Justin Bergman--Mosconi Cup

barrymuch90 said:

If Bergman isn't on the team somethings wrong because he's the only one outside of the top 10 worth considering so you don't have to make a judgement call chiseling between him and someone else because the rest of potentials are all in the top 10.



The main reasoning is Justin should make the team is that he is easily one of the best 5 American players right now and I know the team is built using a points system but the goal is to have the best 5 players and this year match room basically told Johan he could pick whoever he wanted.



Shane's mosconi record is suspect but he should be on the team regardless considering he's hands down Americas best player. The next two best America players hands down are sky and Justin. Both have actually had decent showings for the cup, but all three of these players should be on this years team regardless of previous performances or amount of points considering theyre the best three players in America right now and in my opinion a notch above the rest.



The last two picks could go to a handful of different players and there's different arguments for each player. In my opinion Billy Thorpe should be on the team to start his seasoning not to mention he's had a solid year. He's a great young gun that most likely will make many teams so it's in Americas best interest to start his seasoning as soon as possible.



The final spot as I said could go to many players and they'd each be deserving of selected. You could go with an experienced member or another young gun or another first timer and all schools of thought have merit.

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I think that Bergman is the BEST player under this format. So yes, he should definitely be selected.



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I think he is one of the best American players on a consistent basis, so I agree he should be on the team.

However, I'm not sure I agree with the statement that Bergman and Woodward are clearly the 2nd and 3rd best American players. Morris, Oscar, Earl, and Dechaine (when he is playing) all could be in the discussion
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You guys give the Mosconi Cup way too much of your time & thought. Hell, if the chicken shit nits on here who keep saying the Team has already been picked and won't reveal it are right, Matchroom just gave a big FU to the whole US fan base (and players!) that were told here is a list of points tournaments, etc, to qualify.

:boring2:

Bergman was Team USA's best player in the 2016 Mosconi. It would be strange indeed if he weren't on this year's team.

sjm said:

Bergman was Team USA's best player in the 2016 Mosconi. It would be strange indeed if he weren't on this year's team.

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I'd like to see him earn it rather than ride a coat tail in , he ain't done much to date

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I believe he posted here saying that he wasn’t going to chase Mosconi points, but he was just going to play in whatever tournaments were in his best interests to play in, and let the Mosconi points come if they may.

barrymuch90 said:

I don't disagree that I and many others potentially give this event way to much space to rent in our heads. However I will say that I'm a huge pool fan and the glory of this is just that it gives us all something to buzz about. On one hand I admit I care and think to much but on the other what else in the pool world is there to get hype about? Being a pool fan I can't see how another fan of pool would dis this tournament being that it brings together 10 great players on a world stage. There's immense pressure and I know one aspect of pool that intrigues me is seeing if one can handle different pressures. (If you can handle the cup you can handle anything in pool). Not to mention the clashing of two rival nations and the fact that I'm an American first and foremost and would route for and want any American team to win.

So if the mosconi cup isn't for you that's fine but please let us pool nerds relish in the insanity that is the mosconi cup since it's basically one of the few things left in the pool world that mean anything!!!!!

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Its definitely a great production & opportunity, I just can't stand the format. Also, it isn't "two rival nations". That would be something. Instead it US vs Euuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooopppppppppppppppeeeeee, or howver the Euroholes want to butcher ENGLISH and pronounce it

Its a shame we can't can't have like 6 Derby's a year.

BRussell said:

I believe he posted here saying that he wasn’t going to chase Mosconi points, but he was just going to play in whatever tournaments were in his best interests to play in, and let the Mosconi points come if they may.

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That's why we don't need him , we want players fighting for the honor to play ,,


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This one stroke guy whoever that is I want to play Mosconi Cup as much as anyone but I'm not traveling 3,000 miles every weekend to break even if I place top 2. You really have no idea what you're talking about so I shouldn't be so hard on you but if you're going to post and act like you know something about the subject than think a little before you post.

Barry Much, thank you I appreciate it... Yeah I really want to play but I understand if they don't and I'll still root for USA I think we have the talent to win. I think our best players are really close to Europes best but I think Europe has more of them. I would say we only have like 8-10 players that could win and they have 25-30. Asia probably has 100 lol.

I could see where people don't think I deserve it but honestly if I had to do it again i would not travel from California, to Oregon, then North Carolina, then to Texas, then to New York. Some of those are worth going to and you have to spend $2,500 to make $6,000. Some are spend $2,500 to win maybe $2,500. I always put my own money in tournaments, well about 95 percent of the time if I have it. I do get staked to play like $20,000 sets and up but if I can bet my own I will. I don't have a sponsor that pays my travel if I had that I would go to every event. Most people even ones that follow pool still don't realize I think US pool culture is more gambling and I think that's where our best players are gamblers. If pool tournaments paid $30,000 for first and maybe $3,000 for top 10 you would see a lot different names winning tournaments. Especially these tournaments rack your own 9 ball, bar table, race to 7. When I was young I was always told real pool players gamble and suckers play tournaments... I wish it were different but that's how it is in the U.S. I try to do both but until they pay a little better I'm not traveling every weekend to play races to 7 to win $1,000.

Justin Bergman said:

Barry Much, thank you I appreciate it... Yeah I really want to play but I understand if they don't and I'll still root for USA I think we have the talent to win. I think our best players are really close to Europes best but I think Europe has more of them. I would say we only have like 8-10 players that could win and they have 25-30. Asia probably has 100 lol.

