Who Watched THE Match?

[Cornerman]

In the last set, did Mike break and run the last 5 or 6 racks? I watched like 2 minutes of it then I had to leave. I saw LJJ play some very poor patterns and miss a ball before I left. How good did Mike play?

For a professional, he played below par for what they showed. He was nervous, tight, and out of sorts.

Fred

 

[catscradle]

They weren't buckets. Not in the least. I'm confused at other people's comments. The table was an Olhausen Pro, which already has tough pockets. The pockets looked shimmed to make the opening even smaller than out normal.

I think people are saying that the pockets were loose because some balls rattled and dropped. But on loose equipment, they wouldn't have rattled; they would have just dropped. I don't recall one ball that dropped if it hit a rail on the way in.

Fred

It was mentioned that the corners were 4 1/2 inches which are not buckets. Most of the misses I saw would have been misses on 6 inch pockets. I assume the sides were smaller as well. Though I like the idea of tighter pockets, I really thought the show was terrible.

 

[9 Ball Girl]

For a professional, he played below par for what they showed. He was nervous, tight, and out of sorts.

Fred

I think that goes for both of them. Now, did I hear Kim Davenport correctly when Loree pulled out the bridge and Kim said that that's not a good thing to use or something like that??? Since when???

 

[Icon of Sin]

Pool players at home. Pool players at home. THIS IS NOT GEARED TOWARD POOL PLAYERS!!!!!! This is geared specifically toward non pool players. I didn't get to see it because they don't have FSN in Cuba, but come on I don't want to hear any more about how this isn't any good because it's not what pool players want to see. Order accustats tapes if you want to see pool, or I'm sure that eventually, KT will provide pool oriented tapes of these matches, but the TV spots are NOT going to be geared toward POOL PLAYERS. What will it take to get it through some of your heads that pool doesn't need to garner the support of the pool community to get bigger, we'll watch it just because it's pool. It needs to garner the non pool playing community. DUH!!!!!

Calm Down.

First of all you didn't even see it, so how can you properly defend it. And your whole post is only attacking the first sentence of mine. The rest of my post was talking about the poor quality of the commentators and also a mention of Pool Players and NON POOL PLAYERS if you read into it a bit more.

I didnt say it sucked, I said it was OK. Big difference there. I even said I would watch it again if it was on.

The show should be somewhat geared to Pool Players at home anyway, at least a little bit, other then the small moments of pool crammed in with all the other BS. And stuff like this does need to garner the support of the pool community because the pool community is what mostly makes itself larger, not Pool on TV or somthing like what we saw.

We play pool with our friends who dont play, some become interested and some dont. Those that do become interested play with their friends and so on and so forth. This is the best way to make pool bigger. Not by a 1 hour special that aired at 11:30pm (not exactly prime time) where I am, that has a pretty announcer interviewing Mario Lopez.

Same analogy can be said with Football. Is football airings geared toward the non football fan. Not Really. I don't like football and their is nothing interesting to me going on during an airing of football that would make me want to watch it, other then superbowl commercials.

IMO, the best media airing that you can do to attract players to the game would be trick shots. Here is an example: I dont watch more bowling on TV and I dont really bowl that much either. I would usually flip past it on TV and look for somthing better on. However on ESPN the other day they had trick shot bowling event on. They showed guys throwing more then 1 ball down the lane, making pins skip lanes and stuff like that. I watched the entire thing.

Other than that, the best way of making the pool community bigger other then itself would be a new Pool Movie. Im not talking about another Poolhall Junkies or that Freddie Prinz Jr straight to DVD thing coming out. Im talking about a big director big movie American film like what Color of Money was.

 

[Cornerman]

I think that goes for both of them. Now, did I hear Kim Davenport correctly when Loree pulled out the bridge and Kim said that that's not a good thing to use or something like that??? Since when???

I think it was Kim's advance pool playing that crept into the microphone. LJJ had put herself into a spot that forced her to draw the ball with the bridge, with the cueball heading towards another ball.

I think he simply said "this doesn't look good," or something like that, but I think that's what I said, too. And, LJJ did in fact draw the ball right on top of another ball, but got enough space to jack her bridge and make the 8-ball.

