Watching Curtling or WPBA

[TheBook]

I got home late the other night. Turned on the TV and on ESPN was a WPBA Tournament. I also seen that curling was on the Canadian station. I could not take any more of the sad pool or dumb commentary and changed channels to watch the curling.

The sad part is I think I would rather watch the curling over seeing the women play.

 

[Celtic]

I would watch curling over the mens pool most days even. There is actual strategy in curling and the game is diverse. 9-ball on the other hand is a tremendously repetitive game where the pro's always do exactly the shot I know they are going to play every time. We need a pool game that has more strategy to really draw the game in the huge TV audiances. If a pool lover like myself finds the game boring then 9-ball has to go because Joe Public REALLY must be bored with it. I love watching 1-pocket, bad TV game though. 15 ball rotation for a point per a ball though, that would be one diverse game since those extra balls would really make the player think and plan ahead with breakouts and the like.

 

[drivermaker]

I would watch curling over the mens pool most days even. There is actual strategy in curling and the game is diverse. 9-ball on the other hand is a tremendously repetitive game where the pro's always do exactly the shot I know they are going to play every time. We need a pool game that has more strategy to really draw the game in the huge TV audiances.

Isn't it also boring and repetitive to watch some big musclehead standing there with a barbell or dumbell for 15 minutes curling?

How about 1 pocket 9 ball...or alternate shot 9 ball where you have to go between a regular call shot (let's say on the one) and then one rail short rail bank (on the 2), another regular shot (on the 3), a one rail long bank (on the 4), regular on the 5, etc. That would require some thought and position play that's out of the ordinary and bring various pool shooting skills into play.

 

[Purdman]

TV Pool

I don't particularly like to watch TV pool or live pool. Let me explain. I usually don't watch football, baseball, or basketball. I haven't missed a Super Bowl, World Series, or NBA final in 40 years. Watching the last 2 minutes of any close game in the race for the final four and the final four are exciting. Horses, Derby, Preakness, and the Belmont. The rest of the time I like to participate.
I don't think pool will ever be big on TV. The game is to boring to watch. Finals are a differant story. Look at bowling man, big time popular. Why?
Pool players, we ain't to popular either. Somebody wants to know what you like to do and you say play pool, they think you want to hustle them and take their money. I have been playing since I was 14. When I go play, everybody wants to gamble. I don't gamble, so you lose my business. Why don't I like to gamble? Look at em man. I don't want to follow in their footsteps. JMHO
Purdman

 

[DaveK]

I got home late the other night. Turned on the TV and on ESPN was a WPBA Tournament. I also seen that curling was on the Canadian station. I could not take any more of the sad pool or dumb commentary and changed channels to watch the curling.

The sad part is I think I would rather watch the curling over seeing the women play.

You can justify this urge with the knowledge that many curling teams make more tournament money than many pool players. I was watching a bit recently (channel flipping really) and was informed that the Kevin Martin rink had made about $380,000 in prize money so far this year. They stood to win the 'spiel that was on TV (Martin was playing in the final), and that would add another $50K or so to the total. Yes, there are 4 players who split the earnings, so they are really in the $100K each range ... still not bad for tossing rocks on a piece of ice a few months every year !

BTW, as pool players one should be able to appreciate their curling skills. The 'raise takeout' shot is a really nice combo, and they play 'caroms' all the time. It's pretty hard to put any bottom on the rock, but siding is a must

Dave

 

[catscradle]

I got home late the other night. Turned on the TV and on ESPN was a WPBA Tournament. I also seen that curling was on the Canadian station. I could not take any more of the sad pool or dumb commentary and changed channels to watch the curling.

The sad part is I think I would rather watch the curling over seeing the women play.

Personally, I enjoy watching curling, reminds me of barroom shuffleboard on a grander scale. And at least it's not the same old stuff.

I'd watch either one of them over almost any other sport or (yeck) poker.

