Will there ever be a Pro Tour Again?

David Marcus

David Marcus

"not bad,for a blind man"
Silver Member
I am just wondering if there are any plans in the works by any group or organization to put together a pro tour, tv coverage, something to elevate the sport to the level it deserves to be at. I know Bonus Ball is on the horizon, but I just don't see it having a huge appeal....jmho.
The time is right for a BIG sponsor to step up and do the right thing for the game!

Any thoughts or info...???
 
Never say never because you can never know when or if pool is going to go through a boom period again, but I don't see anything immediately on the horizon.
 
:shakehead:

No...I don't see a pro tour in the future. Not in my lifetime.

I think there are too many good amateur players who play as good as a pro. The difference is----a pro is supposed to make a living doing it and that is nearly impossible unless you have a sponsor paying all the bills or someone just donating money.

I just don't see anyone organizing and putting in the time without getting gready. Now...if someone from China would come over and start a pro tour, it would work.:withstupid:

Expenses to travel, play, and eat is just too much.

For a pro tour you'd need spectators to pay admission and to be honest, no one wants to watch...every one would rather be playing instead.

One more problem would be a drug test and criminal background check.:yikes:
 
Dave,

Guess my reaction to your post is, who cares? Over a quarter million players weekly playing league pool. Perhaps double that if you count in-house league players. How many "pro players" are there? Maybe a hundred? Maybe twenty who actually earn a decent living as a player. As I said, who cares if they have a tour? I sure don't! And from the reaction from the rest of the real world, virtually no one else does either. Whether players, spectators or sponsors.

Lyn
 
If this Mega Millions I bought earlier tonight on a whim hits,you're damn right there will be a tour,for men AND women. They would be separate at times,and playing in the same venue at times like the old MPBA/WPBA,maybe even named the same,as well as many other parallels.

The money would be beefed up,and compared to what they were playing for back in the day,adjusted for inflation as well.

I'm not sure if I'd go with GC-Vs or Diamond Pros,but only one or the other. The tables would be permanently set up and moved from venue to venue,much like the portable lanes the Paul Allen-owned/funded PBA uses these days,but re-covered in Simonis of course,and brand new ball sets for every tournament.

A player in the top 64 would make around 250k. Big guns like Orcullo,SVB,etc,would make whatever they won in tournaments and a cool million for being overall #1/World Champion at the end of the year,which would be like Grady said one time,the guy who wins the most tournaments.

The format would have 4 tournaments each for 8,9,10 ball,14.1,one pocket and even short-rank bank.

That's been my first thought for years when I bullshit with people about what we'd all do if faced with a huge pile of cash.

After the "date" with Lily Thai and picking up the Lamborghini Aventador,the trip to Amsterdam,etc :thumbup:. Tommy D.
 
David Marcus said:
I am just wondering if there are any plans in the works by any group or organization to put together a pro tour, tv coverage, something to elevate the sport to the level it deserves to be at. I know Bonus Ball is on the horizon, but I just don't see it having a huge appeal....jmho.
The time is right for a BIG sponsor to step up and do the right thing for the game!

Any thoughts or info...???
Click to expand...

Ask Don Mackey<------ouch!!!!
 
cardiac kid said:
Sure Eric, bring up the "good old days of pro pool" :p: :rolleyes:. Still have my MPBA card.

Lyn
Click to expand...

:thumbup:

Yeah...I still have one left too. Wasn't it $25 per year to join and renew?



Can't find my yearbook though from 1985-1986 though.:angry: I believe it cost me around $250 for that. I know it cost me a lot...might not of been quite that much, but it was a lot.:confused:


Around 10 years ago I showed my card to a girl I shot pool with. After that, she went around and told everyone I was a pro. :eek:

No one believed her of course.:smile:
 
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David Marcus said:
The time is right for a BIG sponsor to step up and do the right thing for the game!
Click to expand...

The RIGHT thing?!? How is dumping money into a losing venture the right thing? Just because pool is a wonderful game, it doesn't mean there has to be a pro tour. Horseshoes is a fun game, too. Not many pro horseshoe throwers, huh?

I don't know if you know this, but "sponsors" are businesses looking to make a profit on their investment. What you're thinking of is a big "donator".

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a pro pool tour come back. I just don't think it's gonna happen.
 
I can't see it happening. In order for sponsors to put up money they want to get something back. Sponsors want to see sales. It is hard to get people into the stands.
Companies are paying as much as four million dollars for one super bowl commercial. They know over two hundred million people will be watching the super bowl.
When the Sandcastle had the eight ball tournament they could not fill the stands. Some of the top name in pool where competing. Efren, SVB, Alex P, JA, Appleton and others. And they could not fill the seats. Why would someone just put up money to back a tour.
 
