Why does pool need big money?

[poolmouse]

For every great player out there now there is probably a hundred that gave up the game because there was no money or future in the game.

a reasonable person recognises this early on.

This will change.

let's hope so...until then, let's be realistic and look at the top 20 overall in pool (earnings):

http://azbilliards.com/thepros/2000thepros.cfm?year=2005

...now compare with golf:

http://www.pga.com/tournaments/money-leaders/pga_money_leaders.cfm
http://www.pga.com/tournaments/money-leaders/lpga_money_leaders.cfm
http://www.pga.com/tournaments/money-leaders/champions_money_leaders.cfm

pool is simply not a viable profession for a responsible person.

poolmouse

 

[poolmouse]

Just curious, but are you grouping teachers and entertainers in with your "reckless and irresponsible" comment? There are a few of us out there making six figure incomes, EVERY YEAR! There is a fan base of 'hard core' players (defined as those that play at least once a week) of four million, just in this country. IMO there could be hundreds of players doing what I do, and doing it successfully...given that they could develop the attitude, patience and skill necessary to pull it off consistently. Most of them choose not to, for any of a number of reasons.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

see my previous post...

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=460623&postcount=40

many of us make six figures a year...and we play the game as a sport...no disillusion of grandeur.

poolmouse

 

[Dhakala]

... this is the moment every pool player has been waiting-praying to happen for 50+ years or longer. To play professional pool and have a chance at making a decent living. That is not asking for much, in my opnion, every american wants that chance. My 2 cents worth!

I don't know many Americans who want a chance to make a living playing anything, let alone pool! My teenaged son is one exception, but that's my fault.

Normal people want to produce something of enduring value to others, not get paid for showing off. That's why I'm trying to turn Tony on to cuemaking.

I'm not picking on pool pros in particular. EVERYONE who gets paid for letting people watch him play a game is showing off... Tiger Woods, John Elway, Anna Kournikova... all showoffs. We needn't even get into Earl.

 

[catscradle]

It's a mystery to me is why so many people on this board think that pool players deserve to make a lot of money. It's as though just because there is big money in other sports like golf and tennis there should be big money for every sport. I mean, who cares whether pro pool players are making a lot of money or not? Does the amount they play for increase your enjoyment or what?

Flame away...

I don't suppose I really care, but on the other hand I don't begrudge them the money. It isn't like they're getting a several million a year like a lot mediocre players in other sports. It could generate more interest in pool and that I would like to see happen.

 

[Blackjack]

Those that are gunning for these top purses should have a maturity level that is directly proportional to the level of responsibilty required to handle that much money. If that is not the case, then today's big prize money celebrations could turn into tomorrow's "Where Are They Now" tragic stories. Many (not all) of the players I know have bankrolls that drip like a leaky faucet for a variety of different reasons. There are some that I know that know how to make wise choices in their life and in their finances. It depends on the player, but I believe that a gradual advancement in prize money that was commensurrate with the growth of the tour would have given some of the players time to adjust. There was no adjustment period and now there are wolves circling the flocks - and some players are already finding themselves in bad deals that really were not necessary to begin with. With no protection, some of these players stand to lose more than they will make. That is an avoidable circumstance that they will regret for a very long time. The money can be a good thing, as long as they proceed wisely and with caution. I do believe that the IPT has a duty and a responsibility to protect their players from the wolves, however they have no policy pertaining to that.

 

[vagabond]

I do believe that the IPT has a duty and a responsibility to protect their players from the wolves,

The biggest wolf is the game of Black Jack.They take their winnings to BlackJack table and loose everything.

 

[PoolSharkAllen]

It depends on the player, but I believe that a gradual advancement in prize money that was commensurrate with the growth of the tour would have given some of the players time to adjust. There was no adjustment period and now there are wolves circling the flocks - and some players are already finding themselves in bad deals that really were not necessary to begin with. With no protection, some of these players stand to lose more than they will make. That is an avoidable circumstance that they will regret for a very long time. The money can be a good thing, as long as they proceed wisely and with caution. I do believe that the IPT has a duty and a responsibility to protect their players from the wolves, however they have no policy pertaining to that.

Blackjack,
With the money that IPT players are now making, can you expand on your comment about wolves circling the flocks? Who is preying on the players and why are the players finding themselves in bad deals?

There were two articles in the latest issue of Billiards Digest, in which it was mentioned that Mark Trainer had signed management contracts with as many as 20 IPT players. Would this be what you had in mind by "wolves circling the flocks"? It appears that some well-known players like Parica, Eberle, Sigel, Manalo, Souquet and Orcollo have signed multi-year management contracts with Trainer. According to BD, many of the contracts for the top players are very one-sided and should have been reviewed by their attourneys.

Trainer is offering the players' monthly advances to pay for living expenses, and is paying for the players' travel expenses. He's also dangling the possibility of endorsement deals. In exchange, after the advances are backed out, Trainer's gets 20-50% of the players' prize money. For the players on the low to mid-level tiers who are barely scraping by, this might be an acceptable deal. However, for the players on the upper echelons, they can probably do much better on their own.