Mark Wilson: Genius Or Nincompoop?

[boogeyman]

.... Like a few years back at the US Open when he got upset with his cue sponsor and knocked over a whole display of cues to the floor in front of a lot of people in the lobby. I don't remember what he said, but his language was also very out of line. Also, his behavior on Facebook ... I wouldn't say he's a bad choice but I wouldn't have picked him personally.

Now I didn't know about the knocking over a whole display of cues to the floor.
As I mentioned before, although I respect Mr. Wilson's choices, I still stay JS is not a good choice.
This is NOT about how many titles one has won in the past, this is about being
able to handle oneself when the pressure is truly on.

Let's face it, the team that is going to win isn't the team who plays the best 9-ball,
it's the team that handles itself appropriately when the time presents itself.

You said exactly what I would say, cleary.

Mr. Wilson, it's your team, your approach, your philosophy, your call. I hope you vetted properly.
Not just the past six months, but going back and getting to know some important history as well.
When companies decide whether to hire someone they look at ALL aspects.

We must not leave anything to chance—we did that last year (with Earl). Let's not repeat this sh** again.

 

[JAM]

...We must not leave anything to chance—we did that last year (with Earl). Let's not repeat this sh** again.

Maybe you were watching a dfferent Mosconi Cup than I was last year, but I really don't think Earl exhibited the worst behavior out of the 10 pool players present, to include, of course, Team Europe. I am referring not only on camera, but off camera, as well. Nobody utters a peep about Team Europe's behavior, though. It seems America is the punching bag of the pool world, while those pool purist, silver-spoon-in-their-mouth Euro players act as if they're God's gift to the pool world. Well, I beg to differ.

 

[one stroke]

I disagree.

I'm all about fairness and John did not accomplish anything in rotation this year.

Jeremy had a great year. Any he played practically every week on big table events...even went to the China Open.

and fwiw, if they continued with the points earned as the way to get on Team USA, Jeremy would have been on both last years and this years team.

In tournament play this year, Jeremy has beaten Shane, Mike Dechaine, Earl, Jayson etc, etc.... and he's been winning tourneys.

Who has John been beating?

what tourneys has he won?

I won't be able to say genius until I see John on fire at MC

Until then this is a completely unfair selection.

best,
brian kc

Jeremy is a fine player but he's never won anything I would consider top tier ,John puts a months practice he torches Jeremy

1

 

[Bella Don't Cry]

Is that even how to spell it, n-i-n-c-o-m-p-o-o-p?

So the team has been chosen and it leaves me feeling confused and bewildered.

The selection of John Schmidt was based on what?

It could not have been based on his rotation play this year - or last. Was it that he is a 2006 US Open winner - a wiley veteran that our team needs? Or could it be that he's so much fun to be around, that his quick wit and intelligence has earned him a spot on the team? A mascot?

What about earning your way on to Team USA by performance?

What kind of message does this send to future candidates who bust their asses, play extremely well all year, have perfect attitudes, then get passed over in favor of someone who has not shown up at any rotation event of note displaying anything that remotely resembled success.

Can John polish up his rotation game in time for Mosconi Cup play? I suppose it's possible and, to be honest, I really hope that he does.

*BUT*

Why on earth was Jeremy Sossei kicked to the curb with the kind of year he is having? His rotation game is already gleaming. And he's a perfect gentleman.

For a captain who claims to be building a bright future for US pool, I fear that the exclusion of someone like Jeremy from the squad sends a really lousy message.

If you keep your nose clean, work your behind off, get consistently great results all year, you can be passed over in favor of someone who has had no appreciable success in 9b in a very long time. :shrug:

Mark Wilson may turn out to be a genius but at this particular moment, I'm leaning the other direction.