It's been said that the men could take a few pointers from the women's tour but their ego's get in the way. Also we all have heard that some of the top pro's say that the rest of us owe them a living. My question to them is what if Mosconi, Lasiter, Crain (sorry for spelling) or any of the past champions would have said that. Where would the game be today if they had this attitude. They were the proud players not out just for the money. I believe the money should be better because of experiences. But lets face it, we will never see pool pro's making the money bowling, tennis, golf, or other pro's make (at least in the next century). I wish it would happen where pool is up there with the others and on TV! Ask any of the older generation players about watching the past champions on The Wide World of Sports, they had more coverage than we do today.

This will piss of many, but too many trying to make money instead of promoting the game. Promoter, tournament directors, and streaming making more that fist place pays too the player. Why would TV want too put the playing on when someone in streaming live.

JMO!
 
Never say Never..

Never say never...if someone told you 10-15 years ago that Poker would be broadcast live and have a huge following in the U.S. and across the world, you probably would of thought they were CRAZY!
 
reincarnate

David Marcus said:
Never say never...if someone told you 10-15 years ago that Poker would be broadcast live and have a huge following in the U.S. and across the world, you probably would of thought they were CRAZY!
Click to expand...
Pro Pool will reincarnate itself in some form or another one day. Whether the next incarnation will stand the test of time remains to be seen. Pool cannot be compared next to any other sport.

The analogy with Poker is not applicable. Because, the format of poker, with muliple players playing simultaneously, allows for everyone in the hand to be involved. Pool separates the adversaries until the loss of turn or completion of the game.

Pro Pool isn't tension filled enough for the non interested observer to facilitate an emotional desire to watch.

I am certain Bonus Ball will be interesting, and a new adventure for high level players. I also like Jim Murnak's new project. These will provide avenues for Professionals to showcase their talents. Long term success is the big question for the pro's.

I could see both programs being very beneficial to Amateur Players.

JMHO,

cajunfats
 
David Marcus said:
I am just wondering if there are any plans in the works by any group or organization to put together a pro tour, tv coverage, something to elevate the sport to the level it deserves to be at. I know Bonus Ball is on the horizon, but I just don't see it having a huge appeal....jmho.
The time is right for a BIG sponsor to step up and do the right thing for the game!

Any thoughts or info...???
Click to expand...

Why would a "Big" Sponsor do the "Right Thing for the Game"? Sponsors want a Return on their Investment. The masses aren't currently clamoring to watch pool. If someone can get millions of people captivated by watching pool then the sponsors will come because they will have an audience.

Sadly, Catfish Noodling and shows like Lizard Lick Towing will attract more viewers. It amazes me how many people want someone with deep pockets to fix pool as if injecting millions of dollars into the game will make it have a huge appeal. I believe that for pool to grow, more people will have to introduce more people to the game and then those new people have to do the same until a critical mass is reached.

It's a long shot at best. Throwing money at the problem isn't a good solution. There's more at the foundation level that has to be fixed.

Among the masses there is no appeal for pool watching. That's why they're are no sponsors. I don't see Bonus Ball as being the savior either but if they ever get it going and picked up on television I wish them success.
 
dr9ball said:
Sadly, Catfish Noodling and shows like Lizard Lick Towing will attract more viewers. It amazes me how many people want someone with deep pockets to fix pool as if injecting millions of dollars into the game will make it have a huge appeal. I believe that for pool to grow, more people will have to introduce more people to the game and then those new people have to do the same until a critical mass is reached.... There's more at the foundation level that has to be fixed.

Among the masses there is no appeal for pool watching. That's why they're are no sponsors. I don't see Bonus Ball as being the savior either but if they ever get it going and picked up on television I wish them success.
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Doc,

Every time I read a negative post about why people play APA or BCAPL or ACS or ...... it really upsets me. These organizations are doing more to promote pool at the grass roots level than any pro tournament can ever do. If I owned a pool room, I'd prefer to have a room full of league players spending money buying cues, gloves, cases, food, alcohol , table time etc. than a few players asking "whats in it for me".

Lyn
 
hey papa red if you read Bob Byrns book Mcgornty you would get a background of all those old time players! most stayed broke or owned their own halls i believe Mosconi was pretty much the only one who ever made a real career of it touring and collecting exhibition fees. it has always been feast and famine for the players. PLUS if an amateur player goes pro and gets a rep he can kiss good bye to any local money action.
 
Lyn...Just FYI, Mackey had nothing to do with the MPBA. His organization was called the PBTA. The MPBA didn't have a "manager"/dictator, like Mackey...just different guys playing role of Prez (Hopkins was the first). Mackey was a straight out thief, who robbed the players (without them knowing it...for a while, at least). :grin:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

cardiac kid said:
Sure Eric, bring up the "good old days of pro pool" :p: :rolleyes:. Still have my MPBA card.

Lyn
Click to expand...
 
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