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BGonline.org Forums
poker losing its luster? (OT)--re H. Ring
Posted By: phil simborg In Response To: poker losing its luster? (OT) (Chuck Bower)
Date: Thursday, 23 September 2010, at 1:22 p.m.
I believe there is a way to make backgammon very interesting and fun for television viewers, but it takes time, imagination, and most of all, a lot of money to make it happen and get it started.
6 months before Howard Ring passed away he and I began working on producing a trial tournament that we hoped to eventually put on the cable networks. Howard had committed to spend a minimum of $100,000 for the startup which included production costs, paying me for my time and efforts on the project, providing prize money, and hiring of professional videographers. (Howard was ready to spend a lot more, as needed, if the final product was of interest to the Travel Channel or other cable networks.)
Once the initial video was completed, he said he would get sponsors and/or come up with what was needed to get the final product on cable TV and possibly set up a series of tournaments.
I won't go into detail on all of the things we had in mind to make it more interesting, but it included inviting 4 very top, but interesting and animated players to a showdown; shorter matches; played quickly; edited; fun and interesting moderation; and stopping to discuss the more interesting and exciting positions and situations with the players.
Spectators rooting for their favorites would add to the excitement, and the fact that there was big money on the line and the chance for a seat at the next invitational.
It was also going to be somewhat of an educational video about the history of the game and how to play and why it is so challenging and exciting to play.
Howard and I were not convinced this would put Backgammon on the map and make it as popular as Poker, but we were convinced it would be fun to do and might interest a lot more people in the game, and he and I had the time (and he had the money) to make it happen.
Unfortunately, just as we were beginning on the planning stages of the project, Howard was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only a few months to live. Backgammon not only lost a great player and one of the nicest people in the game, but also a visionary who was willing to give back to the game more than perhaps anyone else. My hope is that some day, someone else, or a group, would be willing to take up Howard's (and my)dream and make it happen.
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