Mosconi Cup, Team USA, the real problem still exists.

[one stroke]

Must be why NYY had to ditch that old stadium.. not enough fans.

This is just ridiculous.

To even suggest that pool can compare to other sports that give ONE SINGLE PERSON a $100M+ contract, shows the immensity of the disconnect from reality.

Companies donate hundreds of dollars at a time to high school baseball teams to have a logo in the outfield or some blurb in a booklet. Really? You're trying to say that baseball is dying and that pool is somehow something more? Stop drinking from the CJ Koolaid bowl.

Ya the only thing you can remotely compare pool too is bowling , and even that is stretching since it's always had more money ,, that's why Brunswick dropped pool like a hot rock right about the same time ESPN saw the light and kicked it to the curb oh ya right about when it got its first big baseball deal which they paid 400 mil.for. So anyone who thinks they were going to spend much on pool yes is drinking some serious spiked Koolaid

1

 

[Mr. Bond]

Once again, another thread derailed by CJ.

Back on point, what will this year' steam have to do to win? Much of the talk earlier in the thread was around playing world class competition. Well, the team didn't have too many participating in Doha this year. How many participated in a room full of world class comp this past weekend at Hard Times? Seriously, what have these guys been up to, competition wise that's gonna prepare them for the pressure cooker that past players describe the MC as being?

Good question.

I've seen/heard two very different schools-of-thought on this subject.


1) a person absolutely must compete regularly in international 'high level' events if they ever hope to be a threat to the rest of the world - specifically at the Mosconi Cup tournament.

- BUT -

2) Does a man prepare for a war, by actually going to war?
Some instructor/trainers (not just in pool) have suggested that a man's time is better spent in a controlled environment, relentlessly practicing and drilling their mechanics and fundamentals, than in the chaotic and time consuming act of participating in a major match just for practice. In other words, refrain from major competitions while in training.




It might be argued that under high pressure...even ultra high pressure situations, it will be rock solid fundamentals that make success possible. Just tune everything out and let your hands do what they've done thousands of times in a row.

I'm not totally convinced that a person cant train for world greatness right here in the USA.

 

[Jaden]

Good question.


I'm not totally convinced that a person cant train for world greatness right here in the USA.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^--------Most of the world champions DO train mostly here in the US.

I love these American haters saying that Americans suck blah blah (not you) when many of the best players on the planet(that aren't Americans) either live in or play REGULARLY in the US.

Jaden

 

[CJ Wiley]

The fall of America in the pool world was inevitable and unavoidable

This was true for many, many years, pool is as American as hotdogs and apple pie....or is that some "other" game?

The highlight of the international players was always coming to America and competing throughout the 70's, 80s, and 90's....in the year 2000 this started to change drastically.

The fall of America in the pool world was foreseeable, (mostly political in nature), however, it will be here in the United States that the spark will be struck for it's rise again.....pool will rise again in the eyes of the world, this is inevitable. 'The GAME is the Teacher'

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^--------Most of the world champions DO train mostly here in the US.

I love these American haters saying that Americans suck blah blah (not you) when many of the best players on the planet(that aren't Americans) either live in or play REGULARLY in the US.

Jaden

 

[cleary]

And anyone that "can" talk is capable of giving a speech to thousands of people.

Baseball does take skill, there's no doubt, I just wouldn't put it the same category with golf, tennis and pool. Sometimes a player will go through and entire game and not touch the ball, or even make mistakes (and still win) .....I'm pretty sure anyone could do that.

Almost everyone on on a football field in an nfl game will go the entire game without touching the ball.

 

[nobcitypool]

Seems like the simple answer to this question would be, if all professional pool players focused instead on baseball, and all professional baseball players focused on pool, which group would most successfully make the transition? Undoubtedly, there would be a far higher % of baseball players who could end up playing professional pool than vice versa. It has often been said, the most challenging feat in sports is to to be able to hit a major league curve ball.

