I Would Not Be the Mosconi Cup Captain Again! - UNLESS...............

Could you clear up details about the Mosconi Cup?

Who decides who is on TEAM USA? And what have they said about your suggestions.

What is confusing for me is it seems like the people involved are not interested. Why else would you make it a public issue?

The record shows TEAM USA was close. And I do not question your talent or ability. What is in question are the people that organize "TEAM USA?" They either lack funds, skills or interest. It is an issue because assume you are given your demands and the team still loses. In the short term no benefit.

Long term TEAM USA starts a tradition that has a lasting impact on professional players. I don't know what you go through professionally, that is why it is a vague statement. In my world a lasting impact is usually (skills and development for each person).

Planning ahead for transportation sounds like one skill that you could develop. I can't imagine what players do when they go to non-english speaking countries. I'd hope you know a friendly host player that can and does help out.
 
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CJ Wiley said:
Hotel, Travel Expenses and Misc. for one week. This is not cheap to do and we would also video the entire week and have a camera crew present to make sure it was top quality. 5k is very reasonable for 8 people over a week of training, coaching and strategizing.
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Strategizing???? It's a race to 6 what strategy is involved??? Americans gotta face the fact one week of training won't do anything!! Only way Americans can compete with Europeans is to have more events giving players the playing time needed!! You play this mosconi cup all over again an Europe wins 9 out of 10 times!!
 
it's funny how it has been reported on here that there's a chance that america will be kicked out of future mosconi's yet cj thinks since he's cj that he is in a position to negotiate more $ from matchroom, some fun stuff here

i wonder if matchroom offered team phillipines to play instead of the usa for half the $ if they'd jump @ the chance and be more than happy to do so?
 
the "old ways" must die before the "New Ways" can Live.

justnum said:
Could you clear up details about the Mosconi Cup?

Who decides who is on TEAM USA? And what have they said about your suggestions.

What is confusing for me is it seems like the people involved are not interested. Why else would you make it a public issue?

The record shows TEAM USA was close. And I do not question your talent or ability. What is in question are the people that organize "TEAM USA?" They either lack funds, skills or interest.
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Team USA is selected by Matchroom Sport out of England. They want to make the Mosconi Cup the best Show possible, and that's not in question. I believe they want the USA team to have a chance, but if they don't budget money to help with training this will not be the case in the foreseeable future.

No one in the USA is financially involved except the players that pay their own expenses. This is tough considering there's hardly any money in professional pool these days. The "country" of America doesn't take this event seriously, they probably don't even know it exists.

I was the Captain and player in 1996 and it was an entirely different scenario. We had plenty of backing from the industry and were on ESPN many, many hours a year. Earl made more in sponsorship money than all the professionals put together these days.....this is obviously a problem and it stems from lack of TV coverage.

Without any ESPN/TV exposure no one in the industry sees it beneficial to sponsor players.....and I can't say that I blame them....this scenario must change sooner or later.

Like anything else the "old ways" must die before the "New Ways" can Live.....'The Game is the Teacher'
 
a week of the proper training would make a 1000% difference.

rackemup20 said:
Strategizing???? It's a race to 6 what strategy is involved??? Americans gotta face the fact one week of training won't do anything!! Only way Americans can compete with Europeans is to have more events giving players the playing time needed!! You play this mosconi cup all over again an Europe wins 9 out of 10 times!!
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Strategic Training.....and without question, a week of the proper training would make a 1000% difference.....you have no idea of the training regiment I have in mind. ;) 'The Game is the Teacher'
 
CJ Wiley said:
Like anything else the "old ways" must die before the "New Ways" can Live.....'The Game is the Teacher'
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It is clear why it is a public issue. You need sponsors. The old sponsors left because the money dried up.

New sponsors are hard to find because your selling them last year's product.

Most common practice I know is. A sponsor will support you but in addition to what they provide(housing and training equipment), they want you to provide something to a newer generation.

Usually you get facilities for training and living, but you also have to train younger people. It is a common practice to ensure the livelihood of a specific talent.

(Are there any American style billiard games people in the UK are interested in but don't get to see much of?)
 
My only interest in Pro Pool is doing TV Events within the USA.

