Who are the 7 or 8 players? Aside from Shane I wouldn't bet a dime on any other US player against any of the top 20 Euro players
EARL STRICKLAND Returns to TEAM USA
- Thread starter spartan
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How would that help?Or we get to incorporate numerous countries as part of the team. This is USA versus the entire continent of Europe, plus Russia thrown in as a "kicker". LOL
Just give us Canada and Mexico and we can call it even
Agree. Sky is next best and he's the dog playing almost all the Euro's. After Sky US big-table talent drops pretty quick.
I believe Shane has a losing record in the MC, so what difference does it make?
Absolutely. They are going to push it for all it's worth , and try to get all the loud mouths into the crowd to set him over the edge. Matchroom is, after all, an English production company, aren't they?
To those that think Europeans are laughing at us because we picked Earl.... you all know as well as I do the Europeans have been laughing at us for years, and it has nothing to do with Earl. As a matter of fact, they are reading this thread right now and laughing at us.
I wish Earl and the rest of the team the best of luck. It's possible he may surprise all of us, but I wont bet money on it.
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Then sell you car, boat, house, and mortgage your two kids and bet against Earl through out the Cup. I mean, what do you have to lose? Show us you will put your money where your mouth is. You will be RICH. So, you should be happy, right?
Exactly, there is not a problem for ratings in Europe. But, how many folks actually bought the stream in a past events in the USA? Very little I'm betting. So, the folks that don't watch the events, or want to pay for the event and would never actually attend the event are upset with the team being put on the field of play
lol
Without Mike and Justin it puts Earl at 6th in the US fargorate, Corey performs horribly at MC, so the moves Earl to our 5th highest righ behind Rodney and in front of Billy. Earl plays a ton of events so his Fargo is still being updated regularly.
I'll take Earl anyday and with Shane there with him there's a good chance Earl will be fine.
I'll take Earl anyday and with Shane there with him there's a good chance Earl will be fine.
Guess you never heard of a guy named Alex Pagulayan? I think he could help a little, no ?
Alex has a lot of dog in him, not saying he wouldn't be an improvement, but I've made way more $$$ betting against him
BlueRaider
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If Matchroom is going for pure entertainment value, why not add Florian Kohler to Team Europe? Apparently the MC is a farcical circus anyway. Might as well turn it into a trick shot competition to boost those ratings!
Seriously…I don’t get this argument. Outside of the fans being rowdy, it seems to me that the MC is a pretty intense display of competitive pool and both sides desperately want to win.
Seriously…I don’t get this argument. Outside of the fans being rowdy, it seems to me that the MC is a pretty intense display of competitive pool and both sides desperately want to win.
There's still room for Johnny and Rodney, a nostalgia team if you will. Or better yet, Matchroom could turn the MC into an "Old Timer's" event and invite all the past greats from both sides. A "Seniors" MC! There you go, Johnny, Rodney, Earl, Varner and Sigel vs. Ortmann, Souquet, Engert, Drago and Steve Davis. I'd watch that. 
Oscar would be a great pick, and Chris Robinson, who played well in the last Mosconi Cup, topped and eliminated Tyler Styer yesterday at the International, which surely hurt Tyler's chances and improved those of Chris.
Joss Tour superstar Jeremy Sossei, who had a ninth place finish at the World Pool Championships, has once again advanced further than most of the other contenders for Mosconi selection, and if tournament results are the deciding factor, give me Sossei over all of them. Of course, there is growing evidence that tournament results ARE NOT the deciding factor.
By the way, Earl still plays quite well and I'm not on board with those who think otherwise. I'm upset with this pick because Earl hardly ever competes in US based events and skipped the World Pool Championship this year. Mosconi Cup spots should be for those who play in and shine in competition.
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Well, I didn't say that these players are champion material. They are...international standard...or call it professionals...I don't know.
My point was, that it is not that big of a surprise, that Earl was picked for team USA, since one of only a few Americans, that plays in most of the international events.
And in all fairness, besides Shane, most of the US players are out after a few rounds in every tournament that includes a decent amount of top players.
Actually it would be interesting to compare Earl's results (in big tournaments) to other US players over the last year...I don't think there will be much of a difference to other potential MC candidates.
awwwww, those poor little Brits laughing at us Americans. Meanwhile, we sit back and laugh at the once great Empire of the UK, that ruled most of the world and had influence just about everywhere, and has been reduced to a bit player on the world stage and now running a small island that is 3 times smaller than Texas. Basically, they are the lemonade stand and the US is Home Depot. Where's your Messiah noooooooooow.
So, no, we don't bloody care what those warm beer drinking SOB's think about us
PS: just poking fun MC style. lol
Thank you Stu. I think we got the message this time and maybe this strategy will work for Matchroom and ultimately for Pool. Get the most outrageous guys and put them on TV and see what happens. After all, Pool has never had a bigger character than Minnesota Fats and he became an A-List celebrity. At least he was funny and not repulsive. I like Oi for the same reasons. He is very funny, personable and also very talented.
They should just include Canada, since it is America vs. Europe.
Europe 746m vs U.S.A. 330m (add another 38m for Canada) .... hardly seems fair.
Shane, Skylar, Earl, Alex P, John Morra would be a good team
Obviously Earl could be replaced by a few other U.S. players... Oscar for instance.
Europe 746m vs U.S.A. 330m (add another 38m for Canada) .... hardly seems fair.
Shane, Skylar, Earl, Alex P, John Morra would be a good team
Obviously Earl could be replaced by a few other U.S. players... Oscar for instance.
What if:
Many agree Earl is a dying breed. Maybe exposure to that is what JJ is looking for...That Fearless, "I'll shoot his liver out and hand it to him" type mentality. Heck, if you ask Earl RIGHT NOW, he will tell you that he is the best athlete in the world, AND he truly believes it. Maybe JJ is hoping a little of that swagger and cockiness will rub off on Team USA. I would imagine that Earl will not go into a single match thinking he is the underdog.
Most successful coaches will tell you that in sports, you need a little nastiness, a little mad dog in your athletes.
Also, maybe having Earl there, and all eyes on him, takes some of the pressure off Captain America?
Many agree Earl is a dying breed. Maybe exposure to that is what JJ is looking for...That Fearless, "I'll shoot his liver out and hand it to him" type mentality. Heck, if you ask Earl RIGHT NOW, he will tell you that he is the best athlete in the world, AND he truly believes it. Maybe JJ is hoping a little of that swagger and cockiness will rub off on Team USA. I would imagine that Earl will not go into a single match thinking he is the underdog.
Most successful coaches will tell you that in sports, you need a little nastiness, a little mad dog in your athletes.
Also, maybe having Earl there, and all eyes on him, takes some of the pressure off Captain America?
Who cares about laughter from around the world? Everyone (just about) claims to hate or pity America and Americans, but most of them live in America or want to. Probably half the European team lives here or spends a majority of time here.
Has the American team been doing any of the warmup events like the last few years with rusjinick**
or want to. Probably half the European team lives here or spends a majority of time here. Has the American team been doing any of the warmup events like the last few years with rusjinick**