All of this is so obvious why can't you see it. When pool halls died so did any chance for America to develop world class players. 7 foot tables inside of loud bars does not breed world champions. The Euros have private clubs which if you pay to join clearly implies that your serious about pool and not there to try to pick up tattoo covered chicks.
Mosconi Cup 2024, Nov. 30-Dec. 3, Orlando
- Thread starter Bob Jewett
- Start date
100% true and that is not going to change much anytime soon.
jayson had his team play on new cloth with silicon on the balls to imitate the MC table. those kind of tricks in preparation (heated table is another) may be worth a point or two. the match table was crazy fast
still too many intangibles that no training will account for. how many scratches on the break were there? a bunch. tell me that doesn't MASSIVELY change things at this level especially in such short sets. these guys have been playing their whole lives basically and they know what to do. i just don't think 'MC-specific' training regimens would have much, if any, effect.
you gotta love it that's for sure. money is gettin better but a long way to go. back in the day the allure was quick $$, lotsa partying and good looking chix.
probably still applies for some.many of the costly errors were running safeties too long (ball went further than intended) so there's definitely value in simulating the conditions just before the event. europe were luckier on the breaks, there's no denying that, but that doesn't tell the full story
Nothing wrong with thatyou gotta love it that's for sure. money is gettin better but a long way to go. back in the day the allure was quick $$, lotsa partying and good looking chix.
when teams are fairly evenly matched luck takes on almost mythic importance. take away all the break scratches and the outcome would/could have been much different. its like watching two top NFL teams play, turnovers are often the difference in win/lose.
If they don't have tattoo covered chick's I'M NOT GOING!
Fouls on the break:
5 by USA -- EUR won all 5, running out on their first inning every time.
3 by EUR -- USA won 2 of the 3, running out on their first inning. In the other game Gorst had BIH on the 2-ball, overran position for the 3, and played safe. A couple innings later he hooked himself pocketing the 4-ball, fouled on a jump shot at the 5-ball, and Shaw ran out for the win.
Scrunge19
Registered
JJ had the guys practicing with a cueball covered in pledge cleaning spray when he was captaining the team. So I don’t think Jayson was reinventing the wheel with his practice regime.
The point is, the Euros got embarrassed by Asia so they did everything they could to prevent that from happening again. Team USA, or certain members within that team, do not give the same impression that they’re willing to do the same. Whether it has an impact or not is difficult to quantify, but it at least signals that they’re engaged and taking steps to be more competitive.
The point is, the Euros got embarrassed by Asia so they did everything they could to prevent that from happening again. Team USA, or certain members within that team, do not give the same impression that they’re willing to do the same. Whether it has an impact or not is difficult to quantify, but it at least signals that they’re engaged and taking steps to be more competitive.
sudocrushms
Active member
The root of it is really just depth. We have three 800s in the US. Asia and Europe can line them up out the damn venue.
How that can be changed is up for debate.
Short term: "poaching" players, sounds like Vitaliy may be with us next year.
Long term: who tf knows...
How that can be changed is up for debate.
Short term: "poaching" players, sounds like Vitaliy may be with us next year.
Long term: who tf knows...
USA would prevail if Mosconi Cup would be played on bar boxes. Incidentally, the most probable reason why Europeans are ahead in MC is because we have much more 9-footers available in general and excluding the bar leagues by far the greatest number of tournaments are played on 9-footers.
I think private clubs are the way to go….get the game away from leagues where sand-bagging is actually encouraged.
I just had a chat with a captain from another team about why they weren't in the playoffs. She mentioned they have to be careful about who plays and/or beats who so they don't move up before the Spring tournament. She did not seem to realize this was the very definition of sandbagging. I guess I'm a bad captain for not doing that.
Nah, USA still gets robbed on BB's
Yes, this. In the USA, children don't play pool. There are zero elite players, that did not play, as a child. It's that simple.
I think this is quite important, in Europe we don't have the same stigma around alcohol as you guys do in the US.
Of course all pool halls sell alcohol, but they simply don't serve children (the definition of which varies country to country, but in most places will be 16-18).
In the US I get the impression its much harder to go into a pool hall and play if you're under 21, whereas in Europe you just go in, play and aren't allowed to buy alcohol.
Quite often there are rules for the evening too, for example no children after 7pm, or sometimes no unaccompanied children, but it still means there are plenty of opportunities to play (assuming there is a venue nearby, which of course isn't always the case, even in the cities).
sudocrushms
Active member
Was just thinking about this on Friday: I was at Jimmy's and a pair of siblings were playing at a table by me (actually playing, not goofing off). The younger was barely taller than the table
. Rare, but really cool to see.