What Will Happen To All The Aging Pros
- Thread starter drivermaker
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wayne said:
Explain why the snooker champions are crossing the sea to play 9 ball in America? They aren't all that rich over there. Read Kelly Fisher's interview in BD.
Explain that???
wayne said:
Great point, but I live in the US not the UK. Making a living in Europe or the rest of the world playing, Snooker and Darts is a world of difference!
You cannot compare the two. I am only talking about US professional pool. You can say the same thing about Soccer in America VS Soccer around the rest of the world. Who makes more money? Has more fans? Has bigger Sponsors? Answer: the rest of the world not the US.
The women are but not the men.landshark77 said:
Whether one plays pool for a living or does anything else, one must look ahead with a calculated guess as to when one's income earning abilities in their current profession will likely end. Based on that guess, one must plan for a subsequent career or must put money aside until then to prepare financially for that moment. Sure it's tough to be thinking retirement when you're young, but I opened my first IRA at the age of 22. I was making the absolutely breathtaking sum of $275 a week in my first job out of college in 1980, so I had only minimal means with which to contribute to my retirement account, but I saw having an IRA as something I had to do for myself. I hope others see it this way, too.
Poolplayers and all athletes competing in a second-tier sport must understand that their longevity in professional competition is limited, and their capacity to finance their future life is minimal. So many of the great poolplayers of yesteryear had other jobs. Four time US Open champion Mizerak was a seventh grade teacher. Two time US open champion Tom Jennings was a college professor. US Open champion Joe Balsis and his entire family were in the meat business and US Open champion Irving Crane had a car dealership. Straight pool superstar Pete Margo was in the video business. Even the great ones understood that pool might not pay all the bills, and had other means of earning an income.
It is truly disheartening that professional poolplayers don't have it better, and I hope and pray that things improve for them, but I hope they are smart enough to do everything in their power to plan both their skills and/or their finances for life after pool.
Poolplayers and all athletes competing in a second-tier sport must understand that their longevity in professional competition is limited, and their capacity to finance their future life is minimal. So many of the great poolplayers of yesteryear had other jobs. Four time US Open champion Mizerak was a seventh grade teacher. Two time US open champion Tom Jennings was a college professor. US Open champion Joe Balsis and his entire family were in the meat business and US Open champion Irving Crane had a car dealership. Straight pool superstar Pete Margo was in the video business. Even the great ones understood that pool might not pay all the bills, and had other means of earning an income.
It is truly disheartening that professional poolplayers don't have it better, and I hope and pray that things improve for them, but I hope they are smart enough to do everything in their power to plan both their skills and/or their finances for life after pool.
I see this from a somewhat different perspective. Having played this game since I am 8 years old, I lived the life and I am still here to talk about it. Most of the people I used to run with are GONE. Though my health isn't much to be proud of, I am still on this side of the dirt and still going strong despite my physical handicaps. I have early onset Parkinson's Disease. At my age (I'm in my 40's) I am dealing with health issues that most people deal with in their 70's and 80's. I am not insurable, and employers (though impressed with my determination, my resume, and my drive) won't touch me with a ten foot pole. If it were not for my VA benefits, I would not have any healthcare whatsoever. Nobody expects to get this at my age, nobody is prepared for this at my age (Lord knows I wasn't), yet I remain positive not by being grateful for what I have (parkinson's) but I am grateful for what I don't have (Cancer, Paralysis, etc).
In my lifetime I have been a pool player, a radio DJ, involved in professional wrestling, a soldier, a room owner, a police officer, a truck driver, and I once owned my own production company. Throughout all those jobs, pool remained my passion and I would not trade it for anything. I have always been able to count on pool to lift my spirits and make me feel as if I am alive. When the balls are dropping and I am feeling great, its as if the world is in the palm of my hand. Nothing else did that for me - just pool. Last year when my disease rendered me unable to walk, work, or stand by myself, I found myself alone. The family didn't stand beside me. The job didn't stand beside me. House - Gone. Possessions - GONE. Money - GONE. In the end it was just me, God and my cue. In the last year I have figured out that since I was 8 years old, I have always had that - and it was all I ever really needed.
What is to become of me in the next few years? I choose to remain active. I choose to play the game of pool. I also choose not to suffer the same fate as some of those that couldn't handle the pressures of life away from the table. I choose to rely on God and not people. I believe that if you think you are limited - then you are. If you believe that the world has the power to hold you back - it will. But ... if you believe that God is in charge and on your side - you will never lose - because He won't allow the world to crush your dreams or your spirit.
