World Summit of Pool - Yuck!

[dinovirus]

Talking about the World Summit event from ESPN last night. I thought this warranted a thread. Jam said this in another thread (he post was long so I'll only post the summary)...

All in all, I believe the World Summit of Pool in NYC was rich and smooth, and organizers should be proud of pulling this off. Great show!

JAM

I disagree with her on about every point. The whole thing was pathetic - a shining example of what's wrong with pool. Ignoring the untelevised phase and the fiasco of the UPA organization, (bad scheduling, expensive tickets, bad venue, bad promotion, etc.) and concentrating only on what we saw on TV,

1. Short matches for an important event just because of TV (maybe the Super Bowl should be played over only one quarter, or play one inning of baseball for the world series). I myself would rather have edited coverage then have the finals of major events decided by a single race to 7.

2. Brand new cloth on a table with pockets the size of washbuckets (guys miss balls by a diamond and they still go in). Why are all TV matches played on tables where it's easier to make a ball than it is to miss it? Also, the table clearly had a horrible roll in it at the foot end of the table (probably the result of the new carpet installed by A&A carpets - takes time for a table to settle into a carpet). So much for the 'self-leveling' Brunswick. It was ugly too. Can't they use a Gold Crown?

3. A horrible venue, sunlight coming in on the table, crowds of people moving around, loud noises everywhere, train whistles blowing. What next, a pool tournament on a ship at sea? I can just imagine Mitch Laurence saying 'playing on the Queen Mary like this is just great. Look how the players have brought tide charts with them to figure out how the table is going to roll off. What a great idea!' What an idiot.

4. Lousy camera work, lousy lighting, and direction, a hallmark of ESPN telecasts. Will they ever get rid of the overhead camera? Show me another sport that's played on a rectangle that they telecast from directly overhead. Pat Fleming at Accu-Stats did a better job ten years ago with a tenth of the budget and half the crew. I'm about fed up with that goofy cue ball too. Who's idea was that? Probably the same guy who came up with idea of highlighting the puck in hockey telecasts. The TV public isn't stupid, you know. They can tell that the balls spin.

5. Alternating break again proves to make the game boring. They play that way so often on TV, yet when we play nine-ball in poolrooms it's always winner breaks (or almost always - alternating break is the exception, not the rule). Why can't they show the game the way it's really played? Adding the Sardo Rack only makes it worse because I think by now we all know that it's an inferior product. Okay so both players get some face time, and nobody runs out the entire set, but so what - that's how nine ball is. Why fake it?

6. Boring, uninteresting commentary, another hallmark of ESPN. Wych is pretty good in comparison to Hopkins - at least he comments on the action instead of trying to explain it, AND finally he's someone who's not afraid to say that a player hit a bad shot, but Mitch Laurence is the worst thing to happen to pool ever. Can't they get some guys with some color, like Incardona, Mathews or DiLiberto?

Will someone tell me why pool is the only sport where its true fans, people like you and me who frequent boards like this, can't stand to watch it on TV? Why the TV game is so very different from the one we all play in poolrooms every day. Why are the organizers so afraid of showing the real thing?

One day, and I hope it comes soon, they'll cater the telecasts to those of us who actually like pool instead of to the 'ignorant' TV public. When that day comes, and it probably won't, I think they'll be pleasantly surprised with how high the ratings get. In the meanwhile, give me Accu-Stats every day.

 

[Williebetmore]

What next, a pool tournament on a ship at sea? I can just imagine Mitch Laurence saying 'playing on the Queen Mary like this is just great. Look how the players have brought tide charts with them to figure out how the table is going to roll off. What a great idea!'

In the meanwhile, give me Accu-Stats every day.

Dino,
ROTFLMAO. I never thought of including tide charts in my pool case.

