I'm beginning to see that I'm in the minority.
So it's meaningful, but to what end? What does it mean?
[snip] it's not a world championship or an Olympic event,
it doesn't even seem to carry bragging rights
The MC does carry big bragging rights!
It implies that the player was at one point top 5 in their country.
Now, we know that due to politics and popularity that isn't always true.
But nobody who gets selected is a fish. It's a real honor.
When MD was talking to Jayson Shaw before their TAR match, there was some friendly
trash talk, and Mike made sure to point out that MD was on the mosconi cup team and he wasn't.
When listening to commentary at our local pool tour, the booth is sure to mention
at some point "and we have 3 former Mosconi Cup players in this event".
The cup is widely considered the most pressure filled event.
You can't have pressure unless something is meaningful.
The more meaningful, the more pressure.
If the players viewed it as just a free roll at the prize money with
a guaranteed appearance fee, there would be no pressure.
Archer: "The pressure doesn’t compare to anything. The Mosconi Cup pressure is something you never get to experience unless you’re in the team."
Hatch: "I was shaking like a leaf".
The difference in prize money is like 6% of Shane's typical annual income,
but when was the last time you saw Shane
look like this?
So bottom line, the players care.
As for Mike, I think his bad rep is blown out of proportion. I've been around him a handful
of times, both at major events and just hitting balls at a pool room, and he's been pretty friendly.
He's polite and takes a minute to talk with you.
And a lot of his antics are the frustration all players experience -
smacking the cue, ranting after a loss, stuff like that.
Remember this guy was born in 1987.
Dag, that was a good year for movies.
Predator, Robocop, Lethal Weapon, AND Full Metal Jacket?