Will Pool Ever Be Accepted

P

ptrickshot

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I am a high ranked New England area player and decided to go watch the World pool championship at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. They had the top 8 players around the globe (which I can fully appreciate) The casino was packed but the Wolfes Den during the first round was half full and the place is small. The cost to watch was "free". The top prize was 50.000 which a tennis or golfer gets when they come in 20th place. I know that major corporate sponsorship is needed but that will never happen until the image is changed. The whole industry should take a lesson on how the womans tour conducts themselves along with many european players for the better of billiards in general.
 
Actually no one acted up but the damage is done, thats why no one is attending in the first place. I enjoyed myself, the only thing that pissed me off was watching Archer clearing balls out of pockets with 1 ball left on the table and not even shooting in that pocket(just a pet peeve)
 
ptrickshot said:
Actually no one acted up but the damage is done, thats why no one is attending in the first place. I enjoyed myself, the only thing that pissed me off was watching Archer clearing balls out of pockets with 1 ball left on the table and not even shooting in that pocket(just a pet peeve)
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Interesting to hear about your pet peeve while a spectator at a pro event.

What's your point?

Or, better yet, what do you suggest the Pro players do, or don't do. I'm interested to hear your ideas.
 
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If you are looking to put asses in the seats, don't hold your pool event at a Casino. People will go to great lengths to avoid leaving their game...including soiling themselves instead of walking 20' to a restroom. Ask anyone that has worked in a casino, they'll confirm this. Pool has no shot of outdrawing that kind of environment.
 
ptrickshot said:
I am a high ranked New England area player and decided to go watch the World pool championship at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. They had the top 8 players around the globe (which I can fully appreciate) The casino was packed but the Wolfes Den during the first round was half full and the place is small. The cost to watch was "free". The top prize was 50.000 which a tennis or golfer gets when they come in 20th place. I know that major corporate sponsorship is needed but that will never happen until the image is changed. The whole industry should take a lesson on how the womans tour conducts themselves along with many european players for the better of billiards in general.
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You touched on something...the cost to watch being "free". This amazes me, in a way. I mean, I've watched some amazing (to me) pool talent play without spending a dime's admission. Rodney Morris, Rich Geiler, Danny Medina, Raphael Martines, Billy Palmer, and others. (Sorry if I misspelled any).

To me, this is an entertainment bargain! Much better than paying $$$ per seat to watch a college football game.
 
Pool is a Parlor Room Board Game (not a pro sport)

Guys,

Technically there are pro's in pool because of the prize money, but that's misleading. Pool needs to take itself seriously and stop putting this trick shot artists and speed pool circus acts on ESPN, for starters.

Pool players need to abandon the nonsensical notion that they are athletes. Athletes like Maria Sharapova and Michelle Wie and all those males who my non-gay brain can't conjure up (because I'm thinking of Maria Sharapova) aren't 30 lbs overweight and they don't play their sport in khaki's and polo shirts.

Athletes have to stretch and warm up before a match. We don't need to. I do myself but that's because I'm a healthy sort of guy who is also rather virile! :D

As for corporate sponsorship, sell the idea to them! Whodathunkit? A representative from one of the major billiard associations (now that's funny!) should approach each and every one of the Fortune 500 companies.

The real issue is that organized pool in the U.S. is an absolute joke! A joke! Can't you fools get it together?

And don't sell it as a sport. It's a special event. The highest levels of board game activity!

Love this board game for what it is! Accept pool on it's own palty terms.

Always scouting out pawn shops for those elusive Balabushkas...

The Woim
 
Gregg. My point about my pet peeve was simple, all the players were class acts, even including Johnny Archer but truth be told I did not like the way he grandstands and clears balls out of pockets with one ball left and shoots in a different pocket. That is not my overall point about why pool is not corporately accepted I was just stating the facts that I was shocked that the place was not standing room only to see such great talent in one arena.
 
ptrickshot said:
I am a high ranked New England area player and decided to go watch the World pool championship at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. They had the top 8 players around the globe (which I can fully appreciate) The casino was packed but the Wolfes Den during the first round was half full and the place is small. The cost to watch was "free". The top prize was 50.000 which a tennis or golfer gets when they come in 20th place. I know that major corporate sponsorship is needed but that will never happen until the image is changed. The whole industry should take a lesson on how the womans tour conducts themselves along with many european players for the better of billiards in general.
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I went last year for one day and enjoyed every seconds of it. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend this year due to schedule conflicts. I had to rely on people here for the updates.

