Far too many in this forum try to suggest that Allison Fisher has dominated the tour over the past five years. I think this is as good a time as any to have a closer look.
I'm really growing tired of those in this forum who attempt to use the passing of Allison's dad as an explanation or excuse for her losing the #1 ranking in 2001. Yes, Allison's magnificent, but Corr is so close to the exact same level that she held the number one ranking for about a year and a half. To suggest that Karen's gaining of #1 was somehow devalued by the, admittedly sad, passing of Allison's father is ridiculous. FYI, Karen's dad, sadly, died in the autumn of 2003, and I've yet to hear anyone suggest that it devalues Allison's accomplishment of winning the three WPBA events since then. Obviously, it doesn’t.
Still, talk is cheap, so let’s look at the numbers. Fisher’s domination before Karen’s arrival is indisputable. Karen’s first full year on the WPBA tour was 2000. Let’s have a look at what’s happened since, restricting our review to events that count toward the WPBA rankings. In the thirty one WPBA ranking events that have been played since 1/1/2000, Karen has won 15 of them, Allison 13, and Jeanette, Helena and Gerda one each. In short, Karen’s play has been on a par with that of Fisher over the entire period in which both have been full-time playing members of the WPBA tour.
Performance in non-WPBA events strongly favors Allison. The two events that merit consideration would be the Amway Cup in Asia and the Challenge of Champions at Mohegan Sun. I think that Allison’s excellence in those big purse events justifies reaching the conclusion that she is the best player in women’s pool.
Still, let’s not forget just how close this rivalry is. The numbers say that, since Karen’s arrival on the WPBA scene, the two have dominated the rest, but the case for Fisher’s domination of women’s pro pool since then is a very weak one. Let’s make sure we give both their due.
There has, quite simply, been nothing one-sided about this rivalry.
I'm really growing tired of those in this forum who attempt to use the passing of Allison's dad as an explanation or excuse for her losing the #1 ranking in 2001. Yes, Allison's magnificent, but Corr is so close to the exact same level that she held the number one ranking for about a year and a half. To suggest that Karen's gaining of #1 was somehow devalued by the, admittedly sad, passing of Allison's father is ridiculous. FYI, Karen's dad, sadly, died in the autumn of 2003, and I've yet to hear anyone suggest that it devalues Allison's accomplishment of winning the three WPBA events since then. Obviously, it doesn’t.
Still, talk is cheap, so let’s look at the numbers. Fisher’s domination before Karen’s arrival is indisputable. Karen’s first full year on the WPBA tour was 2000. Let’s have a look at what’s happened since, restricting our review to events that count toward the WPBA rankings. In the thirty one WPBA ranking events that have been played since 1/1/2000, Karen has won 15 of them, Allison 13, and Jeanette, Helena and Gerda one each. In short, Karen’s play has been on a par with that of Fisher over the entire period in which both have been full-time playing members of the WPBA tour.
Performance in non-WPBA events strongly favors Allison. The two events that merit consideration would be the Amway Cup in Asia and the Challenge of Champions at Mohegan Sun. I think that Allison’s excellence in those big purse events justifies reaching the conclusion that she is the best player in women’s pool.
Still, let’s not forget just how close this rivalry is. The numbers say that, since Karen’s arrival on the WPBA scene, the two have dominated the rest, but the case for Fisher’s domination of women’s pro pool since then is a very weak one. Let’s make sure we give both their due.
There has, quite simply, been nothing one-sided about this rivalry.
