The Today Show on Sept. 2

[rexus31]

We also have to remember no publicity is bad publicity. Since we are largely ignored-it’s kinda better than nothing, maybe

I respectfully disagree, sir. Bad PR is just that, bad PR. Don't get me wrong. The piece was nice and the Spain family seem like great people who have done a wonderful job raising their kids. I just cringe when they tag a 13 year old as a "pool shark".

From the Urban Dictionary:

To hang this on the kid is an insult.

 

[Quesports]

I would not characterize any one of the members of the JIC as sharks or hustlers. Not a single one.

In fact they are just the opposite and behave wonderfully win or lose.

I am certain a lot of that comes from their parents first and from Ra Hanna as well. He dresses and behaves in a professional manner at all times and is a great person for the players to look up too.

They are the future pros of our country and I am happy to see them behave just the way they are.

Hopefully this is the beginning of the change in mentality for all those involved in pool.

 

[Fatboy]

I respectfully disagree, sir. Bad PR is just that, bad PR. Don't get me wrong. The piece was nice and the Spain family seem like great people who have done a wonderful job raising their kids. I just cringe when they tag a 13 year old as a "pool shark".

From the Urban Dictionary:

View attachment 660163

To hang this on the kid is an insult.

I’d never use urban dictionary as reference. That’s kinda the same thing. Poor form.

Respectfully
Fatboy

 

[ChrisSjoblom]

I respectfully disagree, sir. Bad PR is just that, bad PR. Don't get me wrong. The piece was nice and the Spain family seem like great people who have done a wonderful job raising their kids. I just cringe when they tag a 13 year old as a "pool shark".

From the Urban Dictionary:

View attachment 660163

To hang this on the kid is an insult.

Just an observation here. Does it seem ironic to anyone else here that a member so opposed to pool's reputation vis-à-vis gambling and pool sharks, would feature maybe the world's most iconic pool shark in his avatar? I'm not arguing against your position, rexus, but it does seem incongruous with the image your avatar seems to put forward.

 

[rexus31]

Just an observation here. Does it seem ironic to anyone else here that a member so opposed to pool's reputation vis-à-vis gambling and pool sharks, would feature maybe the world's most iconic pool shark in his avatar? I'm not arguing against your position, rexus, but it does seem incongruous with the image your avatar seems to put forward.

Because I’m a fan of the film (for many reasons other than the storyline) doesn’t mean I condone the connotation. Your analysis is a bit of a stretch.

 

[skogstokig]

I'm grateful for any attention pool gets in mainstream media, especially in USA. Jawz "D'Angelo Spain" is ranked number one in the 13 and Under category of the Juniors International Championship (JIC) run by Ra Hanna. I'm especially proud of him because he's from my area, Washington, D.C. It is also nice to see people of color in our sport.

In the 18 and Under category of the JIC tour, a Greenville, SC, Landon Hollingsworth, is ranked number two in his category and will be representing USA in the upcoming international event. Check him out.

ra hanna seems to be a great guy.

 

[Island Drive]

Think about this.
When you first meet someone, do you tell em ''I'm a pool player''.
If you did, how often does this person, ask more and more quiestions about your game etc. ? When they respond, how often do they then, go on asking more questions.
In life, I never tell anyone that I'm a pool player up front, no matter what level I've played at, till they Know me.
90% of the American Public, have a preconceived opinion of this game through movies.
If you tell em I ride horses, conversation Always EVOLVES.
Just the way it is, till the money, production, promotion EVOLVE.
USA is quite different than the rest of the planet when you say pool.
I just saw an old cowboy movie, gambling, a cue stick snapped and his opponent Knocked out with a cue stick.
All the older movies in the USA that have pool tables generally have a Pool Shark type setting, and it's most often negative.

 

[VIProfessor]

This kid definitely reminds me of where Mahkeal Parris was at that age. And we know what he did!

 

[Island Drive]

If I was to raise my child in this atmosphere/to become a pool player.... here's what I would.
First explain pool life/USA. Take him/her to a pool room in the day/and the evening (more than once) and explain by letting him watch the good and the bad........... I'd show the student what's REALLY going on in this eco system, long before I'd show him how to hold a cue. I'd also show him the movies that were made in the USA during Brunswick's prime years and explain to him ''what he's seeing'' is how most all USA citizens perceive this game.

