Mosconi trip something didn't feel right
- Thread starter bfdlad
- Start date
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.
I have met Rodney once and he was cool with me. I just called it as I say it. As for the top 10 American players practicing teams together, THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN, egos are to BIG. That is why we are getting are asses kicked, the euos want to win and WILL practice together to get the cup.
During the SVB/Earl podcast, SVB basically suggested that the Mosconi Cup coach be selected from outside the pool world, basically an NFL or NBA coach, etc. Someone who has been a coach professionally for years, knows how to build teams and lead people,
At the time I thought to myself that it was worth noting that he made these comments AFTER the choice of CW as captain was made, but BEFORE playing in the Mosconi Cup. One of thier own team felt that the choice for team captain was an incorrect one. Coming from one of Team USA's top guns, it sounds like they were doomed from the start.
I'm not placing blame on SVB, but his statement does tell more about what type of 'conditioning', preparation and strategy (or lack thereof) Team USA was put through prior to the Mosconi Cup...
Just my $.02...[/QUOTE]
Exactly !!! Green comin' your way !!!
Do I think CW was a good choice NO. Do I think CW had anything to do with the US losing NO. The players had to go out and play and get the job done. The fact is the Euros had a better TEAM and put in the work to practice together and win. Do you really think the US players even saw each other before the cup started? They show up collect their check and hope they win. I hope Rodney and CW make that check last because I don't see Matchroom picking either one of them again unless they make it on points.
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I don't feel the same at all, and yes, I was there.
The only thing that didn't feel right was the USA Team didn't play well and win (lol). Otherwise, it was still a FANTASTIC event to see in person!
Melanie, as always, was amazing as head cheerleader and she got the crowd on their feet. She truly is a trooper and great for the USA.
And altho I was one of the one's who didn't like the choice for USA Captain, I was told on Sunday that he was the hardest working USA team they had ever seen. We all wouldn't know that, because it's behind the scenes, but that's what I was told by one of the Matchroom guys.
I think it's distasteful to badmouth this event, imo. Some people went to this event because it was on their Bucket List, and they had a GREAT time. It is always a wonderful experience.
The only thing that didn't feel right was the USA Team didn't play well and win (lol). Otherwise, it was still a FANTASTIC event to see in person!
Melanie, as always, was amazing as head cheerleader and she got the crowd on their feet. She truly is a trooper and great for the USA.
And altho I was one of the one's who didn't like the choice for USA Captain, I was told on Sunday that he was the hardest working USA team they had ever seen. We all wouldn't know that, because it's behind the scenes, but that's what I was told by one of the Matchroom guys.
I think it's distasteful to badmouth this event, imo. Some people went to this event because it was on their Bucket List, and they had a GREAT time. It is always a wonderful experience.
I have been to a few, and this one just didn't feel the same. Don't know how to explain it....I think everyone who went will agree.
Without Melanie, and Joey leading the cheers for the U.S. it was pretty dead.
Just didn't have the fire, or firepower this year to pull it off.
Don't count the USA out!!
Photos from the event can be found in the 'Photo Gallery' section on the bottom of the front page. Or click here.... http://azbilliards.com/gallery/showgallerynew.php?gallerynum=143
Without Melanie, and Joey leading the cheers for the U.S. it was pretty dead.
Just didn't have the fire, or firepower this year to pull it off.
Don't count the USA out!!
Photos from the event can be found in the 'Photo Gallery' section on the bottom of the front page. Or click here.... http://azbilliards.com/gallery/showgallerynew.php?gallerynum=143
Trigger, I hope you don't think that I was bad mouthing the event itself. I think Matchroom are the best I love everything they do. The $$ of the beers and stuff is down to the MGM and I don't blame Matchroom/the Mosconi cup for that. Also When I say something didn't feel right I was not saying that Matchroom did something wrong. The Mosconi Cup is the best event or the one I enjoy the most in my opinion. I just felt negativity in the air. Just so you know.
Do you actually KNOW any of the pros? Personally? I do. Rodney is my friend, I have known Johnny for nearly 20 years, Shawn is my friend.
It's really distasteful to hear you and other speak about these guys like you know them. Because I don't think that you do.
Since you know so much tell us what the European team's schedule was leading up to the Mosconi Cup? Did they all get together in some location and practice up beforehand? Where and for how long?
