I've got to disagree here. If SVB had a hair less natural talent than an Earl, Efren, Pagulayan, Sigel, Filler, Gorst or Varner, he still qualifies as having had very elite level talent. As you note, he has worked his tail off for everything he has accomplished, but to be fair, Sigel and Earl were comparable practice room workaholics, and Filler and Gorst are picking things up where SVB, Earl and Sigel left off.
Still, you are right in the area of the break. Nobody has ever worked as hard on their break as SVB, and I wonder whether anyone ever will. His formula was always to beat opponents by parking them in the chair for racks at a time, thereby avoiding those racks in which control of the table had to be fought for. Today's far tougher breaking rules and tighter pockets have made defensive and tactical play much more important than they were ten years ago, as putting packages together in major tournament play has become much more difficult.
My take is that SVB is a role model for all developing players. He has shown how much work ethic and passion are needed to become a generational player. He raised the bar in the 2010s the way Gorst and Filler are raising it in the 2020s and I am convinced that his excellence figured in pushing both of them to their highest level.
I can only think of two other players that displayed as much love for the game as SVB, and they are Efren Reyes and Jeanette Lee. Love of the game has been a big part of SVB's winning recipe for greatness.
Another thing I have noticed and love about SVB, that his fellow pros should pay attention to, is how serious he is when he is warming up. In this sense, he reminds me of Efren Reyes and Allison Fisher, both of whom were all business as they warmed up for a match.
At very least, SVB is in the conversation for best ever American 9ball player, along with Lassiter, Sigel and Strickland. All who pursue excellence over the glorious green felt should follow and be inspired by his example.
