Mosconi Cup 2024, Nov. 30-Dec. 3, Orlando

skogstokig said:
yes, team europe had basically a merit system while team USA had "hook a buddy up" to a degree. of course making players coaches could lead to that again, as many are implying here with sky - billy.

but other ppl too have been putting billy's name in there for this year, because of intangibles like team spirit. maybe there's a case for those factors, idk, hard to measure. i would say that oscar's best game is without a shot clock, and that billy is faster paced. but overall i still think oscar would be better because of current form.
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His bank game level is tops. More games are won with great cue ball control than because of a great shot.
 
sjm said:
No doubt, the "AZB asterisk squad" will put an asterisk next to any Team USA victory this year. I root for Team USA, but fully understand that beating a Filler-less Team Europe would be a heavily watered-down accomplishment.
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No where near as big an asterik as that next to Filler's world 8 ball. lol

Jaden
 
WNT has just changed the future of pool with its partnership with BetOnline for the Moscone Cup As a gambler, billiards has to be one of the funnest activities to bet on. As gambling popularity grows, events could be worth millions growing purses, participants and viewers. It highlights WNT's big picture vs. WPA's small ball prettiness.
 
Filler has every right to join the LIV tour of billiards (WPA) and will be missed for about 18 months and forgotten about like all the LIV golfers. A Team USA win will be a great stepping stone to the future of on line gambling and pool.
 
If anyone is still looking for tickets, Ticketmaster is offering certified resale tickets for all four days. The prices range from $200 to $400 or so per day. The final day is not sold out of original tickets -- pessimists.
 
Scrunge19 said:
If you need a dedicated hype man on your team just to get you amped up to play an event like the Mosconi, you probably shouldn’t be there.
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It’s not about that. It’s team chemistry, which is a huge factor for either team. If the vibes are bad, the results generally are bad. While I’ve never played on the Mcup team I’ve been right there with them.

Best
Fatboy<—-was lucky enough to live that experience in life
 
SA96 said:
I don't have a problem with Gorst playing for Team USA. He lives in the USA and is paying taxes here.

And it's not like Russia is part of European culture anyway, they are only in Europe because of geography.

My problem is the absence of Filler. The credibility of the tournament has been damaged.

And Billy Thorpe getting the wild-card over Oscar Dominguez is ridiculous. Oscar has worked his ass off the entire year and accumulated more points than Billy.

We all know Skyler and Billy are friends.
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True as a world region we do divide Western and Eastern Europe. Wherever the blurred dividing line is between Eastern & Western Europe is Russia is definitely in the East. Western European culture may not include Russia but what is European culture? Culturally Western Europe is almost as diverse as the USA. Okay… culturally most of Western Europe uses the same currency. 🤣

Agreed… no problem with Russian born American Gorst representing the the USA… And Oscar 💯% should be on the team❗️
 
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Jaden said:
No where near as big an asterik as that next to Filler's world 8 ball. lol

Jaden
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There should be no asterisk in either case, but in the case of the World 8-ball, Filler beat everyone that chose to play. There was no player excluded from participation by the event producer.

In the case of the Mosconi, should Team USA win, they will not have beaten a team of those that chose to play, but instead a watered-down field weakened by the extreme actions of the event producer in excluding a player that may already qualify as the best ever European player.

There has never been a tournament in the history of our sport where the champion had an asterisk next to their name in the record books and there may never be one.

The asterisk squad needs to end its membership drive and discontinue operations.
 
I think Oscar had something to prove tonight in Wyoming… came up a little short at Mint Billiards.
 
T411 said:
I think Oscar had something to prove tonight in Wyoming… came up a little short at Mint Billiards.
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Yup, Oscar lost to SVB in the hotseat match and then again in the Final, with the latter going to hill/hill at 14s.
 
sjm said:
There should be no asterisk in either case, but in the case of the World 8-ball, Filler beat everyone that chose to play. There was no player excluded from participation by the event producer.

In the case of the Mosconi, should Team USA win, they will not have beaten a team of those that chose to play, but instead a watered-down field weakened by the extreme actions of the event producer in excluding a player that may already qualify as the best ever European player.

