Earl Strickland

[Ratchet]

Earl

Many comments are made about Earl and his eccentricities. He was visiting across from the AZ room and I stopped him in the hallway and engaged him in conversation about "Elizabeth" and until I started talking about Elizabeth, I sensed he was apprehensive about my intentions.

I enjoyed Elizabeth's sharp wit and insight into Earl as some of you did and was interested in many things about Earl so I asked and he responded, very candidly about everything I asked about.

His bridge arm is weighted to help keep his arm down and stable. He uses the tape on his fingers to help him cradle the butt of the cue to give him better control over his stroke. I think he explained how this occurs and I will probably be trying it out. Earl spends lots of time trying to turn back the hands of time and apparently is succeeding in many ways. He is obviously not just one of the best players in the world but in without a doubt, the most innovative player in the world. I'm sure he will continue to try new methods to extend his ability to play at world class levels.

Earl is eccentric as many world class athletes often are. That doesn't bother me one bit. I do hope he learns how to cope with the detractors that seem to be everywhere. I was watching Earl play another TOP PLAYER and another sweater and I were extremely close to his table. As Earl began his final stroke on the cue ball, the sweater in front of me and no more than 6 feet from Earl's head, quickly raised his coca-cola bottle high in the air, drinking a quick swig and of course Earl missed the shot. Earl complained rather nicely that it was a bad time for the sweater to be taking a drink. The sweater merrily smiled and said nothing. A little while later, maybe 15 minutes, the other TOP PLAYER came over to the sweater and chatted for a few minutes. You think maybe the sweater was trying to get Earl hot (BTW, Earl was winning). I would get pretty steamy if an A**Hole did that to me and I am a pretty calm guy.
JoeyA
JoeyA

Hey there Joey !

I was BS'ing with Joey in the AZB room when Earl dropped in
and when I asked Earl for his autograph on a small piece of paper he asked if I would like a autographed photo of me and him together and I jumped at the chance . Joey and I chatted quite a bit with Earl and I could sense and almost taste Earl's love and passion for the game while I waited for Diana Hoppe to print out my photo (which Earl promptly gave me a personalized autograph).

I found him to be amazing , he is a true historian of the game also and I felt his pain when he mentioned the loss of his friend Steve Mizerak (The Miz)
He was witty , intelligent , humble and giving ,everything you could expect from a true champion ! I will from now on consider him as a friend.

Earl is quite vocal as well as emotional about his love for the game,And unfortunately there are quite a few who like to push his buttons , I know all about Earls outbursts on camera but wonder how much of the footage that ended up on the editing room floor contained the provocative stuff that set Earl off in the first place . The man makes his living playing pool which isnt really the best paying job in the world unless you are at the very top of your
game all the time and even then good payday's are few and far between when you are trying to raise a family.....I would be emotional too !

Tom S.- Warts and all Earl is da man !

 

[Bishop]

I quite simply can't understand how anyone can be a fan of this idiot. He has been and continues to be a black eye on the sport and because of guys like him pool will always be small time. The only way for pool to advance and reach the next step with the masses is to rid the sport of those like Strickland who continue to embarrass the sport. If Tennis players and Golfers can make millions, why can't pool players? Think about it.

He has nothing to do with pool being small time. If anything he's kept it interesting. The sport lacks fiery personas that put butts in the seats. People who attend or watch billiards do it because they love the game not because they want to see what happens next in a sport they know little about.

The sport is poorly organized and difficult to follow for the average viewer. If anything Mike Siegal has done more harm than Earl.

 

[cuejoey]

CueJoey, you can click on the tab above named Member's and type in Elizabeth and then click on See all posts made by Elizabeth. I'm not sure but I think many of her posts were in the IPT Forum but it could have been another. If you can't find "her" posts, let me know and I will get them for you.
Elizabeth's perspective was kind of refreshing, IMHO.
JoeyA

it was good reading thanks......someone posted about Earl's marriage breakup that can screw up anyone for sure....

 

[elizabeth]

I quite simply can't understand how anyone can be a fan of this idiot. He has been and continues to be a black eye on the sport and because of guys like him pool will always be small time. The only way for pool to advance and reach the next step with the masses is to rid the sport of those like Strickland who continue to embarrass the sport. If Tennis players and Golfers can make millions, why can't pool players? Think about it.

And who should that list of players be?You seem to be the expert. What are the past and present tv ratings on your picks?

 

[elizabeth]

Elizabeth would run circles and make no sense for 8-10 posts and then get mad and leave. I hope she isn't really Earl because I like him and respect him as big mouth heart on his sleeve kinda guy.

