Here comes a dead horse. SVB talk.

Earl will never get back to the Earl of old...too many demons, but if Corey, or many others put in the time Shane does...who knows. Regionally, Jesse Bowman can still walk into most barbox tourneys and be "the man to beat", and he certainly doesn't put in the table time of Shane...he'd be SO SCARY if he did!! I'm sure there are DOZENS of others that have the talent, but lack the monetary motivation to put in the work. :frown:

Shane travels ALL OVER THE WORLD, and works like a madman on his game. He is definitely GREAT because of it....I just wish, at least, a few others would/could follow suit. I'm afraid the lack of winnings available here in the states, and a need to travel (like Shane does) prohibits many from even trying.
 
Shane is only best because of his break. Breaking in pool is what I feel shouldn't be a part of a player's skill, so that the balls should be randomly spread on the table regardless who' breaking. Potting, safes, kicks, banks, position play, now those are skills. I suggest a neutral breaker or some sort of mechanical sorter of balls on the table.
 
Seem like Shane has enough monetary motivation since 2007:

2012 Winnings: 127,680
2011 Winnings: $160,450
2010 Winnings: $76,391
2009 Winnings: $90,975
2008 Winnings: $147,420
2007 Winnings: $116,307

Average of ~120k... That's solely based on tournament winnings reported by AZ.

That's not enough motivation to try harder for others....? Curious.
 
NickV said:
Seem like Shane has enough monetary motivation since 2007:

2012 Winnings: 127,680
2011 Winnings: $160,450
2010 Winnings: $76,391
2009 Winnings: $90,975
2008 Winnings: $147,420
2007 Winnings: $116,307

Average of ~120k... That's solely based on tournament winnings reported by AZ.

That's not enough motivation to try harder for others....? Curious.
Click to expand...

wanna compare that to the top money earners in other sports? To answer your question, NO, it's not enough. When Jordan was at the top of his game he cleared $100 MIL a year; I think Tiger has done that as well (both including endorsements, of course). I personally know a couple of guys that kicked around minor league baseball for a few years making barely less than Shane average over the years you listed. The amount of work, travel, and a lack of normalcy (lifestyle wise) is a REAL grind regardless of your LOVE for the game, and for that type of money....no thanks for me!!

I know that may seem to be a good sum of money to many, and I know many think living out of a suitcase would be "the life", but how many would feel that way after living it?
 
I was waiting for this thread.

It happens every time someone wins a tournament. :rolleyes:

He's the best in the country but top 5 in the world might even be pushing it.
 
I'm a huge fan of Shane's, and I agree he may be the best all around player in America at the moment, but in the world I would have to disagree. You have Wu Chia Ching a 2 time world champion by the age of 16, Chun Shing Yang who was probably one of the best money players who Dennis couldn't beat, and so many others that the U.S. do not know about. In the U.S. we don't really have different tiers for players like in other countries. We have ball bangers, amatuers looking to become good players, good players, shortstops, and pros. I have a couple friends from the Philippines who are considered pros out here who are not even tier 3 players in the philippines. That goes to say a lot about the playability level of U.S. players compared to overseas. For those who do not know what i'm talking about. In the philippines they have 3 top tiers, 1,2,3. Obviously Bustamante, efren, dennis, alex, ronnie and a couple others are tier 1. Tier 2 would be the likes of Roberto gomez, Carlo biado, warren kiamco, corteza and so forth. Shane is the only american i'd say who puts as much time in his practice as the other top countries which shows in his level of play. Taiwan and the philippines have the toughest training and practice regimends. Yes there is no motivation for players out here to practice due to lack of big tournaments and money which is sad, becuase I believe the U.S. could have stayed on top as far as having the world's best players.
 
Last edited:
Who's the best? If you pick Orcullo, who flattened the field at Hard Times im May and then backed it up by flattening the field in the US Open 10-ball, you've made a good choice, and of course, his runnerup finish at the US Open 9-ball was rock solid. Shane's resume this year includes wins at the Derby City 9-ball, the Players Championship, the US Open 1-pocket and the US Open 9-ball is even stronger. Darren Appleton won the last two Challenge of Champion events, two of the last three US Open 9-ball events, is the reigning World 9-ball champion, and came second in the US Open 1-pocket. Appleton's whitewashing of Van Boening in the final of the Challenge of Champions last week, in which he won ten of the eleven racks played, has to be taken seriously, too.

