Earl Strickland
- Thread starter westcoast
- Start date
Actually Earl did real well in the U.S Open this last time and just win the U.S Bar Table Championship in Reno this year. He played last year in Galvaston, the Miz Championship in Florida and played in the U.S Open 10 Ball just a couple of months ago and the World Pool Masters. These are within the past 12 Months. So if you are talking about all the World Chmpionships or the Seminole Tour Those are the only ones. Hope this helps.
The sad truth
I can tell you with absolute certainty that the only reason Earl does not play in more big tournaments is that he just can't afford it. He was invited to this year's World 9 Ball Championship in Doha, Qatar but couldn't find the backing. Without the kind of all-inclusive sponsorship that he received from Cuetec it's just not possible. In fact, Earl has a very hard time just coming up with the rent every month. This is not because he blows money on any sort of bad habits (he doesn't) but because he just doesn't have adequate income. His only sponsor of any significance is CSI and that's just not enough. That being said, I certainly mean no disrespect to Mark Griffin or Mark Cantrill because without what little work he gets through them (CSI tours and exhibitions with an occasional lesson), Earl might be living in his car. And believe me, I'm NOT kidding.
I staked Earl beginning in early 2007 up until the end of last year. I'm not Cuetec, just a guy who has been financially lucky and loves pool so I really couldn't afford to give him the kind of backing he deserves, but I tried.
I should also mention that he's not the only bigtime player who suffers from serious money problems. I could name several and I'm nowhere near the center of the pool world and never have been. It seems a cruel irony that while interest in pool is exploding across the globe, it withers here in America.
Could he still win the big one? I think so, but not when he has to play every match knowing that if he's eliminated he's just blown a big portion of whatever meager bankroll he has with nothing to show for it. We all know how tough it is to play on scared money.
Say what you will about his antics, his bluster, his anger directed at the audience (you'll note that he always draws the biggest crowds), Earl is actually one of the kindest and most generous people you will ever meet. He's given money (both his, and sadly, some of mine) to people that he felt needed it more than he did. He will even stop his car at times to get out and help a turtle across the road.
While he's always been a volatile guy his passion for the game is boundless. He thinks that he and the game he loves deserve better, and so do I.
I can tell you with absolute certainty that the only reason Earl does not play in more big tournaments is that he just can't afford it. He was invited to this year's World 9 Ball Championship in Doha, Qatar but couldn't find the backing. Without the kind of all-inclusive sponsorship that he received from Cuetec it's just not possible. In fact, Earl has a very hard time just coming up with the rent every month. This is not because he blows money on any sort of bad habits (he doesn't) but because he just doesn't have adequate income. His only sponsor of any significance is CSI and that's just not enough. That being said, I certainly mean no disrespect to Mark Griffin or Mark Cantrill because without what little work he gets through them (CSI tours and exhibitions with an occasional lesson), Earl might be living in his car. And believe me, I'm NOT kidding.
I staked Earl beginning in early 2007 up until the end of last year. I'm not Cuetec, just a guy who has been financially lucky and loves pool so I really couldn't afford to give him the kind of backing he deserves, but I tried.
I should also mention that he's not the only bigtime player who suffers from serious money problems. I could name several and I'm nowhere near the center of the pool world and never have been. It seems a cruel irony that while interest in pool is exploding across the globe, it withers here in America.
Could he still win the big one? I think so, but not when he has to play every match knowing that if he's eliminated he's just blown a big portion of whatever meager bankroll he has with nothing to show for it. We all know how tough it is to play on scared money.
Say what you will about his antics, his bluster, his anger directed at the audience (you'll note that he always draws the biggest crowds), Earl is actually one of the kindest and most generous people you will ever meet. He's given money (both his, and sadly, some of mine) to people that he felt needed it more than he did. He will even stop his car at times to get out and help a turtle across the road.
While he's always been a volatile guy his passion for the game is boundless. He thinks that he and the game he loves deserve better, and so do I.
That is a future and past that is common to many high school, college, vocational and university grads as well.
It will always be possible for Earl to win. He is a champion.
Impossible is not a factor when speaking about the limitless potential of Earl Strickland. FWIW, most players will never come close to Earl's "bad day" low gear. He's that good. In my eyes, he always will be. JMO.
Thanks for the insight. It grieves me to hear it. We see famous people and assume they have it made. Sorry to hear differently in Earls case. I deeply respect his ability and his contribution to the game. I hold forth hope for him and the future of pool in the US. Don
Even if Earl wasn't a well-known player and just a great tourney player, I'd support him the same. If Earl wasn't a great tourney player and just a regular league guy I'd support him the same.
