Pool broke some new grounds when the Bad Blood match between Johnny Archer and Earl Strickland took place. It marked the beginning of players starting to use the internet specifically youtube, to advertise what they plan on doing against a specific player.
That trend might start to catch on, if Dragon Promotions or some of the touring pros decide that they should keep some post match interviews and just post it on the internet. Typical of advertising today is to state the prize money (sometimes it never actually gets paid) and then to state the winner. The post match and pre-match interviews have more value to fan/players because it is stuff people want to know. Even pros have bad days at the table, how they manage that challenge may be worth hearing about.
Two trends have overlapped the organization of the male players into a self run group known as the ABP. And the use of the internet by the male players through AZBilliards or the ABP website/mailing list.
Initially the group is starting out as tech savvy and diplomatic. Reaching out to fans via AZ and negotiating with promoters via legal channels.
The old days of billiards of watching guys shoot balls seems to be ending. A new era of billiards is beginning. The billiards players plan on testifying via webcam or newsletter what the latest developments in the pool world are. It seems to be they are going to redesign tournaments to feel just like another league (which it is a league for very serious players), not another random event with obscure rules and formats. A league that fans and vendors know is not just a money grab, but it chronicles what players are thinking about making the event more enjoyable for fans and players. Some of the most recent post match interviews are about Barry Behrman events, detailing non-payment or delayed payment of prize money. Today the players are letting the billiards community know what the challenges and struggles they face off the table are as well as on the table. Rodney Morris saying he doesn't want to compete in a straight pool event, but will play anyway is typical trash talk, who is he trying to hustle in major straight pool event? The inquiring spectators want to know.
Aside from the failures of Barry, players might be able to get back to focusing on which matchups they look forward to as Johnny did with Earl.
In any case, the future of pool is riding on the decisions the players make. Whether they decide to think big in the IPT style or if they decide to help promoters make better educated business decisions or trash talk about match-ups. The future of pool is being dictated by what the players think is the best for the industry. In the past the direction of the pool industry was dictated by tournament promoters, that direction has led to late payouts and broken promises for more than half a century.
Actions like Charlie Williams and Dragon Promotions or Tony Robles and his NAPA (amateur pool league in Northeast Region) are evident signs that players are constantly rethinking a better way for pool to survive. These contributions are not as large as major paydays, but they impact people on a regular basis, not just a once a year. Even the super-billiards-expo hosted by Allen Hopkins is another sign that pool players are interested in taking more control of their industry. It is also a sign that players would like to retire in the industry they have learned so much about and somehow use that knowledge.
It just seems when a player invests their time and experience to a billiards project it becomes a billiards icon as opposed to some bubble up business hoping to take advantage of lack of competition, like the IPT.
In all situations the new wave of billiard players are helping the community be informed about tournament news, be informed about new playing equipment and providing opportunities to enjoy billiards at a quality amateur level. Even the trash talk the players make are comments that if heard would be stunning offensive like in other sports, where egos are greater than intelligence.
