I think Bobby Flay might have some good recipes that would be appropriate.
Lou Figueroa
I Agree With Darren (The Non Fatboy Strand)
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I think Bobby Flay might have some good recipes that would be appropriate.
Lou Figueroa
Soon American fans will read about how this is one of the most anticipated Mosconi Cups ever, and when it is over, we'll read about what a great success it was, and we, the American fans will have been misled twice.
The Mosconi Cup means a lot to European fans, who will passionately support their team, watch the event on TV and will appreciate their players, who conduct themselves as true professionals, more than ever.
To American fans, however, the Mosconi Cup has come to mean less and less, and has reinforced just how deep the divide is between Americans who support pro pool and those that play it.
The American pros, who have been in a very deep competitive slump against the elites of Europe and Asia, have squandered yet another opportunity to make their fans care about them.
I'm sure the pool will be exciting, and I wish Team USA well, but the Mosconi Cup is not to be confused with premier events played on US soil like the Derby City Classic, the CSI pro events in Las Vegas, and the US Open 9-ball, which remain the gems in the world of American pro pool.
On the brighter side, the Mosconi Cup will move back to Europe next year. It would be fine with me if it stayed there forever.
The Mosconi Cup means a lot to European fans, who will passionately support their team, watch the event on TV and will appreciate their players, who conduct themselves as true professionals, more than ever.
To American fans, however, the Mosconi Cup has come to mean less and less, and has reinforced just how deep the divide is between Americans who support pro pool and those that play it.
The American pros, who have been in a very deep competitive slump against the elites of Europe and Asia, have squandered yet another opportunity to make their fans care about them.
I'm sure the pool will be exciting, and I wish Team USA well, but the Mosconi Cup is not to be confused with premier events played on US soil like the Derby City Classic, the CSI pro events in Las Vegas, and the US Open 9-ball, which remain the gems in the world of American pro pool.
On the brighter side, the Mosconi Cup will move back to Europe next year. It would be fine with me if it stayed there forever.
I can name a lot more felons in/around the NFL than I can in/around professional pool. If your clients are judging you negatively because you like pool you have some pretty dumb clients.
Rodney is playing. If Rodney is in, then your argument (which I don't really agree with regardless) about Dennis is moot.
Not really my argument... I think if you pay your debt to society you deserve a shot at living your dreams...
I didn't know about troubles Rodney had so maybe that might be an issue as well...
I just think if one of the requirements for getting pool mainstreamed is to clean up it's image then the 5 players representing each side should be pretty squeaky clean....
I also think if the money was there player backgrounds would be a moot point fans like to imagine being the player winning the big cheese regardless of the past....
And as far as my clients being dumb for judging me based on my love for pool I usually educate them a little bit but it's hard to fault them when most everyone I have met that doesn't play has bad stereotypes associated with pool =(
I didn't know about troubles Rodney had so maybe that might be an issue as well...
I just think if one of the requirements for getting pool mainstreamed is to clean up it's image then the 5 players representing each side should be pretty squeaky clean....
I also think if the money was there player backgrounds would be a moot point fans like to imagine being the player winning the big cheese regardless of the past....
And as far as my clients being dumb for judging me based on my love for pool I usually educate them a little bit but it's hard to fault them when most everyone I have met that doesn't play has bad stereotypes associated with pool =(
Doug, I'm not sure if you've been reading the opinions on this forum about the team captain selection, but I'd venture to guess that 99 percent of them do not approve of this Mosconi Cup selection of the captain for Team USA. But you knew that, right?
If what you write is true, that Matchroom wants to "attract audiences to pool productions," well, they dropped the ball when they chose this one. I cannot imagine a person who is more unpopular with the majority of the American pool culture. By American pool culture, I mean people who live and breathe pool, who understand the pros and cons, and know who's who in the American pool world.
But Charlie, et al., doesn't give a hoot what anybody thinks. If he did, he'd be doing a little PR with the Spade and Pool Grapevine forum identities, as happens when Dragon promotes other Dragon happenings.
We can all b*tch and moan about what a bummer it is to have Charlie Williams as the team captain, but he will laugh all the way to the bank after he pockets Matchroom's payouts, to include a percentage of his Dragon players' earnings. Win or lose, Charlie pockets a nice chunk. Not a bad deal if you're Charlie Williams.
Doug, I'm not sure if you've been reading the opinions on this forum about the team captain selection, but I'd venture to guess that 99 percent of them do not approve of this Mosconi Cup selection of the captain for Team USA. But you knew that, right?
If what you write is true, that Matchroom wants to "attract audiences to pool productions," well, they dropped the ball when they chose this one. I cannot imagine a person who is more unpopular with the majority of the American pool culture. By American pool culture, I mean people who live and breathe pool, who understand the pros and cons, and know who's who in the American pool world.
But Charlie, et al., doesn't give a hoot what anybody thinks. If he did, he'd be doing a little PR with the Spade and Pool Grapevine forum identities, as happens when Dragon promotes other Dragon happenings.