John, I hope you will surprise us all.

and I will always say:

Go USA.

best,
brian kc

Why reason or have a feeling?
The MC hasn't taken place yet. Let's see what happens - then we can all state the obvious with 20-20 vision of hindsight!
Give Mr. Wilson and the team all the support of remaining positive until the winning ball is potted - by the best team over a weeks play :thumbup:
I'm from Europe and I just want to see a great entertaining match because last years was far from that... :thumbup:

 

[Dunnn51]

Joss East & Joss West

Shorty (Tom D'Alfonso)
Nelson Olivera (sp?)

Both of those can play even with Jeremy on a day to day basis, not just once in a while.

I don't really know the other strong players in N.E. aside from those guys at the top of the lower pro levels. There are a few other local very strong players but I think Dechaine, Shorty and Nelson are the top 3. But like I said, maybe my knowledge is more limited and there are people I just don't know about.

Funny thing about the Joss tour,.................
It splits right along the NY eastern border, (like everything else in life in these parts)

OTHERS in the Joss tour That play strong are Casanzio , Tetreault, (sp?), and Hewitt if he decides to drive south. The latter haven't been playing lately; when they do, they place well.

Irregardless, I don't see any of the six above, "even" with Jeremy. He can give them all 9-8, maybe even 9-7 the way he has been playing lately. I think he's right below MD at this point, and in some ways better.

 

[HighEndCues]

Jeremy is a fine player but he's never won anything I would consider top tier ,John puts a months practice he torches Jeremy

1

Did John put a month practice for the U.S OPEN?
I hope he did? He was being considered for the MC.
And, his result was ????

Question is... If, Maybe, Practice, Could, Torch?
Answer.... HASN'T done any of that so far.

Jeremy has heads up results in major events.
Check reputations at the door.

Listening to some responses on here are comical.
Nelson Oliveria playing even with Jeremy? Lets set it up!!!!!

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

Jeremy is a fine player but he's never won anything I would consider top tier ,John puts a months practice he torches Jeremy

1

let's start with this factoid:

Of the *many* times Jeremy has faced John, Jeremy has never lost a single set. That's never.

And they have played a lot.

Jeremy finished 7th in last years US Open.

he finished 5th in Ultimate 10b.

he just won NJ State 9b Championship

He has two 2nd place finishes at Turning Stone

He placed 3rd in Derby City 9b

He won Ocean State 9b Championship

there's more but these came quick

Please post John's recent rotation tourney accomplishments.

As for John torching Jeremy, I'll stake Jeremy in that one tomorrow. Or next month after JS practices.

best,
brian kc

 

[HighEndCues]

let's start with this factoid:

Of the *many* times Jeremy has faced John, Jeremy has never lost a single set. That's never.

And they have played a lot.

Jeremy finished 7th in last years US Open.

he finished 5th in Ultimate 10b.

he just won NJ State 9b Championship

He has two 2nd place finishes at Turning Stone

He placed 3rd in Derby City 9b

He won Ocean State 9b Championship

there's more but these came quick

Please post John's recent rotation tourney accomplishments.

As for John torching Jeremy, I'll stake Jeremy in that one tomorrow. Or next month after JS practices.

best,
brian kc

These are great points...
I want to be there for the torching also. Please lets set some match ups.
Nelson vs. Jeremy first..

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

Jeremy is a fine player but he's never won anything I would consider top tier ,John puts a months practice he torches Jeremy

1

before placing a bet you should also know that:

in one day, at Ultimate 10b, Jeremy defeated Alex, Ralf, Shuff, Hatch & Rodney Morris one after the other.

this kid has talent and a lot of heart.

I think his biggest problem is he's like the Gary Cooper of pool.

strong player who takes care of biz quietly.

no big fanfare; he doesn't call attention to himself.

maybe he should

best,
brian kc

 

[AtLarge]

Repeating a post from another thread:

With all the discussion about John Schmidt's selection, and a couple mentions of his past Mosconi Cup participation, I thought I'd post what that history actually was.

• Schmidt has played on the Mosconi Cup team once -- in 2006 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

• His teammates were -- Archer, Davis, Deuel, Morris, and Strickland.

