Mark Wilson's Two MC Picks

[sjm]

I think you underestimate the level of personal issues the players have between them. They have some very real issues. Your perspective is grounded in generality. This team has a very high level of dysfunction.

Not the point. In every workplace and on every project, people have issues with other team members but find a way to buy in to a common goal and produce great things together.

I'm not interested in whether our guys like each other, but only interested in the extent to which they put their differences aside in pursuit of a common goal. If they all buy in, they are capable of producing something special. I am confident they will all buy in, but we shall see.

 

[Johnnyt]

Seems like the team for the U.S., But all looks good on paper, just like most boxers look great on the bag in the gym. In ring for real, they hit back, sooo...not so much. I do think the U.S will give them trouble though. GO U.S.A. Johnnyt

 

[sjm]

Seems like the team for the U.S., But all looks good on paper, just like most boxers look great on the bag in the gym. In ring for real, they hit back, sooo...not so much. I do think the U.S will give them trouble though. GO U.S.A. Johnnyt

Excellent post.

In terms of pedigree, little has changed. Europe's players play the entire WPA event schedule and on Team USA only SVB does. Yes, Dechaine played the WPA World 9-ball Campionships and came tied for ninth, but he didn't play the remainder of the WPA schedule.

We're sending a better team than the team that was crushed 11-5 a year ago and have a much better shot than a year ago because of it.

We'll be underdogs as usual, but at least you can envision this group of guys pulling off the upset.

 

[SUPERSTAR]

Not the point. In every workplace and on every project, people have issues with other team members but find a way to buy in to a common goal and produce great things together.

I'm not interested in whether our guys like each other, but only interested in the extent to which they put their differences aside in pursuit of a common goal. If they all buy in, they are capable of producing something special. I am confident they will all buy in, but we shall see.

This is just an assumption.
A positive one, but an assumption none the less.

There are plenty of instances where collaboration fails and teams working on project need to be torn down and rebuilt so that you have a team that produces great things.
There are plenty of times in every day life, where teamwork sucks because of personal problems between team members, laziness, or flat out sabotage when one person is against the desired goal.

Sometimes, the individuals can put aside their own issues for the greater good, and that comes with maturity. But to assume that a new team that hasn't been tested out yet can reach that level of maturity, is just naive IMO.

Great things can come from collaboration.
But there are plenty of collaborations that failed due to the team breaking down on a personal level.

I hope team USA has the maturity enough to rise above their personal gripes though.
It would be nice to see them perform well.