Observations: Earl Strickland

My one time seeing Earl Strickland was at an exhibition in Vegas during BCA.

He was a perfect professional played his shots, was free with advice, complimented other players who played the "challenge" matches with him on their shots and he smiled for every picture.

I heard on one of the streams he gives lessons for $75 an hour that's a steal of a price for someone of his abilities. I've heard other pro's quoting prices of several hundred an hour. The female commentator on the stream said she had taken lessons from Earl and he's a professional teacher.

I don't personally know him so as far as the other stuff I read on these boards regarding his behavior I don't know, don't care and enjoy watching him play.

He's a poolplayer and most player's are a little crazy.
 
accustatsfan said:
He was a perfect professional played his shots, was free with advice, complimented other players who played the "challenge" matches with him on their shots and he smiled for every picture.

He's a poolplayer and most player's are a little crazy.
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First, my post was about observations about one player who is considered one of the greatest - which I could not really see, despite my thorough research (for example, all Mosconi Cups and numerous 9/10 ball events in 2015).
Thank you for quite a few people giving me some perspective about it.

Also, my post stems from deep frustation with the whole "pool attitude" where there is even more say-so around that with other things, and it's hard to come by simple and objective tests and descriptions about equipment (shafts, chalk, ...). Dr Dave Billiards is one hell of a fine exeption to that.

accustatsfan: Thanks for this; this side of Earl is hard to come by, i.e. you don't see that in matches at all. OTOH you see compliments in Snooker quite regularly, which I find very pleasant to watch.
The problem also was that I could no longer enjoy a match when he was going off, it was ruined. I probably value sportsmanship more than seeing one guy win.

I was also more referring to his behaviour in tournaments (when his ego is under threat), not in exhibitions where he can feel "above all else". I find his conduct seriously lacking in all departments and again and again hope that a referee would warn or even ban him for this.

Far more important for me was to point out when/that a person is stuck, and I believe that a lot of players are kind of stuck.
This obviously also applies to a lot of people you would meet in your daily life.

Overall I'm not that good a player, but that's not at all what I was getting at. I was more talking about the old "mens sana in copore sano" kind of way, which you can find in truly great players and can inspire you to be better for yourself.

Also I never play for/about money which I find a rather strange notion to do such a thing (besides in a real tournament). But then again, I'm european as many pointed :p
I like a good formal approach to things, and to keep emotions out.

Cheers (still),
M
 
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BRussell said:
You mean he's got temperament and personality issues? And in his mid-50s he's no longer the greatest pool player in the world? Huh, you must be the first to notice these things. :p
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Yea really lol thanks for the posters genius analysis ... Never would have figured out that in your 50s physical skills arose just like in every game and sport played smh
 
M.G. said:
First, my post was about observations about one player who is considered one of the greatest - which I could not really see, despite my thorough research (for example, all Mosconi Cups and numerous 9/10 ball events in 2015).
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I've met Earl, which basically means standing beside him and listening to him talk, and seen him play live a few times. One heck of a character and a champion player at times.

If you want to see Earl at or near his best, watch the first few videos in his $100,000 match v Efren Reyes known as The Color of Money Challenge. Here's the first part for your convenience:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgVPmjLkQq4

Colin
 
Yep

FranCrimi said:
Do they say 'Cheers' in Germany too? I thought that was a British thing.

Interesting first post ever.

Something smells bad here, like maybe something personal.
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Absolutely...2 posts in and this guy is some expert, go figure.
 
M.G. said:
Dear all,

recently I've been observing Earl Strickland's playing (2014 and 2015) in various tournaments, most recently the Chinese 8-ball masters.
Still chalking up very carelessly (which irritates me greatly), and can't play a safety if his life (game) depended on it (which it really did all the time), just firing away mindlessly.

Seems to me he's lost all his greatness, instead murmuring about the table, the cloth, the balls when he's not succeeding, even tries to chat up Stephen Hendry.
He can only play adequately when he gets his mind or when the ball lie in a way he can just shoot away.

Also the advice given by Earl here seems really off:
https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~peer/pool-earl-archer.html

To summarize - he's hit the final wall of his playing, and is no longer succeeding with his old ways. And he can't see it and develop further because he would need somebody else to coach him and also would need to develop his mind further (which he aparently doesn't do at all).

Any thoughts on this?

Cheers,
M

PS: I really can't understand why he's allowed his stupid arm weights in major tournaments.
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Ahhhh, a snooker fan. Maybe you have trouble with the way he pots balls?
 
Welcome to America MG
But you didn't think your first post would go like this, huh. Well get use to it if you plan on posting or commenting in the future cause this is prrrrety much what you're going to see, people getting slandered for voicing an opinion or observation and then getting called out for slang based on location, like if you're a brit then you can't live in german or no longer can use the slang of you origin. Welcome the the land where bullying knows no boundaries and like racism rarely gets' called for what it is.
BUT, know this, some of the people who will comment and says things may not be bad (so-to-day) people in person you will actually find some are great people. But they (meaning some) may be a bit passionate about what they believe in and thus react to other that come around it in a harsh manner, plus with the anonymity of the internet all the better.
I guess in short or closing they are kind of like Earl, explosive and hostile at times and in person may even be asked to watch your kids. Earl is Earl he may not be what you would like or expect but has got the titles to put up. No he's not the Earl of yesteryear but nor is Efren.
 
Tooler said:
Well then, this will be right up your alley......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOyQBSMeIhM#t=24
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Sorry, I was not really clear about what I meant.
As per wikipedia I would like to focus on the following aspects of sportsmanship: "... with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors."
I consider this also a worthwhile goal for the upcoming Mosconi Cup - also for the spectators.

