Is it just me ... ?

[Snapshot9]

or has most of the excitement gone out of watching the WPBA matches since the IPT tournaments have been on?

They almost seem like the minor leagues niow, with the exception of Allison's
playing. I get really tired and bored with Allison's opponents not being able to figure out a game plan worthy of beating Allison. It's like watching a TV show for an hour, where you figured it out in the first 5 minutes, and takes the characters 55 minutes to come up with a common sense answer to the puzzle.

Karen is the only one that can come through at times. Helena makes the same dumb errors EVERY MATCH against Allison even though she can break them pretty good at times. I see some potential in Romana but needs refined more. Jeanette does not beat Allison unless she just happens to FALL INTO A GOOD SAFETY late into the match, and Allison does not make a good kick. Julie Kelley is another one, similiar to Helena,
and not as good as Helena.

When in the world are they going to figure out that you don't beat the BEST OFFENSIVE WOMAN PLAYER with offense, that you have to do it with defense first, then offense. Are they all just not smart enough to figure that out?

Ga Young and Jasmin are the 2 only serious threats to Allison, but Allison still has the edge of experience on her side. I do see more in the future though as the Oriental women players get better.

Can't they see what are Allison's weak points in her game.

1) Her break.
2) Kicking sometimes.
3) Leaves too much room to work when she safeties.
4) Banking sometimes.
5) Jump shots.

Granted, these are NOT glaring defiencies in Allison's games, but these
are the best areas to attack her game.

I mean, even when Allison is off, she still wins 90% of the time.

And I don't say these things to belittle Allison IN ANY WAY, she is a great woman player, but these other women players need to get a CLUE.

 

[Dead Money]

I just watched the WPBA BCA playpool.com deal on ESPN and found it entertaining even though I knew the outcome in advance. Jasmin O. played great and is a major hottie.

 

[jjinfla]

It must be hard on the women to be beaten by a blonde.

 

[PoolSharkAllen]

or has most of the excitement gone out of watching the WPBA matches since the IPT tournaments have been on?

I think ESPN has cut back on their television programming this year for both men's and women's events.

I'm even thinking of cancelling my expanded cable tv subscription for 5 months or so. With all the delayed coverage and reruns, I'll bet that I won't have missed much.

 

[straybullet]

or has most of the excitement gone out of watching the WPBA matches since the IPT tournaments have been on?

They almost seem like the minor leagues niow, with the exception of Allison's
playing. I get really tired and bored with Allison's opponents not being able to figure out a game plan worthy of beating Allison. It's like watching a TV show for an hour, where you figured it out in the first 5 minutes, and takes the characters 55 minutes to come up with a common sense answer to the puzzle.

Karen is the only one that can come through at times. Helena makes the same dumb errors EVERY MATCH against Allison even though she can break them pretty good at times. I see some potential in Romana but needs refined more. Jeanette does not beat Allison unless she just happens to FALL INTO A GOOD SAFETY late into the match, and Allison does not make a good kick. Julie Kelley is another one, similiar to Helena,
and not as good as Helena.

When in the world are they going to figure out that you don't beat the BEST OFFENSIVE WOMAN PLAYER with offense, that you have to do it with defense first, then offense. Are they all just not smart enough to figure that out?

Ga Young and Jasmin are the 2 only serious threats to Allison, but Allison still has the edge of experience on her side. I do see more in the future though as the Oriental women players get better.

Can't they see what are Allison's weak points in her game.

1) Her break.
2) Kicking sometimes.
3) Leaves too much room to work when she safeties.
4) Banking sometimes.
5) Jump shots.

Granted, these are NOT glaring defiencies in Allison's games, but these
are the best areas to attack her game.

I mean, even when Allison is off, she still wins 90% of the time.

And I don't say these things to belittle Allison IN ANY WAY, she is a great woman player, but these other women players need to get a CLUE.

Scott

I disagree with you. I believe that any player on the WPBA is capable of beating anybody if they get the opportunity. In every sport you have dominant players such as Allison Fisher and Karen Corr but at every event there are great matches that take both of them to the limit. An example of that was Jennifer Barretta's win over Allison at the Cuetec Classic this past summer. Placing players into categories and sticking labels such as "they always do this" or "they always do that" isn't accurate or a fair assessment of their ability - especially when speaking of Helena. She's a tough fighter whether she's ahead or behind in the match. She's no walk in the park for anybody - not even for Allison.

