We rack a bit differently. BCAPL rules..the 1 ball on the foot spot. 8 ball in the middle, and back row must have a stripe on one corner, a solid on the other.
This quote from the Wikipedia page is spot on:
"American-style eight-ball rules are played around the world by professionals, and in many amateur leagues. Nevertheless, the rules for eight-ball may be the most inconsistent of any billiard game as there are several competing sets of "official" rules."
Especially when it comes to bar play...it seems every bar has it's own set of rules, and they can vary during the match depending on who has the biggest buddies. Takes a brave and crazy guy to play for money in a strange bar.
Check out the colors in your photo...a long held theory of mine has been that somebody at Porsche was a pool player when the early 911 colors were selected.
9 ball is primarily a gambling game...it's fast and easily understood. Makes for better TV viewing. Pros play it a lot...The philipinos are really good at 9 ball. This because they play a rotation game called "61", using the full rack of balls. Each ball is given points that are on it..sink a one ball, one point. Do a combination shot, hit the 1, knocking in the 15? 15 points. 1st one to 61 points wins. So, after playing this as the national game, USA style 9 ball is easy.
A wag on AZ Billiards says: "Never bet against Shane Van Boening. Unless he's playing a Phillipino. Then don't bet, just enjoy the show."
The color of money...lots of inside jokes in that pool flick. "Grady Seasons" was played by Keith McCready, a real life hustler who'd probably be dead now if a good woman hadn't saved him...lots of stories about him. One I found fun was that many years after the movie, the screen actor's guild was able to find him. He'd pretty much lived out of a suitcase after the movie. They had a LOT of money to send him, residuals from his movie role. His lady posted it was good he hadn't been given the money because it probably would have gone for "hookers and blow" as the guys here post. Now living a much calmer lifestyle, the money was a windfall for him. Word is, Tom Cruise had never played before making the movie, but coaching from "Captain Hook" Mike Sigel had him looking like a player...
The Tournament scene where Paul Newman's opponent kept saying "I didn't deserve that"? That was Steve Mizerack..a many times champion in straight pool.
The "superbowl" of pool these days seems to be a days long event called "The Mosconi Cup". 9 ball, short races to 5. 9 racked on the foot spot. Team USA vs. Team Europe. Loud spectators, tons of pressure on the players. Played in England one year, USA (usually Vegas) the next. Big honor to be one of the 5 players selected for a team. After a long string of losses, USA has won the last two years.
LOVED the final match last year. Earlier in an interview, after beating Shane Van Boening, young Joshua Filler of Germany had declared himself "The new king now...I'm the best in the world". Ah, gee..we all cried along with Joshua when he lost the final match of the cup to Skyler Woodward of Kentucky.
(edit) 10 minute video of the '19 cup highlights...you can hear Filler call himself King...and at the end of the video see Skyler sink the cup winning 9 ball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF7iqCiHt1Y