Mosconi cup and EARL

srs314 said:
I was shocked to read this.

Most of the time Earl makes himself this target his antics over the years may have cost him support even at tournaments in the USA.

Could you imagine Shane or Archer acting like this? Seems crazy, but it's acceptable in this case because you can say "it's just Earl being Earl"?

In my opinion what he said before the tournament (link below) is fine and to call out the other team and maybe put them a little off their game is ok too.

http://www.mosconicup.com/article_detail.asp?article_id=47

Where I draw the line is the things he does during a match that are disrespectful to his opponents or the people watching.

Everybody in the world knows what Earl has done in pool as far as titles and accomplishments, unfortunately he will be remembered more for his antics and poor sportsmanship.

Sad but true.
Click to expand...


Earl is an easy target due to his actions in the past and his willingness to EVERY time let it get to him.

I have been to two events where Earl played with one being a Mosconi Cup. Earl acted up both times but at the Mosconi Cup he was sent over the edge by horrible fans. I even asked a guy from England there why if they wanted him to act right did they try and torture him until he didn't.
He had no answer.

I agree that Earl will be remembered for his actions.
 
As mentioned by Roy, Earl is there to make some show and get some attention to the game.
I mean, why do we always end up discussing this every time Earl is in the Mosconi and all fired up?

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=83018
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=82924
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=83018&page=5

and the last match where we where all cheering for our own sides :
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=82962

I guess we have to say ''That's the show'' and just live with it.

K
 
I just had the chance to meet Earl in person. Im telling anybody that cares about the guy, sombody needs to get to him and get it through to him there is somthing not right with the way his mind works. If his behavior is not a total show the guy is in trouble that type of mental instability is only going to get worse...

now i need to go back and rep the op for starting a thread out of compassion for another.

Oh yea Mika, look out your going to step on Coreys foot.. That guy has the little man syndrome if Ive ever scene it
 
It makes Scents...

ugotactionTX said:
So he lost a short race to 5 to the current US OPEN winner.... So what ? He barely got to table because Mika played exceptional. I bet Drago understands why Earl's there... from up 4-1 to losing 5-4 is what I would call "getting DRILLED" IMO
Click to expand...

You are right. Earl was "SKUNKED".
 
Geez- I watch all the legs of the Guinness 9-Ball Tour, and, while the play can be absolutely stellar, most of the time it's like watching robots play pool (granted, Efren and Busty haven't played the last two years)- I mean, the announcers have to make a big deal out of Pagulayan smiling for Pete's sake- there's just no life in it.

Love him or hate him (I love him), pool needs some personality (even if it's abrasive)- it's what can get non-players watching and possibly more involved in the sport, which is good for everybody (and just because they see Earl's antics doesn't mean they're going to imitate them;) ).
 
Those pesky Europeans with their sneaky sharking techniques are bound to get a good old boy like Earl all riled up. If the whole Euro team stood on each other's shoulders and reached up as high as they could reach, they still couldn't reach Earl's boot straps.


poolpop63 said:
I just watched a segment with Immonen vs Earl. Earl got white washed 5-0. But his antics were an embarassment to watch. He got involved again with fans and comments, giving the "finger" twice to the fans and throwing something into the stands. He was under escort while leaving the arena. Is this our " USA TEAM" ? Is this how we want to be represented in the world.? There are many threads on this forum about the future of pool. Watch Earl representing the USA and answer that question for yourself. He has talent, he just needs to be put back on a better track. If any of you are friends with Earl, please save this man before he really goes off.
Click to expand...
 
srs314 said:
Most of the time Earl makes himself this target his antics over the years may have cost him support even at tournaments in the USA.

Could you imagine Shane or Archer acting like this? Seems crazy, but it's acceptable in this case because you can say "it's just Earl being Earl"?
Click to expand...

I totally agree that Earl acts up often and we all know that's why they invite him to this event, but seeing this event in person for the first time, I'm amazed by how disrespectful some of the fans have been. When you saw Earl's demeanor change in that match it was because a profain comment came from the European players area, not just a regular fan.

If anyone watched Shane's first singles match yesterday you saw him make some out of character comments to the crowd as well because they were flashing cameras right as he stroked thru a shot, and the referee made no comment to the crowd to stop or rest his clock. I was sitting near some other European fans and even they kept appologizing for how their other fans were acting towards our team.

The U.S. team is understandably frustrated here. Earl is of course acting like Earl, but for the first time I've ever seen, I actually don't blame him too much when he goes off...the things he says may be a little over the top, but he's not going crazy for now reason...there's a lot you don't see when you see it on TV.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JAM
Jmho !

