When did pro players started needing backers (for tournaments and everything else)?

[Corwyn_8]

you think education and healthcare should be completely free also, right?

Nothing is free. So the question becomes are we a better society if everyone is healthy and educated or not? If there was an outbreak of Ebola, would you want only rich people who could afford a treatment to be cured, and all the rest left to infect others? How much would you be willing to pay to not have people contagious with Ebola wandering around? Who would you be willing to pay?

Thank you kindly.

 

[shanesinnott]

Pro pool players don't make as much as you apparently think they do, especially considering the expenses involved. Just how many millions do you think Shane has made?

http://www.azbilliards.com/people/azb-money-leaderboard/all-time/all/

Shane is 3rd on the all time money list with $1,402,942. Not quite millions but still pretty good!

 

[GideonF]

Someone was asking in another thread how much it costs to go to the DCC. It's not cheap. How many top champion players went there and either didn't cash or didn't cash for much? Plenty.

So, just going to a tournament out of state, paying the entry fee and expenses is a gamble, and a good number of players will lose money on the deal. Now assume that this pro gets into action and loses a few thousand dollars. How are they going to get home? Pay their bills, feed their kids?

Or say the player wins $5,000 in prize money but then loses it in a money game. If the game isn't close to a 50:50 proposition, then someone is making a bad bet. Top players are therefore either playing other top player or giving huge weight.

Playing professional pool is a very hard way to make an easy living.

So I can certainly see why a pro would like backer, who may pay the expenses, entry fee, and take a cut of the winnings. And I can see why 25% of the upside and none of the downside is better than 100% of the upside and 100% of the downside. Plus, the backer may well be able to put in much more cash, so that the total payout to the winning player (even net of the backer's cut) is much more than the player could make if playing with their own bank roll.

Gideon

 

[justinb386]

when these Filipino players play here in the Philippines, they usually play with their own money. if the bet becomes significantly high (about $1500+ then someone would probably be backing up the players).
When players like Dennis go to the US though, they're backed-up already starting from their travel/hotel expenses to the tournament, not to mention the Filipinos in the US also willing to back them up for money matches. it's easy money for these players, and even if they do not earn that much because of "percentage-cut" when using someone else's money, bringing home US dollars to the Philippines is still a big deal. it's always win-win. (especially now that the rate of US dollar is consistently increasing for the past couple of months)

I am curious if the top European players that come over to the US also need or use backers for all their expenses. Another question is, do any of these international players have a sponsor that covers all of their expenses, so that they get 100% of their tournament earnings?

 

[justinb386]

,,...........

 

[Dockter]

If there weren't backers then no one would be wondering if a 50k match was real or not because chances are there wouldn't be one. If someone was smart with brm they are only going to use 2-3% of their bankroll per match. Most would go broke pretty fast if they played strictly on their money.

 

[Pugsley]

If you think of the backers as employers it makes more sense. Compensation comes in the form of travel and other expenses instead of a salary. Wins equal a bonus yet losses don't cut your pay. Not saying it's always fair but what is. Rarely does the person with the talent receive the lions share of the revenue they generate.

 

[justinb386]

Backers are part of the Pool world because they are the gamblers, sometimes even beyond the players.

I have backed guys that didnt want to play because they didn't think could win, but once I got them up there, it was game on. We win or lose, but that's gambling.

Backers also keep the Pool halls full. Many times theres nothing happening until a backer comes in the room, once that happens the buzz starts and Pool room owners Love that, its good for the Pool hall and for the players that aren't even involved in the action because it creates movement.

Yeah, you make a great point. Pool needs backers to create action. I was only curious why even the top elite pro's need or use backers. Those guys should have sponsors , and have enough money to not need a backer for any money games. But maybe there are no sponsors anymore , like there once was, maybe back in the 80s, when all the pro's were playing for Meucci. The sport has a lot more sponsorship money back then, right? Maybe thanks to The color of Money fame. Back then, there was a lot more sponsorship money, right?

 

[Dockter]

Yeah, you make a great point. Pool needs backers to create action. I was only curious why even the top elite pro's need or use backers. Those guys should have sponsors , and have enough money to not need a backer for any money games. But maybe there are no sponsors anymore , like there once was, maybe back in the 80s, when all the pro's were playing for Meucci. The sport has a lot more sponsorship money back then, right? Maybe thanks to The color of Money fame. Back then, there was a lot more sponsorship money, right?

It's crazy how little sponsors actually do in most cases. You might get airfare and some free equipment and they MIGHT pay a portion of your buy-in but rarely do they receive any true cash. And most legitimate sponsors don't want to be associated with gambling so they will put on exhibitions but not front any money for a player.

 

[justinb386]

Nothing is free. So the question becomes are we a better society if everyone is healthy and educated or not? If there was an outbreak of Ebola, would you want only rich people who could afford a treatment to be cured, and all the rest left to infect others? How much would you be willing to pay to not have people contagious with Ebola wandering around? Who would you be willing to pay?

Thank you kindly.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing after reading that reply. I do not know about education (because if you work hard and make good grades, then you can get grants and scholarships), but I think that free healthcare is really needed for those who can't afford it. Like the flu shot for example. Imagine how many people would not get the flu if the government offered the flu shot for free, to those that are under a certain income bracket. I always thought that maybe Canada had a good healthcare system, because they care about keeping all of their people healthy , and not just greedy over the money aspect . I think the US is a greedy place.

 

[garczar]

History geek alert:

($ome) Billiard/pool players have had "backers" since Jesus wore diapers.


As you were.

Exactly. And if two pros are playing each other there is a high probability that there is "business" being done. Terrible to say,maybe, but i've seen it happen on many occasions.