NO it is not.
Earl trying to get into a parking lot fistfight.
- Thread starter CreeDo
- Start date
NO it is not.
BS. I'm not stirring any pots, just calling it the way it looked to me. I don't have any inside tracks to earl, shane, or the backers, but I see a grown man leaning into another guy, voice raised, and someone having to stand between the two guys. And I definitely heard some comment about going to the parking lot. Jcin repeatedly mentioned the atmosphere in the room was really hostile, like someone might jump over the table at any moment and deck someone. I'm not sensationalizing it, earl doesn't need any help making things overdramatic.
And there's no need to be an apologist for earl, it's obvious he was out of line, nobody's talking about how anyone shot and that's completely irrelevant as far as his antics. Nobody gets a pass to act like an ass just because they shoot straight. Mars used the appropriate tone for someone who made a wisecrack about deafness to a deaf person.
That is your opinion sir, I was not making excuse for Earl in anyway, he is NUTS there is no doubt.
IMO Mars could of handled it a little different , but it is not my money on the line and I am not as close to Shane as he is.
I have no clue how I would of handled it until I am in that situation.
Yes, however if you look at page 1 of the Main Forum, his name is in about 4 or 5 thread titles. He may be working overtime to piss everybody off, but you have to give the devil his due... nobody comes close to making the game of pool more interesting and exciting than Earl Strickland. Love him or hate him, I guarantee that you'll get much more than $25 of entertainment this weekend.
:grin:
I see...Well what did Mars say to Earl? I mean I heard bits and pieces I was talking in PM with someone...
Perhaps for you. Personally if I'm paying to watch professional pool I'm only interested with the play at the table. For me the freak show just detracts from my enjoyment. That's just me, a pool player. The Mosconi Cup hasn't lacked for interest or excitement due to Earl's absence. Yeah, emotion is showed by the players, such is the nature of the event. But it's not a car wreck.
Mars was talking to Earl because he disrespected Shane. I don't think it had anything to do with the money.
As far as the crowd sharking Earl, it honestly didn't start that way. Before the stream even came on, Earl was barking at people in the crowd saying how they all want Shane to win and everyone was against him. He pissed some people off and after multiple times of him poking the crowd, they started coming back at him.
I don't know if it showed on the stream, but Earl punched himself in the face once, punched the table twice, and hit himself in the head with his cue two or three times, once hard enough that he had a big mark on his face. The guy really is off his rocker.
What really killed me was after Shane scratched once, he took the cueball out of the pocket and dropped it on the table in frustration. Earl looked at him and said "What's with the anger?" He said that after all that stuff he did above, all I could think was WTF?!?
As far as the crowd sharking Earl, it honestly didn't start that way. Before the stream even came on, Earl was barking at people in the crowd saying how they all want Shane to win and everyone was against him. He pissed some people off and after multiple times of him poking the crowd, they started coming back at him.
I don't know if it showed on the stream, but Earl punched himself in the face once, punched the table twice, and hit himself in the head with his cue two or three times, once hard enough that he had a big mark on his face. The guy really is off his rocker.
What really killed me was after Shane scratched once, he took the cueball out of the pocket and dropped it on the table in frustration. Earl looked at him and said "What's with the anger?" He said that after all that stuff he did above, all I could think was WTF?!?
Earl intentionally angers the audience to get them to be against him. Earl is wired in such a messed up way, he feeds on negative energy and he feels he needs it for him to be able to play at his best.
When Earl first started playing he was never like this. I think over the years Earl has figured out anything that he feels will give him an advantage (probably both consciously as well as subconsciously). Hence, sharking, creating negative energy, feeling that everyone is against him, full falcony regalia, wrist-ankle and ass weights, glasses, finger extensions, (did I forget anything?)
The cliche, "crazy like a fox" may relate as well to Earl as anybody.
I completely disagree with his antics, yet for some reason I always find myself rooting for him.
All antics and drama aside, Earl played some unbelievable pool tonight. Regardless of who wins this event, in time I feel (at least for today's match) Earls antics will be better remembered and more a topic of conversation than his outstanding play, and that is a shame...
When Earl first started playing he was never like this. I think over the years Earl has figured out anything that he feels will give him an advantage (probably both consciously as well as subconsciously). Hence, sharking, creating negative energy, feeling that everyone is against him, full falcony regalia, wrist-ankle and ass weights, glasses, finger extensions, (did I forget anything?)
The cliche, "crazy like a fox" may relate as well to Earl as anybody.
I completely disagree with his antics, yet for some reason I always find myself rooting for him.
All antics and drama aside, Earl played some unbelievable pool tonight. Regardless of who wins this event, in time I feel (at least for today's match) Earls antics will be better remembered and more a topic of conversation than his outstanding play, and that is a shame...
Miya Butreaks
Registered
Personally I don't see the big deal with the deaf comment. I don't believe it was in poor taste at all. Directing the comment at the crowd and directing the comment at Shane are two different things. Would anyone rather he told the crowd to shut the f@ck up? That would sure be in better taste.
One thing to sit on the rail and shark, totally another to threaten bodily harm. Smooth move, Ex Lax. Are you struttin like a rooster now?
I think you've figured out the future of pool. Market it like Pro-Wrestling!!
Maybe the Samoan will be Earl's bodyguard and take care of Mars
Note I do not advocate violence, however it makes for good TV even when it's fake.
