What went so wrong that we get no press?

SlimShafty

SlimShafty

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
It's disturbing, forget TV even leading online sports pages leave out Pocket Billiards. On ESPN's page it lists Pro Rodeo, Bass Fishing, Lacrosse, figure skating, Surfing etc....but no Billiards.

If you do a site search on ESPN, basically the only thing that shows up is an article on Jennifer Barretta with a sexy FHM photo. Don't get me wrong it's a nice photo :D but man, I could not believe thats it, you would think ESPN would have some coverage or news since they show some matches on TV.

You get nothing about players, tours or tournaments, no articles, no pictures, and in the local section the search comes up with a calender from Billings Montana which mentions billiards. So I think hey maybe a tournament, but it's only the name of a place Bullwackers Billiards which was holding a Foosball tournament :D

Not even a blurb peep or mention of the US Open, but hey they have news about the new Mascot hall of fame, yup, we are the Rodney Dangerfield of sports No Respect.

What do we have to do to get some press?
 
Rude Dog said:
Kill someone, or get busted for drugs, rape will do, or even molestation. But just pool? Nah, it'll never happen.
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Now Rude Dog, are you tryin' to say pool players have never done any of your above mentioned activities???

I say have high rankend male player show up for a tourney in a dress...it worked for Dennis Rodman and the ballers, LMAO!
 
landshark77 said:
Now Rude Dog, are you tryin' to say pool players have never done any of your above mentioned activities???

I say have high rankend male player show up for a tourney in a dress...it worked for Dennis Rodman and the ballers, LMAO!
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I don't know if they have cuz they never get any press! :D
 
It's Pro Football season, the MLB playoffs are just being decided who will be the divison winners and who will be the wild cards.

Boston is still the World Series Champion.

There is a lot more interesting and more $$$$ advertising dollars involved in ESPN for it to take up valuable time with pocket billiards.

It makes me sick that one baseball player makes more in a year than all the added money in all the major and minor pool tournaments in the USA for the last 10 years combined.

Let's face it, pocket billiards cannot compete with the big guys.
 
Okay, say with me, "Pool Hall" and "Country Club".

What games jump out to your mind when you say these two? Pool and Golf?
Now tell me which sport generates more money for their constituents and playing members? Maybe pool on a week to week basis, but golf raised itself to donate to charities and still remains to fulfill that manifest.

Golf generates more money for more players overall than pool does. You can still be a millionaire at the 48th rank than you would be sucking in about $1000 for the pool player at the same rank. Basically, they have more sponsors and the game is viewed "cleaner" than a pool tounament.

Why? Because pool typified in movies shows the seedier and sleezier side than the beauty of the game.

The pool game in itself needs to be understood for the beauty that it is. It's not all about hustling or making money. Making money is done on the Pro levels. Hustling is done elsewhere and not a normal part of this sport. Gambling is on its own between individuals. The rank and file of this game know that it's an execution of physics and mechanics. The outside world needs to see all of this.

Barbara
 
SlimShafty said:
...
If you do a site search on ESPN, basically the only thing that shows up is an article on Jennifer Barretta with a sexy FHM photo. Don't get me wrong it's a nice photo :D but man, I could not believe thats it, you would think ESPN would have some coverage or news since they show some matches on TV.
...
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The solution is simple. Do what bowling did. That's described in the (February?) issue of Billiards Digest -- the one coincidently with Jennifer Barretta on the cover.

But hadn't you noticed that when it comes to sports coverage, ESPN is largely a stinking pile of bull poo? Lots of talking, empty heads and kids in ill-fitting pants trying to hurt themselves, but not much sports. Maybe they'll get over it, but I'm not hopeful.
 
Barbara said:
Okay, say with me, "Pool Hall" and "Country Club".

What games jump out to your mind when you say these two? Pool and Golf?
Now tell me which sport generates more money for their constituents and playing members? Maybe pool on a week to week basis, but golf raised itself to donate to charities and still remains to fulfill that manifest.

Golf generates more money for more players overall than pool does. You can still be a millionaire at the 48th rank than you would be sucking in about $1000 for the pool player at the same rank. Basically, they have more sponsors and the game is viewed "cleaner" than a pool tounament.

Why? Because pool typified in movies shows the seedier and sleezier side than the beauty of the game.

The pool game in itself needs to be understood for the beauty that it is. It's not all about hustling or making money. Making money is done on the Pro levels. Hustling is done elsewhere and not a normal part of this sport. Gambling is on its own between individuals. The rank and file of this game know that it's an execution of physics and mechanics. The outside world needs to see all of this.

Barbara
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Barbara, it sounds like you are saying that the reason pool isn't successful is because it is held back by its "seedier and sleezier side", rather than a focus on "the beauty of the game". Then how do explain the success of poker -- which probably has many more times the seedy and sleazy side, along with a long history of downright cheating?

