What are your Ideas

Willy_BadDream

Willy_BadDream

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I wrote this in Jam's thread and thought it would make a good new thread.

Most believe there is a need for change to spark interest in the game.

Why not introduce more then one or two games to the public on TV. In golf you can watch One person swing the club and hear cheers in the back ground from another hole. Wow what just happened over there? Then the camara pans to the other green and shows a fantastic putt. keeps things interesting and fun.

In pool we have One pocket, 9 ball, 8 ball, 14:1, 10 Ball, Etc. If you have a major Tournament with all these final games at one time and Move between the matches with cheers in the back ground it becomes more interesting.
people will see pool has alot of variety.

I for one get a little bored sometimes watching the same match.


Now the next thing I want to address is coin op tables. They limit what games you can play in the Bars. why don't they make a table that will allow cash or coin. This way you could pay $7 for a hour play time (example) or $1.25 per game. The 7 dollars would free up the balls for an hour so you could play any game you like (One pocket, 9 ball, etc.). Give you a 10 min. warning so you could add money as needed to finish you game.

Just a thought. I really believe these things could help the game by allowing game variety in the bars.

My 2 cents
 
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I've been thinking, for a long time, that televised pool should be similar to the Tennis grand slams. For one thing, they would have to show live billiard coverage, and I doubt that ever happens. But if they did, they could air the main match, but cut to other matches and give brief updates on those at the same time. Just a thought.
 
Yep

They could have a 3 hour televised event showing multiple matches like golf and tennis.

Think it would go over well with audiences.

Make it a Grand Slam Event.
 
Willy_BadDream said:
Now the next thing I want to address is coin op tables. They limit what games you can play in the Bars. why don't they make a table that will allow cash or coin. This way you could pay $7 for a hour play time (example) or $1.25 per game. The 7 dollars would free up the balls for an hour so you could play any game you like (One pocket, 9 ball, etc.). Give you a 10 min. warning so you could add money as needed to finish you game.

Just a thought. I really believe these things could help the game by allowing game variety in the bars.

My 2 cents
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Valley does make bar tables were you have the option of pay by the game or half hour. I think it is $4-5 dollars per half hour. I have only seen them a few times. Don't think too many bars have them yet.
 
All of your ideas are great, but first Pool needs a major image make over. The game to corporate America has very little return on their advertising dollars, and corporate America is in the business of making $$.
 
Personally, I don't think pool belongs on TV. Not for real players at least. I mean c'mon, they move the camera around at the wrong time, they have color commentators that don't know jack about the game. If I see pool on ESPN I just keep on surfing through to the next channel. Accu-Stats style is the type of pool that I like to watch but I have to face facts and admit that the average schmuck sitting at home on a Saturday afternoon isn't going to enjoy watching a race to 11 with one or 2 camera angles.

Real pool does not appeal to Joe Homeowner. If Efren is on tv running his 150th ball he turned his TV off 45 minutes ago. They don't understand what they are seeing. What appeals to the average Joe is action and lots of it. How golf got so huge is beyond me, although I think when Tiger came into the fold the TV boom of golf began. Who doesn't like to watch Tiger Woods do his thing? Efren doesn't have that same appeal. hehe!!

Then to top everything off, pool and billiards is a world run amuk with scumbags. I totally understand people's frustrations about pool halls not being able to open up but think about it from the buidling owners stand point, would you want it put in your neighborhood? Hell no. Why? Because so many losers congregate at pool halls. Sure, there are a lot of nice people too, but a few losers can ruin it for everyone.......and it seems as if every loser and his mother makes it to a pool hall.
MULLY
 
You still need to generate interest.

You can't generate interest if you put on a boring contest. It's a 2 way street. I'm saying the average Joe gets bored watch a single match. Change how we sell the game. Multiple match's over a longer period of time and everyone gets to see a little of what they want to see. corporate advertising gets a bigger audience. Of course selling the idea would be the big hurdle.:D
 
Mullyman

The reason my father bought a pool table and put it in our basement when I was a youngster.....?

From watching Fats, Masconi, and other all time greats on Sunday each week.

Pool has it's place on TV for REAL pool players.:D
 
Willy_BadDream said:
The reason my father bought a pool table and put it in our basement when I was a youngster.....?

From watching Fats, Masconi, and other all time greats on Sunday each week.

