USA, all the way?

[Taco]

I believe it was your own Tony Blair who said you can tell all you need to know about a nation by observing who wants in and who wants out. No one wants in your shitty little island. The end.

JC

"In 2009, 567,000 people arrived to live in the UK whilst 371,000 left, meaning that net inward migration was 196,000."

Not the end, I suspect.

It's a "shitty little island" that has produced the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Who, Darren Appleton, Ronnie O'Sullivan (just to keep it on topic), Shakespeare, Dickens, Thackeray, George Eliot, Jane Austen, and countless others.

In the immortal words of Rodney King, "Why can't we all just get along?"

 

[TheThaiger]

I believe it was your own Tony Blair who said you can tell all you need to know about a nation by observing who wants in and who wants out. No one wants in your shitty little island. The end.

JC

:grin:

Actually, we've had mass immigration for decades, with more projected to come. Plenty of people want to live here, pal, despite the weather.

Here's an article from the Daily Mail.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2053652/UK-population-hit-70m-2027.html

Christ, Tory Blair and the Daily Hate in the same post - I feel sooo dirty.

Still, good job diverting attention away from pool, just like all the others have done who cannot win the argument.

 

[TheThaiger]

So this is your logic?

I'm guessing that you think if we all had the same stance and stroke as you, it would save pool?

Have you had you coffee yet? Er, tea??

I drink neither. You had your apple pie?

It wouldn't necessarily save pool, but may save pool in America, and let's face it, something has to...

I am merely fighting fire with fire - all you have to do is prove me wrong. Hurry up, I'm waiting!

 

[Cdryden]

I drink neither. You had your apple pie?

It wouldn't necessarily save pool, but may save pool in America, and let's face it, something has to...

I am merely fighting fire with fire - all you have to do is prove me wrong. Hurry up, I'm waiting!

Prove you wrong about WHAT? You said American pool is on the decline, I never argued that, in fact I agreed.

The only thing I don't agree with is your comment about Americans cant cue straight. If your looking for proof I guess I can point you to the obvious, Jimmy Reid, Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, David Howard, CJ Wiley, Mike Lebron,Earl,Mike Segal, etc.etc. Not to mention thousands of unknowns, many of who are on this board.

I'm still waiting for proof that YOU can. Hurry up, I'm waiting.

 

[PGHteacher]

???????

Does the world of pool need the USA? What does the US offer the rest of the world?

Players? Nope.
Tournaments? Nope.
Technique? (stop laughing at the back) Nope.
TV coverage? Nope.
Innovation? I don't think so, but am happy to be corrected.

I see the US as existing in its own Darwinian bubble, with your game evolving in a different direction to the rest of the world. I see it as pining for a lost age, and not embracing a potentially golden tomorrow. I see it protecting its past, not chasing its future. Sentimental nostalgia is hardwired throughout these forums.

Snooker is in rude health. It saturated its traditional market and has sought new ones around the globe. The anti China sentiment I see a lot on this forum is crazy - there's 1.5 BILLION people in that market and you're pulling up the drawbridge and restocking the moat? It doesn't make any sense to me.

Quality products from Predator and Kamui get bashed here all the time, yet American made products of dubious worth are lauded and prized. There is no end to the cost of a product if we TRULY believe it will help us. Protectionism is rife. The lines between what's in the best interest of the sport and the best interests of business are blurred.

Above all, there seems to be no strategic plan or even thinking. All I see is further slow descent - and that's in nobody's best interest.

So why has this guys opinion generated such lengthily conversation? Why do so many of us care what this dude thinks about pool in the USA? Pool is alive and well here in the US. We as avid players would like to see its growth sure; but look at his op! The opening premise is factually incorrect and can be easily proven to be so. I know he is speaking symbolically but why have repeated dialog with such an absurd opening statement? Does the world of pool need the US? How much more absurd a question is there?


Pool is gaining some momentum again rise of the national leagues has begun to spark the renewed interest. I have no doubt that the next few years will bring more TV coverage. But that should not be of real importance to us. Even though it is a barometer of popularity; we should be more concerned about the overall image that it gained in the 20th century and trying to destroy that seedy image. Imho that will give pool a real shot in the arm in this country.

