Final Thoughts on 2014 Mosconi Cup
- Thread starter J.W.
- Start date
Actually all you need is a race to 21 or more.
Race to 21 for $1 million, though. Then we'll see who the best pool player in the world is by who can shoot for that kind of dough. Not everybody can hack it. I missed a ball-in-hand 8-ball shot for the win in a Maryland State Tournament one time. I couldn't hack the pressure. I'll never forget it. LOL
Those who strongly believe Darren or Shane is better than the other may want to back up their words of wisdom by posting up the dough for this to happen. Show me the money! :grin:
Money speaks louder than words.
Darren had rather be shot with a fire truck shooting piss than get in the box with Shane for big money in a longer set
You don't, you just need results over a period of time. A player who consistently wins agains top opposition is a top player. Daz or Shane or Dennis or anybody else in the discussion don't need races to 21 to prove that.
Jim, thanks for a well reasoned viewpoint; that it comes from someone with a unique perspective is a bonus.
I would offer the following viewpoint that agrees some, and differs some and is often from a different perspective. AZ Billiards has many knowledgeable and passionate fans that have weighed in on this subject since the event ended. There are a lot that, like you, make valid points from a variety of perspectives and I add my own.
1-The use of the venue:
Team Europe: Captain Rohan Rujisink and team members of Team Europe were situated in seats with great access to the players participating in a match from the point of view of being able to give encouragement or coaching assistance and took advantage of this throughout the event.
Team USA: The Captain Mark Wilson and his two assistants of Team USA did not sit themselves as advantageously and did not have as easy access, further they moved up and further from the players as the event progressed.
Advantage Team Europe
2-The Fans:
European fans have taken to the role of 6th player with gusto; to a fault. Their OOOOHS! almost seemed choreographed and were less about cheering for their team as they were about disrupting the U.S. Team focus. On countless occasions the referee was still asking for quiet while the USA player was going into a shooting stance and from time to time when the player was down on his cue lining up the shot.
The USA fans were less in number but at least we had Mark’s wife leading the cheers for the USA team. I am less certain that the antics of Amir Pishad were as helpful. I felt that some of his interactions with European fans and his use of a version of doo rag with sunglasses could be an unnecessary distraction.
Advantage Europe by a wide margin
3-The Captains:
Team Europe Captain Rohan Rujisink is a seasoned veteran of this competition and a positive presence in support of his team. He clearly has the respect of all of his players and they respond well to him. He is able to achieve a balance in his support that is clearly geared to help his players be positive and focused at all times.
From the outset I was concerned that Team USA Captain Mark Wilson was not projecting a positive presence. After the first game of the first match Cory’s win was greeted with a few tepid claps and a stony faced stare from the Captain. A few game losses later only the stony stare remained; he did not look at the players and did not need to as his face told the story.
Thankfully, the players seemed to take this role over, filling a vacuum of leadership that either was not forthcoming or was being intentionally delegated, and they should be applauded for this. In particular Shane, who might not be a natural at this, made a great effort to support whoever was playing at the time as did John and Cory. The two new players responded well to this effort from the veteran players and to each other. In spite of this the edge has to go to Europe
Advantage:Team Europe (but the margin was narrowed thanks to the players)
5-The Teams
Team Europe was a strong team. With three returning members in Niels Feijen, Darren Appleton and Karl Boyes, bolstered by the talented Nikos Ekonomopoulos and seasoned competitor Mark Grey they were competitive and proved it.
Team USA should be applauded for a great effort in the face of a difficult task. This may not have been the exact line up I would have picked but every one of them deserved to be there. They are not responsible for the process of how the team is chosen, they simply answered the call when asked and did themselves proud. They were gentlemen and competitors. The way they worked to support each other, the way they conducted themselves in spite of the obvious pressure that they were feeling was exemplary. I applaud them whole heartedly.
Advantage: None
Post Mortem:
For the last year I have watched with growing concern as Mark Wilson made this about himself. It was more about how bad past players had acted and the need for a savior (him) than was necessary. It became about how tirelessly he was working, how his hair was more grey etc. their was little said in terms of how the players were working toward securing their spot and how close the final choice would be.
The process became a monument to the genius of the new savior of American pool. I offer this comment not as any negative to Mr. Wilson’s ability as an instructor, coach or for that matter as a player. I simply do not know how he is in those areas. I can only go by what he has said and his actions.
His words were all about him and it has had to do with how he would save pool and bring it into a new light. Even when discussing his choice of players it was about how he would lead them to this. His actions in how he did the final cut was lacking in leadership as was the process in terms of the players knowing how to secure their spot.
In my opinion he not only milked the monument to HIS genius in tying in the Navy Seals to death, he put a doo rag, sunglass wearing seal in a position of prominence fo cement this legacy; HIS bold new approach signalling that the past was dead and a new direction, his NEW direction, was here. I don't know about that but from my perspective It in that gave NEW meaning to Earl Stricklands PAST comments that some of the fans act like trained seals. I am left with the question, was it necessary to export one to England for this event?
Jim, I am looking forward to spending a great deal of time at the Corner Bank and congratulations to John White and yourself on the venue you have created. It will be a great place for all but in particular a great place for the serious Player.
Jerry
I would offer the following viewpoint that agrees some, and differs some and is often from a different perspective. AZ Billiards has many knowledgeable and passionate fans that have weighed in on this subject since the event ended. There are a lot that, like you, make valid points from a variety of perspectives and I add my own.