Given that most players nowadays play on a bar table or 9-foot regulation table, what's the point of playing on a 10-foot table?
On a 9-foot table, when Shane is breaking well he can be very difficult to beat. By demanding that they play on a 10-foot table, Earl has neutralized Shane's breaking ability which is the strongest aspect of Shane's game.
I'd like to see a level-playing field with Earl and Shane duking it out on a 9-foot Diamond table.
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Although it can be fun watching a player going ballistic like Earl did, its kind of sad watching a man almost 50 years old - screaming and stomping his foot on the floor.
Imagine a 4 year old trying to get her will. It looked exactly like that.
"The whole planet sucks". At least the guy is not partial towards Londoners anymore.
Imagine a 4 year old trying to get her will. It looked exactly like that.
"The whole planet sucks". At least the guy is not partial towards Londoners anymore.
Someone else mentioned it earlier, but bfdlad is smiling BIG TIME 
Earl may be off his rocker, but he's no dummy. He's marketing himself as the bad boy of pool, and since the current future in pool is streaming, he's VERY marketable.
Imagine how many more buys this PPV is gonna get the rest of the weekend, now that all this stuff is being discussed here on AZB, and undoubtedly elsewhere. How many more buys will the Earl/JA PPV get? Who knows, maybe Earl decided to push the envelope at SBE for just this reason... and doing the bulk of it in a match with Alex, another potential PPV matchup. He still has the Joe Rogan thing to play out, as well. Lot's of marketing opportunities for him, bfdlad, TAR...
The trick for him now is to be able to maintain a high enough level of play to make the matchups worth it for the savvy part of the audience. And to not get so completely over the line as to turn people off. Personally, I think he's up to it, for the immediate future.
Earl may be off his rocker, but he's no dummy. He's marketing himself as the bad boy of pool, and since the current future in pool is streaming, he's VERY marketable.
Imagine how many more buys this PPV is gonna get the rest of the weekend, now that all this stuff is being discussed here on AZB, and undoubtedly elsewhere. How many more buys will the Earl/JA PPV get? Who knows, maybe Earl decided to push the envelope at SBE for just this reason... and doing the bulk of it in a match with Alex, another potential PPV matchup. He still has the Joe Rogan thing to play out, as well. Lot's of marketing opportunities for him, bfdlad, TAR...
The trick for him now is to be able to maintain a high enough level of play to make the matchups worth it for the savvy part of the audience. And to not get so completely over the line as to turn people off. Personally, I think he's up to it, for the immediate future.
Porcospino
Registered
Then you are moving to where it is right back in Shane's favor. 10-Ball and 9-Ball are breaking games. Whoever breaks better wins!! It is that simple. This is like a shoot out. Quite frankly Earl makes the balls better than anyone........EVER! He may be a nut case, but who cares? You guys aren't Earl, you haven't gone through the things he has, been the places he has, or done the things he has done. I honestly dont believe in this dethrowning Earl crap. Earl is 50 years old, Shane is like 28. If Shane wants to dethrown Earl he should just win more titles than Earl. You cant take some kid who is almost 25 years younger than someone and pit fight them. The fact that Earl is putting up a decent fight shows you that 28 year-old Shane might have not liked 28 year-old Earl. Not saying by any mean Shane is a bad player. Shane is one of my top 5 favorite player in the world right now. Earl taking the lead on day one is commendable. You all can pass judgment all you want. None of you will be on the same plain with Earl in the game of billiards I promise you that.
I don't think Earl was trying to offend Shane with the deaf comment. Earl is a pretty nice guy once you get him away from the pool table. I believe he was giving an example to how he wished to not hear what everyone had to say all the time..
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I"m having a GREAT time watching the stream! Everyone should get it.
What some of you are forgetting is this stuff happens all the time during gambling sessions. It is NOT a tourny.....this is about winning and money.
What I don't like is Mars getting involved beyond the backing. Threatening Earl while the match is still ongoing is a move if he meant it or not. If he gets in Earls face AFTER the whole thing is over so be it....thats big $$$ gambling. By over I mean after the 3 days. Doing it while the match is still on is just in bad taste. SVB is a big boy and has been on the road before and can take care of himself. As far as I know Earl did not threaten bodily harm towards SVB...why did Mars do it to Earl?........move
words are words.....fighting is macho BS, grow up!
What some of you are forgetting is this stuff happens all the time during gambling sessions. It is NOT a tourny.....this is about winning and money.
What I don't like is Mars getting involved beyond the backing. Threatening Earl while the match is still ongoing is a move if he meant it or not. If he gets in Earls face AFTER the whole thing is over so be it....thats big $$$ gambling. By over I mean after the 3 days. Doing it while the match is still on is just in bad taste. SVB is a big boy and has been on the road before and can take care of himself. As far as I know Earl did not threaten bodily harm towards SVB...why did Mars do it to Earl?........move
words are words.....fighting is macho BS, grow up!
tablerunna
Registered
Sounds like Mars might be doing a little to much here. Handling the streaming, hosting the match, watching a good friend play a big match, and backing that friend. I sure he can handle all this but, Earls comment sounds like it was more about himself then Shane, wishing he could block out the noise as easily. It just does not seem right for Shanes backer to get into it with his opponent. Was Earl already in the lead when this happened?
Earl has led from the gate. Mars approached him after the play for day 1 was over.
Kelly