I think though that you are missing the point with Mitch Lawrance (why won't he spell his name the usual way, I have no clue what the correct spelling is). I think his main point, that you seemed to miss, was that the Grand Central Terminal (I guess it is not a station anymore) is big; I mean really big; no, you don't understand its really fricking big; listen, moron, its bigger than your fricking house; really, its big enough to put a lot of people in, and I mean A LOT, more than 10 or 20 at a time; also I forgot to mention that they have a clock there and an information booth there where a LOT of people can go to ask questions, just like in the old days; did I mention this place is enormous, gigantic, gi-normous (really big).

P.S. - if this post is boring you, imagine how I felt sitting through all 4 hours of it. I couldn't wait for their promo's to end so I could see an interesting commercial. All hail to Accu-Stats.

 

[Purdman]

You Might Want To Try This Guys

I enjoyed show. Everyone wants more pool on TV, then when you get it, you complain. Go figure. Here is what I did. I get home from work at 11 PM. My wife recorded the event while I was at work. Fortunately, my system can record while I view a recording. Dish 500 system. I sat down and watched the recorded portion, fast forwarding thru the BS. I did the same thing with the finals. You don't like the comentary, mute it. Mike Davis is from my area and I enjoyed seeing him perform. He is definately on his way to the top. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. All in all it was a good experience for me. Also, don't forget, Sardo is also one of the sponsors. Why bust his balls, he is helping the game. You do not have to buy his product if you don't want to.
At least they are trying guys. JMHO
Purdman

 

[cardiac kid]

I'm about fed up with that goofy cue ball too. Who's idea was that? Probably the same guy who came up with idea of highlighting the puck in hockey telecasts. The TV public isn't stupid, you know. They can tell that the balls spin.

Dino, your wrong. The TV public is stupid. Using the multi-dot cue ball allows the spectator, viewer and analyst to see what the player is doing with the cue ball at all times. It may appear to be just another gimmick but it really works.

Alternating break again proves to make the game boring. They play that way so often on TV, yet when we play nine-ball in poolrooms it's always winner breaks (or almost always - alternating break is the exception, not the rule). Why can't they show the game the way it's really played? Adding the Sardo Rack only makes it worse because I think by now we all know that it's an inferior product. Okay so both players get some face time, and nobody runs out the entire set, but so what - that's how nine ball is. Why fake it?

Again, you're not seeing the entire picture. The alternating break does exactly what you say. It gives both players face time on camera. They have sponsors. Even NASCAR directs their on-air TV producer to show the cars running at the back of the pack. Its good promotion for all the teams. We may be individuals but we fill the same slot as those two hundred mile per hour billboards.

I agree whole heartedly about the Sardo. Lou and Carmine have a wonderful product but.... it is ruining the game. I don't mean just nine ball. I'm not even sure if the one pocket or 14.1 players are happy with it. Its too good. It does rack'em tight. It also leaves divits in the cloth. Ever watch a ball settle into one of the divits under the rack area? I have. Once too often. With disasterous results.

Boring, uninteresting commentary, another hallmark of ESPN. Wych is pretty good in comparison to Hopkins - at least he comments on the action instead of trying to explain it, AND finally he's someone who's not afraid to say that a player hit a bad shot, but Mitch Laurence is the worst thing to happen to pool ever. Can't they get some guys with some color, like Incardona, Mathews or DiLiberto?

Turn the sound off!!!!

One day, and I hope it comes soon, they'll cater the telecasts to those of us who actually like pool instead of to the 'ignorant' TV public. When that day comes, and it probably won't, I think they'll be pleasantly surprised with how high the ratings get. In the meanwhile, give me Accu-Stats every day.

Sorry dino, the people who pay the bills are not you and me. They are the "great unwashed" as they say. We as an entertainment provider need to make the game more palatable to those spectators. Only they will make our game successful. If they watch the shows, advertisers pay higher rates. The presenting channel makes more money so, they offer higher incentives to the sanctioning bodies to show the event. The sanctioning bodies with more income can raise the added moneys. The players then have an opportunity to make a living at the game. Then they will be professionals! I've over simplified but you get the idea.

