is this a joke?

"Accdealer", you are dead on about Keith. Not only can he mow down the best when he is in dead punch, he is also very entertaining in a jovial way, not a "I will shark you if you use a Jump Cue" sort of way. I think the world would love to see him play!
"The Kid", you are right on about the US giving up any spots to other countries if we cannot find enough world class players. Like I mentioned in the eariler post, there are only 3-4 real threats to win the championship!!!!The UPA needs to step aside when it comes to the WPC.
 
I ususally don't reply but enjoy reading the threads but I have to agree with many like ACC.... The UPA is not the way USA players should be allowed to participate in the WPC IMO. There are many regional events that showcase great talent. Not all of the talented players can afford to go the UPA events. The Joss Tour brings out some of the best players not only in the Northeast, but sometimes has a great showing of players throughout the US.
The Planet-Pool events in FLA also have some great players.

The USA is not well represented!!! Not saying that we don't have great players going, just saying many are being left behind for those that do not stand a chance.
 
Luke Riches from Matchroom has said there will be changes in the selection process next year. He was not specific but I can't imagine they are happy with the status quo re: the UPA
 
Wally in Cincy said:
Luke Riches from Matchroom has said there will be changes in the selection process next year. He was not specific but I can't imagine they are happy with the status quo re: the UPA
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IMO the UPA is trying its best to do this selection process as fairly as possible and at the same time count on the "snowball effect" brought about by the chance to eventually be qualified to the WPC. As more players aim to get to the WPC through UPA final ranking, the more players will attend every UPA event for the points. A very strategic business move and commendable!
 
I enjoy watching Kieth play for money. But when he brings this same attitude to tournament play, it turns into a carnival. The ability to win by playing skill alone is then non-existant. JJs is no different, its just another uncalled for mind game coming from the opposite direction of Kieth's. IMO both styles don't help bring respect to pool as a serious athletic endeavor.
 
I don't know how UPA runs the show but I enjoyed the tourney they held here at the Bike last year.
They had a great field of players. Bustamante and Strickland ( aside from Keith) but they had a great field imo.
 
Gremlin said:
Bandido,

I didn't type anything in reply to the post about the WPC. But pool is not a sport or athletic endeavor. Also as a big fan and recreational player of pool I have to have something to watch at the men's tournaments beside endless rack running. Keith is always a sure fire bet to keep my attention. Earl too!

Gremlin
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Do you enjoy watching Villareal play more than Allison or Karen ?
 
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Gremlin said:
Bandido,

I didn't type anything in reply to the post about the WPC. But pool is not a sport or athletic endeavor.
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I guess all this physical conditioning being part of their training is a waste of time. Don't tell me that you are just familiar with the unprogressive players. Maybe that's one reason why the quantity of newcomers to the international arena coming from Asia and Europe are outpacing North America. The poolhall hustler attitude is slowly being dropped and pool is approached as a legitimate sport that requires proper discipline, training and conditioning.

Gremlin said:
Also as a big fan and recreational player of pool I have to have something to watch at the men's tournaments beside endless rack running. Keith is always a sure fire bet to keep my attention. Earl too!
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What you're describing is your preference for the money game scenario. The tournament scenario that I'm referring to is of having protagonists execute strategies (a product of mental capacity) using their physical capabilities (skill) to subdue their opponent in the confines of the playing field (pool table). How did Efren get all these following? Efren can elicit a reaction from the crowd with body language or a smile/frown after a shot, flicking the back of his collar as he walks away from the table or by displaying his ingenuity while wielding that cue. And all these are respectable behaviour that doesn't get negative but rather positive reactions from his opponents.

Gremlin said:
The UPA and Matchroom selection process has to change because the best players just are not there as far as I am concerned and I won't spend one dime to see it. I can find out all I need to know about my bets right here at AZBilliards or Matchroom Web Site.

Cheers,

Gremlin
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Maybe your best players should join more UPA events to build up ranking points. There may be some disagreements between the players and the organization and IMO both parties should try not to lose sight of their collective goals. Sacrifices from both parties are needed
for the good of all. Improve the commercial worth of the sport, the organization and the players then a time may come when demands from both parties can somewhat be easier to meet. But until then, sacrifices and cooperation is needed.

Edwin Reyes
 
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Gremlin said:
Also as a big fan and recreational player of pool I have to have something to watch at the men's tournaments beside endless rack running. Keith is always a sure fire bet to keep my attention. Earl too!
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The difference between Keith and Earl is that Earl can win the damned title!

I love Keith, he's a legend and his antics are fun to watch on tape. But the criteria should always be skills first, and personality a bonus, not the determining factor when deciding who gets to go to the Worlds and who doesn't.

Personally, as a fan of the game I enjoy watching the pros flaunt their skills on the table. I don't find it boring or repetitive. If I want colorful personalities I'd watch wrestling.

-Roger
 
The thing is that both players don't do anything to enhance the image of the game. Earl with his whining, Keith with his antics, neither one of them is going to attract any big corporate sponsors(although it is ironic that Earl does have some very good sponsors.) I was merely taking the view of the promoters and the thought process that love 'em or hate'm both these guys sell tickets and attract spectators.