When I saw the bunch of the players it is easy to spot the ones who do it because they enjoy it. And the ones who do it for other reasons.
He doesn't strike me as one of the guys you don't want to see succeed.
When I saw the bunch of the players it is easy to spot the ones who do it because they enjoy it. And the ones who do it for other reasons.
He doesn't strike me as one of the guys you don't want to see succeed.
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that's sad to hear.
What was the reason for his falling out with Cuetec? I remember seeing a soundbyte on youtube of him saying that Cuetec ruined his career.
I've been watching a lot of his old matches- the 1996 race to 120 against Reyes, some tourneys from 1988 (there's a good match from South Carolina vs. Buddy Hall before Hall gained 200 pounds! Quite funny actually, Hall was routinely placing burning cigarettes on the pool table in that match!). He was such a great player. If only he had kept his head on straight, he'd probably be regarded as the best pool player ever.
Is Earl as skilled at 1 pocket, 14.1, and 8 ball as he is at rotation games?
On a side note, there was some rumor I heard about him that he had a cocaine problem in the '90s. It was just some guy at a bar that I was talking to here in LA a while back that grew up in NC and claimed that Strickland had a problem with blow. Could just be a rumor with no substance.
Earl came to Binghamton, NY in the mid '80s to visit Gary Pinkowski. While they were in The Pocket Billiard Lounge Earl ran over 100 on one of the back tables upstairs. So, yeah, I guess he can play Straight Pool. 8 ball, I don't know nor care but he probably can. One Pocket, no idea.
true story blackjack
after the svb earl race to 100 earl was done getting beat on and his mood changed, for the better. he was a compete gentelman, infact earl apolagized to everyone he had words with, and then went on to answer questions for 90 mins or so! at 1 point the straight pool subject came up and earl said he loved it and that he has ran over 400 before! the part i will never forget when the room cleared down to me jcin and a few others, he looked at svb and with his cue unscrewed he pointed it to within an inch of svbs nose and said, you, you got a gift, a gift to play this game just like i did,i had the gift and i screwed it up,dont you end up like me kid,dont you do it! i dont want you to know how it feels for your best to not be good enough! you keep ur nose clean andpractice and hell you might beat my record of 5 opens, cause if you keep your nose clean, your the only one that can beat ya! i know cause im livin proof! and thats why i like earl strickland becouse he opened my eyes to why and how peple act the way they do! when you spend 15 years of your life everyday loving something so much and then your eyes and your skills and ur gift starts to go,well id get upset to! just to answer the question,EARL is capable of beating anybody in any tournament on the planet!
after the svb earl race to 100 earl was done getting beat on and his mood changed, for the better. he was a compete gentelman, infact earl apolagized to everyone he had words with, and then went on to answer questions for 90 mins or so! at 1 point the straight pool subject came up and earl said he loved it and that he has ran over 400 before! the part i will never forget when the room cleared down to me jcin and a few others, he looked at svb and with his cue unscrewed he pointed it to within an inch of svbs nose and said, you, you got a gift, a gift to play this game just like i did,i had the gift and i screwed it up,dont you end up like me kid,dont you do it! i dont want you to know how it feels for your best to not be good enough! you keep ur nose clean andpractice and hell you might beat my record of 5 opens, cause if you keep your nose clean, your the only one that can beat ya! i know cause im livin proof! and thats why i like earl strickland becouse he opened my eyes to why and how peple act the way they do! when you spend 15 years of your life everyday loving something so much and then your eyes and your skills and ur gift starts to go,well id get upset to! just to answer the question,EARL is capable of beating anybody in any tournament on the planet!
My final thoughts
Sorry to all but I just can't answer any questions concerning Earl's personal life.
A few comments, however:
These are tough times and I sympathize with all who are hurting. My wife and I donate a sizable sum yearly to try and help them.
Believe me, Earl wants to succeed more than anything. Pool is his life and just about the only thing he knows.
Great golfers are rich, great bowlers do pretty damned well, great pool players just survive (with a few notable exceptions).
I would want Earl to comment on his disagreements with Cuetec, a company that many say he made.
Earl ran 128 balls on me playing 14.1, nothing for a straight pool textbook, just raw, crushing talent. He recently won the US Open Bar Table 8 ball championship. He routinely gives up major weight, 10 to 5 or so to some pretty decent 1 hole players for relatively small money. A couple of years ago he beat Larry Nevel (a player he respects) to win a one pocket tournament in Goldsboro, NC.