Having dated SVB's mom years ago, seeing her ups/downs, I know she realized this (lived THAT), and spent the time, quality family time about his pursuit into this World.
Long Live the BLOOMBERGS....8 Ball Express White Chevy van, with the Express logo/tire cover overlaying the spare tire, that was mounted on the back door of this Family van.

 

[jay helfert]

First of all I thought it was a great piece on Pool! I felt it was very positive in the way it featured pool as a family activity, with leagues and tournaments for players to compete in. Being called a Pool Shark is a complement imo. That name connates skill at the game. I have discovered that being associated with the sport of Pool has always been a good conversation starter when I meet someone. Most people I've found are fascinated to hear about a different segment of society then they are more familiar with. And most of them will relate their own connection with the game, either from personal experience playing or some relative/friend who was competent in the game. Almost everyone seems to think they have a little skill at pool. I like that.

A little side note as an example. We had a salesman from Three Day Blinds in our home two days ago. He noticed my wife watching a Filipino TV station and inquired where we met and I told him the Philippines. He then asked why I went there and I responded to work in television there. He then asked what type of construction were you doing? I told him I wasn't building anything, I was working on television shows. That peaked his interest and he asked what type of show, and I told him Billiards. He then forgot all about his job selling us blinds and for the next 15 or 20 minutes peppered me with all kinds of questions about billiards in the Philippines and being on TV there. I told him I was an announcer for pool tournaments and he said "You must be a celebrity!" I told him not hardly, just glad to have a job. I had to get him back on track because we had other things to do that day. He would rather have kept talking about my job then his!

 

[Island Drive]

On a comparable note. I was with a hat maker, his entire life Tom Hirt.
A true cowboy and horse calmer, he worked allot of TV productions in NM/TX and the south over his life.
We were sitting having coffee last week. As the conversation evolved, Tom told the older married couple, that I was a pool player, they nodded and never asked a question about pool, we continued on and talked about horses/hats and their day. Jay,maybe this next generation is looking at our game from a perspective not like what our peers have, blue collar constuction worker Know about the pool table. But still, I would never intentionally have my kid become a pro pool player w/o completing college and growing up FIRST while learning this game. FWIW I never tell people I meet for the first time I'm a pool player, it's never helped/improved the moment/conversation with others I didn't know.

 

[td873]

Awesome! Nice coverage!

 

[lfigueroa]

I respectfully disagree, sir. Bad PR is just that, bad PR. Don't get me wrong. The piece was nice and the Spain family seem like great people who have done a wonderful job raising their kids. I just cringe when they tag a 13 year old as a "pool shark".

From the Urban Dictionary:

View attachment 660163

To hang this on the kid is an insult.

My opinion is that that is a very antiquated definition of the term "pool shark" and that nowadays, in common usage, it merely means you're very good pool player.

Lou Figueroa

 

[rexus31]

My opinion is that that is a very antiquated definition of the term "pool shark" and that nowadays, in common usage, it merely means you're very good pool player.

Lou Figueroa

Problem is Lou, the general public's perception of pool is antiquated (smoky, dim lit room filled with unsavory individuals) so it's in the best interest moving forward to separate from past references that even hint at a negative connotation to shed a better light on the game.

 

[jay helfert]

Problem is Lou, the general public's perception of pool is antiquated (smoky, dim lit room filled with unsavory individuals) so it's in the best interest moving forward to separate from past references that even hint at a negative connotation to shed a better light on the game.

I have to disagree with you here. The old smoke filled rooms have been gone now for decades, replaced in the 1960's with modern upscale family billiard rooms, in the 1980's with modern hip new rooms, and today only the very nicest rooms have survived. There are only a handful of the "old" rooms still in existence. There has been so much "modern" pool shown on television and online that pretty much everyone knows the state of the game, as just another minor league sport, like beach volleyball, table tennis and maybe rugby. We are probably only one notch removed from soccer/football in this country, as far as exposure to the general public. The only support for this old image of pool is people who keep talking about it, like it exists today, and it doesn't!

