9-Ball
Topic: Cant get enough of Earl Strickland!

Not yet available on YouTube, but once again, Earl show's why he is such amazing box office here...

http://www.nytimes.com/video/nyregion/100000002755086/new-yorkers-earl-strickland.html

Incidentally, Earl is coming to the UK for an exhibition tour for the best part of a month, but there are only 4 days left that are available to book!!!!

I'll dig out the dates for you now.

Only dates left to book Earl are...

Sunday 8th June 2014
Monday 9th June 2014
Wednesday 11th June 2014
Thursday 12th June 2014

If you would like Earl to visit your club, get the owner to contact Sean Hoey here...

Tel: Ireland 353871626795
Email: sean.hoey94@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sean.hoey.90

Thanks Dave, NY Times video is excellent. The shots between 1:44-1:53 where the object ball is rolling are something else. Here's hoping somewhere in the north west books him on one or more of the remaining dates.

Thanks Dave,yes these are the remaining dates for information on how to book an exhibition and what is involved contact me
Tel: Ireland 353871626795
Email: sean.hoey94@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sean.hoey.90

A great show gaurenteed.

Thanks for sharing this link. Well shot and very atmospheric, it's amazing the amount of info Earl gives us in such a short space of time. A bigger shame of course that
pool playing professionals are earning so little in comparison to other sports. Good luck to him.

I agree puressence. Strikes me that the US is lacking one major tour, not dissimilar to GB9 (albeit bigger, inevitably) which I think is excellent.

Indeed Fulcrum. Justin Collet & Mark Griffin of 'TAR podcast' fame are forever bemoaning the lack of organisation in the US regarding a main tour.
I reckon the players were/are hoping that bonus ball will rescue their professional game? give it a platform. The TAR guys explained in one podcast that there are roughly 6-8 players earning a living playing within the US. A damning indictment for 'American' pool considering it already has a national APA structure.
I agree that the GB9 is a great tour and does all it can. Just wish we had more 9-ball leagues/comps running nationally & regularly. Anything structured (T9B accepted) would be great for everyone, including the GB9. Surely Rileys with its 60 clubs don't see it as a minority sport, perhaps they could help?
We live and dream for such a big ask

Presumably, two of "the 6-8 players earning a living from pool in the US" are Darren and Mika!!!



Apparently Earl can be booked to do personal appearances on those four days - although I'm not 100% sure what that entails... Anyone?

All valid points puressence. Whilst the cohort of players involved with bonus ball is great, I can't understand why they've devised a new game rather than simply develop a more robust 9-ball (or even 10-ball) tour.

I'm relatively new to watching GB9 but it strikes me that its success is due somewhat to it being a single discipline tour, whereas many of the big US events (e.g. Derby City Classic) appear multi-format (9-ball, 10-ball, one pocket etc). Surely you need a clear and consistent format from which to grow (vis-a-vis GB9)?

GB9 have had one 10 Ball event per season for the past few seasons so although most events are 9 Ball i don't think this can be called a single discipline tour..

I would think there are many reasons to invent a new game. Just two advantages I can think of for inventing a new game and equipment are presumably a potentially lucrative revenue stream from exclusive equipment sales (balls, clothing, scoreboards, apps etc) and also, if it's a new game not currently governed by the WPA don't they manage to evade paying high sanction fees on their big tournament prize funds?

JMHO

Some very insightful comments being posted regarding game invention and the multi-format tournaments. I think the most pertinent point is made by Fulcrum. In that a clear & consistent format or 'push' is way to entice newcomers and current pool players, thus growing the game.
I've always thought that the multi-format (Derby City etc.) is a desperate (albeit noble) attempt to attract all usual comers to the respective events...happy family, if you will.

I remember that 9-ball was at it's busiest (in my neck of the woods anyway) when Rileys promoted and supported the tours more. I'm talking 2000-2005 coinciding with Sky's Annual World 9-ball coverage.

Without labouring the point, up here, we had over 100 runners at any given tour stop (SAPPA tour) and a far busier weekly regional scene. Rileys gave table rate discounts on a sliding scale up to the last 32 in the rankings, encouraging and offering incentive to the players to improve. The top four players for example played/practiced for free at any Riley club. I'm convinced that Rileys would have profited very well thank you by the footfall being busier at the time, it all made sense.

Everything seemed geared to 9-ball pool, this exposure and support within one clear discipline was not hard to grasp. It was attractive, krikey the Nugget Davis was even making the quarter finals!! We all watched.

I recently read a post or thread by the GB9 asking viewers to pass on a link to a Newspaper piece from the last tour stop. The journalist being pleasantly surprised by the sport on show (was how it read). This is perfectly understandable and worthy. Yet it seems therein lies the issue. A real need for exposure, i suppose a bit like the Darts. It's a minority sport yet gets regular press coverage. Although I'm clearly biased towards 9-ball pool, I do fail to see how the drama & excitement of this game is not up there with the darts. Like I said already, I witnessed the game's pull when a little exposure and enticement/encouragement was offered.

A real banging of heads at the appropriate level could facilitate a structure where a nationally run league/tournaments could encourage players to aspire to the GB9 challenge division. Including winning spots and a sliding scale there after regarding membership. If GB9 grows, sponsorship grows, the game grows. Sooner or later (real pipe dream now) Sky or network TV re-enter the frame (no pun intended).

The mosconi cup tickets sell out in hours, I ask you no appetite for 9-ball pool? Think not. People just need to be exposed to it more. 8-ball players probably thinks likewise. They are trying the MMTV route, relatively successfully.

Earl's quite right to want to showcase his talents in exhibitions, he always rattles on about Tiger Woods and the unfair comparisons for comparative talent v earnings.
He knows it all comes down to exposure and pool's inability to shake off it's misspent youth tag. It's up to the pool bodies to force the change. In this country I'd be quietly confident the GB9 could be massive and a real focus for current and new players to american pool.

It's funny how one man's inspiration to make his living (Earl) can inspire a frustrated tangent like this.

All my humblest tuppence worth.

Wise words puressence. I agree that GB9 could be massive and likewise struggle with pool not being received on a par with darts, though I too am biased.

I didn't realise (Dazza) that GB9 held one 10-ball event per season. Whilst (ct) I can see the advantages of a new revenue stream from bonus ball, the format is a bit too gimmicky for me and I imagine many pocket billiards fans in the US would simply like to see more extensive coverage of traditional formats.

I'm really impressed the way GB9 has chosen not to become a medley of pool but focus on one discipline. Therein lies for me the greatest chance of success for the sport.