A Letter from Mike Dechaine

[TheRanger]

Yeah like an APA 3 would know talent.
So filled with hate. He rob you once?
You don't know a thing about pool if you deny his talent.
Why should he travel now? Name a big event in the US he's missing. Every week or two he makes a grand or two in a regional event because that's what's available.
He will be ready to shock the world at the US Open, turning stone and DCC soon enough.

I am sure he can be backed to play 10 to 20k against anybody but SVB. That money is available but dont see any US players looking to play. It would be a very bad bet.

There may be one or two US based players that would play I would think, but not US born players.

Why should he travel now? He should do it while he is young and still has the chance. You cannot become a World Champion if you dont leave the U.S.

BTW, not denying his talent at all. There are more talented players fro sure, but he seems to be solidifying what he has and winning regularly which is great. Talent is over rated sometimes.

 

[takeitdown]

I know you two are woofing at each other, but I'll give you 3:1.

I ain't woofing but will give only 1000 to 400. Sounds like somebody should take your bet.. anybody??

 

[arnaldo]

Mike: Print out the enclosed image and keep it handy. You're well on your way to a very mature attitude and a glance at a printout of the below words of wisdom from time to time, will help to keep *anyone's* perspective solidly grounded over the years on the challenging journey thru life that we all take.
-----------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------
Arnaldo

 

[sjm]

First of all kudos to Mike for coming on here and publicly making these comments. I wish him the best in the future as well. I have always admired his talent for the game, going so far as to stake him in the U.S. Open twice when he was still a young and upcoming player. When he struggled at the Mosconi Cup I reached out to support him as well. I knew he was feeling swamped with all the pressure and that can be a heavy burden to carry.

No question he has created some demons of his own making in his young life, and none of us really know what goes on in his head. I sure don't. I think his post on here is a sign of his emerging maturity. Unfortunately the harsh reality of life is that the things you say and do will come back to haunt you.

Mike is still young at 27 and there will be MANY opportunities for him in the future if he plays his cards right. That will be up to him as much as the people making the choices.

Well said, Jay. I think you and I have very similar thoughts about Mike, but like you, in his letter, I see some refreshing self-examination, commitment to a higher standard than in the past, and as you noted, maturity. If he lives up to the commitments he seems to be making to himself, it will good for both him and for our sport. As you said, it's all up to him.

 

[SmoothStroke]

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.

To me it is more about the coach, teacher, and mentor. Not Mike

I have coached some of the best young baseball players in the North East.

12 to 16 personalities and talent level. Cry babies, whiners, cocky, big mouths and complete sweethearts.
Those players are hand selected for the team, with us knowing full well in advance about the type of player they are.

At the first team meeting it is spelled out. If you act like an Ahole you will be treated like one. You will be yanked off the field in front of the entire stadium and embarrassed, like you embarrassed yourself, family, teammates, officials, opposing team, parents and the game. You will sit the bench or be cut from the team...PERIOD …..Then we Teach, Coach, Train them from April thru November

It sure would be embarrassing for Mike to be yanked off the table in a match at the Mosconi. That would help him to grow, not a slap on the wrist and maybe next year you can play if you act like a statue. Coach Him, Train Him, Teach Him

The viewers outside the U.S. do not like us very much and never have, but let's change our image for them, because all 35 people that will be watching in the United States have no clue.

I applaud changing the image of pool but I disagree with this theory.

I don't understand anything less from a coach

The references to the Ryder and Davis Cup were not about winning or losing, they were about coaching and teaching.

I also think our Mosconi players are going to do just fine and wish them well
If I am Mike and were to be selected next year, I would decline


Signed: A Teacher,Coach,Trainer, in more than 1 discipline

 

[watchez]

Sounds like you guys would like to see Dechaine, McCreesh, Strickland, Harriman and John Hennessey on the MC team with Marty Herman as the captain!

FIFY --- carry on

 

[watchez]

To me it is more about the coach, teacher, and mentor. Not Mike

I have coached some of the best young baseball players in the North East.

12 to 16 personalities and talent level. Cry babies, whiners, cocky, big mouths and complete sweethearts.
Those players are hand selected for the team, with us knowing full well in advance about the type of player they are.