 

[BazookaJoe]

I enjoyed show. Everyone wants more pool on TV, then when you get it, you complain. Go figure. Here is what I did. I get home from work at 11 PM. My wife recorded the event while I was at work. Fortunately, my system can record while I view a recording. Dish 500 system. I sat down and watched the recorded portion, fast forwarding thru the BS. I did the same thing with the finals. You don't like the comentary, mute it. Mike Davis is from my area and I enjoyed seeing him perform. He is definately on his way to the top. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. All in all it was a good experience for me. Also, don't forget, Sardo is also one of the sponsors. Why bust his balls, he is helping the game. You do not have to buy his product if you don't want to.
At least they are trying guys. JMHO
Purdman

TAP TAP TAP

 

[chefjeff]

Compared to that recent world thing in Taiwan, sadly called a pool tv show, this one in NY was great. At least in this tourney one could actually watch a player shoot a ball. That worthless Taiwan show was directed by an idiot. Just as I was going to see how the players stroked, boing!, they switched to the camera showing just the balls, so I never saw even one player stroke a ball. Not one.

Imagine if the world series showed the batter, then just as the pitch came, they switched cameras to one that showed just the bat and ball colliding---over and over and over and over, the same boring ball/bat angle. How soon would you turn channels?

That Taiwan thing was the first time I've ever turned off pool on tv. The Grand Central Terminal show at least let me see the players actually play.

As for the overhead camera, my 83 year old Mother-in-law said she caught the ladies playing pool ("I never knew there was such a thing--they looked like movie stars!") she commented on how much the overhead camera helped her understand the game.

Jeff Livingston

PS It's a "terminal" because trains terminate there, they don't go through a "station."

 

[Rickw]

I agree wholeheartily with Mr Purdy! Good post Don!

 

[DaveK]

I don't get ESPN, nor did I see any of the Taiwanese coverage, but from the sounds of this thread these folks need to go take lessons from the BBC. I recall their snooker coverage being excellent when I used to travel into Europe a lot in the '80's. The only problem was that the matches were televised live, which meant I had to skip out of work (kidding .... really I am).

Dave

 

[catscradle]

... said a lot of things I agree with.

My additional comments:
JAM, god bless her little heart, will never say a bad thing about any professional pool player or pool event. Nothing wrong with that, but I think it is so.

The Jim and Mitch show was horrendous, but still it at least got some pool on TV. I agree other commentators and longer matches would be far more desirable.

I was disappointed the shot clock curtailed Earl's diatribes.

And lastly and maybe my most telling comment, I fell asleep watching it. zzzzzzzz.....

 

[dinovirus]

Dino, your wrong. The TV public is stupid. Using the multi-dot cue ball allows the spectator, viewer and analyst to see what the player is doing with the cue ball at all times. It may appear to be just another gimmick but it really works.

Again, you're not seeing the entire picture. The alternating break does exactly what you say. It gives both players face time on camera. They have sponsors. Even NASCAR directs their on-air TV producer to show the cars running at the back of the pack. Its good promotion for all the teams. We may be individuals but we fill the same slot as those two hundred mile per hour billboards.

I agree whole heartedly about the Sardo. Lou and Carmine have a wonderful product but.... it is ruining the game. I don't mean just nine ball. I'm not even sure if the one pocket or 14.1 players are happy with it. Its too good. It does rack'em tight. It also leaves divits in the cloth. Ever watch a ball settle into one of the divits under the rack area? I have. Once too often. With disasterous results.

Turn the sound off!!!!

Sorry dino, the people who pay the bills are not you and me. They are the "great unwashed" as they say. We as an entertainment provider need to make the game more palatable to those spectators. Only they will make our game successful. If they watch the shows, advertisers pay higher rates. The presenting channel makes more money so, they offer higher incentives to the sanctioning bodies to show the event. The sanctioning bodies with more income can raise the added moneys. The players then have an opportunity to make a living at the game. Then they will be professionals! I've over simplified but you get the idea.

