Pool Needs More Respect!!!!!!

[billiardcue]

I don't think lack of respect or a history of gambling, hustling, smoke filled rooms, etc. have anything to with it not being either an Olympic sport or a widely televised sport with big name, deep pocket sponsors.

Even though it may be one of the toughest sports known to man to master at championship level, unless you are an aficionado it is boring to watch. It takes too long and there is no excitement. To the untrained viewer world class players make it look too easy. They think pocketing balls must be simple when they watch and it is for a player that has pocketed millions of balls and the majority of shots are only a couple of feet and relatively straight in, no banks, combinations, etc. The average viewer doesn't understand the most important part of playing high level pool and that is cue ball placement. If I made the majority of shots I shoot at with my lousy cue ball control I would look like a wizard.

Most big ticket sports - baseball, football, basketball, hockey, auto racing, boxing - are also very time consuming but they are not slow, there is always something happening and there is physical contact, viewers like physical contact. I know golf is an exception, go figure.

Most big time sports have more than their share of off-beat characters and scumbags and it doesn't hurt them, sometimes it probably helps.

As for big money there are only two ways that can happen, play in 50,000+ seat stadiums charging high ticket prices. Set up a pool table on the 50 yard line at the Meadowlands and try to watch from the nose bleed seats, I don't think so.

The other way is primetime commercial TV. When ESPN2 televises a pool match it averages less than 50,000 viewers nationwide. If you believe Coca-
Cola, Chevrolet or Nike are going to buy ad space at exhorbinate rates for a handful of viewers guess again.

A possible third scenario is a sugar daddy, oh yeah I forgot that has been tried.

This diatribe is just my opinion, I may be wrong.

 

[mnorwood]

I don't think lack of respect or a history of gambling, hustling, smoke filled rooms, etc. have anything to with it not being either an Olympic sport or a widely televised sport with big name, deep pocket sponsors.

Even though it may be one of the toughest sports known to man to master at championship level, unless you are an aficionado it is boring to watch. It takes too long and there is no excitement. To the untrained viewer world class players make it look too easy. They think pocketing balls must be simple when they watch and it is for a player that has pocketed millions of balls and the majority of shots are only a couple of feet and relatively straight in, no banks, combinations, etc. The average viewer doesn't understand the most important part of playing high level pool and that is cue ball placement. If I made the majority of shots I shoot at with my lousy cue ball control I would look like a wizard.

Most big ticket sports - baseball, football, basketball, hockey, auto racing, boxing - are also very time consuming but they are not slow, there is always something happening and there is physical contact, viewers like physical contact. I know golf is an exception, go figure.

Most big time sports have more than their share of off-beat characters and scumbags and it doesn't hurt them, sometimes it probably helps.

As for big money there are only two ways that can happen, play in 50,000+ seat stadiums charging high ticket prices. Set up a pool table on the 50 yard line at the Meadowlands and try to watch from the nose bleed seats, I don't think so.

The other way is primetime commercial TV. When ESPN2 televises a pool match it averages less than 50,000 viewers nationwide. If you believe Coca-
Cola, Chevrolet or Nike are going to buy ad space at exhorbinate rates for a handful of viewers guess again.

A possible third scenario is a sugar daddy, oh yeah I forgot that has been tried.

This diatribe is just my opinion, I may be wrong.

Sponsors have to see that the viewing public is interested in the programming. In order to have a viewing public people need exposure to the programming in question. If kids never get a chance to play or compete you do not have a next generation. Pool has never done much to give the game to kids. Do you think golf, baseball and pro football back youth programs just out of the goodness of their heart????? They do it to market their sport. No one is going to let their kids into a bar. Think about it.

 

[PKM]

Even though it may be one of the toughest sports known to man to master at championship level, unless you are an aficionado it is boring to watch. It takes too long and there is no excitement. To the untrained viewer world class players make it look too easy. They think pocketing balls must be simple when they watch and it is for a player that has pocketed millions of balls and the majority of shots are only a couple of feet and relatively straight in, no banks, combinations, etc. The average viewer doesn't understand the most important part of playing high level pool and that is cue ball placement. If I made the majority of shots I shoot at with my lousy cue ball control I would look like a wizard.

I think that's true, although that's probably true for some of the obscure Olympic sports as well. Heck, most of the guys I play pool with (admittedly just above banger level like myself) probably don't have the slightest interest in watching pool on TV.

 

[snowmon34]

Pool Needs More Respect!!!!!!

If pool wants more respect then it's going to have to EARN it.

Don't tell me anymore stories of the 'stakes-horse' or 'cash-cow' being set-up, the slick trap or hustle, the rip-offs and shady deals.