 

[jay helfert]

On a comparable note. I was with a hat maker, his entire life Tom Hirt.
A true cowboy and horse calmer, he worked allot of TV productions in NM/TX and the south over his life.
We were sitting having coffee last week. As the conversation evolved, Tom told the older married couple, that I was a pool player, they nodded and never asked a question about pool, we continued on and talked about horses/hats and their day. Jay,maybe this next generation is looking at our game from a perspective not like what our peers have, blue collar constuction worker Know about the pool table. But still, I would never intentionally have my kid become a pro pool player w/o completing college and growing up FIRST while learning this game. FWIW I never tell people I meet for the first time I'm a pool player, it's never helped/improved the moment/conversation with others I didn't know.

Perhaps you need to look within. I found most people curious if I told them I have been involved in the billiard industry my whole life, first as a player and then as a room owner and tournament promoter. They never met a real poolplayer before and enjoyed my little anecdotes about that life. I had no qualms about telling them how I had to sleep in my car after going broke far from home, Or even about playing "on ass" after being busted with no money in my pocket. People seem to enjoy stories about the travails others have gone through in their life. That's been my experience.

 

[rexus31]

I have to disagree with you here. The old smoke filled rooms have been gone now for decades, replaced in the 1960's with modern upscale family billiard rooms, in the 1980's with modern hip new rooms, and today only the very nicest rooms have survived. There are only a handful of the "old" rooms still in existence. There has been so much "modern" pool shown on television and online that pretty much everyone knows the state of the game, as just another minor league sport, like beach volleyball, table tennis and maybe rugby. We are probably only one notch removed from soccer/football in this country, as far as exposure to the general public. The only support for this old image of pool is people who keep talking about it, like it exists today, and it doesn't!

Agree to disagree although I admire your optimism. The truth is, the only ones watching pool online or on television are pool players. If it were anyone else, there'd be sponsorship money to be had. If you ask the average person on the street who doesn't know much of anything about pool (most people in America) what comes to mind when you think of someone with a very high skill level at pool you're probably going to get trick shot artist or someone with a misspent youth. You really can't blame them as this is the image the media has fed the general public for decades (for the most part). Hopefully more stores like the Today show spot, the upcoming 60 Minutes spot and the 30 for 30 about Jeanette Lee can begin dismissing the negative image. I'm optimistic the latter two don't give in and touch on pool's negative image.

 

[arnaldo]

My opinion is that that is a very antiquated definition of the term "pool shark" and that nowadays, in common usage, it merely means you're very good pool player.

Lou Figueroa

Agreed, Lou, yet too many folks -- more specifically, on-camera people often with very limited vocabularies and even less creativity -- are unfamiliar with the most respectful, admiring, and perfect term for ultra-talented youngsters who passionately and precociously excel in any discipline . . . whether in sports, science, mathematics or any of the visual and performing arts. Use of this commonly understood term (below) publicly radiates total positivity and accuracy about any discipline, and certainly very deservedly in the context of the one we're discussing:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the Cambridge dictionary:
prodigy
(noun)
Someone with a very great ability that usually shows itself when that person is a young child:
Example of use: "The 16-year-old tennis prodigy is the youngest player ever to reach the Olympic finals."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arnaldo ~ Clearly this young player is a billiards prodigy (as was Mosconi, Efren, Keith McCready, and dozens of others we're all aware of).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

[lfigueroa]

Problem is Lou, the general public's perception of pool is antiquated (smoky, dim lit room filled with unsavory individuals) so it's in the best interest moving forward to separate from past references that even hint at a negative connotation to shed a better light on the game.

Well, we don't know for sure.

But I feel the smoke filled imagery you cite is only in the minds of older folks. I mean, The Hustler came out in 1961 and even TCOM, from 1986, is three and half decades ago. And at least the Scorsese film included a nice upscale tourment scene at the ending. I think nowadays people are more likely to imagine sports bars and those places with pink cloth when it comes to pool.

In any case, today I think the term pool shark is just shorthand for a good pool player and offense should not be taken.

Lou Figueroa

 

[sjm]

Seems like a good kid with a big game and a lot of potential. Yes, there's a minor issue with the use of the term "pool shark" having such a negative connotation, and I don't agree that it's only the old timers alone take the view that serious pool players are predatory creatures symbolized accurately by the shark. That said, maybe pool will never shed this image, so perhaps we need to let it go. Lest we forget, it was the father that bestowed the name Jawz upon the son.

Jawz himself is personable and charismatic and I wish him well. For the most part, I agree with those who suggest that any publicity is good publicity.