Liz is one of the most pointless posters this board has ever seen. Most of the time she just argues to argue and never has a point or suggestion to make. She does make for funny ready from time to time.[/QUOT

 

[cdavis9771]

I quite simply can't understand how anyone can be a fan of this idiot. He has been and continues to be a black eye on the sport and because of guys like him pool will always be small time. The only way for pool to advance and reach the next step with the masses is to rid the sport of those like Strickland who continue to embarrass the sport. If Tennis players and Golfers can make millions, why can't pool players? Think about it.

He is not embarrasing the sport. He just wants to win real bad. I respect him for that. Sure he has made bad choices at times but in all he is just a man like you and me. We all make mistakes so lets not be so judgemental. I've seen Johnny archer almost get into a fist fight with some spectators in the 05 u.s.open but you don't hear anything about that do you? Just saying that it isnt only Earl making all the mistakes.

 

[elizabeth]

Earl was asked if he knew 'Elizabeth' and he said yes "i know HIM."-"someone has to defend me" he said and that when Elizabeth posts- "of course the information is coming from me" He said plenty more too but I'll leave it at that.

I speak with Earl on a daily basis and let him know what i run across and ask his opinions,sometimes he ask me to convey his feelings but most of the time i post what i know about him.And when i spoke with him today he told me that he wanted to start doing exhibitions and personal lessons again.Earl would like to open himself up back to the public in an environment besides competing where you are more at ease and relaxed.Earl will also be playing with a diffrent cue a wooden cue and no not a Cuetec.Earl will be experimenting with other cue lines to see what brand fits him the most and the one that will play true to his game as once the Meucci did.

 

[elizabeth]

Thanks have a nice nite

Of course i am a lady.Has anyone ever known Earl not to reveal who he is?

 

[cuejoey]

Of course i am a lady.Has anyone ever known Earl not to reveal who he is?

Elizabeth PLease be good to Earl he's a good person.

 

[Bishop]

I didn't read what you wrote before you deleted it Liz. I bet it made no sense huh.

 

[JAM]

...Earl will also be playing with a diffrent cue a wooden cue and no not a Cuetec.Earl will be experimenting with other cue lines to see what brand fits him the most and the one that will play true to his game as once the Meucci did.

You mean Earl likes the way the old Meucci's hit with all that WHIP?

Good look to Earl finding a cue that has the right hit for him. The best way to get one is to have the cue-maker make Earl's cue, customize it to his stroke. And I'd imagine there'd be quite a few of 'em who would be honored to create the perfect cue for Earl Strickland.

JAM

 

[StevenPWaldon]

This should be interesting. Earl with a non-Cuetec cue. He's won so many prestigious titles that I think his victories come from his talent and not his cue, but exciting to think that he might get better with age!

I speak with Earl on a daily basis and let him know what i run across and ask his opinions,sometimes he ask me to convey his feelings but most of the time i post what i know about him.And when i spoke with him today he told me that he wanted to start doing exhibitions and personal lessons again.Earl would like to open himself up back to the public in an environment besides competing where you are more at ease and relaxed.Earl will also be playing with a diffrent cue a wooden cue and no not a Cuetec.Earl will be experimenting with other cue lines to see what brand fits him the most and the one that will play true to his game as once the Meucci did.

 

[uwate]

The sad part is that no one ever videos or photographs the jerkoffs who heckle Earl, its only after Earl blows a gasket that the cameras start rolling.

I too have seen spectators go out of their way to agitate a calm and non offensive Earl into a frenzy. If I was King for a day, these lamers would be barred from attending any tournaments and would have to move their bs sharking to the backroom money matches. See how far that gets them without getting their asses kicked.

 

[Southpaw]

Southpaw, I am sure you must be correct about the foul on the 5 ball.

And while two wrongs don't make a right, I have to wonder how many other pros have chosen to not call a foul on themselves. I would guess the numbers would be rather high.

On a similar note, do you think there are ANY pro players that have EVEN ONCE; failed to call a foul on themselves, sharked their opponent, failed to correct an accounting error by their opponent, accidentally, but knowingly shot out of turn etc. For myself, I have in the most recent years have called fouls on myself, worked hard at remaining still and silent when my opponent is shooting and in general given my opponent every chance to play their game without interference. This has not always been the case and unfortunately I do the right thing only most of the time, but could respond in-kind at any time in a match.
JoeyA (mea culpa, mea maxima culpa)

I was just using the 5 ball incident because it was the 1st instance that came to mind. There have been others that have made me lose respect for Earl. Like throwing his cue at the World Cup and saying that he should punch the guy in the face for not shaking his hand. Yes, pros do make mistakes, but its a true professional that can call a foul on him/herself and play the game the way its supposed to be played.

