A Letter from Mike Dechaine

Yaknow I actually called him on Thursday, (at least I thought I was calling him) but it was one of those awkward things where I got a voicemail box that didn't have his voice on it, so I didn't want to leave a message for him in some strange persons mailbox so I just figured he was busy and would try again at a later date. Mike if you read this gimme a holla if you'd like to discuss it on American Billiard Radio.
 
A couple of points that you may have not considered Paul S.

You're not the Captain of the Mosconi Team, and, Mark has probably forgotten more about the game of pool than you will ever know.

Mike didn't make the cut, (this year anyway), same with many other players. Some will never have a sniff at being on the team, at least Mike will. This includes past players that will never represent USA again for whatever reasons.

Mike has a year to shape up like he promised. Sure it hurts. People get butt hurt every day. People have 2 choices. Be butt hurt for the rest of their lives or take the approach that Mike has, to use his time off to prove to himself and Mark that he can be part of the team in following years.

Remember Paul, you just make up the Rinky Dink Rules in your pool hall, not the Mosconi Cup Team.

There are 8 current players still trying out. According to your line of thinking, 3 more are going to be seriously butt hurt in the near future.

It is what it is.
 
Our Team USA MC image is shot (obviously) and it appears that Mark Wilson intends to do something about it. That's a very good thing, imo.

Cleaning house, out with the old, in with the new, is a very bold step, one with which I don't necessarily disagree.

But maybe he is overreaching a little to make his point.

I think that, at least in part, Mike is being penalized for Earl's horrible behavior at last year's MC. Sure, Mike has had his moments but nothing that even remotely resembles the level of what Earl has displayed.

In an ideal world (my version) Mark wpuld have taken the opportunity to challenge *himself* by at least inviting the #2 rotation player in Americs for a closer look - a chance to prove himself, a chance for him to grow with Mark's guidance, as opposed to simply excluding him.

While I do get the idea of rebuilding for the future, as a fan, I am also real keen on this year's chances to win and even though Mike struggled in his last two MC performances, the third really could have been a charm. His stick is white hot right now and he's got MC experience under his belt.

I used to enjoy watching the old Oakland Raiders teams when owner Al Davis would welcome with open arms some of the "real problem players' who for various reasons, often behavioral, were released from their previous teams only to find great success with the Raiders.

Something else to ponder: I wonder if there would be all of the emphasis on who acts what way if Team USA had been winning rather than losing???

The huge appeal of MC is the raw emotion of it.

Matchroom knows this - and they knew it when Earl was invited to join in last year.

Al Davis: "Just Win Baby"

Matchroom: Big Ratings Baby...

MD should be on Team USA, even with his big black hat. ;)

best,
brian kc
 
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Blue Hog ridr said:
Mike has a year to shape up like he promised.
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What are you talking about? You and many others on this thread have creative imaginations. His letter is no Act Of Contrition. Nowhere does he admit to doing anything wrong and nowhere is there an apology. He is saying that he is going to be a good sport about it.

I sense glee from many of the posters here on this thread on MD's misfortune. Not good.
 
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Ken_4fun said:
I don't know enough about Mike to judge him either way.

I do know, that the group that went last time were doomed for failure, I said it before the event, and many folks gave me frowns. In the end, I was right. I am often wrong, but that was so obvious to even the most casual observer could have seen it coming.

Before the event, I suggested a few young players including Skyler and Landon, and looked at the event as a "rebuilding" year, similar to what is done in baseball. Those young players, certainly have the right attitude, and would have represented the USA, in the professional fashion that WE (poolplayers) deserve, to have represent US!

But what we had was a circus!

Again, I don't know enough about Mike to judge. I have seen positive comments from fans, and I have seen negative ones too. But being that you are 26 years old, I hope you get to represent on the Mosconi Cup Team, if you deserve it, in both play and attitude.

I wish you the best of rolls,

Ken
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I fully agree but I will also add that MD is still in the top 3 players in the US for rotation (IMO), so leaving him off the team doesn't make sense to me unless you are replacing him with a "better" or more experienced player..he had a poor showing last year in MC play in Vegas..but not many US players lit it up at all, and i'm sure he's more prepared now to deal with that stage and pressure.

Hope he's on next years squad.
 
one stroke said:
Sorry but your wrong teams don't take players all the time because of charter issues , if he was a PGA tour player he would be suspended or banned ,,

1
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Sorry but I am right.

We are talking about a team. Not individuals. Individuals make up a team; The PGA is not a team. Golf has the Ryder Cup. Golfers have about as much spunk as a mushroom with the possible exception of maybe John Daly. You can bet if they had players with any personality issues during competition, Jack Nicklaus would coach them through it. But he isn't telling Tiger Woods he can't play, go sit down and maybe next year, if you are a good boy (Give me a break)

Tennis has the Davis Cup….I may be wrong but I believe Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe may have played Davis Cup more than once, along with players from others countries Like LLie Nastase to name one. These guys were a little out of control. Imagine this, they had a coach, one was Arthur Ashe….Go read up on it a little, get back to me on how many players from different countries, with personality flaws while competing, handled themselves during international competition as A TEAM.