Did the Americans? Where and for how long?
You seem to have this idea that the American pros don't like each other. All these guys are friends on some level and respect each other's games and abilities.
I really need to get out of this discussion. It's more and more like some sort of tabloid gossip party than any meaningful discussion.
You all are so lucky to be able to interact with the pros and this is how you throw it away.
No wonder they don't want to hang out here. No wonder most sane professional people in this industry DON'T want to hang out here.
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It's a good time always. Matchroom always does their best and they have a great group of employees working for them. Top notch production. Without them, pool would be in serious trouble.
MGM is a great venue! Matchroom kicked it up a gear this year moving to a much larger ballroom with room for more people. (I loved it as it was MUCH closer to the garage!)
I think they are on to something with the shot clock. Makes it much more exciting to watch.
Yes, I do. Here's the Captain's Journal for the four days prior to the event -- http://www.pro9.co.uk/html/article.php?sid=1816&mode=&order=0. Note this passage from Day 3: "...and all the guys seem to be agreeing and clicking well. I'm pleasantly surprised, but not too surprised. I wonder at times if I'm imagining this cohesion or if it's really real, when separately, Rodney mentions that as a team this time, 'you've already done a thousand times more than what's been done in the past'. It's a compliment that motivates me further."
Sure, that may be a bit of a biased viewpoint. But I think way too much is being made of the negatives on the US side and the positives on the Euro side. I certainly didn't like some of the things said by US reps during and after the match. But, to me, it was just a made-for-TV exhibition involving some of the best US players and some of the best Euro players. They played a short-match race to 11 matches, and Europe prevailed 11-7. It easily could have gone the other way.
I had read that journal earlier and it appears to me the man is not only dillusional he also needs to get over himself. It was not the rolls (CW), the fans, the table, the lights, the music, the price of beer or a Matchroom conspiracy (AZforums) it was the other team playing better and not choking. His comments after the match were what you would expect if the journal is any insight into his personallity
As a side note
From the photos I see the US boys playing tennis and exercising the arms, Unless you do this type of activity on a regular basis it's the worst thing you can do to your stroke, totally messes up your muscle control. Oh and changing your diet/routine for a week is pointless.
Field a better team next time and you might win
BTW JA & SVB played great.
$5 for a Coke sounds like a good tiime to stop drinking.
I judge by the actions that I saw with my own eyes, The Euros said on the air that they got together to practice a week in advance.
Thank you for posting this, I stand corrected about them practicing together a few days before hand. That is a good thing. The negative view point of the US team has been brought upon by the players themselves and their actions prior to the cup. We all know why people don't like CW, and many where turned off by many of the players refusing to play if Earl had enough points to play. The whole thing about half the team being form team Dragon just didn't sit well with many people.
Yet we're nothing but a bunch of retarded no minds whose opinions don't count?
I mentioned it before, if they want to discount our opinions, that it will eventually come back and bite them on the butt.
I guess it happened sooner than later, didn't it?
I mentioned it before, if they want to discount our opinions, that it will eventually come back and bite them on the butt.
I guess it happened sooner than later, didn't it?
The only thing that really bugged me was that the way the players were presented, the music used, etc. was the same two years in a row. I didn't watch the year prior, so it might not be news to anyone else
i.e. Matchroom used, "The Boys Are Back In Town" when America was in Europe last year. Then they used it for the Europeans in America this year. There's way too much music out there, just seemed cheesy
i.e. Matchroom used, "The Boys Are Back In Town" when America was in Europe last year. Then they used it for the Europeans in America this year. There's way too much music out there, just seemed cheesy
I had read that journal earlier and it appears to me the man is not only dillusional he also needs to get over himself. It was not the rolls (CW), the fans, the table, the lights, the music, the price of beer or a Matchroom conspiracy (AZforums) it was the other team playing better and not choking. His comments after the match were what you would expect if the journal is any insight into his personallity
As a side note
From the photos I see the US boys playing tennis and exercising the arms, Unless you do this type of activity on a regular basis it's the worst thing you can do to your stroke, totally messes up your muscle control. Oh and changing your diet/routine for a week is pointless.
Field a better team next time and you might win
I agree that making a pool player use muscles that they normally don't right before a big match is probably not the best thing to do. On the other hand it probably didn't really matter much. The US Players played great at times and crappy at times. It's the way it is.