The US is the world superpower; half of their international news is about us, and that’s the whole rest of the world. There is no country that can be the best at absolutely everything, not even us. It would be foolish to think so, national interests fluctuate; and they always will.

Pool is being enjoyed from one end of this country to the other just like the rest of the civilized world. It may rise or fall in popularity over the next few years, but fold up and go away or one not be able to find a game; hah lmao. We will have our local and national champions and if in a particular decade these men and women are not winning the international events that is not good news but is not of great concern to me, and really shouldn’t be to us as a nation.

We live in the greatest country in the world and when you are on top there will always be a bunch that say “you’re cocky!” I say let them. Go ahead USA bash all you want WE SHOULD HANDLE IT BETTER because that is the nature of being on top. We are not the best ___ players in the world, maybe baseball and football but not the best everything, never will be it’s impossible. So from what country will the next Mosconi come from? That is hard to say; all we know is that the 1st one came from here and we are trying to make the next one from here as well. Let them vent it’s ok we are strong in every way that matters. (at least right now).

 

[Mr. Bond]

Does the world of pool need the USA? What does the US offer the rest of the world?

Players? Nope.
Tournaments? Nope.
Technique? (stop laughing at the back) Nope.
TV coverage? Nope.
Innovation? I don't think so, but am happy to be corrected.

I see the US as existing in its own Darwinian bubble, with your game evolving in a different direction to the rest of the world. I see it as pining for a lost age, and not embracing a potentially golden tomorrow. I see it protecting its past, not chasing its future. Sentimental nostalgia is hardwired throughout these forums.

Snooker is in rude health. It saturated its traditional market and has sought new ones around the globe. The anti China sentiment I see a lot on this forum is crazy - there's 1.5 BILLION people in that market and you're pulling up the drawbridge and restocking the moat? It doesn't make any sense to me.

Quality products from Predator and Kamui get bashed here all the time, yet American made products of dubious worth are lauded and prized. There is no end to the cost of a product if we TRULY believe it will help us. Protectionism is rife. The lines between what's in the best interest of the sport and the best interests of business are blurred.

Above all, there seems to be no strategic plan or even thinking. All I see is further slow descent - and that's in nobody's best interest.

Unless you've secretly spent a great deal of time speaking with real industry reps and doing market / consumer research, it looks to me like you have based your opinions, to a great extent, only on what you read in this forum. (ie other than "no TV coverage " you haven't cited any real-world examples)

This is where many people, particularly non-Amercians, can get a little confused. You see, this forum represents only a small micro-cosm of the American "pool world". So, just because someone complains about something here doesn't mean that all Americans feel that way. And just because you don't see industry-wide marketing plans and major tournys being cooked up right here before your eyes, certainly doesn't mean that nobody is or has given it any thought.

In other words, you're way off.

And not unlike many other ferrnerrs that I've spoken with, you seem to be more concerned with other countries than with your own. If it sucks so bad in the U.S., and we have nothing to offer, why do you care so much?

Oh wait, I know why. You'd rather be here than there. :smile:

 

[justadub]

So why has this guys opinion generated such lengthily conversation? Why do so many of us care what this dude thinks about pool in the USA? Pool is alive and well here in the US. We as avid players would like to see its growth sure; but look at his op! The opening premise is factually incorrect and can be easily proven to be so. I know he is speaking symbolically but why have repeated dialog with such an absurd opening statement? Does the world of pool need the US? How much more absurd a question is there?


Pool is gaining some momentum again rise of the national leagues has begun to spark the renewed interest. I have no doubt that the next few years will bring more TV coverage. But that should not be of real importance to us. Even though it is a barometer of popularity; we should be more concerned about the overall image that it gained in the 20th century and trying to destroy that seedy image. Imho that will give pool a real shot in the arm in this country.