We can all b*tch and moan about what a bummer it is to have Charlie Williams as the team captain, but he will laugh all the way to the bank after he pockets Matchroom's payouts, to include a percentage of his Dragon players' earnings. Win or lose, Charlie pockets a nice chunk. Not a bad deal if you're Charlie Williams.
As far as I am aware Charlie has no criminal record and lack of popularity isn't yet a crime.
So why not wait and see how he performs. It would be a feat of epic proportions if he leads the US team to victory.
I agree with Darren
Doug,
Hope you are well.
I do disagree with your statement above.
There is no requirement that the captain or any player not have a criminal record - so that point is moot.
I feel the match could be very close and either team could win - that is how the format is deigned. It will NOT be a feat of epic proportions if the US wins.
(I actually stated on TAR podcast that I expect CW to do a good job of coaching).
My point is I still do not think CW should be captain- based mostly on 2points. Being a member of Mosconi cup should be result of performance if a player - and if appointed captain, that person should be very patriotic. CW often changes his 'nationality flavor' and I feel that reflects badly on the patriotic requirement.
My other reason is I don't think it is proper to have a situation where the captain could become a player in future years. I think it is a bad formula. I think it is good if a previous player becomes the captain - but I see potential 'problems' if a player is a captain and then becomes a player again.
I also think that having the Mosconi cup that looks like the ABP executive board is probably not a good idea. Obviously the players earned their spot, and I respectfully disagree with matchroom's selection of the captain.
Mark griffin
Doug,
Hope you are well.
I do disagree with your statement above.
There is no requirement that the captain or any player not have a criminal record - so that point is moot.
I feel the match could be very close and either team could win - that is how the format is deigned. It will NOT be a feat of epic proportions if the US wins.
(I actually stated on TAR podcast that I expect CW to do a good job of coaching).
My point is I still do not think CW should be captain- based mostly on 2points. Being a member of Mosconi cup should be result of performance if a player - and if appointed captain, that person should be very patriotic. CW often changes his 'nationality flavor' and I feel that reflects badly on the patriotic requirement.
My other reason is I don't think it is proper to have a situation where the captain could become a player in future years. I think it is a bad formula. I think it is good if a previous player becomes the captain - but I see potential 'problems' if a player is a captain and then becomes a player again.
I also think that having the Mosconi cup that looks like the ABP executive board is probably not a good idea. Obviously the players earned their spot, and I respectfully disagree with matchroom's selection of the captain.
Mark griffin
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You are right. He doesn't have any criminal record, which is a bonus, though I'm not sure what that has to do with being selected as team captain.
My point is that if Matchroom was trying to "attract" -- with "attract" being the key word here -- audiences to their productions, the selection of Charlie Williams is not a popular choice in most American pool circles.
He may do well as team captain, and I hope he does. I will be pulling for Team USA, but I ain't watching this year's Mosconi Cup.
I will also add it's a damn shame, IMO, that some pool players who are afforded opportunities such as this are the ones who are politically connected to pool entities. It's all about that almighty dollar.
I do have respect for two players who got in this year's Mosconi Cup on pure talent alone -- Shane and Mike. But Mike Dechaine did receive an advantage in the so-called "ranking system" by not having to miss out on the Joss Turning Stone points when he and Corey played in Philippines at some world event that only two Americans were allowed to play in.
Players, if they want to be ranked, sometimes have to make choices on which event to play in. I don't understand why the rules for the ranking system for Americans were changed -- again, willy-nilly -- to accommodate Mike Dechaine to compete in a world event that only allowed two Americans.
Of course, maybe it's another one of those behind-the-scenes political moves that only those in the know are allowed to understand the reasoning. There is no transparency in American pool. If there was, I can assure you the team captain for this year's Mosconi Cup would have been different.
I do have respect for two players who got in this year's Mosconi Cup on pure talent alone -- Shane and Mike. But Mike Dechaine did receive an advantage in the so-called "ranking system" by not having to miss out on the Joss Turning Stone points when he and Corey played in Philippines at some world event that only two Americans were allowed to play in.
Players, if they want to be ranked, sometimes have to make choices on which event to play in. I don't understand why the rules for the ranking system for Americans were changed -- again, willy-nilly -- to accommodate Mike Dechaine to compete in a world event that only allowed two Americans.
Of course, maybe it's another one of those behind-the-scenes political moves that only those in the know are allowed to understand the reasoning. There is no transparency in American pool. If there was, I can assure you the team captain for this year's Mosconi Cup would have been different.
I'm sure Doug or someone else will correct me, but as I remember it, everyone got to drop one event from their cumulative scoring. Not just Mike and Corey.
(Too lazy to look it up, especially since there are sooo many smarter people than me here to correct me!
)
I'm sure Doug or someone else will correct me, but as I remember it, everyone got to drop one event from their cumulative scoring. Not just Mike and Corey.