Check all the Davis Cup Teams. You will not see the 100 ranked player on the team. You will see players with different personalities.

You will see a coach that will coach those individuals along with their personality.

Not a coach, that no matter the outcome, comes out smelling like a rose. Grow some conjoins and take it on the chin.

Mike should have been selected. If he doesn’t make the cut then so be it.

I am not a big fan of Mike but he is growing on me.

This is not meant to disrespect any of the selected players as I am sure they are good people and are quality players.
It is about a player that should have been selected
 
SmoothStroke said:
Sorry but I am right.

We are talking about a team. Not individuals. Individuals make up a team; The PGA is not a team. Golf has the Ryder Cup. Golfers have about as much spunk as a mushroom with the possible exception of maybe John Daly. You can bet if they had players with any personality issues during competition, Jack Nicklaus would coach them through it. But he isn't telling Tiger Woods he can't play, go sit down and maybe next year, if you are a good boy (Give me a break)

Tennis has the Davis Cup….I may be wrong but I believe Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe may have played Davis Cup more than once, along with players from others countries Like LLie Nastase to name one. These guys were a little out of control. Imagine this, they had a coach, one was Arthur Ashe….Go read up on it a little, get back to me on how many players from different countries, with personality flaws while competing, handled themselves during international competition as A TEAM.

Check all the Davis Cup Teams. You will not see the 100 ranked player on the team. You will see players with different personalities.

You will see a coach that will coach those individuals along with their personality.

Not a coach, that no matter the outcome, comes out smelling like a rose. Grow some conjoins and take it on the chin.

Mike should have been selected. If he doesn’t make the cut then so be it.

I am not a big fan of Mike but he is growing on me.

This is not meant to disrespect any of the selected players as I am sure they are good people and are quality players.
It is about a player that should have been selected
Click to expand...

Hate to tell u teams don't pick up players all the time because bad behavior they also cut them for actions detrimental to the team
If Mike was to have a Mike moment in the MC , Mark would look like a compleat idiot
That's the reason why he's been chosen for the job,, Mike has been on the team before his record was certainly nothing to write home about ,, it's not rack your 10 ball singles completion ,,


1
 
Mark will be one and done.
Then maybe they can field a team of players in the top 10 and have a chance to win.
Team spirit is gonna get crushed.
 
I'm working on better ways to channel my emotions toward the positive.
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Paul, Mike doesn't come right out and say it but I imagine that he might have an idea.

I didn't read where any of the posters are happy for Mike's misfortune.

I think that most of us know the meaning and feeling of disappointment thru out our lives.

I have failed miserably at a few things in life myself. I went back and corrected them, just like Mike is planning on doing.

He didn't have to post his thoughts on AZ. He was obviously feeling bad about the situation. Considering that, it would be a hard person that would rub his nose in it.

I wish him luck in the following years. Ya know, when one door closes on you, at the time, it seems like the absolute worst thing that could possibly happen.

But, that door can be a Window of opportunity to take your life in a different direction, so not always a bad thing. Usually good depending on how one looks at it.

Opportunities never disappear, they just pass on to someone else.
 
takeitdown said:
Mark will be one and done.
Then maybe they can field a team of players in the top 10 and have a chance to win.
Team spirit is gonna get crushed.
Click to expand...

Team spirt will be at a all time high , that's why Mark has left the self absorbed at home
If you think Mike makes or breaks the team you need to put the pipe down and slowly back away , what was his record last time refresh our memory


1
 
Funny how, in past years, when the teams WERE based on the top players statistically, they managed to lose anyway.

As good as he has been playing lately, and no matter if he deserves it or not, Mike being on the team is a guarantee of exactly nothing.
 
Mr. Bond said:
Funny how, in past years, when the teams WERE based on the top players statistically, they managed to lose anyway.

As good as he has been playing lately, and no matter if he deserves it or not, Mike being on the team is a guarantee of exactly nothing.
Click to expand...

that can be said of everyone on the team. :wink:

best,
brian kc
 
Using the Ryder Cup Team is a great example. Perhaps you should talk about the success of the US Team over the past 12 years. Despite having what the experts considered greater individual talent, the US Team has managed to get their hats handed too them more often than not during that period of time. The experts analysis has consistently included team chemistry as a major factor.

Going further with the Ryder Cup comparison, the only recent victory for the USA was at Valhalla in Louisville, KY where they had MANY newcomers and young, enthusiastic players. Anthony Kim and Boo Weekly's enthusiasm was the catalyst in that victory. Some notable old timers, such as Phil Mikelson, stunk it up while Kim, Weekly, JB Holmes and Hunter Mahan kicked Euro butt. Tiger Woods was injured at the time and didn't play. How in the world did this team manage to win without Tiger Woods?

