Pros losing Sponsorship

[Nostroke]

Is the industry giving up on Pro Pool? Most Everyone that had REAL sponsorship (not a patch on their shirt or a stick deal) has lost most or all of it.

I dont want to mention any names as I dont think it will help but for example I was talking to a multi time World and National Champion in several disciplines. This man doesnt have a mark on his record. He is the perfect sportsman and gentleman.

One guy of only a few that a sponsor would have no worries about any 'incidents' ever. Yet there he was at the BCA show making the rounds hoping to regain some sponsorship and he was not optimistic. Over the last 9 months he has lost 3 real $$ sponsors.

Did anyone think that pro players would get less respect than
the sad state they were already in?

 

[JAM]

Pool players will gain a little momentum once they are playing overseas on a more frequent basis. I don't see much happening here in the States when it comes to sponsors. However, sponsors in overseas countries seem to favor pool and put up the monies for events.

Brunswick Billiards and Dragon are beginning to look into India as a favorable climate for pool, and we already know Korea is welcoming to pool events as well.

BTW, when is the Qatar tournament that Shane and Johnny are playing in? Is that later this month?

JAM

 

[selftaut]

Is the industry giving up on Pro Pool? Most Everyone that had REAL sponsorship (not a patch on their shirt or a stick deal) has lost most or all of it.

I dont want to mention any names as I dont think it will help but for example I was talking to a multi time World and National Champion in several disciplines. This man doesnt have a mark on his record. He is the perfect sportsman and gentleman.

One guy of only a few that a sponsor would have no worries about any 'incidents' ever. Yet there he was at the BCA show making the rounds hoping to regain some sponsorship and he was not optimistic. Over the last 9 months he has lost 3 real $$ sponsors.

Did anyone think that pro players would get less respect than
the sad state they were already in?

As in Alli's case, they say they are "refocusing their marketing dollars". is a nice way of saying its a loser for them, no return on investment.

 

[JoeyInCali]

Archer lost Olhausen I believe.
Earl lost Cuetec and Olhausen.
Corr lost Viking and Pred?
The way the economy is now, those don't suprise me.
If Diamonds moved to Tijuana, it wouldn't shock me.

 

[Johnnyt]

Don't get me wrong here. I think that the top 100-200 pro players should get a salary from their pro org. But there is no pro org. No org., no sponsers, and with gas and everything else going through the roof it might be time for some of the players to think about getting a part time job or getting out all together. I'm really tired of hearing about the poor pool players. They don't have an org. and it's there own fault. No org. it's just a game and games don't pay *hit. Johnnyt

 

[JAM]

Don't get me wrong here. I think that the top 100-200 pro players should get a salary from their pro org. But there is no pro org. No org., no sponsers, and with gas and everything else going through the roof it might be time for some of the players to think about getting a part time job or getting out all together. I'm really tired of hearing about the poor pool players. They don't have an org. and it's there own fault. No org. it's just a game and games don't pay *hit. Johnnyt

I believe what you have written is already happening. Of course, I'm pretty sure you're talking about the men and not the WPBA. Right?

On a good note, diehard pool fans will always be able to enjoy the Internet coverage of pool events, like SOPCAST, TAR, BCn, Accu-Stats, RunoutRadio, et cetera.

Pool has always been successful as a recreational game in the United States. Though many years ago in the late 1800s, it was covered in The New York Times, you won't read much about pool in today's mainstream media, if at all.

Pool as an American professional sport seems to have one tire in the sand for the men. There is one school of thought that says the male pros themselves are to blame, and there is another school of thought that says the American pool culture is cruel to its own. Elsewhere in the world, male professional pool players are given respect, more so than here in America. Recreational pool, however -- leagues, social shooters, bar-bangers, et cetera -- is not suffering in America and seems to be thriving!

JAM

 

[Johnnyt]

I believe what you have written is already happening. Of course, I'm pretty sure you're talking about the men and not the WPBA. Right?

On a good note, diehard pool fans will always be able to enjoy the Internet coverage of pool events, like SOPCAST, TAR, BCn, Accu-Stats, RunoutRadio, et cetera.

Pool has always been successful as a recreational game in the United States. Though many years ago in the late 1800s, it was covered in The New York Times, you won't read much about pool in today's mainstream media, if at all.

Pool as an American professional sport seems to have one tire in the sand for the men. There is one school of thought that says the male pros themselves are to blame, and there is another school of thought that says the American pool culture is cruel to its own. Elsewhere in the world, male professional pool players are given respect, more so than here in America. Recreational pool, however -- leagues, social shooters, bar-bangers, et cetera -- is not suffering in America and seems to be thriving!

JAM

No I meant women too...but most of them have jobs or businesses already. IMO the women are not doing as well as they were 3-5 years ago. Just do the simple math for the women. The one thing that the women have is an ORG. That's why so many of them do well on their own for exibitions, lessons and use to be sponsers. They get some name recognition from it. IMO Jeanette Lee wouldn't be half as well known w/o the WPBA. Johnnyt

 

[JAM]

No I meant women too...but most of them have jobs or businesses already. IMO the women are not doing as well as they were 3-5 years ago. Just do the simple math for the women. The one thing that the women have is an ORG. That's why so many of them do well on their own for exibitions, lessons and use to be sponsers. They get some name recognition from it. IMO Jeanette Lee wouldn't be half as well known w/o the WPBA. Johnnyt

Jeanette Lee, Jennifer Baretta, Ewa, et cetera, all do well. I do know that a couple of them have an agent.

