Earl Strickland Salutes the Fans at the 2008 Mosconi Cup

[Big Perm]

Earl isn't the problem, he's just one guy....

Pool isn't popular and doesn't get any money because it's boring.....yeah, we love pool, and we'll watch in on TV, and we love to see any good matchup in person, but it's boring to the average person.....my wife would rather watch golf with me that pool on TV.....she is your average American.....she wants to get excited....she likes a great catch in football, a grand slam in baseball, and even a hole in one in golf....

Pool is boring....someone misses a leave, they don't go for a spectacular jump shot, or 4 rails, or something they have never seen.....nope, they play defense.....and about .00001 percent of America can even appreciate that shot......there are so many talented players at the top that can hit incredible shots, but you rarely see it in a big final....pool needs offense....

With no interest, sponsors don't wanna line up for pool.....nobody wants to watch it, and their impression of this small market is only the negative side.....drugs, cheats, and so on....

Quaterfinals and Semis need to be a race to at least 11, Finals need to be a race to 20+.....give them shots that people want to see.....with this much footage, they can edit, skip, and give viewers/sponsors the top games and the big shots.....they can offer the full matches online....you give players that many games, they can take more risks....

Just my two cents....I love this game, but to get the money and popularity, you gotta have the big shots.....the one time my wife got interested in pool - I had forced myself to watch trick shots.....she came in, saw someone doing a couple of jumpshots, and said "hey, what is that???" And she sat down and watched.....

....but I don't think Earl is the problem....

 

[Roy Steffensen]

As long as Earl is playing the Mosconi Cup for Team USA, Team Europe is a favourite to win, imo

I am a fan of Earl Strickland. I like to watch him play because you get one of two. He will either play perfect pool, or he will make you laugh with his comments and antics. You never know which Earl decides to enter a match.

But is Earl Strickland in top 5 of America today? Does he represent his country in the best way? Is he good or bad for the team?

That's the questions that needs to asked.

There is no doubt that Earl has been one of Americas best players in the Mosconi Cup the 13 years he has played the Cup, but is he good enough the coming years?

 

[Rick S.]

As long as Earl is playing the Mosconi Cup for Team USA, Team Europe is a favourite to win, imo

I am a fan of Earl Strickland. I like to watch him play because you get one of two. He will either play perfect pool, or he will make you laugh with his comments and antics. You never know which Earl decides to enter a match.

But is Earl Strickland in top 5 of America today? Does he represent his country in the best way? Is he good or bad for the team?

How many has Europe won when Earl was on the team...??? That's the BIG question. Look back...you won't like it.

He was the Mosconi Cup MVP just barely three years ago, and he wasn't in the top 5 then either. Look at his record this yr....not too bad is it?

NOBODY can fault his record as far as the Cup.

 

[deep]

Probably the best troll thread of 2008, and that's saying somthing........

 

[Quesports]

Earl is deserving of much more respect from all pool fans. He has nothing to prove to anyone and his records speak volumes. His reaction, which is what it was, is due to some low life sheit stirring moron provoking him.
It is the fans that start the problems and then blame the players for reacting after being provoked. It is kind of like the fools that go to the zoo and provoke a wild animal and end up getting attacked, usually the animal pays the ultimate price!
Dan

 

[cuedoctor]

Actually it was just Indiana Pacer players that fought with fans. No trashing the Pistons unjustly.

I knew it was a game involving the pistons and you are right But Mahorn back in the day was no angel:grin-square:

 

[donny mills]

JAM, I agree with your post. In order to get this sport to the next level we have to have only the best represent the sport. It only takes one bad apple to spoil the entire lot.

Look, in the 60's and 70's there were many pro events that that paid out 10, 20, and 30k for first place. We even had a pool player on main stream tv commercials. Pool was on the way up. What happened? The pro player ruined it. There were too many players cheating, dumping, working together, and acting like they are 5 year old brats that couldn't get a freaking candy bar.

It does suck for the pro player who is trying to make a living at this sport. Someone trying to promote the sport at the highest level.

But it only takes a guy flipping the bird or another guy who decides to go play a round of golf instead of playing on the b side because he lost is first match to push tv, sponsors, or investors away.

