There is something going around in pool that everyone is catching. Once you become a decent player, chances are you going to catch it. It's called Flailing Hand With a Look of Disgust Syndrome. This syndrome's symptoms are usually shown when a player breaks the balls and nothing drops, or he/she gets hooked on the lowest ball. Its like the break works perfectly for everyone else except that person at that particular time. Forget about the other racks where they had an open shot on the 1 with a cosmo layout, but on this rack, they have to flail their hands in the air and glare at the table in disgust. Even the players with the best etiquette, such as Efren Reyes have been known to show signs of this syndrome. Another common symptom is a look similar to that of a stone cold killer when a player is at the table. How can anyone be having fun with expressions such as those? The truth is, sure they can be having fun, but to the average Joe viewer, most players, actually, look downright miserable. Golfers look serious too, but when they finish a hole and the crowd starts applauding, they smile and wave to the crowd, and they carry on to the next hole, resuming their look of determination. Pool players don't even acknowledge the crowd after they've won a rack. They walk back to their chair with the audience cheering, and the player which the audience is applauding for won't even make eye contact with anyone, much less acknowledge their cheering him/her on. Most pool players on TV look so miserable It's not surprising the game is not popular on TV. Maybe the huge prize purses in the upcomming IPT will bring out some color in some of the players. If not, they will continue to be miserable, and so will the TV viewers, who will change the channel as a result.
Pool Sure as Hell Doesnt LOOK Fun
- Thread starter LowEnglish
- Start date
have to admit you have a point
The stone face that gives away nothing to a competitor is a plus in competition. I also think that it helps keep your own emotions more level. However, two stone faced players on a table for an hour makes for very boring television unless the watcher is very much into high level pool, which ain't always what is being shot anyway!
I rarely watch the trick shot competitions, not my cup of tea. I was watching one the other day due to a severe lack of anything on the tube, but soon found myself enjoying it so much that I have tuned into several more trick shot competitions. The reason is simple. Animated participants that let you know when things are going good or bad and how they really feel about it. Too, the guys seemed to be enjoying competing with each other.
I also notice that the women who let more show and make the occasional comment are far more fun to watch than the stone faced women and the men who are all pretty much stone faced.
I don't have any answer to what I see as a real issue on TV. I wouldn't want to break focus during a game and of course a player can't disturb another player during their turn at the table. That doesn't change the fact that most pool competitions come off as being as dry as the typical industrial documentary. Pool lacks pizzazz. Playing for million dollar purses may excite other pool players in the audience but I doubt that alone does it for the average television watcher.
Hu
The stone face that gives away nothing to a competitor is a plus in competition. I also think that it helps keep your own emotions more level. However, two stone faced players on a table for an hour makes for very boring television unless the watcher is very much into high level pool, which ain't always what is being shot anyway!
I rarely watch the trick shot competitions, not my cup of tea. I was watching one the other day due to a severe lack of anything on the tube, but soon found myself enjoying it so much that I have tuned into several more trick shot competitions. The reason is simple. Animated participants that let you know when things are going good or bad and how they really feel about it. Too, the guys seemed to be enjoying competing with each other.
I also notice that the women who let more show and make the occasional comment are far more fun to watch than the stone faced women and the men who are all pretty much stone faced.
I don't have any answer to what I see as a real issue on TV. I wouldn't want to break focus during a game and of course a player can't disturb another player during their turn at the table. That doesn't change the fact that most pool competitions come off as being as dry as the typical industrial documentary. Pool lacks pizzazz. Playing for million dollar purses may excite other pool players in the audience but I doubt that alone does it for the average television watcher.
Hu
LowEnglish said:
As far as the pros are concerned, business comes first. This game can't be approached like sidewalk hopscotch. Absolute concentration has won them tourneys in the past, so they know what works. Yakking it up with the crowd doesn't help their cause. Basic humanity dictates that disappointment may be written across their faces. But note that most pros don't show much emotion. Personally, even as an amateur, I'll leave the cheerful fun for beginners and settle for the rewarding sense of accomplishment which comes from a clean finish.
