Mosconi Cup Stats -- Career Records for Players on 2022 Teams

Woodshaft said:
Yep, gambling is an addiction, and it alienates people in a hurry.
I don't know any gamblers with a true friend-base.
I am a self-titled "recreational shortstop", play prolly about your speed Fatboy.
I play even rotation with the local fargo 670-680 boys. (I beat them in Banks and Honolulu too.)
I don't gamble but instead teach and entertain-- I'm kinda a celebrity figure in my area lol.
A person doesn't need to play competitively to be recognized as a great talent.
Just BE A GREAT TALENT, and also be helpful and respectful to other players.
I feel it's a better reward/feeling than cash and trophies.
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I’ve never been addicted to gambling.

I was addicted to the life style of not living a normal 9-5 life. I gambled on everything to avoid that life. The more I made the more I wanted to make-because the rush of making $ was the high. It was the freedom of not having to be average is what drove me. It wasn’t the “gamble”.

Then my back got bad, health changed, entire family died and I realized wtf do I need another million for? No matter how fast they came(the millions) the rush was fading away. And time wasn’t stopping.

I woke up.

Sure I like to bet on pool, and a few other things. But zero casino or poker. I don’t lay a price on bets. I bet $1 to win $1 with friends. No juice. If I never made another bet-I’m ok with that.

The only addiction I ever had was the rush of making $ as I just described. Thankfully I did wake up. Not having an addictive personality helps a lot too. I feel bad for those who do have that trait. It’s hell for sure for them.

Yeah I’d guess I played 675 +/-10 at my best. I don’t think I ever played 700 speed for more than a week or 2 in spots. Maybe in banks I did in spots. These days idk how I play, haven’t hit a ball in just over a year.


Best
Fatboy
 
sjm said:
Yes, but some of our European posters have guessed that there are at least 10 people in America that play nine-ball for every person that plays it in Europe.

The solution for bridging the gap lies in training and hard work, not in making excuses.
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Youth programs are what we need

Bar boxes haven’t helped either. Sure they are good for the pool economy, but they are not good for elite level pool

Best
Fatboy😃
 
sjm said:
Yes, but some of our European posters have guessed that there are at least 10 people in America that play nine-ball for every person that plays it in Europe.

The solution for bridging the gap lies in training and hard work, not in making excuses.
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I didn't realize nine ball was that much more popular here.
 
Fatboy said:
Youth programs are what we need

Bar boxes haven’t helped either. Sure they are good for the pool economy, but they are not good for elite level pool

Best
Fatboy😃
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Agreed about youth programs, which fall under the heading of training.

English eight ball is played on a small bar-box, although the pockets are super-tough. That game brought us Darren Appleton, Karl Boyes, Chris Melling, Jayson Shaw, Mark Selby and some others.
 
sjm said:
Agreed about youth programs, which fall under the heading of training.

English eight ball is played on a small bar-box, although the pockets are super-tough. That game brought us Darren Appleton, Karl Boyes, Chris Melling, Jayson Shaw, Mark Selby and some others.
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Black ball tables require pin point play. Valley cougars don’t. As you well know.😃😃
 
Fatboy said:
I’ve never been addicted to gambling.
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Ok lol. Now you're just lying to all of us, including yourself.
I've read enough of the posts on here to know who the gamblers are.
But you sound like money has never really been an issue, so at least you've got that going for you.
Kudos.
My wife of 27 years and three grown kids are happy for you!
I chose them, you chose money. To each his own. Everyone has a path in life, yours is much different from mine.
But at least we're both good at pool and appear to be friendly/helpful to others.
That is important too.
I enjoy your posts and experienced stories sir, for sure!
Best, Woodshaft
PS-- My "addiction" is 3 cups of regular coffee/day with one sugar cube. Never smoked, rarely drink (no liquor), no drugs, etc, pretty clean living. Never swimming in money, but raised 3 fine young men who are actually contributing to society. That's what I'm proud of the most.
 
Woodshaft said:
Ok lol. Now you're just lying to all of us, including yourself.
I've read enough of the posts on here to know who the gamblers are.
But you sound like money has never really been an issue, so at least you've got that going for you.
Kudos.
My wife of 27 years and three grown kids are happy for you!
I chose them, you chose money. To each his own. Everyone has a path in life, yours is much different from mine.
But at least we're both good at pool and appear to be friendly/helpful to others.
That is important too.
I enjoy your posts and experienced stories sir, for sure!
Best, Woodshaft
PS-- My "addiction" is 3 cups of regular coffee/day with one sugar cube. Never smoked, rarely drink (no liquor), no drugs, etc, pretty clean living. Never swimming in money, but raised 3 fine young men who are actually contributing to society. That's what I'm proud of the most.
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I was addicted to the rush of making $

Then the rush started to wear off, so I pushed harder. Chasing that rush. Got my balls cut off in 08. Never got in trouble. The internet ended my biz, I couldn’t get what I was doing to work online. Lost a million trying in 09-10.