As I recall the setting was nice and the event host really knew how to get the crowd motivated. I found the sudden format very exciting (although many other AZ'er disagree).

Looking on the bright side, I have thought of a way to attract more people to watch games in the first rounds. Since we have a purse of $50000 and the tournament is for 8 players. Wouldn't it add another level of suspense if they put something like this in the PR and announce it in the Casino?

Each winner (4 total) of the first round will get $12500 of which the person will bet it all towards his semi-final match.

Then, each winner of the semi-finall will get $25000 of which the person will push it all in towards the final match.
 
ptrickshot said:
................ I know that major corporate sponsorship is needed but that will never happen until the image is changed. The whole industry should take a lesson on how the womans tour conducts themselves along with many european players for the better of billiards in general.
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Image is just a small part of why pool is unsuccessful as comparing it to such success as bowling tours, golf tours and tennis tours. Pool is enjoyed to watch by people who play pool or have played pool. That is 99% of your audience. If you don't play pool you would think pool is boring to watch. Did the short lived IPT bring any additional fans, sponsors or new revival of mens professional pool to the spot light? The movie "The Color of Money" sparked some new life into pool back in 1986(7) after it came out.


The DCC is probably the best event with multiple events all in one for fans to enjoy and the action is great.
 
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Pool is a great game but in todays age it is a players sport not a spectator sport. If you go to a major tournament how many non players are there? Very few. Most spectators are learning to play, play the game or are semi-retired players. Being a spectator at a major pool tournament is one of the best bargains in sports.
Could pool become a spectator sport? Maybe. The IPT was a step in the right direction. The first requirement is altruistic leadership.
 
The Woim said:
Guys,

"And don't sell it as a sport. It's a special event. The highest levels of board game activity!"


Playing card + poker chips = a game

Stick + ball = a sport

It is a sport that requires a whole lot of talent and skill, but not much athleticism.
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ptrickshot said:
I am a high ranked New England area player and decided to go watch the World pool championship at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.
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It's was the Challenge of Champions, not the World Pool Championship. The WPC was held in Manila, Philippines.

By not even knowing what event you're at, you're ironically proving your own point... that no one has any interest in pool.
 
Tennesseejoe said:
...If you go to a major tournament how many non players are there? Very few. Most spectators are learning to play, play the game or are semi-retired players...
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I believe we need to explain the merits and challenge of the game to the public : Consistancy, Creativity and Mental Strength. When the audience get the idea, even a fishing competition is fun to watch. Of course, some modern video technology would help as well.

IPT has a good start in gathering people together in a presentable manner. I wished they had covered more general education and some exposures on the large numbers of players from different parts of the world.

It is too easy for us to criticize with our keyboard. In any case, IPT has set a great learning example for a pool players. Hopefully people can use it towards future events. Let's go, Allen! :)
 
ptrickshot said:
Actually no one acted up but the damage is done, thats why no one is attending in the first place. I enjoyed myself, the only thing that pissed me off was watching Archer clearing balls out of pockets with 1 ball left on the table and not even shooting in that pocket(just a pet peeve)
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One of my Archer pet peeves is his slow play and picking lint off the table before he shoots. I can't hardly watch him play anymore and he used to be one of my favorite players to watch.
 
ptrickshot said:
Gregg. My point about my pet peeve was simple, all the players were class acts, even including Johnny Archer but truth be told I did not like the way he grandstands and clears balls out of pockets with one ball left and shoots in a different pocket. That is not my overall point about why pool is not corporately accepted I was just stating the facts that I was shocked that the place was not standing room only to see such great talent in one arena.
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did you ever think that maybe he is not grandstanding and is simply calming his own nerves or something of that nature? if you watch him enough, you will see he does many things like clearing fuzz bunnies off the cloth, etc. etc.

as far as not paying to get into the event and seeing top talent, Turning Stone had the best field I have ever seen this past week and you couldn't pick just one table to watch the match-ups were so great, but yet the stands were nowhere near the capacity you might think and it was free admission as well. the only thing i can think of is that the casino is in the middle of nowhere, however, so are the WPBA events......so, what gives?
 
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