R
Roll-Off
Guest
I see these symptoms all the time. On a professional level, Mika Immonen seems to have the most serious case of flailing arm syndrome. I don't know him in person, but on television he comes off as a chronic whiner. Ralf Souquet looks like he's on death row when he's not at the table.
focus
Part of great pool is supreme focus (of which I never maintain). I agree that it is tough to get the same kind of excitement as other sports with the stone faced look of many players. For many players that look = the focus. I can't remember the countless times I have had a tough draw early in a tournament. I'll bear down and play hard and mantain intense focus, then win or lose I can't maintain that level of concentration into the next match(s). I call it stamina and my non-pool playing friends can't understand that pool requires stamina or that it can be mentally draining. So when I watch a tournament and see someone powering through match after match the fact that they are winning = supreme concentration and while that intensity might not be as marketable as we would like it is essential.
I'd rather see a flailing hand than a string of profanity or punching a wall etc...
Part of great pool is supreme focus (of which I never maintain). I agree that it is tough to get the same kind of excitement as other sports with the stone faced look of many players. For many players that look = the focus. I can't remember the countless times I have had a tough draw early in a tournament. I'll bear down and play hard and mantain intense focus, then win or lose I can't maintain that level of concentration into the next match(s). I call it stamina and my non-pool playing friends can't understand that pool requires stamina or that it can be mentally draining. So when I watch a tournament and see someone powering through match after match the fact that they are winning = supreme concentration and while that intensity might not be as marketable as we would like it is essential.
I'd rather see a flailing hand than a string of profanity or punching a wall etc...
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Everyone is talking about concentration and all that crap, but this point on the trick shot magic stuff is true... they are having a great time enjoying the competition and working the crowd... and their shots do not suffer from it.ShootingArts said:
I know its a log day at professional tourneys, but these guys do need to lighten up. Look at the X-Games as an example of how good sportsmanship and camraderie help the overall ratings and such... These guys are doing out of the world tricks with risk of injury on each trick (talk about concentration) and when they get done showing their stuff they high five and congratulate their opponents if they did a better trick... That attitude is one thing that has made x-games so popular... The all about the money me first attitude in pool is probably the biggest thing holding it back...
Why won't moms let their kids into pool rooms, because of the "Bad Element" in pool halls... if pool players emulated x-game atheletes as far as sportsmanship (in general not just pros) this "Bad Element" feel would eventually lessen and overall the sport would become more popular...
My 2 pennies...
Along the same lines, I get real annoyed when watching t.v. play, and the audience applauds after EVERY shot. When you play a terrific shot, of course cheer away, but when you roll in a 2 foot hanger? it just seems forced. Maybe the ref is urging the crown on? I've seen the announcer do it when they come back from commercial by waiving his hands in the air to get everyone to clap.
That, and the nicknames they have given some of the players are really lame. It's always "the dutchess of doom", or the dark overlord of terror or whatever. Why not, Joe "the nice guy" Smith, or Bob "snappy dresser" Johnson....
Mt point is, some of the names are a little too contrived.....Gerry
That, and the nicknames they have given some of the players are really lame. It's always "the dutchess of doom", or the dark overlord of terror or whatever. Why not, Joe "the nice guy" Smith, or Bob "snappy dresser" Johnson....
Mt point is, some of the names are a little too contrived.....Gerry
Its a combination of things that are wrong with watching pool on T.V. The players are way too focused on just playing.I remember Minnesota fats playing and laughing it up with the crowd Mosconi showing anger and also commenting on some of the shots he was making.The older pros knew how to draw in a crowd.This seems to be a lost art with the players today.Look at Earl,love him or hate him he makes it interesting.The dark names are definitly too contrived.
The color commentators dont give colorfull backround info about the players,why they are not professional commentators who do their homework and know stories and how a player got to this point.
You need to feel like you know the players personally so you can root ofr or against.There are a lot of other things that can be tweaked.
The color commentators dont give colorfull backround info about the players,why they are not professional commentators who do their homework and know stories and how a player got to this point.
You need to feel like you know the players personally so you can root ofr or against.There are a lot of other things that can be tweaked.
Gerry said:
You must really freak out when the crowd applauds the extra point at a football game, a 99% proposition. The reason they cheer is because it advances the cause of their favorite team, and that, in all sports, is plenty enough reason to cheer. The pocketing of even the simplest shot, similarly, advances the cause of that player, and anyone who wants to applaud, because they are joyed anytime their favorite player does anything to advance the cause of victory, should applaud. Pool needs more fans like that, not fewer.