Actually, you're missing my most important point. If they presented the events more effectively so that actual pool fans would watch, the ratings would go up, not down. The great unwashed don't aren't the ones who pay the bills, it's the actual fans of the sport. In other sports, like say football, the people who watch are football fans. In NASCAR, the viewers are NASCAR fans. Nice thing those sports have going for them is that there's lots of fans, but you'll notice that the TV telecasts are geared towards those fans, not towards the people who don't know the first thing about auto racing or football. The idea is that if they show it a lot, and guarantee good ratings because of their fan base, then they might create NEW fans of the game, and make them equally happy with their presentation.

Pool is the opposite. The telecasts are geared at the newcomers, the casual viewers, more than the actual fans. Why do they do it that way? Because it's safe. They know that they can get x number of viewers by doing it the way they do, and they're happy with that. No one wants to take a chance at changing the format but if they did, I think they'd be pleasantly surprised.

As for your other points -

1. Face time is one thing - artificial face time is another. Why change the format just because it makes 'better' (a subjective term, by the way) television. I mean let's face it, this isn't an exhibition, it's a major tournament. If a guy is relegated to his chair during a match and doesn't get any face time then that's his problem. Top pro players can look after themselves, you know, they don't need the organizers help to get their turn at the table.

2. The Sardo rack is NOT a good product. It's the divots in the cloth that make the rack tight, not the device. Pushing on the handles only ensures that the balls fall into those divots (though truly, I'm not actually convinced that pushing on the handles does anything at all). Also, and this is an advanced concept (no disprespect) but when you use the Sardo the balls may be touching, but they're not frozen. And actually now that I think of it, remember the game in which Davis made the nine on the break against Earl? The nine went straight into the hole without being touched. The only way that can happen is if there was a gap in the rack between the nine and the ball on the left behind it (trust me on that one, I've racked and broken hundreds of thousands of nine ball racks). To me that suggests that the Sardo rack does NOT give a perfect rack every time, even discounting my 'touching but not frozen' comment.

3. As for the commentary, why should I have to turn the sound off? Why can't they get people I enjoy listening to? I'm a huge fan of pool. I guarantee you that if they get people that I enjoy, then others (even the unwashed masses, maybe even you) will like them too. Consider guys like Gary McCord or John McEnroe or John Madden, guys with some color. Pool has plenty of guys like that, mnaybe more than any other sport, but won't use them. Explain that to me.

 

[OldHasBeen]

It's Getting Worse !

I agree 100% w/ all the comments from Dinovirus.
As far as all the useless equipment that the players must use just because the $$$ is coming from the manufactures, Why not get Real Sponsors (from outside the pool world) to put up the $$$. ???Budweiser??? I would like to know of anyone who has EVER seen The Sardo Rack being used in Any Pool Game or Room in the entire Country. I NEVER HAVE.
FACE IT - No one but Pool Players are EVER going to watch pool on TV. Why would they? Unless it is to get a kick out of the novelty of watching a woman playing, they (the general TV audience) don't have any idea of what’s going on anyway. It seems they keep trying to "Dumb Down" the game to make it more appealing & understandable to the NON Pool Player. It ain't gonna ever work.
What I find MOST distracting is the misuse of the English language by commentators who obviously aren't educated with a decent vocabulary or ANY knowledge of the game. WHY, WHY, WHY?
It takes away from the whole concept of what’s really going on to listen to these "wannabe disk jockeys" try to say something (anything) about what they know nothing of.
If you want a good commentator, get Buddy, Grady, Billy, Danny, Alan, etc., etc.
Or even better yet - get Ewa Laurence's original husband (who introduced her to pool) - JIMMY MATAYA - Now there is a gentleman who can talk & play!

