The IPT "Hustler" The ture story

[fanthom]

The problem with the sport IMO, is it's too boring to watch unless you're a fan of the game. Take football and hockey for example, you don't have to be a fan to be entertained by watching. The Super Bowl is one of the most watched televised events on tv...because of a.) grown men beating the hell out of each other for 3 hours, b.) the halftime show - Tom Petty in tonight's, and c.) the funny commercials they come out with. Not to mention the cheerleaders. If we could figure out a way to make pool more exciting for people to watch, we might actually be able to do something with it.

You hit right on the nose. If ever, perhaps golf would be the closest 'big-time' sporting event that pool may look up to. Then again golf is a sport for people of means. Golf could be one of the most boring things to watch on TV if you do not have a passion for it. Chess is perhaps the worst and I do not recall any major corporate sponsorship ever to go nuts about it either.

The sad reality is that money paying viewers/audience typically tune in and pay buckoo bucks to be entertained. Sadly though, the definition of entertainment is to have the aura of thrill and excitement. Thrill and excitement, in our modern times, typically borders on civilized violence and/or raunchy insinuations of carnal titillation. If one is to look at history, especially ancient times, the biggest crowd drawers are usually events that have wanton violence, blood and gore. Other than drama, pool is nowhere close to it. At best, it comes close to bowling and darts. For sure, it's one hell of a tough way to eeek out a living.