I'm really curious about this, because my own opinion is that it is really mainly the pool industry itself that is holding back the sport, because they are the ones with all the misplaced concern about the gambling side of the game -- not the public. Hell, I think the success of both the Hustler and TCOM proves that the public has no problem at all with the "seedier and sleezier side". So why all the concern about cleaning it up?

The fact is, pool is a beautiful game, and the truth is, some of the best practitioners and most exciting examples of its beauty in action is in the after hours action, ie the gambling -- not to mention of course that often these are the most colorful and entertaining characters of the sport as well :) (ie Fats)

So what is your thinking??
 
Who all wants to pony up fifty thousand to play with?

1pocket said:
The fact is, pool is a beautiful game, and the truth is, some of the best practitioners and most exciting examples of its beauty in action is in the after hours action, ie the gambling -- not to mention of course that often these are the most colorful and entertaining characters of the sport as well :) (ie Fats)

So what is your thinking??
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Pool lacks mass appeal. As seen on TV it is a little too clean to appeal to youngster's sleazy side and most people do view it as a bit seedy so it lacks mass appeal. Put together a gambling event in Vegas where every player brings 50 or 100K of their own money to the tables and let them dress and act as they please and we might draw some of the treasured 18-35 audience.

Big money wagered or to win would give greater mass appeal and we need greater mass appeal to get money. It is a tough nut to crack.

Hu
 
Rude Dog said:
Kill someone, or get busted for drugs, rape will do, or even molestation. But just pool? Nah, it'll never happen.
Click to expand...

Think you are 1/2 Right, the other Half is Cleaning Up the IMAGE of Pool. Pool Rooms, and Pool Players.... ;)
 
ShootingArts said:
Pool lacks mass appeal. As seen on TV it is a little too clean to appeal to youngster's sleazy side and most people do view it as a bit seedy so it lacks mass appeal. Put together a gambling event in Vegas where every player brings 50 or 100K of their own money to the tables and let them dress and act as they please and we might draw some of the treasured 18-35 audience.

Big money wagered or to win would give greater mass appeal and we need greater mass appeal to get money. It is a tough nut to crack.

Hu
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IMO pool does lack a lot of appeal. No press, no nothing... why? The terrible truth is, what would people rather watch in this world?... Would they rather watch two people hitting balls in holes on a table with a stick? Or basketball, baseball, football, soccer, hockey...
Whatever... Most people dont find exitement in what we love, they would rather see trick shots..
Point is that pool is too under-rated... there's no money into it because of the entertainment value.... Pool is too small of a group, most don't think of it as a sport, but a hobby a game. But pool is rather an art, and only few appreciate.
 
Pool is an art. It is sad that most people dont see it that way. If they understood how tough the game was and how hard it is too make those shots look so easy on tv, maybe they would respect it.
 
Having WORKED in the NEWS Business 15 years = or -, the Media has ZERO OBLIGATION to cover anything.

But if you look at what it covers mostly it is the BAD NEWS..... Not Feature, human Interest, but Murders, Rapes, Horrific Events, and etc.

Pool is not going to buy any Air Time to Advertise their Events, so Baseball, Football, and Basketball get covered, as they buy advertising.

Does this statement hurt? Sorry but it is the Truth, and the News Business is all about Money, Making Money, and Rating, that set Advertising RATES....

Ever wonder whay the CROOKED CAR DEALER never get busted by Negative News Stories about their SHADY Business Practices? Because they by adds..... or advertising....... :o
 
IMHO, pool doesn't get media coverage because there is no demand for it from the general public. ESPN and all of the other stations will show any sport that is in demand and makes them money.

So why is there no demand for it? I mentioned some of these before, but I have always believed that there are a few basic reasons why the general public shows such a lack of interest in pool:

1. Pool looks deceptively easy to someone who has never played or does not really know much about the game. Watch a great player. Looks easy doesn't it? You watch them run the table, and you think, "I could do that". But you know you couldn't take off from the free throw line and dunk. It's obvious that it requires incredible athleticism. Pool's athleticism is not obvious to those ignorant of the game. And therefore, it's not as exciting for them to watch.

2. Young people are not given much opportunity to learn and/or play pool. And if they are, where can they play it? Not a lot of tables around for kids to play on. Maybe the "Y" will have a table. If so, it will probably be in horrible shape. And it probably won't have a complete set of balls, or decent cues, or decent instructors. So who would want to play?

3. Pool is too methodical. People today don't want a sport where you are required to think and plan ahead. That's too cerebral. They want non stop Playstation/XBox type action. That's why 9 ball is the only game ever shown. Because it's quick. And even when it's shown, they don't show the entire match.

To me, the biggest challenge is- how do we get the general public excited about pool? If we do that, it will get all kinds of media coverage.
 