1-The use of the venue:
Team Europe: Captain Rohan Rujisink and team members of Team Europe were situated in seats with great access to the players participating in a match from the point of view of being able to give encouragement or coaching assistance and took advantage of this throughout the event.
Team USA: The Captain Mark Wilson and his two assistants of Team USA did not sit themselves as advantageously and did not have as easy access, further they moved up and further from the players as the event progressed.
Advantage Team Europe
2-The Fans:
European fans have taken to the role of 6th player with gusto; to a fault. Their OOOOHS! almost seemed choreographed and were less about cheering for their team as they were about disrupting the U.S. Team focus. On countless occasions the referee was still asking for quiet while the USA player was going into a shooting stance and from time to time when the player was down on his cue lining up the shot.
The USA fans were less in number but at least we had Mark’s wife leading the cheers for the USA team. I am less certain that the antics of Amir Pishad were as helpful. I felt that some of his interactions with European fans and his use of a version of doo rag with sunglasses could be an unnecessary distraction.
Advantage Europe by a wide margin
3-The Captains:
Team Europe Captain Rohan Rujisink is a seasoned veteran of this competition and a positive presence in support of his team. He clearly has the respect of all of his players and they respond well to him. He is able to achieve a balance in his support that is clearly geared to help his players be positive and focused at all times.
From the outset I was concerned that Team USA Captain Mark Wilson was not projecting a positive presence. After the first game of the first match Cory’s win was greeted with a few tepid claps and a stony faced stare from the Captain. A few game losses later only the stony stare remained; he did not look at the players and did not need to as his face told the story.
Thankfully, the players seemed to take this role over, filling a vacuum of leadership that either was not forthcoming or was being intentionally delegated, and they should be applauded for this. In particular Shane, who might not be a natural at this, made a great effort to support whoever was playing at the time as did John and Cory. The two new players responded well to this effort from the veteran players and to each other. In spite of this the edge has to go to Europe
Advantage:Team Europe (but the margin was narrowed thanks to the players)
5-The Teams
Team Europe was a strong team. With three returning members in Niels Feijen, Darren Appleton and Karl Boyes, bolstered by the talented Nikos Ekonomopoulos and seasoned competitor Mark Grey they were competitive and proved it.
Team USA should be applauded for a great effort in the face of a difficult task. This may not have been the exact line up I would have picked but every one of them deserved to be there. They are not responsible for the process of how the team is chosen, they simply answered the call when asked and did themselves proud. They were gentlemen and competitors. The way they worked to support each other, the way they conducted themselves in spite of the obvious pressure that they were feeling was exemplary. I applaud them whole heartedly.
Advantage: None
Post Mortem:
For the last year I have watched with growing concern as Mark Wilson made this about himself. It was more about how bad past players had acted and the need for a savior (him) than was necessary. It became about how tirelessly he was working, how his hair was more grey etc. their was little said in terms of how the players were working toward securing their spot and how close the final choice would be.
The process became a monument to the genius of the new savior of American pool. I offer this comment not as any negative to Mr. Wilson’s ability as an instructor, coach or for that matter as a player. I simply do not know how he is in those areas. I can only go by what he has said and his actions.
His words were all about him and it has had to do with how he would save pool and bring it into a new light. Even when discussing his choice of players it was about how he would lead them to this. His actions in how he did the final cut was lacking in leadership as was the process in terms of the players knowing how to secure their spot.
In my opinion he not only milked the monument to HIS genius in tying in the Navy Seals to death, he put a doo rag, sunglass wearing seal in a position of prominence fo cement this legacy; HIS bold new approach signalling that the past was dead and a new direction, his NEW direction, was here. I don't know about that but from my perspective It in that gave NEW meaning to Earl Stricklands PAST comments that some of the fans act like trained seals. I am left with the question, was it necessary to export one to England for this event?
Jim, I am looking forward to spending a great deal of time at the Corner Bank and congratulations to John White and yourself on the venue you have created. It will be a great place for all but in particular a great place for the serious Player.
Jerry
Who cares who'd win a long race? What do long races have to do with competitive pool? And it's not about the money either, which is why I don't bow down to the "C" player that beat another "C" player out of $5,000,000. It's about sustained excellence over a long period of time, something both Shane and Darren have demonstrated.
In the end, I only care who, among the elite, succeeds more often than others in big spots. Of late, it has been Darren. Soon, it may be Shane, perhaps as soon as Derby City next month.
Best is just to sit back and enjoy a great rivalry, rather than wait for them to play 1,000 ahead for the national debt of China.
In the end, I only care who, among the elite, succeeds more often than others in big spots. Of late, it has been Darren. Soon, it may be Shane, perhaps as soon as Derby City next month.
Best is just to sit back and enjoy a great rivalry, rather than wait for them to play 1,000 ahead for the national debt of China.
Captain Mark Wilson failed on his mission to defeat Team Europe. What lessons can we learn ? Does Mark Wilson have the ability to improvise, adapt and overcome ? What was missing ? You can find the games on YouTube. What did you see ? I was watching the lag. Team Europe had mastered it. Is it important to go first in a short race ? The seconded player is always playing catch up. Why weren’t the players in peak form?
You hit the nail on the head. I watched all the matchs and the U.S. won only two lags out of 16. Pros will usually run out a fairly high percent of the time so, the U.S. Is playing from behind right from the being. All euro has to do is hold their serve and they win! For example, (math is guess work) euro won the lag 14 times assume they run out 40 % of the time they are ahead 6 games. Then they win 45% of the remaining 8 games giving them a total of 9 to 10 games, they only have to win 2 more games to win the cup.
The morrow of the story is practice the lag or push for a coin flip.