Of course it can't. In as many cases in individual sports, the game has become more difficult over time. Golf, for example, is now played on much longer courses than in the past. Today's putting greens have more undulations than those of yesteryear. New courses, intended for PGA events, are being built with more slope than those of yesteryear. In golf, those in charge recognized that as the skills of the players rose, the conditions had to be toughened accordingly.
In pool, there are way more good players today than fifteen years ago but the playing conditions are largely unchanged in that period, excepting the rare events played on a ten footer. That's why there's some validity in what Earl is saying.
SJM,
Wouldn't you say Diamond Pro Cut pockets are considerably tougher than the pockets of yester-year...maybe even the mid-nineties--just before Diamond came out with their first table? When I watch older Accu-stats tapes, I can't help but feel like Jayson Shaw, SVB, Ko brothers, and other elite modern players would dominate the fields in the old Sands Regency events, for example.
Additionally, with all the information available to anyone regarding the break today, I would argue that if a "pro" has bad luck on the break today, it is not luck at all. For example, Max Lechner at the last International Open, broke as well or better than everyone and his skill on that shot is not an accident. He was in the finals and the only thing that could beat him was probably the best 9 ball out by any living human in history (if not the best, I would argue tied for first).
To me, modern players will figure out any break. This figuring involves skill and practice. If some players are unwilling to do that practice, then that is their right, but I do not think it is fair to call today's skilled breakers lucky. There may be "some" element of luck, but some luck exists in any game, even one pocket. I am not sure I would want to watch a pool game devoid of all kinds of randomness that had to be overcome by the players. Just my 0.02.
Also, while it is easy to say that faster cloth, better balls, better cues improve things. I would also argue Diamond's bouncy rails make for a relatively unforgiving table when placed in combination with their deep pocket shelves.
Call me crazy, but if we actually played placement pool or whatever crazy game Earl wants to play, when some superior player beats him, he will say the crowd sharked him because someone sabotaged his gigantic ear muffs. Again, just my 0.02.
kollegedave