Mosconi trip something didn't feel right

LOL I was just jesting about putting the blame on Sunny or anyone else for the showing our team put on. My point was that I don't think anything would have helped. They just didn't look like a team that thought they could win.
My thought on Vagabond is high. Nice guy and a sharp dresser.(and probably a ladies man too)
 
bfdlad said:
So heres another part of my trip that will make me sound like a total nit. The beers at the bar were $7.50 each, I always like to tip $1.00 per drink so that makes the price $8.50 per beer.
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Best I can do is offer to buy your first round at Derby City. Make sure you introduce yourself. Jay Helfert or JoeyA can point you in my direction if necessary.
 
sjm said:
Best I can do is offer to buy your first round at Derby City. Make sure you introduce yourself. Jay Helfert or JoeyA can point you in my direction if necessary.
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Well thank you forthe very kind offer. Unfortunatley I will not be going to DCC and have been told that there are no Hotel rooms available anymore there anyway. Rick s the camera guy was telling me he wasn't gonna go because of it. Maybe I will catch you at SBE or US Open 10 ball. I will call you in your if offer though at some point :)
 
I didn't find the buzz down all that much. I think it would have seemed a lot better if the US had gotten off to a better start on the first day.

As for the price of beer, you now understand the advantage of having an insulated brief case.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I didn't find the buzz down all that much. I think it would have seemed a lot better if the US had gotten off to a better start on the first day.

As for the price of beer, you now understand the advantage of having an insulated brief case.
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LOL, I saw you walk by and we said hello and I noticed the briefcase but you carrythat thing everywhere with you. I came to understand having a girlfriend with a big purse was a great idea too :)
 
Bob Jewett said:
I didn't find the buzz down all that much. I think it would have seemed a lot better if the US had gotten off to a better start on the first day.

As for the price of beer, you now understand the advantage of having an insulated brief case.
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First time I got a really good laugh from this forum in months!!!

Thanks Bob.
 
bfdlad said:
Well thank you forthe very kind offer. Unfortunatley I will not be going to DCC and have been told that there are no Hotel rooms available anymore there anyway. Rick s the camera guy was telling me he wasn't gonna go because of it. Maybe I will catch you at SBE or US Open 10 ball. I will call you in your if offer though at some point :)
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Talked w/Gregg on Saturday at the Mosconi Cup after I talked w/you.....he told me that rooms are still available. The Hotel website is wrong apparently.
 
This was my first time watching the Mosconi Cup on a live stream and I really enjoyed the matches. The production is kinda blah and the European crowd was overwhelmingly more enthusiastic than the Americans. What I think is really missing is the American flare. It felt like it was in Europe. Bring that American showmanship out. Have a celebrity sing tha national anthem at the beginning of the event. Hell, play Music that's popular in America when our players come out. Do stuff thats gonna get OUR players into the match. I'd also like to see it held in a bigger venue, like the Staples Center in LA, really make it a sight to be seen. I think that's what Americans would like to see, we want to be entertained. Do more events leading up to the Cup the week before, involving the players. Make it like the Super Bowl of pool. We have no "home field" advantage it felt like. It looked like Europe was way more comfortable and the support of the crowd was leaned their way. It's gotta be marketed more towards the American audience IMO.
 
Early on, I read where they were adding more bleachers for the advanced sales indicated that there would be more sweaters. Was that interest mostly for the Europeans?

I made an advanced hotel reservation before I learned that CW would be the Captain and that Hatch didn't make the cut. SVB wouldn't provide fire and only the Rocket might.

The American team needed the fire that Hatch or Earl could have provided...so I went to Vegas and just gambled.
 
As long as the Industry leaders are bashing each other, pool is going nowhere.

Let's put our differences aside and get this sport going in the right direction. I think we can all agree that EVERYONE involved in pool is doing SOME things right. Lets focus on that and see if things don't turn for the better.

Ray
 
I would like to see a peoples choice player again...added to the team America.:wink:
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
I couldn't agree more - we missed Sunny! On Saturday, my first of 2 days, we americans were "out-rooted" in spades. I was sitting right behind the East Londoner wearing the Santa suit that was surely the most vocal supporter in the arena. Prior to every rack he could be heard yelling "Euuurrrr - UPPP!!!" in a very unique and supportive manner. At every turn, the Euro crowd (which I'd estimate at 40% of the attendees) would erupt in song or chant. We got skunked Saturday on and off the table.