Johnson said:
it's funny how it has been reported on here that there's a chance that america will be kicked out of future mosconi's yet cj thinks since he's cj that he is in a position to negotiate more $ from matchroom, some fun stuff here

i wonder if matchroom offered team phillipines to play instead of the usa for half the $ if they'd jump @ the chance and be more than happy to do so?
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This is a thread on a forum and I'm simply telling what would be needed for the USA team to win. It's clear by the title of the thread I have no interest in being involved. My only interest in Pro Pool is doing TV Events within the USA....nothing more, nothing less.

I mentioned Mike Sigel, or Scott Frost might be interested, and there's only a slim chance they would do it for $1500 profit.....it's not really worth it. I had a great time and don't regret participating last year, however, if I am involved again it will be most likely as a player, not a coach. The odds of this are much less than 7.8 Million to 1, so I certainly have a shot. ;) 'The Game is the Teacher'
 
we have a very difficult task in proving what our "target demographic" really is..

justnum said:
It is clear why it is a public issue. You need sponsors. The old sponsors left because the money dried up.

New sponsors are hard to find because your selling them last year's product.

Most common practice I know is. A sponsor will support you but in addition to what they provide(housing and training equipment), they want you to provide something to a newer generation.

Usually you get facilities for training and living, but you also have to train younger people. It is a common practice to ensure the livelihood of a specific talent.

(Are there any American style billiard games people in the UK are interested in but don't get to see much of?)
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There's more to it than what you are suggesting, the sponsors are always contingent on how many "marketing impressions" we are generating. Without TV the impressions are very, very, low AND the "pool world" of today doesn't exist to advertisers.

Without TV ratings we have a very difficult task in proving what our "target demographic" really is......right now it appears like we don't have one.....this isn't literally true, however to an advertiser it may as well be true.

There's a way to change this, but we basically have to start from "scratch". 'The Game is the Teacher'
 
Here's a thought for you CJ- let the players pay for their own training instead of trying to get someone else to pay for it. Who has to gain by the training? The players do. They have a guaranteed income already from it, spend a little of it ahead of time to try and guarantee a larger amount at the end.

I know, novel idea of pool players actually paying to benefit themselves.:rolleyes:
 
I believe they want the USA team to have a chance, but if they don't budget money to help with training this will not be the case in the foreseeable future.
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This is the part that I don't understand. Why should anyone budget money to help Team USA.

What does Team Europe do that USA doesn't and can't do without extra money involved?

Apparently, Money is the Teacher.
 
We've all paid for 100% of our training in one way, shape or form.

Neil said:
Here's a thought for you CJ- let the players pay for their own training instead of trying to get someone else to pay for it. Who has to gain by the training? The players do. They have a guaranteed income already from it, spend a little of it ahead of time to try and guarantee a larger amount at the end.

I know, novel idea of pool players actually paying to benefit themselves.:rolleyes:
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We've all paid for 100% of our training in one way, shape or form. It takes thousands of hours to become a champion caliber player.....this costs an incredible amount of time, money, sweat, and in some cases blood.....anybody that thinks it's easy playing any sport (or any art form) at the ultimate level is simply naive'....it takes pain and suffering.

When I have more time I'll list everything it takes......specifically, item by item, hour by hour and detail by detail. 'The Game is our Teacher'
naive-art-5.jpg
 
only 12 people in America would even notice

Blue Hog ridr said:
This is the part that I don't understand. Why should anyone budget money to help Team USA.

What does Team Europe do that USA doesn't and can't do without extra money involved?

Apparently, Money is the Teacher.
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They win the Mosconi Cup, that's all.....it's really no big deal. If the Mosconi Cup never happened again only 12 people in America would even notice. It's just a topic of discussion, nothing more, nothing less.
 
CJ Wiley said:
They win the Mosconi Cup, that's all.....it's really no big deal. If the Mosconi Cup never happened again only 12 people in America would even notice. It's just a topic of discussion, nothing more, nothing less.
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Yeah right. Now you try to talk down the significance of the Mosconi Cup since USA is loosing every year. :rolleyes:

Playing tournaments outside of your comfort zone is the teacher
 
vagabond said:
Some will go too far to achieve that unison.

More than 30 years ago, a friend of mine who was Volley Ball Coach told me that all the members of the Japanese National Volley ball Team, the coaches of the team and the Manager of the team sleep together Nude in a big Hall in their respective beds in order to create the unison of the team.

