Mosconi Cup 2025, Dec. 3-6, Alexandra Palace, London

Jay....
Just not here/yep.....
Helfert....
You hit the nail on the head with those words.

I've felt that way for quite some time, cost of living/traveling/eating for an American pro is about triple since 70's, they are in the same boat.
just not here yet.
MR gives me this feeling, they just wanted the US Open 9 Ball event/name. Hope I'm wrong.
I say that because how many other Major events in the US have they produced here since the buyout?

Best thing I've seen from MR is Mentioning TX as an event location.... better set the dates for 2027 why?
2026 9 ball is already planned out in other parts of Earth.

Is MR going to accommodate all the top players by scheduling the TX event properly?
Are the 2026 US Open dates already set?
 
Island Drive said:
Jay....
Just not here/yep.....
Helfert....
You hit the nail on the head with those words.

I've felt that way for quite some time, cost of living/traveling/eating for an American pro is about triple since 70's, they are in the same boat.
just not here yet.
MR gives me this feeling, they just wanted the US Open 9 Ball event/name. Hope I'm wrong.
I say that because how many other Major events in the US have they produced here since the buyout?

Best thing I've seen from MR is Mentioning TX as an event location.... better set the dates for 2027 why?
2026 9 ball is already planned out in other parts of Earth.

Is MR going to accommodate all the top players by scheduling the TX event properly?
Are the 2026 US Open dates already set?
Click to expand...
Fraser stated in the interview last week that the schedule would be released to the players in a couple of weeks. Didn't sound like any "new" event here in the US other than the new location for the PLP event in Lauderale in February at Classic Billiards, which they coincidently scheduled right on top of the Predator Vegas event that was announced in August.

The only question is, where are they moving the US Open 9 Ball to.
 
Yep....WHERE???????????
Open is thee Major/like Augusta masters golf.
Only way you can top it is with cash, and cash is cash, its not history.
Yeah JJ.... where the heck is their long term schedule?
 
Island Drive said:
Jay....
Just not here/yep.....
Helfert....
You hit the nail on the head with those words.

I've felt that way for quite some time, cost of living/traveling/eating for an American pro is about triple since 70's, they are in the same boat.
just not here yet.
MR gives me this feeling, they just wanted the US Open 9 Ball event/name. Hope I'm wrong.
I say that because how many other Major events in the US have they produced here since the buyout?

Best thing I've seen from MR is Mentioning TX as an event location.... better set the dates for 2027 why?
2026 9 ball is already planned out in other parts of Earth.

Is MR going to accommodate all the top players by scheduling the TX event properly?
Are the 2026 US Open dates already set?
Click to expand...

there is the florida open too, which is likely to stay.
 
Kris_b1104 said:
Lol I have no idea what you're talking about. Care to share some inside info?
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Screenshot 2025-12-09 101521.png
 
JAM said:
Watching loved ones be picked apart on social media is never easy. Parents, family members, and close friends feel it deeply, often more deeply than the person being discussed. I get that. Ask me how I know. ;)

Recently, strong opinions were shared on a Window's Open podcast about a Billy Thorpe Jr.'s style, strength, and even his place on a future Mosconi Cup Team USA. Billy Thorpe Sr. (Billy Jr.'s dad) made a rant-filled post on Facebook sharing his thoughts about the Window's Open owner/founder (M.M.) for sharing his opinions about Billy Jr. Of course, he loves his son and is very proud. Opinions come with the territory in competitive sports, but they don’t always land lightly, especially when they involve someone’s child, sibling, or partner. The Thorpe family is incredibly proud of Billy, and rightly so, not just for how powerfully he plays pool, but for the man he is, which is family-oriented, hardworking, and entrepreneurial.

I happen to like and respect all parties involved here. I like the Window’s Open founder/owner (M.M.), and I also like the entire Thorpe family. That’s exactly why this is worth saying that reading disparaging words about people you love can tear a hole in your heart. Replying to an opinionated post you do not agree with rarely helps when it is about someone you love. It doesn't change minds, and it often amplifies the negativity. Silence, restraint, and perspective are learned skills. They take years to build, and I still struggle with it from time to time.

We can disagree. We can debate performance, style, and decisions, and people are entitled to their opinions, of course. But remembering the human beings and families behind the headlines and opinions goes a long way too. The pool culture is a small one, and we know each player much more so than we would, say, a famous golfer or baseball player. We interact with them and even their families on social media in this pool world. Sometimes the strongest response from a family member or loved one is no response at all.

A good example of this is how Joshua Filler handled the cyberbullying on social media when he was attacked viciously ad nauseum for changing his mind about which tournament he was going to compete in. He said nothing, responded to nothing, and continued on with his pool career full speed ahead. He is the epitome of social media maturity. A year later, he's back on the Mosconi Cup team. Silence is golden sometimes.
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Hey, Jam. Another masterpiece. Thanks.
 
