What could we do as players, etc. to better the image of pool

[Fatboy]

Americans just don't want to watch pool. It's that simple.

They just dont know what they are watching, a friend(dosent play) said its just a bunch of balls going everywhere-i took him to the pool room one night and played a strong player, in the UK people KNOW what they are watching-even people who arnt players there understand whats going on, players obviously know more and can appericate some shots more so than nonplayers. Snooker is part of their culture, pool here in that respect died long ago.

I'm gonna catch some heat for this but I firmly believe snooker is a far better game for TV, the ebb and flow of it is better than 9,10 ball, or 14.1. The safety battles are better than on a 9' table as well. Also the rule that allows the player to have his opponent put the CB back to where it was laying if his opponent fouls for a second attempt at the same shot people like to watch that(the non players) because they get to watch a second attempt, players know how easy or hard it is so the 2nd chance thing isnt as important. Also the no-rail after a hit makes it simple for nonplayers to understand, I dont know why but people who dont play just dont understand why or what a rail after the hit means(they just dont get it), its vitaly important in 9' table games but not in snooker, just running the CB upto the stack and freezing it is an awesome shot.

All these reasons is why pool is suffering on TV here, the main reason is the cultural thing-pool is dead and the general public just dosent get it so they change the channel, I know I do unless the commentators are good like TAR-Acustats etc. I like Jimmy Wytch even some dont-he is really getting better and reads this forum so be nice!!!

 

[Gerry]

They just dont know what they are watching, a friend(dosent play) said its just a bunch of balls going everywhere-i took him to the pool room one night and played a strong player, in the UK people KNOW what they are watching-even people who arnt players there understand whats going on, players obviously know more and can appericate some shots more so than nonplayers. Snooker is part of their culture, pool here in that respect died long ago.

I'm gonna catch some heat for this but I firmly believe snooker is a far better game for TV, the ebb and flow of it is better than 9,10 ball, or 14.1. The safety battles are better than on a 9' table as well. Also the rule that allows the player to have his opponent put the CB back to where it was laying if his opponent fouls for a second attempt at the same shot people like to watch that(the non players) because they get to watch a second attempt, players know how easy or hard it is so the 2nd chance thing isnt as important. Also the no-rail after a hit makes it simple for nonplayers to understand, I dont know why but people who dont play just dont understand why or what a rail after the hit means(they just dont get it), its vitaly important in 9' table games but not in snooker, just running the CB upto the stack and freezing it is an awesome shot.

All these reasons is why pool is suffering on TV here, the main reason is the cultural thing-pool is dead and the general public just dosent get it so they change the channel, I know I do unless the commentators are good like TAR-Acustats etc. I like Jimmy Wytch even some dont-he is really getting better and reads this forum so be nice!!!

I'm right there with ya on the snooker points FB. Just this last Sunday I was at our local room strugling with my game, so I got the snooker balls and went down to the 6x12 and hit cross corner stop shots for about an hour to get my alignment back in place! there is nothing like the BIG table to get me back to the center axis of the cue ball and to get my stroke back in line. Then you get on the 9 footer and it looks like a bar box!!!

 

[TheBook]

Quit acting, dressing, and talking like thugs.

There are even a few posters on this forum that answer as if they are thugs, rappers or as we used to refer to as punks.

Clean up your presentation and act like citizens that contribute to society instead of low lifers or prison lifers.

 

[JAM]

and?.....AND?.....what was the outcome?....don't leave me hangin man!

Keith defeated The Russian in the long rack banks action game. It was the first time we had ever met Stalev.

I was kind of new to the so-called tournament trail at that time and did not know many of the players. I do remember Earl Strickland coming over to sweat Keith playing Stalev. Earl sat way in the back by himself, sweating the two of them. A few times when Keith made a good shot, Earl would cheer him on, saying, "Ether, Ether, Ether." That made Keith smile, hearing it from Earl.

Of course, after the match, Keith asked me to go up and hand Earl a hundred-dollar bill. I found out later that he had borrowed it from Earl and owed it to him from another event, before me and Keith had met. When I handed Earl the cheese, he was happy as a lark and replied, "You tell Keith he's good with me for a bite anytime." I then wondered if Earl was only hanging around hoping to get paid or if he did want to watch Keith in action. Maybe it was a little bit of both.

Since that time, we have run into The Russian a few times, and I always, always, always enjoy seeing him. He is so cute and funny. He can play strong, shows no fear, and loves the action. I wish he'd move over here. He told me the money he makes here in tournaments and action lasts a very long time in Russia.

After Keith played the Russian, Larry Lisciotti wanted to take a shot at him. Keith was up a couple dimes and told Larry he'd back him against Stalev. I think Stalev spotted Larry one ball in long rack banks, but I can't remember for sure. I don't think they played even. The Russian defeated Larry for a nickel, if memory serves me right.

At least the money stayed in action, and Team McCready came home with a little extra jingle in their pockets!

JAM

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

What is a pool room? That's the $64,000 question. The pool rooms that I used to know and love do not exist anymore.

Some of the BEST pool rooms in my area did not serve alcohol. They were not sports bars. They were actual pool rooms, a place where players could play pool and railbirds could see the best of the best. Today's so-called "pool rooms" are singles bars with loud music.

The very few pool rooms, I mean REAL POOL ROOMS, that exist today are a rare breed, indeed. Those of you who have 'em, enjoy 'em while they last.