I'm saying we need the very best to represent. If we do we will see things improve.

I don't know because I wasn't around, but could you prove how the pro players cheating, dumping, working together, and acting like they are brats ruined pool going up? I'm only asking to prove it because I don't believe it. Doesn't make any sense.

 

[SupaFoo]

ENOUGH of this guy

Here's one more vote for a governing body of some sort

 

[cbi1000]

Okay. Let's look at it this way.

How many professional hockey players do you think there are in existence?

How many professional pool players do you think there are in existence?

How many professional pool players are there in the United States, as one example, in 2008 compared to 1980?

Do the math, and you will discover why pool as a sport is failing, at least here in America. First-place monies in 1980, $10,000 for BCA, and first-place monies in 2008, $15,000. There won't be a BCA Open in 2009. The BCA organization is going bankrupt.

This is my point. when the players were stand up and were trying to improve the sport the sport was doing much better.

 

[cbi1000]

The bottom line is that professionals in any arena do not flip people off. That makes them unprofessional in my opinion. In all other sports, players that flip fans off get fined substantial amounts as it should be.

If I flipped someone off at my job then I can guarantee that I would get fired or at least disciplined, possibly lose some pay.

Earl is not one of the best American players anymore and he shouldnt be on the team period. His antics are entertaining thats for sure, but he is absolutely killing the team as a whole because of his play and his lack of team chemistry.

I agree wit you.

 

[cbi1000]

First of all, Earls antics and specifically flipping the bird only confirmed to EVERY potential Corporate Sponsor and Advertiser throughout the WORLD that their decision to NOT invest in the sport of pool was the correct decision. WTG, Earl, you effen asshole.

Trust me, potential Sponsors will remember that moment and probably pull out that pic every time they discuss the possibility of investing in pool. And some here call Earl an Ambassador of the Sport? I think not.

He puts butts in seats? What, all 32 people in the bleachers?

Next, "no fans", "dwindling pro players", "American viewpoints of pool", etc., etc., are NOT the problems. These are SYMPTOMS of the problem. Joe didn't die from a cough, it was the cancer causing him to cough.

-von

I agree here as well.

 

[cbi1000]

Yeah, pool doesn't have better sponsors because Earl Strickland gives people the finger and because people like Earl.

Face it, and I'm going to be extremely open here, pool doesn't get support because of all the scumbags involved with it. Losers hanging around pool halls, gambling, drinking, drugs, you name it. Not to mention the personalities of the people playing the game. Someone gets a break run out and all of a sudden they're world champions and act like everyone owes them a looksee. Earl is only one small area of the problem and to be honest, he puts more asses in seats than you can imagine.
MULLY

Here is where i disagree. I think Earls great play brings people to the seats more then this attitude.

 

[cbi1000]

Without Earl Strickland, America's strongest champion ever, pool would be much duller than it is now.

If the pro players, like Earl, had a legitimate tour, it would help matters, but unfortunately, when the BCA organization gave one entity, with no track record, the authority to be the governing body of pool, he raped the industry for personal gain, jumped ship, and left others holding the bag.

The BCA is supposed to be the United States' representative with the world governing body of professional pool. I think somebody should strip the BCA of their power at this juncture and give it to Mark Griffin, et al., who is trying to get a self-sustaining tour off the ground.

The WPA, the international governing body, needs to stop treating the United States like a stepchild and devote more of its energy and resources to our country. They seem to have huge interest in the Middle East in recent times. Of course, they get their hands greased nicely from Middle Eastern pool bodies.

IMHO, pool needs a Willie Mosconi, a Minnesota Fats, and players just like Earl Strickland. The more, the merrier, I say. Looking at Buckingham Guard-like, robotic pool players on TV ain't going to elevate the sport. Pool needs emotion, much like our other heralded sports.

American pool pros are suffering. There is not very much new blood getting into pool. Reality smacks the prospective and aspiring pros right in the face when the rent comes due or it's time to go out and buy groceries. Most people today would rather have a roof over their heads than play pool professionally and sacrifice a secure lifestyle. It's tough to have it both ways, unless you have a fat stakehorse or sponsor. How many of them exist? I can count them on one hand, and that's how many American pros you'll be able to sit back and watch, sooner than you think.

