Pro lifestyle
- Thread starter peteypooldude
- Start date
Huge wisdom here............
you are so right.
As in many professional sports or events the money is in the sponsors. Unfortuanately with pool it seems there is no reason for the sponsors to step up to the plate and really support a particular player financially the way it's really needed.
I think bowling is about the same. The sponsors get by with giving the players small crumbs. And if they get great exposure with only spending crumbs that's all they will spend.
It's just the way it is ? ?
you are so right.
As in many professional sports or events the money is in the sponsors. Unfortuanately with pool it seems there is no reason for the sponsors to step up to the plate and really support a particular player financially the way it's really needed.
I think bowling is about the same. The sponsors get by with giving the players small crumbs. And if they get great exposure with only spending crumbs that's all they will spend.
It's just the way it is ? ?
The exception is snooker , wonder how much Stephan Hendry has made over his career ?
And, when you compare the incomes of our pros with that of other sports it sadly becomes a mere pittance.
Tramp Steamer...and when you compare t.v. viewership numbers, it sadly becomes apparent why it's a pittance.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Correction of previous version of this message
8 752 880 pounds
http://www.snookermanager.com/go.php/50000/obj=5
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http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/general/profiles/shendry/
Career prize money: £6,667,236
Last season’s prize money: £457,149
but he is getting on in years and has problems with long ball potting
but this isn't up-to-date
Hey , thats just prize money:grin:.
So true................
anyone that's been there and done it knows you speak with great wisdom. It's not all peaches and cream. But it sure can be fun.
Half the fun is seeing if you can make enough so you can keep having fun.
If they only knew???????
anyone that's been there and done it knows you speak with great wisdom. It's not all peaches and cream. But it sure can be fun.
Half the fun is seeing if you can make enough so you can keep having fun.
If they only knew???????
Sounds like he needs to "lose a little weight"! 
Thats what friends are for, right.
I imagine you treat all your friends pretty good too. But, do you let them play with your Balabushkas and Gus's?
This is because in pool the EXPOSURE that a sponsor gets is very limited and so the ROI is very low. There are very few opportunities for sponsors to "step up to the plate and SUPPORT a player financially the way it's really needed" because the EXPOSURE that the sponsor needs to JUSTIFY that expense is NOT THERE.
You all seem to think that the companies in the billiard industry are all rich. They aren't and most do in fact sponsor according to their ability in the hope of getting some good return. In a FEW cases that sponsorship pays off and in most it's pretty much charity on the part of the sponsor.
And that's really the way it is.
It's pretty simple math - the bigger the sport the bigger the payday for the best players.
You want a better life for pro players then work to make pool bigger.
Players that play pool for a living have a very stressful life style. Its why many resort to alcohol,drugs or both,i was no exception. Its also why many have no respect for money,so they have almost nothing to show for all the winnings they made.There are exceptions! I can't say for the last 15 years,but when i played it was one of the hardest things to do for a living, mainly because of the life style.It can keep you away from family for months,just one of many things. I would say the majority of the top 10 American players make around the same income as the average middle class family. In hard times on the road,security was having your room paid up for two days, or worse,sleeping in your car! I hated pool the last few years i played, but started back because i wanted to not because i had to. The media is what dictates what sport will be successful. Look at what happened to poker when the media exposed it. They could do the same with pool,but they won't! Isn't there something wrong when the highest paid person in pool wouldn't rank in the top 200 of the best players? I sure don't fault this person,but don't think a man would get the same endorsements reguardless of who they are.I just think there is a double standard in more ways than just this one. Here's a question,how many American players could make a good living playing pool without gambling? Of course this post is just my opinion,and i'm sure most would just like to leave the ugly part out,but sometimes the truth needs to be said. Pool players that make a living on the road live in their own little world that is unknown by the majority!
I agree with you EX.
Another question is what do the pros, the hustlers, and the combination of the two do when the retirement years come along. How many have independent retirement accounts to fall back on? How many have paid into Social Security? I'm reminded of the story of Luther Lassiter. Wimpy had passed away in his home at the age of sixty-nine and eight dollars and some change, which was all the mony he had, was found in his pocket. Very sad.
This was a very good thread and interesting read that some newer posters may get something out of
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Just to give you guys an idea of how tough it is to make it as a pro (financially), I'll relay a conversation a 2-times World Champion and I had at the last US Open.
After he finished 5th-6th, he stopped by the booth wanting to buy a small gift for his son. I congratulated him on his fantastic performance and jokingly said it must be great to be able to "play" pool and make lots of money.
He smiled and said: "Mike, I din't make any money.".
"What, you just finished 5/6th at one of the most prestigious pool event in the world," I said. "You must make at least a few thousand dollars for only a week of work." To which he replied: "I made 4 thousand dollars. But because I am a foreign player, I have to pay 25% tax, 1 thousand deducted. So I only get back 3 thousand. But it costs my backer around 3K for my entire trip to be here, so I make nothing. I played for free."
Only a handful of players make it financially. It's the freedom that the most intrigueing. Nobody to answer to, they can do whatever they want.....
There you go.
After he finished 5th-6th, he stopped by the booth wanting to buy a small gift for his son. I congratulated him on his fantastic performance and jokingly said it must be great to be able to "play" pool and make lots of money.
He smiled and said: "Mike, I din't make any money.".
"What, you just finished 5/6th at one of the most prestigious pool event in the world," I said. "You must make at least a few thousand dollars for only a week of work." To which he replied: "I made 4 thousand dollars. But because I am a foreign player, I have to pay 25% tax, 1 thousand deducted. So I only get back 3 thousand. But it costs my backer around 3K for my entire trip to be here, so I make nothing. I played for free."
Only a handful of players make it financially. It's the freedom that the most intrigueing. Nobody to answer to, they can do whatever they want.....
There you go.
I think it is a simple formula. It's all about TV. Sponsors sponsor to get a return on their investment. If the event is being aired on TV to millions of viewers, those viewers get to see those sponsors' banners, advertisements, etc.. No TV, no mass exposure.
Pool is way too fragmented with minimal leadership or organization. Unfortunately, pool still carries a negative stigma, some justified, some not. Too many pro pool players aren't marketable due to their actions while playing and "off the court". When's the last time you read about two PGA Players getting into a fight in the locker room after the final round?
It's a crying shame frankly. What other sport, with the possible exception of bowling. offers the opportunity to so many amateurs to play in competitive, recreational leagues? I firmly believe with the right leadership and a long range plan, pool could succeed and these incredibly talented professionals could begin to enjoy earnings in line with other professional sports.
Pool is way too fragmented with minimal leadership or organization. Unfortunately, pool still carries a negative stigma, some justified, some not. Too many pro pool players aren't marketable due to their actions while playing and "off the court". When's the last time you read about two PGA Players getting into a fight in the locker room after the final round?
It's a crying shame frankly. What other sport, with the possible exception of bowling. offers the opportunity to so many amateurs to play in competitive, recreational leagues? I firmly believe with the right leadership and a long range plan, pool could succeed and these incredibly talented professionals could begin to enjoy earnings in line with other professional sports.
I'll bet pretty high that Cory has the first nickel he ever made.... LOL.