In my lifetime I have been a pool player, a radio DJ, involved in professional wrestling, a soldier, a room owner, a police officer, a truck driver, and I once owned my own production company. Throughout all those jobs, pool remained my passion and I would not trade it for anything. I have always been able to count on pool to lift my spirits and make me feel as if I am alive. When the balls are dropping and I am feeling great, its as if the world is in the palm of my hand. Nothing else did that for me - just pool. Last year when my disease rendered me unable to walk, work, or stand by myself, I found myself alone. The family didn't stand beside me. The job didn't stand beside me. House - Gone. Possessions - GONE. Money - GONE. In the end it was just me, God and my cue. In the last year I have figured out that since I was 8 years old, I have always had that - and it was all I ever really needed.
What is to become of me in the next few years? I choose to remain active. I choose to play the game of pool. I also choose not to suffer the same fate as some of those that couldn't handle the pressures of life away from the table. I choose to rely on God and not people. I believe that if you think you are limited - then you are. If you believe that the world has the power to hold you back - it will. But ... if you believe that God is in charge and on your side - you will never lose - because He won't allow the world to crush your dreams or your spirit.
drivermaker
Banned
OldHasBeen said:
Two suggestions: Have all the dough packed in the casket with you and maybe you can be the biggest stakehorse on the other side....or...just will it to your daughter so she can stop hawkin' those posters.
drivermaker
Banned
Blackjack said:
Blackjack...that was a very touching and inspiring story. But is still doesn't address the old age plight of many other pro pool players that don't have "the faith" and whose creditors don't accept prayer for payment.
Also, as you've said, you'd be in deep doo-doo if you didn't have the vererans benefits. Many of them have never been in the service, nor even carry proper health insurance coverage currently. Hell, I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield with a $2,000 deductible and it runs me $295 a month in a state that's not so bad. Other states can be quite a bit higher, plus my rates will continue to go up each year due to age increases and higher Dr. and hospital costs which affect rates.
If you DO NOT carry health insurance in today's world and come down with something, this is probably the #1 factor that will bust someone of their savings and assets. You'll be in debt for life.
SJM said it right...it doesn't matter whether you're a pool player or not, you must plan. Question still goes back to....how many pool players have planned and actually doing?
Lassiter had millions go through his fingers throughout his life and died broke...so did Fats. Both of whom also LIVED broke in their later years.
Has the latest crop learned from any of this? I don't think so....we'll see....or we'll all continue to keep our heads in the sand like an ostrich or look the other way.
drivermaker
Banned
BiG_JoN said:Well...
How about every tournament, part of the entry fee (or total money involved) get put into a fund for a Pool Players Retirement?
Kind of like the Police have.
Oh sure....they'd ALL go for that.
Just like Danny's willing to have the UPA deduct the $100 for his membership dues. Hey...pension fund monies disappear or get swindled even in large corporations....what do you think would happen with it in pool? There would be more disappearing envelopes from under tables than you'd ever heard about before!
Since my original post was so long-winded and somewhat off topic . . . . . .
I think the answer to your original question is that, like the large percentage of Americans that don't take responsibility for their own later years unless they're forced to, most of the old pros will have a poor existence when their careers are behind them. It's a disturbing trend, now that many employers no longer provide "retirement" benefits.
Many people take the advice "live in the now" in directions it was never meant to point. If you know what I mean, and I think you do.
Scott
I think the answer to your original question is that, like the large percentage of Americans that don't take responsibility for their own later years unless they're forced to, most of the old pros will have a poor existence when their careers are behind them. It's a disturbing trend, now that many employers no longer provide "retirement" benefits.
Many people take the advice "live in the now" in directions it was never meant to point. If you know what I mean, and I think you do.
Scott
OldHasBeen
Tom Ferry
She Can't Be Stopped - I've Tried!
DriverMaker - She thinks she has found the financial resources (with the Poster) to pay all her spending money while boarding at St. Louis University (it is only about 8 miles from our house).
I had a hell of a time getting her to stop selling it long enough to get the copyrights and Buddy's endorsement.
She now wants her boyfriend to take her all over Missouri & Illinois this summer to sell reprographics in bars & poolrooms.
Oh - And I'm not going to be buried (according to my wife). She said she would just have me cremated and incorporated into some pool chalk. She will distribute it at a major tournament and I can make some ass hole players (I've met over the years), mis-cue at will.
TY & GL
drivermaker said:
DriverMaker - She thinks she has found the financial resources (with the Poster) to pay all her spending money while boarding at St. Louis University (it is only about 8 miles from our house).