Side Pocket Kid said:
IMO pool does lack a lot of appeal. No press, no nothing... why? The terrible truth is, what would people rather watch in this world?... Would they rather watch two people hitting balls in holes on a table with a stick? Or basketball, baseball, football, soccer, hockey...
Whatever... Most people dont find exitement in what we love, they would rather see trick shots..
Point is that pool is too under-rated... there's no money into it because of the entertainment value.... Pool is too small of a group, most don't think of it as a sport, but a hobby a game. But pool is rather an art, and only few appreciate.
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I dont buy that excuse. They dont have a problem with Golf.
 
I could not agree more. For instance, when I was on the pro tour, the powers that be all but told me what I could or could not wear, or what was or was not acceptable. Granted things have changed dramatically and I can appreciate the direction things are going – less political and more about the players. But a few years ago, those of us that weren't making the kind of money JL was making had to (in some sense) abide by what was recommended or we risked being fined.

What poker has the pool lacks is acceptance. It doesn't matter if you hate the "mouth" in poker; he is a great player and makes for good television. Besides, he is really whiney and I'll watch just to see him lose. He doesn't give poker a bad name; he gives himself a bad name. Or what about the obnoxious Austrian that is borderline threatening -- it doesn't matter, he's still allowed to express himself. I like to see him lose too!

The audience is more sophisticated than the industry thinks. Bottom line is that the audience likes to see truth, not conformity. I agree 100% that the audience has no problem with the darker side of pool, in fact, I think that's what fascinates people the most. In either case, the industry hasn't caught on yet. But if you stick around long enough, it will, and those that stuck with it will be so glad they did!!

I hope I don’t get fined for writing this. Oh yeah, I haven't paid tour dues for a few years now -- never mind.

Kristi



1pocket said:
Barbara, it sounds like you are saying that the reason pool isn't successful is because it is held back by its "seedier and sleezier side", rather than a focus on "the beauty of the game". Then how do explain the success of poker -- which probably has many more times the seedy and sleazy side, along with a long history of downright cheating?

I'm really curious about this, because my own opinion is that it is really mainly the pool industry itself that is holding back the sport, because they are the ones with all the misplaced concern about the gambling side of the game -- not the public. Hell, I think the success of both the Hustler and TCOM proves that the public has no problem at all with the "seedier and sleezier side". So why all the concern about cleaning it up?
Click to expand...
 
I don't think Billiards is that far from many of the sports that do get some coverage, I'm not talking golf like coverage, but Rodeo and Bass fishing have their own pages on ESPN, is Billiards that bad, more people play pool than rope cattle, I think? :D

They could at least put up one stinking link to a page that shows the tours and maybe write a few articles? It would cost almost nothing and they could promote the TV schedule, they give web space to Surfing for crying out loud.

ESPN is still a huge source your average joe knows about and goes to for sports info and we need that exposer if we want the sport to grow.

I clicked on the site map and at the bottom it has request or feedback so I let them know they need a Pocket Billiards page, now if everyone here did that.....OK I know, nothing would happen, but I did it and at the very least the guy reading them would get a chuckle with the hey you have Pro Rodeo coverage and no pool WTF? :D
 
Celtic said:
I dont buy that excuse. They dont have a problem with Golf.
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Neither do I.

The two biggest things holding back the game are IMHO:
1. Poor production quality. (A better production method boosted Poker popularity).
2. Exposure brings familiarity and interest, and pool doesn't get enough, so the average Joe doesn't perceive the stars as real stars or the match ups and tournaments as very important.
 
this is not intended to be pejorative ,,,,but this subject is SO OLD that really, you should get over it.

there's no demographic the advertizers care about, and pool's image sucks enough that no advertizers care to be associated with it. you can count how many people would watch pool on tv by counting up all the memberships on AZB and CCB.....and you'd still be overestimating pool's audience.

and let's look at pool from an "entertainment" perspective........pool has no PUNCH.
 
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Pool, Badminton, and Tiddlywinks

IMO, pool is perceived by mainstream America as in the same category as badminton and tiddlywinks, a game played for recreation.

I played badminton as a young girl at summer camp and in my own back yard. We used to have a lot of fun with it I would have never in a million years thought of it as an international SPORT, but there are world federations and international tournaments. One badminton tourney was aired on ESPN earlier this week.

And It appears that the badminton folks are worried about the popularity of their chosen game/sport, conscientious about their image AND hoping to attract new sponsors:
http://www.badmintonplanet.com/cgi-bin/news/0905/1630905.html

Badminton, pool, croquet, and other games like this seem to not be popular here in the States. However, elsewhere it is quite different.

So is it the American culture which doesn't embrace pool? Those within American pool culture are its harshest critics. Pool's popularity does not suffer from the images portrayed by movies like "The Hustler" and "The Color of Money." Rather, pool in America is a recreational game, even though most of us desire it to be recognized as a professional sport.

The majority of the pool public in the U.S. enjoy playing the game recreationally; thus, pool is on the same level as tiddlywinks. And BTW, there's an international tiddlywinks federation with pro tournaments and the like. Go figure!

JMHO, FWIW.

JAM
 
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