 

[Billiard Architect]

I am sorry but the match between Eferen and Owens recently was far from boring. It is like anything else that is on TV you get boring shows a lot of the time but every once in a while you get some gems. I remember a draw shot on a 2 ball that Corey did full length of the table while the cueball was against the rail and pulled it off flawlessly. Your average joe is going to say "Yea so he made the ball" but to be able to pull off a full table draw against the rail is next near to impossible but magical to see it done. I think they need more variety in the billiard shows. There are many times I have seen shows over and over again but yet when they had the legends of pool on they skipped a couple even the most important "fats against mosconi". Someday they will figure out that that they need to get Mitch out of there and quit trying to show a poker match (camera in a pocket) or a trick shot (the overhead camera when the shot is being made).

JV

 

[TheBook]

After watching the curling match which is not the first time and reading some of the comments I have just realized something. Look at the sponsor: FORD.
Have you ever seen a big company sponsor a pool tournament?

 

[LastTwo]

I got home late the other night. Turned on the TV and on ESPN was a WPBA Tournament. I also seen that curling was on the Canadian station. I could not take any more of the sad pool or dumb commentary and changed channels to watch the curling.

The sad part is I think I would rather watch the curling over seeing the women play.

Sounds like you have sexual preference issues and should have kept this to yourself.

 

[hemicudas]

I must have caught the curling match just at the right time because when I saw that good looking girl sliding toward me on her knees it kinda turned me on.

For my lady friends out there,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,IT WAS A JOKE LADIES. DON'T EMAIL ME.

 

[frankncali]

I must have caught the curling match just at the right time because when I saw that good looking girl sliding toward me on her knees it kinda turned me on.

For my lady friends out there,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,IT WAS A JOKE LADIES. DON'T EMAIL ME.

Thats when I caught it also. Those american chicks ( i mean Curlers) were very cute. Heck even one of the Swedish ladies was nice looking.

I watched the pool also. I dont think womens pool is as boring as mens
because the ladies make more mistakes. I remember some Allison Fisher
matches that were good and I like to watch Vivian V anytime she is playing.
I also think Laura Smith breaks the balls well.

 

[Kerry Impson]

Pool players, we ain't to popular either. Somebody wants to know what you like to do and you say play pool, they think you want to hustle them and take their money.

I guess that's because you're a man, because when I used to play professionally people at the airport would always ask what was in my case, and were delighted to learn what it was and what I did. Sure, they generally asked whether I was a hustler, but they did so with interest, not disdain, and I was always sure to explain that I played professionally and never hustled. They almost always wanted to know if I'd ever played Jeanette or been on TV!!! LOL.

 

[catscradle]

... I dont think womens pool is as boring as mens
because the ladies make more mistakes.

I agree.

... I remember some Allison Fisher matches that were good and I like to watch Vivian V anytime she is playing...

I, on the contrary, remember some Vivian V matches that were good and I like to watch Allison Fisher anytime she is playing.

 

[Celtic]

I dont think womens pool is as boring as mens
because the ladies make more mistakes.

I also agree with that sentiment. The arguement against 9-ball as the professional game due to its being too easy for the top pro's does not apply to the women because few of them actually can play at a level that negates differences in skill. This is why Allison can dominate the womens tour like she does and no man can dominate the mens tournaments. 9-ball is simply so easy that the top 50 players can all play the game effectively even, they are all generally just as effective at playing the game and it comes down to the break. Look at the scores when playing alternate break, the number of hill hill matches should be a red flag to people that 9-ball has got to go. The men need a game that challenges them and lets the cream rise to the top the way the womens tour has happen. The game needs to be sufficiently challenging that controling the table for an entire match or never missing a shot is simply not an option. 9-ball is a dead game, it is like me playing darts against a world champion except the game is changed such that you get a point each time you hit the board and the first person to 5 points wins. That champ better hope I dont win the coin toss because even though I suck at darts I can hit the board 5 times in a row no problem and the ease of the game makes me basically even money against him despite him being far better at darts. The ease of 9-ball negates the skill factor and equalizes all the top players and that is not going to build a good sport, watching the World Coin Tossing Championships is a pretty boring thing.