Mika's season

[sjm]

Player of the Decade seemed like a landslide until recently. This summer, Johnny Archer, player of the decade in the 1990's, did an AZB forum chat after his BCA hall of fame election and was asked who the player of the decade is for this decade. Without hesitation, he named Ralf Souquet.

Nonetheless, Mika has put together one of the greatest years in the history of our sport in 2009, and at least is now in the conversation for player of the decade. Personally, I'd still pick Ralf, but I wouldn't struggle with it if Mika got the nod.

For those who suggest that Mika has had the best year since Varner in 1991, I'm going to suggest that Mika's 2009 is a greater achievement. The diverse international fields of today pose a far greater challenge than the fields of 1991, and the most prestigious titles are much harder to come by. The way Mika has snapped off the title in giant-field events such as the US Open, the Qatar Open, the World Ten Ball Championships, and others, is really quite remarkable, and if any player has ever triumphed over elite fields this size as consistently as Mika has in 2009, I'd like to hear about it from any of our AZB historians.

I am strongly of the opinion that Mika has had the greatest year of any player in the nine ball area, which is about thirty years old at this point.

 

[sfleinen]

The pool populace have short memories

Player of the Decade seemed like a landslide until recently. This summer, Johnny Archer, player of the decade in the 1990's, did an AZB forum chat after his BCA hall of fame election and was asked who the player of the decade is for this decade. Without hesitation, he named Ralf Souquet.

Nonetheless, Mika has put together one of the greatest years in the history of our sport in 2009, and at least is now in the conversation for player of the decade. Personally, I'd still pick Ralf, but I wouldn't struggle with it if Mika got the nod.

For those who suggest that Mika has had the best year since Varner in 1991, I'm going to suggest that Mika's 2009 is a greater achievement. The diverse international fields of today pose a far greater challenge than the fields of 1991, and the most prestigious titles are much harder to come by. The way Mika has snapped off the title in giant-field events such as the US Open, the Qatar Open, the World Ten Ball Championships, and others, is really quite remarkable, and if any player has ever triumphed over elite fields this size as consistently as Mika has in 2009, I'd like to hear about it from any of our AZB historians.

I am strongly of the opinion that Mika has had the greatest year of any player in the nine ball area, which is about thirty years old at this point.

sjm:

I think you hit on a key point here, with the emboldened part above. Unfortunately, folks have very short memories, probably indicative of the "what have you done for me lately" syndrome. Right now (key operate phrase), Mika is satisfying that. He's had a gangbusters year, and so with people's short memories, tossing his name into the "Player of the Decade" arena is natural, because people can't remember back that far. Yesteryear's news is old news, and is kind of blurred by what's happening right now.

Personally, I think we'd be doing a disservice to Ralf if someone who's had a gangbusters year gets the nod over Ralf's robotic-like winning consistency this past decade. Ralf's performed consistently in all pool disclipines, not just 9-/10-ball rotation games. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Mika's yet to win a non-rotation (non 9-/10-ball) tournament even in his gangbusters year, much less in the past decade. Came close a couple times (e.g. 2009 Mezz 14.1 Classic, where Mika fell to Johnny Archer, and the 2009 Predator Straight Pool championships, where Mika fell to Stephan Cohen), but no cigar. Meanwhile, Ralf's snapped-off many non-rotation tourneys such as the 2008 Damas World 8-Ball Championship, consistently placing very high in the IPT World 8-ball events, the 2000 U.S. Open 14.1 Straight Pool championship, and on and on as seen here:

http://azbilliards.com/thepros/2000showplayer2009.php?playernum=682

Folks, don't get me wrong -- I'm not bashing or belittling Mika's accomplishments. Mika is a veritable shoe-in for Player of the Year, that's for damn sure! But Player of the Decade? I would suggest everyone dust-off their memory banks, or go back to the history books and look at Ralf's record (link above). Putting aside any "feel good right now" Mika cheerleading, compare Ralf's record with Mika's, and I'm sure you'll agree that Ralf's been more consistently winning or placing very high than Mika. (And to be fair, in past years, Mika's had that unfortunate black cloud hanging over his head where he'd self-destruct at the worst possible time in a tournament, missing an easy case-game-winning shot or scratching, thereby handing the match to his opponent, or giving his opponent the charge he needed to stage a come-back to win the match. I personally think Mika's exorcised those demons and wafted the black cloud over his head away, so I hope to see Mika's winning ways continue.)

Thoughts?
-Sean

 

[Jason Robichaud]

$1,150 1st place Predator Tour Stop
$40,000 1st place Qatar International Open
$1,050 2nd place Mezz Classic 14.1 Event
$2,000 2nd place Seminole Pro Tour Stop
$4,000 1st place Mezz Classic 10-Ball Event
$25,000 1st place World Classic 10-Ball Event
$1,000 1st place Predator Tour Stop
$25,000 1st place Tournament of Champions
$40,000 1st place US Open 9-Ball Championship
$60,000 1st place World 10-ball Championship

Find that under someone elses name!!!

What a jump in level of play! If this was baseball, they would be following him around with a little cup to pee in

 

[sfleinen]

$1,150 1st place Predator Tour Stop
$40,000 1st place Qatar International Open
$1,050 2nd place Mezz Classic 14.1 Event
$2,000 2nd place Seminole Pro Tour Stop
$4,000 1st place Mezz Classic 10-Ball Event
$25,000 1st place World Classic 10-Ball Event
$1,000 1st place Predator Tour Stop
$25,000 1st place Tournament of Champions
$40,000 1st place US Open 9-Ball Championship
$60,000 1st place World 10-ball Championship

Find that under someone elses name!!!

What a jump in level of play! If this was baseball, they would be following him around with a little cup to pee in

Jason:

All of that is listed under 2009 for Mika -- as stated previously, that is ONE YEAR. The case for Mika for Player of the Year is moot and a dead horse -- he's got it for sure. But one year's stellar performance doesn't a player-of-the-decade make.

-Sean

 

[KoolKat9Lives]

Not to hijack the thread, so just a sidenote: I can't help but wonder how big a bite travel expenses and taxes were. He had to have knocked out ... what? 100,000 miles? Even after adding in endorsement $'s, the World #1 for '09 is doubtfully getting fat. :frown: But he's probably doing Ok, and big kudos to Mika!

 

[Jason Robichaud]

Jason:

All of that is listed under 2009 for Mika -- as stated previously, that is ONE YEAR. The case for Mika for Player of the Year is moot and a dead horse -- he's got it for sure. But one year's stellar performance doesn't a player-of-the-decade make.

-Sean

I am quite sure I put season in title:wink: I don't know of another male with that record in pool. Snooker - Hendry had those types of years 'for years'. I think Fisher would have a couple years like that... But, for a guy in the events he entered and rotation games, its incredible. I didn't think possible for someone to dominate this type of game.

 

[sfleinen]

I am quite sure I put season in title:wink: I don't know of another male with that record in pool. Snooker - Hendry had those types of years 'for years'. I think Fisher would have a couple years like that... But, for a guy in the events he entered and rotation games, its incredible. I didn't think possible for someone to dominate this type of game.

Jason:

Yep, you did, fine sir! Apologies to you that I took it down the "decade" slant, but I took the opportunity to cool the afterburners a bit of others who were already slinging the POTD nomination in your thread.

Yes, Mika's domination in the rotation games of our sport is UNREAL to say the least. The pee-pee cup analogy is quite funny and apropos!

-Sean