Mosconi Cup Experience

jojopiff

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
My experience was very much mixed. Most of which has nothing to do with the USA getting smoked. I had VIP tickets for day 2 and 3 and the VIP experience was great. All of the food/drink you want and easily accessible. Maybe certain hard liquors cost money but I only drank beer which was all free and readily available so cannot speak to this fully. Food quality was above average. Pics with pro's. Rasson table to knock em around on. Darts, Beer Pong and a few other things to do.

Obviously USA is getting smoked but I'm annoyed day 3 was cut so short. I understand day 2 being cut short 1 match but day 3 was announced before the last match meaning that regardless of whether it was 10-1 or 9-2 it was over, was very disappointing. It sold short both day 3 ticket holders as well as day 4 ticket holders. I appreciate this is a business but (IMO) you were selling both customers short. So possibly leaving 1 match for day 4 was ok'd by someone? Imagine paying for a ticket and getting 1 match. I believe in an attempt to appease both customers they were comfortable appeasing neither. Plus the optics of being money hungry to avoid refunding day 4 customers. I cannot confirm if they refund day 4 customers in this instance but was told by several people this is the case.

Last but not least was SVB. There is no debating his career achievements so that is not in this conversation. I'm a big SVB fan and will continue to be in every other situation. But, tonight should serve as the end of his reign on the Mosconi Cup. This has absolutely nothing to do with his play either. His clear disinterest in the event and the other team members notice/calling out of, his disinterest is very telling.

The event was tremendous and, by and large, I fell like most people's behavior was appropriate/great. There was PLENTY of rooting for each side with only 1 person slightly out of line from my perspective. It was a great experience though not sure it will be something I would do again.

GO USA!
 
They did?
Yes. In the last match after our 2nd or 3rd win it went to TV break. Everyone except SVB went out to talk/congratulate after that win. SVB stayed sitting. All players looked at SVB and put their hand over the top of their eyes as if to be looking far off/looking for something. It was very clear to everyone what was meant.
 
Yes. In the last match after our 2nd or 3rd win it went to TV break. Everyone except SVB went out to talk/congratulate after that win. SVB stayed sitting. All players looked at SVB and put their hand over the top of their eyes as if to be looking far off/looking for something. It was very clear to everyone what was meant.
lets see a screenshot of that
 
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Yes. In the last match after our 2nd or 3rd win it went to TV break. Everyone except SVB went out to talk/congratulate after that win. SVB stayed sitting. All players looked at SVB and put their hand over the top of their eyes as if to be looking far off/looking for something. It was very clear to everyone what was meant.
Seems to follow the pattern of the videos of the team practicing before the tournament, when four of them played doubles with JJ watching and Shane was off-camera the entire time - could only hear him breaking occasionally.
 
Seems to follow the pattern of the videos of the team practicing before the tournament, when four of them played doubles with JJ watching and Shane was off-camera the entire time - could only hear him breaking occasionally.

i heard he didn't show up the first day for that get together.. which jeremy allowed.
 
They should play 5 matches per day and 6 on the final day and prorate the win by how many matches you've won. No more cutting it short and you win what you deserve
 
Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm not sure what's going on with Shane, but it may be so something personal. Who knows? We pool fans are kind of different than fans of other larger sports in that we know our pros and have access to them in a closer environment. They are humans, after all, just like we are.

Personally, speaking as a virtual railbird at the Mosconi Cup, this year has been the worst for me. It has nothing to do with Team USA not winning. Rather, it has to do with the behavior of some pros in the arena. I've always been fond of the "bad boys," for lack of a better word, in sports. I'm a huge fan of Alex Higgins, Ronnie O'Sullivan, and, well, most of you know who my other half is.

The gift of gab when it comes to talking smack is an art form. Some of the behavior this year is over the top. I guess I'm getting old. I just don't like it.
 
Yeah, a bit less would be just right, but who a I. Also some fans continuously going ballistic is annoying. Going crazy when there's reason too 👍 Going crazy when nothing special is happening 👎 also during the shots it should be quiet. This is a recurring thing in English MCs, but this year it seems a little worse. Perhaps it's imagination.
 
Earl should always be there as America's most critical critic. These young kids are clueless they have no idea the hard times the original pool players endured.

Team USA needs a public statement. Something to rally the fans. Something like a public display of team support. Something very American.
 
Yeah, a bit less would be just right, but who a I. Also some fans continuously going ballistic is annoying. Going crazy when there's reason too 👍 Going crazy when nothing special is happening 👎 also during the shots it should be quiet. This is a recurring thing in English MCs, but this year it seems a little worse. Perhaps it's imagination.
If the score line had been alot closer, no way, would it had been like this.
Look at that last match, not much dancing around. It always is a circus, but this year, your right is very over the top.
 
From a spectators pov the Mosconi cup is a great experience.
From a participating players pov whose on the winning side, again the Mosconi cup is a great experience.

Now, from a participating players pov whose losing their Mosconi match , well that would be a sh*tty experience.

From the losers perspective, Its bad enough theyre losing, but add to that the crowd loudly rooting for their demise, or even success.
That atmosphere just adds a ton of pressure.

Most other events these pros attend, the crowds are chill for the most part.
Billiards is a concentration sport similar to golf , where the crowd hushes while the player is lining their shot.

At the Mosconi ppl will be talking throughout your shot, particularly the opposing crowd, sometimes they do so in a effort to shark imo.
Overall its cool to watch, but the pressure on the players end Id imagine can be daunting.
 
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Honestly I have never enjoyed the Mosconi Cup as a spectator. The over the top jeering and yelling, lack of class, etc. For me, if I am going to watch pool I would rather watch live DCC, or on Youtube.

If you like it, great, but it isnt my bag.

Ken
 
Honestly I have never enjoyed the Mosconi Cup as a spectator. The over the top jeering and yelling, lack of class, etc. For me, if I am going to watch pool I would rather watch live DCC, or on Youtube.

If you like it, great, but it isnt my bag.

Ken
I used to like it, but this year just isn't my cup of tea.
 
it seems to be an annually recurring personal issue
I think he's more into one-on-one action as opposed to teams or doubles. I saw him play well with Earl on his team at a previous Mosconi Cup. I think they have a rapport and good friendship.

I know Shane likes the other team members, but this environment isn't the kind of venue he shines in, I guess. I'm kind of now thinking the same thing. Mosconi Cup lost its sparkle for me. It's not because Team USA is losing, though. It's the atmosphere. If this is where pool is heading to make it more mainstream for TV, it's embarrassing to me as a pool enthusiast.
 
I know Shane likes the other team members, but this environment isn't the kind of venue he shines in, I guess. I'm kind of now thinking the same thing. Mosconi Cup lost its sparkle for me. It's not because Team USA is losing, though. It's the atmosphere. If this is where pool is heading to make it more mainstream for TV, it's embarrassing to me as a pool enthusiast.

Out of curiosity, is it the showboating by Filler and Shaw after routine shots?
 
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