George the Greek said:

The best investment was getting a 9ft (used) for my house. I use it every day for practice and go out once a week to the poolhall which is almost an hour away. I'm not a world beater by any means but when you can bank or kick and play some runouts it's living the dream

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jay helfert said:

After a few days of hindsight, I can only add this one sobering thought. I come from a generation of American pool players who ruled the planet. True we were not so aware of the Filipinos yet since they were not traveling to the USA until the 1980's. But there was no doubt in our minds that we had the best players right here. Sigel, Mizerak, Varner, Rempe, Hopkins, West, Howard, Earl, Archer, Davenport and the older vets like Shorty, Ervolino, Jersey Red, Kelly, Ronnie, Butera, Cornbread and Richie. Who could beat us at pool? Nobody!

And this was the way it was............until! Efren and Parica came along and other Pinoy players started showing up here, and kicking ass. Next thing we know there are European players winning major tournaments, by the late 1990's and early 2000's. The bubble had burst! From there it only got worse until we reached the complete breaking point. If not for Shane the last fifteen years we probably wouldn't have won anything of note.

That makes it hard to swallow for a guy like me, who for a long time believed wholeheartedly in American pool dominance. After all, it was our game!

I've long since accepted the fact that the best players today are not born and bred here, and now I enjoy the worldwide flavor of our sport, with the talent being developed everywhere else it seems. So, in essence the game is growing exponentially. Just not here

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jay helfert said:

.... Next thing we know there are European players winning major tournaments, by the late 1990's and early 2000's. ....

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Johnson said:

View attachment 868361

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JAM said:

Watching loved ones be picked apart on social media is never easy. Parents, family members, and close friends feel it deeply, often more deeply than the person being discussed. I get that. Ask me how I know.

Recently, strong opinions were shared on a Window's Open podcast about a Billy Thorpe Jr.'s style, strength, and even his place on a future Mosconi Cup Team USA. Billy Thorpe Sr. (Billy Jr.'s dad) made a rant-filled post on Facebook sharing his thoughts about the Window's Open owner/founder (M.M.) for sharing his opinions about Billy Jr. Of course, he loves his son and is very proud. Opinions come with the territory in competitive sports, but they don’t always land lightly, especially when they involve someone’s child, sibling, or partner. The Thorpe family is incredibly proud of Billy, and rightly so, not just for how powerfully he plays pool, but for the man he is, which is family-oriented, hardworking, and entrepreneurial.

I happen to like and respect all parties involved here. I like the Window’s Open founder/owner (M.M.), and I also like the entire Thorpe family. That’s exactly why this is worth saying that reading disparaging words about people you love can tear a hole in your heart. Replying to an opinionated post you do not agree with rarely helps when it is about someone you love. It doesn't change minds, and it often amplifies the negativity. Silence, restraint, and perspective are learned skills. They take years to build, and I still struggle with it from time to time.

We can disagree. We can debate performance, style, and decisions, and people are entitled to their opinions, of course. But remembering the human beings and families behind the headlines and opinions goes a long way too. The pool culture is a small one, and we know each player much more so than we would, say, a famous golfer or baseball player. We interact with them and even their families on social media in this pool world. Sometimes the strongest response from a family member or loved one is no response at all.

A good example of this is how Joshua Filler handled the cyberbullying on social media when he was attacked viciously ad nauseum for changing his mind about which tournament he was going to compete in. He said nothing, responded to nothing, and continued on with his pool career full speed ahead. He is the epitome of social media maturity. A year later, he's back on the Mosconi Cup team. Silence is golden sometimes.

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JAM said:

59,000 posts in this thread as of the time of this writing about the 2025 Mosconi Cup. Wow!

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bbb said:

i would like to have it

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maha said:

a beautiful stroke is a thing to watch.

but only a repeatable stroke is what is needed. and is all that is needed.

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mikemosconi said:

Wise they were! When my oldest was 16 and youngest was 14 in 2002 there were only a few players in their age group nation wide that were playing better- we were involved in the SBE junior tournaments .
Now, still under 40 - both guys make more money than the highest pro player in the world on an annual basis .
The revival of pool should not be directed towards career aspirations - it will never be golf, tennis, or major sport money. It is a game that can be taught, learned, enjoyed for a lifetime, and a home table can often serve as a center of social interaction with friends and family.
My sons grew up on a 9 foot table in our home - as I did as a child in the 60s and now they have tables in their homes. At every family gathering the guys all end up playing in the home rooms- you can’t beat it!

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muskyed said:

I've got some Tomahawk coming as it had great recommendations also, and it was the 1st material I found when ordering. Have to say, even though I ordered on the weekend, I called the 1st thing this morning to try and add another rod to my order and it had already been put in the mail. They are a 1st class operation for sure, great service. Now I just have to wait for the epoxy as the stuff I had I didn't like as it took forever, days, to cure. While I'm never in much of a hurry, I would like to be able to work it the next day.

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mikemosconi said:

Well there was a time when just about every mansion in America and every country club in America had a dedicated billiard room. NYC had the Union League on Park Avenue and the NY Sports Club on Central Park W - each with large dedicated billiard rooms. The best hotels in major cities hosted week long straight pool tournaments.

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