I'll Say What Many Are Already Thinking - Mosconi Cup, 2014

punter said:
The debate is centered around length of race. Many think a race to five is too short. Me included.
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It is not a race to 5 to win the cup though, it is a best of 21 races to 5. That is by no means a insignificant matchup. You put any two players into a best of 21 races to 5 where one is a favorite and the chances of the underdog winning 11 matches first is slim to none. And that is why the USA is now seeing things take off on them, they cannot get there in this format because it is simply too many upsets they need to win.
 
Celtic said:
It is not a race to 5 to win the cup though, it is a best of 21 races to 5. That is by no means a insignificant matchup. You put any two players into a best of 21 races to 5 where one is a favorite and the chances of the underdog winning 11 matches first is slim to none. And that is why the USA is now seeing things take off on them, they cannot get there in this format because it is simply too many upsets they need to win.
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Correct
Those who say MC is short race don't know what they are talking about
MC is a relay race to 55 racks/ games . Is it a far test of skill between teams? Yes
Is it a fair test of skills between individual players ? Maybe not
Key is MC is team event
 
sjm said:
The latter method is the one that makes sense. A singles win must count for twice what a doubles win counts at the individual player level.
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Looks like maybe you saw my post here before I noticed that I had posted it in this thread rather than starting a new thread with it. So I transferred it to a new thread.

If I understand what you said here, though, I like to post the records both ways and explain the difference. I've been doing that for a few years.
 
Nullus said:
Don't get me wrong, I'm all USA and rooting for a win, but.....we're so arrogant as a country. It's always 'USA versus a combination of other countries'. We think we can take on the world, and in truth, we could put our best team out there, which probably isn't the guys that are there at present, and not even beat certain single countries consistently, let alone all of Europe like we attempt to do and fail so regularly at. Granted we would win more often playing just the UK, or just Greece, or whomever, but make no mistake, we would still take our lumps and lose as well.

A big problem is the Euros take pool seriously as a professional sport and over here, it's a gambling sport first and a competitive professional sport only very distantly. There is little sponsorship or television support. The professional organizations come and go as do the events. It's an old story that most already know, but it's also a simple fact. I admire what the Euro's have with their Snooker and other disciplines to along with their professionalism. Sure the crowds get rowdy but they're also respectful when it's time for either side to shoot and applaud good play from both sides. Over here, we have guys and fans like Earl that just want to talk trash, shark you, and spout off on ways to gamble and hustle you out of money.

All that said...go USA!!!
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I agree, well said
 
sjm said:
The latter method is the one that makes sense. A singles win must count for twice what a doubles win counts at the individual player level.
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IMO doubles and team should not even be counted. Your team mate misses shots and makes boneheaded mistakes should take any points away from the one that shot well in the match. Only singles play should be counted. Johnnyt
 
NitPicker said:
What I'm thinking:

1. Neither team has mediocre players.
2. Neither team has their best players.
3. The US was competitive yesterday, not today.
4. The Mosconi Cup is an exhibition for entertainment.
5. Some people enjoy what they have by griping about it.
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#4 is not true at all, both teams want to win, and all the players want to be picked for the team. It's the same as any other tournament. They are not just there to drink a beer together then fly back home.

Any pro event is technically for entertainment or there would not be fans.
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
Reality Is Setting In At Mosconi Cup 2014

Team USA is getting beaten convincingly by a *very mediocre playing* Team Europe.

The Euros are making errors by the bushel and leaving the door wide open yet Team USA can't seem to walk on through. Or even get close.

Chemistry & Kumbaya are nice, being competitive, even nicer.

Our best players are not there.

I will root Team USA on, regardless. I really will.

Just slipping into my asbestos jammies. You are welcome to flame away ladies and gents. :grin-devilish:

Go USA!!

best,
brian kc <---- hasn't seen this much sloppiness since KP duty at Fort Jackson cleaning those effing grease traps. :yikes:
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History has shown repeatedly that it takes more collecting a bunch of really good players to win team events.

For Johnny Archer it was a bitter pill to swallow; “Everything went wrong. We didn’t break the balls as well as they did, they played better, they were more of a team."


“The first day just killed us. We got behind really badly the first day and we were really search from there and it was very hard. They kept coming out and they won a couple of close matches.

“It is very disappointing and the whole team is really disappointed right now. All we can do is take a year to try and figure it out. It might be different players, all kinds of different things.

“I definitely think we need to improve on being more of a team like the European team. That is the number one thing right now and that is what we have to do.”
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http://www.azbilliards.com/news/stories/10824-its-europe-in-a-landslide/

Billiard's Digest write-up of last year's MC also talked about how well the Euros gelled as a team.
 
Longer Races would make a difference

JC said:
But you're not capable of winning 11 of them before a superior opponent does. And thinking you might be able to is the real foolishness.

JC
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No question Europe has outplayed team USA...or if you are judging it another way, screwed up less. I do agree that races to 5 are for TV / Ratings reasons. Longer races whether to 9 or 11 will make the result more competitive IMO.
 
Palmerfan said:
No question Europe has outplayed team USA...or if you are judging it another way, screwed up less. I do agree that races to 5 are for TV / Ratings reasons. Longer races whether to 9 or 11 will make the result more competitive IMO.
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So who other than Shane would be a favorite in a longer race , none that I see
I'm also tired of hearing we don't have our best there , neither do they our best against their best we are still the underdog
The only way we are the favorite is our best against their B players and we are only 6/5 there

1
 
I agreed in another thread and said no US team could beat Appleton/Neils/Hohmann/Mika/Ralf. But I think Corey and Schmidt would benefit from a race to 9 at least. Win or lose the matches would be more competitive against this current European Team.
 
I been down 9-5 and won a set before. Gotta have faith. I cannot see or hear any fat ladies. I think they are all in the kitchen cooking shank of venison or something probably warming up the bike with a side car or something but tjey aimt singing. Come on usa you can do this
 
elvicash said:
I been down 9-5 and won a set before. Gotta have faith. I cannot see or hear any fat ladies. I think they are all in the kitchen cooking shank of venison or something probably warming up the bike with a side car or something but tjey aimt singing. Come on usa you can do this
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That's the view we must all take. Through three days, we're very disappointed, but this is not lost. Still, it feels far more like being down 9-5 heading to last licks in a baseball game than 9-5 behind in a nine ball race to eleven.
 
Come back

Just win one at a time. Think Brookline 99'.


Ryder Cup for those non golfers.

"I got a good feeling about this" - Ben Crenshaw
 
Pool fans can be a fickle bunch. A few days ago, John Schmidt or "Schmiddy" was the hero. Fast forward a few days, and he's not on everybody's birthday cake list.

Shane is having trouble getting his pool engine to go into turbocharge this week, but nobody is crucifying him, thank goodness.

Hey, it ain't over yet. USA is in it to win it. I'm sure every single member on Team USA wants this to happen. Don't forget that. :smile:
 
HelloBaby- said:
this may sound ironic but Matchroom possibly should consider up the overall race to 12 or 13 to make sure that we have full 4 days of pool, poor team USA :sorry:
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Better none. Biggest thrashing in MC history was USA beating Europe 12-1 followed by last year 11-2 Europe
Extending it to 12 or 13 may break that record LOL
 
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