Sad...

[Fatboy]

I have been out of pool since 94, i have mentioned that on many posts, so that means I havent been to any professional tournments since 93 or 94. I went one day this week to the tournment at the Normandy Casino here in LA and is was depressing, only 4 tables, and 10K first place, with stupid alternating breaks rule. One of my friends is a champion who playied in it and wow thats a tough road to the 10 dimes for anyone, there was hardly anyone watching it, one vendor table set up to sell cues and video etc.

I heard that pool was hurting but man I didnt realize it was this bad, 10 dimes these days isnt what it was 15 years ago, And man just to cash in that tournment you had to beat alot of world champions. There wasnt much action on the rail, is everyone scared to bet nowdays? I remember going to tournments with Billy Incardona walking around with a tablet and pencil booking action etc, lots of vendors etc. Sure the tournments were just as hard to win, you have to beat alot of top players to make it worth while but $10,000 aint what it was. Perhaps poker put a dent in pool, you would think with all the world champions there there would be alot of spectators, did the rail birds die?

I truely hope things turn around soon, it cant get much worse, whats next a tournment with 2 tables? Or did everyone switch to the bar box events?

 

[Handsumm]

I have been out of pool since 94, i have mentioned that on many posts, so that means I havent been to any professional tournments since 93 or 94. I went one day this week to the tournment at the Normandy Casino here in LA and is was depressing, only 4 tables, and 10K first place, with stupid alternating breaks rule. One of my friends is a champion who playied in it and wow thats a tough road to the 10 dimes for anyone, there was hardly anyone watching it, one vendor table set up to sell cues and video etc.

I heard that pool was hurting but man I didnt realize it was this bad, 10 dimes these days isnt what it was 15 years ago, And man just to cash in that tournment you had to beat alot of world champions. There wasnt much action on the rail, is everyone scared to bet nowdays? I remember going to tournments with Billy Incardona walking around with a tablet and pencil booking action etc, lots of vendors etc. Sure the tournments were just as hard to win, you have to beat alot of top players to make it worth while but $10,000 aint what it was. Perhaps poker put a dent in pool, you would think with all the world champions there there would be alot of spectators, did the rail birds die?

I truely hope things turn around soon, it cant get much worse, whats next a tournment with 2 tables? Or did everyone switch to the bar box events?

Me too brother. What do you think will revive the game? Another The Hustler or Color of Money?

 

[Fatboy]

Me too brother. What do you think will revive the game? Another The Hustler or Color of Money?

elimanite the internet and shoot all the poker players. then pool has a chance, promotion by destroying the competition is about it.

seriously the problem is there dosent appear to be many people getting into the game, i see the same faces i did years ago, no up and commers, the bangers on friday and saturday nights but at night the same guys from 15 years ago.

 

[DJKeys]

After School Pool-

Me too brother. What do you think will revive the game? Another The Hustler or Color of Money?

I think if we had pool rooms that had after school leagues, there may be a chance to create a buzz about the game for kids age 10 through HighSchool. Video games have taken over all the spare time of a lot of younger kids, and it would be great to have them realize what an involved, precise and technical game pool is. Hand/Eye coordination, learned skill, patience and competition could possibly bring some new lives into the game for the future of the sport, game. I think a lot of parents ( I am not a parent, however) would much prefer to see their child playing pool in a nice environment than playing a video game in front of the computer.

 

[Handsumm]

I think if we had pool rooms that had after school leagues, there may be a chance to create a buzz about the game for kids age 10 through HighSchool. Video games have taken over all the spare time of a lot of younger kids, and it would be great to have them realize what an involved, precise and technical game pool is. Hand/Eye coordination, learned skill, patience and competition could possibly bring some new lives into the game for the future of the sport, game. I think a lot of parents ( I am not one) would much prefer to see their child playing pool in a nice environment than playing a video game in front of the computer.

My little girl is 4 and she has her own little table. Her form is pretty. She has a better bridge than my 26 yr old pool shootin' buddy!

 

[Adanac67]

I too get depressed going to these "Big" tournaments. Back 10-15 years ago all of these big tournaments had a minimum of 128 players and some had to use a 256 sheet. Today if they get 32 it's a big deal.

I also agree that the future looks pretty dim because there are no young players. I went to a tournament 2 weeks ago that I hadn't been to in 5 years and the same 20 players were there. There were 3 players under 30. (I asked). Once all of us middle agers give this game up or die who is going to replace us?

 

[diller47]

I have been out of pool since 94, i have mentioned that on many posts, so that means I havent been to any professional tournments since 93 or 94. I went one day this week to the tournment at the Normandy Casino here in LA and is was depressing, only 4 tables, and 10K first place, with stupid alternating breaks rule. One of my friends is a champion who playied in it and wow thats a tough road to the 10 dimes for anyone, there was hardly anyone watching it, one vendor table set up to sell cues and video etc.

I heard that pool was hurting but man I didnt realize it was this bad, 10 dimes these days isnt what it was 15 years ago, And man just to cash in that tournment you had to beat alot of world champions. There wasnt much action on the rail, is everyone scared to bet nowdays? I remember going to tournments with Billy Incardona walking around with a tablet and pencil booking action etc, lots of vendors etc. Sure the tournments were just as hard to win, you have to beat alot of top players to make it worth while but $10,000 aint what it was. Perhaps poker put a dent in pool, you would think with all the world champions there there would be alot of spectators, did the rail birds die?

I truely hope things turn around soon, it cant get much worse, whats next a tournment with 2 tables? Or did everyone switch to the bar box events?

I mentioned this awhile back...and i believe you are close to the answer and that is...poker..not to demean pool in any way but there simply is no reason to place a $250 buy in to play in a 25k added [ pool tourny]where to win first you have to play 125 world class player to get to the winners circle.while at most casinos that same 250 will get you 2 buyins where the top three places will divide up 70-80% of all buy ins.usually around 7k for a 175 player event.and there is probably 60 % of these players thatr are strictly dead money playing with no shot at winning,barring the ocasional player that gets run over by the deck.which by the way keeps them coming back.also,in poker, there is no subsatntial overhead..i.e ,cues etc. except for the gas it takes to get one there.and no dress codes which some people will argue that the old timers wore tuxes ,and played great which i cant refute.
n e way here's hoping that someday pool will get more players and return to its glory days.