Scott,
You make some great some points, however many of the issues you have addressed have been addressed before and I will explain why.
Getting Pool into the Olympics is a first step.
Let's look at why the game of pool has failed to get into the Olympics. First of all, this goal is not on anybody's "Monday Morning List". We are a sport that is relying on its own resources and we have shut ourselves off from attracting fans and support outside our very small fan base. We haven't sold the Olympics on pool, and until this is made a priority, we never will. I've said it before... we are so busy trying to win battles from within our sport and our industry that we often get overlooked and ignored. When our industry and our sport gets over itself and stops creating internal strife, then we will get somewhere.
Getting Pool televised nationally on a pay-per-view basis is another step.
This is a ridiculous idea. I am a big supporter of pool, and even I wouldnt pay to watch it on PPV - and I am not alone. The problem we will run into with that is low buy rates. Its not cheap to make PPV's happen and it is money that is better spent elsewhere within our industry.
Getting Junior leagues established in all medium and large cities is another.
(also would like to see billiards as a sport in High schools).
This is a great idea, but we need to follow through on our image campaign. The image campaign is not working at all. Our sport, our game is overrun with people that take, take, and take some more. Very few are willing to give back to the communities or stick their hand in their hand in their pocket or do anything UNLESS they get a return on it. They always look to see what's in it for them. The attitude must be "What's in it for pool?" Until that changes, our sport will have its image and deservedly so. You wont see it taught in high schools because our sports image is linked directly to delinquency because that is all people hear about. I think organizing fuindraisers (like the Basketball fundraiser in Jacksonville next wedensday in Conjunction with the UPA Predator Florida Open) is a step in the right direction. Fund raisers are free positive publicity for sport and our players. IN doing so, we also have to change our appearance. If the media comes to cover our fundraisers and we raise $5000 for charity, yet on the opposite side fo teh room there is a $20,000 stakes game going on, what do you think will make the evening news? If we want respect, we must act and dress like we deserve it.
Establishing scholarship money for college for Junior Players (locally & natnly)
Once again... I cover that above... we will not be marketable to anybody until our images is changed... it won't happen overnight.
Getting big time sponsors willing to put some money is another.
Let me dispell this myth for the one millionth time: THE MONEY IS THERE. The busineses that make up our industry are making money hand over fist. Look at the Asian market for pool right now. It's phenomenal. Theses corporations could care less about professional pool in north america because like it or not, this is not where they make their money. You are asking them to make a big investment with little or no return. There is nothing in it for them and budget it accordingly.
Establish Semi-Pro leagues that have good paybacks for the people that
aren't Pro level, but play real well, are a devoted Poolplayer, and many
count on the money from Pool to help subsidize their income.
Understand that when you do this, you have to cut a piece of the pie (total monies) to finance it. Viking is one of teh only companies that I know f that is supporting the pro and semi pro game at every opportunity. For the most part, the rest of the industry picks and chooses their sponsorship. These corporations are made up of executive boards, and the money invested must show a return. Its business. Their company (pick one) is in business to make money for themselves, not pool players. In return, we must honestly look at what theses players (amateur - semi pro) are doing to support those companies. The point is, vendors are not making money at even some of the better organized and better publicized events that are put on for these players. This is the heart of the problem with that issue. Money is gambled, yet rarely spent at these venues. Until that changes, things will remain teh same.
Gaining popularity, more participation, and expanding a fan base, along
with getting more money into major events is what has to be done before
Pool will have enough money in it.
Like I said, THE MONEY IS THERE. Believe me, its there. The companies making that money have short arms and deep pockets when it comes to promoting professional pool. As far as gaining popularity and a fan base, we can't sell pool to each other, nevermind selling outside our demographic. I have asked everybody I have spoken to within the industry the same question:
"Does golf sell Tiger Woods, or does Tiger Woods sell golf?"
The correct answer is both. Most of Tiger's endorsements have nothing to do with promoting a tournament, or a golf product. They sell the game through his image and his mass appeal, to sell cars, or whatever, and he plays golf while he endorses the products.
As far as participation goes... cobine the APA, BCA, and TAP league systems with the participation on the viking and fury tours and the numbers are staggering. The particpation is there, the support or the motivation to push our game to the next level is not there. Many league players have limited kowledge of professional pool.
Pool is a good sport, one in which men and women can compete equally,
one that teaches you about the sport, and many lessons that can be used
in everyday life in making decisions about your own life.
Yet our image sucks. Who would want to emulate some of our stereotypical knuckleheads that are in our sport for greed and nothing else? This is the major reason we are not taken seriously. We dont take ourselves seriously so why should anybody else?
I urge everyone that loves the sport to support Billiards all they can in
everyway they can to help establish some of the guidelines mentioned
above for helping Pool. Email to Olympics committees, ESPN or other
channels that show Pool matches and let them know we want more.
The rah rah stuff isnt going to work. Its about what we can do for ESPN, or what we can do to make more money for our sport. EVery approach in the past has tried to change our sport from the bottom up. I suggest we start at the top and work our way down. We have to understand that the BCA no longer is the governing body of pool. It hasn't been for a long time. They are an organized group for businesses within our industry. Besides the BCA Tournament every year, they are very rarely involved in professional pool. Professional pool needs its own organization that can work in conjunction with the BCA. The UPA is a great place to start. It is organized and established within the industry, yet there are some that are intent on tearing the UPA to shreds. My suggestion is to take that animosity and the energy that comes with it and join forces to make a difference in our sport. The UPA will grow and become more organized as it grows. As it grows in numbers and support, it will become stronger. If we divide the sport and start a separate tour to compete with the UPA, we will continue to shoot ourselves in the behind.
And I think this is one sport that wouldn't have to worry about
steroid use .... lol
Im glad you brought that up... Vince McMahon has been hedged into steroid controversy for years, yet he perseveres with his product because he is a marketing genius. Im not saying we should market our sport after professional wrestling, but we do have characters and we can have the same appeal to our fan base. I guarantee you that on the Mondys that pool is on ESPN, pool gets its butt kicked to Vince McMahon's WWE in the ratings. There is a reason why we are on at that time... ESPN has conceded the ratings for that time slot. Are we to be proud about that? I'm not. We need to stop repeating what doesn't work. We need to look at entities such as golf, bowling, Pride Fighting, wrestling etc.. and look at how they are marketing themselves to prospective fans outside their conventional demographic. We need to have a plan. Winging it isn't working, folks. We need leadership, organization, and above all else, singleness of purpose - or UNITY.
