SVB featured on 60 min (dropped 10 hrs ago)

[rexus31]

Shane's mild denunciation of action pool, extremely hypocritical by any reasonable measure, cannot be viewed as anything but an attempt to demonstrate that the top players are buying in to realization of the world of which Emily dreams. I give him a pass here.

I believe Shane was referring to the road player side of things when he was referring to gambling, involving deception and each player not knowing one another's true speed. I think the money matches Shane plays are more challenge matches than gambling. He's playing equally skilled players for a prize fund. It's all pretty above board with no deception involved.

 

[sjm]

They flew me back to New York for this segment on 60 Minutes. I did a six hour interview with Jon Wertheim where I was repeatedly asked about my gambling background and history as a money player (the producers and Jon had read my book Pool Wars). I chose not to go into depth with my answers and instead focused on the progress that had been made in the professional area of our sport. They cut my entire segment from the final show that aired.

In hindsight I could have blown my own horn and given them some interesting stories about my life on the road, but chose not to. I really believed they would see the value in what I was telling them about how much pro pool had changed for the better. My mistake.

Shame, Jay. I'd have liked to hear what you said. Seems that CBS had an agenda and stuck to video excerpts of things they felt supported that agenda.

 

[Rocket354]

That’s the thing for me. The producer had a narrative. “Pool is in the doldrums because of its seedy side.” It’s a tired recycled media take on the sport. Emily certainly was a bright spot in the segment. She at least showed that there’s a side of the sport worth having enthusiasm about. So much so that she had the stance she didn’t care about the gambling because she’s more interested in the elevating the professional side to the point the players wont need it anyway. And even that seemed to run contrary to the dire narrative of pool the producer was trying to paint. Emily had it right. Pool doesn’t need a pity party on national television. It needs a celebration. This guy probably hurt pool more than he helped.

I disagree with the idea that pool's seedy side shouldn't be addressed. Literally any time I tell someone who isn't a pool player about my pool hobby I get some or all of:

"Ever have your thumbs broken?"

"Do you hustle people?"

"Ever get into a bar brawl?"

Etc, etc.

Due largely to media/movies, the perception of pool is one of a game surrounded by unsavory characters and unscrupulous activity.

Any redemption to be had by the sport needs to address those concerns head on. Saying "hey, pool has a bad reputation but it's a legitimate and growing game" is the perfect way to start impacting people's preconceptions. Then, references to its seedy reputation can fade away as the focus turns to the elegant game pool is, and the reputable and family-friendly atmosphere of its professional events.

Pool needs to own its reputation and guide the narrative, not try to sweep its history under the rug.

 

[OldOrvis]

Says Shane doesn't gamble as he plays a race to 100 for 50k lol

 

[briankenobi]

The poker you see on TV is a tournament setting. Yes they are playing a gambling game, but its not the same as your backroom game somewhere. Here is my take on what Shane said about the gambling. To me, having two big name pro players promoted to play a long race over a set amount of days for an amount of money is different that people woofing in a pool room trying to make a game. The stuff the pros do seem like individual events that people promote. There is usually a livestream, paid seating, etc. To me that is different than what happens in pool rooms and even DCC. We saw it in the 60 minutes episode of the interview being interrupted by two random people getting into an argument. So to me, those are two different things.

 

[fjk]

Says Shane doesn't gamble as he plays a race to 100 for 50k lol

"Two-man tournament"

 

[Banger]

Due largely to media/movies, the perception of pool is one of a game surrounded by unsavory characters and unscrupulous activity.

Very true, but, after "The Hustler", and "The Color of Money" came out, the popularity of pool skyrocketed. Those movies were two of the best advertisements for pool, ever.

 

[sjm]

I disagree with the idea that pool's seedy side shouldn't be addressed. Literally any time I tell someone who isn't a pool player about my pool hobby I get some or all of:

"Ever have your thumbs broken?"

"Do you hustle people?"

"Ever get into a bar brawl?"

Etc, etc.

Due largely to media/movies, the perception of pool is one of a game surrounded by unsavory characters and unscrupulous activity.

Any redemption to be had by the sport needs to address those concerns head on. Saying "hey, pool has a bad reputation but it's a legitimate and growing game" is the perfect way to start impacting people's preconceptions. Then, references to its seedy reputation can fade away as the focus turns to the elegant game pool is, and the reputable and family-friendly atmosphere of its professional events.

Pool needs to own its reputation and guide the narrative, not try to sweep its history under the rug.

Fair or unfair, this is how people view pool, and I get the same thing when I tell a non-player that I play pool. Have you made much money hustling? Have you ever not been paid after hustling someone?

Yes, insiders like the many of us on the forum know that this image exaggerates the game's negative side. In the corporate world in which I used to dwell, we had a saying that "perception is reality." In rough terms, this meant that you were exactly as people perceived you to be, and that you'd be treated based on those perceptions.

Pool's reality is that which is perceived by the general non-playing public. That's why awfully few parents allow their kids in the poolrooms of America.

Yes, we can all pat ourselves on the back and live in denial, but if pool is to ever be clean enough to attract significant out-of-industry sponsorship, it must change how it is perceived. Matchroom understands this and, as far as I can see, Shane has bought into the dream that Matchroom is chasing. There's a saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," but pool is broken and needs fixing and, at long last, we have a major producer of pool events that understands this.

 

[sjm]

Very true, but, after "The Hustler", and "The Color of Money" came out, the popularity of pool skyrocketed. Those movies were two of the best advertisements for pool, ever.