Shane's the 2012 player of the year no matter what, but who's the best right now is almost too close to call. What we can say for sure is it comes down to these three right now, and as fans of the game, we're always in for a treat when these players cross paths.

Looking forward to seeing how Shane and Darren perform at the Mosconi Cup.
 
Cortez's

Lee Van is definitely not a second tier pro in any country. He is one of the few Filipinos that Shane has not beaten on his trips to the islands. I may be mistaken but I believe he has beaten Shane twice!
 
Gilbertfan81 said:
Lee Van is definitely not a second tier pro in any country. He is one of the few Filipinos that Shane has not beaten on his trips to the islands. I may be mistaken but I believe he has beaten Shane twice!
Click to expand...


more than that, Shane told me(this is Gods honest truth) "He put a voodoo hex on me and I cant beat the guy". No bullshit, Shane told me that on the square a couple years ago. as long as shane believes that then its true, he wont beat Lee Van. Is shane the better player? yes. Does the better player always win? no, especially when he believes i voodoo hex's.


I realize this sounds like BS but it aint, Shane was dead balls serious when he told me, I called BS, Shane assured me it wasn't. now things may have changed as this was a couple years ago, I'll try and remember next time I talk to him.

and yeah overall SVB is the best in the biz at the moment, Denis has him playing 10B, but all around SVB wins.

best
eric:)
 
jhanso18 said:
He is far to humble to come right out and say it but, his performance this year has made me a believer. He has turned a corner in life, and now I believe HE IS THE BEST SINGLE POOL PLAYER IN THE WORLD.

My measure of his play is as follows:

Straight pool - His "weakest" game, and I've seen him rip several 125+ runs on a tight 9'.

One pocket - There is some debate by people who just don't want to except he won the Derby City 1P and the US Open One Pocket. He's beat the best at one pocket, and there are only a handful that would play him no spot.

Rotation games (9 & 10 ball) - We all know what he can do in rotation games.

8-ball - NO ONE wants to get some 8-ball on the BB with him. Big table 8ball I'm guessing he's a heavy favorite as well.

So what's left banks? Golf? Lagging? Do we really even need to measure these games?


Here's the long and short of things. We all know that EVERYONE has ups and downs in this game. Shane, may or may not, be the winner at any given moment. But against any one, at any game, who is going to be FAVORED to win over the kid? There are a couple of guys out there, that some think will be a coin toss, at this game or that playing even. But any one who will bet a nickle wants weight to bet against SVB.


SO LETS HEAR IT!!!!!!!!!! If Shane isn't the best pool player right now, who is???????????????????????? And you should have a reason why.


P.S. - I know his list of accomplishments don't make him the all time greatest... YET!
Click to expand...


Earl Strickland in my book because "million dollar challenge" / 5 us opens / and still playing pretty strong at his age. Oh my / I almost forgot, I like him. :D Just wish he would control himself better. :yikes:
All that said, Ill agree Shane is the best right now.
 
I don't think you can call it because of all the strong players in Asia we don't even see over here.

Absolutely nothing against Shane, but every now and then I run across some matches from Asia and am astounded by someone I never even heard of.


They say to be the man you have to play the best...and from the (admittedly relatively little) I have watched on the net, it seems the best field by far is over there, so....




In a related note, I wish I knew more sites/links to watch big tourneys/matches from Asia. :)
 
fearless said:
I'm a huge fan of Shane's, and I agree he may be the best all around player in America at the moment, but in the world I would have to disagree. You have Wu Chia Ching a 2 time world champion by the age of 16, Chun Shing Yang who was probably one of the best money players who Dennis couldn't beat, and so many others that the U.S. do not know about. In the U.S. we don't really have different tiers for players like in other countries. We have ball bangers, amatuers looking to become good players, good players, shortstops, and pros. I have a couple friends from the Philippines who are considered pros out here who are not even tier 3 players in the philippines. That goes to say a lot about the playability level of U.S. players compared to overseas. For those who do not know what i'm talking about. In the philippines they have 3 top tiers, 1,2,3. Obviously Bustamante, efren, dennis, alex, ronnie and a couple others are tier 1. Tier 2 would be the likes of Roberto gomez, Carlo biado, warren kiamco, corteza and so forth. Shane is the only american i'd say who puts as much time in his practice as the other top countries which shows in his level of play. Taiwan and the philippines have the toughest training and practice regimends. Yes there is no motivation for players out here to practice due to lack of big tournaments and money which is sad, becuase I believe the U.S. could have stayed on top as far as having the world's best players.
Click to expand...