Southpaw

 

[Bishop]

I speak with Earl on a daily basis and let him know what i run across and ask his opinions,sometimes he ask me to convey his feelings but most of the time i post what i know about him.And when i spoke with him today he told me that he wanted to start doing exhibitions and personal lessons again.Earl would like to open himself up back to the public in an environment besides competing where you are more at ease and relaxed.Earl will also be playing with a diffrent cue a wooden cue and no not a Cuetec.Earl will be experimenting with other cue lines to see what brand fits him the most and the one that will play true to his game as once the Meucci did.

Surely Earl expects you to use proper grammer and english when relaying his thoughts to the masses.

 

[shinobi]

I speak with Earl on a daily basis and let him know what i run across and ask his opinions,sometimes he ask me to convey his feelings but most of the time i post what i know about him.And when i spoke with him today he told me that he wanted to start doing exhibitions and personal lessons again.Earl would like to open himself up back to the public in an environment besides competing where you are more at ease and relaxed.Earl will also be playing with a diffrent cue a wooden cue and no not a Cuetec.Earl will be experimenting with other cue lines to see what brand fits him the most and the one that will play true to his game as once the Meucci did.

With the multitude of Earl's outbursts and incidents, I have a sneaking suspicion that giving lessons and changing cues won't be the magic cure.

 

[JAM]

Surely Earl expects you to use proper grammer and english when relaying his thoughts to the masses.

Come on, Bishop! Not everybody utilizes proper g-r-a-m-m-a-r and E-n-g-l-i-s-h when posting.

What a shame it is that Earl Strickland does not post. He is a member of this forum, if memory serves me right!

JAM

 

[TheBook]

He is not embarrasing the sport. He just wants to win real bad. I respect him for that. Sure he has made bad choices at times but in all he is just a man like you and me. We all make mistakes so lets not be so judgemental. I've seen Johnny archer almost get into a fist fight with some spectators in the 05 u.s.open but you don't hear anything about that do you? Just saying that it isnt only Earl making all the mistakes.

I seen Archer playing and he was on the hill. He had a easy straight in 9 ball that he could make left handed and blind folded. He laid his cue on the table and called for his 20 minute break. Came back and then made the ball. What was up with that. Made his opponent sit there waiting. Maybe he was put out because the guy didn't concede.

 

[juanbond]

You guys all must be from planet Earl as he is rude, insulting, whining while he plays pool and representing our country. We do not know him from conversations in a hall, urinal or roomate in a nut-house; he is a pool player with talent galore who embarrasses himself, the sport, his country and Cuetec.

This is exactly the problem that I think many Earl-bashers have (as well as many other celebrities)... They insist that Earl should only be defined by pool itself and what he does in that arena. They discount someone's genuinely amicable experience with Earl, off the tables, because they can't see him as a person; only as a hot-tempered and whiny pool player. I think he's being sold quite short by this "selective biography".

As many are quite WONT to seeing Earl in this light, they have blinded themselves from seeing Earl for what he truly is: our brother. I think we should all have respect and compassion for Earl Strickland. We ALL have faults, problems, and vices. We ALL suffer. We are all born, get sick, get old, and die. We are, at our cores, no different from one another.

To imply that you only care about how Earl behaves in competition, and that someone's personal experience with Earl outside of the poolhall is of no relevance to a discussion of the man...well, that's just shortsighted. If you have interest in Earl's antics and attitude shortfalls in matters of pool, then why WOULDN'T you care about the rest of the person? Think of it this way; if a fan had posted some terribly appalling non-pool encounter with another well-known player, would it carry no weight in our opinion of the player, just because it wasn't in a pool tournament? For me, it's those everyday personal experiences that mean quite a bit more than a player's on-the-table demeanor.

Pool competition can be stressful, exciting, disappointing, and joyful all at once. Earl has a right to be defined by things OTHER than his behavior in pool competition. If our peers are telling us he's gentlemanly and friendly outside of the poolhall, then by all means WE SHOULD LISTEN!!! After all, THAT'S more likely to be a better description of the real Earl.

Very few of us truly know Earl well (or anyone, for that matter), and thus we should at the very least suspend our judgement. But if you must make remarks about someone, then at least open your eyes to as much of the person as possible before you speak.

</my $0.02>

 

[worriedbeef]

i just wanna pipe up with some support for Earl. The man's the greatest nine baller ever without a doubt and is easily the most inspiring player to watch. I don't have a clue as to the reasons for his mental state at the moment, i just hope and wish him the best of luck in getting back to his best. If Earl turns on his best game there isn't a player in the world today he can't steamroller. And I admire greatly a man who makes no bones about the fact he has a huge desire to win, and also somebody who cares passionately about the game as much as he does.

I not only hope that he can get back to his best, i genuinely believe he can.

Let's imagine for a second, Earl winning another us open. It would be HUGE for pool.