Looked at my life and decided that the rush wasn’t worth the chase anymore. So I stopped chasing $-pushing the boundary’s of everything. I stopped crossing the line in 96. For 3 years(93-96) I did some very “dark gray” things. Nothing I could be criminally charged for. From 97-08 I was 1 shade in the gray but far from anything that could be considered fraud.

Since then I’ve made bets on 100% square Realestate deals that have been risky, some more than others. So yes in that sense I’m gambling. Presently I’m in a jam with about $12M in property deals-not including my house. The relief when those deals close will be great. It’s not a rush-it’s torture right now.

So in an abstract way, yup I’m a degen gambler. But not in the traditional sense. No casinos, I don’t chase losses, no horses, no poker. But yes I’ll flip a coin for what ever.

Guilty as charged,
Fatboy<——-tails!!😉
 
Woodshaft said:
Ok lol. Now you're just lying to all of us, including yourself.
I've read enough of the posts on here to know who the gamblers are.
But you sound like money has never really been an issue, so at least you've got that going for you.
Kudos.
My wife of 27 years and three grown kids are happy for you!
I chose them, you chose money. To each his own. Everyone has a path in life, yours is much different from mine.
But at least we're both good at pool and appear to be friendly/helpful to others.
That is important too.
I enjoy your posts and experienced stories sir, for sure!
Best, Woodshaft
PS-- My "addiction" is 3 cups of regular coffee/day with one sugar cube. Never smoked, rarely drink (no liquor), no drugs, etc, pretty clean living. Never swimming in money, but raised 3 fine young men who are actually contributing to society. That's what I'm proud of the most.
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I’m very happy that you have a family. I sincerely mean that.

Mrs Fatboy and I have been together 22 or 23 years. Shhh!!! Don’t tell her I can’t remember how long. We have never had an argument. She’s the best.

My ex girls kids were 5 & 2 when I met them. And to this day I’m very close to them and love them 100%. They are both great kids. All grown up and doing their thing. I’m super proud of them. They grew up in Vegas and never got bad habits. Both are doing great and forever will be family to me.

I’m proud of the fact that after I broke up with their mom(complex story) I made sure they went to private school & had a proper house to live in. It cost me a lot of $, but that’s what $’s for. I did some good things. I’ve never been selfish.

I bought my mom & dad a house and moved them to Vegas before they died. That’s my proudest accomplishment I ever made. Ever.

Got my uncle his first new car when he was about 80 years old. He never owned a new car. Bought him a house too.

When I made $, everyone (the real ones-not the phonies) all ate real good. What’s the fun if you can’t share-no strings attached. Stings ruin everything. Power was never my thing. Seeing people happy made me happy and seeing people do well. That was part of the rush too.

But the sad part is the magic of all that has faded with time. Of course seeing the kids and Mrs Fatboy happy makes me happy. I’m not dead inside. But somehow the magic is gone. Now when I make $, ok cool, I lose $-then turn the page and live to fight another day.

Fatboy<——-pure
 
Fatboy said:
Guilty as charged,
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See, you admit it!:ROFLMAO:
"Investing" is rich-people speak for gambling, and you know it. At least you came out ahead!
I truly do wish you the best though, I know a few older guys personally who are very depressed with their money and no children or wife to share it with.
At least we've got my 3 hard-working sons to hopefully help keep the future from getting much worse.
Take care!
 
Woodshaft said:
See, you admit it!:ROFLMAO:
"Investing" is rich-people speak for gambling, and you know it. At least you came out ahead!
I truly do wish you the best though, I know a few older guys personally who are very depressed with their money and no children or wife to share it with.
At least we've got my 3 hard-working sons to hopefully help keep the future from getting much worse.
Take care!
Click to expand...
"Investing" is rich-people speak for gambling, and you know it. At least you came out ahead

I got busted!

You got me! Dead to rights. That action I love.

😍😍😍
 
Woodshaft said:
I posted the above post as you posted yours.
Awesome on the old lady and sharing of your wealth.
Sincerely
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Always. That was one of the best parts of making $.

Of course I got tricked by a few people. But coming from the streets my senses are petty sharp and I can spot the phonies pretty fast. But of course I’m not 100% nobody ever is. Be foolish to claim to be.

I’d do things for people I knew and cared about. Not charities who take a vig on donations. I’d put the $ where the problem was for some employees, friends, directly. Or buy them something they would keep for a long time.