I had a hell of a time getting her to stop selling it long enough to get the copyrights and Buddy's endorsement.
She now wants her boyfriend to take her all over Missouri & Illinois this summer to sell reprographics in bars & poolrooms.
Oh - And I'm not going to be buried (according to my wife). She said she would just have me cremated and incorporated into some pool chalk. She will distribute it at a major tournament and I can make some ass hole players (I've met over the years), mis-cue at will.
TY & GL
Blackjack said:
I don't know, but I think if you didn't have you veterans benefits you would be in trouble. Anyone can scrape by and makeing the car payment or light bill but you can't pay medical costs unless you have insurance or huge personal resources. Pool players NEED to have a real organization they can belong to that can provide them with at least the same benefits some guy working at McDonalds or the local hardware store has. Those guys are not making all that much money either but at least they won't die because they have no health insurance. I think the problem with many or most pool players is they want to live outside the rules. Few pay taxes or want to, they don't pay into SS, I think it is called a self employment tax, they seem to want to live an irresponsiblebut life but it will come with a cost at some point and they are fooling themselves. Like it or not, they have to be part of the system like everybody else.
drivermaker
Banned
OldHasBeen said:
LMAO...funny post. Too bad every young adult doesn't have that much get-up-and-go. You need to contact Trump and get her on "The Apprentice".
Since I'm not going to be cremated...do you think you could sacrifice a couple of slabs of ass cheek now to get the show on the road with the chalk idea. There's a few guys I'd like to dole out the chalk to. I'll pay premium filet mignon prices for it too.
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bruin70 said:
Bruin, you're completely missing my point. Actually, a perfect game in baseball would put half the television audience to sleep (I literally fell asleep in front of the television during a no-hitter). Golf's hole-in-one would look no different than any other shot. Bowling a 300 just looks like another strike which is what all television bowlers seem to do. A poker hand has no impact whatsoever unless probability is given prior to dealing the deciding card.
Pool is no different. It's just as boring as all the others UNLESS someone places some value on it. I'm sorry but having seen the popularity of billiards (especially pool) outside the US, I cannot completely dismiss the thought of pool being popular here.
As to your comment about 8-ball, I know what most of America plays. I'm completely aware of it. However, although I do think some people may find it interesting to see 8-ball played on a professional level, I don't think people REALLY care one way or another about which game is being played. Besides, 8-ball is going to have similar problems that 9-ball currently faces. It simply lacks a high-run. Also, you're right. We are talking about what I like but because I like it, I've also gotten an opportunity to see who else likes it. You'd be surprised. When I was working with DoubleClick, Inc., we had a pooltable in the office. Everyone knew I was a good poolplayer but nobody really paid attention until I played straight pool. They found the patterns fascinating and wondered how long it would be before I missed (it didn't take long).
What you must realize about pool on television is that the majority of those watching only care about seeing two things: balls pocketed and a winner. They don't have a clue as to the rules of 9-ball or 7-ball or 10-ball and could care less about whether 8-ball is ever on television. The advantage to straight pool is the tally. It is the true game of champions having moved away from a game that required a shooter to pocket no more than 4 balls to win the rack. Ironically, today the shooter is required to pocket no more than 1 to achieve the same feat.
Listen, they put straight pool on television and I am willing to bet that pool will do no worse. In a worst-case scenario, the average audience member won't even notice. In a best-case scenario, they'll wait until the guy misses and that could take an hour. Simply put, you can provide the audience with more information about what is going on with straight pool than you can with any other pool game. Being also a poker-player, I watch games all the time. In fact, I'll play in four games at a time and watch a few tables with friends on them. In reality, without active production, poker is pretty darn boring. I can even watch celebrity poker because of the well-done production and it really hinges on the provided information. You feel more educated about the game afterward. Any move toward improving television production in pool MUST focus on this approach. I think they should change the game BUT even if they don't, the focus remains the same.
Purdman
Banned
My 2 cents
You get out of life what you put into it! Spending most of your time in a pool hall trying to take money from any sucker comming in door doesn't exactly contribute a great deal to the world in general. You reap what you sow. I will buy you a meal but I ain't gonna feel sorry for ya. We all put ourselves where we are today. It was the decisions that we made along the line got us here.
Purdman
You get out of life what you put into it! Spending most of your time in a pool hall trying to take money from any sucker comming in door doesn't exactly contribute a great deal to the world in general. You reap what you sow. I will buy you a meal but I ain't gonna feel sorry for ya. We all put ourselves where we are today. It was the decisions that we made along the line got us here.
Purdman