MOSCONI CUP 2023 AZB Watch Party / Master Thread

Comparing pool and golf isn't close to relevant. Good families with successful parents would support their children if they wanted to pursue golf, not so much if they wanted to pursue pool. Stigma will never go away.

1702008622806.png
 
Swighey said:
That's pool! When you are outplaying your opponent you, on average, get more rolls than them because you are intuitively and instinctively playing two way shots better (most shots in 9 Ball have a two way aspect although this becomes more and more second nature as you improve to the extent that the best players don't consciously think about it). When you are in a slump you get the bad rolls because you are over thinking things compared to your opponents. This is one reason why it's so hard to get out of a slump and you need a few rolls against the tide to turn things around.
Click to expand...
The best players get the rolls! Been that way forever.

Matchroom tried to fix the broken MC by gifting us with Gorst this year. That hasn't worked either. They had an opportunity ten years ago to make it competitive by adding Canada, and bringing Alex and Morra onboard. THAT would have made a huge difference at the time. Too late now. I have to think that a UK based company enjoyed seeing the US get our annual butt whipping.

Ra Hanna has been producing the Junior International Tour for three years now, and it's inspired other promoters to get onboard with events for the junior players. Thanks to Ra and the others we are beginning to develop some very good young players. Probably 3-5 years away from any of them becoming world class.

The BCA dropped the ball by pursuing the Olympics and ignoring an opportunity to develop high school pool teams, like we see in golf and tennis.

The net result of all this is being played out now once a year in the MC. Our team would also have no chance against a Filipino team, a Chinese team or a team from Taiwan. Doubtful we could beat a team from Poland either.

I'm not anti-American by any means, but the truth hurts. I can remember when we had the best players, but that day is long gone.
 
Last edited:
jay helfert said:
The best players get the rolls! Been that way forever.

Matchroom tried to fix the broken MC by gifting us with Gorst this year. That hasn't worked either. They had an opportunity ten years ago to make it competitive by adding Canada, and bringing Alex and Morra onboard. THAT would have made a huge difference at the time. Too late now. I have to think that a UK based company enjoyed seeing the US get our annual butt whipping.
Click to expand...
It’s very sad to watch the USA teams get blown off the table year after year. I do believe Matchroom is going to have to look for other countries to play the Euro teams soon.

Overall we can no longer compete and win. In a short venue momentum is huge and we haven’t been able to get out and lead in years

Our lack of depth moving forward is even more troubling..
 
Hungarian said:
Comparing pool and golf isn't close to relevant. Good families with successful parents would support their children if they wanted to pursue golf, not so much if they wanted to pursue pool. Stigma will never go away.

View attachment 731556
Click to expand...

That is why Heyball is the savior and future of pure billiard sports controlled by the biggest government in the East. Behavior and participation will be tightly monitored.
 
Lol... the inevitable "woe is the state of Merican pool" has come a day earlier than I expected.

-"Euros draw from a larger population"
-"Why not include all of NA"
-"Youth pool isn't supported"
-"SVB is to blame for everything bad for team USA"

Broken record guys/gals...lol

Pros fade bad shots all the time throughout their careers, but Shane's bad 9b has destroyed the hopes of team USA...?..., really..?

You need >800 players in this event. The USA is drawing from a larger population when you add up all the other >800 "Euros countries" populations. Not a ton more but more none the less.

Face it... Euros try harder, get better because of that effort and it comes to light all the more when directly compared to the USA in the event.

On the upside, the losers still get paid.

Only hope for the USA this year and years to come, lays in Emily's ability to convince the Euros to start diving. Fortunately for MR, the rest of the world will always enjoy watching the Americans getting their asses handed to them and Mericans will always glue themselves to a screen to watch for a potential car wreck. Nobody watches NASCAR for the left hand turns.
 
Play in any pool hall and there is that one guy with a funny accent. He’s from anywhere in Europe, take your pick, ends up kicking everyone’s ass in a tournament. We have been use to this. If you’re reading I bet you can relate.
 