The duff comment was the "snooker players use the bridge, but pool players don't much." LJJ was known at one point to be one of the better female bridge users in her day.

Fred

 

[Purdman]

I do not understand why folks are bashing the first televised IPT tourney. Hell, I least you all got to see it! I was flippin' channels all night to see if I could find it! I know that everyone is entitled to how they feel and their opinion, but give the man some credit. You say it's boring, but I'm sure you love those accu-stats tapes! Then again, what serious pool player wouldn't, but if I remember correctly, the idea is to target those that are not serious about pool.

Do you think someone who is a recreational player would really get all giddy about an accu-stats tape!?! As far as the commentary goes, KT said that they haven't settled on a permanent one as of yet. This was well after the tournament was finished if I remember correctly, I could be wrong. It's the first show people, KT even said that there were some things that could have been done better himself. Just because millions were put in the production of this thing, doesn't mean it was going to be perfect on the first try.

Perhaps it is because everything that came out of KT's mouth was a blatent lie. International, BS. Largest payout in the history of the game, BS. Two reining 8 ball champions, BS. All KT is trying to do is sell his book and bogus products. They both played like ball bangers. Anybody who swollows this horse sh!t is a fool. It had absolutly nothing to do with professional pool! It is all hype. The IPT apeals to all those folks who have no marketable skills and hope to make a quick buck with a pool cue. In other words, the bums of the universe. In my opinion, it is a total fraud.
Purdman

 

[ShootingArts]

the audience was treated like idiots

Pool players at home. Pool players at home. THIS IS NOT GEARED TOWARD POOL PLAYERS!!!!!! This is geared specifically toward non pool players. I didn't get to see it because they don't have FSN in Cuba, but come on I don't want to hear any more about how this isn't any good because it's not what pool players want to see. Order accustats tapes if you want to see pool, or I'm sure that eventually, KT will provide pool oriented tapes of these matches, but the TV spots are NOT going to be geared toward POOL PLAYERS. What will it take to get it through some of your heads that pool doesn't need to garner the support of the pool community to get bigger, we'll watch it just because it's pool. It needs to garner the non pool playing community. DUH!!!!!

The audience was treated like idiots. Even idiots don't like being treated like idiots, nobody else does either. Some early bits of information given out: The WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP! Battle of the Sexes! Mike hasn't competed in ten years. Lori is still the heavy underdog. All this sure reminded me of a certain super-hyped tennis match you may be too young to remember. Then the way someone in the booth was talking to the audience was nothing short of condescending, I believe this was Kevin himself.

The total package of the event was far from what it could have been. The pool world with high hopes of someday making a buck off of the tour can proclaim "pretty good for a first effort." The problem is that for the rest of the world that saw this, it was the only chance to make a first impression.

Anyone of average intelligence realized that they were watching an exhibition that was trying to be passed off as a serious event. I wouldn't have bought it had they drug out a player in any sport that they said hadn't competed in ten years and a woman that they said was a heavy underdog to him and called it a world championship.

It seemed like Trudeau wanted to go fourteen directions at once with this production and as usually happens with no clear "message" failed to achieve much of anything except filling airtime. Of course this isn't the real start. Neither is the invitational. Another production like this from the invitational and the average person who stumbles onto the "real beginning" of the IPT isn't going to slow down clicking on the remote.

Hu

 

[LastTwo]

Perhaps it is because everything that came out of KT's mouth was a blatent lie. International, BS. Largest payout in the history of the game, BS. Two reining 8 ball champions, BS. All KT is trying to do is sell his book and bogus products. They both played like ball bangers. Anybody who swollows this horse sh!t is a fool. It had absolutly nothing to do with professional pool! It is all hype. The IPT apeals to all those folks who have no marketable skills and hope to make a quick buck with a pool cue. In other words, the bums of the universe. In my opinion, it is a total fraud.
Purdman

Hey hey hey, come on Donald...you know that just about every pro pool player is interested in it. You cant call them all bums, they are just being optimists. The pool players got nothing to lose. Lets wait and see what happens.

