Earl

[vapoolplayer]

Earl won alot of money (1 million) for that thing about running those racks. How much do you really think he got after he had to hire a lawyer and threaten to sue to get him money. Then have to settle for less than the million. How would you like to finally get your dream house on a golf course and then lose it in a divorce.
So all of you people out there that want to bash earl go right ahead, but try walking in this mans shoes first and deal with what he has had to deal with. Then see what kind of attitudw you would have.............mike

so, the next time i'm out in public........just because my life is a little bit shitty at the moment, i'm going to snap about anything and everything i can.

and i'm going to tell people that cueball told me its ok......because i have alot going on in my life and people dont know what i'm going thru......


give me a break, earl doesn't have any problems that a million other people haven't gone thru...........

just because he's a top pool player doesn't mean he can act like an ass whenever things don't go his way.

he needs to learn to suck it up and deal with life just like the rest of the world.

thanks

VAP (crybaby hater)

 

[PoolBum]

Poolbum,

Please read what I posted before:

If you accept the fact that Earl is a bipolar manic depressive, then his behavior will not seem so strange. Part of his brillance is due to that. If you were to take that part of him away, he would not be the player that he is. Asking and or expecting him to act any different is like asking a cat to bark like a dog. Accept that Earl is Earl. Be appreciative at the fact that you are watching one of the greatest pool players ever, and thank God that you do not live with him.

Fleece3

I understand what you're saying. I've made the same argument before--about Bobby Fisher and John McEnroe, for example. I think there's something to the claim that he wouldn't be the caliber of player that he is were it not for the petulance.

But then there are two questions. There's still the question of whether he is justified in misbehaving, and on that count (setting aside now how much his 'psychological disorder' might mitigate against his being rightfully held responsible) clearly his behavior is still unwarranted. There are also times when he has played extrememly well and not misbehaved, so how much he really needs to do so to maintain that competitive fire is unclear.

Finally, granting that it is necessary for him to act out in that way at times in order to be the great player that he is, we can ask whether we'd rather he act that way and still be an all-time great, or not act that way and still be an excellent player, though maybe not a 5-time U.S. Open champion. I'm on the fence on that one.

 

[Fleece3]

There's still the question of whether he is justified in misbehaving, and on that count (setting aside now how much his 'psychological disorder' might mitigate against his being rightfully held responsible) clearly his behavior is still unwarranted. There are also times when he has played extrememly well and not misbehaved, so how much he really needs to do so to maintain that competitive fire is unclear.

THAT IS WHAT A MANIC IS!!! By definition, their behavior is often unpredicable. I had a friend that was manic. The very action that brought laughter one minute brings scorn and temper flares the next. And it is totally on an unconscious level. It happens without any conscious input from the person. Blaming a manic for an outburst, is like blaming a dog for barking. You can not simply say "get a grip", or "snap out of it". Manics othen try to self medicate with drugs and/or alcohol (my friend tried both...AT THE SAME TIME!!!). It can be treated with medication. However, like I said before, Earl would not be the same player that he is. Example?? Look what happened to Mike Tyson (in the ring) once he went on medication for his case of manic. The medication leaves the patient unable to experience deep compassion (good or bad) about anything. It leaves you with this mild mannered, even tempered "Stepford Person"

 

[Kyo]

Hi Everyone

Not exactly a subject that i'd like to talk about in one of my first posts here. But time and time again, i cannot understand how such a great player like Earl can act like this.

It amazing and somehow ironic how someone that can control the cue ball and make balls so well, cannot do the same on himself???

 

[Fleece3]

Hi Everyone

Not exactly a subject that i'd like to talk about in one of my first posts here. But time and time again, i cannot understand how such a great player like Earl can act like this.

It amazing and somehow ironic how someone that can control the cue ball and make balls so well, cannot do the same on himself???

Read previous post. It contains the answers to your questions

 

[Kyo]

Read previous post. It contains the answers to your questions

I wasn't really looking for answers but rather posted it as a statement. I heard off table he a really nice guy and this is coming from several guys that have met him.