(Too lazy to look it up, especially since there are sooo many smarter people than me here to correct me!
I remember reading the press release on AzBilliards Main Page about this. I had never heard of this rule before this year. Of course, the ranking system seems to change for American players year to year. Next year may bring a whole new system to rank players.
One thing for sure, I hope Matchroom Sport, the premier pool event promoter, comes up with a new method of selecting a team captain. I have confidence that they do care about what the pool public thinks. I remember six or seven years ago when they had to adjust the selection process for the Mosconi Cup when the UPA's questionable ranking system came to the fore. The UPA leadership, much like the ABP, was problematic.
Actually, I'm happy that Matchroom Sport still thinks enough of American pool to keep us in the loop. I do believe that someday down the road, things will be quite different. We may be watching Team Asia versus Team Europe. Won't that be great for Charlie Williams? He can play for Team Asia, too. What a shooter; what a guy!
I'm a little spotty this morning, so I apologize if this post seems a little distant. I'd be hard pressed to remember specifics.
Like Dub said, everybody got to drop one event...
I remember reading something (I was pretty sure it was on AZB) that Dechaine had originally dropped tournament AAA, his lowest score (I have no idea what tourney). But when he was with Corey, there was (I believe) a Turning Stone event at the same time.
So they re-instated the score from the AAA tournament, and the Turning Stone score was then his "lowest score", that was removed.
Not really anything behind the scenes to my knowledge. He didn't seem to get any special favor pointswise. Instead of the one he originally removed, they used that in lieu of the TS event, and the TS event then became his lowest score (at zero).
They may have done the same for Ceroy, but I don't know.
When I read the article, it made sense to me... For whatever that's worth... :thumbup:
Like Dub said, everybody got to drop one event...
I remember reading something (I was pretty sure it was on AZB) that Dechaine had originally dropped tournament AAA, his lowest score (I have no idea what tourney). But when he was with Corey, there was (I believe) a Turning Stone event at the same time.
So they re-instated the score from the AAA tournament, and the Turning Stone score was then his "lowest score", that was removed.
Not really anything behind the scenes to my knowledge. He didn't seem to get any special favor pointswise. Instead of the one he originally removed, they used that in lieu of the TS event, and the TS event then became his lowest score (at zero).
They may have done the same for Ceroy, but I don't know.
When I read the article, it made sense to me... For whatever that's worth... :thumbup:
I chose my words poorly and did not mean anything shady going on with Mike D. I would edit them, but since I am quoted, I will leave them intact for the record.
I did, however, mean to say that the rules for ranking systems are changed willy-nilly by those behind the scenes making decisions about American pool.
The American pool machine is *not* transparent. Rules are changed to accommodate players all the time. I am reminded of Mika Immonen competing in China, thanks to the BCA's changing the rules, again, willy-nilly behind the scenes. Nobody knew about it until after the fact.
JAM, There was no advantage given to me. The way it works is, they take off everyone's worst finish. It just happened to be, by me missing turning stone to compete in Manila, it drop the tournament because it was my worst finish. Believe me, Corey and I asked about this with the Guys at Matchroom. This tournament most likely cost Corey to be on the team. I hope you understand.
Thanks
MD
Thanks
MD
Thanks for your very thoughtful reply, Mike.
I am curious if this rule was in effect the previous years for American players being considered for the Mosconi Cup selections. That is what I am trying to convey, the rule changes from year to year.
BTW, I love your logo. Well done!
Best of luck to you in Vegas.
Hatch took responsibility for his actions... He publicly apologized for his faults and turned his life around. He is very resilient. CW on the otherhand.... I'm sure a lot of pros have done shady stuff and have never been caught... Point is, Hatch rised up from the ashes, pushed himself hard and as far as I am concerned redeemed himself. A true champion--in life and pool.
Good to hear from you Mark
I'm sure Doug or someone else will correct me, but as I remember it, everyone got to drop one event from their cumulative scoring. Not just Mike and Corey.
(Too lazy to look it up, especially since there are sooo many smarter people than me here to correct me!
I am as lazy as you. Perhaps things would be better if Matchroom went back to the old system where the picked everybody on both teams.
But they tried to introduce an element of democracy which I don't think has worked.
They want a TV package that creates interest and giving credence to federations, ranking lists etc has backfired on them. It has denied them Earl their most significant ticket seller. It has also thrown up some 'image unfriendly' players on both teams.
The teams for the World Cup of Pool were chosen for box office reasons
It's not fair to the women involved either... The majority of sex crimes aren't reported to the police. It happened to come out here and then a copule of other women came out with their encounter with CW. If a woman has had no prior physical relationship with CW, just works for him, he has no right to obtain a key card for her room, then enter, take all of his clothes off and get into bed with her.... He broke several laws in doing so. The accusations aren't from some tramp, they're from a woman that is beyond repute. Outside of those accusations, is Charlies reptation beyond repute? Not even close. Inside and outside of pool he's a creep, plain and simple.