The US is the world superpower; half of their international news is about us, and that’s the whole rest of the world. There is no country that can be the best at absolutely everything, not even us. It would be foolish to think so, national interests fluctuate; and they always will.

Pool is being enjoyed from one end of this country to the other just like the rest of the civilized world. It may rise or fall in popularity over the next few years, but fold up and go away or one not be able to find a game; hah lmao. We will have our local and national champions and if in a particular decade these men and women are not winning the international events that is not good news but is not of great concern to me, and really shouldn’t be to us as a nation.

We live in the greatest country in the world and when you are on top there will always be a bunch that say “you’re cocky!” I say let them. Go ahead USA bash all you want WE SHOULD HANDLE IT BETTER because that is the nature of being on top. We are not the best ___ players in the world, maybe baseball and football but not the best everything, never will be it’s impossible. So from what country will the next Mosconi come from? That is hard to say; all we know is that the 1st one came from here and we are trying to make the next one from here as well. Let them vent it’s ok we are strong in every way that matters. (at least right now).

This is by far the best response in the thread. I usually try to avoid contributing to threads by the OP, as he seems to be more interested in creating conflict. But this response deserves an "atta boy". Nicely done, rep sent, etc, etc.

 

[sfleinen]

Like this one?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee

Tim:

That just goes to show little you know about this topic. That is Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of hyperlinking. That is only one aspect of the Internet. That is not "the" Internet. There are many technologies that make the Internet, and hyperlinking is only one small aspect (hint: there's much more to the Internet than your little myopic world of clicking on buttons and links in a web browser). While Tim is considered a "father" of the Internet as we know it, he is not "the" father. In fact, there are folks who contributed more foundational technologies to the Internet than Tim Berners-Lee. Why don't you look up the names Bob Kahn, or Bob Metcalf, or Vint Cerf? You think just because one Brit -- just one in amongst a decidedly American team -- came up with "a" technology for the Internet, that he therefore "invented" the entire Internet, and hence therefore, because he's a Brit, the Internet as a whole was invented "in the UK"? How narrow-minded can you be?

I don't think you want to go toe-to-toe with me on this one. Trust me on that. However, if you do want to, let it fly -- your turn. Just know what you're getting into -- I've been working on Internet backbones since the late 1980s, and it's my business to know all the technologies.

-Sean

 

[justadub]

Oh my word, Sean.... You realize you've given him license to fire away at you? Hell, encouraged him, even.

I realize that you know this stuff cold, and that it'll probly be funny watching the melee. But to encourage him?

 

[TheThaiger]

Tim:

That just goes to show little you know about this topic. That is Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of hyperlinking. That is only one aspect of the Internet. That is not "the" Internet. There are many technologies that make the Internet, and hyperlinking is only one small aspect (hint: there's much more to the Internet than your little myopic world of clicking on buttons and links in a web browser). While Tim is considered a "father" of the Internet as we know it, he is not "the" father. In fact, there are folks who contributed more foundational technologies to the Internet than Tim Berners-Lee. Why don't you look up the names Bob Kahn, or Bob Metcalf, or Vint Cerf? You think just because one Brit -- just one in amongst a decidedly American team -- came up with "a" technology for the Internet, that he therefore "invented" the entire Internet, and hence therefore, because he's a Brit, the Internet as a whole was invented "in the UK"? How narrow-minded can you be?

I don't think you want to go toe-to-toe with me on this one. Trust me on that. However, if you do want to, let it fly -- your turn. Just know what you're getting into -- I've been working on Internet backbones since the late 1980s, and it's my business to know all the technologies.

-Sean

:grin:

A simple apology would've sufficed, Sean.

 

[TheThaiger]

Oh my word, Sean.... You realize you've given him license to fire away at you? Hell, encouraged him, even.

I realize that you know this stuff cold, and that it'll probly be funny watching the melee. But to encourage him?

For someone who tries to avoid my threads, you don't half post a lot in 'em.

 

[sfleinen]

:grin:

A simple apology would've sufficed, Sean.

Me apologize to you? For what? You made the mistake of not knowing what you're talking about, not me!

