I am going to get blasted for this but so what.
I was chatting with a friend last night and mentioned that Efren has no chance of winning the US Open ever again. He agreed.
I can almost "feel" some of you getting angry at that statement. But ask yourself...is Efren the greatest 9-ball player that ever lived...or the greatest all-around player that ever lived? There is a difference.
I would love nothing more than for him to prove me wrong. I am a huge fan and LOVE watching him play, and have been for years. I love when he wins, the way he conducts himself as a professional, always gracious, courteous, gentlemanly, and always a threat.
I think his career is winding down...or so it seems. This is a man who fought countless battles, both in tournaments and in the back rooms (where he is probably the most feared) and it has taken its toll, sorry to say. Declining health is also a factor.
Do I want him to lose? Of COURSE NOT! But let's face reality here.
I root for him every single time he plays, and I hate when he does not even make it to the finals of the greatest nine ball tournament there is, but c'est la vie.
Don't bother replying in anger to lecture me about his accomplishments, they're well documented, and I have seen him gamble close-up...so I know. Besides, your anger is missplaced. I am not criticizing the Beloved Magician, I am just accepting reality, and managing my expectations for this year's US Open.
And yes, I think Earl Strickland is a better 9-ball player, and probably is THE best 9-ball player that ever lived. Why do I say that? Let's start and end with 5 (FIVE) US Open titles...a feat that will probably never be duplicated. Efren won it once. Earl's run out patterns are objects of beauty, efficiency and tenacity, all rolled up in one.
Don't get me wrong, who doesn't like watching Efren play, well, anything?
But...their respective personalities aside...I think Earl has the overall advantage in 9-ball. He is a pure 9-ball machine.
Just my opinion of course.
I was chatting with a friend last night and mentioned that Efren has no chance of winning the US Open ever again. He agreed.
I can almost "feel" some of you getting angry at that statement. But ask yourself...is Efren the greatest 9-ball player that ever lived...or the greatest all-around player that ever lived? There is a difference.
I would love nothing more than for him to prove me wrong. I am a huge fan and LOVE watching him play, and have been for years. I love when he wins, the way he conducts himself as a professional, always gracious, courteous, gentlemanly, and always a threat.
I think his career is winding down...or so it seems. This is a man who fought countless battles, both in tournaments and in the back rooms (where he is probably the most feared) and it has taken its toll, sorry to say. Declining health is also a factor.
Do I want him to lose? Of COURSE NOT! But let's face reality here.
I root for him every single time he plays, and I hate when he does not even make it to the finals of the greatest nine ball tournament there is, but c'est la vie.
Don't bother replying in anger to lecture me about his accomplishments, they're well documented, and I have seen him gamble close-up...so I know. Besides, your anger is missplaced. I am not criticizing the Beloved Magician, I am just accepting reality, and managing my expectations for this year's US Open.
And yes, I think Earl Strickland is a better 9-ball player, and probably is THE best 9-ball player that ever lived. Why do I say that? Let's start and end with 5 (FIVE) US Open titles...a feat that will probably never be duplicated. Efren won it once. Earl's run out patterns are objects of beauty, efficiency and tenacity, all rolled up in one.
Don't get me wrong, who doesn't like watching Efren play, well, anything?
But...their respective personalities aside...I think Earl has the overall advantage in 9-ball. He is a pure 9-ball machine.
Just my opinion of course.