Pool has it's place on TV for REAL pool players.:D
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You're living in another time, my friend. Back in those days more of our fathers actually played pool. I know mine did. I'm 40 by the way. I remember watching Minnesota Fats on TV when I was a kid. In those days Fats or Mosconi would show up on TV wearing their tux and looking like kings. Not to mention that there were only 5 channels to choose from so you really didn't have a choice.
MULLY
 
Willy_BadDream said:
You can't generate interest if you put on a boring contest. It's a 2 way street. I'm saying the average Joe gets bored watch a single match. Change how we sell the game. Multiple match's over a longer period of time and everyone gets to see a little of what they want to see. corporate advertising gets a bigger audience. Of course selling the idea would be the big hurdle.:D
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Yeah, but in all fairness to you, in my opinion, watching Efren run 150 balls in straight pool with an overhead shot the entire time with Bill Incardona and some straight pool playing sidekick in the booth with him is EXCELLENT coverage of pool. Your average person on the street is going to find that boring. I don't blame them, they don't understand it. All they see is a guy running a lot of balls. They're not understanding the cue ball control and accuracy of those little nips and tucks that he's pulling off. They want bank shots and balls flying around the table a million miles an hour, camera angles from inside the pocket.............I hate that by the way.

And if you want corporate America to spend money on pool you gotta get the lowlife element out of it. Any pool room you go into has it's fair share of regulars sitting around not spending a dime, the young punk kids hanging around playing the jukebox way too loud, dirt bags coming up to you when you're practicing trying to "get a game" going asking for more weight than anyone deserves. Who the hell wants to sponsor that lifestyle?
MULLY
not to mention the belligerent drunks and the occasional drug dealer in the parking lot
 
Willy_BadDream said:
I wrote this in Jam's thread and thought it would make a good new thread.

Most believe there is a need for change to spark interest in the game.

Why not introduce more then one or two games to the public on TV. In golf you can watch One person swing the club and hear cheers in the back ground from another hole. Wow what just happened over there? Then the camara pans to the other green and shows a fantastic putt. keeps things interesting and fun.

In pool we have One pocket, 9 ball, 8 ball, 14:1, 10 Ball, Etc. If you have a major Tournament with all these final games at one time and Move between the matches with cheers in the back ground it becomes more interesting.
people will see pool has alot of variety.

I for one get a little bored sometimes watching the same match.


Now the next thing I want to address is coin op tables. They limit what games you can play in the Bars. why don't they make a table that will allow cash or coin. This way you could pay $7 for a hour play time (example) or $1.25 per game. The 7 dollars would free up the balls for an hour so you could play any game you like (One pocket, 9 ball, etc.). Give you a 10 min. warning so you could add money as needed to finish you game.

Just a thought. I really believe these things could help the game by allowing game variety in the bars.

My 2 cents
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Diamond has had the ability to rent their 9ft coin-op tables by the game or half hour since January 2001, it's also an option on the 7ft tables if someone wanted to order them that way;)

Glen
 
Mully

You centainly have a negative spin on pool.

I guess at the pool halls I play in I don't see so many of the so called Bums and scum. I've been to my fair share. Yes there's some under the table stuff. It happen's. It's happening at the Bar's, while playing golf(but because they're a little richer it's OK right), and even the local horse track.
In general most people playing pool are good people in it to have fun (so what if there's a side bet between friends).

Drugs are everywhere. Pool didn't cause that problem!


Willy P.S. I'm living in 2008
 
STOP SHOWING 9 BALL!

If I was your average guy that had a relative who had a table or only played once in a while on a bar box, I doubt I would know a thing about 9 ball. Even if pro 8 ball has more run outs then 9 ball, at least the people who might tune in will know what is going on. It might grabe their attention enough to make them more interested in the game.
 
I do no think that would work. Golf pans from one hole to another because after each shot, the same player does not hit again for at least a couple of minutes. Pan between matches and people will become very frustrated that they are missing shots from the feature match. Their is just enough time netween racks to do the commercial thing, so between racks would not work either.

Regarding showing more than one type of game. Most people don't even know the real rules to 8 ball and 9 ball, but at least they have the idea. Start throwing in games like one pocket, and you will confuse the general public even more. This may work for current knowledgeable pool fans, but I don't think it is a good idea for the general public. Plus, fans have to then learn a whole different group of lpayers that are unknowns to them. Good tv for pool requires good matchups between players that fans like to watch. Get them interested in the players, and have good matchups, but do not get too complicated.
 
CB control in 9 ball is made much more obvious to the average person than 8 ball is. That is what amazes the average person the most. Plus, 9ball seems, and is harder, so a greater respect is seen in being masterful at 9 ball. I would imagine that is why it is the current dominant game on tv. That and trick shots of course. I really do not see why 9 ball gets its bad rap. I have heard the arguments, nut the stat show that it just is not all that easy to play. I would personally get rid of the slop factor, but other than that, it seems great to me. 10 ball is just too hard for the average player to get good at, and will alienate the public more!!
 
Willy_BadDream said:
You centainly have a negative spin on pool.