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jay helfert said:
.... Next thing we know there are European players winning major tournaments, by the late 1990's and early 2000's. ....
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A small nit here... Oliver Ortmann won the US Open 14.1 (Mizerak 2nd) in 1989, which surprised pretty much everyone. He won a second one in 1993.

On the other hand, in 1975 there was a German in the US Open (14.1) who was unaware of how safety play went since he was an eight ball champion. There was also a lone Japanese player. Neither had a chance.
 
jay helfert said:
After a few days of hindsight, I can only add this one sobering thought. I come from a generation of American pool players who ruled the planet. True we were not so aware of the Filipinos yet since they were not traveling to the USA until the 1980's. But there was no doubt in our minds that we had the best players right here. Sigel, Mizerak, Varner, Rempe, Hopkins, West, Howard, Earl, Archer, Davenport and the older vets like Shorty, Ervolino, Jersey Red, Kelly, Ronnie, Butera, Cornbread and Richie. Who could beat us at pool? Nobody!

And this was the way it was............until! Efren and Parica came along and other Pinoy players started showing up here, and kicking ass. Next thing we know there are European players winning major tournaments, by the late 1990's and early 2000's. The bubble had burst! From there it only got worse until we reached the complete breaking point. If not for Shane the last fifteen years we probably wouldn't have won anything of note.

That makes it hard to swallow for a guy like me, who for a long time believed wholeheartedly in American pool dominance. After all, it was our game!

I've long since accepted the fact that the best players today are not born and bred here, and now I enjoy the worldwide flavor of our sport, with the talent being developed everywhere else it seems. So, in essence the game is growing exponentially. Just not here
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You should take pride in spreading YOUR game to the world.
 
Kris_b1104 said:
I'm like a 791 FR in memes.

IYKYK.
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I just looked at the meme again. I'm sitting in a coffee shop and can't stop laughing. I'm pretty sure, I've got a few people staring. I just can't look away. It's an absolute masterpiece. The setting, which resembles a college kids apartment, the pajamas, and that they appear to have packed on a few pounds when they are supposed to be elite athletes for USA, and the doritos and general disorganization, and to top it off with the fact that although they look interested, none of them look happy at all. I mean, it's perfection. I just can't look away.

In all seriousness, I cheer for USA every year and watch them get their asses kicked nearly every year. Good lord though, the excuses about pocket size, the break, this that and the other that have gone on for years has to stop. Pound for pound, Europe is just a little bit better at nearly all aspects of the game and it is on display once a year, every year. Mental game is light years better. They break better, they beat us at safety play, tactical, shotmaking. We might be a hair better bankers and that's about it.
 
Bob Jewett said:
A small nit here... Oliver Ortmann won the US Open 14.1 (Mizerak 2nd) in 1989, which surprised pretty much everyone. He won a second one in 1993.

On the other hand, in 1975 there was a German in the US Open (14.1) who was unaware of how safety play went since he was an eight ball champion. There was also a lone Japanese player. Neither had a chance.
Click to expand...

the swedes were actually the best european players during the 1970's and 1980's. we're rubbish now but before ortmann and engert, we were the dominant euros. i suspect on a global level only filipinos could hold a candle to the US pros
 
JAM said:
Math is not my strong suit, and neither is internet terminology. :) Is it now 60K (60,000)? Now i know. It is 60,000 "looks" on the thread. My bad!
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JAM, your post on this has led me to look at the ratio of views to replies (posts) for threads in the AzB forums. For this thread we are now at about 61,000 views and 1,800 replies, so the ratio of views to replies now is about 34 to 1. Looking at other threads, that ratio is not out of line, but the ratio ranges from way up in the hundreds to 1 to quite a bit less than this thread's 34 to 1.
 
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Reactions: JAM
Did you all see the post from Dennis Hatch?
I haven't verified it so no copy pasta but what I read was he wants to be the coach and has a plan.
I like the idea.
 
Bob Jewett said:
A small nit here... Oliver Ortmann won the US Open 14.1 (Mizerak 2nd) in 1989, which surprised pretty much everyone. He won a second one in 1993.

On the other hand, in 1975 there was a German in the US Open (14.1) who was unaware of how safety play went since he was an eight ball champion. There was also a lone Japanese player. Neither had a chance.
Click to expand...
Thank you Bob. I do remember that U.S. Open 14.1 in Chicago. I was there and did the TV commentary with George Fels on both final matches (Men and Women). I wrote a story about it in Pool Wars. Mizerak was so certain of victory in the finals with Oliver that he made the mistake of arranging delivery of the Gold Crown table going to the winner before the finals was even played. Oliver got wind of that and the rest is history.
 
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