Jay, Terry, and other prominent posters have all made worthy and insightful comments regarding Earl, Mika, the Mosconi Cup etc.
A mutual friend of mine and Earl's, recently informed me that Earl was recently diagnosed as Bi-Polar, and is taking medication to combat that malady. He has told me that Earl cannot tolerate that medication and remain at the top of his game. Earl has made the choice to go without his med's, and act pretty much the way we have always known him to act. I'm not to sure that is a wise descision.
Having a son, who suffers from that same affliction,(who is now in his 40's) I can understand the problems Earl may be confronted with, and I surely don't mean to belittle him by pointing to that as a negative.
My son has never been a world beater (like Earl) at anything. But I have seen him contol his emotions, and not go ballistic at the slightest provocation.
If that is what you all hunger for, and think it is worthy of filling seats at a competition that should put our countries best foot forward, then all I can say is, shame on you !
Twenty years ago, nobody knew what "bi-polar" or even "autism" meant.
We only knew that these people were 'different' than the mainstream population.
Given Earl's uncanny ability on a pool table, he may have been cursed with a little of both.
Does that mean we should just look the other way when he acts like he does so often ? I think not. The process of maturity has to begin at some point. And in Earl's case, for his sake, the sooner the better.
Which do you prefer watching, Pool, at it's highest level, or a train wreck waiting to happen.
Also, I might add, The people who control this exciting, once a year competiion, called the Ryder Cup of pool, Had better change something.
Would the Ryder Cup be of much enjoyment to golf fan's, if they only played THREE holes of golf and only catered to controversy ? Race to 5 ? 30 second shot clock ? C'mon just flip a coin.
Given all our problems with pool in general, do we need all these short-sighted, ill-informed, decisions.

Respectfully discouraged,

Dick Mc Morran
 
Last edited:
Earl, what a shame

He's been a good player, but a CHILD"
what a shame"
acting like a bratty kid'
TOO BAD ,:embarrassed2:
 
that made me smile

jay helfert said:
Earl is the single most talented 9-Ball player I ever saw.
Click to expand...


I would think that Jay has seen alot of 9 ball players over the years.I
always thought that myself but just needed a solid confirmation .Thanks
Jay . Away from the table and tournament Earl is one of the nicest and
most personable pro's I have met so far. Think about it alot of us would
probably act the same or worse if we got disrespected like he does .I am
sure alot of em mean it in jest but Earl has earned a little more than he
gets at times.

BTW SJD has a good point
my ex girlfriend is bi polar ,she was one of the most brilliant people I ever met
beautiful, a singer, and was in the mensa club at her college. However she
fought a constant battle with it and was the poster child for taking her meds
She dated me for almost 4 yrs and I think it was the longest relationship she
had ever had . We are still friends but we decided not to date anymore .So I
guess what I am saying is if you have no understanding of that kind of mental
illness you just dont know .My prayers are out to those who suffer from things
we cant fathom
 
Last edited:
CrisDeLaGarza said:
I totally agree that Earl acts up often and we all know that's why they invite him to this event, but seeing this event in person for the first time, I'm amazed by how disrespectful some of the fans have been. When you saw Earl's demeanor change in that match it was because a profain comment came from the European players area, not just a regular fan.

If anyone watched Shane's first singles match yesterday you saw him make some out of character comments to the crowd as well because they were flashing cameras right as he stroked thru a shot, and the referee made no comment to the crowd to stop or rest his clock. I was sitting near some other European fans and even they kept appologizing for how their other fans were acting towards our team.

The U.S. team is understandably frustrated here. Earl is of course acting like Earl, but for the first time I've ever seen, I actually don't blame him too much when he goes off...the things he says may be a little over the top, but he's not going crazy for now reason...there's a lot you don't see when you see it on TV.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting the truth! :smile:

At the 2006 Mosconi Cup, here's a sample of the European barbarian-like audience, to include European air horns, whistling, and screaming at the top of their lungs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyLcGY4twOE

I have never seen an American audience behave like this at a pool event. Sorry, but it's the truth.
 
JAM said:
Thanks for posting the truth! :smile:

At the 2006 Mosconi Cup, here's a sample of the European barbarian-like audience, to include European air horns, whistling, and screaming at the top of their lungs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyLcGY4twOE

I have never seen an American audience behave like this at a pool event. Sorry, but it's the truth.
Click to expand...

So do you mean that we would not see Earl blowing his top if the Mosconi was held in the US in front of a US audience ?
 
Newton said:
So do you mean that we would not see Earl blowing his top if the Mosconi was held in the US in front of a US audience ?
Click to expand...

This thread is one example of why the organizers of the Mosconi Cup keep inviting Earl Strickland back. If it were not for Earl Strickland, the Mosconi Cup might not get as much press as it does today.

