Earl Strickland clapping for his opponents

[MattPoland]

I believe Earl just appreciates good play and is a person. He won't applaud every good shot but he will when he feels it. He won't when he doesn't. I appreciate that he recognizes that stoic play doesn't serve TV well even though it has won championships for players like Ralf and Albin.

I get that his antics turn people off. And I don't envy that his stature means he has ample footage of him on the internet being triggered (mostly by his own doing). While some of it warrants criticism at the time, I think we owe that scrutiny a break after a while as an audience. If you've personally had a bad experience then that's understandable.

 

[hotelyorba]

I believe Earl just appreciates good play and is a person.

I believe he is a person too.

I get that his antics turn people off.

I can't seem to shake what I remember of his behavior the last time he was part of the USA Mosconi Cup team. I was ashamed of that, and I am not even American.

While some of it warrants criticism at the time, I think we owe that scrutiny a break after a while as an audience.

Well, you're right there -- all said and done, he's still one of the greatest of the great and apart from that, I absolutely love his playing style and stroke.

 

[BC21]

I have a buddy that once told me he lived with Earl many many years ago when he was struggling to become a regular pro player (my buddy struggling, not Earl. I don't think Earl ever struggled.... seems to have been born awesome). But my friend has the same type of explosive personality as Earl, though he doesn't share an obsession with excessive safety gear. He was a hell of a player too back in the 80's and into the 90's, just had a bad table-side manner. I watched him put a 4-pack of 8-ball on a barbox in probably less than 10 minutes, then broke and scratched on the 5th break. He looked over and asked, "Can you believe that?" Then he sat down and watch the other guy shoot a few balls. This guy got out of line and played a case shot, rolled a ball slow to the corner but buried the CB in case he missed. He missed, and my buddy tapped the butt of his cue against the floor to show respect for the smart 2-way shot. Then he walked up to the table and kicked the 8 in off two rails. He shook the guys hand then immediately walked straight out the door and tried to chop a telephone pole down with his cue stick. He left pieces of splintered cue all over the parking lot, then he came back in, grabbed a house wood and went on to win the tournament. If he did live with Earl (I have no reason not to believe him), I bet that was a fun living arrangement!

 

[JohnnyOzone]

Take the Good with the Bad?
Just like RKC?

take the good with the bad, just like with EVERYBODY