Could SVB be the G.O.A.T. ???
- Thread starter Maniac
- Start date
And I'll bet 1 or 2k on each of those matches, pick 10 and I'll pick the 7 he plays! :thumbup:
Efren isn't winning US OPEN after US Open like Shane is. Sure he still wins some here and there, but nothing like Shane has.
Btw, my 2 favorite old players are Earl and Efren.
Today there's about 5 guys that are great to watch, Shane, Shaw, Kaci, Filler, Dennis and in the 6th spot -
Earl
Efren
Corey
Ruslan
Ko's
Chang JL
Fedor
Chohan 1pckt #1
How did I almost forget Alex? Move him to a tie with any of the top 5
Jason
Shane is one of the GOAT for sure. But not to undermine the recent wins, the field was very lack luster. A few big names, but overall extremely weak with very minimal amount of international talent.
I dont think think Shane gets enough credit for his 1p game.
Efren 6 1p DCC titles makes him the GOAT.
I dont think think Shane gets enough credit for his 1p game.
Efren 6 1p DCC titles makes him the GOAT.
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Surly you gist ,, The bar was raised by Earl , who along with his US Opens he has world titles to his name and really your saying Shane's played in a better class of player , not biting on that eiather , I compare the Shane era to the Larry Holmes era
Good comments
Jay, I have to agree with most everything here.
My thoughts are simply if SVB continues on his current pace, same one of the last 10+ years mind you, continues for another 10+ years, it’s going to hard to argue it. You always post about the cash winnings, +19K this week, he’ll definitely be miles ahead of anyone ever. So how do we judge, trophies or earnings, because he’ll have both and in all disciplines.
But hey, my 57 cents doesn’t even buy a coke! Haha
Comment on all disciplines meaning he has won majors in just about all the popular games...
I agree with you there. Shane's huge break makes him a favorite over just about anybody playing Eight Ball. But not that big a favorite.
I agree again. Efren was unquestionably the king of Rotation in the Philippines (and the world) for decades. Maybe even longer than he ruled One Pocket. During the last forty years the GOAT could much more easily be attributed to him.
Shane needs to do something in the MC and win a few more major International events, which he has had trouble doing. That said, his record domestically is amazing to say the least. There has been no lack of great players for him to compete against here (mostly all foreign) and he has been THE MAN on this side of the pond for a full decade now. Ten more years like the last ten and I would call him the best American born pool player ever. Shane plays ALL games at the highest level, including One Pocket, 14.1 and Banks. That alone sets him aside from players like Lassiter (only fair at One Pocket and didn't play Banks), Greenleaf (never heard of him playing One Pocket or Banks) and Mizerak (also a non Banker).
The only U.S. players I can mention in the same breath as Shane are Sigel, Varner, Buddy and Earl. Sigel played ALL games well (and won at them!), just like Shane. Earl also excelled across the board but for whatever reason didn't like to play 14.1. It was rumored that he could run hundreds at will though. Like Sigel, Varner had no weaknesses at any game (Sigel had the better overall record with Varner frequently running second to him), and probably was a better money player than Mike. Buddy was great at 9-Ball, Ten Ball (in ring games), Eight Ball, One Pocket and Banks, but also didn't like the drudgery and no gambling aspect of Straight Pool. He was the biggest gambler (and most successful) of his era so he gets big points for that as well. One more thing that elevates Buddy to an elite level is that he was the man to beat on the small tables too, and those fields were triple tough back then. He also had the longest winning career of any of the four (won more tournaments than anyone including Shane). So, if we're talking all around skills, these are the only four home grown players in the same category as Shane.
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No Harold Worst?
I see some of your points. You seem to make the point that Mosconi is the greatest of all time. I would say in straight pool, 14.1, possibly. But he had next to no nine ball or one pocket credit.
You also don't think Mike Sigel faced tough competition? Try Buddy Hall, Earl Strickland, Nick Varner, Allen Hopkins, Keith McCready, Wade Crane, Jimmy Reid, Jose Parica, and others. And that was just nine ball. In 14.1, try Steve Mizerak, Allen Hopkins, Nick Varner, Jim Rempe, Larry Lisciotti, Ray Martin, Dallas West, Lou Butera, Mike Zuglan, and others. Mike mostly beat that competition. Think you may have forgotten some history.
It gets into the debate of best all time, and Shane is not in it. Only rotation so far.
Long way to go to catch players such as Mike Sigel and Luther Lassiter.
All the best,
WW
Yep, you got there before me....
GOATs are arguable, in most cases, especially crossing eras and disciplines...
I feel Shane will be in the argument...but he better win some world titles.
This man is always in the argument
I don't know why people discount good one hole game.
Jaden
He's the only person besides Efren to win back to back one hole at Derby, which is arguably the toughest one hole tourney around.
Jaden
Many... and I mean MANY of the "greatest players" said Worst was the BEST. And he died in his mid 30s. How much more might he have won had he made it into late adulthood? We'll never know. Lasiter, I believe, said Worst was the best player he ever saw, bar none.
I agree with the part about needing to win a few more international events, but the MC??? Efren is widely considered the GOAT and he never even played in one, as many others named on here haven't either.
Besides, the MC is nothing but an entertainment event and shouldn't be a reflection on any pool players skill/legacy. Heck, they're getting guaranteed money for just showing up. If the MC was is to be considered as a serious tournament, then they need to put muzzles on all the unruly fans. It's a joke, imho.
Maniac
Harold would be a candidate for the GOAT if he had lived a little longer (he died at 37). He was well on his way to becoming the most dominant pool player and had started learning how to play One Pocket. He still had yet to do anything of note in Straight Pool. He had made himself into a 9-Ball force over the course of a few years. Worst was no dummy and he knew that 9-Ball was where the money was. He beat everyone he played for the cash and had challenged the acknowledged king of 9-Ball, Lassiter, to a $10,000 match and Luther stalled him.
He had already proven himself at Billiards (world champ at 24) and Snooker (probably in the top three in North America). He was well on his way to being the equal of the great Walter Lindrum, one of the greatest all around cue men ever.
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You only hit the tip of the iceberg. In 9-Ball Sigel had to also deal with David Howard, Danny Medina, Efren, Luat, Jimmy Fusco, Rempe, Mizerak, West, Swanee, Cole, Ray Martin, Massey, Lisciotti, Butera, Mataya and Davenport. All of these guys were very strong players capable of beating anyone on a given day. Sigel would grind his way through this crew winning tough match after tough match just to get to the finals.
Just to set the record straight, Mizerak was the dominant Straight Pool player of this era and Mike was second to him. Between them they won everything in 14.1.
I mentioned Rempe, Mizerak, Martin, Lisciotti, and Butera. Seems I got a bit more than the tip of the iceberg. But, I understand the iceberg. Good list.
All the best,
WW