That said, I stand by my comment above, Newton. This audience behavior is unusual for pool tournaments. Granted, the Mosconi Cup may be a different type of pool venue, but the American pool audience does not stomp their feet, blow air horns, and scream at the top of their lungs at any pool tournament I've been to. :embarrassed2:
 
JAM said:
This thread is one example of why the organizers of the Mosconi Cup keep inviting Earl Strickland back. If it were not for Earl Strickland, the Mosconi Cup might not get as much press as it does today.

That said, I stand by my comment above, Newton. This audience behavior is unusual for pool tournaments. Granted, the Mosconi Cup may be a different type of pool venue, but the American pool audience does not stomp their feet, blow air horns, and scream at the top of their lungs at any pool tournament I've been to. :embarrassed2:
Click to expand...

IMO...There is a severe lack of enthusiasm on our team. Earl's antics used to fluster the Euro's... but they can turn him off like a light switch now. He has become better for their game than ours.
 
JAM said:
This thread is one example of why the organizers of the Mosconi Cup keep inviting Earl Strickland back. If it were not for Earl Strickland, the Mosconi Cup might not get as much press as it does today.

That said, I stand by my comment above, Newton. This audience behavior is unusual for pool tournaments. Granted, the Mosconi Cup may be a different type of pool venue, but the American pool audience does not stomp their feet, blow air horns, and scream at the top of their lungs at any pool tournament I've been to. :embarrassed2:
Click to expand...

I do agree with you an as mentioned in my first post in this thread (http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=123590&page=3), this is a different tournament where I guess the entertaining factor is a big part of it.

We seems to discuss this every time the Mosconi is on, and then the promotors have got the "limelight" as they wanted.

WRT the audience, this is something I guess would be the same for all of the players. The only thing is that some can handle it better than others. Try to go down to Asia and play some money games (I have never been there my self but reading Roys "traveling letters" from the Phillipines makes me picture how it is) would for sure be impossible for players which can't handle the noise and crowd. All in all I would say it's a handicap for the player which the player must overcome by using which ever mental tricks he knows.
That's the game..

Personally, I find it stressful having slot machines,air hockey, kids bowling party and the like in the same room as I'm playing pool. But that's something I have to come over, I can't go to the kids parents showing them the finger or asking them to STFU... It does not work like that.

But then that's just me.

Kent
 
Newton said:
I do agree with you an as mentioned in my first post in this thread (http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=123590&page=3), this is a different tournament where I guess the entertaining factor is a big part of it.

We seems to discuss this every time the Mosconi is on, and then the promotors have got the "limelight" as they wanted.

WRT the audience, this is something I guess would be the same for all of the players. The only thing is that some can handle it better than others. Try to go down to Asia and play some money games (I have never been there my self but reading Roys "traveling letters" from the Phillipines makes me picture how it is) would for sure be impossible for players which can't handle the noise and crowd. All in all I would say it's a handicap for the player which the player must overcome by using which ever mental tricks he knows.
That's the game..

Personally, I find it stressful having slot machines,air hockey, kids bowling party and the like in the same room as I'm playing pool. But that's something I have to come over, I can't go to the kids parents showing them the finger or asking them to STFU... It does not work like that.

But then that's just me.

Kent
Click to expand...

Well said, and I agree with much of what you say for sure! :)

The Filipino pool culture is quite different than the European pool culture, IMHO.

In the 1990s, both the European and Filipino players came to the United States in droves to play in American pool tournaments because there was no money in it in their homelands.

Today, it is quite a different story, with Americans having to travel around the world to play in lucrative events, as pool events on American soil are not as plentiful for the so-called "professional" player. Leagues, social shooters, and bar bangers are quite a different story in the U.S.

The Filipinos have always been friendly and welcoming to all nationalities. The Europeans do not seem as friendly and welcoming to other nationalities as the Filipinos do, IMHO. In fact -- well, I better just leave it at that. :embarrassed2:
 
Last edited:
JAM said:
At the 2006 Mosconi Cup, here's a sample of the European barbarian-like audience, to include European air horns, whistling, and screaming at the top of their lungs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyLcGY4twOE

I have never seen an American audience behave like this at a pool event. Sorry, but it's the truth.
Click to expand...

The airhorns, whistling and screaming is actually something I love about the audience here. I feel like I'm at a pro basketball game or something and that type of enthusiasm is definitely missing in U.S. pool. This is 3-4 hours of live prime time TV here in Europe every night...and we all know how far the U.S. is from EVER having that happen in America. I know the players don't mind the rowdy crowd...it's the disrespectful things that are said and done while players are at the table that I don't agree with. Please don't misunderstand me, I am not at all making generalizations about European fans...I am only speaking of a few case incidents. Many of the European fans were very supportive of Shane and other players when they ran out of the rack they were in when a fan did an offensive and disturbing thing during their shots. And as much as they like to heckle him...most of the European fans actually seem to love him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top