The Today Show on Sept. 2

[dardusm]

Meh about the pool shark reference. His nickname is after the biggest and meanest shark of them all This sport will thrive when you can create audiences that watch it. In all of the years of being around the game, I'm more optimistic now than ever before with Matchroom, CSI, and Predator leading the way promoting the sport.

The Color of Money which really didn't shine a positive light around the game, was huge in popularizing it as was it's predecessor The Hustler. Pool needs to captivate the audience to become mainstream. How do you that? Is it possible? I think so. just looking across the ocean on how snooker does it. They sell the players themselves. That's the product. The superstars, the underdogs, etc.

Add a little betting on the matches then you have the recipe for growing the audience and the prize pool and endorsements, etc. If watching someone weighing fish can be made exciting then pool can get there too.

 

[kling&allen]

Meh about the pool shark reference. His nickname is after the biggest and meanest shark of them all This sport will thrive when you can create audiences that watch it. In all of the years of being around the game, I'm more optimistic now than ever before with Matchroom, CSI, and Predator leading the way promoting the sport.

The Color of Money which really didn't shine a positive light around the game, was huge in popularizing it as was it's predecessor The Hustler. Pool needs to captivate the audience to become mainstream. How do you that? Is it possible? I think so. just looking across the ocean on how snooker does it. They sell the players themselves. That's the product. The superstars, the underdogs, etc.

Add a little betting on the matches then you have the recipe for growing the audience and the prize pool and endorsements, etc. If watching someone weighing fish can be made exciting then pool can get there too.

Totally agree on the betting. My state just legalized sports betting (online and in person). I can bet on almost any sport imaginable, including cornhole! But no pool.

 

[skogstokig]

Totally agree on the betting. My state just legalized sports betting (online and in person). I can bet on almost any sport imaginable, including cornhole! But no pool.

have you tried betting on the bigger MR events? my country is the same and our online bookies only seems to have confidence in MR, probably because they're an outfit with known credibility in other sports and they check for suspicious play. pool betting is still sketchy imo. up the prize money and the prestige and i will bet on pool.

 

[PracticeChampion]

There's a ton of upcoming juniors out there, not kids just banging balls but kids running racks and playing 10 and 20k sets. One of our local 15-16 year olds just beat Fedor Gorst in the Texas open (kashton keeton)
The JIC tour is full of giants upcoming

 

[jokrswylde]

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.

Not necessarily. I tell all of my high school students at the beginning of each school year about my passion for pool and playing in leagues and local tourneys. I can't remember a single question about money. Maybe the upcoming generation has missed out on the "negative" side of pool...after all, they can't even tell you what a 'Collect call" is.

 

[kling&allen]

Not necessarily. I tell all of my high school students at the beginning of each school year about my passion for pool and playing in leagues and local tourneys. I can't remember a single question about money. Maybe the upcoming generation has missed out on the "negative" side of pool...after all, they can't even tell you what a 'Collect call" is.

That's my experience as well (not as a teacher, but as someone with high school kids). Most think it's something the grandpas do at the retirement home, so it good to have people like jawz out there.

 

[straightline]

While I agree with you in a technical sense.

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

Fatboy<——-fish

There's that cool factor as well. Media...

 

[Island Drive]

There's a ton of upcoming juniors out there, not kids just banging balls but kids running racks and playing 10 and 20k sets. One of our local 15-16 year olds just beat Fedor Gorst in the Texas open (kashton keeton)
The JIC tour is full of giants upcoming

My hopes is that they have a structured, controlled events for up and coming players, and More.

 

[Guy Manges]

The youth is coming... Thankgoodness... Guy

 

[Guy Manges]

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.

Your exactly wright... Guy

 

[Guy Manges]

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.

YES... Guy

 

[Guy Manges]

RD.395 all the way... Guy