FWIW, there are many serious threats in women's 9 ball besides Ga Young and Jasmin. There is Pan Xiao Ting, Wendy Jans, Anna Kostanian, Pam Treadway, Kelly Fisher, Tiffany Nelson, Tracey Hines, Melissa Herndon, & Melissa Morris. I'm sure I've missed a dozen more names - most from Taipei and some that you probably have never heard of. In many tournaments, the story isn't accurately told by what you eventually see on television. The drama unfolds slowly during the week, and the best and most entertaining matches are never recorded for TV. That's a shame. There really are some great up and coming players that you only get to read about.

I agree that Allison has always had problems with her break and the other areas that you mentioned. If it was easy to beat Allison, I'm sure it would happen more often. The fact that it doesn't happen very often speaks for itself. It's very intimidating to play against Allison - or to have her in your bracket - and I'm sure that factor outweighs the others you brought up.

 

[deep]

Jasmin O. played great and is a major hottie.

Pics arn't loading???

 

[JoeyInCali]

Allison is beatable.
Problem is the other ladies outside of Karen Corr dog their brains out when playing Allison. Helena and Gerda dog their brains out most of the time against Allison.
The only times I've seen Allison lose to Jeanette Lee are suspicious to me. LOL
Like the one in San Diego years ago. Ally couldn't make a ball on Olhausen table with pockets wider than my pants. Lee played safe on one ball and the ball caught lip of the SIDE pocket and went in from a sharp angle from the end-rail. LOL

 

[catscradle]

or has most of the excitement gone out of watching the WPBA matches since the IPT tournaments have been on?

...

I never thought it was very exciting to begin with. Better than nothing on TV and I loved watching Alison (and sometimes Karen), but unless you had Karen and Alison I've never found it was that special.

 

[sjm]

This seems a most unusual time for this post. The best player on the WPBA in 2006 has been Karen Corr, with three titles won (WPBA Carolina Classic, WPBA Florida and WPBA Peoria). Allison Fisher has just one title in 2006 (WPBA Michigan City).

In addition, Allison has seemed more vulnerable than ever in 2006. Pan Xiatoing is 2-2 in matches against Allison, and one of the losses was double hill. Jennifer Barretta beat Allison at Florida, and nearly beat her a second time in the same event. Kelly Fisher eliminated Allison at the Carolina Classic, and eliminated Allison again at WPBA San Diego. Jasmin Ouschan took out Allison in the final at the BCA "playpool.com" Open.

With a strong finish to the year, Karen Corr can regain the #1 WPBA ranking. Allison is a wonderful player and a great champion, but the case for her dominance on the WPBA is. at present, a very weak one.

 

[grisbe]

Scott

I disagree with you. I believe that any player on the WPBA is capable of beating anybody if they get the opportunity. In every sport you have dominant players such as Allison Fisher and Karen Corr but at every event there are great matches that take both of them to the limit. An example of that was Jennifer Barretta's win over Allison at the Cuetec Classic this past summer. Placing players into categories and sticking labels such as "they always do this" or "they always do that" isn't accurate or a fair assessment of their ability - especially when speaking of Helena. She's a tough fighter whether she's ahead or behind in the match. She's no walk in the park for anybody - not even for Allison.

Anyone can get lucky, but it's the players who consistantly win who are the champions. There are maybe two or three women besides Allison and Karen who have a real shot at winning a tournament.

FWIW, there are many serious threats in women's 9 ball besides Ga Young and Jasmin. There is Pan Xiao Ting, Wendy Jans, Anna Kostanian, Pam Treadway, Kelly Fisher, Tiffany Nelson, Tracey Hines, Melissa Herndon, & Melissa Morris. I'm sure I've missed a dozen more names - most from Taipei and some that you probably have never heard of. In many tournaments, the story isn't accurately told by what you eventually see on television. The drama unfolds slowly during the week, and the best and most entertaining matches are never recorded for TV. That's a shame. There really are some great up and coming players that you only get to read about.

These women are all shortstops who will probably never win a major event. Sad but true. There is a huge difference between Karen, Allison, and the women in this list. Karen and Allison are good players, period. This list is made up of good FEMALE players. Each of them are B+ players AT BEST in any good pool room. If they weren't female, no one would know their names.