Why don't Pro Players have jobs?

[LoReNz]

Right on... My 9-5 lifestyle prevents me from even becomming a "good" player... I'd love to travel to more tournaments and practice 10 hours a day, but I am lucky if I can make to the poolhall 3 times a week for just a few hours.

And anyway, professional athletes in other sports don't have "real" jobs. If you are good enough to be a professional pool player, I would think pool would have to the take place of a "real" job. And the rest of us will just have to go to work, and try to contain our jealousy.

i totally agree with that!!! i have a 9-5 job M-F and its really hard to play pool after work because you're all tired..

 

[Black-Balled]

... would say 80% of the top players in the world gamble and it doesnt seem to hurt their image at all...

It hasn't hurt their image? So where's their sponsors then?

You nailed it EXACTLY on the head.

I don't think the sponsors stay away coz of the gambling. I think (an over-simplification of the matter) is:
1. Nobody but pool players care about pool
2. Pool-related supplies do not provide a profit large enough to pay sponsored players 10s of $k a year for an intangible benefit.
3. See 1& 2 for the lack of non-pool related sponsors.

Opinions...like a bunghole.

 

[catscradle]

I don't think the sponsors stay away coz of the gambling. I think (an over-simplification of the matter) is:
1. Nobody but pool players care about pool
2. Pool-related supplies do not provide a profit large enough to pay sponsored players 10s of $k a year for an intangible benefit.
3. See 1& 2 for the lack of non-pool related sponsors.

Opinions...like a bunghole.

Ding, ding, ding, I think we have a winner. Good synopsis, I think the operative point is the first you made. Lots of people care about football, baseball, basketball, NASCAR, and, yes, even soccer; very few care about pool. If people aren't watching, sponsers aren't interested.

 

[DaveK]

80% of the top players in the world HAVE sponsors,im not sure what you were trying to say but gambling is not the reason that pool isnt as big as some sports these days.it was well known that michael jordon gambled high,nike didnt seem to care.same with tiger woods,he gambles high yet hes a household name.let me ask you this........... do you consider paying a cash entry into a pool tournament gambling? i do,you play the field and get odds on the money basically.so what now, we should do away with tournaments too? that should be just great for the game in general...........not!

Had Michael Jordan gambled on a Bulls game during his career I'm sure the league would have an issue with that and it would have made the front page of SI, and Nike would have cared. MJ gambling big on a personal golf match is another (non)story. It's about conflict of interest and the appearance of conflict, not simply gambling (as an example, if gambling is OK why is that NBA ref in trouble ?). I hope you understand the difference.

Dave

 

[Roy Steffensen]

This thread is about two years old now.

Wondering if someone has used these ideas, or have others?

I am thinking of using some of them now, if I am going to use my pooltables to open a private game-room. Then I have something extra to offer companies aswell...

 

[JamisonNeu]

I have not read this thread just the first post.

Some work at their games. Some teach, and some perform... Some of them are artist's or musicians. There are some that sell pool supplies and some that install tables. There are a few business owners in the lot, and some stay at home mom's and dads. There are some pro's that build cues like Larry Nevel or Shawn Putnum. Some of us endorse products and sell ad space on our chests. Some write books or make video's. Some travel around retailing goods. Some people become tour directors, and some just travel around on tour. Some run pool halls, and some work at one. Some people have real jobs, and some people have none. There is no one way or right way to get the job done...

 

[Sweet Marissa]

My opinion: a pro player's lifestyle and need to travel erratically contradicts with being able to hold a stable job.

 

[TXsouthpaw]

cause jobs suck! Who needs a job? I wish i could be a full time pool bum. but i enjoy having nice things too much.


and with all the practice you must put in order to play at that level, and the amount of travel and late nights in pool halls, its hard to hold a 9 to 5. I agree with Jamison too, allot of them work in pool related fields too. Fixin tables selling sticks doing shows or endorsing products.

 

[alstl]

Most pro pool players probably do it because they hate 9 to 5. Irving Crane was an exception, he made a good living selling Cadillacs and played pool because he loved the game.