First of all, other than Earl the early pool players (before the 90's) were garbage. Efren proved that.
So you are using one example, the GOAT, to say that American players were garbage. Even the GOAT wasn't guaranteed money against those guys...
complied by Mike Burch
Efren Reyes named Mike Sigel, Johnny Archer and Earl Strickland as his three toughest opponents. Buddy Hall said that he beat Reyes and his backers out of $10,000 despite being so hung over he had to drink three pots of coffee! Kreole Freddie confirmed this account on the tampabilliards.com website, saying that Reyes had beaten Sigel, Strickland and Wade Crane. But when Reyes played Hall, the Rifleman "crucified" him. When I saw Buddy Hall shoot in his prime, he was untouchable. So for nine-ball, for the cash, Buddy Hall is almost my number one player of all time. But there is one player that I think was better and still improving when he died in his prime ...
Secondly, Europe didn't play "american pool" but look how quickly they caught up? Why? Because the usa players fundamentally speaking were garbage.
Define quickly. Europeans have been playing pool since Mosconi.
Thirdly, a world cup with teams...not usa against Europe...that's a country against a continent..... If there already is one then no need for the mosconi cup.
from Wikipedia:
The World Cup of Pool is an annual international single-elimination tournament for doubles teams in nine-ball pool competition.
In fact, your reigning champions are playing for Team Europe in the Mosconi, Acaide and Sanchez Ruiz.
SVB and Sky were runners up a couple of years ago, and SVB and Rodney Moriis won it in 08.
The Mosconi Cup is a special tournament specifically for US vs. Europe. Kind of similar to Ryder Cup in Golf. It is not marketed, nor is it supposed to be a "World Championship" or "World Cup". It is not designed to feature the "best" team in the world.
It is simply the 5 top US players facing off against our brethren across the pond. It is fun. It is intense. It evokes national pride. It gives something for the guys to shoot for and a great payday at the end of the year.
It does not have to be everyone's cup of tea...in fact, you don't have to watch it, read about it, support it, or pay any attention to it whatsoever.
Lastly, Mosconi couldn't play 9 ball to save his life...just watch him and Fats butcher the game on an 8 ball table with buckets. The old guys were straight pool players who ran up scores because the tables had buckets.
Mosconi would give you the orange crush, playing onehanded, with his off hand, and jacked- up, with a wooden broomstick, and rob you. Even after being deceased the last 30 years.