Should Amateur Players Have Sponsors??

Southpaw

Southpaw

Swing away, Meril....
Silver Member
With all of the Amateur tours that are out there, do you think a player should be sponsored by a poolroom, backer, etc. and still meet "amateur" status? I have heard the argument that if you are sponsored, then you are not an amateur....What is your opinion?

Southpaw <--------- Made it to 2000 posts :thumbup:
 
I feel you must be a certain speed in order to be considered professional. I have been "put in" a few tournaments and 85% of the board gives me the 7 or more.

When I go to Derby and if someone wanted me to wear a patch or shirt and paid my entry - its $250 advertising (Cheap) and they know it would be someone representing them well.

I think a professional is someone who gets the majority of their income from the game.

My $0.02
 
Southpaw said:
With all of the Amateur tours that are out there, do you think a player should be sponsored by a poolroom, backer, etc. and still meet "amateur" status? I have heard the argument that if you are sponsored, then you are not an amateur....What is your opinion?

Southpaw <--------- Made it to 2000 posts :thumbup:
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I don't think a sponsor would matter at all. You see it all the time with pool league and bowling team players and individuals at league and/or tournament events. I also see it a ton with the JR players that are sponsored by local pool rooms or business. Personally and through the Viking Tours I highly encourage players to seek sponsors.

However, a backer (for Gambling and events) would be a solid sign that the player should not play in Amateur events. But even that is subject to opinion.

Mj
 
Should an amateur be sponsored? NO. Can an amateur be sponsored? YES

Can an amateur receive entry fee, travel and food expense from a pool room or whatever? of course.

Amateur status in pool just means you aren't good enough to compete with the very best.

IMO only the top 10 come close enough to make their living by just being pool players, they also have to be sponsor reps.

The rest are just amateurs either getting backers or gambling to make ends meet.
 
I think the distinction should be skill.

Whether I have a relationship with someone who gives me product/ money/ support to play events shouldn't have any influence on "amateur" status.

(There are) too many degrees of sponsorship to make it an effective point in deciding status.
 
Southpaw said:
With all of the Amateur tours that are out there, do you think a player should be sponsored by a poolroom, backer, etc. and still meet "amateur" status? I have heard the argument that if you are sponsored, then you are not an amateur....What is your opinion?

Southpaw <--------- Made it to 2000 posts :thumbup:
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I don't believe that sponsorship equals professional. My Little League Softball league had a sponsor.
 
I'll take a sponsor and play in every amateur event available. I will wear a Cowboy hat while I play if Texas wants to put me in the box.
 
Tom In Cincy said:
Should an amateur be sponsored? NO. Can an amateur be sponsored? YES

Can an amateur receive entry fee, travel and food expense from a pool room or whatever? of course.

Amateur status in pool just means you aren't good enough to compete with the very best.

IMO only the top 10 come close enough to make their living by just being pool players, they also have to be sponsor reps.

The rest are just amateurs either getting backers or gambling to make ends meet.
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Why should an amatuer be sponsored? Amateurs win tournaments. Might not be the big ones but they win. It probably would ignite the sport some if more of your sporty not champion players had some help. Bigger turnouts means more money. More money means more investors. Just a thought.
 
gpeezy said:
Why should an amatuer be sponsored? Amateurs win tournaments. Might not be the big ones but they win. It probably would ignite the sport some if more of your sporty not champion players had some help. Bigger turnouts means more money. More money means more investors. Just a thought.
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That was my exact point to the person I was discussing this with. Since there are more "amateurs" than pros (like in every sport), having more amateur tournies does help the sport grow and if solid amateurs player can get sponsors to help with expenses, then it will help with payouts and may just help ignite interest. JMO.

Southpaw
 
Southpaw, I'll sponsor you. I'll give you a WHOLE DOLLAR next time I see you.

In return, you will be obligated to sing my praises forever and ever.

:D
 
ScottW said:
Southpaw, I'll sponsor you. I'll give you a WHOLE DOLLAR next time I see you.

In return, you will be obligated to sing my praises forever and ever.

:D
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Cool....149 more people and I have a full sponsorship ;)

Southpaw
 
I'm liking this idea. I think we should do it. AZ send me a shirt and some blank checks! Just kidding but not really. I bet my local pool hall would put me in some tournaments. I'd get one of those advertising tatoos if I get expenses to pool tourny's for life. The worst thing is I'm actually serious.
 
Sponsorship of amateur players is less about advertising and more about community relations. Helping out local sports teams, grassroots activities, etc. is a tax deductible way for companies to get in good with the community, but isn't really about brand exposure per say. That's why you see a lot of amateur players with sponsors:thumbup2:
 
I am going to look in to getting Miller Lite to sponsor me.........I think I do quite a bit of advertising for them.:smile:



If that works I will try my luck with Hooters and Outback.:thumbup:
 
I got put in the US Open one year. Am I a pro?

My friend runs a company that is shady as hell. He backs me and has paid me out of petty cash to gamble/ travel/ pay entry fees. He says he has Joe Walsh's accountant and it makes $0 difference to him at end of year. Am I a pro?

I don't play but an hour or 3 in a week. Am I a pro?
 
I think if a player has the intitiative to go out and get sponsers then all the power to him/her.

There are many different forms of sponsership a player can get. It may just be clothing(team shirts), entry fees paid or a enough rolls of coin to get a player all the way through a tournament(on paid tables, I know this can add up to more than the original entry fee).

There are all sorts of companies that are looking to get exposure. All a person has to do sometimes is ask.

Sponsership does not equal Profesional player. A person only needs to look at Olympic athletes to realize this. I'm not saying they don't deserve taxpayer funding, but some of these (amateur) athletes have such a sense of entitlement it makes me sick.
 
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Black-Balled said:
I got put in the US Open one year. Am I a pro?

My friend runs a company that is shady as hell. He backs me and has paid me out of petty cash to gamble/ travel/ pay entry fees. He says he has Joe Walsh's accountant and it makes $0 difference to him at end of year. Am I a pro?

I don't play but an hour or 3 in a week. Am I a pro?
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I would base that on your performance in the US Open and other matches/tournaments with other Pros in them.

I don't know you, but just basing that on your post!

The Zim's Rack APT highly encourages our "amateurs" to seek sponsorship. Most, if not all amateur players work jobs or go to school and don't have the income to support playing in a lot of pool events. So sponsorships can help out!

Zim
 
Southpaw said:
With all of the Amateur tours that are out there, do you think a player should be sponsored by a poolroom, backer, etc. and still meet "amateur" status? I have heard the argument that if you are sponsored, then you are not an amateur....What is your opinion?

Southpaw <--------- Made it to 2000 posts :thumbup:
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I think if we're talking just pool here that amateurs should get sponsered for travel and anything else that cost out of their pocket to compete in tournaments. But no salary like a few of the pros get. Johnnyt
 
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