yobagua said:
Well The One. You bring up important points but one that I'd like to take issue with is the "minor game" issue. You see who is to determine whats "minor". Some consider one pocket to be the toughest game in pool. I dont think any one from any country will see the likes of Efren Reyes in that capacity. I dont care how long you practice. Oh he can be beat just like Tiger Woods but eventually even up Efren will beat you in this game.
Now we can debate wether one pocket is a minor game but you have to bring in the issue of culture.
Reading Steve Davis' bio and Jimmy White's bio they lived the lives of snooker. Day in and day out. Now lets go to the Phillipines where Rotation is the number one game. I dont care how long you practive day in and day out those Filipino's like Efren will put a walloping on you in their national game. Rotation is part of their "culture". I think this is why Rempe and Mizerak said their was no way to break into snooker for an outsider at that time because you had to be a part of that society to excel in it.
So is Rotation a "minor" game. Then you are really saying the Phillipines is a "minor" country or culture. If you say 9 ball or 14.1 which are the sports of Americans. And remember snooker is a "minor" game here. You are actually saying America is a "minor" country. Particularly if you come on the boards and claim that our US Champion is a chump. Now we can safely say that Brittiania does not rule the waves anymore so it doesnt matter to me if snooker is a tougher game or if snooker players are better than pool players. I am indifferent. I love em both. But hell If I am going to let some loud mouth player who never won any big tournament come on the boards and put down the US Champion. It just isnt going to cut it. Cause what you are doing is demeaning my "culture".
You seem to be upset by my "minor" phrase. Let me explain:
I don't think any Snooker player has ever claimed he could compete at 1 pocket, banks or rotation with a few months practice. They're not so daft as to suggest such a thing because they know the difference and these games are very niche.
I have never seen a 1 pocket tournament held in any other country than the US, and I've never seen a rotation tournament played outside the Phillipines. Correct me if I'm wrong but I've never seen them.
Snooker on the other hand is played extensively in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Europe, and many other commonwealth countries from Singapore to Sri Lanka.
Snooker is part of the Asean games and probably as the best chance to be part of the olympics than any cue sport. Although British based players have an advantage I disagree it is the major restrictive element.
Many Thai, Chinese, Australian, Canadian and players from several other countries have believed in themselves enough to go to the UK and succeed. Many of these players have done it with much much less financial backing than an American player might have had.
Do you think a player like Manalo had a better chance of making it at Snooker than one of the Thai players? The Thai players made it where Manalo didn't. Manalo has become a major major force in the world of pool though.
Also do you think John (sorry!) could go to the Phillipines and beat Efren at rotation? Efren is an absolute genius, and no Snooker or Pool player is going to beat him at the games that maximise his skills. But sadly 8 Ball, 9 Ball, and 14.1 are games that provide a much more level playing field at typical pro tournament level races.