Pool has made it's own bed. Pool will have more respect when it's worthy of it. Ever wonder why major pool tournaments can't get major sponsorship? No big name company in the world wants their name associated with the corruption. Plain & simple.

Well said.....

 

[softshot]

I did see girls beach volleyball on TV the other day come to think of it. If that was an olympic event, then I stand corrected. My eyes were glued to that. :happydance:

Actually it is and was aired on NBC about 4 hours after you posted this (no lie)
I watched the whole thing

 

[JustPlay]

I am glad, pool is not in the Olympics. Nobody would watch it. Just like most of the events, the crowds are small. The DCC is the closest event to the Olympics that pool has. Instead of cash, just hand out medals. Does everyone here actually care that much about the olympics.

 

[TXsouthpaw]

Its actually a catch 22. Pool cant be "respectable" until it gets money infused into it and it wont get money infused into it until it becomes "respectable"

If pool tourneys paid out like golf tourneys, no on would need to hustle anyone else.

and pool not being in the olympics has nothing to do with pool being played in smokey bars, golf isnt an olympic sport either.

 

[tigerseye]

At one time they considered it....You know it sounds even stranger that they haven't had golf as an olympic sport...Come to think of it none of the more popular sports are in the Olympics....Oh well i guess it is the challenge of unpopular sports....

 

[tigerseye]

Its actually a catch 22. Pool cant be "respectable" until it gets money infused into it and it wont get money infused into it until it becomes "respectable"

If pool tourneys paid out like golf tourneys, no on would need to hustle anyone else.

and pool not being in the olympics has nothing to do with pool being played in smokey bars, golf isnt an olympic sport either.

As far as Golf hustling and Pool hustling goes...believe me there are no differences. I have been on both sides. Except there are a few dollars more bet in golf. I'm sure there are a few guys on here that would vouch for that...

 

[ceebee]

Cue Sports might make it someday. If they participants of this game would call their local newspaper & ask for Tournament coverage, the locals would realize that Pool is being played in their area. This might garner some local interest, then maybe regional, then maybe State, Then nationwide.

If 300,000 subscribers to Sports Illustrated, threatened cancellation, Pool & Billiards would be back on the sports page.

Sometimes you have to ask, in order to be recognized. If the Dallas newspaper had 10,000 people crying about no coverage... coverage would begin.

Here is some Billaird coverag in the World games;
All venue and tournaments are strictly NON-smoking. There is no longer
any tobacco related sponsorship. The onyl drink allowed into an arena at either professional or major amateur venues, by players or spectators is WATER. Carom, Pool and Snooker was played in the 2005 World Games in Duisburg. That was another step on the road to Olympic Status.

India is lobbying strongly for the inclusion of Cue Sports when they
host the next Commonwealth Games. Cue Sports are already included in the Asian Games, SEA Games & Mediterranean Games.

Millions of Petitions, from around the world, would get someone's attention.

 

[TXsouthpaw]

Cue Sports might make it someday.

yeah i think one day cue sports in general might make it. Not eight or nine ball specifally but snooker and 3c and cue sports that are more popular throughout the world.

 

[TXsouthpaw]

As far as Golf hustling and Pool hustling goes...believe me there are no differences. I have been on both sides. Except there are a few dollars more bet in golf. I'm sure there are a few guys on here that would vouch for that...

the problem is that golf still has a good name inspite of the hustlers out there. Whereas pool is defined by our hustlers. No one knows who the pros today are but they all know minnesota fats. Golf is defined by the PGA not by its hustlers but we are.

 

[DaveK]

Pool will be an Olympic sport just as soon as they let in darts, horseshoes, beer pong and cornhole. As lame as some (well, most) of the Olympic sports are, you're never going to see them include bar games.
......

...The darts guys feel just as pissy about their game being excluded from the Olympics too (at least they did in 2006).

It must really tick them off that curling is an Olympic sport. It's actually a bar sport around here and before the smoking ban it was quite common to play with a smoke hanging out of one's mouth and a rye-and-coke by the bench .... you can't actually play with a drink in your hand, it would spill on the ice when you sweep , but you spend half the time just standing around so there is lots of time to drink :thumbup: .... although perhaps not at the Olympics.

<edit, added this to put curling /drinking into perspective >

taken from http://www.canadiansporttourism.com/files/brier2004.pdf :

The city of Saskatoon played host to the event for the fifth time, with Saskatchewan Place being an ideal venue. As a result, the 2004 Brier was a major success, with the highest paid attendance in the event?s history, with a total attendance of 238,129. In addition to the large audience in attendance, all of the draws were broadcast live on TSN, switching to CBC for the semi-final and final draws. Overall, the event was well attended, and provided a considerable economic benefit for the city of Saskatoon and the province of Saskatchewan. For example, the Brier Patch (the 4,500 seat on-site beer garden) saw more than 140,000 visits and sales in excess of $1,000,000 over the nine day period.