 

[catscradle]

Perhaps it is because everything that came out of KT's mouth was a blatent lie. International, BS. Largest payout in the history of the game, BS. Two reining 8 ball champions, BS. All KT is trying to do is sell his book and bogus products. They both played like ball bangers. Anybody who swollows this horse sh!t is a fool. It had absolutly nothing to do with professional pool! It is all hype. The IPT apeals to all those folks who have no marketable skills and hope to make a quick buck with a pool cue. In other words, the bums of the universe. In my opinion, it is a total fraud.
Purdman

Tell us how you really feel. I think you and I share a common opinion of KT. I was ripped a new a-hole once before when I expressed my opinion of his business ethics (or lack thereof). I'm glad that I'm not alone in my opinion.

 

[Icon of Sin]

The audience was treated like idiots. Even idiots don't like being treated like idiots, nobody else does either. Some early bits of information given out: The WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP! Battle of the Sexes! Mike hasn't competed in ten years. Lori is still the heavy underdog. All this sure reminded me of a certain super-hyped tennis match you may be too young to remember. Then the way someone in the booth was talking to the audience was nothing short of condescending, I believe this was Kevin himself.

The total package of the event was far from what it could have been. The pool world with high hopes of someday making a buck off of the tour can proclaim "pretty good for a first effort." The problem is that for the rest of the world that saw this, it was the only chance to make a first impression.

Anyone of average intelligence realized that they were watching an exhibition that was trying to be passed off as a serious event. I wouldn't have bought it had they drug out a player in any sport that they said hadn't competed in ten years and a woman that they said was a heavy underdog to him and called it a world championship.

It seemed like Trudeau wanted to go fourteen directions at once with this production and as usually happens with no clear "message" failed to achieve much of anything except filling airtime. Of course this isn't the real start. Neither is the invitational. Another production like this from the invitational and the average person who stumbles onto the "real beginning" of the IPT isn't going to slow down clicking on the remote.

Hu

I fully agree with everything you said. Especially how the match seemed more like an exhibition then a "World Championship". Were there matches that the players had to go through to get to this final match? I don't even know. If not, then how were they picked to have one of them picked as world champion over anyone else in the pool pro community?

 

[Jaden]

Perhaps it is because everything that came out of KT's mouth was a blatent lie. International, BS. Largest payout in the history of the game, BS. Two reining 8 ball champions, BS. All KT is trying to do is sell his book and bogus products. They both played like ball bangers. Anybody who swollows this horse sh!t is a fool. It had absolutly nothing to do with professional pool! It is all hype. The IPT apeals to all those folks who have no marketable skills and hope to make a quick buck with a pool cue. In other words, the bums of the universe. In my opinion, it is a total fraud.
Purdman

You're a sad sad man. The hype may very well be what's necesary to elevate pool to where it should be. Every sport that has succeeded has done so with an element of hype. You can't have success in todays market without it.

And the universe's bums? I know several players who would rival the pros except that there's no way they can justify going pro because of the lack of money in the game, are these people that make over six figures doing other jobs the bums you're referring to? Besides which, there are many people who can't justify spending the time practicing to get to that level because there's no way they could even survive if they can't by some miracle be the absolute best.

I was lucky in that I was at a job where I could practice 12-15 hours a day six or seven days a week, but that ain't the norm. Hell, that ain't even the norm for most pros. I don't even even have the stamina to do that anymore. So it could be too late for me, but this might very well be what the next generation needs to be able to really make professional pool something that is respected and respectable.

The fact that most pros have to go around and play money games just to make a decent living is pathetic. That's what takes away from the respectability of pool. Of course, many people in the pool community like that aspect of the game and I don't mind it. I just think that the game would be better if the pros were just that. PROFESSIONAL, and the kind of money and viewership that this type of marketing may provide is EXACTLY what pool needs to get out from under the cloud of disrepute that it has been stuck in these many years.

 

[chefjeff]

Pool players at home. Pool players at home. THIS IS NOT GEARED TOWARD POOL PLAYERS!!!!!! This is geared specifically toward non pool players. I didn't get to see it because they don't have FSN in Cuba, but come on I don't want to hear any more about how this isn't any good because it's not what pool players want to see. Order accustats tapes if you want to see pool, or I'm sure that eventually, KT will provide pool oriented tapes of these matches, but the TV spots are NOT going to be geared toward POOL PLAYERS. What will it take to get it through some of your heads that pool doesn't need to garner the support of the pool community to get bigger, we'll watch it just because it's pool. It needs to garner the non pool playing community. DUH!!!!!

