Earl wins turning stone

[westcoast]

Or maybe the "world cup" had a weak field without Earl? It's a matter of perception.

The field could have been tougher, but its not like it was filled with C players or something- Hohmann played- he has been on fire. Morris played and he has been playing well all year. Dechaine, Shuff, Hatch, O. Dominguez, Corr, and Lombardo are no slouches either.

 

[CJ Wiley]

30 total games is ideal to even out the "rolls".

The field could have been tougher, but its not like it was filled with C players or something- Hohmann played- he has been on fire. Morris played and he has been playing well all year. Dechaine, Shuff, Hatch, O. Dominguez, Corr, and Lombardo are no slouches either.

It doesn't matter, you still have to beat top players to win any tournament. The races to 9 are so short anyone has a chance.....according to statistical examples a race to 15 (actually 30 total games) is ideal to even out the "rolls".

 

[dundeewizard]

Couldn't agree more, we need players like Hohmann, Pagulayan, Appleton who are true competitors and also play to the crowd. Earl geez where do you start. No more use for the game at all. Sharkign Shaw at Steinway was really bad tried to do it to SVB also but SVB just turns off the hearing aid. Not surprised what he did to Klatt at T Stone. Very good player. Very bad sportsman.

 

[CJ Wiley]

Jimmy Connors mooned the crowd one year at the US OPEN

i was at TS all 4 days. Earl played freaking awesome. never ceases to amaze me how fast he can run though a nine ball rack. less than a minute on a few occasions.

as for his behavior-to be expected. I doubt he was trying to "shark" anyone. seriously he is Earl the freaking Pearl Strickland. there was no one at that tourney he needed to shark. he is a showman. he rants at the crowd a little. mostly the crowd responds well. pool needs that kind a fire. most of the controversy came from racking. what a surprise! at one point he said to Sossei "check that I have never done this before. I spend my whole life playing golf". If Earl racked for me I would say "thank you Mr. Strickland" and fire away.

finally as to penalty games-I don't know what that other poster is talking about. I didn't see any matches started early. and yes players not at their tables when the match was suppose to start did give a game on the wire. they knew this.

anyway awesome experience at the tourney and gratz to Earl on a great win!

brian

Earl is no different than John McEnroe back in his prime....he drew huge crowds too, and Jimmy Connors mooned the crowd one year at the US OPEN. Maybe we need "full contact" pool, now that's something that might be interesting...hmmmm......

 

[gxman]

Or maybe the "world cup" had a weak field without Earl? It's a matter of perception.

8 of the top 15 2013 money players at the world cup.

 

[ctyhntr]

I believe Mike Gulyassy makes both the shaft and cue for Earl.

Anyone know what shaft Earl is playing with now? Did he go LD? The shafts I've seen him with in the past were thin with the taper pulled way back. The shaft in the photo above appears to be thicker and with a shorter ferrule.

 

[trob]

Pool is in no position to have high standards...I don't apreciate his antics but he puts ass in seats. Just goto a large tournament and watch the crowd size for his match and anyone else's. Its not even close We watch car racing for the wrecks not the race. Earl is our massive pile up in turn 3 lol someday pool may be able to be choosy about who plays and how they act. Right now for anyone running a tournament trying to make money it's not today.

I do not usually get involved in threads like this, and while I have no argument to Earl's

talent, I believe his usefulness to promote the game is long gone. His moves that should

be left in some smokey bar in the 70's, has no place in the tournaments of today. I am

disgusted of how much respect he shows for tournament play and his opponent. He

professes to love this game yet shows little if no respect to it's supporter's. I am not

saying in any way that we don't need a some what of a controversial player for the

game/sport, but I believe his actions bring ten fold the hurt than positive. I could be wrong,

but I think we need more Toastie.

warning punctuation may be a little off ( see edit)

 

[trob]

From what I read, Strickland came into the finals with one loss and Sossei was undefeated. Should have the finals be a true double eliminations final to be fair to Sossei ? I would not conclude that a single extended race is fair to either player. Congrats to Earl, I guess.

I agree. Damn I hate that. It takes away the benefit of going through the winners bracket undefeated. I know they play a longer race but I know if I was coming out of the losers bracket I would MUCH rather play one race the. Beat someone twice.

 

[West Point 1987]

I agree. Damn I hate that. It takes away the benefit of going through the winners bracket undefeated. I know they play a longer race but I know if I was coming out of the losers bracket I would MUCH rather play one race the. Beat someone twice.

Actually, the theory is that in a big field (64 or more), the advantage of staying in the winner's bracket is that you've played fewer matches; whereas the loser's bracket winner had to play many more to get there...that's also why the finals match is usually a longer race.

 

[juspooln]

You raise a good point but do you remember Alex showing up drunk to play in a tournament a few years ago. http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=218577 I don't think Earl disrespects the game like that. Yet few if any called for Alex's ouster. I think Earl has more passion for the game than many that play the game today. I will agree with you on Toastie, he's a class act.

There have been many that have made unsavory choices here and there. We are human, and I see no fault in a few slip ups here and there, especially if the offender is remorseful.

Earl's track record speaks for itself. How many different tourney's has he been banned from, how many of his fellow competitors has he put on tilt because of his antics, and not his play on the tables.

I have seen him play a few times in tourney's, and to be honest, he made me feel uncomfortable/embarrassed for those around me, and I just wanted to get up and walk away. Again I love to watch him shoot, and I do not doubt his passion, I just wish he would show the game and his opponents a little more respect. In the long run, I don't think it is good for the game, nor should it be celebrated.

 

[juspooln]

Pool is in no position to have high standards...I don't apreciate his antics but he puts ass in seats. Just goto a large tournament and watch the crowd size for his match and anyone else's. Its not even close We watch car racing for the wrecks not the race. Earl is our massive pile up in turn 3 lol someday pool may be able to be choosy about who plays and how they act. Right now for anyone running a tournament trying to make money it's not today.

I believe more would be attracted to his matches, if he was less of a car wreck waiting to happen. He is one of the few left, that I believe if it wasn't from his unruly history, could pull some outside sponsorship. That would put a lot more people in the seats. He has been around longer than most and still one of the most offensive shooters we have left in the game, which is why he draws the bigger crowds when he is on the table.

I don't even have that much of a problem with him, or any one else, getting angry with himself/themselves. It is when they start in on their opponents or the rules in the tournament that I have the biggest problem with; and if they want to chat with the audience, wait to the match is over, and sign a few autographs while they are out there.

 

[trob]

I don't mind his interactions with the crowd. There funny and entertaining. My problem is he expects complete silence and respect while playing but doesn't extend that same curtesy to his opponent

I believe more would be attracted to his matches, if he was less of a car wreck waiting to happen. He is one of the few left, that I believe if it wasn't from his unruly history, could pull some outside sponsorship. That would put a lot more people in the seats. He has been around longer than most and still one of the most offensive shooters we have left in the game, which is why he draws the bigger crowds when he is on the table.

I don't even have that much of a problem with him, or any one else, getting angry with himself/themselves. It is when they start in on their opponents or the rules in the tournament that I have the biggest problem with; and if they want to chat with the audience, wait to the match is over, and sign a few autographs while they are out there.

 

[JAM]

Earl's breakdown ---> HERE