Sponsorship

[Swordfish]

I was curious how strict sponsors are on their players. I visited the Great Southern Tour event in Greenville, SC on Saturday and noticed that a couple of players that have sponsors were not playing with their products.

Larry Nevel was using an OB-1 shaft. I think that Tiger sponsors him. Tiger talks about how great the X-shaft plays, and they can't even get a player that they sponsor to use it. Should Larry be more loyal to his sponsor, or should Tiger pay more attention to what the person that they sponsor is using? Or does it matter what players use regardless of who their sponsor is?

Earl was also using the OB1 shaft, but he was using Gulyassy's butt. And someone said that Mike G is a rep for OB1, so I would think Mike G was OK with that.

I don't know if players sign a contract to play with their sponsor's products, but I would think that if a company paid me money, I would be loyal enough to use their product.

S/F

 

[Flex]

I was curious how strict sponsors are on their players. I visited the Great Southern Tour event in Greenville, SC on Saturday and noticed that a couple of players that have sponsors were not playing with their products.

Larry Nevel was using an OB-1 shaft. I think that Tiger sponsors him. Tiger talks about how great the X-shaft plays, and they can't even get a player that they sponsor to use it. Should Larry be more loyal to his sponsor, or should Tiger pay more attention to what the person that they sponsor is using? Or does it matter what players use regardless of who their sponsor is?

Earl was also using the OB1 shaft, but he was using Gulyassy's butt. And someone said that Mike G is a rep for OB1, so I would think Mike G was OK with that.

I don't know if players sign a contract to play with their sponsor's products, but I would think that if a company paid me money, I would be loyal enough to use their product.

S/F

If I were a sponsored player and thought that using the sponsor's product would actually hurt my chances of winning, don't you think it would be reasonable to get the sponsor to agree that I should play with whatever will help me win, and thus help the sponsor? The sponsors pay the player to endorse a certain product. Does that necessarily mean the player thinks the product is the best available? I doubt it.

It's all about money....

Flex

 

[JCIN]

It's possible Tiger sponsors Nevel for their tips or other products, I know of at least one other pro where this is the case.

Honestly I don't think the majority of consumers know or care who plays with what. I mean Alex plays (or did for a long time) with a Schon and I have never understood why the company did not throw him a little something to put the logo on. Probably because they figure it doesn't really matter anyway.

I mean I like Johhny Archer and think he is a credit to the game and a true champion, but I still ain't gonna buy a Scorpion cue.

Question: How many forum members bought something soley for the reason that a pro was sponsored by the product?

Guess the flip side of that is if more people supported the sponsors, the companies would sponsor more players.

Not really trying to make a point, just rambling a little.

 

[John Barton]

I don't know if players sign a contract to play with their sponsor's products, but I would think that if a company paid me money, I would be loyal enough to use their product.

S/F

Then you would be the kind of player who is sought after and rarely found.

 

[John Barton]

It's possible Tiger sponsors Nevel for their tips or other products, I know of at least one other pro where this is the case.

Honestly I don't think the majority of consumers know or care who plays with what. I mean Alex plays (or did for a long time) with a Schon and I have never understood why the company did not throw him a little something to put the logo on. Probably because they figure it doesn't really matter anyway.

I mean I like Johhny Archer and think he is a credit to the game and a true champion, but I still ain't gonna buy a Scorpion cue.

Question: How many forum members bought something soley for the reason that a pro was sponsored by the product?

Guess the flip side of that is if more people supported the sponsors, the companies would sponsor more players.

Not really trying to make a point, just rambling a little.

An image that has remained with me for about 20 years give or take a few is one of Pete Sampras. Pete was at an event and they had just taken a break and the camera focused on Pete. He pulled a marker out of his bag and proceeded to color in the logo on his raquet. I think it was Prince. Anyway, that to me was what a sponsor looks for. Give something back. Do your best to show the world that you are proud of the association and the fact that money in being invested in you.

I can't stand the pros who don't do this. It's a breech of contract and a breech of character.

 

[Yokel]

Question: How many forum members bought something soley for the reason that a pro was sponsored by the product?

I mean yeah, how many of you ran out and bought a Cuetec because Earl got his name on one

 

[JCIN]

I mean yeah, how many of you ran out and bought a Cuetec because Earl got his name on one

Earl and Allison with Cuetech are in my opinion the exception that proves the rule. That they were succesful with the sponsorship is owed to both the quality of the players and there run of championships as well as the longevity of the relationship.

Just out of curiosty who can name 10 pros and their primary sponsor?

I have been to almost every pro event this year and I can't do it.

If we can find the answer to this problem, pro pool might have a shot at paying more than it did 20 years ago.

I think these guys need to take some tips from NASCAR. Begin and end every sentence in an interview of any kind with the name of your sponsor. Thank your sponsor for everything from the sponsorship itself to the fact that the sun came up that day.

Cory is sponsored by Woodpecker cues but you wouldn't know it if it wasn't for Scott Smith. Just a random example of which there are dozens.

Another reason I don't remember sponsors is because the bar for sponsorship is so low alot of "sponsors" slide in on the cheap to push BS or cheap products whos only hope of any credibility is to be associated with a pro player of some sort. You sure as hell can't blame any player for taking what is offered but how do you get past the " Gimmick of the month" stigma attached to some of these products?

Like said just rambling here. I wish I had the answer.

 

[Railbird Hero]

I don't know if players sign a contract to play with their sponsor's products, but I would think that if a company paid me money, I would be loyal enough to use their product.