I am not suggesting such methods for Team USA. There are other ways of creating that unison.
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i'd disclose that we already tried this, but what happens in Vegas....
:wink:
 
the Mosconi Cup is a GREAT "Show" (so is WWW and 'Breaking Bad').

pooladdict said:
Yeah right. Now you try to talk down the significance of the Mosconi Cup since USA is loosing every year. :rolleyes:

Playing tournaments outside of your comfort zone is the teacher
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Yes, it's because we're "loosing"......LoL

I think the Mosconi Cup is a GREAT "Show" (so is WWW and 'Breaking Bad')....but I don't think it's an accurate barometer for the condition of "the world of pool".....playing races to 5 anyone can win on a given day, the balls roll funny for everyone.

I see football teams play poorly and get beat half to death, but they never reflect it negatively on the team's city......I think we should treat the Mosconi Cup similarly.

'The Game (not the Mosconi Cup) is the Teacher' ;)
th
 
I do not think a video of their training, for use with a promo is any sort of way to motivate these players. However a video of them playing and practicing drills for them to review with each other, in the same way a football coach analyzes previous games and downs to tighten up their plays sounds more like it.

The last thing these guys need is a damn promo video. As if their egos aren't inflated enough. They need to be humbled, with the reality that they are struggling against some of the toughest athletes of the sport that exist, and they need to focus a little on their weaknesses so that they can turn them into strengths.

Louis Ulrich says, "If you have trouble with a particular shot, you should practice that shot for an hour, or two if necessary until you OWN that shot."

This is how a video would help them. They should play each other for a two hour session... A sort of 'faux' Mosconi session on video. Then it should be completely reviewed and analyzed with each player's weaknesses noted down. Possibly they should even mentor each other within this session. Where one guy is strong, he can work with another guy who is weak.

THIS is how a team should act. They should train. Work hard. Take it seriously. Have humility. A pro on any given day is only a pro because he behaves the way a pro should. With humility, courage and hard work.

The talent of these guys is amazing. Rodney, Earl, Shane, Johnny. C'mon people... These are our best! But look what happened.
 
I've read through this and all I'm reading is another "boo hoo the world owes us a living" thread from a "professional" pool player.
 
"if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem".

dkleather said:
I've read through this and all I'm reading is another "boo hoo the world owes us a living" thread from a "professional" pool player.
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One thing will always be true for all - "if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem"......the solution is to train in a way that is similar to martial arts training.....only the strong will survive. I'm from the "old school," if you couldn't play for 30 hours straight, in cowboy boots on cement floors you were considered a "shortstop".

Now days they have 8 hour "time limits" and play "one foul" on super fast cloth with jump cues, bionic break cues and lightning rails that require little or no stroke to play.

Is this the way to make pool popular?

Obviously not, the entire industry is down 50% overall.....without changes it will continue to plummet until there's nothing left by "tombstones" where tables used to be. ;) 'The Game is the Teacher'
otherwise-youre-part-of-the-problem.png
 
this is how to win against even the most unusual odds.

The video is not "for" the players, it's about the players. The training regiment would be hard core, along the lines of martial arts training, or boxing protocol. This is how I trained for "money matches" and this is how to win against even the most unusual odds.


POVPOOL said:
I do not think a video of their training, for use with a promo is any sort of way to motivate these players. However a video of them playing and practicing drills for them to review with each other, in the same way a football coach analyzes previous games and downs to tighten up their plays sounds more like it.

The last thing these guys need is a damn promo video. As if their egos aren't inflated enough. They need to be humbled, with the reality that they are struggling against some of the toughest athletes of the sport that exist, and they need to focus a little on their weaknesses so that they can turn them into strengths.

Louis Ulrich says, "If you have trouble with a particular shot, you should practice that shot for an hour, or two if necessary until you OWN that shot."

This is how a video would help them. They should play each other for a two hour session... A sort of 'faux' Mosconi session on video. Then it should be completely reviewed and analyzed with each player's weaknesses noted down. Possibly they should even mentor each other within this session. Where one guy is strong, he can work with another guy who is weak.

THIS is how a team should act. They should train. Work hard. Take it seriously. Have humility. A pro on any given day is only a pro because he behaves the way a pro should. With humility, courage and hard work.

The talent of these guys is amazing. Rodney, Earl, Shane, Johnny. C'mon people... These are our best! But look what happened.
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