 

[PatH]

I kind of liked the show. Only thing that got me was when Mitch and Jim dubbed Earls on the hill 9-ball against Danny Harriman "the greatest shot of all time" Looked to me like he sh*t in the 9-ball but then what do I know. I was never quite sure whether thay had to call the 9 or not. I guess if it was called he at least gave it a chance, otherwise looked like he got lucky.

PatH

 

[Curdog]

Huh?

Sometimes I think this board should be called a complain/bitch/I know everything board from many of the comments I see. It does appear that the people wasting my time bitching about the coverage actually watched the entire four hours. Isn't that interesting.
I agree that coverage isn't often what I'd like to see, but I still enjoy what I get. They could put a similar four hours on every night and I would be a regular. Stop whining if you can't improve the situation.

 

[dinovirus]

I enjoyed show. Everyone wants more pool on TV, then when you get it, you complain. Go figure.

At least they are trying guys. JMHO
Purdman

Hey you know what? I would rather see pool on TV once a year presented properly then 100 times a year like it was last night.

You say they are trying - I say they're not trying hard enough. They're copping out, taking the fast, safe way to a few bucks and some TV coverage rather than maintaining the integrity of the game and until people start saying "this is lousy" out loud, they'll keep doing it.

I hope one day you have a chance to see what the BBC does with snooker, as the Saskatoon guy mentioned. Now THOSE guys are trying. Accu-Stats is trying. ESPN is just going through the motions. As they say in Hollywood, they're just phoning it in.

 

[JAM]

My additional comments: JAM, god bless her little heart, will never say a bad thing about any professional pool player or pool event. Nothing wrong with that, but I think it is so.

ROFLMAO! Truth be told, I cannot, and will not, bring any negativity to this event held at Grand Central Station in NYC. I thought it was one of the best venues I have ever seen on television, and I believe the UPA is to be congratulated for this magnificant endeavor.

I think Earl Strickland stole the show as far as professional play is concerned, but I'm a big fan of Earl's. He played brilliantly, fast and furious, and he is the real deal (IMO) when it comes to professional pool. Like him or not, he is an American legend. When you look at the numerous titles and championships he holds, I cannot think of any single player here in the United States who has accomplished what he has and, by the way, is still a formidable opponent in any tournament he competes in.

I agree that the table had big buckets. Even I could run a rack on this table if the balls "blossomed out like a flower," as Jim Wych commented. I like Jim Wych and Mitch Laurence and enjoyed their commentaries. Allen Hopkins was great, too, and he definitely provided more of an insider's look at each shot and was right on the money each time!

Ask some of the players what they think about the Sardo rack, and you will get a variety of opinions. It ain't a perfect pool world when it comes to racking. You've got the rack mechanics who know how every single little gap in the rack will pan out. I think the alternate break format worked well, even with the Sardo rack. The only 9 I saw fly in the pocket on the break was by Mike Davis. So the Sardo rack is a whole lot better (IMO) than having the players rack the balls themselves. The only alternative is to have neutral rackers for every match, which I don't see happening any time soon.

And like Don Purdman, it was kind of cool seeing a hometown player like Mike Davis in the spotlight. Everybody likes to root for the home team, and when you see a guy you know on TV playing his heart out, it makes for some exciting TV, even though we all knew the outcome of each match beforehand.

I can think of a variety of topics relating to pool that burn me up, but not this one. I applaud the UPA, Robert Lipson, Frank Alvarez, Charlie Williams, and whoever else was part of this team that brought this dream to a reality. Bravo to them, and I hope to see many more events like this in the future.

Congratulations to Santos for winning the World Summit of Pool, and I look forward to next year's World Summit! To the naysayers, shame on you for degrading one of the biggest events of the year!

JAM

 

[jjinfla]

I really liked the telecast. In fact I loved it.

And I like Mitch because everytime I hear his voice I think of the beautiful Ewa. And besides, he really knows the TV side of the business. And that is very important to the TV producer. This I was told by the gorgeous Ewa a while back. Did I tell you that I think Ewa is exotic? Are all Vikings that striking?