At the first team meeting it is spelled out. If you act like an Ahole you will be treated like one. You will be yanked off the field in front of the entire stadium and embarrassed, like you embarrassed yourself, family, teammates, officials, opposing team, parents and the game. You will sit the bench or be cut from the team...PERIOD …..Then we Teach, Coach, Train them from April thru November

It sure would be embarrassing for Mike to be yanked off the table in a match at the Mosconi. That would help him to grow, not a slap on the wrist and maybe next year you can play if you act like a statue. Coach Him, Train Him, Teach Him

The viewers outside the U.S. do not like us very much and never have, but let's change our image for them, because all 35 people that will be watching in the United States have no clue.

I applaud changing the image of pool but I disagree with this theory.

I don't understand anything less from a coach

The references to the Ryder and Davis Cup were not about winning or losing, they were about coaching and teaching.

I also think our Mosconi players are going to do just fine and wish them well
If I am Mike and were to be selected next year, I would decline


Signed: A Teacher,Coach,Trainer, in more than 1 discipline

You are talking about pimply faced teenagers, at best.
The Mosconi Cup is a team of grown men.

I can give you countless of examples in pro sports involving adults, that players were either cut by a team or not given a contract by a team due to what they deemed as a detrimental attitude.

 

[watchez]

And to those that think you have to have the best players to wn -----
a team from St Louis of Justin Bergman, Andy Quinn, Joe Woolford, Lars Vardaman and Chuck Raulston beat Darren Appleton, Mick Hill, Karl Boyes and two other english champions in the BCAPL Master Teams when the english guys snuck over here to play in it.

Most of you could barely pick Justin out in a lineup, let alone the other 4 members of that team and surely would have wanted to replace them with 4 other Americans to compete.

 

[Lumocolor]

Mike, i have to admit to being one of those who didn't always root for you previously.

but coming on top of playing some super pool lately, this message put you up about 6 notches in my eyes as a class act who rises above adversity.

congratulations on your vision and perspective on life and pool, and the very best of luck going forward from here.

Same for me.

Mike will be on plenty of future mosconi cup teams if he changes as he says he wants to.

 

[ScottK]

On top of that, it's great to see a top-notch player write so well; in my book, that is more important than one's pool skills.

+1

This was the first thing I thought.

 

[Majic]

I thought it best to let a little time pass from when Mark Wilson announced his picks for the players he'll consider to be on this year's Mosconi Cup team.

To say my not making his list stung would be one of the biggest understatements ever.

There has been a lot of speculation as to why I was excluded but I think at this point, those reasons matter much less than the fact that I didn't make it on.

I have always been a player who wears his emotions on his sleeve for all to see. I am a fierce competitor and I feel like I have a real chance to win in every match I play. I know that I can be hard on myself, and others, during the heat of competition. I'm 26 years old.

Everyone has to face disappointments in their lives and I'm no different. I am learning, however, that how we respond to adversity can help define who we are. I'm working on better ways to channel my emotions toward the positive.

My plan going forward will be to stay positive while I keep trying to play the best pool of my life.

A big thank you to all who have supported me and to those who might not have, to them I say please keep an eye on me and maybe I will earn your support, as well. I promise I will try hard. I also want to thank Snookers, RI and OB cues, thank you guys for giving me a chance.

And the other biggest understatement ever:

I love pool!

Sincerely,
Mike Dechaine

you might want to start with congratulating the players chosen and wishing them the best instead of making it all about you.

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

you might want to start with congratulating the players chosen and wishing them the best instead of making it all about you.

he did, previously.

best,
brian kc

 

[Paul Schofield]

If I am Mike and were to be selected next year, I would decline

This is not bad advice. MD has been made a spectacle and placed in a very awkward position. At this point, he almost can't win no matter what he does.

MD is a member of the "Broken Arm Club". There are two members. SVB is the only other member of this exclusive club. Show up at the Mosconi Cup Camp with a broken arm and still make the team!

I am with SmoothStroke. Man-up. "Test your mettle". Grab the bull by the horns and go for it.

 

[itsfroze]

This is not bad advice. MD has been made a spectacle and placed in a very awkward position. At this point, he almost can't win no matter what he does.

MD is a member of the "Broken Arm Club". There are two members. SVB is the only other member of this exclusive club. Show up at the Mosconi Cup Camp with a broken arm and still make the team!

I am with SmoothStroke. Man-up. "Test your mettle". Grab the bull by the horns and go for it.

The highlighted statement is in my opinion just plain silly.

I already see a better attitude when watching Mike play, he has used this bump in the road to focus more and is playing the best pool of his life.
(Look at his tournament wins since not being chosen for the team) I would also say it's a good bet he will make the team next year.

Luckily he isn't finding only the negative in what transpired , like you
apparently are .

