Just to add my two cents to this thread, I really don't how much improvement we are going to see in the way that pool is presented on television. I agree that a short race to seven is ludicrous, and not a true test of skill. Not to continue to beat a dead horse (espn's coverage of pool) but after seeing trick-shot magic matches over and over and over again it begins to get old after seeing a particular match for the sixth or seventh time. Nothing against trick shots, I enjoy watching them executed by great artistic pool players such as Mike Massey, Paul Gerni, Stefano Pelinga, Andy Segal, and Tom Rossman among others, but as previously stated not when they are continually repeated.
However, I am glad that ESPN is showing pool, and that they will be showing some abbreviated matches from the U.S. Open this year. Even though pool is still considered "filler" this is at least some progress. This is strickly my opinion but one of the reasons I believe pool occupies this "filler" status is the number of serious pool players who have taken the time to learn the game compared to those who haven't. (those who occasionally play pool with friends at a social gathering, party, holiday....etc.
I've tried to get people I know who fall into this category interested in watching pool but I guess they find it too slow and boring to enjoy it as they would a sport such as football, baseball, or basketball.
Pool will never hold the same place in the United States as it does in many of the Asian countries, simply because it is, in my belief, not presently geared toward the demographic who really enjoy it. We don't have live, un-abbreviated pool on a regular basis in the U.S. (at least in recent years) Pool will most likely never be as popular in the U.S. as it is in Asia because of all the competition it faces here, and also, although I don't know if these are the rights words but it seem like in places such as the Phillippines, there seems to be more of a "pool culture" than in the U.S.
The taped coverage of pool on ESPN is presently catered more towards the casual fan of the game, I believe than it is towards people like myself and probably many other members of this forum who could probably watch pool most every day of the week. This is one of the reasons I believe we have seen the shift from straight-pool to nine ball.
Although pool has definately gotten a bad rap over the years, I don't think this what is holding it back as far being seen as a sport that people enjoy watching. Pool probably has a rate of participation among the general public that is close to bowling.
I like watching any televised pool, but in the future possibly we will see more balanced coverage of pool. Pool that serious players/fans of the sport would enjoy watching more, while still taking into consideration the more casual pool player/fan. This is probably wishful thinking but it would be good if it were televised live and a certain time slot/s so those interested in watching it would know when it was going to be on.
Seems like it held your attention though until somebody at least used all of their letters.