I could really do a "see I told you so" post about the Mosconi Cup and all the posts I've written about it in years past but that wouldn't be very modest of me would it?
One thing is for sure -- the coach has so little to do with the outcome that it's not even funny or maybe it is funny to some. Anybody that was putting their hopes in our European savior was being foolish.
Oh maybe it's team chemistry some would say. Ah nope that's not it either. Well -- what about how all the European players get together throughout the year and practice together -- ah no they don't really do that.
They are just better players. Much better.
I think it may be time to wave the white flag or throw in the towel on this whole thing because we just don't have the players. Our actual best 9 ball player under this format is Justin Bergman (and I don't even think it's close) and he's not even on the team. I like Woodward and Thorpstein but what proof is there that they can play on the international stage? About the only thing we could do at this point would be to encourage all of the foreign players that live here to truly embrace their new home, become citizens, and show us Americans how to bring the Cup back. Short of that happening we have no hope.
The hard truth is -- pool in America is just too tough! It chews up and spits out it's young players. Most of them by the time they hit their mid 20's. The decent players that don't totally quit the game realize that they are much better off laying low and playing in the amateur leagues, hitting up the bar table events, and just playing regionally. I don't think people realize how many really good players go this route. Playing professional pool at this point is like chasing the end of the rainbow searching for the pot of gold even long after you know there will be nothing there.
(On a different note)
One last thing, for everybody that thinks the problem with pool is our amateur bar table leagues, I got news for you -- YOU'RE dead wrong! This past week I just played in the Grand Rapids Open and it was all on bar tables and guess what? Everybody had a blast! Amateur pool is about having fun -- and bar tables are fun. Get rid of the bar tables and the only thing that would happen is 95 percent of all these players would just give up the game. They would just disappear. POOF and they'd be gone! Pool is VERY DIFFICULT to play, especially if you aren't totally dedicated to the game. Bar tables give part timers a chance to accomplish something on the table. In other words, it's just not a zero-sum game when it comes to big tables and bar tables.
One thing is for sure -- the coach has so little to do with the outcome that it's not even funny or maybe it is funny to some. Anybody that was putting their hopes in our European savior was being foolish.
Oh maybe it's team chemistry some would say. Ah nope that's not it either. Well -- what about how all the European players get together throughout the year and practice together -- ah no they don't really do that.
They are just better players. Much better.
I think it may be time to wave the white flag or throw in the towel on this whole thing because we just don't have the players. Our actual best 9 ball player under this format is Justin Bergman (and I don't even think it's close) and he's not even on the team. I like Woodward and Thorpstein but what proof is there that they can play on the international stage? About the only thing we could do at this point would be to encourage all of the foreign players that live here to truly embrace their new home, become citizens, and show us Americans how to bring the Cup back. Short of that happening we have no hope.
The hard truth is -- pool in America is just too tough! It chews up and spits out it's young players. Most of them by the time they hit their mid 20's. The decent players that don't totally quit the game realize that they are much better off laying low and playing in the amateur leagues, hitting up the bar table events, and just playing regionally. I don't think people realize how many really good players go this route. Playing professional pool at this point is like chasing the end of the rainbow searching for the pot of gold even long after you know there will be nothing there.
(On a different note)
One last thing, for everybody that thinks the problem with pool is our amateur bar table leagues, I got news for you -- YOU'RE dead wrong! This past week I just played in the Grand Rapids Open and it was all on bar tables and guess what? Everybody had a blast! Amateur pool is about having fun -- and bar tables are fun. Get rid of the bar tables and the only thing that would happen is 95 percent of all these players would just give up the game. They would just disappear. POOF and they'd be gone! Pool is VERY DIFFICULT to play, especially if you aren't totally dedicated to the game. Bar tables give part timers a chance to accomplish something on the table. In other words, it's just not a zero-sum game when it comes to big tables and bar tables.