Reminder for Ballbreakers - Tonight!

sjm said:
To be honest, I'm fine with the level of players they chose, and there was, of course, a big luck factor. I'm sorry it didn't work out better for you. Obviously, a really serious player isn't the target audience here, but I still watched with a very open mind and with an air of optimism, hoping for a show that would serve the sport well. If they wanted to select average "league type" players, they made good choices. Nonetheless, what's up with the sharking? Players were talking while opponents shot yet they were competing against each other for $20,000? The message would seem to be that even the average league players won't maintain their dignity if there's a lot of money to be made. That's not a very positive message to send out to anyone who cares about pool. The sharking and woofing would have been fine between racks but not during the play.

To those in TV Land, there really is such thing as pool WITH sportsmanship.
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I think that this is something we as players are conditioned to expect in tournament play, or gambling. The regular person who goes out and plays with their friends does not tend to think sharking as being such an offense as we do. They are usually drinking, not playing seriously, and think that it would be funny if they could influence their friend to miss a shot. Message? I don't think anyone watching of the normal audience will even think about it that much. Sportsmanship doesnt come into play normally with the general public going out and playing with their friends.
 
girlwon1 said:
I think that this is something we as players are conditioned to expect in tournament play, or gambling. The regular person who goes out and plays with their friends does not tend to think sharking as being such an offense as we do. They are usually drinking, not playing seriously, and think that it would be funny if they could influence their friend to miss a shot. Message? I don't think anyone watching of the normal audience will even think about it that much. Sportsmanship doesnt come into play normally with the general public going out and playing with their friends.
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That's an excellent point. It's not easy, however, to think of this encounter as a group of friends getting together for a little fun over the green felt, and believe me, I'm trying real hard to do so.
 
sjm said:
The sharking and woofing would have been fine between racks but not during the play.

To those in TV Land, there really is such thing as pool WITH sportsmanship.
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Yep, in a few of the pool rooms I've been in, woofing like that during a shot will sometimes result in what looks like a Gun and Knife Show.

Beyond that, I do think that this kind of format will appeal to the "average" poolplayer. Don't be surprised if you go to Joe's Bar and Grill in a few months and see players getting ball in hand when their opponent misses a shot. Actually, I DO hope I see that! That would mean that the average recreational player was watching the show and ANY TV time for pool that might bring new players into the bars and pool rooms is a good thing.

Personally, I didn't enjoy the show, although my GF did until the guy tries the 5-9 combination... even she said "Why didn't the Cowboy take the runout? It was right there!!!". I like quality pocket billiards and would much rather watch an old tape of Buddy Hall that I've seen a hundred times, any day of the week... matter of fact, I think that's what I'll go watch now. Kinda clear up my system, ya know...

Later,
Bob
 
What are you guys watching cuz all we're seeing right now is celebrity poker on the west coast?

Timberly said:
Without a doubt the league players will love this. LOL, it's a far cry from watching champions on accustats. I will say this... it gives the C players their chance to shine.

LMFAO... she goes all in on the bet and fires it in the hole... nice bank! LOL
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landshark77 said:
Trust me...I would have rather lounged in front of the TV...no matter how sucky the show.
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Dont know about replays but the show is on every monday night at 10 on the GSN channel.


Brian
 
CantEverWin said:
I'm in California and I watched it at 7. I friend of mine called me to tell me it was on at 10.

Mike
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I should have called you back with my apologies!!!

Even I think that pool needs to be entertaining but what the heck was that.
Someone shuold point the directors and producers to some known action spots and they would find everything they need. Even the bad play.

I will say that I could have watched the first girl that got knocked out play for an hour or so and been okay but instead I got to see the "bitchacuda".

Not one of the players made it lively. Very little trash talk or good betting.

I wonder if they will air all the episodes.

frankncali
 
Sorry guys, I thought it was just plain awful and wouldn't watch it again. I sure don't think it was a representation of pool players. :(
 
Ivory Towers and Pool

I can’t say that I am surprised at the comments being made about Ballbreakers, but I can say that I’m disappointed – about the comments, not the show.

I can’t believe the elitist attitude that I’m hearing. On one hand you bemoan the fact that professional pool can’t get anything substantial going on, and then when someone puts together a venue that gets pool, in whatever format, in the public eye, you badmouth the show, the players, the format, the commentary, ad nauseum.

You insult other players who you think aren’t up to your high standards – “ballbangers”, “average league players”, all said in a disparaging light. Folks, we’re all in this together.

Do you really think that John Q. Public would enjoy watching two pros battling it out, when they have no idea how difficult what they are watching is to accomplish? No, to the general public watching a pool match is akin to watching paint dry. You have to have an appreciation for the game before you can appreciate true skill on the table.

What this does do is get pool in the public eye, increases the chances of any kind of corporate sponsorship and, hopefully, brings new people to the game which just broadens the pool powerbase.

Maybe this isn’t what you wanted to see. Fine, go watch your Accustats tapes. It was entertaining and far better done than the last attempt. The players could play some (sorry if they didn’t come up to your high standards) and the TV rules facilitated the viewers short attention span. It seems that everyone was so prepared to hate this show that, for them, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

With the majority of attitudes expressed thus far, pool will never find itself in the limelight and all the elitists will be left wondering why. Lighten up folks, it’s a gameshow! It’s a good thing.

Just my $.02 worth.

Adios,

Pizza Bob
 
Pizza Bob said:
I can’t say that I am surprised at the comments being made about Ballbreakers, but I can say that I’m disappointed – about the comments, not the show.

