Pool Popular?! Why?

seymore15074

seymore15074

So what are you saying?
Silver Member
I just wanted to start a thread for my own stand on pool, and it's popularity, television coverage, etc..

You see, thread after thread ask why pool isn't on TV. There is a simple answer, and that is, because it sucks to watch. Even the players don't watch it!

Thread after thread ask why there is no money in pool, even though IF THERE WAS, it would still not trickle down as far as most of us here.

Popularity is something that I do not want, for pool. I like to get away from the masses and play the game that I love. It's ME and THE GAME. I like it that way.


Please, comments are welcome.
 
Part of me does not care if pool ever gets real popular. Part of me does "dream" that pool gets popular.

I (usually) watch pool just for study purposes. I like to see how the players play and try and pick up consistencies between top players.

I (like some others I am sure) hold on to a "small" 2 part dream that pool becomes mainstream and grows to big purses and major popularity like other sports with big paychecks. The other part of that dream is that one day my game develops to a level that could compete in the big arena.......

Currently the way things are going both will happen at about the same time.....:rolleyes:
 
I think pool's biggest problem as a form of entertainment is that they simply fail to define ANYTHING for the audience.

I mean, you watch baseball and there are things that are exciting simply because the announcer tells you it is. Look no further than Barry Bonds and his quest to Hank Aaron's record. What is so exciting about watching a fat old guy hit a baseball for a crappy team? Well, he's about to break the record for the most ever and I can assure you, EVERYONE will be watching.

Pool (both men's AND women's) needs to start tracking statistics. I know with all the preliminary matches that go on, it's tough but it still needs to be done. Here are some interesting questions I will pose to the forum. I'm about 99.999% certain nobody has answers to them and would be interested if it were available:

Most matches/games won this year/lifetime
Most matches/games won in a row
fastest match ever
longest match ever
most missed shots
Longest streak w/o a mistake


I mean, if you're watching a pool match and someone says, "Efren Reyes has shut out his last 3 opponents and is currently on a run of 37 consecutive games won. The all-time record stands at 45", you would have interest in every game played until Efren lost. You would be fascinated with every single shot until Efren lost. The audience would have an emotional investment in the immediate outcome. Pool isn't boring. How pool is portrayed is boring. There's a difference.
 
seymore15074 said:
I just wanted to start a thread for my own stand on pool, and it's popularity, television coverage, etc..

You see, thread after thread ask why pool isn't on TV. There is a simple answer, and that is, because it sucks to watch. Even the players don't watch it!

Thread after thread ask why there is no money in pool, even though IF THERE WAS, it would still not trickle down as far as most of us here.

Popularity is something that I do not want, for pool. I like to get away from the masses and play the game that I love. It's ME and THE GAME. I like it that way.


Please, comments are welcome.
Click to expand...

Unless you're going to have your own table and play by yourself, you're going to want our sport to have some sort of popularity.

Without people interested in the sport, poolhalls won't survive, then we won't have a place to play. Simple as that.

Your desire to keep the masses away is counter productive to your desier to have a place to play.
 
I wish pool were an extremely popular game like poker is these days, for an extremely selfish reason. I have plenty of friends that get together to play poker, and consider it a matter of great manly pride, and worth putting good money on the line, who's the best player among them. If it were pool instead of poker, with the same pride and monetary investment, I'd be enjoying king-of-the-hill status among them, and I'd have quite a steady source of income, instead of donating $40 or $60 to the better players among my friends whenever I play poker now. These guys are D players of the poker world, and I'm a D- player. I'd really like it if they were D pool players instead, and I could turn those tables.

Occasionally someone I know who I didn't meet in a poolroom will admit to enjoying a game of pool now and then, but it's immediately disclaimed that they haven't played in a long time, and get-togethers to play pool never materialize.

Don't get me wrong, I do find the game rewarding just in and of itself, which is why I play. But man, it sure would be nice if all those friends and family members I'm competitive with at work, at card games, at video games, or even on a basketball court, would come get a taste of what I really excel at (I'm not saying I'm a pro player or anything, just that a strong C or B player can drop the jaw of a non-player by running a rack now and then).