On Sunday, Shane and Johnny's last gasp heroics had the US crowd going nicely, we were winning on and off the table. Johnny's wife was really getting us going!!! As the tide was turning on the Rodney/Neils match, at one point I yelled "THE US NEEDS THEIR OWN SONGS!!".

The Euro team is tighter; the Euro crowd rooted better. I attribute their rooting unity and skills in great part to their passion and experiences with soccer - it carries over. I attribute their team's better unity than ours due to a few reasons: our larger geography being one, many Euro's tour/play/travel together - we don't much, and our pool culture is another. Johan - their team captain explained how he had them all doing EVERYTHING together - including working out, eating very nutritionally, etc. He saw close-up how less unified our team was.

Next Cup - we need another Sunny dammit! And honestly, we should come up with our own songs/chants.
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KK9,

Didn't know you were there... I wish you let me know you were coming I would had like to met you :sorry:

As for me not being active and vocal about US Cheering squad, I wasn't feeling well during this Mosconi Cup plus each night after Mosconi, I was helping Justin with TAR 23 (Oscar D vs. Raj Hundal). Not to mention I was catering to few special guests ;) ... At the end, this was extremely draining week for me.

I am sorry I wasn't the cheerleader for US when needed, but Melany did a great job in my absence.

However, with all excuse asides, it was really hard to cheer for team USA...There was lot of bickering amongst each other and they completely lacked support and cohesiveness. It was hard to cheer for a team who didn't believe in their own mates...

And on top of it all Rodney Morris throwing F-Bomb and calling Darren Appleton M.F'er on the live mike that fed to all European countries was devastating blow to our country's image to the world. I don't care it was said during heat of the moment but Rodney was there to represent USA but he represented a street thug. Matchroom immediately received tones of angry response from viewers/ parents who threatened to never watch their program because they don't want their children hearing curses on TV. (TV programs are much more conservative in UK)

And yes... let's talk about the captain who wasn't exactly fan's favorite. I am sure he is "Buddies" with his 3 ABP Board Officers who are 3 of 5 Mosconi Cup team but I am certain he wasn't respected by team members as Captain's status. I don't think this year's Captain had complete following from his team.

Yes, I was there, physically tired and not feeling well but at the end, I sure didn't feel like rooting for this team USA.

S.G.
 
I think they got the results they asked for. CW should of politely declined the position of captain. Hopefully they can recover and be successful in years to come.
 
sunnyday said:
KK9,

Didn't know you were there... I wish you let me know you were coming I would had like to met you :sorry:

As for me not being active and vocal about US Cheering squad, I wasn't feeling well during this Mosconi Cup plus each night after Mosconi, I was helping Justin with TAR 23 (Oscar D vs. Raj Hundal). Not to mention I was catering to few special guests ;) ... At the end, this was extremely draining week for me.

I am sorry I wasn't the cheerleader for US when needed, but Melany did a great job in my absence.

However, with all excuse asides, it was really hard to cheer for team USA...There was lot of bickering amongst each other and they completely lacked support and cohesiveness. It was hard to cheer for a team who didn't believe in their own mates...

And on top of it all Rodney Morris throwing F-Bomb and calling Darren Appleton M.F'er on the live mike that fed to all European countries was devastating blow to our country's image to the world. I don't care it was said during heat of the moment but Rodney was there to represent USA but he represented a street thug. Matchroom immediately received tones of angry response from viewers/ parents who threatened to never watch their program because they don't want their children hearing curses on TV. (TV programs are much more conservative in UK)

And yes... let's talk about the captain who wasn't exactly fan's favorite. I am sure he is "Buddies" with his 3 ABP Board Officers who are 3 of 5 Mosconi Cup team but I am certain he wasn't respected by team members as Captain's status. I don't think this year's Captain had complete following from his team.

Yes, I was there, physically tired and not feeling well but at the end, I sure didn't feel like rooting for this team USA.

