Earl the Pearl

[Fleece3]

But given ZERO Americans flew to the UAE to play in the recent WORLD 8 BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS that paid a substantial amount more money I doubt any would turn up anyway!

NO Americans were "invited" to that event.

 

[JAM]

...That is showing a lot of support for an American player, one of the least likeable out there at the moment....

"There" is this forum.

I am constantly amazed at how easy it is to sucker-punch pro players on the Internet.

Truth be told, Earl Strickland's accomplishments in pool consists of championship titles. A thoroughbred player like Earl is on every magazine cover for a decade or morel

All of that and a nickel won't buy you a cup of coffee at Starbucks here in the United States.

There is no future in pool here in America, and this forum is VERY representative of the reason why.

JAM

 

[JAM]

My words have been misinterpreted. I have been labeled a "racist."

I have left AzBilliards for good. I hope to see my friends on the tournament trail.

I am only an American pool enthusiast who loves my boyfriend and desires to see him happy. There is no happiness in pool anymore for me and mine.

JAM

 

[JAM]

I do not agree with the ra-ra US uberall attitude. I think it belittles pool and belittles the attitude-holder.

Thank you.

I will continue to be an American patriot when it comes to pool. BTW, rah-rah, rah-rah, rah-rah! USA, all the way. USA, all the way. USA, all the way.

JAM

 

[JAM]

My words have been misinterpreted. I have been labeled a "racist."

Because of the large amount of PMs I have received from my friends, I am grateful for your support and hope to see you on the tournament trail.

I have left this forum for good. There is no happiness in me posting anymore, but I am thankful for those who have been kind to me and supportive.

JAM

 

[JAM]

Im trying to stay out of these bun fights lately but that was an exceptional post.

Also worth noting that a few Americans (Davis, Williams, Hillbilly, Schmidt, Archer I believe) are backed by Dragon Promotions and play on the Korean Tour.

Isn't that the American men's professional tour today?

It used to be called the UPA.

JAM

 

[JAM]

why this,because THEY ARE BETTER?!You should'nt blame the AMERICAN pool scene on anyone else but AMERICANS.the reason you have a NON-EXISTANT pool scene in the U.S. because you dont promote it enough,and dont draw enough new spectators to pool AND When all i hear on here is .......
EARL STRICKLAND is such a champion,great to watch,draws a crowd,OH,he's going through some hard times,he is the best thing for pool.
WAKE UP AMERICANS .........earl strickland is NOT your answer for bringing pool to the forefront.NEVER HAS.what new comer watching pool see's earl lifting his cue to his apponent like to strike him and says WOW,this is great,exciting,he was just about hit him!SORRY but that is NOT cool,and that will NOT draw people to your sport.
AND, I wont dig into your post much farther JAM,but i will say 1 word......
ARROGANCE.

Your post is riddled with inaccuracies, with one exception. I agaree in that I blame the American pool scene on Americans, the American pool culture and not the American pool players.

I have one word for you: IGNORANCE

JAM

 

[JAM]

I enjoy your posts most of the time; however, I don't agree with your "patriotism" when it comes to american poolplayers.

I play and watch pool for the excellence of the game. I could care less if the person playing the game is american, fillipino or german. Whoever is the best is the best and I root for them based on their personality and professionalism, not their nationality.

Your "patriotism" borders on racism.

There is no patriotism here in America when it comes to pool.

When I watch the Olympics, I'm pulling for the Americans. In pool, I do the same thing. If that is being a racist in your mind, then you are entitled to your opinion.

JAM

 

[TheOne]

Isn't that the American men's professional tour today?

It used to be called the UPA.

JAM

No it's not the UPA, the Korean Tour consists of a calendar of events based solely in Korea. The Americans I mentioned (plus some Europeans) are promoted and play in Korea. Should Korea take your attitude and ban them from playing there also taking away an opportunity for these American and European players?

The UPA I believe is now a separate entity and has now been reborn, events already announced this year include: UPA Finals, world 10 Ball, World Summit...also most probably the BCA Open and US Open will be sanctioned events?

This in my opinion is good news for Americans as now all Americans have a chance to qualify fairly for the WPC which use the UPA rankings.

Fleece, we are told that Americans received 4 invites for the world 8 ball, none of them were taken up. At the same time many Europeans and Asians flew to qualifiers in the middle east at their own expense to try to EARN a spot in the event.

It will be an interesting year that's for sure...

 

[JAM]

My words have been misinterpreted. I am now called a "racist." I have left AzBilliards for good. Good luck to all, and may God bless pool players around the world. They need all the help they can get.