Frankly, it is absurd to attempt to compare the two. Michael Jordan was arguably the best basketball player ever, he also played baseball at the Semi Pro level but he's lucky to break 80 playing golf despite all his best efforts.

 

[HawaiianEye]

The only way pool is going to become popular on TV is for it to have some sort of "personality" that attracts viewers.

Watching people being quiet as a church mouse and walking around pool tables in suits and ties isn't going to attract anybody but serious hardcore fans, which are very few in numbers.

Pool needs a reality show with Earl. Put the camera on Earl in his day-to-day activities and follow him around like every other reality show. Show the ups and down...show the sweet and sour...don't just limit the show to a guy sitting at a pool table all day banging balls around.

Earl is a "natural" story teller and can (rightly or wrongly) relate ANYTHING to playing pool. What he doesn't know, he INVENTS, or imbelishes...just like FATS. FATS wasn't the greatest pool player in the world by a long shot (no pun intended), but became one of the best known and created the greatest persona in the pool world from just hype and BS.

Like I proposed on here a long time ago, a reality show where Efren coached Manny Pacquiao playing Joe Rogan coached by Earl could be a program that would be watched by NUMEROUS people around the world. It would be watched on every TV in the Philippines. Manny is a publicity hound and I'm sure Efren could talk him into it if somehow Efren could be convinced. Manny, of course, would have to do it for pool's sake though, because pool can't afford the money he gets from boxing.

Let's get ready to RUMBLE...er, er...Let's get read to RACK EM UP!

For what it's worth, I'm taking Joe and Earl for 50 pesoes.

Aloha.

 

[lost]

The only way pool is going to become popular on TV is for it to have some sort of "personality" that attracts viewers.

Watching people being quiet as a church mouse and walking around pool tables in suits and ties isn't going to attract anybody but serious hardcore fans, which are very few in numbers.

Pool needs a reality show with Earl. Put the camera on Earl in his day-to-day activities and follow him around like every other reality show. Show the ups and down...show the sweet and sour...don't just limit the show to a guy sitting at a pool table all day banging balls around.

Earl is a "natural" story teller and can (rightly or wrongly) relate ANYTHING to playing pool. What he doesn't know, he INVENTS, or imbelishes...just like FATS. FATS wasn't the greatest pool player in the world by a long shot (no pun intended), but became one of the best known and created the greatest persona in the pool world from just hype and BS.

Like I proposed on here a long time ago, a reality show where Efren coached Manny Pacquiao playing Joe Rogan coached by Earl could be a program that would be watched by NUMEROUS people around the world. It would be watched on every TV in the Philippines. Manny is a publicity hound and I'm sure Efren could talk him into it if somehow Efren could be convinced. Manny, of course, would have to do it for pool's sake though, because pool can't afford the money he gets from boxing.

Let's get ready to RUMBLE...er, er...Let's get read to RACK EM UP!

For what it's worth, I'm taking Joe and Earl for 50 pesoes.

Aloha.

People would take pool even less serious than they already do. That wouldn't even make the cut as a reality show let alone a game show. Honey Boo Boo already has those viewers.

 

[CJ Wiley]

Surprise, surprise, pool edges the competition out in "over time".

That's right, football is much easier (especially mentally) than pool.....without a doubt.

To figure this out you have to calculate the mental and physical requirements (this can be a very complex formula depending on how specific you make the categories) and total them up, then simply divide by the time/play factor and you have your answer.

Surprise, surprise, pool edges the competition out in "over time". 'The Game is the Teacher'

Almost everyone on on a football field in an nfl game will go the entire game without touching the ball.

 

[CJ Wiley]

NFL football players taking on the figure skaters.

Hitting is just one aspect of the game, like breaking in pool.....there's much, much, much more to consider.....switching sports is funny to think about though, especially if if you had the NFL football players taking on the figure skaters.

Seems like the simple answer to this question would be, if all professional pool players focused instead on baseball, and all professional baseball players focused on pool, which group would most successfully make the transition? Undoubtedly, there would be a far higher % of baseball players who could end up playing professional pool than vice versa. It has often been said, the most challenging feat in sports is to to be able to hit a major league curve ball.

