Best U.S. Player Between 30-40 Years Old

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BasementDweller

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Who's the best American player in this age group?

To me, it's the lost decade of American pool players. These are the guys that should be on the Mosconi Cup team right now, but they're nowhere to be found. Guys that are capable of competing internationally.

Off the top of my head, I can only think of Corey Deuel.

So if it's not Corey, who is it? Where are all these guys? John Schmidt might be in this age group. Charlie Williams would probably be in this group but he doesn't really play that much (I don't think).

A lot of the others are probably closing in on 40 if they aren't already there (Jeremy Jones, Rodney Morris, Stevie Moore, Shawn Putnam, to name a few).

Seems like this is the age group that has been most affected by the IPT fiasco. Maybe I'm wrong. If I am, please correct me.
 
That's an interesting observation. I tried looking up some examples and just about every name I came up with was not in that bracket. "Shane's thirty by now right? Nope. won't be til July. Rodney's not 40 yet is he? Yup, he's 42-43. Shawn Putnam? Ditto."

There are plenty of good players in that age bracket... just for whatever reason they're mostly from other countries.

Statistical fluke, or is there some reason this was this a rough time for USA players?
 
Schmidt must be in his mid 30's.
How old is Shuff?
I think Oscar D is about 28.
How old is Stevie Moore?
Danny Harriman?
 
Good point!

There are lots of guys in that range that are a Ball away from having Pro speed. The problem is most of the guys dont think they can make enough money at the game to stay focused.

I keep hearing guys say they need to make money, seems like they dont think they could work and maintain a Pro caliber game?

I dont know how the young guys from other over seas do it?
 
Good point!

There are lots of guys in that range that are a Ball away from having Pro speed. The problem is most of the guys dont think they can make enough money at the game to stay focused.

I keep hearing guys say they need to make money, seems like they dont think they could work and maintain a Pro caliber game?

I dont know how the young guys from other over seas do it?
 
King T said:
There are lots of guys in that range that are a Ball away from having Pro speed. The problem is most of the guys dont think they can make enough money at the game to stay focused.

I keep hearing guys say they need to make money, seems like they dont think they could work and maintain a Pro caliber game?

I dont know how the young guys from other over seas do it?
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You say it all there: the game can't $upport too many pros, so many choose not to pursue it as a career...IMO.

Meaning that it doesn't really matter how well they play, there is still not enough cashish in the game to make it a viable pursuit
 
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The question is?

Someone should start a post and ask the question????


If there was real money in Pool, would the A merican players step up their game?

If the top 10-20 players could earn $150k a yaer and the next group of 20-30 players could earn $75k and there was still enough cash in the pot for the remaining player to cash out some sort of extra income, would it matter?
 
If there was real money in pool you'd probably see better play overall. Guys would treat the game like s full time job with coaches, sports psychologists, trainers etc just like golf. Also some people would take up the game who may not have otherwise. Someone who has the potential to be the best who ever lived may be doing something else entirely or playing a different sport.
 
BasementDweller said:
Who's the best American player in this age group?

To me, it's the lost decade of American pool players. These are the guys that should be on the Mosconi Cup team right now, but they're nowhere to be found. Guys that are capable of competing internationally.

Off the top of my head, I can only think of Corey Deuel.

So if it's not Corey, who is it? Where are all these guys? John Schmidt might be in this age group. Charlie Williams would probably be in this group but he doesn't really play that much (I don't think).

A lot of the others are probably closing in on 40 if they aren't already there (Jeremy Jones, Rodney Morris, Stevie Moore, Shawn Putnam, to name a few).

Seems like this is the age group that has been most affected by the IPT fiasco. Maybe I'm wrong. If I am, please correct me.
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Probably Mike Fuller
 
Gabe Owen, Chris Bartram, Mike Davis, Corey Deuel, John Schmidt, Tony Chohan. Possibly Max Eberle and/or Oscar Dominguez.
 
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MediocrityNC said:
Good example :thumbup:

Mike also has a family to take care of, but I believe from some of our conversations that Mike would've taken it a little more seriously if there was a real income to be made.
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Two other NC players I would put in that group are Tony Watson and Keith Bennett. Aren't they in that age range? Both have tremendous talent.
 
Larry Nevel comes to mind. And Bartrum

Problem is the $ is so weak now that guys that age cant afford to play pool-when your in your 20's as a rule a person dont need as much $$. So the reason for the lost decade is the opportunity cost of playing pool is higher than a job therefore jobs are taking people out of pool. people tend to gravitate towards the highest and best use of their time, pool is not the highest and best use of many peoples time anymore.


Alex is the best player in that age range, SVB is 30, Shannon is 40 so they are the book ends. Alex lands in the middle.
 
Fatboy said:
Larry Nevel comes to mind. And Bartrum

Problem is the $ is so weak now that guys that age cant afford to play pool-when your in your 20's as a rule a person dont need as much $$. So the reason for the lost decade is the opportunity cost of playing pool is higher than a job therefore jobs are taking people out of pool. people tend to gravitate towards the highest and best use of their time, pool is not the highest and best use of many peoples time anymore.


Alex is the best player in that age range, SVB is 30, Shannon is 40 so they are the book ends. Alex lands in the middle.
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I wouldn't consider Alex to be a US player. Dennis Orcullo, whom I believe to be the best player in the world right now, is also in his 30's, but the thread is about American players.
 
Fatboy said:
Larry Nevel comes to mind. And Bartrum

Problem is the $ is so weak now that guys that age cant afford to play pool-when your in your 20's as a rule a person dont need as much $$. So the reason for the lost decade is the opportunity cost of playing pool is higher than a job therefore jobs are taking people out of pool. people tend to gravitate towards the highest and best use of their time, pool is not the highest and best use of many peoples time anymore.


Alex is the best player in that age range, SVB is 30, Shannon is 40 so they are the book ends. Alex lands in the middle.
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I think this post pretty much sums it up. By the time a great player reaches 30 they realize there's just not much it for them and unfortunately for us, they disappear.

Those players nearing 40, or just over, where reeled in during the days of the PBT I guess and become lifers.

It does seem like the IPT had next to no effect when it came to CREATING life long pool players. It was around for such a short time, that none of the current players were really influenced by it.
 
BasementDweller said:
It does seem like the IPT had next to no effect when it came to CREATING life long pool players. It was around for such a short time, that none of the current players were really influenced by it.
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Actually I think there were many players who were burned by it and considered it the last straw in taking pool seriously vs trying some other kind of pursuit. I think in that way it had a negative influence.
 
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