Did you have your wallet when you left?Was just thinking about this on Friday: I was at Jimmy's and a pair of siblings were playing at a table by me (actually playing, not goofing off). The younger was barely taller than the table. Rare, but really cool to see.
You yourself said 44 COUNTRIES, and 50 STATES. See the difference? Are you saying that each of our STATES are equal to their COUNTRIES? I never commented on STRONG PLAYERS, that's not the point. I am asking why it is a country vs a continent? Why not North America vs Europe? Please don't attempt to hijack to narrative and make it something that it is not. And lastly, if you live, work, and raise a family in the US, you should play for the US. That is the very start of the way you can say thank you!!!!
Ask Barry
It’s modeled after the Ryder Cup as per Barry Hearn’s own definition .
Interesting. Where were they practicing?
I have the same issue with the Olympics. You have a sprinter from Jamaica, goes to USC, trains, gets an education. makes a great living, marries American, raises a family here, even votes here, However, every 4 years says. "I am Jamaican. That's who I represent!!!". Then make Jamaica your HOME!!
Unfortunately, that’s Matchroom’s prerogative.
Usually in any world level athletics, you have to serve a mandarory hiatus when changing nationalities. With track & fields I think it might be as long as two years when you are not allowed to compete. MR made a different choice because it’s their event and their rules.Unfortunately, that’s Matchroom’s prerogative.
I listened to the podcast last night. There were so many wisdom nuggets shared in this one. I enjoyed it 100 percent.
A voice of reason in a time of buttermilk minds, thank you Jennie. Many here laud MR, I’ll never be one of them. All the things you mention ring true, not to mention the crap Rasson tables and English announcers unfamiliar with pool vernacular Queen Emily introduced. I believe MR should have put a “pool person” in the top spot, not a marketing hack.
Maybe MR will go away and Americans can go back to playing in $20 - $100 tournaments in bars on barboxes.
Basically, geographically, they are both about the same size with respect to land mass. Europe being just 40,340 square miles larger. Would be kind of strange if, say, Germany only played the USA. In contrast, that would be like Europe playing Florida.
Pool has been played in a church(morgue if you prefer) since it's beginning. Rowdy fun crowds is exactly what the sport needs. Who the hell wants to go sit still for 10/12+ hours at a time to watch robots play.Basically, geographically, they are both about the same size with respect to land mass. Europe being just 40,340 square miles larger. Would be kind of strange if, say, Germany only played the USA. In contrast, that would be like Europe playing Florida.
On a completely different note, I was there. It was an experience I won't soon forget (and neither will Team USA) but loved the energy. Shaw and FSR total surgeons. You miss, they remove your kidney. You miss again, they remove your heart and eat it right in front of you, with garlic. Have to agree with most that the crowd as a whole, on both sides of the fence, should just shut the f**k up when ANY player is moving into their pre-shot routine and most definitely getting down on the shot. Pool requires serious concentration, especially at a high or pro level. It's not a bar with loud music and beer-drinking ball-bangers all trying to get laid. It's also not a reactionary sport like English football, American football or baseball where people can just carry on, endlessly. Imagine golf, tennis, or gymnastics. The sport needs to be respected if we want a global audience (as MR is striving for) and it needs to carry a bit more class. And that folks, is up to all of us. Most non-pool players have no idea how much practice time, money, dedication, conviction and sacrifice it takes just to get to a regional level, much less a pro. And they also have no idea that events go far beyond bars or large pool halls; beyond beer guzzling drunk tattooed guys with cigarettes hanging from their mouths, talking shit and looking for a fight. My wife WAS one of those non-believers. Now, between the 9' Brunswick parked perfectly level right in our living room and the Mosconi Cup, she has become one of us.
Not at all. Re-read my post. Agree with you 100% as I said "loved the energy." My only gripe was noise of any kind when a player is going through their pre-shot routine or more importantly, down on a shot. That's just respect for the sport itself, and the player. Now, before or after that, let the big dogs loose. I could care less if it looked like the opening scene in the movie Gladiator. (*_*)Pool has been played in a church(morgue if you prefer) since it's beginning. Rowdy fun crowds is exactly what the sport needs. Who the hell wants to go sit still for 10/12+ hours at a time to watch robots play.
MC is the proof - full PAID crowd all 4 days and even the losing fans had a great time.
Could you imagine going to a baseball, football, basketball, soccer game and having to sit there quiet the whole time.
Stadiums full of people paying to see.
Decades of failing to draw a crowd, let alone a paying crowd and you think more of the same is what's needed?
A little carnage, I like it
