Mosconi Cup and Dream Team USA Basketball Parallel

IamCalvin06

IamCalvin06

Yang "The Son of Pool"
Silver Member
I just finished watching the 2013 Mosconi Cup. The first thing that comes to mind is when the USA basketball team didn't win the Olympic gold. It was such a disappointment with the amazing talent that USA possessed. They had by far the best players on paper if you make a player by player comparison. What happened the following year? No more pros... Team USA was comprised of young college players, who were hungry.

Now is this the best choice? Speaking from a logical comparison, NO! But then again no sport is ever won on paper by a bunch of stats and numbers. Its won by the drive, preparation, and metal fortitude of the individual athlete.

I'm not saying that sending non-professionals is gonna win the Mosconi Cup. But I tell you what it will do. It will send a message to our USA professionals when they see a group of underdogs from their own country clawing and fighting against improbable odds.

CJ posted in another thread that we need to provide the Team with certain amenities. Practice facility, budget, free transportation. While i do agree with that, i have a huge problem with it as well. EARN IT!!

Before i get bashed here and someone says these guys have paid their dues. I don't disagree. But they haven't paid their dues to one another as a TEAM. I refuse to believe that giving them more will be beneficial.

The TRUE AMERICAN CHAMPIONS of pool were not prodigies, farm raised, or silver spoon fed. We are born from ashes, raised from nothing, made pool our sanctuary from the ugliness of our situations. We are not Team Europe! We are Team USA!! We need to follow our Historical Lineage and get back to what makes American Champions feared. We were always born from FIRE and not FLASH.

I think somewhere along the line it got blurred with some of Euro comparisons. Commentators like Jim W. saying how we need to take a book from the Euro Team Captain and provide for our players the way he does. F**k that!! and excuse me but F*** him as well. You wanna know whats hurting American Pool. It's when ppl say S*** like that!

Okay with that being said... Let's take a chance just for one year. It's the greatest 2 way shot i can think of.
1. We might win
2. We inspire those more capable to win
3. We don't have to see our Champions made into a spectacle another year by terrible commentators.

Hell! Tell me i can play in the Mosconi Cup and I'll quit my job and train all year long. You think Earl plays with FIRE?! I'll play like i have a BOMB strapped to my chest!! I mean you can't threaten a guy like that with something as petty as DEATH. lol
 
So you're saying you would quit your job and give up a year's salary just to get slaughtered by Team Europe?
 
Yes bc it would serve a purpose. It would send a message. It's a short race playing nine ball which to be honest with a year to prepare, I like my chances! :wink:

You have a chance to play the best in the world and you get a nice jelly roll for second? Yea,... I have no fear anymore lol did you consider that jack :thumbup:
 
IamCalvin06 said:
I just finished watching the 2013 Mosconi Cup. The first thing that comes to mind is when the USA basketball team didn't win the Olympic gold. It was such a disappointment with the amazing talent that USA possessed. They had by far the best players on paper if you make a player by player comparison.
Click to expand...

Hard to fathom these comments. Team USA was a 7/4 underdog and not many picked them. In fact, the player by player comparison strongly favored Europe, explaining the odds.

Appleton vs. Van Boening
Too close to call. They split their two Mosconi matches in 2012. Each has won two of the last four US Open 9-ball events. Appleton was second at the World Pool Masters. Appleton has always played well in the Mosconi Cup and Shane has not. They are two of the best three players in the world.

Feijen vs. Morris
Big edge to Feijen, who won the World Pool Masters, came second at the Bigfoot 10-ball at Derby City, came second at the World Cup of Pool, and was the 2011 Mosconi Cup MVP. Outside of the US Open 10-ball event, it was a pretty weak 2013 for Rodney. Finally, in Rodney's previous Mosconi Cup, in2011, Rodney played poorly.

Archer vs Immonen
Mika won the Ultimate 10-ball, which carried the second biggest winner's prize on the American pool calendar. Archer, despite a 7th place finish at the US Open 9-ball, had a pretty poor year in competition. The only thing to recommend Johnny was his outstanding performance in the 2012 Mosconi. Advantage Immonen.

Karl Boyes vs Earl Strickand
Karl Boyes had a big year, winning the Southern Classic 10-ball and winning the bronze medal at the World 9-ball Championships. Earl won at Turning Stone but won nothing else of note in 2013. Advantage Boyes.