-Andrew
 
seymore15074 said:
I just wanted to start a thread for my own stand on pool, and it's popularity, television coverage, etc..

You see, thread after thread ask why pool isn't on TV. There is a simple answer, and that is, because it sucks to watch. Even the players don't watch it!

Thread after thread ask why there is no money in pool, even though IF THERE WAS, it would still not trickle down as far as most of us here.

Popularity is something that I do not want, for pool. I like to get away from the masses and play the game that I love. It's ME and THE GAME. I like it that way.


Please, comments are welcome.
Click to expand...

I think I feel where you're going with this, so let me chime in;

Pool IS popular.
There are no shortage of people who would like to play a game of eight ball. It's also not too difficult to find shooters to fill out a roster on a TAP or APA league in my area. A pool table is the center piece of many gatherings at my home or at a friends house.

The perception of pool is what some people here on the AZ want to change.

IMO, games played on a pool table are viewed by most as parlor games.

Some AZers want pool to be as popular as Football, Basketball, or Baseball. Not happening. It's not even as popular as some second tier sports. Heck, some don't even consider pool a sport, but a recreational activity. I see plenty of trick shot competitions and WPBA events on ESPN. I would say they are popular, to a point, if you want to argue that.

Just some ramblings.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
I think pool's biggest problem as a form of entertainment is that they simply fail to define ANYTHING for the audience.

I mean, you watch baseball and there are things that are exciting simply because the announcer tells you it is. Look no further than Barry Bonds and his quest to Hank Aaron's record. What is so exciting about watching a fat old guy hit a baseball for a crappy team? Well, he's about to break the record for the most ever and I can assure you, EVERYONE will be watching.

Pool (both men's AND women's) needs to start tracking statistics. I know with all the preliminary matches that go on, it's tough but it still needs to be done. Here are some interesting questions I will pose to the forum. I'm about 99.999% certain nobody has answers to them and would be interested if it were available:

Most matches/games won this year/lifetime
Most matches/games won in a row
fastest match ever
longest match ever
most missed shots
Longest streak w/o a mistake


I mean, if you're watching a pool match and someone says, "Efren Reyes has shut out his last 3 opponents and is currently on a run of 37 consecutive games won. The all-time record stands at 45", you would have interest in every game played until Efren lost. You would be fascinated with every single shot until Efren lost. The audience would have an emotional investment in the immediate outcome. Pool isn't boring. How pool is portrayed is boring. There's a difference.
Click to expand...

I think you may well be onto something there. I'm actually quite shocked that statistics like that aren't mentioned!
 
seymore15074 said:
I just wanted to start a thread for my own stand on pool, and it's popularity, television coverage, etc..

You see, thread after thread ask why pool isn't on TV. There is a simple answer, and that is, because it sucks to watch. Even the players don't watch it!

Thread after thread ask why there is no money in pool, even though IF THERE WAS, it would still not trickle down as far as most of us here.

Popularity is something that I do not want, for pool. I like to get away from the masses and play the game that I love. It's ME and THE GAME. I like it that way.


Please, comments are welcome.
Click to expand...

I'll watch every match that is on ESPN, sometimes more than once. But I would completely understand if people said they thought pool was boring to watch, even if they were decent players. It's not for everyone. I find baseball boring as hell, so those fans probably think I'm even more weird.
 
The fact is that most home pool tables are a social not a competition purchase.

And it is social because personal instruction is difficult to obtain. How does Average Joe get instruction? Neither the equipment suppliers nor the game associations nor the pool halls do anything to raise the knowledge and competence of the public. Instruction books and videos leave much to be desired in quality, accuracy, clarity, and coverage.

Schools, leagues, and clubs introduce kids to various sports and provide instruction. Potential pool players are dragged to the table by friends. And are left to flounder. Most find something less frustrating to consume their time.

And that is unfortunate because you can play the games for the rest of your life.
 
chilli66 said:
I think you may well be onto something there. I'm actually quite shocked that statistics like that aren't mentioned!
Click to expand...

