Mosconi and World Cup of Pool

[Snapshot9]

I have been watching the Mosconi Cup on TV (I wish they wouldn't show the first of it multiple times and not the rest of it), and the Americans have won it 10 out of 12 times. Seems almost unbelievable with all the current great players in Europe currently and the last few years.

I do think part of the USA success has to be attributed to Johnny Archer, his playing and leadership in the series. Earl, also, has been a undenieble factor in our success also. I watched Earl and Rodney play a doubles match, and they looked like Bonzo and Bozo playing togehter, although it was mentioned that it was uncharacteristic for them as a team.

They are playing together in the upcoming World Cup of Pool, although I find it hard to grasp that a World Cup of anything can be held with just 2 man teams. There will be many great players there playing though.

I always thought that Steve Davis was a weak link for the European team, and that his 9 ball game was not as high a level as other European players. Of course, it can also be argued, for some years at least, that Charlie Williams was a weak link for the USA.

In 2002 that they show the Europeans winning, a disgruntled Earl, in the foreground, grabs a 6 ball and sets up obviously a missed ball from an earlier match. Anyone remember that missed ball in the match?

Am I wrong, or didn't Kim Davenport play on the Mosconi Team a few years?

Is the Trophy a revolving one that transfers back and forth each year, OR a new one each year? And where is it kept for each team if won? Are the team members names engraved on it?

If Earl & Rodney win the World Cup of Pool, is it's trophy kept the same place as the Mosconi Cup?

 

[Joseph Ortega]

first off, i want to know why charlie williams is even on the mosconi cup team. is he better than corey or gabe, i dont think so. dont get me wrong he is a great player but if i had to pick one of the three id pick corey, then gabe.

 

[ragbug74]

Yes, per the MosconiCup.COM website, Davenport was on the team in 97, 98, and 99. He has an 8-6 record in matches played.

I really enjoy watching Earl and Rodney play doubles. When both of them get in stroke and start freewheeling, their game/style is very similar.

 

[AuntyDan]

Kim was a big part of the US team. In 2003 (the first year it was held in the USA) he'd just had his eye injury and could not play. However apparently he was still very much part of the team, helping them prepare and coaching behind the scenes. So much so that they gave him a team shirt and had him sit with them during the final matches. Now he's recovering from his injury and playing Pro tournaments again, so there's a chance I guess he might make it back into the team at some point.

This caused me no end of confusion due to him looking quite a lot like Earl Strickland from a distance (They both had their moustaches at the time). Mr. Strickland had just been beaten 5-0 by Steve Davis in their grudge match re-run of the 2002 final and had stormed off unsurprisingly. When Mr. Davenport appeared in the stands for the next match cheering happily for his team it looked for a moment like Earl had suddenly had a total change of heart!

My understanding is the UPA get to place one player on the US team, and have always picked Charlie WIlliams so far. This is reciprocated as Matchroom Sports get to place one player and, up until 2005, had always selected Steve Davis. (He actually could not play due to a conflict with a snooker tournament he had to play in to retain enough ranking points to stay in the top 20)

As for the 2002 finals in which Steve Davis defeated Earl Strickland, yes Earl missed and jumped up to try and replay it as Team Europe were celebrating. What actually happened IIRC is he got slightly off position going from the 5 to the 6. This in turn led him to make the 6 but get even more out of line on the 7, which he then missed leaving Davis a simple 7-8-9 run-out for the big win.