I gave away more Rolex than I can remember. About 4 years ago a guy I hadn’t seen since 06 popped up. He said “I’m still wearing the watch you bought me”. Honest to God I forgot I bought that watch. I remember him, he helped me though some very difficult times(when my dad was dying). Was a Stainless Submariner-that was my go to gift watch back in the day. I gave a lawyer a Patek 5035 once(that was stupid).

It’s fun to be nice, but I never bought friends-ever. Or whores, doesn’t turn me on.

That’s how I roll, the other day when the lottery was 1.5B I told someone here I’d give them my entire cue collection if I won. I would have sent every cue to him. There’s 3-4 I’d have asked for back(sentimental cues) but I’d have shipped them all!
 
Woodshaft said:
Putting one country vs one CONTINENT has finally caught up to the Mosconi Cup.
I feel Matchroom needs to change the team selection process to continue succeeding going forward.
At this point it's like watching pros vs collegiate...
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then we pick the country poland 😉

reserve team #1 spain, #2 austria
 
skogstokig said:
then we pick the country poland 😉

reserve team #1 spain, #2 austria
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I wouldn't mind if we just went really old school and made the Mosconi Cup just the USA vs England(UK).
That would be much more evenly matched and just as rowdy.
I'm dead serious, Matchroom. Emily, pay attention:geek:

I just feel that the Central-Euro countries have too many good youth pool programs that are producing elite players at an unfair rate as compared to the US, and the UK, for that matter.
I mean c'mon, name one upcoming young (under 21) US player with 800+ future fargorate talent.
Maybe Joey Tate years down the road, but I don't see anyone really.
Central Europe, on the other hand........wow. It's a factory.
 
Woodshaft said:
I wouldn't mind if we just went really old school and made the Mosconi Cup just the USA vs England(UK).
That would be much more evenly matched and just as rowdy.
I'm dead serious, Matchroom. Emily, pay attention:geek:

I just feel that the Central-Euro countries have too many good youth pool programs that are producing elite players at an unfair rate as compared to the US, and the UK, for that matter.
I mean c'mon, name one upcoming young (under 21) US player with 800+ future fargorate talent.
Maybe Joey Tate years down the road, but I don't see anyone really.
Central Europe, on the other hand........wow. It's a factory.
Click to expand...

spain isn't central european, nor particulary well organized, but i would say they're number one or two now. the guys feed off each other, is what it is. two of them are actually insular players who probably didn't have that much competition on the island growing up, but that have evolved A LOT the last few years training on the mainland with david, FSR, exposito etc. having good competition/sparring close by cannot be overestimated.

USA might beat the UK, idk. shaw, appleton, melling, majid, potts would be competitive.
 
Woodshaft said:
See, you admit it!:ROFLMAO:
"Investing" is rich-people speak for gambling, and you know it. At least you came out ahead!
I truly do wish you the best though, I know a few older guys personally who are very depressed with their money and no children or wife to share it with.
At least we've got my 3 hard-working sons to hopefully help keep the future from getting much worse.
Take care!
Click to expand...
Showing up every day to a job that may get rid of you at the drop of a hat is no different than "investing" at least the "investor" has freedom, all of us showing up every day are straight suckers.
 
Woodshaft said:
I wouldn't mind if we just went really old school and made the Mosconi Cup just the USA vs England(UK).
That would be much more evenly matched and just as rowdy.
I'm dead serious, Matchroom. Emily, pay attention:geek:

I just feel that the Central-Euro countries have too many good youth pool programs that are producing elite players at an unfair rate as compared to the US, and the UK, for that matter.
I mean c'mon, name one upcoming young (under 21) US player with 800+ future fargorate talent.
Maybe Joey Tate years down the road, but I don't see anyone really.
Central Europe, on the other hand........wow. It's a factory.
Click to expand...
So, since we suck, the other team should be handicapped?

Can't stand people who are in the everybody gets a trophy club. You should stick with playing APA and let the adults play pool
 
skogstokig said:
spain isn't central european, nor particulary well organized, but i would say they're number one or two now. the guys feed off each other, is what it is. two of them are actually insular players who probably didn't have that much competition on the island growing up, but that have evolved A LOT the last few years training on the mainland with david, FSR, exposito etc. having good competition/sparring close by cannot be overestimated.

USA might beat the UK, idk. shaw, appleton, melling, majid, potts would be competitive.
Click to expand...
UK is still a big favorite over the US
 
jasonlaus said:
So, since we suck, the other team should be handicapped?

Can't stand people who are in the everybody gets a trophy club. You should stick with playing APA and let the adults play pool
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That “everyone gets a trophy” is a crock of shit and cultivates a losing mentality in kids.

Same as “scoreless soccer”. Just go play. Bad bad bad.

Winning is the backbone of any national success at sport, war and peace.

Best
Fatboy<——-feels very strongly about this
 
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