 

[JAM]

Earl generates interest for a multitude of reasons. Some like to watch him play pool. He is extraordinary when in combat. Others enjoy seeing his every move, wondering what's going to happen next.

I must say that at the U.S. Open Champions Tribute last week, when each U.S. Open champion was called to the center stage along with Steve Mizerak, Earl spoke briefly to The Miz and the audience. One by one, Barry Behrman gave a brief bio about each player before they walked out underneath the lights. Each one shook the hand of every U.S. Open Champion and then took their spot.

When the ceremony was just about done, Barry made one comment about Earl which resonated with me. He said that he thought Earl Strickland with his five U.S. Open wins and six world championship titles should most definitely be in the BCA's Hall of Fame, and he urged everybody to contact the BCA if they felt as strongly about it as he did. Not only did everybody cheer and applaud loudly, but then Earl Strickland got a standing ovation which lasted a couple minutes. I've never seen a pool player get a standing ovation until this past U.S. Open. These were the same audience members who booed him for his comment after the Ralf Souquet match earlier in the week. Railbirds can be fickle, but they can't help but recognize excellence.

It's no secret that I do like Earl Strickland, on and off the table, and so I add my 2 cents to this thread. It is amazing to me how many threads and posts are generated about Earl Strickland. Being a pool champion and/or a Hall of Famer doesn't pay the bills, unfortunately, in these times, and being the best at pool doesn't reap very many rewards. Why a few great players have stuck around in a game/sport with low payouts is very telling, but they do because of a very deep passion.

I look forward to seeing Earl on the tournament trail, and believe me, if you saw him play this past Saturday, he is very capable of beating anybody on the face of the earth. This is why his table is always surrounded by spectators, railbirds, and fans. He's a major attraction at any pool tournament he attends.

JAM

 

[Renegade]

Why do people like to watch Earl play? Because people like to kibitz around car accidents or suicides or public executions. Because whenever there's a rumble during basketball games you can be sure it'll be all over the news for days. Because with Earl, you'll never know what he's going to do next.....

 

[jay helfert]

Well, I have to say that I disagree. If he didn't care what the crowd thinks I doubt that he would get so upset so many times when they applaud his opponents, or cheer when Earl misses.

You're probably right there. He just has a distorted view of the world around him and how he relates to it.

 

[jay helfert]

Did you ever see Earl at the top of his game in the early to mid-eighties? Or Efren from the same period? Both those guys were better then than they are now. I think Sigel, Strickland and Reyes of the eighties were three of the top five or so nine-ball players ever. I have an old Accu-Stats tape from the Tara Open finals in Atlanta in April, 1988, between Earl and Efren, which may just be the greatest Accu-Stats nineball tape ever. Those three guys were unbelievable around that time.

I was at many of those tournaments back then and served as T.D. for quite a few. Efren had trouble winning for a long time because of his weak break.
No one strung racks like Earl. He had more firepower than anyone before or since. And Sigel was at his best under pressure. No one could come with a tough shot with all the marbles on the line like Mike. And he did it over and over again. Do you know he won 11 final matches in a row (not 11 consecutive tournaments, but 11 in a row when he reached the finals). Think about it. He was always playing Earl, Efren, Buddy, Varner etc.
Buddy should always be mentioned with the greats. He probably has won more tournaments in his life than anyone (bar table, big table, 9-Ball, One Pocket, Banks.

 

[jay helfert]

Poolbum,

Please read what I posted before:

If you accept the fact that Earl is a bipolar manic depressive, then his behavior will not seem so strange. Part of his brillance is due to that. If you were to take that part of him away, he would not be the player that he is. Asking and or expecting him to act any different is like asking a cat to bark like a dog. Accept that Earl is Earl. Be appreciative at the fact that you are watching one of the greatest pool players ever, and thank God that you do not live with him.

Fleece3

Earl is kind of an 'idiot savant' at pool. I've often said that if not for pool, Earl might not be able to function in society at all.

 

[jay helfert]

Any chance of getting that on DVD?

