Johnny, Shane, Rodney...
- Thread starter DefiniteHasBeen
- Start date
For the first time in several years, I think Earl deserves inclusion on merit.
He took Ko Pin Yi to the double hill at the US Open 10-ball event in July and came within a whisker of beating Shane in the race to 15 final of the Steinway Classic in August.
Earl is really playing well right now and he'll help the chances of Team USA.
He took Ko Pin Yi to the double hill at the US Open 10-ball event in July and came within a whisker of beating Shane in the race to 15 final of the Steinway Classic in August.
Earl is really playing well right now and he'll help the chances of Team USA.
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If they are looking for ratings, then these would be my two choices as well. Both are emotional, high strung and can make a ball or two under pressure.
That said the USA is a huge underdog this year, no matter how you cut it. Five of the final eight players (five is a Mosconi Cup team!) at the World 9-Ball were Europeans. Only two Americans made the final 64 and only Shane made the final sixteen.
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, I had apparently not read the statement carefully enough!
Who will be on Team Europe? Appleton, Hohmann, Souqet, Shaw, Mika? Of course they will be dangerous, but I don't know that the following USA team would be serious underdogs against anybody in the world:
SVB, Archer, Morris, Earl, and Deuel. All five of those guys are world class players, have played under the pressure of the cup before, and can duke it out with anybody. I wouldn't guarantee victory, but that is one tough team right there. In addition, they have all played pretty well this past year.
Regarding the world 9 ball- I think only SVB and Corey played in it out of those five guys I listed. So, it it difficult to make a judgment based off of the world 9 ball
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If the U.S players really want to win the cup this year they will be practicing their 9 ball break on a Diamond with the 9 on the spot. In these short races it's critical to make a ball on the break and play lock-up safes when you don't have a good % shot. No more of these Hail Mary shots that make you a hero for the crowd when you make them and a goat when you miss and give Europe a free point. The U.S has to play a smart tight game to win. Johnnyt
Earl is a great player, one of the best of all time, but does anyone really want to play doubles with Earl? I know it's only for a few days and that they aren't all doubles matches but nothing ruins teams more than egos and crazy attitudes. The best team on paper isn't necessarily the best team.
Just watching a little bonus ball you could tell that most of the time both Nevel and Kiamco wished they were anywhere else, playing with anyone else.
Frankly if Earl is there it will surely make for better entertainment and i'll love to watch the hilarity, but IMO he has as much of a chance of helping the US lose as he does to make them win.
Just watching a little bonus ball you could tell that most of the time both Nevel and Kiamco wished they were anywhere else, playing with anyone else.
Frankly if Earl is there it will surely make for better entertainment and i'll love to watch the hilarity, but IMO he has as much of a chance of helping the US lose as he does to make them win.
What happened? Dammit you get banned for a few weeks and the world goes to hell.
Earl should be there just based on the 20th Anniversary aspect alone. I don't have a clue who the fifth player should be.
Frankly I vote for Oscar Dominguez. Second generation pro, nice guy and great player. Equally as much I'd like to see Tony Robles get a spot.
Frankly I vote for Oscar Dominguez. Second generation pro, nice guy and great player. Equally as much I'd like to see Tony Robles get a spot.
They have to go with experience, its the only way they will stand a chance! Europe is going to put out 5 studs!
Bring who you like - you're going to get battered 
Any way you cut it, five of the final eight were Europeans! There's no disputing that fact. Yes, the American team you mention does look good on paper, but they have not all played that well in recent Mosconi Cups, succumbing to the pressure many times. I was a witness to that.
Johnny may be the best under pressure and Earl has the best overall record down through the years. Corey is playing the best he has in years, so that's a good thing. He was very shaky in his last two appearances in the Cup though. No question Rodney is a great player, but will the real Rodney show up this year and not that imposter we saw last time? You've got to put Shane on any American team, since he is our best player. He has had his good and bad moments in the Cup as well.
IMO it's all about who performs the best under pressure. We know these are all good players. The Europeans seem to have it on that count right now.
On another note, the best five man teams I ever saw (besides the early U.S. Mosconi Cup teams) were the filipinos in the heyday of Efren, Francisco, Luat, Parica and either Lining, Andam or Manolo.
More likely Boyes and Melling for Shaw
It would be interesting if they did a Mosconi event that included the Philippines- this team would be very difficult for any team to beat- would probably be the favorites in the world: Orcollo, Corteza, Biado, Bustamante, and Alcano.
It will be Earl, and either Hatch or Corey. I'd vote for Corey, but I'm guessing it will be Hatch.
For the record I think it SHOULD be Mike D. I think half the team shouldn't be there. The Mosconi cup loses more and more for me every year. Seems like it's just pointless. It's not real pool. It's a made for TV show. Races to 5, ridiculous means of picking the teams, and they don't even allow for an Asian representation.
Most of us can agree that a team made up of Dennis, Busty, Efren, Alex, Carlo, Parica, etc. would POUND either of the teams. not to mention KPY, HSU, or Can... Hell, you could just have an Asian version. Call it the Reyes cup. China/Tawain plays the Pinoys, and the winner plays the winner of the Mosconi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Either way I will still watch, just wish it was more legit, like the rest of pool...
best,
Justin
For the record I think it SHOULD be Mike D. I think half the team shouldn't be there. The Mosconi cup loses more and more for me every year. Seems like it's just pointless. It's not real pool. It's a made for TV show. Races to 5, ridiculous means of picking the teams, and they don't even allow for an Asian representation.
Most of us can agree that a team made up of Dennis, Busty, Efren, Alex, Carlo, Parica, etc. would POUND either of the teams. not to mention KPY, HSU, or Can... Hell, you could just have an Asian version. Call it the Reyes cup. China/Tawain plays the Pinoys, and the winner plays the winner of the Mosconi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Either way I will still watch, just wish it was more legit, like the rest of pool...
best,
Justin