I didn't have a dog in this fight, but I enjoyed watching this year's Mosconi Cup, and I watched a good deal of it.
Things I'd like to comment on:
York Hall and its 'atmosphere': Tough place to fade, but I think it's clear that the US team needs to actively train to overcome the hometown crowds. Culturally, there are some differences here, but some lessons from Philippine players on staying focused while being sharked/distracted might help. Practicing in loud bars might be useful:grin-square:
Individuality versus training as a team: It was pretty obvious to me that the European players have strategies and game plans, no doubt mapped out, coordinated, and tested. The US players looked more like several individuals playing the game. I saw little cohesion, and not much involvement from CJ Wiley (again, based on watching the stream; I wasn't there), whereas Johan was always close by. I think it's great that US players would tell each other things like, "Do what you want, I'm with you", but that suggests little actual strategy and pretty much nothing in the way of group orientation. It looked to me like the team with that strategized and practiced, as a team, won.
Bagging on Dechaine/Shuff/Hatch: I found this disappointing. Yes, these guys didn't perform to their potential, but few people, besides Archer and Melling, actually did either. Brandon looks like he has the right temperament to be a serious pool threat in short order, and Dechaine has that touch of bravado and brashness that makes him interesting to watch. The flip side of this is, Brandon needs seasoning, and Dechaine, when he crashes, does it full-on. Mike's only 25, he has time, and Shuff has nerves o' steel. Both these guys need to be supported, not thrown under the bus as soon as they miss/foul/play a questionable shot. Hatch is actually adored by the European crowds, because they need someone to hate, and Dennis steps in there admirably, albeit without quite as much crazy as Earl can bring. This was never so evident as at the end of the award ceremony this evening, when the partisan crowd began singing "In a Hatchet wonderland". Dennis dogged a few balls, but he is ok in my books, and he provides A LOT of support to the other US players.
Commentating: Normally, I like listening to Jay Helfert, but be wasn't much fun over the past few days. You know it's bad when Jim Wych seems like the objective one. I can only think that Jay's passion for the US team boiled over and turned into very vocal disappointment. He probably expected a lot of all the players, and when they didn't bring it, he let everyone know. I wish he had tempered his feelings a bit, and it would have been fine for him to let folks know he was pullin' for his boys. Co-host Andy did it about every three minutes...
Johnny Archer: I had a lot of respect for JA prior to this year's Cup, but I have even more now. I met him at a pool event in Calgary years ago, and he was polite and interested, and very approachable. He really is the very definition of what a pool could look like in North America: Dedicated, focused, gracious, and exacting. The way he bore up during the unfortunate incident involving his wife was nothing short of amazing. JA is the friggin' man, and has been for years.
Can't wait for next year's Cup!
Seems like Jay is taking a bit of negative feedback on his commentary. He's a friend, yet his passion for pool is undeniable. I trust he will take all this in with the level head he always has.