I'm sure you can get it from Accu-stats.

 

[jay helfert]

Earl generates interest for a multitude of reasons. Some like to watch him play pool. He is extraordinary when in combat. Others enjoy seeing his every move, wondering what's going to happen next.

I must say that at the U.S. Open Champions Tribute last week, when each U.S. Open champion was called to the center stage along with Steve Mizerak, Earl spoke briefly to The Miz and the audience. One by one, Barry Behrman gave a brief bio about each player before they walked out underneath the lights. Each one shook the hand of every U.S. Open Champion and then took their spot.

When the ceremony was just about done, Barry made one comment about Earl which resonated with me. He said that he thought Earl Strickland with his five U.S. Open wins and six world championship titles should most definitely be in the BCA's Hall of Fame, and he urged everybody to contact the BCA if they felt as strongly about it as he did. Not only did everybody cheer and applaud loudly, but then Earl Strickland got a standing ovation which lasted a couple minutes. I've never seen a pool player get a standing ovation until this past U.S. Open. These were the same audience members who booed him for his comment after the Ralf Souquet match earlier in the week. Railbirds can be fickle, but they can't help but recognize excellence.

It's no secret that I do like Earl Strickland, on and off the table, and so I add my 2 cents to this thread. It is amazing to me how many threads and posts are generated about Earl Strickland. Being a pool champion and/or a Hall of Famer doesn't pay the bills, unfortunately, in these times, and being the best at pool doesn't reap very many rewards. Why a few great players have stuck around in a game/sport with low payouts is very telling, but they do because of a very deep passion.

I look forward to seeing Earl on the tournament trail, and believe me, if you saw him play this past Saturday, he is very capable of beating anybody on the face of the earth. This is why his table is always surrounded by spectators, railbirds, and fans. He's a major attraction at any pool tournament he attends.

JAM

Quite simply, Earl Strickland IS the greatest tournament 9-Ball player who has ever lived. PERIOD!!!
For the money, I'll take Parica, thank you.

 

[PoolBum]

Quite simply, Earl Strickland IS the greatest tournament 9-Ball player who has ever lived. PERIOD!!!
For the money, I'll take Parica, thank you.

Very interesting. I'd have to rank Sigel up there with Strickland as far as tournament nineball players, but those two are the best, hands down. As for Parica, I've heard many say the same thing about him for the money. I have seen him play in tourneys a few times, and I had the pleasure of playing him at Shooters a few weeks ago, but I haven't seen him in action. I've heard Buddy and Incardona say that he is maybe the most tenacious and relentless player they have seen though.

 

[jay helfert]

Very interesting. I'd have to rank Sigel up there with Strickland as far as tournament nineball players, but those two are the best, hands down. As for Parica, I've heard many say the same thing about him for the money. I have seen him play in tourneys a few times, and I had the pleasure of playing him at Shooters a few weeks ago, but I haven't seen him in action. I've heard Buddy and Incardona say that he is maybe the most tenacious and relentless player they have seen though.