Is anyone aware of how his battle with leukemia is going? Is he still playing?
 
Shane is the best breaker in the world. I think a few players "shoot" better then him overall after the break. Dennis shoots better then Shane post-break, Alex shoots better post-break, there are likely at least a couple guys in Taiwan that do as well. But Shane's break is a huge weapon that equals the odds against guys who shoot a little straighter and have better cueball then he does.
 
Shane is at the point where he can't improve much more playing pool, so he must......

We agree at this moment in time Shane has mastered the game and his cycle is producing outstanding results. Look back at all the greatest champions and see they ran "cycles" of domination, however, it's next to impossible to maintain it.

I was ask {in a national magazine} what my goal was in Professional Pool (back in 93) - my reply was "I want to be the #1 Players in the world for a period of time"....the next question was "then what will you do?" I said without hesitation "probably stop playing and do something else".....:eek: I just didn't see any real future in professional pool, now, as funny as it seems, I see HUGE potential in professional pool. :thumbup:

Immense respect to those that can maintain that #1 position, in many ways it's more difficult to stay there than it was to get there in the first place.

It would be interesting to see Shane take up 3 Cushion Billiards, and maybe Straight Rail Balk-line Billiards.....these games made Efren a more "complete" player and added a new dimension to his game of pocket billiards. Shane is at the point where he can't improve much more playing pool, so he must pursue "new lands" to conquer, or risk burning out and regressing, I'm pretty sure this in NOT what he will do. He needs to be a pioneer for pool.
 
Fatboy said:
more than that, Shane told me(this is Gods honest truth) "He put a voodoo hex on me and I cant beat the guy". No bullshit, Shane told me that on the square a couple years ago. as long as shane believes that then its true, he wont beat Lee Van. Is shane the better player? yes. Does the better player always win? no, especially when he believes i voodoo hex's.


I realize this sounds like BS but it aint, Shane was dead balls serious when he told me, I called BS, Shane assured me it wasn't. now things may have changed as this was a couple years ago, I'll try and remember next time I talk to him.
Click to expand...

I guess Ozone Billiards, Pooldawg, Seybert's, Mueller's and the rest need to stock up on JuJu beads, Mojo hands, John the Conquerer root and all that other voodoo magic sh*t, eh???

Just how long does a spell last anyway???

Maniac (thought he'd heard every excuse out there :wink:)
 
Shane is the Best American Player No Doubt


Shane is the best American Player.
He is a gentlemen and is a credit to our game.

Shane is Fearless and goes to all parts of the World to Play.
Unfortunately he has not Won against the World, his record speaks for him.
Until he wins over seas, he cannot be considered the Best in the World.

I am rooting for him and believe he will get there, but not today.
 
I would say SVB and Alex are most well rounded players in the world. Like if efren had two kids. Lol

I like SVB for the cash in almost any game in the USA. His after hours prowess is something to behold!

Internationally I think SVB might have a little problem. But that's not to say that he wouldn't learn to overcome them. He's got that special quality and drive to be the best. I think that's why he's the best money player out there.

Lets not forget that the Taiwanese players are mainly playing 9ball which is a dead game IMO. And my 2 fav players are Wu and Yang!

To say he's the best in the world is tough bc he hasn't really solidified himself internationally like Efren did. Do I think he can be? No Doubt!

I like him playing any player in the world in an all-around pool table event held in the USA. Period!

But if we're really talking all-around... Lets be real Alex plays snooker too!

But no really... Efren played 3 cushion.

You see this could go on forever!
 
I think Alex is the best all around player in the world and Dennis can beat shane at any rotation game for the $ which is why shane wont gamble with him.
 
PocketSpeed11 said:
Is anyone aware of how his battle with leukemia is going? Is he still playing?
Click to expand...


i couldnt find anything to verify this, i looked several times online and didnt see anything. I hope its just rumor, He had the potential to rob anyone he played, he was scary good a few year back. I never saw more talent in my life in onep layer than Wu had then.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top