I have never heard of one male professional pool player who had an agent in recent times. Then again, if they did hire an agent, it would be a tough sell.

When the IPT was happening, Mark Trainer offered many IPT competitors -- IPT members and IPT qualifier winners -- a deal, with him acting as their agent.

Ralf Souquet signed with Mark Trainer, as did Dennis Hatch, John Kuchero, several Filipino champions whose names I can't remember, and MANY others.

One agency Mark Trainer was hoping to work with promoting the IPT pool players was called Athletes First. They have signed up professional baseball, football, basketball, and "juggernaut" (?) professionals.

[What's a juggernaut?]

Here is the website: http://www.athletesfirst.net

They have a very impressive list of sports professionals on their roster, sans the pool players, though.

Here's a picture of Mark Trainer, way over on the far right, taken by Linda Carter. There's some other familiar faces in that pic, too!

Needless to say, Trainer lost a bundle giving monies out to IPT competitors, as today there is no IPT tour. He gave people signing bonuses, some receiving as much as $15,000 to sign the contract, in addition to travel expenses that he paid to the IPT tournaments.

JAM

 

[bfdlad]

Yep the economy has taken it's toll on the Pro players and their tournaments. I am working on so many little things to help put $$ into some of the pros pockets, I have had to really think outside the box to be able to get anything going that does not rely on sponsors. Just wait and see what I have coming up in the next 3 weeks. You are going to see how far outside the box we have to go right now to get any kind of $$ for GREAT players. So I guess what I am saying is that you guys are right, the state of the sport on a few different levels is not great but put that along side the state of the economy and you have some of the greatest players that ever played the game and some of the greatest sportsmen in the billiards industry working at restaurants during the day to make ends meet. It is a shame. Hopefully soon things will pick up in all aspects and we will have another chance.

 

[Johnnyt]

Jeanette Lee, Jennifer Baretta, Ewa, et cetera, all do well. I do know that a couple of them have an agent.

I have never heard of one male professional pool player who had an agent in recent times. Then again, if they did hire an agent, it would be a tough sell.

When the IPT was happening, Mark Trainer offered many IPT competitors -- IPT members and IPT qualifier winners -- a deal, with him acting as their agent.

Ralf Souquet signed with Mark Trainer, as did Dennis Hatch, John Kuchero, several Filipino champions whose names I can't remember, and MANY others.

One agency Mark Trainer was hoping to work with promoting the IPT pool players was called Athletes First. They have signed up professional baseball, football, basketball, and "juggernaut" (?) professionals.

[What's a juggernaut?]

Here is the website: http://www.athletesfirst.net

They have a very impressive list of sports professionals on their roster, sans the pool players, though.

Here's a picture of Mark Trainer, way over on the far right, taken by Linda Carter. There's some other familiar faces in that pic, too!

Needless to say, Trainer lost a bundle giving monies out to IPT competitors, as today there is no IPT tour. He gave people signing bonuses, some receiving as much as $15,000 to sign the contract, in addition to travel expenses that he paid to the IPT tournaments.

JAM

I know some of the women have agents ,very few, maybe 6. You don't really think they would have a good agent w/o the WPBA showcasing them on TV do you?

As far as Mark, he is a businessman that took a risk on the IPT. Like a lot of others he got burnt in the end. I do believe that was the closest pool ever came to the bigtime though...it's a shame he started it too big. Johnnyt

 

[JAM]

I know some of the women have agents ,very few, maybe 6. You don't really think they would have a good agent w/o the WPBA showcasing them on TV do you?

As far as Mark, he is a businessman that took a risk on the IPT. Like a lot of others he got burnt in the end. I do believe that was the closest pool ever came to the bigtime though...it's a shame he started it too big. Johnnyt

I agree. The thing is the agent works for the WPBA players who have one. Every now and then I read about Jennifer having an appearance on a radio/TV show. I saw Jeanette Lee on the Kardashians reality show on A&E in a brief shot at a party. She did not have a speaking role, but she was there at a party with a pool table.

So the lady pros do have some name-brand recognition in mainstream media, though not as much as pro players do in, say, Philippines. There, pool players are front-page news. Here in the States, you can't even get the local news stations to cover pool. They believe that pool is not a sport, as in their eyes it is a recreational game.

Here's Jeanette and Rapper Chamillionaire! I wonder how much Jeanette got paid for playing pool with the party goers!

JAM

ETA: The party was Vitaminwater Sponsors The Big Easy Billiards Bash and Afterparty with Shaquille O'Neal and Reggie Bush February 15, 2008 - Hilton New Orleans Riverside
New Orleans, LA United States

 

[lodini]

Is the industry giving up on Pro Pool? Most Everyone that had REAL sponsorship (not a patch on their shirt or a stick deal) has lost most or all of it.