I don't think pool is dull. BUT, you can bring more people to pool with people like Willie M and Fats. In fact fats was in tv commersials, Willie and fats played pool match on network tv.

Pool was doing much better with people like Willie and Fats.

But now we have Earl and other plays that treat the game like crap, so the sport suffers.

I think it's ok to have emotion, but not so much bad emotion.

 

[cbi1000]

I don't know because I wasn't around, but could you prove how the pro players cheating, dumping, working together, and acting like they are brats ruined pool going up? I'm only asking to prove it because I don't believe it. Doesn't make any sense.

John S. lost a first round match at a tournimnt and decided to take off and play golf instead of sticking around to play out the other matches. If i was a sponsor of the event i'd want that guy around to play because i know people would be there to see players like John S.

Earl him self cheating a tv match playing Charlie W just a couple years back. His body was blocking the ref's view when Earl bump a ball with his stick or arm and they were playing foul on all balls. Charlie says it's ball in hand right, Earl hit the ball with this stick. The ref said i didn't see it and Earl says the ref didn't see it too bad for you. Now, just this year a guy on the golf tour needed to make par in the last event of the year to keep is tour card for the next year. He made par, However several days later he found non approved balls in his bag. He was not sure if he used one of them during his final day play. He called the tour office and told him of this possible mistake, they gave him a 2 stroke penalty. Pushing his final round a stroke over par and causing him to lose his tour card for next year. He knew what was going to happen and he did it anyway!

It has been proven many times that players dump to a lesser player because the odd where better on the lesser player. I believe 5 or 10 years ago maybe even longer there were 10 to 15 players who all bet one the guy with the greatest odd of winning and the ones who could dump did.

There is a big deal going on in snooker about players dumping just recently.

The sport need respect from the players before it will get respect from sponsors and promoters.

 

[!Smorgass Bored]

That's What I'm Known For - My Movie Knowledge

He is just gesturing "I'm number 1!!!" Nothing wrong with that, IMO.

Surely, Earl is Charlie Williams "Luca Brasi" and oneday he will get a knife in that finger........ like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcehNbKuvqw&feature=PlayList&p=B83D622FEE68BC2D&index=0&playnext=1

Doug

*Earl, to Don Charlie Williams, "Don Charlie, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your home on your wedding day. And may your first child be a masculine child."

 

[Russ Chewning]

You got to be kidding!

I like to watch Earl play as much as the next guy, but it's actions that are killing the sport.

No..YOU have to be kidding. You mentioned tennis. Tennis made a LOT of money from McEnroe. And he did a LOT worse in matches than Earl EVER has! Excuse me? He CURSED officials on national television!!! And the fans/sponsors ATE IT UP.

It's hard enough to get sponsors to pay out their $$ now an days. They don't want to pay for a 40 year old to act like he's 4.

Nobody sponsors pool because it is not a popular game to watch on television.

Perfect example was the XFL. The number one sport in America is football and some people got together and created a football league that would allow players to act just about any way they wanted. And most acted like jerks. What happened next was no surprise, most people didn't like it and the sponsors left.

How disengenuous. People didn't like the XFL because it was "fake" football. It consisted of players that were by and large simply not good enough to be in the NFL. It's the same reason most of us don't go to the pool hall on Thursday night to watch the league matches. People want to watch the VERY best in any sport if they are inclined to watch that sport.

Just about every sport has league office that reviews things like this and take action against the player. However pool doesn't have this check and balances.

Every sport has it's own business niche, and they play within that niche. Things that would get you thrown off the tour in golf and encouraged, even DEMANDED in "professional wrestling". People don't watch sports for the purity of the game... They watch to be ENTERTAINED.

As disappointing as it is, America likes to watch people behaving badly. Just open up a T.V. Guide schedule if you have any doubts on that.

I know you badly want to find a reason for pool going downhill. I will gladly give you that reason. More people play video games and stay at home these days. Pop culture encourages us to give in to temptation and find easy ways to entertain ourselves. (Video/computer games, Ipods, Cable T.V., etc.) People have too short of attention spans to ever learn about a game like pool nowadays.