S.G.
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As soon as I heard what Rodney said the first thing I thought of was, wow he is acting like a thug. No wonder pool in the US gets not respect. This was another example of get the money now and forget the future. Do you really think Charley will get picked again. And do you really think matchroom will pick Rodney to play if he doesn't make it on points. I don't think so. so they got there couple thousand dollars and will never make another dollar from the Mosconi cup unless they make the team on points.

Not to mention making themselves look like an ASS, well they have been doing that for years. You can take a man out of the hood but you can't take the hood out of the man.
 
Those are some pricey beers, not a light beer fan so I will just keep my antique flask filled with some Sailor Jerry and a bottle in my room. If you want a sip just ask or we can add some flavor to that coke. ;)

P.S. I will not pass up Newcastle with brownies.
 
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May be next year the USA could make some qualification tournaments for the audience as well. The, say, 150 people that do the best job get to go!

And I also agree on Archers wife. Nothing bad about her.. but sitting in the audience and actually leading the audience is a whole different thing.
 
spanky79 said:
As soon as I heard what Rodney said the first thing I thought of was, wow he is acting like a thug. No wonder pool in the US gets not respect. This was another example of get the money now and forget the future. Do you really think Charley will get picked again. And do you really think matchroom will pick Rodney to play if he doesn't make it on points. I don't think so. so they got there couple thousand dollars and will never make another dollar from the Mosconi cup unless they make the team on points.

Not to mention making themselves look like an ASS, well they have been doing that for years. You can take a man out of the hood but you can't take the hood out of the man.
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That's a bit harsh. Most professional athletes lose it publicly a couple times in their careers. I have played pool all over the world and there is no place where people are all angels or all devils.

Rodney is an easy going guy who almost never gets hot. And Matchroom picked Strickland many times exactly because of his proclivity to fire back at the crowd.

Rodney is one of the coolest players on the planet to hang out with. Cut the guy some slack. And no the rest of the world doesn't disrespect American pool or pool players.

When Americans come to China they are treated with respect for their skills and not treated as if they are second class pool citizens. All the top players around the world know they are in a tough match when they face Rodney, Johnny, Shane, Mike Dechaine, and even Shawn.

Hell, Hunter Lombardo, a part-time pro in the USA jsut finished in the top four in a national event here in China. Jeanette Lee finished third, HIGHER than Si Ming Chen.

Y'all are making too big a mountain out of this molehill. The Euro fans were being jerks and Rodney just lost it and responded badly. Big deal, it's over.

I am all for the cheering and rooting your team on. But leave the sharking when the players are down on shots out of it. At least that much of the dignity of the game should be preserved as a sign of respect for all the players no matter which side they are on. Go to www.cuesports.tv and watch some of the money matches. The fans are raucous and cheering in between shots and games but when the player is shooting they are silent.

Here is an idea. The top ten pool players in the USA ought to form a corporation. They agree to play their asses off during the year to get on the team so that the five best make it. All ten of them devote time to practicing together in doubles matches, races to six in individual matches, and really honing their skills to a fine edge. Then they agree to put a sizable wager on themselves with the UK betting parlors.

Then they snap the 2012 tournament off and collect a super fat payday.

That way there is major incentive for the corporation to play their hearts out all year long preparing. Five of them will make the team and the other five will be there cheering them on.

They should practice with people yelling at them and trying to shark them. Any good kung-fu movie from teh 70s is all the guide they need to train. :-)
 
In reference to the thread title, it's not that something didn't feel right during Mosconi, it's that it didn't feel right *prior* to Mosconi.

You American's divided yourselves before the event even began. Rather than accept your differences and unite, you all bickered, denied your team support, and some of you even threatened to boycott the event entirely.

Then team America goes down 4-1 on day one, and you all blame CW for poor coaching, and for not motivating them enough.

Ever consider that the team was down in the dumps before they even walked in the building? I know I would be if I knew my country wasn't behind me.

This event hinges around crowd and fan support. Team USA was denied that advantage on their home turf, and lost because of it. I figure they'll continue to lose in years to come, until their team gets the respect and support that they deserve.

PS. I'm Canadian, so I'm impartial to who wins. I just enjoy the event regardless of the outcome.
 
The US players do not have to answer to anybody. The are contracted by Matchroom as individuals and so there is no entity to take responsibility for a bad performance.

Only Matchroom will determine the criteria for next year;s player selection process.
 
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