I dont want to mention any names as I dont think it will help but for example I was talking to a multi time World and National Champion in several disciplines. This man doesnt have a mark on his record. He is the perfect sportsman and gentleman.

One guy of only a few that a sponsor would have no worries about any 'incidents' ever. Yet there he was at the BCA show making the rounds hoping to regain some sponsorship and he was not optimistic. Over the last 9 months he has lost 3 real $$ sponsors.

Did anyone think that pro players would get less respect than
the sad state they were already in?

I know it feels like pool players are getting picked on, but in general there is an industry decline in sponsorships, promotions and marketing efforts. The economy is hurting bigtime and only the biggest companies that can afford to continue major advertising programs continue to do so, but on a smaller scale everyone in sports marketing is feeling the crunch.

 

[JAM]

Holy Pool Balls, I found a link for the Big Easy Billiards Bash with Jeanette Lee: http://www.bigeasybilliardsbash.com/

JAM

 

[NoBull9]

Brunswick picked up Johnny Archer.Don't know $$$ details but he did get a new Gold Crown.

 

[vagabond]

Is the industry giving up on Pro Pool? Most Everyone that had REAL sponsorship (not a patch on their shirt or a stick deal) has lost most or all of it.

I dont want to mention any names as I dont think it will help but for example I was talking to a multi time World and National Champion in several disciplines. This man doesnt have a mark on his record. He is the perfect sportsman and gentleman.

One guy of only a few that a sponsor would have no worries about any 'incidents' ever. Yet there he was at the BCA show making the rounds hoping to regain some sponsorship and he was not optimistic. Over the last 9 months he has lost 3 real $$ sponsors.

Did anyone think that pro players would get less respect than
the sad state they were already in?

I am not a buisinessman but I heard before that a buisinessman expects his product sales to go up as a result of endorsement by a pro player.If it did not make any difference in the sales what is the point in sponsoring a pro ? That is what a buisinessman thinks.

 

[Nostroke]

Brunswick picked up Johnny Archer.Don't know $$$ details but he did get a new Gold Crown.

Really? Im sure the dollars were decent. Brunswick has been pretty generous in my view. Glad THEY haven't given up.


PS-I hope Brunswick included a "no goat-tee or devil look" clause in his contract. Man that thing was hideous.

 

[bfdlad]

Really? Im sure the dollars were decent. Brunswick has been pretty generous in my view. Glad THEY haven't given up.


PS-I hope Brunswick included a "no goat-tee or devil look" clause in his contract. Man that thing was hideous.

The Brunswick deal has not happened yet with Johnny.

 

[Jason Robichaud]

Olhausen probably dropped Archer cause customers might think they cover the table with something that has to be picked off all the time.

Now for sponsoring a pro... A company has nothing to gain from the pro unless they are making the TV matches.
Lets use Tony Crosby for example... great player yet not many out side USA know him. You don't see him on TV often or hear his name. How would a company make $$ by sponsoring him. These companies would be better off putting their sponsor $ into the tournaments and allow free entry for everyone. The ABC custom cue company with banners on the tournament table would get way more bang for the buck than sponsoring Joe Blow that might make a TV appearance. Rather than sponsoring someone for $10,000 a year hold a 64 player tournament with a couple other companies invite the top players and have free entry. Every game you win could be worth $20 or something. A skins bowling type format. They need TV viewers seeing their brand name not a bunch of fellow players at a tournament with very few spectators.

 

[poolsnark]

Not to be a dick, but why would anyone in their right mind sponsor a male pool player. I get it with the WPBA. The women are out making the rounds, talking to fans, signing autographs and are also on TV. The guys for the most part don't do any of this.

The reality of the situation was at the expo I saw Allison Fisher, Kelly Fisher, Monica Webb, Helena Thornfeldt, Angel, Debbie Schjodt and a bunch of other players walking around, stopping by the APA, BEF and WPBA booths, talking to fans, the whole nine. On the guys side, I saw Johnny Archer. Sure, the guys were happy to show up at the finals and talk to each other, but they weren't exactly approachable unless you're a hot chick and looking to score.

If the APA couldn't make their relationship with Allison ROI positive (which is what pretty much everyone is assuming), why would a company sponsor a lesser known, less visible player?

 

[Johnnyt]

Olhausen probably dropped Archer cause customers might think they cover the table with something that has to be picked off all the time.

Now for sponsoring a pro... A company has nothing to gain from the pro unless they are making the TV matches.
Lets use Tony Crosby for example... great player yet not many out side USA know him. You don't see him on TV often or hear his name. How would a company make $$ by sponsoring him. These companies would be better off putting their sponsor $ into the tournaments and allow free entry for everyone. The ABC custom cue company with banners on the tournament table would get way more bang for the buck than sponsoring Joe Blow that might make a TV appearance. Rather than sponsoring someone for $10,000 a year hold a 64 player tournament with a couple other companies invite the top players and have free entry. Every game you win could be worth $20 or something. A skins bowling type format. They need TV viewers seeing their brand name not a bunch of fellow players at a tournament with very few spectators.

I agree. Johnnyt