So where can the juniors go to train with the Euros?

These mythical Euro systems are not well discussed in America. Are they private clubs or open rooms?

Is Jasmin and her Academy the only place in Europe ? Do they do group kids classes or private group instructions?
 
Chicagoplayer said:
Hey!
Firstly, how about some respect?

They aren’t “clowns”.
Just because you’re frustrated, or are betting on them, it doesn’t justify you knocking them.

Team USA won in 2009 and then proceeded to lose for 9 years until they won back-to-back.

They have won.
They can win.
You might want to be more than a fair weather fan.
Click to expand...
You’re right. They put a great effort and they had the courage to travel and play when most would just stay home.

Get your ass kick in front of the world is good for their brand I guess. Now people know who they are. Buy their merchandise and the cues they play with.
 
justnum said:
So where can the juniors go to train with the Euros?

These mythical Euro systems are not well discussed in America. Are they private clubs or open rooms?

Is Jasmin and her Academy the only place in Europe ? Do they do group kids classes or private group instructions?
Click to expand...
Private clubs.

They don’t necessarily have a pool hall open to the public. They have members who gets a key to the place. Walk in and out as you please. Always someone high skill to play against. This is what a European friend told me.

In Asia public rooms are packed. Everyone is playing so they want to play and they want to be the best.

In America pool rooms are closing and the few left aren’t exactly packed with young people. All old timers in the day and drinkers at night. They count on leagues to stay open. Pandemic destroyed it.
 
Last edited:
shooter_Hans said:
Private clubs.

They don’t necessarily have a pool hall open to the public. They have members who gets a key to the place. Walk in and out as you please. Always someone high skill to play against. This is what a European friend told me.

In Asia public rooms are packed. Everyone is playing so they want to play and they want to be the best.

In America pool rooms are closing and the few left aren’t exactly packed with young people. All old timers in the day and drinkers at night. They count on leagues to stay open. Pandemic destroyed it.
Click to expand...

Somehow a health rule decided pool rooms would be forced into closures. You can't blame that on Americans, that is the fault of it government and legislative bodies.

American pool rooms are privately owned.

In Asia the rooms are owned by a group or family. Asian governments are different than US.

How about in Europe? Government financed but run like a small kingdom?
 
Americans get what they deserve. Look at you people. Bashing your best players, calling them names because you're mad. Part of me is just absolutely stunned reading some of these comments.

Then I remember that I'm in a forum of American pool players. I've met your kind. In bars or billiard halls, you're all the same for the most part. About 80% of you are people that I wouldn't want my kid to spend any time around. You're bitchin or bellyachin about something. Barking for a game and refusing to post up unless you have the nuts. Promising to pay off when you lose and then dodging people for months. Is it any wonder there isn't any youth interest in this sport? Who wants to associate with those kinds of people? There's a reason for the stigma against "pool players" and I think some of you love to perpetuate it. You all love Earl because you see yourself in his perpetual complaining. It's never his fault, never! That means it never has to be your fault either! You're old and you're a has been or a never was and now you just spend your lives being perpetually pissed off for no reason.

Those guys representing the US are the best of us. They're the best we could field and they're trying to win. Against all the bad rolls and the hate and the circus bullshit, deep down they're all competitive people and they want to win. They have what you don't and never will. They have desire and drive and dedication and they're known across the globe because of it. I'm still hoping for a comeback because I have faith in them. And if they fall short, at least they tried and that's all I'd ever ask of them.

So sure, if you want to bash them go ahead. You have the right to run your mouth without having to back your words up. But just know that the sport is dead in our country specifically because of you and your behavior. It has nothing to do with lack of facilities. It has nothing to do with cost of entry. You want to know why sponsors turn their backs on our sport? Go look in a mirror. Go listen to people at your nearest bar. Go sit on the sidelines at most pool halls in the US and ask yourself if you'd introduce any of the people there to your close friends and family with pride. Grow up and act like decent people.
 