Frankly, it is absurd to attempt to compare the two. Michael Jordan was arguably the best basketball player ever, he also played baseball at the Semi Pro level but he's lucky to break 80 playing golf despite all his best efforts.

 

[BeiberLvr]

Funny how snooker is so much more successful despite the severe lack of Earl-like players. All those quiet players that filled the stands at every televised match at this year's World Championships. The sold out crowd that drew more fans to actually come and watch than probably the last 5 US Open finals combined.

If Americans are only able to enjoy pool if the players are complete assholes to their opponents, then I personally hope it never becomes popular.

 

[one stroke]

That's right, football is much easier (especially mentally) than pool.....without a doubt.

To figure this out you have to calculate the mental and physical requirements (this can be a very complex formula depending on how specific you make the categories) and total them up, then simply divide by the time/play factor and you have your answer.

Surprise, surprise, pool edges the competition out in "over time". 'The Game is the Teacher'

,, however you could take a much bigger percentage of football players and teach them to be pool players at a upper level than you could take pool players and get them to play at the upper level of football ...

1

 

[cleary]

That's right, football is much easier (especially mentally) than pool.....without a doubt.

To figure this out you have to calculate the mental and physical requirements (this can be a very complex formula depending on how specific you make the categories) and total them up, then simply divide by the time/play factor and you have your answer.

Surprise, surprise, pool edges the competition out in "over time". 'The Game is the Teacher'

You're so lost in your own world of ed hardy and 80s leather jackets.

 

[cleary]

Funny how snooker is so much more successful despite the severe lack of Earl-like players. All those quiet players that filled the stands at every televised match at this year's World Championships. The sold out crowd that drew more fans to actually come and watch than probably the last 5 US Open finals combined.

If Americans are only able to enjoy pool if the players are complete assholes to their opponents, then I personally hope it never becomes popular.

Snooker has become successful because of legal gambling. It would be larger if the players has personality.

 

[justadub]

,, however you could take a much bigger percentage of football players and teach them to be pool players at a upper level than you could take pool players and get them to play at the upper level of football ...

1

I believe this to be true.

 

[BeiberLvr]

Snooker has become successful because of legal gambling. It would be larger if the players has personality.

Agree on the 1st part.

Can't argue for or against the 2nd part.

What I can say is there is a fine line between having personality/being entertaining and being a straight up asshole.

Most people mistake Earl for being the former.

 

[cleary]

Agree on the 1st part.

Can't argue for or against the 2nd part.

What I can say is there is a fine line between having personality/being entertaining and being a straight up asshole.

Most people mistake Earl for being the former.

Difference between having personality and being earl. Earl is an ass.

 

[CJ Wiley]

they pick 5 and we pick 5......that would be fun to bet on.

I seriously doubt that if that is correct! WIth the right amount of "juice" there's a lot of pool players that could run, throw and catch 70% as good as the pro football players. On the other hand I don't think the football players could ever reach 70% of the pro pool players.

I think many of you underestimate how athletic the top pool players are these days. Several of us could play any pro football player an "all around" of games....they pick 5 and we pick 5......that would be fun to bet on.

,, however you could take a much bigger percentage of football players and teach them to be pool players at a upper level than you could take pool players and get them to play at the upper level of football ...

1

 

[BeiberLvr]

I seriously doubt that if that is correct! WIth the right amount of "juice" there's a lot of pool players that could run, throw and catch 70% as good as the pro football players. On the other hand I don't think the football players could ever reach 70% of the pro pool players.

I think many of you underestimate how athletic the top pool players are these days. Several of us could play any pro football player an "all around" of games....they pick 5 and we pick 5......that would be fun to bet on.

Name one pool player past or present that would make it on a current NFL team.

 

[SakuJack]

I seriously doubt that if that is correct! WIth the right amount of "juice" there's a lot of pool players that could run, throw and catch 70% as good as the pro football players.

Absolute madness.