JAM

 

[Cuedog]

I have come to the conclusion, after speaking with an old-timer the other night, that pool is all about the hustle, more so than the game itself.

If one were to create a poll about which style of pool they prefer to watch, I have a feeling that the hustling between two players with all of its barking before, during, and after is what most would prefer to watch, more so than robots playing mum pool in a church-like setting. DCC is successful because of its non-church-like setting, and people like to see the players hustle. Some call it "action," and others call it "gambling," but when push comes to shove, each player hopes that he has the dead nuts.

Have you ever seen two players trying to match up for a game of action? I have NEVER seen anyone say something to the effect, "Hey, Sausage, instead of spotting you 2 balls, I have changed my mind and want to spot you 3 balls, so that we can have a fair game between us." Each player is trying to hustle the other.

Mainstream TV viewing audience, at least here in the States, don't condone hustling and all that is associated with it, and there are some on this forum who are pool purists and will promote the church-like setting for pool, more so than the hustling atmosphere. Yet, put these pool purists in a room at the DCC, and I can guarantee you that they will be all eyes and ears on the festivities.

JAM

P.S. I am reminded of a semi-finals, I think it was, at a Joss tournament in Chelmsford. Johnny Archer and Nick Varner were getting ready to play for the hot seat in the tournament room.

Elsewhere in the joint, Keith McCready was gambling with The Russian (Evgeny Stalev). Keith and Evgeny both barked at each other with a full crowd of onlookers as they matched up. I think Keith spotted The Russian one ball, if memory serves me right, in long rack banks. I can assure you that each player going in thought he was going to rob the other one in this game of stakes, though at that time, The Russian was somewhat of an unknown entity. However, he pulled out two fat boodles which got Keith's attention and his best game.

There were a half-a-dozen people sweating Archer and Varner in the tournament room. Every other person in the pool room was sweating Keith and The Russian. I rest my case.

I didn't read the whole thread so I don't know if anyone else has posted this, but along the same lines as your PS Jam, the Super Billiards Expo is a perfect example. A disproportionate amount of spectators can be found in the pit as opposed to anywhere else in the building, comparitively speaking.

I also agree with the premise that we need to introduce more kids to the game on a large scale. With the state of pool halls, the most beneficial path may just be the Boys and Girls clubs as was previously stated.

Gene

 

[memikey]

They just dont know what they are watching, a friend(dosent play) said its just a bunch of balls going everywhere-i took him to the pool room one night and played a strong player, in the UK people KNOW what they are watching-even people who arnt players there understand whats going on, players obviously know more and can appericate some shots more so than nonplayers. Snooker is part of their culture, pool here in that respect died long ago.

As far as snooker goes that is very true about the Uk Fatboy.

However bearing in mind that your above answer was in response to Steven's point about pool on tv in America, would just point out something relevant......televised pool (both uk style 8 ball and American pool) has been tried over and over again in Uk over many many years. I have played in a televised 8 ball event as long ago as in the early 80's.

The result has been exactly the same on every occasion.....virtually nobody in Uk wants to watch pool on tv, or anywhere else for that matter. The Uk general public have no idea what tournament play rules are (as opposed to bar rules) and have no interest in learning what tournament rules are in any case, because to them pool tournaments are simply "make-believe snooker on dinky toy tables played by those not talented enough to play snooker". The sponsors involved in previous televised pool in Uk have invariably concluded that they had totally wasted their money and none have ever been repeat sponsors.

Depressing stuff I know, but that is the general perception in Uk.....with the exception of the numerically tiny hard core of dedicated pool enthusiasts. Does that remind you of anywhere else?

Uk is not some Shangri-La full of intelligent and interested pool viewers. The game there is a minority sport in the extreme with virtually zero spectator appeal and the number of professionals making a living solely from pool in Uk is probably less than six maximum, if that. Why do you think that brilliant exponents like Darren Appleton and Karl Boyes have been more or less obliged to seek pool fortune elsewhere?

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Can not believe almost 500 replies.

 

[Tubsey]

My reply. I think most people are introduced to pool in bars. Most bar table are in poor condition, jammed into corners and the cues are pieces of #$%. I play golf. If most golf courses were as bad as most bar tables the sport would suffer just like pool. Golfers gamble, golfers drink. Something else that seems strange to me. Almost every golfer owns their own equipment and takes it to the golf course. I find many pool players play with house equipment or won't carry a cue to the bar. Golfers buy new equipment all the time. Average pool players play with lousy house crap. If pool is going to be like golf, then somebody should show owners how to place a table and give it the room it deserves, how to care for it and how to maintain cues. I was in Chicago this weekend looking to play near the airport. Hotel driver takes us to Shoeless Joe's where there are 3 tables. One table is being played on. All tables had interference. $1.50 a game but nobody's playing. They really had room for 2 tables. I just see this over and over. I travel a lot and it's hard to find a good place to play. With golf it's just a lot easier to find a quality spot. Pool is such a great sport there has to be a way to revive it. By the way, I think it would be interesting to have a thread devoted to pool room ratings around the country. It sure would make my searching easier when I travel.

 

[jason]

My reply. I think most people are introduced to pool in bars. Most bar table are in poor condition, jammed into corners and the cues are pieces of #$%.

This got me thinking...when did the coin-operated bar table first hit the market?