• The Euro team was -- Alcaide, Engert, Immonen, I. Majid, Souquet, and van den Berg.

• The matches ended in a 12-12 tie. USA retained the Cup, because they had won the previous year.

• Assuming all 6 players on each side participated in the Team matches, then Schmidt participated in 8 matches with 3 wins and 5 losses. The 3 wins were the 2 Team matches and 1 Triples match. The 5 losses were 2 Singles matches, 2 Doubles matches, and 1 Triples match.

• Counting 1/6 of a point for each player in a Team match, 1/3 of a point for each player in a Triples match, 1/2 of a point for each player in a Doubles match, and a full point for each player in a Singles match, Schmidt's contribution toward the overall 12-12 Cup score would be 2/3 of a point on the winning side and 3 1/3 points on the losing side.

 

[cleary]

before placing a bet you should also know that:

in one day, at Ultimate 10b, Jeremy defeated Alex, Ralf, Shuff, Hatch & Rodney Morris one after another.

this kid has talent and a lot of heart.

I think his biggest problem is he's like the Gary Cooper of pool.

strong player who takes care of biz quietly.

no big fanfare; he doesn't call attention to himself.

maybe he should

best,
brian kc

Your buddy Phil said any American except Shane, Rodney, Hatch, Johnny, Dechaine can get played even 10ball by Jeremy Sossei in CT. So... you guys have some faith in your boy. Can't wait to be proven wrong.

 

[sammylane12]

There is no way John Schmidt belongs on this team. He stopped playing 9 ball some 10 years ago. I think he and Mr Wilson have some sort of connection, otherwise it makes no sense. I am not rooting against him, just believe he will be in over his head, like Putnam and Shuff. The only way to prepare for this event is to play 9 ball against top international competition for a period of time, something he has not done for some time.

 

[HighEndCues]

Repeating a post from another thread:

With all the discussion about John Schmidt's selection, and a couple mentions of his past Mosconi Cup participation, I thought I'd post what that history actually was.

• Schmidt has played on the Mosconi Cup team once -- in 2006 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

• His teammates were -- Archer, Davis, Deuel, Morris, and Strickland.

• The Euro team was -- Alcaide, Engert, Immonen, I. Majid, Souquet, and van den Berg.

• The matches ended in a 12-12 tie. USA retained the Cup, because they had won the previous year.

• Assuming all 6 players on each side participated in the Team matches, then Schmidt participated in 8 matches with 3 wins and 5 losses. The 3 wins were the 2 Team matches and 1 Triples match. The 5 losses were 2 Singles matches, 2 Doubles matches, and 1 Triples match.

• Counting 1/6 of a point for each player in a Team match, 1/3 of a point for each player in a Triples match, 1/2 of a point for each player in a Doubles match, and a full point for each player in a Singles match, Schmidt's contribution toward the overall 12-12 Cup score would be 2/3 of a point on the winning side and 3 1/3 points on the losing side.

The biggest point is 2006...
That is 8 years ago!
Who is playing at a high speed now??
Captian's picks were from only 8 players to consider, and who has the results to back it up from the 8.

 

[JB Cases]

Somebody please start a damn tour so we can have a proper rank list and then just pick the top five guys. The freaking drama surrounding the Mosconi Cup the past several years is beyond ridiculous. At this point I'd almost consider barking at Lou offering 10-8 for $50,000 just to have something else to talk about.

 

[JAM]

Well, okay. If we're all going to throw names out here, then I think Keith McCready belongs on the team. The louder and rowdier the crowd gets, the better Keith plays. He hadn't picked up a cue in a month and came in 3rd at the 2003 U.S. Open. If given the chance, Keith will shoot the Euros full of holes, like Swiss cheese.

Ooooh, the impossible dream. :grin-square:

 

[AtLarge]

...For my money, if Jean Balukas were still playing, she's be my pick to be on the team. What a great moment that would be if a women could play with the guys on the team…..And win!!