TLDamian said:
Americans get what they deserve. Look at you people. Bashing your best players, calling them names because you're mad. Part of me is just absolutely stunned reading some of these comments.

Then I remember that I'm in a forum of American pool players. I've met your kind. In bars or billiard halls, you're all the same for the most part. About 80% of you are people that I wouldn't want my kid to spend any time around. You're bitchin or bellyachin about something. Barking for a game and refusing to post up unless you have the nuts. Promising to pay off when you lose and then dodging people for months. Is it any wonder there isn't any youth interest in this sport? Who wants to associate with those kinds of people? There's a reason for the stigma against "pool players" and I think some of you love to perpetuate it. You all love Earl because you see yourself in his perpetual complaining. It's never his fault, never! That means it never has to be your fault either! You're old and you're a has been or a never was and now you just spend your lives being perpetually pissed off for no reason.

Those guys representing the US are the best of us. They're the best we could field and they're trying to win. Against all the bad rolls and the hate and the circus bullshit, deep down they're all competitive people and they want to win. They have what you don't and never will. They have desire and drive and dedication and they're known across the globe because of it. I'm still hoping for a comeback because I have faith in them. And if they fall short, at least they tried and that's all I'd ever ask of them.

So sure, if you want to bash them go ahead. You have the right to run your mouth without having to back your words up. But just know that the sport is dead in our country specifically because of you and your behavior. It has nothing to do with lack of facilities. It has nothing to do with cost of entry. You want to know why sponsors turn their backs on our sport? Go look in a mirror. Go listen to people at your nearest bar. Go sit on the sidelines at most pool halls in the US and ask yourself if you'd introduce any of the people there to your close friends and family with pride. Grow up and act like decent people.
Click to expand...
Good points but when it comes down to it…it is the sign of the times. It’s not us pool players turning off kids. It’s kids not wanting to play.

I was sneaking into pool halls at 16. Huge risk to get in trouble just to play. I got pretty damn good and still a very sporty player. If I risked getting in trouble so I be damn if I wasn’t any good.

Never seen a kid try to sneak in now. 10-15 years ago there were kids trying to sneak in. Not anymore.

I always make time and chat with them and still know them now as adults. They still play and are very good. What I’m trying to say is there has to be a desire.

Of course sneaking in is an extreme example but the point still remains. They have to want to play and I’m not talking about dad forcing it on them. The kids that tend to get good are the ones waiting for their parents to finish league and they are knocking the balls around by themselves.
 
shooter_Hans said:
The lack of safety play and defense is hurting these guys. They don’t know what to do when it happens to them. I see it a lot in pool rooms too when every other player has a jump cue. Rarely you have safety battles or guys knowing how to kick.

I had a safety battle with a very good player the other night and he said he enjoyed it.

Young players are just so robotic. Make a ball on the break and go from there.
Click to expand...


Where do you play , I wanna come play some sets with you and your buds ? Cheers
 
I've said this before. Europe/Rest of World has been around for millennia distilling and aging. They've been on fine craftsmanship for centuries; also distilling and aging.
 
straightline said:
I've said this before. Europe/Rest of World has been around for millennia distilling and aging. They've been on fine craftsmanship for centuries; also distilling and aging.
Click to expand...
They are about legacy. So many family businesses that dates back 3 generations. Knowledge gets passed.

America? You have to pay (gamble) that old timer to learn anything. He’s got 2 hours at the pool hall and he’s not gong to use that time to teach. LOL
 
America is a contraption in progress. Still, free country and all, "Zey hass veyzz"
Like most sheeple, I go with the "It's still the best country in the world." flock. It ain't bad at all; not for pool players but that's the lesson. (get it right or nuthin'...)
 
People defending this team are mad because we are critical of this team.

Put it this way they had to cancel matches just so they can guarantee a 4th day for those in attendance. The cup would have been won a day early.

People don’t understand the magnitude of what’s going on but GO TEAM USA!!!! lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top