-Sean <-- is completely dumbfounded by Tim's myopic and imaginary world -- displayed in public, no less!

 

[whitewolf]

:grin:

Plenty of people want to live here, pal, despite the weather.

ESPECIALLY the Muslems, where due to your liberal freedom of speech they can chant all kinds of anti government rants all day long with impunity. Hell, they even have their own districts where your chicken sh!t police won't even dare to venture. Sure pal, everybody loves Great Britain, except for the food LOL.

 

[whitewolf]

I think you're conflating two separate issues there, old chap.

I'm sure the majority of European, Filipino, Japanese and Chinese players cue straight, however they stand.

As you won't accept the proposition - nobody likes their medicine, after all - perhaps you could reverse the scenario and tell me to COPY American cueing. Is THAT a good idea?

Will people who cue like John Barton save pool from its terminal decline?

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that on many occasions you have proclaimed that the snooker stance is the best way to shoot pool. And also, delivering the cue is NOT the only thing required to shoot well - afterall what Brits can shoot lights out in 9 ball over the past century. You probably can use one hand to count them.

BTW, Great Britain's pool players wouldn't stand a chance against the Americans. I think you have delusions of grandeur after watching the Mosconi Cup - thinking that everybody is from Great Britain.

 

[TheThaiger]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that on many occasions you have proclaimed that the snooker stance is the best way to shoot pool. And also, delivering the cue is NOT the only thing required to shoot well - afterall what Brits can shoot lights out in 9 ball over the past century. You probably can use one hand to count them.

BTW, Great Britain's pool players wouldn't stand a chance against the Americans. I think you have delusions of grandeur after watching the Mosconi Cup - thinking that everybody is from Great Britain.

I have said it's the most natural way to ensure enough stability to enable you to deliver the cue straight. I've also said I don't recommend people change TO it once they've learned a difference stance.

Nobody plays American pool in this country, buddy. It'd be carnage if they did.

 

[TheThaiger]

ESPECIALLY the Muslems, where due to your liberal freedom of speech they can chant all kinds of anti government rants all day long with impunity. Hell, they even have their own districts where your chicken sh!t police won't even dare to venture. Sure pal, everybody loves Great Britain, except for the food LOL.

Muslims have better things to do with their time than spending all day chanting against the government - frankly, there's enough of that insanity on NPR, Muslim or not.

And our food's great, once you understand it.

 

[TheThaiger]

Me apologize to you? For what? You made the mistake of not knowing what you're talking about, not me!

-Sean <-- is completely dumbfounded by Tim's myopic and imaginary world -- displayed in public, no less!

You don't seriously think I read your posts with any degree of care do you?

Ok, he was the inventor of the WWW, not the internet. Happy now?

-me <----not giving a shiny shite either way.

 

[sfleinen]

You don't seriously think I read your posts with any degree of care do you?

Ok, he was the inventor of the WWW, not the internet. Happy now?

-me <----not giving a shiny shite either way.

Ah, see? Nice back-pedaling! You reply to my posts, so obviously they attract your attention. Then, when you get challenged on a careless claim, you back-pedal with the classic "you don't think I actually read... not giving a shiny shite" evasive maneuver.

You're a piece of work. Try getting a life outside of the AZB bubble.

-Sean

 

[TheThaiger]

Ah, see? Nice back-pedaling! You reply to my posts, so obviously they attract your attention. Then, when you get challenged on a careless claim, you back-pedal with the classic "you don't think I actually read... not giving a shiny shite" evasive maneuver.

You're a piece of work. Try getting a life outside of the AZB bubble.

-Sean

:grin:

Are YOU telling ME to get a life?

:grin:

 

[sfleinen]

:grin:

Are YOU telling ME to get a life?

:grin:

Yes, I am! Compare the amount of time you spend here, responding and posting, to mine. I hit this place up on 5-minute breaks at work, but it looks like you LIVE here. For example, take a look at your own posting stats. You've only been here a little over a year (m-a-y-b-e going on 2), and you're very close to me in post count -- and that's WITH a ban on your side!

So, you were saying?