 

[jimmy-leggs]

.......................

 

[jayburger]

Question: do you blame the "foreigners" for winning, or the Americans for losing? I think I can predetermine your answer.

Real question tho: Do you think that Americans shouldn't be allowed to play in tournaments outside of America?

I think what most of you are missing is that jam as well as myself, feel that foreigners come to our country (invited usually, and welcomed if not invited) and play for our purses and meanwhile show very little emotion or personality or interaction with the pool playing public who pay the ticket prices. meanwhile only a few(3-5 usually) american players are ever invited overseas and only the very top players then. and if you think that the foreign crowds are pulling for our players you are crazy. i just wish some of the foreign players would act a little more appreciative of the money our tourneys provide them. if any of you doubt me just go to the derby or u.s. open and after the matches look around and see how many foreign players( i do not mean fillipinos, because they crave the action as much as americans) you see hanging around and matching up afterhours or just mingling with the crowd . then look how many of the americans are there, BSing, woofing, joking, gambling and giving you a glimpse of who they are as a real person. no contest. if you guys want to pull for players from other countrys who wouldn't give you the time of day and their fans certainly wouldn't pull for an american, go right ahead, its your perrogitive. as for me , i'll keep pulling for our(american) cast of CHARACTERS and getting some entertainment out of it.( i want to give mika, chamat, and raj hundal some credit for showing up and gambling after hours at this years open. all the pinos gamble and i really liked the game and personality of bon bon cortezza and gallego was gambling strong as well.)

 

[bankshots]

Earl Strickland albeit at one time a great player is "all" done. Earl is simply put not the player he once was! I will readily acknowledge that at one time he was aguably the greatest 9 ball player out there but that time has come and gone. Watching Earl play now is like watching Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus play golf they simply can't do it anymore. Everyone's day comes and the way that they handle it can color our memories of their greatness. He should retire with the dignity befitting his once great play!

 

[TheOne]

Have you ever seen the movie "The Wizard of Oz"? One never knows WHO or WHAT is behind the proverbial curtain.

Does it matter? The bottom line is it will be a professional mens tour in America, which means more events, more money for American to have the chance to win? So what if other players are invited, I'm sure the likes of Kieth are capable of winning if they put in the hard work - I thought that's what the American dream was all about?

Half of the field of the BCA Open is reserved for foreign nationals, and the other half is reserved for American players who are a member of the men's governing body of professional pool. There are four qualifiers for the BCA Open. In essence, it ain't an open tournament at all. Rather, it is an invitational.

I have criticsed this policy many times if you read my old post. Only half the BCA Open (32 top UPA Ranked players) used to be invited BUT it was still a ranking event. This is wrong IMO, because it protects the elite.

As far as the U.S. Open, Barry is doing everything he can to make the U.S. Open the best in the world, and he does a good job, as evidenced by the full 250-plus player fields. If it means Barry has to be kissing butt to some organizational entities, he's going to go there, but I can assure you he ain't liking it. He just wants the U.S. Open to be the biggest and best event of the year, a tournament, BTW, that welcomes foreign nationals.

Do you not see that pool will have a better chance in America if you have a tour which contains the best events you have to offer? At the moment you have nothing to sell, this is the MAIN reason why the Euro Tour and Asian tour are attracting sponsors, it has nothing to do with nationalities! Big rep to Barry for realizing this.

The World Summit, a tournament which used to be on the then-UPA tour, did not transpire this year. It usually occurred during the same time as that 8-ball tournament in the Middle East.

The world summit is scheduled to happen in Las Vegas in June FYI

Which brings me to my next point. Not very many Americans in these times enjoy flying overseas to some regions of the world, for what I think are obvious reasons. I have heard MANY American players express this concern which may be why none of the "invited" American players wanted to go overseas to ride camels.

Can you not see that it's quotes like these that doesn't exactly endear Americans to citizens from other countries. Like it or not it was an event held in another country that invited 4 Americans to play in it. Not only that it was a world championships and the prize fund was massive even by American standards and ZERO Americans turned up.

It was in the United Arab Emirates, one of the safest countries on the planets, the fastest growing cities (Dubai) on the planet, filled with Millions of American companies and contractors. It's probably MUCH safer than any American city.

I'm struggling to understand what you want?

JAM

 

[ShootingArts]

Originally Posted by ShootingArts
...That is showing a lot of support for an American player, one of the least likeable out there at the moment....

"There" is this forum.

I am constantly amazed at how easy it is to sucker-punch pro players on the Internet.