That has already happened -- at the first Mosconi Cup in 1994. Jeanette Lee and Vivian Villarreal were on the USA team and Franziska Stark and Allison Fisher were on the European team.

That Cup was won 16-12 by the USA, so it involved 28 matches. The women were involved in 9 of those 28 matches and the USA won all 9 (5 singles matches and 4 doubles matches)! In the singles matches, Villarreal won 3 times, twice over the Euro women and once over a man. Lee's 2 singles wins were over a woman and a man. Three of the 4 doubles wins involving a woman were mixed doubles.

So when people talk about who has the best Mosconi Cup record, it may actually be Villarreal and Lee -- both undefeated in singles and doubles.

(yeah, yeah ... it was only one year)

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

Oh man! Case closed!! Sign the boy up for the next hof selection.

man it was hard getting you over to this side.

but well worth it. :grin-square:

best,
brian kc

 

[bfdlad]

Well, okay. If we're all going to throw names out here, then I think Keith McCready belongs on the team. The louder and rowdier the crowd gets, the better Keith plays. He hadn't picked up a cue in a month and came in 3rd at the 2003 U.S. Open. If given the chance, Keith will shoot the Euros full of holes, like Swiss cheese.

Ooooh, the impossible dream. :grin-square:

Earthquake
The Pearl
Pretty Boy Floyd
Captain Hook
fill in the blank

You think that would not be the loudest most rambunctious MC ever?? Show them kids how its done

 

[spartan]

Is that even how to spell it, n-i-n-c-o-m-p-o-o-p?

So the team has been chosen and it leaves me feeling confused and bewildered.

The selection of John Schmidt was based on what?

It could not have been based on his rotation play this year - or last. Was it that he is a 2006 US Open winner - a wiley veteran that our team needs? Or could it be that he's so much fun to be around, that his quick wit and intelligence has earned him a spot on the team? A mascot?

What about earning your way on to Team USA by performance?

What kind of message does this send to future candidates who bust their asses, play extremely well all year, have perfect attitudes, then get passed over in favor of someone who has not shown up at any rotation event of note displaying anything that remotely resembled success.

Can John polish up his rotation game in time for Mosconi Cup play? I suppose it's possible and, to be honest, I really hope that he does.

*BUT*

Why on earth was Jeremy Sossei kicked to the curb with the kind of year he is having? His rotation game is already gleaming. And he's a perfect gentleman.

For a captain who claims to be building a bright future for US pool, I fear that the exclusion of someone like Jeremy from the squad sends a really lousy message.

If you keep your nose clean, work your behind off, get consistently great results all year, you can be passed over in favor of someone who has had no appreciable success in 9b in a very long time. :shrug:

Mark Wilson may turn out to be a genius but at this particular moment, I'm leaning the other direction.

John, I hope you will surprise us all.

and I will always say:

Go USA.

best,
brian kc

The title is harsh on MW but agree with your basic premise
IMHO it was flip between the 2 JS
and whether he goes for team with 3 vets +2 newbies that has Schmidt or 2 vets+3newbies that has Sossei
He probably when for safer option of 3vets+2 newbies as he factored in experience, pressure may make the difference :smile:

 

[HighEndCues]

Here is the BCA rankings.
I was looking for John's name on this list for the 2013-2014 season. This is a list from most of the major events of the year. This is fact... Jeremy has earned his way from playing the best players in the world. Name all the popular names you want, BUT BACK IT UP WITH FACTS.
MD is on this list also, but was not one of the captain's 8, for other reasons.

BCA Events listEvent 1: 2013 Turning Stone Classic XX
Event 2: 2013 Derby City Classic
Event 3: 2013 Ultimate 10-Ball
Event 4: 2013 Southern Classic
Event 5: 2013 US Open 10-Ball
Event 6: 2013 US Open 8-Ball
Event 7: 2013 Turning Stone Classic XXI
Event 8: 2014 Derby City Classic

http://www.azbilliards.com/tours_and_events/bca-ranking/