it" than someone who is good athleticly but never been attracted to try a sport. Interesting either way.

I always like to see what others across the country have to say about pool and how the game is going. Nice topic.

The way I see it here where I live in Maine is it CHANGING more rather than dieing. I am 38 and have played since I was 13 growing up with old timers in a fishing community and was FORTUNATE to have been introduced to a lot of different games such as straight pool in general and got to hear stories of the OLD way of pool I call it. That is what drew me to the game along with loving it is the history and AURA. From what I see a lot of players or the majority here are league players & have no REAL interest in the GAME/SPORT of pool. The players from ages late 30's on are being overtaken by the changes in the world which includes the game of pool. Not saying young thoroughbreds aren't out there to keep pool going in it's tradition but a lot of the could be's with heart are wearing sunglasses at the poker table. :(

Nice thread I'll be interested to hear from the others.
 
Fatboy said:
I have 2 friends staying here with me at the moment, one grew up with a snooker table and he is a D+ player but comes with some great shots, his dad has a 12' box, he is about 27 and has moved out buit plays once in a while. He is here working with/for me on a marketing gig.

The other guy is 20 and the other night was the first time in his life he EVER played 20 years old and never hit a ball??? That was impossible a few years ago, absolutely 100% impossible to be 20 years old and never played pool once, and he didnt grow up living a sheltered life at all, he is well educated, travelled professional photographer, this kid has his shit together and has never hit a ball. WOW where is pool going??? There just isnt the interest, parents arnt like Jerry Benke who taught all his kids how to play, pool isnt being passed down. its getting passed off.

pool is dieing, what are you doing about it?
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That pretty much says it all... ....The complete opposite of what would be said about many a pool player.

He is un-educated, never gone anywhere two bit hustler that will con you out of your last dollar if he thought he could get away with it...........but he sure can play some pool!!!!

It all boils down to two main reasons that feed each other.

#1 - No future (money) in pool (other than if you are a "hustler"...even then its not much of a "future"

#2 -No HighSchool Programs promoting pool teams becuase students look at reason #1 and take up Golf

What am I dong about it???

I have a table in my house and my 15 year old son has little if no interest in pool (Except the occaisional freinds over and play a few racks of 8-ball)

Do I push him to become a "player" and practice everyday for hours to get good????? Heck No!!! What good what that do for him other than take him away from learing about Computers and Journalism (things that can make him money in the future)

If he devolopes a passion for the game...so be it....if not...so be it.

Pool is not going anywhere It will ALWAYS be there somewhere.......It will always be associated Golf's Hustler factor and the sports factor the same way people view Darts .....Just a game.
 
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