Dave

 

[cueandcushion]

I remember when pool was considered for a "exhibition sport" or some catagory that tested the appeal of that sport for the masses. There was concern of "ethics and morals" clauses that all athletes must abide by as well as refrain from stimulants, drugs etc. Also there must be a level of physical fitness associated with people that dominate your "sport". If the top persons are 400lb guys that smoke. It doesnt qualify as a sport, it qualifies as a game. Just commentaries I have heard on sports shows when talking about why some things are accepted by the Olympic Committees and some are not. Heard these second hand from sport commentators, Bob Costas etc so take it for what it is worth. :smile:

I am sure there is a official listing on the IOC website...I am just too lazy to look for it.

 

[B4IFURU18]

curling...

I saw some curling on tv the other day...according to the commentator curling is "pool on ice".that make me puke a little.wtf.:banghead:

 

[OneArmed]

I saw some curling on tv the other day...according to the commentator curling is "pool on ice".that make me puke a little.wtf.:banghead:

Have you ever curled? I curl in the winter, after all, I live in Minnesota.

You would be surprised how similar they are. You can 'throw' rocks with spin, and having pool knowledge actually helps in curling. As the skip, if you know how spherical objects react, it really does help.

 

[Brian]

"Pool Needs More Respect!!!!!!".....Why? The movies, books , stories etc that are most enjoyed regarding pool have a certain sleaze factor that exposes a world very few actually ever get to enjoy.Respect the ability of those that can play the game at an expert level and enjoy the colorful background that makes the game fun and interesting.Pool will not go away because it is associated with gambling, hustlers and rough rooms.Those that appreciate cue sports will remain loyal.A new generation will always be up and coming.Colorful characters will remain legendary and /or controversial.Great debates will continue regarding every aspect of a player, tournament, great shot etc.I enjoy the game for the competition,creativity, playing against my friends, the perfect blend of art and science and those times when I pull off the miracle shot.I have never played pool to be considered respectable.Work is to gain respectability. Pool is a sacred place of serenity.
Brian

 

[jimmy-leggs]

I was watching today and could'nt believe that Bmx downhill racing is an olympic sport.My god,Whats next snowboarding in the winter olympics.OOPS............SORRY,ENOUGH SAID.

 

[sputnik]

I just posted this in another thread...

It is always easy to look at things from within. While it is true that pool has a good following, it is contained within a few selected regions in the globe. It is like asking restaurants world-wide to always have chopsticks as a ready eating utensil because of the number of Chinese in the world.

The Olympic parade will humble even the above average student of geography, and it will shake any claims that pool holds a vast demographic representation.

Looking at the structure of IOC/WCBS/WPA tree, one will see that WPA still needs a lot of conquering to do in over 130 participating countries of the Olympic games. Perhaps the system and the geographical influence that WCBS/WPA thrives in -- perhaps it is the best they can do -- is just not enough for the IOC.

The problem is that there are many rationalizations that we can object with in what are now already integrated in the IOC (like equestrian, archery, etc), and we can do little about the arguments. Pool has to stand in line, and when our turn comes up, we have to show demographics and fairness in how the sport is being conducted.

With the high cost of airfares and accommodations, it will be hard for us to reach out to a Micronesian pool whiz to join qualifiers, even with efforts to have him brought by his government. WCBS/WPA will have to find a way to conquer virgin areas. All these sanction fees paid to a non-profit WPA can probably be put into good use by giving back to the sport with introducing new players from new places to us. We know that it is financially impossible to span the world all at once, but a sincere effort to reach out may matter to IOC. Perhaps technology can be used to assess, qualify, and sponsor new assets into the sport (by video).

We all have to embrace the new participants (like the emerging Vietnamese pool players), develop them and integrate them into our Olympic dream. We should have more Tony Dragos who gallantly represents his country practically all by his lonesome.

I believe that there is now an administrative fatigue in the way pool is being ran because of the lack of dynamism, focus, altruism and accountability.

 

[B4IFURU18]

Have you ever curled? I curl in the winter, after all, I live in Minnesota.

You would be surprised how similar they are. You can 'throw' rocks with spin, and having pool knowledge actually helps in curling. As the skip, if you know how spherical objects react, it really does help.

I never curled, that's true.Looks kind of funny to me. A guy throws a rock and then yells to the others to broom. But its an olympic sport so what do I know...