I can’t believe the elitist attitude that I’m hearing. On one hand you bemoan the fact that professional pool can’t get anything substantial going on, and then when someone puts together a venue that gets pool, in whatever format, in the public eye, you badmouth the show, the players, the format, the commentary, ad nauseum.

You insult other players who you think aren’t up to your high standards – “ballbangers”, “average league players”, all said in a disparaging light. Folks, we’re all in this together.

Do you really think that John Q. Public would enjoy watching two pros battling it out, when they have no idea how difficult what they are watching is to accomplish? No, to the general public watching a pool match is akin to watching paint dry. You have to have an appreciation for the game before you can appreciate true skill on the table.

What this does do is get pool in the public eye, increases the chances of any kind of corporate sponsorship and, hopefully, brings new people to the game which just broadens the pool powerbase.

Maybe this isn’t what you wanted to see. Fine, go watch your Accustats tapes. It was entertaining and far better done than the last attempt. The players could play some (sorry if they didn’t come up to your high standards) and the TV rules facilitated the viewers short attention span. It seems that everyone was so prepared to hate this show that, for them, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

With the majority of attitudes expressed thus far, pool will never find itself in the limelight and all the elitists will be left wondering why. Lighten up folks, it’s a gameshow! It’s a good thing.

Just my $.02 worth.

Adios,

Pizza Bob
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Very well said, pepperoni man... (although I didn't see the show...)
 
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Eydie Romano said:
Sorry guys, I thought it was just plain awful and wouldn't watch it again. I sure don't think it was a representation of pool players. :(
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Eydie, I tuned in at 10:00 p.m., EST, sitting alongside a pool player, thinking he'd get a kick out of it. When the first commercial hit, he turned to me and said, "Come on, now. Have you seen enough?"

So, rather than fight for control of the remote, I retreated to the bedroom TV, so that I could enjoy the Ballbreakers debut without the constant switching of the channels to check out scores, who's on first and who's on second. :rolleyes:

First off, I really enjoyed seeing Ewa Mataya and thought she was definitely the right choice as co-moderator. :)

The shooters all had personality which came across well. I liked the grandmother and was pulling for her to spank the fellows. That lady had game and was shooting in those long shots with authority! :p

Maybe it's because most of us on this forum have a stronger background and knowledge of pool and all of its associated nuances that we would not enjoy this type of pool programming. The production people are looking to target mainstream America. I'm not sure if seeing a variety of folk from all walks of life talking smack is the right vehicle.

I most definitely did, though, enjoy seeing that money bantied about, $20,000, ironically a much bigger payout than first place will bring at the average competitive event in these times.

I'd like to see a few more episodes before I come to a final conclusion. I did think that one hour was too long. JMHO, FWIW

JAM
 
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JAM said:
I most definitely did, though, enjoy seeing that money bantied about, $20,000, ironically a much bigger payout than first place will bring at the average competitive event in these times.
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I was thinking the same thing. forget the us open...the biggest money in pool is in ballbreakers lol.
 
One thing you all seem to forget is the "average league player" makes up around (a good solid guess) 90 percent of pools business. The APA, USPPA, NPL and BCA are the people that buy the cues, tables, chalk, gloves, cloth, lights, beer, soda and cigs. When was the last time you went to your pool hall on league night and look at the tables. There is usually 20 beer bottles on them with the rubber cue holders holding joss, viking, predator, fury, meucci, helmstetter cues in them. Table time is getting paid as is a huge pot for the nationals. I think the last total payout for the apa was 800,000 last year (at least that is what I remember them advertising). If you were to take a survey of who spends how much money in pool halls and on products and find the median in that group I would not be surprised to find a APA 3 or an APA 4 there. People of that caliber want to get better but still have not figured out that too much beer affects their game.

I thought for an average viewer and even for myself it was more entertaining than waiting for Mitch to make another mistake on the ESPN showings. I believe it did what it was supposed to do... ENTERTAIN. I fould myself rooting for anyone that was going up against the bitchacuda because she was grating on my nerves. The camera angles were not bad and the equipment and presentation were nice. As for the sharking I think it was fitting especially in this format. You get someone with quick wit on there like Kieth, Jim mataya or Bill Murray and you will be sad that it ended in just an hour.

True avid players are the minority. We always have been.

JV
 
Egg McDogit said:
I was thinking the same thing. forget the us open...the biggest money in pool is in ballbreakers lol.
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LOL. I know, it's kind of tragic when you think about it.

HOWEVER, I'm hoping, Egg McDogit, that you go to Buffalo Billiards on Dupont Circle this coming Friday and take a stab at this. I've heard it through the grapevine that quite a few locals, folks we know, will be in attendance.

Heck, I was even tempted to get my sneaky pete out of the closet, but when Mike Davis can give me the 3 and out with all the breaks and I can't get there, I've got cold feet.

Joey Ryan said he might be going to Buffalo Bills this Friday, and wouldn't it be really cool to see one of our own on the big screen?! Especially if they take down the cheese! :D

If you go, bring me back a souvenir, please! :p

JAM
 
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They stole my idea that I posted a long time ago.

Esteban Toledo? Now there's an everyday household name. I agree with CaptainJR's assessment of the 8-ball/9-ball games. Other than the serious players who have a passion for the game, your typical casual player won't sit through a televised match of nine-ball. How about a televised match of bar-box 8-ball? You could include showing the players putting the quarters in the table, side-betting, woofing...etc. This would be more interesting to a majority of recreational players because they can relate to this. And, 8-ball played on a bar box wouldn't be too slow for television. As it is right now, players wear these microphones and you never hear a peep out of them. There also needs to be some sex appeal during the matches, whether it's a busty women racking the balls or serving drinks during the match. Oh, last but not least...Adios Mitch.
 
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