I got to see Earl and Sigel both in their prime. When everybody played their best game, Earl had the highest gear. Most of the top players of the 80's and 90's would probably agree.
Earl could make a tough 9' table look like a bar box. It literally looked like he was playing bar table 9-Ball sometimes. Break and run out, break and run out, on and on it would go. NO ONE (not Sigel, Buddy or anybody) strung racks like Earl and fast too. One, two shoot; one, two shoot and so on. He might be playing a tight match with a player like Rempe or Varner and it would be close like 4-3 Earl is behind. And he would hit his gear and in minutes the score would be 9-4 Earl. So quick, so deadly, so scary.
At his peak, Earl was almost a favorite to run a five or a six every match he played. That is hard to beat. Many times he would trail in a match something like 7-4 and the next time you look up he's on the hill.
I saw him literally mesmerize his opponents, keeping them in the chair so long. Once he ran a six on Shannon in maybe 10-15 minutes max and put Shannon in a trance. In the next game Earl scratched. Shannon forgot how to play pool. He picked up the five ball Earl had just made, placed it on the table by the side pocket! and took ball in hand. Very strange, and this is the effect Earl had on players.
It is this ability that enabled him to be the dominant 9-Ball player in an era featuring Sigel, Efren and Buddy. Not to mention Little David, Nick, Rempe,
Miz and Hoppy. And many other good ones too. Put simply Earl had a higher speed and it showed up most of the time back then. There were so many good players, that occasionally he lost a match and a tournament, but no doubt he was the best of his era. Usually if he lost to one of the other top guns it would be a semi or a final, and Earl would get upset about something and might just give the match away. I saw him give up on more than one occasion. In big matches too. So this behavior is nothing new.
I think because he was so great people wanted to root for him, to run racks and play brilliantly. But all too often he would find a way to turn the crowd against him, with his petulant behavior and childish antics.
Now the converse is true of Keith. People love Keith, everywhere and anywhere he plays. He could go into the lions den and even the lions end up liking him. Keith is a great player, with perhaps more natural ability than anyone who ever held a cue. He makes shots no one else can even attempt, and makes it look easy. And on top of it, he is the funniest ad-libber to ever play pool. He comes up with lines that are true American originals. Where they come from I have no idea, but he is truly unique. Only one close was Louie.
Under pressure Keith has to be one of the best ever. He absolutely didn't show any response to pressure like a normal person would. He might even play a little better when all the money was on the line.
All right enough pool talk for one night.

 

[cueball1950]

were you at the open this year

You forgot to put rah rah rah after your Earl love in there, I think most people agree that Earl shoots quite a good game, what people are fed up with, disgusted even is his poor sportsmanship.
I don't give a hoot what is going on in his head, I don't watch pool to analyze the players feelings.
LOL, man let's all just admit you either think he's good for the game or not.

It's all kinda funny the amount of time discussing Earl when there are so many other good players out there, someone once said it doesn't matter what they say about you, just as long as they keep talking about you,,,

I think Earl has many years left to entertain us all with his different type of pool behaviour.

peace guys

ooops...rah rah rah,,,,,and yes i am a big fan of earls since he has been nice enough to sit and chat with me several times. he is a totally different person away from the table. try having a decent talk with him sometime and form your own impression. you just might be surprised.

Were you at the open this year. I watched part of earl's match with rolph and to be quite honest i am surprised that earl did not just walk out. he had people making noises when he was shooting, talking loudly when he was shooting. he even had people clap when he missed. was this good sportsmanship. I don't think so. maybe these same epople had a bet down on rolph and wanted to rattle earl and get him off his game. I saw the same thing happen to earl in the past at another tournament where you had to rack for the winner and somebody kept calling earl rack boy everytime he racked the balls. That guy had 300 bet againt earl and i know that for a fact. Just maybe that is why some people harass him so much and try to piss him off.. and i know at the open there was open betting lines. so what can i say that will change your mind about earl. nothing so i won't even try.......mike

 

[Fleece3]

ooops...rah rah rah,,,,,and yes i am a big fan of earls since he has been nice enough to sit and chat with me several times. he is a totally different person away from the table. try having a decent talk with him sometime and form your own impression. you just might be surprised.

Were you at the open this year. I watched part of earl's match with rolph and to be quite honest i am surprised that earl did not just walk out. he had people making noises when he was shooting, talking loudly when he was shooting. he even had people clap when he missed. was this good sportsmanship. I don't think so. maybe these same epople had a bet down on rolph and wanted to rattle earl and get him off his game. I saw the same thing happen to earl in the past at another tournament where you had to rack for the winner and somebody kept calling earl rack boy everytime he racked the balls. That guy had 300 bet againt earl and i know that for a fact. Just maybe that is why some people harass him so much and try to piss him off.. and i know at the open there was open betting lines. so what can i say that will change your mind about earl. nothing so i won't even try.......mike

And STILL when there were only 4 standing, Earl was one of them. He won 7 matches in a row...in one day, one of which was the GREAT Efren Reyes!!!

Come on people, give it up.....EARL IS GREAT!!!!