I agree, announcing "this have never been done before" would get someone to at least watch for a minute, and maybe get hooked in the mean time.


Also, I'm not suggesting that pool go away, just that it doesn't get too popular....but then again, maybe I'm just sick of hearing people whine about it. :D
 
seymore15074 said:
I just wanted to start a thread for my own stand on pool, and it's popularity, television coverage, etc..

You see, thread after thread ask why pool isn't on TV. There is a simple answer, and that is, because it sucks to watch. Even the players don't watch it!

Thread after thread ask why there is no money in pool, even though IF THERE WAS, it would still not trickle down as far as most of us here.

Popularity is something that I do not want, for pool. I like to get away from the masses and play the game that I love. It's ME and THE GAME. I like it that way.


Please, comments are welcome.
Click to expand...
I watch pool almost every day, both for entertainment and also for education. It does not suck to watch.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
I think pool's biggest problem as a form of entertainment is that they simply fail to define ANYTHING for the audience.

I mean, you watch baseball and there are things that are exciting simply because the announcer tells you it is. Look no further than Barry Bonds and his quest to Hank Aaron's record. What is so exciting about watching a fat old guy hit a baseball for a crappy team? Well, he's about to break the record for the most ever and I can assure you, EVERYONE will be watching.

Pool (both men's AND women's) needs to start tracking statistics. I know with all the preliminary matches that go on, it's tough but it still needs to be done. Here are some interesting questions I will pose to the forum. I'm about 99.999% certain nobody has answers to them and would be interested if it were available:

Most matches/games won this year/lifetime
Most matches/games won in a row
fastest match ever
longest match ever
most missed shots
Longest streak w/o a mistake


I mean, if you're watching a pool match and someone says, "Efren Reyes has shut out his last 3 opponents and is currently on a run of 37 consecutive games won. The all-time record stands at 45", you would have interest in every game played until Efren lost. You would be fascinated with every single shot until Efren lost. The audience would have an emotional investment in the immediate outcome. Pool isn't boring. How pool is portrayed is boring. There's a difference.
Click to expand...

Actuallly there was a group that started tracking pool statistics...I believe it was back around the time the Camel tour was still running. I am not sure of the name of the group or exactly what statistics were being gathered, but I believe it was an attempt at a start of what you describe above....

Problem was...the tour went away...

The IPT came along and had statistical type information.... I actually reviewed the "Box Scores" as events were happening....

Problem was....the tour went away....
 
Pool is pretty boring to watch. Not a lot of action I guess. To me, it's like watching someone read a book. You either read the book for yourself or you find something else to do.

-Shane
 
BRKNRUN said:
Actuallly there was a group that started tracking pool statistics...I believe it was back around the time the Camel tour was still running. I am not sure of the name of the group or exactly what statistics were being gathered, but I believe it was an attempt at a start of what you describe above....

Problem was...the tour went away...

The IPT came along and had statistical type information.... I actually reviewed the "Box Scores" as events were happening....

Problem was....the tour went away....
Click to expand...


Yes and unfortunately no more IPT and no more Camel Tour. The most watched tour (WPBA) does nothing along with everyone else.
 
I also think the game is just too hard for most of everyone. Some people I try and help I know just won't have the ability or grasp the concepts required to run an open table of 8 ball. So they can not appreciate the top players playing on TV. I really think if the commentators didn't suck more people would watch. I usually just sit there and criticize and cuss out the players and the commentators lol it's funny.

Eric.
 
Gregg said:
Pool IS popular.
...
The perception of pool is what some people here on the AZ want to change.
...
Click to expand...

I think this is a great point and worth noting. Pool is like soccer in this regard - millions of amature players in the US, but they never become fans of the professional game.
 
whilst i can bang on with the best of em about pool not being produced to it's full potential, i still don't know how anyone can say they find it boring to watch. aren'twe supposed to be fans of the game??
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Yes and unfortunately no more IPT and no more Camel Tour. The most watched tour (WPBA) does nothing along with everyone else.
Click to expand...


The WPBA probably does nothing because.