Regardless, due to the abysmal performance of the US Team and horrific sportsmanship, Mark Wilson was chosen as Captain and given the authority to pick a team of choosing. That's done and over with, I have no idea why people continue to lament over the absence of MD. You can talk about it all you want and it isn't going to change. Perhaps Mike will take this as motivation to modify his behavior to where he is chosen in 2015. Clearly, he qualifies based solely upon skill. Given everything that has happened, I think it was likely a wise decision by Coach Wilson to exclude Mike from this year's team. It's irrelevant, the 8 has been chosen and I don't see that changing. Move on to something positive. And good luck to Mike in making whatever changes that are necessary in his attitude and behavior to warrant consideration for making the next Mosconi Cup Team.


SmoothStroke said:
Sorry but I am right.

We are talking about a team. Not individuals. Individuals make up a team; The PGA is not a team. Golf has the Ryder Cup. Golfers have about as much spunk as a mushroom with the possible exception of maybe John Daly. You can bet if they had players with any personality issues during competition, Jack Nicklaus would coach them through it. But he isn't telling Tiger Woods he can't play, go sit down and maybe next year, if you are a good boy (Give me a break)

Tennis has the Davis Cup….I may be wrong but I believe Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe may have played Davis Cup more than once, along with players from others countries Like LLie Nastase to name one. These guys were a little out of control. Imagine this, they had a coach, one was Arthur Ashe….Go read up on it a little, get back to me on how many players from different countries, with personality flaws while competing, handled themselves during international competition as A TEAM.

Check all the Davis Cup Teams. You will not see the 100 ranked player on the team. You will see players with different personalities.

You will see a coach that will coach those individuals along with their personality.

Not a coach, that no matter the outcome, comes out smelling like a rose. Grow some conjoins and take it on the chin.

Mike should have been selected. If he doesn’t make the cut then so be it.

I am not a big fan of Mike but he is growing on me.

This is not meant to disrespect any of the selected players as I am sure they are good people and are quality players.
It is about a player that should have been selected
Click to expand...
 
takeitdown said:
Mark will be one and done.
Then maybe they can field a team of players in the top 10 and have a chance to win.
Team spirit is gonna get crushed.
Click to expand...

That would be a huge improvement over last year's team. There was ZERO team spirit. You can't crush what doesn't exist.

Regardless of the outcome, if he chooses to accept it again, I bet Mark Wilson will be chosen to coach the team again and the USA Team will walk away from the Mosconi Cup with their heads held high.
 
Paul Schofield said:
What are you talking about? You and many others on this thread have creative imaginations. His letter is no Act Of Contrition. Nowhere does he admit to doing anything wrong and nowhere is there an apology. He is saying that he is going to be a good sport about it.

I sense glee from many of the posters here on this thread on MD's misfortune. Not good.
Click to expand...

Let me ask you for your opinion on a situation that I was able to witness about Mike, and then you tell me about his sportsmanship! A couple yrs ago I was playing g in the weekly tourney at snookers. I was 4 tables away when I heard this boooom sound. I heard it 3 times and I had to ask myself what was it, I got up from my shot, and I'm watching B player running out on Mike, and everytime that B player made a ball, Mike was pounding the seat cushion! Now, those tourneys are races to 4! You tell me, if you didn't know Mike, and somebody told you he is world class player and you see him acting like that, what type of person do you think he is? Let me guess, it doesn't matter;)

Long story short, Mike has rubbed almost everyone the wrong way! Mark wants no part of that! Hopefully, Mike will be able to make the necessary changes in his actions to be considered a true champion!
 
liakos said:
Let me ask you for your opinion on a situation that I was able to witness about Mike, and then you tell me about his sportsmanship! A couple yrs ago I was ...........................
Click to expand...

This was a couple of years ago. A couple of years is a very long time in the life of a young man in his early 20s. For the purposes of recruiting, athletes are judged by what they have done lately.

I am saying that MD as a 26 year old, is coachable, manageable, and most importantly, ON FIRE!
 
Paul Schofield said:
This was a couple of years ago. A couple of years is a very long time in the life of a young man in his early 20s. For the purposes of recruiting, athletes are judged by what they have done lately.

I am saying that MD as a 26 year old, is coachable, manageable, and most importantly, ON FIRE!
Click to expand...

He's 27 by the way. So that would make him in his late twenty's
 
Paul Schofield said:
This was a couple of years ago. A couple of years is a very long time in the life of a young man in his early 20s. For the purposes of recruiting, athletes are judged by what they have done lately.

I am saying that MD as a 26 year old, is coachable, manageable, and most importantly, ON FIRE!
Click to expand...

I agree with you 100% on fire! The other,,,, not so much! And the "2yrs ago"! It's not that long! Just my opinion!

Look, I'm hoping he changes as well! I would love to root for him, but he has a lot of work in front of him! I know him fairly well! I've seen him many times in his ups and his downs! I hope he makes the right choices! It's tough to be extremely good at something and everyone around you telling you "oh Mike, your sooooo great, you play sooooo awesome, YOUR THE SECOND BEST PLAYER! The "second" part would kill me lol:)
 
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