I know nothing about Earl ever using cocaine. I knew him then but saw no evidence of him using any serious drugs.
Weather permitting, Earl runs 30 minutes at quite a brisk pace most days, hits tennis balls for an hour or so and does as many as 500 sit ups. When he drives to a tournament he usually brings a weight bench to do the sit ups on. He's pretty damned fit for a 49 year old pool player.
Well, that's about all I have to say on this thread. I'm too busy trying to "beat the wolf back from my own door".
Sorry to all but I just can't answer any questions concerning Earl's personal life.
A few comments, however:
These are tough times and I sympathize with all who are hurting. My wife and I donate a sizable sum yearly to try and help them.
Believe me, Earl wants to succeed more than anything. Pool is his life and just about the only thing he knows.
Great golfers are rich, great bowlers do pretty damned well, great pool players just survive (with a few notable exceptions).
I would want Earl to comment on his disagreements with Cuetec, a company that many say he made.
Earl ran 128 balls on me playing 14.1, nothing for a straight pool textbook, just raw, crushing talent. He recently won the US Open Bar Table 8 ball championship. He routinely gives up major weight, 10 to 5 or so to some pretty decent 1 hole players for relatively small money. A couple of years ago he beat Larry Nevel (a player he respects) to win a one pocket tournament in Goldsboro, NC.
I know nothing about Earl ever using cocaine. I knew him then but saw no evidence of him using any serious drugs.
Weather permitting, Earl runs 30 minutes at quite a brisk pace most days, hits tennis balls for an hour or so and does as many as 500 sit ups. When he drives to a tournament he usually brings a weight bench to do the sit ups on. He's pretty damned fit for a 49 year old pool player.
Well, that's about all I have to say on this thread. I'm too busy trying to "beat the wolf back from my own door".
well said sir
THANK YOU !!! Some of the best people I ever met like turtles ....strange but true.
THANK YOU !!! Some of the best people I ever met like turtles ....strange but true.
rackemky
New member
someone help the man!
all around earl is one of my favorite players! i brushed shoulders with him at DCC one year and i couldent even speak! and i have met lot's of famous people and just spoke to them like me to you. he plays like me in a way, he plays for the love of the game, has fun doing it, is very vocal and let's EVERYONE know how he feels no matter what. surely all the people on AZ with pull and sponsor connections can help earl pull something together? it's like keeping a throughbred in a stable. he has DONE the hard work, by now he should NOT have to worry about money for a player of his stature. what is this F ed up world coming to??
jonathan
louisville, ky
all around earl is one of my favorite players! i brushed shoulders with him at DCC one year and i couldent even speak! and i have met lot's of famous people and just spoke to them like me to you. he plays like me in a way, he plays for the love of the game, has fun doing it, is very vocal and let's EVERYONE know how he feels no matter what. surely all the people on AZ with pull and sponsor connections can help earl pull something together? it's like keeping a throughbred in a stable. he has DONE the hard work, by now he should NOT have to worry about money for a player of his stature. what is this F ed up world coming to??
jonathan
louisville, ky
Thanks for contributing your thoughts about a champion player. :smile:
If you can get Earl to start posting here again, perhaps we could get a group of people to sponsor him for his next tournament. Have him wear an AZbilliards patch or something like that. I don't have a lot of money but I would love to chip in for him, and I'm sure many others here would too.
S
skip
Guest
I would be more than happy to kick in. Please someone get to Earl let the man know their are a lot of people that appreciate his god giving abilities. An all the joy the man has giving so many people through the many years. I second the AZ patch. That could be our badge to the pool world that the man is back. I hope a lot of you fell this way. From what I have just read here the man just needs some help. Less please get it going. Skip
NO truth to it at all.
He's never had a hard drug problem. The guy in the bar was totally full of it.
2v12 deserves a medal!! He's been a great friend of both Earl's, and mine for quite a few years. He has bent over backwards trying to help so many, many times.
Everything he said about Earl is true. One of the most good hearted people you'd ever meet, anywhere. Animal lover, extraordinaire.
It's just a shame that such a talented fellow would have such a hard time
just getting by in life. Having to live day by day. :frown:
Love ya' 2v......(another guy with a BIG heart) thanks for being such a good friend. :thumbup:
Kingfish..... Love the photo!