SVB-Fedor.... Texas Open
- Thread starter garczar
- Start date
could be argued DCC and countless other events like this already made that case - for the very top bunch at least. ref racking or tighter tables in pool room hosted events are unlikely. so you either accept that this sometimes happens or go to alt break
Long way to go for a zippo.
Of course. The top players are used to much tougher than this. Everyone was running packages at the Derby City 9ball, not only because the pockets were looser, but because the break box in use was much wider than the Matchroom break box.
This format takes us back to the days when you could be sat down for a long stretch and where defense and tactical play mattered far less. These conditions would be too easy for a major, but I think they are fine for the Texas Open, which has been an excellent event for a very long time. It is no time to change a winning formula.
The break isn’t a “format”, it’s a rule. In events where it’s alternating breaks it’s a rule change, not format
I vote For-Matt 
Well, face palm all you want. Format is single or double elimination, what the races are to that constitute a set, add of a break box or not, time clock or not, all that’s format. Winner breaks is a rule and making it alternating is a change of a rule. Truthfully until the WPA made several rule changes, moving the 9 to the spot was a change of a rule as per the previous rules, the head ball, the 1 racked on the spot, like the head ball in every other discipline.
People wonder why this sport has always languished behind other sports. It’s circus stuff like this. Don’t like a rule? Ok just change it to whatever you like. It’s not just 9 ball, it’s been going on for years in 1 pocket as well. What other sports do this? None, just pool, and people wonder why it’s not taken seriously.
Please. This is not a sanctioned event. Independent events can use any rule set they like, and the Texas Open has been a winner that has captured the public's imagination for several decades now. I like standardization in major sanctioned championships, but what they do at independent events is their business.
FYI, almost every sport regularly tweaks its rules, even at the highest level. Not long ago in major league baseball, there were no call challenges, there was no pitch clock, and a relief pitcher was not required to face at least three batters. Basketball did not always have a three-point shot, and the three-point line has moved over time. In golf, it used to be a penalty to hit the pin when putting from on the green, now it is not. etc., etc. etc.
You sound like Mika after Corey gave him his 11-0 beat down in the US Open Final. That’s where ALL this fuss about the break started that led us to here. Pool is the cruelest of games, you’re not guaranteed an opportunity to get back to the table if you relinquish it.
Watch the YouTube of the 1966 14:1 championship where Joe Balsis relinquished the table and then sat and smoked a 1/2 pack of cigs watching Irving Crane run 150 and out. It’s part of the sport, you know that going in. What’s sad is back then, no one complained. Now, it “makes a case” in some people’s mind that the game should change. I’m of the opinion of people don’t like the game, they should play one they like.
It's because its boring to watch. Why do you think Mosconi is the most watched event of the year, every year
Interesting to see the 2 ball racked in the back in every break. It looked like a few racks SVB had that dialed in to control it to come 3 or 4 rails to park in front of the side pocket. Hope this doesn’t become a thing.
Oh it’s quite evident “independent events” can make any rules they like, it’s been going on for years now Stu, in multiple disciplines. All the examples you provide in other sports were “changes made in the official rules” and then followed.
The WPA recently changed the rule to the 9 on the spot. Prior to this change, it was an arbitrary decision made by whomever ran the event, there was no consistency.
You’re quite familiar with Mike Zuglan and how he’s always run his Turning Stone event. I overheard someone ask him why he was so resistant to implementing changes being used in other events. Mikes reply was “as soon as they all come up with one set of rules, I’ll change to it”.
I know perhaps you see my position as some dinosaur resistant to changes to supposedly “help the game”. That’s not it at all, I watched 2 foul rollout 9 ball go by the wayside for Texas Express over 4 decades ago, for TV, for the good of the game. The difference is the rules changed, and all the events used them. There weren’t some events roll out, and some Texas Express. If this sport is to EVER be taken seriously, a governing body needs to adopt a set of rules that all professional events follow. Exactly how it is in all the sports you offered in example. All pro events the same, pool should be no different. You’re an intelligent man, please tell me you see this. They can make whatever rule changes they want, just pick a set and stick to it.
I imagine to some it may be, to most true pool aficionados, packages in rotation, 5 and out in banks, 8 and out in 1 pocket, it’s these moments that are why they love the sport. I’m not truly a fan of the Mosconi Cup, the whole team thing, bastardized format, lack of decorum on the part of the audience. Most do like it, not for me.
Then again, most American players like bar boxes, not for me. McDonald’s sells a bazillion Big Macs a year, people like them, I won’t eat one. Popularity sells, that’s clear, seldom is it tasteful though. YMMV
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dquarasr
Registered
Pedantic much?
Yours is a well-presented and well-reasoned post. Needless to say, I agree in principle, but the fragmentation that makes such a result improbable is not specific to pool. It exists in numerous sports.
I'm not as sure as you are that the standardization of rules which we'd both prefer would have a significant impact on the fortunes of the game.
I can appreciate unsanctioned events have their own prerogative to set their rules. But the evolution of rules happen for a reason. And the events that don’t follow that progression lose a bit of luster for me. Watching 9-ball or 10-ball where the players are demonstrating too much control over the break is less interesting. This has ranged from formats that allow the game to be trivialized to a broken state to formats where players are only scratching at the edges of that outcome and knocking on the door of breaking the game if all players learn and master the exploit. I like the formats that work to fully minimize that outcome entirely. WNT has don’t the best at it. And it’s just disappointing to see events I admire not learn from that. When the break rules are set to make players strive to pocket the 1 in the side, it’s common sense to also have a rule stipulating something about the position of the 2 in the rack.
Thank you for acknowledging that you see I’m not trying to troll here. I’m just someone that truly loves this sport, all disciplines of it. I feel that those that rise to the upper echelons of it, in all disciplines, are some of the most talented individuals in sport.
To master Rotation games, 1 pocket, 14:1, banks, etc. To be able to shift on the fly to the myriad of different nuances required for the different disciplines and play them at a world class level, is a significant achievement in the time and discipline it takes to be able to do this.
Given this, it’s almost criminal that those of such talents have languished behind the professionals of other sports in the ability to make a lucrative living. In contrast to your belief, I’m of the opinion it’s crucial for standardization of the rules in all professional events for this sport to become what it should be. If for no other reason than the average Joe tuning in to watch it, can understand the game, no matter what event they’re viewing. Just like Football, Baseball, etc. The most watched and popular sports are generally just “watched” by the millions of fans it attracts, most of the fans don’t actually play these sports. To be a presence on TV, other than ESPN 2 at 3 am, the sport needs to appeal to those that never pick up a cue, as well as its enthusiasts.