Mosconi Cup, day 4
- Thread starter Newton
- Start date
corvette1340 said:
I like Gabe a LOT! He can be on my team anytime. I also like Charlie Bryant and Mike Davis. We DO have great players over here. They are just not being utilized properly in the Mosconi Cup.
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worriedbeef said:
SHANE didn't have a bad year. He and Rodney won this year's World Cup.
He was arguably the best player in 2006 and 2007, but based on form and results this year, MIKA is the best player in the world right now.
RED NAXELA said:
I know what you're saying, but I did say 'arguably'. Mika is probably the form man on the planet, but Shane is still one of the hottest players in the world at the moment relatively.
JAM said:
That's not really my point. I am not blaming Earl for losing. Earl was selected and he went to Malta and did his very best, which is all we can ask of him.
If you widely surveyed any of the pool media, American pool fans, American professional pool players, or foreign professional pool players on the matter of who the best American pool players are today, I feel strongly that not even one of those surveys would rate Strickland among America's five best, or even one of its ten best.
Hence, I feel justified in stating that America didn't "take it's best shot" at a 2008 European team we all knew would be extremely difficult to beat.
Perhaps Earl, as a drawing card, is indispensable to Matchroom, but if so, the quality of the play is, at least to some extent, compromised by his presence. Nobody questions whether Earl is good theater -- it's established fact. I guess I'm just a purist who wants to know whether we can beat the team of European superstars if we field our best possible team.
sjm said:
Thanks for explaining your thoughts. I agree with some of them, actually, SJM! :smile:
One thing you may want to take into consideration is that the Mosconi Cup ain't not pool purist kind of event. It is theater, in a way.
For the purist in us all, I think the U.S. Open offers the best bang for the buck for the men, and of course, all the events of the WPBA are pool purity kind of affairs.
America has superstars too. :thumbup2:
Props to Earl for the way he played over the 4 days, he had a post match interview on sky sports here in the uk after the first day's play was over and he looked extremely relaxed and focused, the only thing I will say is directed to that idiot fan who got him riled up, what I would like to know is are you happy with the fact that you cost the US the chance at winning the cup for the 12th time because you managed to get into Earls head space.
Because before that comment was made that set him off the deep end he was playing like the Earl who won 6 world 9 ball titles when nobody could touch him.
So whoever put him off you should be ashamed of yourself.
P.S
What did everyone think of the breaking situation at the mosconi, quite frankly I don't think the 3 balls past the baulk line or the break box are doing what they were implemented for i.e harder breaking because from what I saw 90% of breakshots where still soft breaks and/or cut breaks.
They need to get rid of the break box and the 3 balls past the baulk line, what are everyone's opinions?.
Because before that comment was made that set him off the deep end he was playing like the Earl who won 6 world 9 ball titles when nobody could touch him.
So whoever put him off you should be ashamed of yourself.
P.S
What did everyone think of the breaking situation at the mosconi, quite frankly I don't think the 3 balls past the baulk line or the break box are doing what they were implemented for i.e harder breaking because from what I saw 90% of breakshots where still soft breaks and/or cut breaks.
They need to get rid of the break box and the 3 balls past the baulk line, what are everyone's opinions?.
JAM said:
I was talking about Mika's antics, then you changed the subject.
Like I have said before, I have seen some sharking antics from you know who. You need to chill - Mika is a fine person.
Also, you know, if the American's don't like it, they don't have to go over there.
I believe in was the 2003 Mosconi Cup I was watching on TV when Earl won the final and deciding match in the US, and in the interview he turned to the European fans and asked where they got them. I was so shocked and yes, there was a big moment of silence from the TV commentor. This ranks right up there with some of the stupidest things that I have ever heard come out of a pool players mouth. If he ignored the crowd then they would eventually leave him alone - but NO, EARL IS TOO FREAKING STUPID. And please don't even go there to defend his actions as coming from a bipolar. Ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
whitewolf said:I was talking about Mika's antics, then you changed the subject.
Like I have said before, I have seen some sharking antics from you know who. You need to chill - Mika is a fine person.
Well, Whitewolf, I have personally, up front and close, seen Mika when he's not a happy camper in tournament play. I am not going to give all the nitty gritty details about the match(s), but let me just say he wasn't pleasant.
As far as sharking goes, if you are hinting about my room mate, it never happened on my watch.
About Earl, you're entitled to your opinion, as am I.
sjm said:
Yeah...but, there is a difference in between Mosconi Cup play, and 'normal' tournament play. A very big difference. It take a seasoned player to perform well under those conditions. (horns, cameras, crowd noise, shot clock....) Not too mention the added pressure of playing for you're country.
Under those conditions...it much, much different.
The Man's record speaks for itself...