And for the person who said the difference between Earl and Keith is that Earl can win the event, well, don't let Keith get rolling, he can win if he plays top gear AND decides that he WANTS to win.
 
buddha162 said:
The difference between Keith and Earl is that Earl can win the damned title!

I love Keith, he's a legend and his antics are fun to watch on tape. But the criteria should always be skills first, and personality a bonus, not the determining factor when deciding who gets to go to the Worlds and who doesn't.

Personally, as a fan of the game I enjoy watching the pros flaunt their skills on the table. I don't find it boring or repetitive. If I want colorful personalities I'd watch wrestling.

-Roger
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Keith and Earl might both be chock full of antics and very interesting to watch but they are 2 quite different players. Earl for all his antics is a square. He does not drink, he does not gamble, he just plays tournament pool really well and has a somewhat eccentric personality type. Keith may have a interesting personality as well but from what I have seen of both Earl and Keith in person is two totally different guys who are from totally different places in pool. Keith is the gambler, he is the drinker, he is the loose cannon. Don't think for a second Keith does not have skills. Take Keith in his prime and Earl in his prime and I am gonna put my money on Keith in a long gambling session all day. Keith is past his prime, and as far as never winning titles, yeah he was too busy beating people for the cash to worry about playing for the tin cups I am sure. The money is the sweet prize, but as can be seen from this thread the tin cups are remembered alot more then the 50 grand so and so beat so and so for 20 years ago.

I don's see Keith and Earl being very similar. They are both players that in their prime were/are machines though. Don't think for a second that either player does not have mad natural skills. I wish some of the truely old footage of Keith back in his prime was around, I would pay good cash for some videos of it.
 
I think this thread has gotten a little out of control and has started a Strickland fans V McCready fans battle. The bottom line is that there are only a handful of American world champion caliber of players that can compete with the Phillipinos, Asians and Europeans at the World Championships. They come at you in mass quantities. Here in the US, you play only a handful at a time at various tournaments. Earl Strickland is the only Amercian player I am aware of who acually travels (and can afford) the globe to play these players year in and year out.

Celtic and I quote "...Keith may have a interesting personality as well but from what I have seen of both Earl and Keith in person is two totally different guys who are from totally different places in pool..." Celtic, you should have stopped there. Why you may ask? Earl has multi- US and World titles and Sponserships, Money and more importantly has brought a tremendious amount of reconition of pocket billiards to the non-playing public with those "tin cups"! Keith with all of his great table skills, fun to watch demeaner and a heart as big as this great country when comes to gambling, what has he done for the game of professional pocket billiards. Did Earl (and many others as well) have vision for the future?

The whole point of this tread is lack of World Champion quality of US players on the list. Like I posted before there are only and I mean only, 3-4 US players a real threat to win. Don't get me wrong, I will love it if those other players win or place well and I will suppport all of them to win.
 
Chris Orme: Strong player from Toronto area. I don't think he plays as much as he used to though. I've seen him have to work real hard to beat a player who Alex P would give the 5 and out to and win.

Al Logan: Changed his name for some reason. Played quite a bit on the Pechauer tour in Quebec. Plays well, but can't beat the best in Quebec on a regular basis.
 
:)
accdealer said:
Ok, I still won't mention any names. S.L., well they would have to be pretty good to offer him the 7. F.A., he's got the 7 and can bet what he wants.
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:) do you think you can give SL the 7 also? how's your hold em' game?
 
Instead of speculating - why doesn't anyone send an e-mail to the UPA and ask how the players were chosen? The e-mail address is on their web site.

Why not ask the BCA - their e-mail address is on their web site.

From the info that I have received - the BCA allowed the UPA to send their top 13 players - Earl is not a UPA player - he was a previous World Championship title holder, which allowed Matchroom to add him to the list. The others are the US players in the UPA based on seeding rankings - points from the last 10 events.

These players were only given two months notice of their invitations - and I can guarantee some didn't have the funds or available schedule to be able to go, and therefore passed the invite down the line.

The BCA is supporting the UPA - trying to bring the UPA up to par.

As for Keith, unfortunately - Keith is not a UPA player, and does not hold a previous World title, and therefore did not receive an invite. I am a fan of his as well.

And just for the record - Planet-Pool is in Mid East (Virginia, Maryland, D.C. area) ;)

I wish the best of luck to those who are attending the World Championships!
 
good idea. apparently there were a number of players that denied the invite; money, time, tournamet format, hate flying. the upa went straight down their seeding ranking which is based on the last 10 major events. like or not the upa is the governing body of men's pro pool and the bca acknowledges that. besides, insn't the bca now split in two? amatuer league and trade association. So I guess my question is what do they have to do with nominations anyway? no wonder why they ask upa for ranking. where else are they going to get the nominations? certainly not forum fighting between us. earl did get an invite for being former world champion. keith m. is now a upa member. just look at the calendar ranking. i wish there were more power players like keith going. however i support anyone who decided to step up and go when the other guys didn't.
 
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