I guess at the pool halls I play in I don't see so many of the so called Bums and scum. I've been to my fair share. Yes there's some under the table stuff. It happen's. It's happening at the Bar's, while playing golf(but because they're a little richer it's OK right), and even the local horse track.
In general most people playing pool are good people in it to have fun (so what if there's a side bet between friends).

Drugs are everywhere. Pool didn't cause that problem!


Willy P.S. I'm living in 2008
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Well, Willy, I've been playing pool most of my life. I thank God all the time that most of that time was spent here in Japan. the people are polite, no one tries to "get a game", and you know what that means, going, betting is fair, manners are in check, the players have pride, the pool rooms are clean, and there's hardly any drinking done.....which we all know attracts a bad element. Every time I go back to the States it makes me sick to go to a pool room. And I've been in pool rooms from California to Florida and I've yet to find one where at least one person doesn't say "Wanna gimme 10-6 in 1 pocket?" or something to that effect. I also dislike very much that you can't leave your cue sitting at the table if you have to go to the restroom. Here in Japan I leave my cue, I paid 4 thousand for it, at the pool hall, in a non locking, non glass wall rack near the door. No one is going to touch it and I have no fear of anyone touching it.

As for having a negative spin on pool you've taken that the wrong way. I love pool. I hate pool rooms in America. Huge difference. Yes, I'm American. And as for living in different times, it's true, we are living in different times. Back in the 60's and 70's there was a slight pool boom and Fats etc... were on shows like Wide World of Sports each weekend. And at that time, there were only 4 or 5 channels to choose from and let's face it, no one missed Wide World of Sports. hehe!! The agony of defeat.

Man, I'm not trying to get under your skin, you asked opinions and I'm giving mine. I just don't think pool on TV is for real players..........and what I mean by that *isn't* that they shouldn't put pool on TV, but the way they do it isn't appealing to real players. They've done the 2 or 3 matches at one time going back and forth before and it always pisses me off that they switch to a different table while the person on table one is trying to figure a way out of the snooker he's in..........I WANT TO SEE THAT!!!! I don't care that the person on table 2 just did a cross side bank stop shot. I want to watch how he gets out of his snooker over there on table 1. I also don't need to see the ball rolling into the pocket from a mini camera with a fisheye lens inside the pocket. Give me the overhead so I can see what the cue ball is doing. The ball going into the pocket means nothing, show me the cue ball. Give me real pool players as commentators.

Yes, I would love to see pool on TV but to make it appeal to the masses it would be very uninteresting to real players.
MULLY
 
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mantis99 said:
CB control in 9 ball is made much more obvious to the average person than 8 ball is. That is what amazes the average person the most. Plus, 9ball seems, and is harder, so a greater respect is seen in being masterful at 9 ball. I would imagine that is why it is the current dominant game on tv. That and trick shots of course. I really do not see why 9 ball gets its bad rap. I have heard the arguments, nut the stat show that it just is not all that easy to play. I would personally get rid of the slop factor, but other than that, it seems great to me. 10 ball is just too hard for the average player to get good at, and will alienate the public more!!
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9-ball is the dominant game on TV because of the speed of the games. People that don't play pool can't understand the difficulty of a game like straight pool. It takes too long and there's not a whole lot of action.

I personally think that if they want the average Joe to enjoy it put some pressure into it. America should loosen up and let the players gamble. Show a couple guys betting 500 bucks a rack of 9-ball banks. Show the people what they saw in The Color of Money.
MULLY
 
One other thing, Willy, I know there are many fine people at pool rooms all over America, I've met quite a few of them. Those people aren't the problem, it's the stragglers, and they are everywhere.
MULLY
 
I think that in order to make pool popular to the masses it has to be done very very large scale and from multiple approaches.

I've always felt the biggest boost pool could get initially would be exposure in our major shopping malls. It would take a major franchise operation nation wide but having the public actually see pool being played by gazing through a mall window as they walk by would be a first step.

Imagine yourself or your significant other not knowing a thing about pool. Walking into a poolroom can be a daunting experience. Most folks wouldn't even consider it. But not so if you can first see into the poolroom such as in a mall environment.

Pros vs public in malls also would be a good start for exposure. One table right there in the middle of the mall. Roped off and offering prizes, or gift certificates to the stores if they beat the pro.

Another great way to gain popularity would be to get schools involved. School vs school tournaments. Perhaps even table mfgs. donating tables to various schools to kickstart a program done in conjunction with Pros traveling from school to school performing trick shots and challenges.

When the kids get involved, the parents do. Then they purchase sticks and so on to show off at their matches.

Celebrity challenges on TV would draw viewing from fans.

Things like this are needed to first spark an interest in the game, then more people would enjoy watching and playing it.
 
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