S/F

I agree with you. You sponsor me and I am going to use and promote your products. I will learn the Pros and Cons and be able to give advice about why the sponsors product is good.

 

[Flex]

An image that has remained with me for about 20 years give or take a few is one of Pete Sampras. Pete was at an event and they had just taken a break and the camera focused on Pete. He pulled a marker out of his bag and proceeded to color in the logo on his raquet. I think it was Prince. Anyway, that to me was what a sponsor looks for. Give something back. Do your best to show the world that you are proud of the association and the fact that money in being invested in you.

I can't stand the pros who don't do this. It's a breech of contract and a breech of character.

I'm not quibbling that those who are sponsored should promote those who sponsor them. That's what they're supposed to do.

However, what that promotion entails might differ from one sponsor to another, unless there is some standardized, boilerplate legal contract that everyone uses. Mark McCormack ("What They Don't Teach You At Harvard Business School: Notes From A Street-Smart Executive") explains in his celebrated book, however, that those terms for top sports pros vary widely.

Thus my question: What exactly is the "breech of contract and a breech of character" you refer to?

Flex

 

[Black-Balled]

It is common practice in pro cycling for a rider to take the frame he wants and put a different (his team's) sponsor's decals all over it. Most folks never notice and the sponsors want winners, so whaddya gonna do?

If I were a sponsored player and thought that using the sponsor's product would actually hurt my chances of winning, don't you think it would be reasonable to get the sponsor to agree that I should play with whatever will help me win, and thus help the sponsor? The sponsors pay the player to endorse a certain product. Does that necessarily mean the player thinks the product is the best available? I doubt it.

It's all about money....

Flex

 

[RBLilly]

Paul Harvey

I think if I were ever to make it to Pro status I would act like the Paul Harvey of pool.

That man won't sponcer anything unless he actually believes in the product. I wish more people were like that.

So I would probably look for an OB-1 sponcer, McDermott sponcer, a tiger sponcer (sniper tips), Instroke sponcer, silver cup sponcer, a felice glove sponcer, cue claw sponcer, and sandman tip shaper sponcer.

I wonder if Wrangler would sponcer anything other than Rodeo? LOL

 

[RBLilly]

An image that has remained with me for about 20 years give or take a few is one of Pete Sampras. Pete was at an event and they had just taken a break and the camera focused on Pete. He pulled a marker out of his bag and proceeded to color in the logo on his raquet. I think it was Prince. Anyway, that to me was what a sponsor looks for. Give something back. Do your best to show the world that you are proud of the association and the fact that money in being invested in you.

I can't stand the pros who don't do this. It's a breech of contract and a breech of character.

You sure Pete wasn't trying to cover the logo with the marker, so nobody would notice it was a PRINCE?

 

[Scott Lee]

I mean yeah, how many of you ran out and bought a Cuetec because Earl got his name on one

Yeah, hardly anybody...Only about SIX MILLION people! That's right, I said 6,000,000...and at somewhere between $70-$130 each, that's a very big number!

Quote: JCIN "Earl and Allison with Cuetech are in my opinion the exception that proves the rule. That they were succesful with the sponsorship is owed to both the quality of the players and there run of championships as well as the longevity of the relationship.

Just out of curiosty who can name 10 pros and their primary sponsor?"

I agree with Justin on this. BTW, by FAR the majority of 'sponsorship' in professional pool involves, "Here, play with my cue...for FREE!"...as opposed to real 'hard money' sponsorship, like Earl and Allison got. You can count on two hands how many American players have a solid hard currency sponsorship, that amounts to anything that comes close to paying their expenses.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[Poolhalljunkie]

sponsors

If I were a sponsored player and thought that using the sponsor's product would actually hurt my chances of winning, don't you think it would be reasonable to get the sponsor to agree that I should play with whatever will help me win, and thus help the sponsor? The sponsors pay the player to endorse a certain product. Does that necessarily mean the player thinks the product is the best available? I doubt it.

It's all about money....

Flex

...............

 

[jayburger]

You sure Pete wasn't trying to cover the logo with the marker, so nobody would notice it was a PRINCE?

sampras played wilson rackets for the vast majority of his career. if he had a prince racket it had to be very early on.

 

[PoolSponge]

I know on this forum there are a lot of golfers. I also know many people here hate to have pool and golf compared, but I will anyway. You pay a pro golfer to play your product...he or she does. No question. Why? They keep tabs about how many events and majors are won with their equipment as a selling feature for the next product line. What's the difference in pool? If I see a player using a certain cue no I won't rush out to buy one, but if you see that player playing well, or perhaps better, than they did with their previous, you may in fact look into that cue maker that perhaps you wouldn't have previously.

If you are going to put your name on a product bandwagon at least use the product. If you need the sponsorship to survive perhaps a future in pool is not in the cards for you. I will never be a pro. I know that. If someone offered me a cue as sponsorship and I hated it, why take it? To make less in a tourney? How many threads have we seen on this site about why there is no money in a lot of events? That sponsors should kick in more or there should be more sponsors? If everyone knows that a pro that is sponsored doesn't use the cue, what benefit is there to existing sponsors and exactly what would the attraction be to encourage more?

They might as well pay the advertising at the pool room or for commercials and get the right message out. In the end, no money returns to the players. IMHO if players want to make real money and they want it to come from additional money added to tournaments from sponsors then those players need to take the sponsors serious or why would the sponsor take them serious?