I spent 4 hours right in front of the my set last night enjoying myself. You might notice that I didn't watch Boston v St. Louis. Why? Because I think baseball is boring. So I don't waste my time watching it. But you guys spend all four hours watching pool on tv and then all you do is bitch about it.

TV controls EVERY sport they televize. And they do it because they have the money and they can. TV says you put in a pocket camera you better do it if you want it televised. TV says you add spots to the cue ball you do it. TV tells you to change the color of the balls you do it. TV tells you to jump up and down when you win - you do it. TV tells the fans to cheer and whistle - they do it. TV says use the Sardo rack you do it. (And I did see the Sardo being used at a Tommy Kennedy run tournament about a year ago). TV tells you to put a colorfull carpet on the floor you do it. Whatever TV wants, they get.

Mitch is there because TV wants him there. Live with it. Mitch knows what he is doing as far as the TV side and announcing side goes and that is VERY important to the TV guys. Color guys are a dime a dozen.

The only way pool will ever make it to the big time is to get TV behind them. And here the UPA (I think this was a UPA event) and ESPN combine to provide a great show and all you do is complain. How many of you would think of paying $5 or $10 to watch the pros play? Or maybe $50 or $100. You guys are all spoiled because you are used to watching the pros play for free. I have been in Florida 6 years now and I still can't get over how I can go and watch the greatest pool players in the world play - and it is for free. Sometimes it costs $10 or $20 to get a seat. Cheap, cheap, cheap. Best bargain in the sportsworld.

I never saw Davis or Sambajon play so that was a real treat. Harriman and Strickland I have watched on TV and in person and that is always a treat.

I suspect that most of the bitching comes from people who wished they were the ones who were appearing on TV. I am sure they would have told the TV staff to go jump in the lake if they were the finalists and were to appear on TV in this format. Yeah right.

I wonder what the temperature was in that room? How did it affect the table? And how about the camera lights? And the cameramen walking around and bending in front of the players as they shoot? It just shows how great these players are that they can put all of the distractions out of their mind.

And what is this Spider aiming/training device?

Jake

 

[Perk]

I enjoyed it, different faces, and it was pool on ESPN.

Yes there are things to tweak and other things they could do, but it was pool, just the same.

I dont understand why the make tv formats races to 7 though, when the whole tourney goes to 9 or 11. They end up editing everything anyway, and you miss racks. At least the longer races would help the players.

I too would like to see actually winner break formats. Only because you can really tell when someone is in the zone, and it is interesting to see players play like that. Sure sometimes people might not shoot, but thats what people will remember as fans. Heck if someone like Earl ran 9 and out, we could actually see ALL the racks since he plays fast.

As far as people comparing pool to NASCAR, there is no comparison. NASCAR has the luxury of having ALL drivers at EVERY race. So as a fan, sponser, or anyone else is concerned, their guy/team is racing each week. This is a big reason for NASCAR's growth.

I love pool, and will watch all sorts of pool. I have downloaded a bunch of matches, recorded ESPN matches, and purchased videos. I like a variety, and it would be nice to get more variety type matches. Pool has some interesting things happening such as Ring Games, Skins, etc....

 

[Williebetmore]

And I like Mitch because everytime I hear his voice I think of the beautiful Ewa. And besides, he really knows the TV side of the business. And that is very important to the TV producer. This I was told by the gorgeous Ewa a while back. Did I tell you that I think Ewa is exotic? Are all Vikings that striking?

Jake

Jake,
I don't think all Vikings are that good looking (in fact I don't think Randy Moss is even all that exotic). I will say that Ewa would have to let herself slide quite a bit to get all the way down to gorgeous (she's several levels above gorgeous). I would much rather watch her than Mitch.