The Color of Money is my favorite pool movie by far. For some, it got them to try pool and some of them really liked it. For most of the non-pool-playing community, however, it reinforced the negative image of pool of which they already knew, as the movie tended to glorify acts of deception in the pursuit of winning money by hook or by crook.

 

[fjk]

The Color of Money is my favorite pool movie by far. For some, it got them to try pool and some of them really liked it. For most of the non-pool-playing community, however, it reinforced the negative image of pool of which they already knew, as the movie tended to glorify acts of deception in the pursuit of winning money by hook or by crook.

Better than the Hustler? Whatsa matter with you?

 

[MattPoland]

I disagree with the idea that pool's seedy side shouldn't be addressed. Literally any time I tell someone who isn't a pool player about my pool hobby I get some or all of:

"Ever have your thumbs broken?"

"Do you hustle people?"

"Ever get into a bar brawl?"

Etc, etc.

Due largely to media/movies, the perception of pool is one of a game surrounded by unsavory characters and unscrupulous activity.

Any redemption to be had by the sport needs to address those concerns head on. Saying "hey, pool has a bad reputation but it's a legitimate and growing game" is the perfect way to start impacting people's preconceptions. Then, references to its seedy reputation can fade away as the focus turns to the elegant game pool is, and the reputable and family-friendly atmosphere of its professional events.

Pool needs to own its reputation and guide the narrative, not try to sweep its history under the rug.

It's like the "Say nice things about Detroit" campaign. Here's how you address it. When 60-minutes puts a TV camera in front of your face you talk about Mosconi Cup, Predator World Championships in Puerto Rico, FSR having a dream year, Fedor winning over American hearts while banned, SVB on a hunt for a sixth US Open, Savannah Easton playing on the women's professional circuit, Niels getting elected into the hall of fame, Philippines reclaiming the world cup of pool, etc. and nothing else. You don't lie about your bruises but you don't bring them up either. Because honestly in my opinion the things I just listed outshine those bruises in 2023 by a factor of 1,000,000:1 when you actually view pool from the inside.

 

[u12armresl]

They flew me back to New York for this segment on 60 Minutes. I did a six hour interview with Jon Wertheim where I was repeatedly asked about my gambling background and history as a money player (the producers and Jon had read my book Pool Wars). I chose not to go into depth with my answers and instead focused on the progress that had been made in the professional area of our sport. They cut my entire segment from the final show that aired.

In hindsight I could have blown my own horn and given them some interesting stories about my life on the road, but chose not to. I really believed they would see the value in what I was telling them about how much pro pool had changed for the better. My mistake.

There comes a point Jay (you) where there is no need to toot a horn, everyone in the world will toot it for you. You've done enough for 10 pool generations.

 

[trob]

This seedy side of Pool thing is way over blown. No body ever talks about the seedy side of poker, nope its the best game in the world just ask anyboby on TV. No one cares about all the gambling in poker its celebrated, its covered on ESPN and even news channels talk about the winners when the Money won is big enough, so how does gambling make Pool seedy?

Because poker is gambling.. pool doesn’t have to be. I never go into the gambling rooms. I won’t even play in Tournaments that have a Calcutta . Not because I’m a Christian lol far from it. I think it’s everything that’s wrong with and is holding the game back from blowing up.

 

[trob]

Or Golf! Golf, like pool, has a long established culture of gambling. At all levels.

Anybody who doesn't realize the amount of side betting that goes on among professional golfers before and after the actual tournaments doesn't understand the sport at all.

Likewise, it's a rare amateur golf game that doesn't include some form of gambling.

There’s gambling in everything .. the difference is golf doesn’t glorify it like we do In pool .

 

[SBC]

I think pool has a major image problem and it’s not gambling. It’s the pity party. I think Matchroom gets it. If you want to help pool then celebrate everything that is great about it. Most of that piece was an attack on gambling and whine festival on the money situation. Potential sponsors don’t look at that and think, “there’s something special here.” And to parade Shane around saying he doesn’t gamble lacks integrity. You’re not lifting pool up by presenting a fake image. That’s shameful to me.

Gambling is the best part of pool....embrace it.

With an Indian casino in every county, state lotteries and legal sports betting you would think there would be no reason to demonize pool.

People love to hate on pool....always have.

 

[King T]

There’s gambling in everything .. the difference is golf doesn’t glorify it like we do In pool .

Your right, but poker does and theres prize funds over a million all the time and its on TV every night, they even have these sad commercials"if you think you have a gambling problem please get some help" really??? Its like the warning on the side of a pack of cigarettes.., we're going to kill you but it'll be fun.

 

[King T]

Or Golf! Golf, like pool, has a long established culture of gambling. At all levels.

Anybody who doesn't realize the amount of side betting that goes on among professional golfers before and after the actual tournaments doesn't understand the sport at all.

Likewise, it's a rare amateur golf game that doesn't include some form of gambling.

Your right, I have two friends that are scratch golfers and they never hit a ball without something being on it and they play everyday.

 

[King T]

Because poker is gambling.. pool doesn’t have to be. I never go into the gambling rooms. I won’t even play in Tournaments that have a Calcutta . Not because I’m a Christian lol far from it. I think it’s everything that’s wrong with and is holding the game back from blowing up.

The only thing thats holding Pool back is the difficulty in playing it. I dont know you but you sound like someone who puts in time and might know the game, that being said you also know how much easier it is to play darts, corn hole, shuffleboard or any card game.

Pool is hard and if you not competitive it isnt all that much fun...., Please support your local APA we need them!!

 

[benjaminwah]

Tyler posted this yesterday, Hillarious

 

[buckshotshoey]

Has there been any documentaries made about pool players? I mean, like following them Around with a camera for several months Documenting their daily lives?