cardiac kid said:
Hi JAM, I challenge this thread to name some American world class players who became millionaires off the game of pool. Some will say Ronnie Allen. I want a player who still is! Sorry, Harry doesn't count! Didn't come from pool. We had this argument locally. Only one I know of is Larry Hubbart of the APA. His partner may be. I don't know that guys background. From their recent successes, Allen and Dawn Hopkins may be approaching that status. Whats your guess?
I cannot think of one single American world-class pool player who has earned a million dollars or more from playing competitive pool via tournaments. Again, the expenses far exceed any potential to profit gainfully. Gambling, though, is another story. Due to the very nature of the disease, those who may have made a million bucks gambling have, more than likely, lost it back plus some, sad to say.
It is very telling when world-class players leave the game. I read with great interest the recent article in InsidePOOL magazine about Jimmy "Pretty Boy Floyd" Mataya, a great personality in the history of the sport. When a player is on top of their game, everybody loves a winner. When a player stumbles, grows old, or experiences a few setbacks in life, they're a loser, scum of the earth, and a punching bag for a few sick trolls on the Internet. Pool players come in many colors, but they are only human beings, capable of making bad judgments and mistakes in life, just like me.
Champions like Allen Hopkins, Jim Rempe, Mike Sigel, and others who have left the competitive arena to pursue other endeavors in the industry must have seen the forecast up ahead and were smart to get the hell out of the pit.
Steve Mitzerak, Willie Mosconi, and Minnesota Fats are three names that come to mind who managed to make a living in this beloved game due to media exposure. To date, there has not been one single pool player who has filled their shoes in the media.
Pool on TV needs a personality, not so much one single person. With the exception of the Skins Billiards Championship, which I thought was really cool and exciting, pool on TV is almost robotic. Even I turn the channel at times because it is boring, and I understand the game. Imagine what the non-pool-playing public thinks of pool when they tune in.
Is there a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Cardiac Kid, for an aspiring pool player? Not in today's pool world. We can only hope that those who have the ability to transform this game into a legitimate sport will attract sorely needed non-pool-related sponsors, like the Hilton Hotel, and if and when this happens, we may see a new horizon. JMHO, FWIW!
JAM