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LowEnglish said:
LE,
You are SO CORRECT!!! This I believe is the exact reason why Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer, Jeanette Lee, Keith McCready, and Vivian Villareal are so popular. Yes, they may also "flail" on occasion, but at least they show enjoyment and animation while they are playing.
I think many people have been brainwashed into thinking that the only way to maintain the high level of concentration necessary for championship play is to be an "iceman" at all times. I think Lee Trevino has shown that as long as you can teach yourself to concentrate during your pre-shot routine and the shot itself, then you can laugh it up as much as you want between shots. Not everyone can do it, but I enjoy the heck out of observing the ones that can.
Yeah ...
Pool players that concentrate on being a comedian more than
a Pool Player won't win very many tournaments. Just let them
be themselves, and almost all will be pleasant at the least.
It takes something deeper than personality to be at that level,
which is not to say that some fun can't be along the way, but
that should be left up to the players and not be imposed on them
just for the audience's sake. They know they are on stage if
being interviewed.
What - would you have a NBA star pause a millisecond, and
grin at his defender before he swishes a 3 pointer as to say,
"IN YOUR FACE".
It is a fine line between being pleasant and professional, as
opposed to being arrogant and a shark.
We already have enough with Soap Operas and Reality TV.
Pool players that concentrate on being a comedian more than
a Pool Player won't win very many tournaments. Just let them
be themselves, and almost all will be pleasant at the least.
It takes something deeper than personality to be at that level,
which is not to say that some fun can't be along the way, but
that should be left up to the players and not be imposed on them
just for the audience's sake. They know they are on stage if
being interviewed.
What - would you have a NBA star pause a millisecond, and
grin at his defender before he swishes a 3 pointer as to say,
"IN YOUR FACE".
It is a fine line between being pleasant and professional, as
opposed to being arrogant and a shark.
We already have enough with Soap Operas and Reality TV.
I had this same experience watching the 2003 Mosconi Cup in Vegas. Everyone on both the European and American teams had their best scowls on. When Rodney Morris came up for a singles game it was like a breath of fresh air, he actually appeared to be enjoying hismself at the table.
HOWEVER - Having said that, I cannot personally play my best game without concentrating fully and taking it seriously. If I joke and have fun and chat whilst I'm shooting I'm sure I'm much more personable, but my game goes to hell in a handbasket. I guess that's why I like watching a player like Morris so much because he can do something I cannot and he makes it look so easy when he's in stroke. In terms of pure entertainment watching the "relaxed" players is certainly more pleasant, but this is a sport and it is not possible to tell players that they HAVE to have appear to be having fun even if this means they cannot perform to their maximum, or to simply bar players who don't put on a good show at the same time as playing a good game.
HOWEVER - Having said that, I cannot personally play my best game without concentrating fully and taking it seriously. If I joke and have fun and chat whilst I'm shooting I'm sure I'm much more personable, but my game goes to hell in a handbasket. I guess that's why I like watching a player like Morris so much because he can do something I cannot and he makes it look so easy when he's in stroke. In terms of pure entertainment watching the "relaxed" players is certainly more pleasant, but this is a sport and it is not possible to tell players that they HAVE to have appear to be having fun even if this means they cannot perform to their maximum, or to simply bar players who don't put on a good show at the same time as playing a good game.
Maybe it was fun to watch the old school players because alot of them were sponsored by Brunswick or whomever, and they did alot of exhibitions. I"m sure they had to develope a good feel for the audience and keep them into what was going on while running 100. So I guess that part of thier game just flowed into match play, and maybe made them feel more comfortable....what do you think?.......Gerry
Gerry said:
You make some very good points here, Gerry. I think another contributing factor is that many of the old timers counted pool as their hobby, used to supplement their income in other pursuits. Even some of the great ones worked full time back then. Irving Crane had a car dealership, Steve Mizerak was a seventh grade school teacher. Two time US Open winner Tom Jennings was a college professor. Many of the pros back then didn't rely on pool for their entire income, and I think it made them looser and more personable.