There has never been a tournament in the history of our sport where the champion had an asterisk next to their name in the record books and there may never be one.

The asterisk squad needs to end its membership drive and discontinue operations.
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Mosconi cup has nothing to do with choosing to play, it has to do with being CHOSEN to play. It's not always about skill. There were many times that Earl was the most skillful on the cup that he brought the team down.

Jaden
 
Jaden said:
Mosconi cup has nothing to do with choosing to play, it has to do with being CHOSEN to play. It's not always about skill. There were many times that Earl was the most skillful on the cup that he brought the team down.

Jaden
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... then you don't understand the process. The top three Americans and Europeans based on Matchroom ranking are guaranteed a spot. The other two on each team are invitees. The Mosconi Cup is not an invitational. In fact, there isn't even one Matchroom event that is fully invitational. Whether it is the World Pool Masters, the World Cup of Pool, the Premier League Pool, the Reyes Cup or the Mosconi, players can qualify based on ranking.
 
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skogstokig said:
yes, team europe had basically a merit system while team USA had "hook a buddy up" to a degree. of course making players coaches could lead to that again, as many are implying here with sky - billy.

but other ppl too have been putting billy's name in there for this year, because of intangibles like team spirit. maybe there's a case for those factors, idk, hard to measure. i would say that oscar's best game is without a shot clock, and that billy is faster paced. but overall i still think oscar would be better because of current form.
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Two things at play I believe. Best choice for a winning team would be Oscar (imo). Best choice for entertainment value is Billy.

Since an American win seems to be stuck in unlikelyhood. MR might as well enjoy the extra entertainment Billy will provide. If they can get him to play in those flag overalls, all the better
 
sjm said:
... then you don't understand the process. The top three Americans and Europeans based on Matchroom ranking are guaranteed a spot. The other two on each team are invitees. The Mosconi Cup is not an invitational. In fact, there isn't even one Matchroom event that is fully invitational. Whether it is the World Pool Masters, the World Cup of Pool, the Premier League Pool, the Reyes Cup or the Mosconi, players can qualify based on ranking.
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Obviously it is fully invitational, because the top points earner for Europe got uninvited.
 
The_JV said:
Two things at play I believe. Best choice for a winning team would be Oscar (imo). Best choice for entertainment value is Billy.

Since an American win seems to be stuck in unlikelyhood. MR might as well enjoy the extra entertainment Billy will provide. If they can get him to play in those flag overalls, all the better
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oscar is better overall but billy is better in overalls
 
Badpenguin said:
Everyone assumes sober Billy will be as entertaining as drunk Billy. I feel kind of bad for the guy...
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I think either drunk or sober Billy would be more entertaining than Oscar. You should be feeling bad for Oscar.
Badpenguin said:
I think both teams should be required to invite a junior, and a woman, and do away with the 2 wildcards.
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While I totally agree that would diversify the teams in an entertaining manner (but likely make the Euros even stronger). However, wildcard is meant to be a source of drama. That approach clearly works based on these conversations.

What this year has done, has shed light on the approach of only having 1 wildcard. Consider that Sky burnt one pic on himself. If he hadn't then he becomes what..?.., a bench coach, rather than a playing one...?
 
sjm said:
... then you don't understand the process. The top three Americans and Europeans based on Matchroom ranking are guaranteed a spot. The other two on each team are invitees. The Mosconi Cup is not an invitational. In fact, there isn't even one Matchroom event that is fully invitational. Whether it is the World Pool Masters, the World Cup of Pool, the Premier League Pool, the Reyes Cup or the Mosconi, players can qualify based on ranking.
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This is what baffles me.... Almost like they attempt to validate the closed door invites based on publicly viewable rankings. Until this situation, the rankings vs ideal players (entertainment) have lined up. MR's hand has been force a bit by Filler's choices. Attempting to generate validity to the "tour" by acting like organizing body rather than just a promoter.

The tires will hit the road once Shaw's ranking falls enough to rely on being a captain's pick despite several others playing better. Mosconi is not about promoting competition. They want the drama, bravado, good vs bad guy. WCofP and the Premier I like to believe are different in that regard. Reyes too new to know what the driving force is.
 
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