Good point, Jaden and right on, imho.

When in Peoria this year, Steve Tipton (ref and producer of WPBA events) was talking to the crowd of about 500 pool players/spectators. His comment was that ESPN already has us (serious pool fanatics) hooked and we will watch a match at 2 am just as much as we would at 2pm. He was indicating that the money is not going to come from those present who are addicted to pool but from the general public, if we can reach them. This IPT show was specifically designed to reach the general public...with ENTERTAINMENT as the draw, not necessarily "pool."

fwiw,

Jeff Livingston

 

[deadstroke32]

The best thing? Maybe its because you're 22. I dozed off after about 5 or 10 minutes. It didn't grasp my attention at all. When I woke up it was still on and I changed the channel. I guess some will like it and some won't. I didn't care for it.

I did to .when i woke up .LJ shot at the 2 ball up the long rail ,Y ? The 6 ball was dead ..then that was all she wrote.It was ok.

 

[Tbeaux]

Lets see......tally,tally,tally
hmmmm......seems
25%- think it's the greatest thing to happen to pool (they missed Mosconi/Fats)
25%- satisfied with things (reasonable)
25%- slightly dis-satisfied (reasonable)
25%- think KT should take his marbles and go home
25%- are deaf and blind ( both stated and seen...4 1/2" pockets were used, shallow shelf, normal pocket cut)
25%- male chauvanist porkers
25%- think think the players dress sloppily
75%- think KT should stay out of the booth

Terry< unofficial tally man

 

[Purdman]

You're a sad sad man. The hype may very well be what's necesary to elevate pool to where it should be. Every sport that has succeeded has done so with an element of hype. You can't have success in todays market without it.

And the universe's bums? I know several players who would rival the pros except that there's no way they can justify going pro because of the lack of money in the game, are these people that make over six figures doing other jobs the bums you're referring to? Besides which, there are many people who can't justify spending the time practicing to get to that level because there's no way they could even survive if they can't by some miracle be the absolute best.

I was lucky in that I was at a job where I could practice 12-15 hours a day six or seven days a week, but that ain't the norm. Hell, that ain't even the norm for most pros. I don't even even have the stamina to do that anymore. So it could be too late for me, but this might very well be what the next generation needs to be able to really make professional pool something that is respected and respectable.

The fact that most pros have to go around and play money games just to make a decent living is pathetic. That's what takes away from the respectability of pool. Of course, many people in the pool community like that aspect of the game and I don't mind it. I just think that the game would be better if the pros were just that. PROFESSIONAL, and the kind of money and viewership that this type of marketing may provide is EXACTLY what pool needs to get out from under the cloud of disrepute that it has been stuck in these many years.

No Jaden, I am not a sad sad man. I am actually very happy. I have a wonderful pool playing wife, great kids, a good job, nice home, decent cars, a pro pool table, nice clothes, am getting ready to retire. If you spend 10 to 12 hours a day seven days a week playing pool, I guarentee you you don't have doodly squat, including a life. How about you telling me exactly what a professional pool player contributes to society. You can't buddy, all they are trying to do is make their NUT. At least if you are working at McD.'s, you are helping feed people. I am not knocking all pros either. If you think KT, the fellon, credit card fraud, snake oil salesman is going to do anything for pool, you are wrong. He is making it worse than it is. The players are the only ones who can make a differance. What you are witnessing is pure greed.
Good luck with your career. I hope youmake it .
Purdman

 

[Jaden]

ok.

No Jaden, I am not a sad sad man. I am actually very happy. I have a wonderful pool playing wife, great kids, a good job, nice home, decent cars, a pro pool table, nice clothes, am getting ready to retire. If you spend 10 to 12 hours a day seven days a week playing pool, I guarentee you you don't have doodly squat, including a life. How about you telling me exactly what a professional pool player contributes to society. You can't buddy, all they are trying to do is make their NUT. At least if you are working at McD.'s, you are helping feed people. I am not knocking all pros either. If you think KT, the fellon, credit card fraud, snake oil salesman is going to do anything for pool, you are wrong. He is making it worse than it is. The players are the only ones who can make a differance. What you are witnessing is pure greed.
Good luck with your career. I hope youmake it .
Purdman

actually I said that I did, not that I do. I'm defending your nation by giving Intelligence support AWAY from my Wife and Kids in Guantanamo Bay Cuba. I can't play pool at all right now. I said that I was lucky to have a job where I could, but as it seems from some of your other posts, you read only what you want to read, and interpret things only from your limited prespective.