  1. When was the last time you looked at WNBA stats
  2. When was the last time you looked at LPGA stats
  3. When was the last time you looked at Professional Softball stats
  4. Can you NAME a Womens Professional Softball Team
  5. When was the last time you looked any professional Womens stats

Quite frankly nobody cares much about the stats you listed earlier (for Women) because it’s like following the stats of a minor league team or a Golfer on a minor Golf tour.

It is also the same reason the minor (regional) pool tours don't have stats...Not enough people truly care because they know that it is not the absolute best players in the field.

The Camel Tour & IPT could generate the interest.......because they had the best players in the field....

Even though the IPT had "plants" of below top level talent they did have almost all of the top flight players in the field.

(Slight Tangent of Thought) - I heard a rumor that the "plants" of players that had no chance to win were there to generate interest in the qualifiers from people that saw these "plants" and thought "hey I can beat that joker....I better pony up my $2000"
 
BRKNRUN said:
The WPBA probably does nothing because.

  1. When was the last time you looked at WNBA stats
  2. When was the last time you looked at LPGA stats
  3. When was the last time you looked at Professional Softball stats
  4. Can you NAME a Womens Professional Softball Team
  5. When was the last time you looked any professional Womens stats

Quite frankly nobody cares much about the stats you listed earlier (for Women) because it’s like following the stats of a minor league team or a Golfer on a minor Golf tour.

It is also the same reason the minor (regional) pool tours don't have stats...Not enough people truly care because they know that it is not the absolute best players in the field.

The Camel Tour & IPT could generate the interest.......because they had the best players in the field....

Even though the IPT had "plants" of below top level talent they did have almost all of the top flight players in the field.

(Slight Tangent of Thought) - I heard a rumor that the "plants" of players that had no chance to win were there to generate interest in the qualifiers from people that saw these "plants" and thought "hey I can beat that joker....I better pony up my $2000"
Click to expand...


I think you missed my point. I mentioned the WPBA because frankly, they simply get more exposure. Like it or not, they represent pool more to the mass media then the men. To make matters worse, most of the matches they show on television are months, even years old. Try watching a ballgame from a week ago. Unless something unusual happened, if you already know the outcome, it's painful.

Your argument on the whole is correct but not when it comes to pool. Men's sports do get much greater attention then women's sports. However, ask ANYONE outside of the poolworld to name a living pool player and they will undoubtedly name Jeanette Lee, Allison Fisher or Karen Corr. If you tell them about Efren Reyes, Earl Strickland or Mika Immonen, they'll look at you cross-eyed. Hell, most of these guys wouldn't even be recognized in a poolroom standing next to a copy of Billiards Digest.

No matter, the big point I was making is that pool needs to be given more definition. All sports that generate interest are defined beyond the game itself. Every sport that has a following has that.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
I think you missed my point. I mentioned the WPBA because frankly, they simply get more exposure. Like it or not, they represent pool more to the mass media then the men. To make matters worse, most of the matches they show on television are months, even years old. Try watching a ballgame from a week ago. Unless something unusual happened, if you already know the outcome, it's painful.

Your argument on the whole is correct but not when it comes to pool. Men's sports do get much greater attention then women's sports. However, ask ANYONE outside of the poolworld to name a living pool player and they will undoubtedly name Jeanette Lee, Allison Fisher or Karen Corr. If you tell them about Efren Reyes, Earl Strickland or Mika Immonen, they'll look at you cross-eyed. Hell, most of these guys wouldn't even be recognized in a poolroom standing next to a copy of Billiards Digest.

No matter, the big point I was making is that pool needs to be given more definition. All sports that generate interest are defined beyond the game itself. Every sport that has a following has that.
Click to expand...

Actually they won't know Allison or Karen at all...and Janette will be referred to as "that Black Widow Girl"....

More than likely if you ask someone to name a famous pool player they will say Minnesota Fats, Steve Mizerak.....(Or Tom Cruise)... even if you said "living"

I agree that pool needs more definition....but attaching statistics to the womens tour won't do it...

Unfortunatley that "definition" won't happen over night either...It will take many sustained years or growth to create the definition.
 
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