Ralf Souquet vs Dennis Hatch
Ralf was coming off a Eurotour wn in Italy in November. Hatch had two terrible years in a row in competition and probably brought fewer credentials to the table than anyone in the history of Team USA. Advantage Souquet.

How this match would remind you of when the US failed to win the Olympic gold is incomprehensible. Back then, we had the better team.
 
I'll be more specific

sjm said:
Hard to fathom these comments. Team USA was a 7/4 underdog and not many picked them. In fact, the player by player comparison strongly favored Europe, explaining the odds.

Appleton vs. Van Boening
Too close to call. They split their two Mosconi matches in 2012. Each has won two of the last four US Open 9-ball events. Appleton was second at the World Pool Masters. Appleton has always played well in the Mosconi Cup and Shane has not. They are two of the best three players in the world.

Feijen vs. Morris
Big edge to Feijen, who won the World Pool Masters, came second at the Bigfoot 10-ball at Derby City, came second at the World Cup of Pool, and was the 2011 Mosconi Cup MVP. Outside of the US Open 10-ball event, it was a pretty weak 2013 for Rodney. Finally, in Rodney's previous Mosconi Cup, in2011, Rodney played poorly.

Archer vs Immonen
Mika won the Ultimate 10-ball, which carried the second biggest winner's prize on the American pool calendar. Archer, despite a 7th place finish at the US Open 9-ball, had a pretty poor year in competition. The only thing to recommend Johnny was his outstanding performance in the 2012 Mosconi. Advantage Immonen.

Karl Boyes vs Earl Strickand
Karl Boyes had a big year, winning the Southern Classic 10-ball and winning the bronze medal at the World 9-ball Championships. Earl won at Turning Stone but won nothing else of note in 2013. Advantage Boyes.

Ralf Souquet vs Dennis Hatch
Ralf was coming off a Eurotour wn in Italy in November. Hatch had two terrible years in a row in competition and probably brought fewer credentials to the table than anyone in the history of Team USA. Advantage Souquet.

How this match would remind you of when the US failed to win the Olympic gold is incomprehensible. Back then, we had the better team.
Click to expand...

The point I was trying to make is. That berry Berhman and the commentators talk about the decline of American pool dominance and how we are being beaten at our own game. I'm not saying that this years team was a favorite.

But even still I like team USA's chances vs team Europe. We have two of the greatest 9 ball players of all time. A current phenom in all games. And two players who can play and beat anyone on any given day. I'm not by any means saying we were favorites though. Next time I'll be more clear.

I just hope that the other points I made are heard by those who care about American pool.
 
I have said in another thread on this subject that the USA team are too old and past it.

You need players in their late teens early twenties.



Its all about entertainment not competition, so they like to put in the established names
hence Earl Strickland, even running a special documentary on him.

Team USA 2013 was the sacrificial lamb in the past team EU had snooker players.
 
Excuses

DGilb147 said:
I have said in another thread on this subject that the USA team are too old and past it.

You need players in their late teens early twenties.



Its all about entertainment not competition, so they like to put in the established names
hence Earl Strickland, even running a special documentary on him.

Team USA 2013 was the sacrificial lamb in the past team EU had snooker players.
Click to expand...

Too old. One more excuse.

It's hard for Americans to accept that we are not the best at everything...we're taught that from birth and it's repeated a thousand times a day on TV.

Can't wait for the next round of excuses. The stars were misaligned. The Euros had prettier shirts. The Americans forgot to "pledge allegiance". They forgot to pray.

I'd rather watch teams from Europe, China, the Phillipines or Taiwan. Hell, Canada could probably field a better team than the US...
 
The USA basketball team would never lose a series to any team. One game, maybe, but not a series. Besides, in some of those Olympic games the best players decided not to go.
 
DGilb147 said:
I have said in another thread on this subject that the USA team are too old and past it.

You need players in their late teens early twenties.



Its all about entertainment not competition, so they like to put in the established names
hence Earl Strickland, even running a special documentary on him.

Team USA 2013 was the sacrificial lamb in the past team EU had snooker players.
Click to expand...
However, one could argue that Earl played the best out of team USA. Also, Rodney Morris had a strong 2013 (he placed high in some tourneys besides the 10 ball US Open)- even at 43 or whatever he is.
 
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