I guess I dont get it. What's wrong with the "Team USA thing"?You might have Alex and Johnny if "Team USA" would simply get over the whole "Team USA" thing.
I guess I dont get it. What's wrong with the "Team USA thing"?You might have Alex and Johnny if "Team USA" would simply get over the whole "Team USA" thing.
My Dad is the same way. You will NEVER see him in a plane. AAMOF, I'm afraid of what he might tell St Peter to do with those wings on judgment day!I do recall stories of Bergman driving 15+hrs to Vegas and wherever else to play b/c he wouldn't fly.
Losing team gets $20K per player. Gut must be one of those rich pool players that don't need money.
Nothing, if you want to get continually flogged at the Mosconi. On the other hand if you would prefer to present a stronger team you could accept players from neighbouring countries. Of course at that point it wouldn't really be a "Team USA", would it...I guess I dont get it. What's wrong with the "Team USA thing"?
Or.....Matchroom wont allow it? I'm asking because I dont know.Nothing, if you want to get continually flogged at the Mosconi. On the other hand if you would prefer to present a stronger team you could accept players from neighbouring countries. Of course at that point it wouldn't really be a "Team USA", would it...
So the question remains. Why doesn't "Team USA" reach out to players beyond their own borders...? My guess is that they don't want the headaches, and would prefer to retain the 'us versus the all of Europe' symbolism.
About 75% of the Russian population lies within EuropeOr.....Matchroom wont allow it? I'm asking because I dont know.
Wasn't the Mosconi cup originally a USA vs England match? Or was it always all of Europe? And I could never figure out why Russia is considered part of Europe. Wasnt there a player from Russia (Gorst) that played in the MC recently?
Europe has a huge advantage solely on the huge area and population to choose players from.
If you only include countries that are part of the European union, you would have an estimated population of 435 82 million....still a distinct advantage. Of course since England is no longer part of the union, it would exclude them. But if you add them anyway, you would have 513.88 million people to choose from. And since fewer and fewer people in the US are playing serious pool, the problem exacerbates.
I think the US does need to open up. Maybe include all of North America?
Yes. . I know that... but I could never figure out why based on the political differences...among other reasons.About 75% of the Russian population lies within Europe
No doubt, guys like Pagulayan and Morra would help. So would Mexican Jesus Atencio, who is a fast-rising star. You'd have to call it Team North America, and, although it is not my preference to move in that direction, I would be OK with it. Still, addition of these players wouldn't be even close to enough.Nothing, if you want to get continually flogged at the Mosconi. On the other hand if you would prefer to present a stronger team you could accept players from neighbouring countries. Of course at that point it wouldn't really be a "Team USA", would it...
So the question remains. Why doesn't "Team USA" reach out to players beyond their own borders...? My guess is that they don't want the headaches, and would prefer to retain the 'us versus the all of Europe' symbolism.
You are correct. Training and work ethics are key. But when you have double the population to choose from?No doubt, guys like Pagulayan and Morra would help. So would Mexican Jesus Atencio, who is a fast-rising star. You'd have to call it Team North America, and, although it is not my preference to move in that direction, I would be OK with it. Still, addition of these players wouldn't be even close to enough.
With Kaci at 22, Gorst at 21, Filler at 23, the young nucleus of Team Europe will be around for a long time, and Ouschan and Shaw are only in their early 30's, so it looks like Team USA will be the underdog for many years to come. The balance of power stands with Europe, as at present the world's top 20 based on Fargo is comprised of 11 Asian players, 7 Europeans, 1 Canadian and 1 American.
I tire of the argument that because Europe has a bigger population than the US, the matchup is unfair. One of our European posters once suggested that there are 20 nine ball players in America for every nine ball player in Europe. Success lies in training, work ethic and preparation, not in population or numbers.
Mosconi participation, which guarantees a huge payday by the standards of tournament prize money in America, is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for the American touring pro. It helps vitalize the big tournaments on the American pool calendar as they are the stepping stone to gaining a spot on Team USA.
I said 20 to 1, and it's general public. In fact, there may be far more pro players in Europe than in America. I know that on the forum, we sometimes debate what a pro player is, and for me, it's someone who plays at at least 725 Fargo Rate and may be even 740. Either way, America doesn't have many pro players right now. If you use 740 as the cutoff, which is where I tend to go, we've got 37 pros. If you only use 725 as the cutoff, we've still only got 72. Europe has 45 players at 770 or higher.And I need more info on the 1 in 9 ratio. I would need proof of that statistic. Is it a general public statistic? Or is it among professional players?
You are of course 100% correct. As a Canadian it's nice to believe that Alex and Johnny would swoop in and help usher in North American dominance, but we all know it's really not going to make much if any difference at allNo doubt, guys like Pagulayan and Morra would help. So would Mexican Jesus Atencio, who is a fast-rising star. You'd have to call it Team North America, and, although it is not my preference to move in that direction, I would be OK with it. Still, addition of these players wouldn't be even close to enough.
So do I... Like somehow because there's more people that directly translates to more players and by extension more players wanting to be professionals.I tire of the argument that because Europe has a bigger population than the US, the matchup is unfair. One of our European posters once suggested that there are 20 nine ball players in America for every nine ball player in Europe. Success lies in training, work ethic and preparation, not in population or numbers.
I would rather watch a Team North America, made up of John Morra, Alex Pagulayan, Josh Roberts, Tony Chohan and Justin Bergman.Europe is a continent, not a country. USA is a country, not a continent. It would be logical maybe to consider the possibility of a Europe v. North America Mosconi Cup, in this regard.
Atencio is Venezuelan.No doubt, guys like Pagulayan and Morra would help. So would Mexican Jesus Atencio, who is a fast-rising star. You'd have to call it Team North America, and, although it is not my preference to move in that direction, I would be OK with it. Still, addition of these players wouldn't be even close to enough.
With Kaci at 22, Gorst at 21, Filler at 23, the young nucleus of Team Europe will be around for a long time, and Ouschan and Shaw are only in their early 30's, so it looks like Team USA will be the underdog for many years to come. The balance of power stands with Europe, as at present the world's top 20 based on Fargo is comprised of 11 Asian players, 7 Europeans, 1 Canadian and 1 American.
I tire of the argument that because Europe has a bigger population than the US, the matchup is unfair. One of our European posters once suggested that there are 20 nine ball players in America for every nine ball player in Europe. Success lies in training, work ethic and preparation, not in population or numbers.
Mosconi participation, which guarantees a huge payday by the standards of tournament prize money in America, is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for the American touring pro. It helps vitalize the big tournaments on the American pool calendar as they are the stepping stone to gaining a spot on Team USA.
No, it would be "Team America" u%^k yeah, coming again to save the mother%$#^&' day yeah...Nothing, if you want to get continually flogged at the Mosconi. On the other hand if you would prefer to present a stronger team you could accept players from neighbouring countries. Of course at that point it wouldn't really be a "Team USA", would it...
So the question remains. Why doesn't "Team USA" reach out to players beyond their own borders...? My guess is that they don't want the headaches, and would prefer to retain the 'us versus the all of Europe' symbolism.
Yep... exactly what came to my mind during my post...lolNo, it would be "Team America" u%^k yeah, coming again to save the mother%$#^&' day yeah...
Jaden
Thanks for that. My bad.Atencio is Venezuelan.