 

[one stroke]

This is not bad advice. MD has been made a spectacle and placed in a very awkward position. At this point, he almost can't win no matter what he does.

MD is a member of the "Broken Arm Club". There are two members. SVB is the only other member of this exclusive club. Show up at the Mosconi Cup Camp with a broken arm and still make the team!

I am with SmoothStroke. Man-up. "Test your mettle". Grab the bull by the horns and go for it.

Ya he just win 10 more joss tourneys to make up the money ,,


1

 

[Neil]

To me it is more about the coach, teacher, and mentor. Not Mike

I have coached some of the best young baseball players in the North East.

12 to 16 personalities and talent level. Cry babies, whiners, cocky, big mouths and complete sweethearts.
Those players are hand selected for the team, with us knowing full well in advance about the type of player they are.

At the first team meeting it is spelled out. If you act like an Ahole you will be treated like one. You will be yanked off the field in front of the entire stadium and embarrassed, like you embarrassed yourself, family, teammates, officials, opposing team, parents and the game. You will sit the bench or be cut from the team...PERIOD …..Then we Teach, Coach, Train them from April thru November

It sure would be embarrassing for Mike to be yanked off the table in a match at the Mosconi. That would help him to grow, not a slap on the wrist and maybe next year you can play if you act like a statue. Coach Him, Train Him, Teach Him

The viewers outside the U.S. do not like us very much and never have, but let's change our image for them, because all 35 people that will be watching in the United States have no clue.

I applaud changing the image of pool but I disagree with this theory.

I don't understand anything less from a coach

The references to the Ryder and Davis Cup were not about winning or losing, they were about coaching and teaching.

I also think our Mosconi players are going to do just fine and wish them well
If I am Mike and were to be selected next year, I would decline


Signed: A Teacher,Coach,Trainer, in more than 1 discipline

Did it ever occur to you that just maybe, Mike is being benched this year for his actions. And, because of that, Mike has already shown a difference in attitude that may very well propel him to become a solid fixture on future Cup teams. Whereas, having been allowed to play this year, his attitude may never have changed at all.

Mike is at a crossroads right now, and appears to be taking the correct path to future greatness.

 

[sfleinen]

Did it ever occur to you that just maybe, Mike is being benched this year for his actions. And, because of that, Mike has already shown a difference in attitude that may very well propel him to become a solid fixture on future Cup teams. Whereas, having been allowed to play this year, his attitude may never have changed at all.

Mike is at a crossroads right now, and appears to be taking the correct path to future greatness.

Amen to that, Neil. I love how folks are lambasting Mark for his decision to pick the low-hanging fruit of talented-but-easily-trainable-to-be-a-team players. The readership who are lambasting Mark all have their pet players (e.g. Rodney M., Mike D.) and think that regardless of how badly those particular pet players have behaved in the past, it's completely up to Mark to get them in line, right out of the chute no less. Just a dismissive wave of the hand, "player so-and-so NEEDS to be on that team, and regarding that player's behavioral issues, meh, it's Mark's job as a coach and I don't want to hear anything about it." Very easy for the armchair quarterbacks to do!

Mike D. is displaying outside-of-the-box maturity in how he's handling this, and I say all the power to Mike. I really do think he learned something from this (isn't that the point? Funny how Mark's actions accomplished exactly what he set out to do...), and we'll see Mike D. on next year's team!

-Sean

 

[Mr. Bond]

Funny how Mark's actions accomplished exactly what he set out to do...

-Sean

I wasn't going to point it out but you hit the nail on the head. mike has already been coached.

A new precedent has been set that will forever change the attitude of those interested in qualifying for the team. They too are being coached, for the better.

 

[takeitdown]

I wasn't going to point it out but you hit the nail on the head. mike has already been coached.

A new precedent has been set that will forever change the attitude of those interested in qualifying for the team. They too are being coached, for the better.

Yeah if he keeps coaching the US like this we may someday be able to field a winning team. Sadly it isn't this year.

You guys would make great Kool Aid testers at Jonestown.

 

[Sloppy Pockets]

you might want to start with congratulating the players chosen and wishing them the best instead of making it all about you.

As Kickin' Chicken said above, Mike already did that a while ago in another thread.:smile:

Good post, Mike. Maybe it's time to have a sit-down with Mark and discuss where you need to improve. I'm sure any changes he suggests will carry over into the rest of your life.

In the meantime... you're knocking them dead everywhere you play these days. Could you be the next "Great One"? Good luck, anyway.