Colin Colenso: Thank you, that seems to be an excellent example to watch. I will do that and reevaluate my position on.

Buckzapper: I might also have a problem with his stroke which never seems to aim where he plans to hit the white, that's true.

7forlife: Yes, quite a few comments were nice and understanding and pointing me into the right direction - and that was basically what I was asking about.
Of course I did think we could share more explanations about Earl's behaviour/whatever or poiting to examples when he was a great player instead of calling me out (to play or funny names).

And yes, we in Europe can criticise anything - for the sake of betterment, discussion and learning, not to point out how great over another human we are.
Because I'm not a great player as I do have another full-time job. But I enjoy concentration, good technique and material, and fellowship at the table.

I might write something about my Cuetec and Universal, because I came here to read up on them (and for maintenance advice regarding polish etc), but didn't find what I was looking for.

Have a nice day
M
 
336Robin said:
Absolutely...2 posts in and this guy is some expert, go figure.
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Why would post count matter?

On your first post, were you ignorant? Are you now 2197 times more educated?

Maybe one day my opinion will mean as much as yours, but I'm going to have to start posting a lot of irreverent garbage like, the above in order to catch up to you and your big swingin' post count.
 
ElCorazonFrio said:
Why would post count matter?

On your first post, were you ignorant? Are you now 2197 times more educated?

Maybe one day my opinion will mean as much as yours, but I'm going to have to start posting a lot of irreverent garbage like, the above in order to catch up to you and your big swingin' post count.
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It's not "post count", more of that he just joined, and the first thing he does is throw a few boulders at one of America's best pool players and a member of the HOF. Everyone knows Earl fights demons at the table, and pretty sure he's not taking any medication for it.

My mother died 16 years ago, she still had depression...and had it for decades, maybe longer ?? Untreated and in denial about her behavior, and most folks that were around her were "clueless" in what was really wrong, or how to even treat it, so everyone just ignored it, as well as yours truly. I guess we just assumed it was "her" personality, not a medical issue.

It was not until after she had died (from other causes) that we learned more about depression, and it fit her pattern to a "t". I guess you don't know what you don't know until you know it ??
 
ChicagoRJ said:
It's not "post count", more of that he just joined, and the first thing he does is throw a few boulders at one of America's best pool players and a member of the HOF. Everyone knows Earl fights demons at the table, and pretty sure he's not taking any medication for it.

My mother died 16 years ago, she still had depression...and had it for decades, maybe longer ?? Untreated and in denial about her behavior, and most folks that were around her were "clueless" in what was really wrong, or how to even treat it, so everyone just ignored it, as well as yours truly. I guess we just assumed it was "her" personality, not a medical issue.

It was not until after she had died (from other causes) that we learned more about depression, and it fit her pattern to a "t". I guess you don't know what you don't know until you know it ??
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First off, condolences about your mother and the depression she went through. I saw the same in my grandmother for a while after my grandfather died.

I'm a bit on edge about the post count thing, so apologies if it was out of line. I've read this board for a long time and just decided to start posting. I've since had my new status thrown in my face several times.

This wasn't, probably, the right place to address the issue, because, as you have probably seen, I agree that this is all out of line.

I would love to see Earl turn into the best sportsman, happiest person in pool. How awesome would that be if we all got to see him relaxed and cordial? His play speaks for itself, if he had a slightly different demeanor, he would be an awesome ambassador for the sport.

Best to you.
 
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M.G. said:
And yes, we in Europe can criticise anything - for the sake of betterment, discussion and learning, not to point out how great over another human we are.
Because I'm not a great player as I do have another full-time job. But I enjoy concentration, good technique and material, and fellowship at the table.
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The negative responses to you came because your first post was to criticize someone who has been criticized ad nauseam. We've been over Earl and his behavior countless times on this forum. He's the easiest pool player to criticize. Everyone knows about his behavior. And then you post like it's your idea.

It's not because only Europeans are critical or some other nonsense, if that's what you are suggesting. Americans spend almost all our time criticizing each other. Just read these forums for a while and you'll see it's basically all we do.
 
ElCorazonFrio said:
First off, condolences about your mother and the depression she went through. I saw the same in my grandmother for a while after my grandfather died.

I'm a bit on edge about the post count thing, so apologies if it was out of line. I've read this board for a long time and just decided to start posting. I've since had my new status thrown in my face several times.

This wasn't, probably, the right place to address the issue, because, as you have probably seen, I agree that this is all out of line.

I would love to see Earl turn into the best sportsman, happiest person in pool. How awesome would that be if we all got to see him relaxed and cordial? His play speaks for itself, if he had a slightly different demeanor, he would be an awesome ambassador for the sport.

Best to you.
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well i commend you for taking a stand. its an opinion or an observation of an individual, just asking what others think or how they feel "do you share my views or see what i see". But many get stepped on pretty hard with no consideration for how that person may interpret your words. It's funny to me cause one person is giving their opinion about another's opinion all the while saying their opinion is above the others (in some cases) it's all kind of junior high or high school to me at times.
 
earl is known to be bipolar, his personality is what it is, if you don't like it, I get it, I don't mind it, people are who they are. the only thing wrong with earl is he can't accept father time. his mind regarding pool is still all there, but the touch, stroke and speed fades. either you accept it, or you don't.
 
A guy drops out of school as a teenager to go on the road playing pool in bars and pool halls for cash and people are shocked and dismayed he has a few rough edges.

I don't know how it works in Germany, maybe all the pool players learn how to play pool in college while pursuing their doctorate in cultural awareness. Earl quit school and learned how to play pool in bars and pool halls. He has some rough edges but he is a nice guy.
 
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