I could see where people don't think I deserve it but honestly if I had to do it again i would not travel from California, to Oregon, then North Carolina, then to Texas, then to New York. Some of those are worth going to and you have to spend $2,500 to make $6,000. Some are spend $2,500 to win maybe $2,500. I always put my own money in tournaments, well about 95 percent of the time if I have it. I do get staked to play like $20,000 sets and up but if I can bet my own I will. I don't have a sponsor that pays my travel if I had that I would go to every event. Most people even ones that follow pool still don't realize I think US pool culture is more gambling and I think that's where our best players are gamblers. If pool tournaments paid $30,000 for first and maybe $3,000 for top 10 you would see a lot different names winning tournaments. Especially these tournaments rack your own 9 ball, bar table, race to 7. When I was young I was always told real pool players gamble and suckers play tournaments... I wish it were different but that's how it is in the U.S. I try to do both but until they pay a little better I'm not traveling every weekend to play races to 7 to win $1,000.

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It is not very often I can agree 100% with a long reply here on azb yet here you go Justin It is really cultural thing where pool in Europe is really considered a sport at the top level while in USA there is a very strong gambling culture and the sport part doesnt get that much recognition it would deserve. The tournaments in USA get much bigger purses than in Europe but also the cost of travelling to such tournaments are much higher. Hard nut to crack I guess.

Justin Bergman said:

Barry Much, thank you I appreciate it... Yeah I really want to play but I understand if they don't and I'll still root for USA I think we have the talent to win. I think our best players are really close to Europes best but I think Europe has more of them. I would say we only have like 8-10 players that could win and they have 25-30. Asia probably has 100 lol.

I could see where people don't think I deserve it but honestly if I had to do it again i would not travel from California, to Oregon, then North Carolina, then to Texas, then to New York. Some of those are worth going to and you have to spend $2,500 to make $6,000. Some are spend $2,500 to win maybe $2,500. I always put my own money in tournaments, well about 95 percent of the time if I have it. I do get staked to play like $20,000 sets and up but if I can bet my own I will. I don't have a sponsor that pays my travel if I had that I would go to every event. Most people even ones that follow pool still don't realize I think US pool culture is more gambling and I think that's where our best players are gamblers. If pool tournaments paid $30,000 for first and maybe $3,000 for top 10 you would see a lot different names winning tournaments. Especially these tournaments rack your own 9 ball, bar table, race to 7. When I was young I was always told real pool players gamble and suckers play tournaments... I wish it were different but that's how it is in the U.S. I try to do both but until they pay a little better I'm not traveling every weekend to play races to 7 to win $1,000.

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Great comment Justin. I agree with you. What about travelling for tournaments, with side action before/after at that location? Or challenge matches? Or lessons? Folks like Josh gamble and play tourneys, but it DOES sound exhausting.

Justin Bergman said:

Barry Much, thank you I appreciate it... Yeah I really want to play but I understand if they don't and I'll still root for USA I think we have the talent to win. I think our best players are really close to Europes best but I think Europe has more of them. I would say we only have like 8-10 players that could win and they have 25-30. Asia probably has 100 lol.

I could see where people don't think I deserve it but honestly if I had to do it again i would not travel from California, to Oregon, then North Carolina, then to Texas, then to New York. Some of those are worth going to and you have to spend $2,500 to make $6,000. Some are spend $2,500 to win maybe $2,500. I always put my own money in tournaments, well about 95 percent of the time if I have it. I do get staked to play like $20,000 sets and up but if I can bet my own I will. I don't have a sponsor that pays my travel if I had that I would go to every event. Most people even ones that follow pool still don't realize I think US pool culture is more gambling and I think that's where our best players are gamblers. If pool tournaments paid $30,000 for first and maybe $3,000 for top 10 you would see a lot different names winning tournaments. Especially these tournaments rack your own 9 ball, bar table, race to 7. When I was young I was always told real pool players gamble and suckers play tournaments... I wish it were different but that's how it is in the U.S. I try to do both but until they pay a little better I'm not traveling every weekend to play races to 7 to win $1,000.

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Unfortunately this is all very true. Most of the "big money" events we've seen this year are small fields (sixteen players) paying high entry fees ($1-2,000) to play against other top players, and only four players get in the money! In essence. these tournaments are gambling as well, with large expenses and only two or three guys will make any money and the rest take a loss. Their only chance to recoup is to gamble with someone at the event. It might sound like fun, but to a pool player trying to make a living it's an uphill battle.

I feel for players like Justin, who have a wealth of talent but very few opportunities to use it. The state of professional pool in the USA is the worst I've seen in decades right now. A lack of meaningful events to play in and very few poolrooms where they can expect to get action anymore. They may as well stay home and try to eke out a living giving lessons and selling pool gear, maybe have a pro shop in a poolroom and build a small billiards supply business. Finding some backing for a poolroom/sports bar can provide a decent living if run correctly, but that is a full time job and leaves little time to actually play the game.

Bottom line is that aspiring to be a professional pool player is not a good career choice right now and having it as a hobby or part time sideline makes more sense. Like many good players have already discovered, staying close to home (having a job) and only playing in local events makes a lot more sense in today's pool world. We have exactly one male pool player (Shane) making a good living exclusively from pool right now in this country! How's that for odds?