Truth be told, Earl Strickland's accomplishments in pool consists of championship titles. A thoroughbred player like Earl is on every magazine cover for a decade or morel

All of that and a nickel won't buy you a cup of coffee at Starbucks here in the United States.

There is no future in pool here in America, and this forum is VERY representative of the reason why.

JAM

JAM,

You are so busy battling that you plainly missed what I said. The simple fact is that the most visible place for all pool players is on TV regardless of poor ratings. Of all the American players, male or female, at this point in time Earl presents himself the worst on TV. As we all know, some hammer Earl pretty regularly on this site too.

Despite these things, according to this poll, the forum members right here on AZBilliards are hoping he gets himself together and comes back strong. The poll shows that the people voting who wish Earl well outnumber those that don't five to one at the moment I am typing this new message.

Take a good look at the poll results. Earl is being very strongly supported by the forum members as a whole.

 

[parvus1202]

To me, I think the emergence of Asian pool players elevated pool to the highest standards. Without the so called Filipino invasion, we wouldn't know that there were better players in that part of the world than any of the previous world champions. In the UK many pro players made Reyes and friends as the standard on playing pool. If you cannot beat them, then better retire. Few of our players go there to gamble to hone their skills. Without them we wouldn't know that we suck.
The prize money in Asia is only about $10,000, so for Americans or other foreign players who will be invited, that would not be enough. It is expensive to travel and then no assurance that you will get to the money list. Difficult. So they reserve the invitation to world championships with at least $100,000 to the winner.
Now you ask, why Asians can come to America to compete? Aren't they poorer countries? Well, they have sponsors. Sponsors pay for their trip. They have friends in America that they could stay for free and they could assure themselves that they will end up in money list.
I am following the game in America, and it seems that, Reyes, Busta, Orcollo, Luat, Parica, Corteza, Gabica, Kiamco, Manalo, Alcano and Sambahon are the regular US travelers. So it's not many.

 

[JAM]

I am so sick of Craig Riley arguing with me, it makes me cry. I have left this forum, a forum that I used to really enjoy posting on.

I hope to be remembered as one who made good contributions, but all of that is forgotten today.

I am labeled a "racist." It is a lie and it hurts very deeply, which is why I will never make another contribution to AzBilliards again.

 

[JAM]

Earl Strickland albeit at one time a great player is "all" done. Earl is simply put not the player he once was! I will readily acknowledge that at one time he was aguably the greatest 9 ball player out there but that time has come and gone. Watching Earl play now is like watching Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus play golf they simply can't do it anymore. Everyone's day comes and the way that they handle it can color our memories of their greatness. He should retire with the dignity befitting his once great play!

Well, if you were suffering from kidney stones, you might not bring your best game to the table either, Pal.

Long live Earl Strickland, and I don't think he's quite over the hill yet!

JAM

 

[JAM]

I think what most of you are missing is that jam as well as myself, feel that foreigners come to our country (invited usually, and welcomed if not invited) and play for our purses and meanwhile show very little emotion or personality or interaction with the pool playing public who pay the ticket prices. meanwhile only a few(3-5 usually) american players are ever invited overseas and only the very top players then. and if you think that the foreign crowds are pulling for our players you are crazy. i just wish some of the foreign players would act a little more appreciative of the money our tourneys provide them. if any of you doubt me just go to the derby or u.s. open and after the matches look around and see how many foreign players( i do not mean fillipinos, because they crave the action as much as americans) you see hanging around and matching up afterhours or just mingling with the crowd . then look how many of the americans are there, BSing, woofing, joking, gambling and giving you a glimpse of who they are as a real person. no contest. if you guys want to pull for players from other countrys who wouldn't give you the time of day and their fans certainly wouldn't pull for an american, go right ahead, its your perrogitive. as for me , i'll keep pulling for our(american) cast of CHARACTERS and getting some entertainment out of it.( i want to give mika, chamat, and raj hundal some credit for showing up and gambling after hours at this years open. all the pinos gamble and i really liked the game and personality of bon bon cortezza and gallego was gambling strong as well.)

That's exactly right, Jayburger. At least somebody on this forum gets it.

I should have known you were from North Carolina, some of the best folk in the Nation, bar none.

JAM

 

[JAM]

I am labeled a "racist." It is a lie that hurts me very deeply. Because of it, I have left this forum and will not make another post. Hope this satisfies the JAM-haters. I am only an American pool enthusiast who desires to see pool accelerate in the U.S. I am not a racist.

JAM