The only way to make pool popular is to get the players to pay for it, and to get a competitive system in place that gets youth involved, so we replenish the players pool. I think it is very doubtful either will happen.

Russ

 

[Russ Chewning]

If any major corp or sponsor thought they could make a dime they would rep charles manson playing jacks - some of you guys are either joking or your nuts

This succinctly sums up my whole argument.

I think of lot of people on here ARE living in a dream world. Paris Hilton "leaked" a copy of her sex tape a month before the premiere of her mediocre reality show and a few years later, she is one of the most popular people in America and anything she puts her name on is absolute, 100% solid gold.

A lot of people on here have NO clue about how marketing works.

Russ

 

[conetip]

The sportman/sportswomen, are representing not only the sport , but their country as well.
I am sure Earl is not the only one with a quick temper. Maybe he does it for the press , or maybe he needs anger management, just like John Macinroe?the tennis player.Whatever the triggers , it is not good press for pool or any sport to have that behaviour.
I don't think US pool is so bankrupt in players, that they could not replace him with someone that was less of a tantrum seeker.
But it does make the news like John Mac.
Maybe that behaviour draws the crowds, I don't know.
I would prefer the grace of Phelps the swimmer to Earl's outbursts.
Now how to get Phelps to be a great pool player?
Neil

 

[ShootingArts]

cheating`

We hear about the golfers that tell on themselves, we then assume all do. The truth is we have no idea how many overlook their own infractions.

Horse racing is one of the most carefully regulated sports in the USA. Yet an exjockey told me that the jockeys got together and cut up one cheap race a day. They picked a horse with longish odds and they all put a small ante up and gave the money to one person to make a bet. That is how they made sure they made living expenses. Pick a sport, any sport, none are lily white.

There is no one thing holding pool back, more like a little bit of everything. The biggest issue is that it doesn't draw viewers. No viewers, no major sponsors. No major sponsors, no money. No money, no viewers. People will watch almost anything with big money trading hands, pool that is a yawner when the winner gets 20,000 would have a big audience if the winner received two million. Had the IPT lasted it would have increased it's viewer share as the word got out simply because of the prize money to be won.

Pool's problems have it caught in a cycle of failure. I think that the only way it is likely to progress is slow growth from within. When we sit around hoping for a sugar daddy like Kevin Trudeau we get a Kevin Trudeau.

Hu

John S. lost a first round match at a tournimnt and decided to take off and play golf instead of sticking around to play out the other matches. If i was a sponsor of the event i'd want that guy around to play because i know people would be there to see players like John S.

Earl him self cheating a tv match playing Charlie W just a couple years back. His body was blocking the ref's view when Earl bump a ball with his stick or arm and they were playing foul on all balls. Charlie says it's ball in hand right, Earl hit the ball with this stick. The ref said i didn't see it and Earl says the ref didn't see it too bad for you. Now, just this year a guy on the golf tour needed to make par in the last event of the year to keep is tour card for the next year. He made par, However several days later he found non approved balls in his bag. He was not sure if he used one of them during his final day play. He called the tour office and told him of this possible mistake, they gave him a 2 stroke penalty. Pushing his final round a stroke over par and causing him to lose his tour card for next year. He knew what was going to happen and he did it anyway!

It has been proven many times that players dump to a lesser player because the odd where better on the lesser player. I believe 5 or 10 years ago maybe even longer there were 10 to 15 players who all bet one the guy with the greatest odd of winning and the ones who could dump did.

There is a big deal going on in snooker about players dumping just recently.

The sport need respect from the players before it will get respect from sponsors and promoters.

 

[Mowem down]

Whats the big deal that little half gay jesture hes giving there doesnt even mean anything, when your giving sombody the BIG F.U. its the middle finger only, sticking straight up like a beacon to the stars.

Earl can represent the USA pool world anytime, if he wants to give people the BIG F.U. for the good old USA I would like him to know what the hell hes doing.

For all the Earl haters.. You dont have much to worry about, if he doesnt get some help, hes going to be spending a lot of time sucking orange juice through the curly straw..(sorry to say)..His melon is way past ripe and still sitten in the sun..