I was working at a pool hall where I was able to play all day when not checking out balls and then play even after the place normally closed with the owner and friends. I would go around to all of the tournaments and was able for a while to make a decent living from it even though I only got free pool and 5 dollars and hour running the pool hall. Yes, most pool players don't contribute anything to society except for corruptability and greed and that's a sad state of affairs. I'm hoping that with proper marketing, pro pool players will be able to cntribute spmething positive. If you had actually read my posts with an open mind you would've seen that, but it appears you are inundated with hate for anything IPT or KT and won't be able to see past your own nose. sorry, that's all I'm gonna say on the subject.

 

[The Kiss]

First off why is Siegal even involved? Lori Jon as good as she plays, she looks even better..So we know why she is there..So how come we did'nt have Fisher or Corr play who are at least at the top of their games??

The commentary was a joke one of the people in the booth had no clue what they were talking about?? Siegal was mentioned as the top player of all time????wtf ect, ect....This match up stinks the self promotion aspect is fantastic...Basically it seems to me he will use the IPT tour as an infomercial for his own products....Great idea but majority of viewers want to see the pool not some huckster....

Last night sucked maybe it will get better, seems to me Siegal is the guys technical advisor...Who knows

 

[Cornerman]

First off why is Siegal even involved?

If it wasn't for Sigel, Kevin Trudeau may have never gone into this venture.

Lori Jon as good as she plays, she looks even better..So we know why she is there..So how come we did'nt have Fisher or Corr play who are at least at the top of their games??

Someone reported that they asked Fisher first, but she declined. Nevertheless, this came down to a battle of Hall of Famers. I think Jean Balukas and Loree Jon Jones werer the logical choices.

The commentary was a joke one of the people in the booth had no clue what they were talking about?? Siegal was mentioned as the top player of all time????wtf ect, ect....

Mike Sigel is arguably the greatest all-around player that ever wielded a pool cue. He has won more professional tournaments than any other pool player. He certainly is deserved to be mentioned as one of the best ever. I believe that he was listed as the #2 player of all time, according to the recent Billiards Digest poll. You have issues with that?


Fred

 

[Colin Colenso]

No Jaden, I am not a sad sad man. I am actually very happy. I have a wonderful pool playing wife, great kids, a good job, nice home, decent cars, a pro pool table, nice clothes, am getting ready to retire. If you spend 10 to 12 hours a day seven days a week playing pool, I guarentee you you don't have doodly squat, including a life. How about you telling me exactly what a professional pool player contributes to society. You can't buddy, all they are trying to do is make their NUT. At least if you are working at McD.'s, you are helping feed people. I am not knocking all pros either. If you think KT, the fellon, credit card fraud, snake oil salesman is going to do anything for pool, you are wrong. He is making it worse than it is. The players are the only ones who can make a differance. What you are witnessing is pure greed.
Good luck with your career. I hope youmake it .
Purdman

Hi Purdman,
I think what pool players contribute, that is if they want to make money out of what they do, is much the same as any other entertainers, burger flippers of carpenters. They need to offer some value to people.

What would Tiger Woods' contribution to the world be without the mechanics of the event operators and partners that put it all in place be? Very little, other than to entertain himself and a few friends.

There's a long way to go before KT can show he can provide the entertainment or leverage the marketing such that he offers something to people that they want through the IPT.

Most business runs by the bottom line, call that greed if you will, but it must do so by giving people what they are willing to exchange their cash and time and efforts for.

I don't like exaggerations or mis-truths myself, but I see that is how the money wheel spins in hollywood and mass-media. I hope these issues improve, as in the end, authenticity, sincerity and honesty engenders loyalty, something all brands aspire to.

 

[alstl]

I missed it, is this going to be televised on a regular basis, and if so where can I find a schedule?

Thanks