Pool on TV

Sarah Ellerby · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 06:41 AM

Hi Everyone: I wanted to open a discussion on what fans thought of pool on TV, your likes & dislikes, 8-ball or 9-ball, rules etc.

My preference is 8-ball as I feel there's more skill and strategy involved. Look forward to hearing from you all on the subject.

Sarah

RichR · #2 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah Ellerby

Hi Everyone: I wanted to open a discussion on what fans thought of pool on TV, your likes & dislikes, 8-ball or 9-ball, rules etc.

My preference is 8-ball as I feel there's more skill and strategy involved. Look forward to hearing from you all on the subject.

Like many pool fans, I like to watch any pool game on TV. I enjoy all of the differences, between the games. Each game requires a certain set of skills and strategies, in addition to basic ball pocketing and position play. In addition to the games you mentioned, I would enjoy watching 14.1 on TV, but it doesn't seem to fit the TV need for commercials.

I like seeing as much of the matches as possible. I could do without some of the side stuff they show about the players and the tournament location. I also don't need the close ups of the TD racking the balls. If they do have to cut some of the games, for time purposes, I do like to see some highlights of those games, so I know what happened.

I guess my final dislike would be associated with the announcers. I won't mention names, because I know their job is much more difficult than it seems to the viewers. Most of them do an adequate job and I don't have a problem with any one in particular, although some are better than others. My only suggestion would be that they stop trying to fill every minute with their conversations. In other words, I wish they would just shut up once in a while. They are working on TV, not radio, and we can see what is going on.

Hopefully, others will jump in and give their opinions.

cmrocc · #3 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 08:55 AM

nine ball is a drag race-hurry to the finish
8 ball on the other hand is more of a chess match

The annoucers talk way to much. And he talks about stuff
happening away from the table. Like going on and on about
Alison's gardening what does this have to do with the tournament.

Once again thank you for taking time and joining this little forum family.
Peace

nineballman · #4 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah Ellerby

Hi Everyone: I wanted to open a discussion on what fans thought of pool on TV, your likes & dislikes, 8-ball or 9-ball, rules etc.

My preference is 8-ball as I feel there's more skill and strategy involved. Look forward to hearing from you all on the subject.

Sarah

In general I like the formats of most TV matches. The photography is good. I would like to see Accustats record the matches instead of ESPN...I believe that is how it is done now. I hate the brown felt.

I love to watch pool on TV...still waiting to see you there! Hopefully soon.
My biggest problem is that the commentators make stupid remarks like "for you people at home watching, you have no idea how difficult...." duh, duh, duh....many of us do and can do it, we just can't do it 99% of the time like they do.

brooklynjay · #5 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 04:04 PM

i think what's lacking from the pool coverage is any type of personality from the players which makes the matches boring - doesn't matter what game it is. who do you root for? is there a "good guy" or a "bad guy"? who's the underdog? who needs the win more? i want to be able to connect with the player so that i have a vested interests in the outcome.

these things we caught a glimpse of in the IPT coverage and is what i think we need more of to make the broadcasts more interesting. (keith mccready and the whole beer thing, shawn "love sponge" putnam, earl's meltdown, archer's "bad rack" complaint from corr even with the sardo rack...i remember this stuff more than the match itself)

this isn't the players' fault - i think it's more a fault of the way the game's being presented to the viewing public since i know that most of the players on tour are characters in thier own right.

i'd like to see 8ball personally - 9ball has a certain "luck" factor to it that makes it less appealing.

stephencameron · #6 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 09:41 PM

8 ball is my favorite to watch. I think in 9 ball the only fair way to play is the alternating 'break' format.

RichR · #7 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 10:39 PM

Sarah, after my prior post, I thought of one more thing, to include in this thread.

I really don't like the current WPBA tournament format. I don't think it is fair to all players. In early rounds, a player is allowed to lose a match, but continue playing in the tournament. However, in later rounds, an undefeated player is out of tournament, if they lose a single match.

Yes, I understand that it is suppose to make it possible for lesser known players to make it to the TV rounds. It still is not fair to all players. I love to see the up and coming players as much, if not more, than most. However, I don't believe they should be given any special treatment. If a handful of ladies dominate the tour, so be it. The others will just have to practice more and earn their way to the TV rounds, with a normal double elimination tournament format.

Sarah Ellerby · #8 (**permalink**) 07-11-2007, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichR

Like many pool fans, I like to watch any pool game on TV. I enjoy all of the differences, between the games. Each game requires a certain set of skills and strategies, in addition to basic ball pocketing and position play. In addition to the games you mentioned, I would enjoy watching 14.1 on TV, but it doesn't seem to fit the TV need for commercials.

I like seeing as much of the matches as possible. I could do without some of the side stuff they show about the players and the tournament location. I also don't need the close ups of the TD racking the balls. If they do have to cut some of the games, for time purposes, I do like to see some highlights of those games, so I know what happened.

I guess my final dislike would be associated with the announcers. I won't mention names, because I know their job is much more difficult than it seems to the viewers. Most of them do an adequate job and I don't have a problem with any one in particular, although some are better than others. My only suggestion would be that they stop trying to fill every minute with their conversations. In other words, I wish they would just shut up once in a while. They are working on TV, not radio, and we can see what is going on.

Hopefully, others will jump in and give their opinions.

RichR: Great feedback. I like the idea of highlights from the games that have been skipped. Close-ups on the TD racking the balls, thats probably required as they may be slotting in verbal and visual mentions for ball and rack partner, we need to show a solid ROI for our partners and this is one way we do it.

Would you like to hear a knowledgeable player talking through the options more, maybe add another player if possible in the booth, so you have two different perspectives? Or more quite time?

Sarah Ellerby · #9 (**permalink**) 07-11-2007, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichR

Sarah, after my prior post, I thought of one more thing, to include in this thread.

I really don't like the current WPBA tournament format. I don't think it is fair to all players. In early rounds, a player is allowed to lose a match, but continue playing in the tournament. However, in later rounds, an undefeated player is out of tournament, if they lose a single match.

Yes, I understand that it is suppose to make it possible for lesser known players to make it to the TV rounds. It still is not fair to all players. I love to see the up and coming players as much, if not more, than most. However, I don't believe they should be given any special treatment. If a handful of ladies dominate the tour, so be it. The others will just have to practice more and earn their way to the TV rounds, with a normal double elimination tournament format.

RichR: What format would you like to see? I loved the IPT Round Robin Format. I felt like I was there to play and knew that I would be playing several matches in one day, which was tiring but great. We did have a format that seeded the top 16 in two rounds, very similar to snooker and pool back in UK. This way is the lower ranked players were guaranteed two warm-up rounds before meeting a top 16. It also guarantees the top 16 XX dollars each year, which works as an incentive to to the players outside of the top 16 and highlights the elite players with rewards, although small.

Sarah Ellerby · #10 (**permalink**) 07-11-2007, 07:41 AM

CMROCC: Again great comments. What would be your suggestions regarding what the commentators talk about, maybe the players equipment, type of cue they use, case, tip etc.... Maybe certain drills that the player (s) use, inside info relating to pool stuff instead of what they are doing off the table, although I think it should be a balance of both.