Tony is leaving the USA: Why? What Can USA Foosball Learn?

[@johnderoin2822]

Everything Tony said was right. The problem, as I see it, is that there is no one who has the vision to capitalize on his talents.

[@crtdavis]

Is there an interview somewhere?

[@c1arkj]

I wrote up a bullet point diagnosis of what I think could improve foosball as a whole. To sum it up. Lack of tech is a big factor. Lack of character brand is another.

[@rkm237]

Hey InsideFoos, thanks as always for your great videos, and I find them FAR from boring! I do have to giggle a bit at your stock video usage in this clip though. I saw the room full of "investors", and had to think for a sec... "Wait, who are these foosball investors, exactly???". Ha! 🤣

[@insidefoos]

Glad you like them!

[@DavidMiller-fy4ph]

I've preached for the last 40 years, about the pros and cons on the game, way before Tony walked the earth. Of course old school players from the 70s didn't know the game would be the way it is today, like it is in the technical art of the game, knowing what the future held in the game as far as the snake shot was concerned, we didn't have that option in the early days. But the money to be won, was of the charts in the 70s. Of course it was the tournament soccer tables, Green, blue, and brown. They're not like a tornado but they're better than a douche Meister. And all the other tables that have been designed and played on, just don't quite match up and compare to the design of what a t3000 tornado table performs to. As a player that has studied this game religiously for the last 50 years. There is not one table made that out performs a Tornado table, everything else is a toy, just going through the motions of the game. Although the warrior and the fireball are good to play on, they just don't give the full potential of the game, like a tornado table gives. The problem that hurt the game as of today, is now we have high ranked players in low ranked events. Half the worlds player base is sandbagging their rank. I've been rated an expert for 50 years. Now days of late, and the last 8 years now, I've doned a master caliber. I'm a Master in the game, even though I have never toured around much, and players would scoff and say otherwise, but the last thing anyone would want to see happen is see me drop to amateur... I already once blew the state of Colorado out of the water years ago, dominating the touring player base like a redheaded step child, all under the disguise of an expert. When asked my rank, I kind of have to say the fact that I'm a Master. Because I've been playing for money for years, and that makes me a pro, which means professional in the game, so to me, pro is not a rank. It's a title name for players that compete in this game, that make foosball their career. It doesn't matter if they're rookies, amateurs or experts, they all put their money up in events and they gamble their skills against the other rankings, and that is what makes them professionals in the game. So in my crazy opinion, the pro rank needs to be eliminated, maybe bring back the term elite. I can understand Tony's frustration. It can be lonely at the top, especially when you're at the top for the majority of your life. What happened is that he had a chance to see everything from way up above, since he's been on top ever since he started the game, he knows the inside and out of everything, from traveling to competing, to being a sponsored celebrity in the game, to having his own personal wraps made, etc, etc. Nowadays it's just this simple, he wants to settle down and be left alone, because he's been there and he's done that. Master Jedi The Colorado Oracle:

[@martingrimes1215]

Someone had to say it.

[@echosevanz2590]

If the players would get together and script some arguments escalating to fights like WWE while at the same time keeping the WWE shit under wraps there would be more spectators. Just need someone like Vince McMahon to promote the sport.

[@Unkn0wnGuy]

Can't blame him one bit. Hope he finds it more rewarding in Europe

[@CoddiwompleAdventures]

He is correct about promoters and it's mostly the reason why I quit playing foosball.

[@vinniebarberino6103]

If you're not an avid foosball player yourself then watching it is absolutely boring! I enjoy watching it as I play it but have talked to people who don't play and have no interest whatsoever in watching. Fact is, foosball is not a spectator sport so it will be difficult to get sponsors to throw money at it knowing they get little to zero return on their investment. I wish it was different but its not. And I myself find it boring when both forwards are snake shot shooters, but I digress. If you chose foosball to be your main source of income then get use to eating a lot of ramen noodles.

[@insidefoos]

Well said. It is not spectator friendly. It can be more so, but it is very, very, difficult.

[@louhern56]

Like watching a chess tournament if you're not a player.

[@stfu19999]

@@insidefoos its all about the quality of players and games. i love watching foosball but the ofen shown mediocre games in the us and EU are just too boring

[@tchilp]

Absolutely right. Even players at a decent beginners level mostley miss the decisive momentums of a game. Here in Germany an explaining kind of commentary by pro players is on its way and twitch counts are much higher than in the US. Nevertheless, a broad base of skilled players remains the prerequisite of foosball as a spectators sport.

[@corbinluke222]

It sucks because the Amateur events are made for 65-year-old men that have played their whole life and that deters younger players from playing. Rarely is a rookie/amateur event won by an amateur. I won't go to another major tournament until significant changes are made. Foosball will continue to lose young passionate players, which is the direct line killing the sport from the newbie perspective and the Champs are being starved too. I don't tend to care too much for most of the promasters because there seems to be a "cool kids" group and I find that extremely off-putting, especially considering what the game is: plastic men and a ball. But there are some true badasses out there, Toddy and Tony are at the top of my list of cool guys that are down to earth too.

[@ou812invu6]

Well at least now Europe can say without question that they have the best singles foosball player in the world. LOL

[@PinkiesBrain]

Where in europe?? Germany?

[@bluesandmore786]

Pro-Masters can't make enough money. I get it. But what will the reduced amount of play (percentage wise) of a new format be for less skilled players? Will they be forced to get their experience in much more localized venues, as a new format will knock them out of a tournament more quickly? Quite frankly, I don't play for the money. More prize money does not necessarily translate into greater popularity of the sport. What I'm hearing is the way the sport is played has to change for sponsors and top players to benefit financially. If that is the case, then maybe it should just stay the way it is. To be clear, I'm not suggesting that the sport stagnate. But it is my opinion that those who would like to recreate the 70's and 80's popularity are dreaming. That was a perfect storm. The money was there at the same time as the love of the game. Correct me if I am wrong, but was this "boring" game (quoting potential sponsors) played any differently than today's game but for the larger prizes and money?

[@HelloIamClay]

Yikes, these comments.