I also hope no one on this thread ever confused me with some "whiner" who wants to see more network pool, or who wants to see pool go "big time" - I couldn't care less. I just love to play, and will continue to love the game even if Mitch continues to announce it. I think he does an okay job, just not as much fun for the fanatics as the Accu-Stats guys. I also think anyone should be able to critcize anything they want - this is America (free country for at least another month or two). I'll bet the Iranian pool fans all just love the government sponsored pool broadcasts - just ask them.

 

[nfty9er]

My two cents worth, which isn't worth much except to me

Boy you people can get it going. Some of you must be lawyers or close because all of you argue with the best of them and all bring up good points with articulation and forsight. Everyone is right to a certain extent but no matter it is much better to have it on t.v. than not, regardless of the quality.
When I was watching the broadcast I knew a thread would start with the plusses and minues so I wrote mine down as I watched. Well I watched a lot of it as it was fun to switch back and forth to and from the world series. Baseball can get boring too although it is one of my favorites.

Good pointsand I know a lot of you mentioned some and not others.

1. Announcers. Not bad not great. But gosh I dislike a lot of football and baseball (etc.) announcers too. Some are terrible. Doesn't mean you should not watch your favorite sports. The sideline reporters commenting on football and baseball are horrible. They are mostly there for the sex appeal.
ESPN hires these people for a reason, they are not stupid.

2. Overhead cameras. Those a great as far as I am concerned. If you never used them you would not know the layout of the table. Someone said they don't use them in othersports. You are flat out wrong. Football started using the skycam. What is that but not overhead and I like them, they are great. Of course cameras in blimps have been going on for years. How about golf shots. The hand helds in these matches were great. There were two of them and they got a lot of good shots of the players up close and you were able to see sidelight stuff in the background whereas normally you would not.

3. The cue ball was great. To the layman it was important to see different spins. I have been playing 50 years and it did not bother me. I saw some spins that I did not realize was more and less and some shots. So I learned something.

4. At least they showed all the games of the matches, which in the past never happened. That part I really liked even if it was short races. They had no choice but to make short races for t.v. and alternating breaks. It is not for face time but to keep matches as close as possible. From what I saw if it was winner break they would have been pretty lopsided matches.

5. The real reason I knew it was not as bad as previous broadcasts.
MY WIFE WAS ENJOYING IT.

Bad points.

1. Sure got tired of hearing the same dialogue over and over about the terminal, the equipment, etc etc. They could have got a little more innovative for each match.
2. Would have liked more spontaneous announcing. For instance would not everyone want to know about Santos's stick. It was beautiful and he paid 10,000 to have it made. That would have been interesting to relay that story. What about Mikes stick. It looked like a break stick. It was a plain compared to Santos and Earl's for that matter.
They metioned about the people coming and going but never the prices which was interesting. What about all the kids I noticed in the front row of stands. Were they real pool buffs, did they pay those prices to come in and be kids. There were about 10 of them.
3. With 4 hours of broadcast a guest announcer would have been great. Goodness knows there were plenty of people that got knocked out available.
One of the real pros might have had better commentary. Yeh it would have been interesting to have Earl commenting in the final right after his loss. lol.
4. The table was ugly and way too easy. A tighter table is not necessarly worse for t.v. God when you miss a shot as bad as some got missed it should not still not go in.
5. They never mentioned the prize money or who won what that I heard. I know at the end they didn't. I know cause my wife asked me and I could not tell her . DUH me.

All in all I enjoyed it more than any other pool broadcast I have seen.
Gosh people what if it was not broadcast at all. In my opinion the way to go is the way of poker. Big money in the right format and that to me would be ring games with the best players. All the cash on the line where every shot means something just like every hand in poker. I think that is the next change that has to be made. Look what it has done for fans at pool tournaments.

 

[Williebetmore]

All in all I enjoyed it more than any other pool broadcast I have seen.
Gosh people what if it was not broadcast at all. .

Geez, nfty9er, that was a thesis. You need to get a job reviewing for TV Guide. I can hardly find anything to disagree with - so you must be exactly right. Well done ( a little constructive criticism never hurt anyone).