Observations: Earl Strickland

[Mikey Town]

First, my post was about observations about one player who is considered one of the greatest - which I could not really see, despite my thorough research (for example, all Mosconi Cups and numerous 9/10 ball events in 2015).

thor·ough
/ˈTHərō/
adjective
complete with regard to every detail; not superficial or partial.

This is the equivalent of analyzing the play of Tiger Woods in the Ryder Cup matches he has played in, looking at his quality of play in the last 6 months, then saying; "I don't get it. I just don't understand why he is considered one of the greatest golfers ever."

Earl's career spans 30+ years. Analyzing his play over the Mosconi Cups, and tournaments within the last 6 months, means that you've barely scratched the surface. Your statement is an oxymoron.

 

[West Point 1987]

I've met Earl, which basically means standing beside him and listening to him talk, and seen him play live a few times. One heck of a character and a champion player at times.

If you want to see Earl at or near his best, watch the first few videos in his $100,000 match v Efren Reyes known as The Color of Money Challenge. Here's the first part for your convenience:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgVPmjLkQq4

Colin

Yes, that's a great match. The best part of it was the end, when Efren basically came back down from about 117 to 98, to win it 120 to 117. I don't think Earl was ever the same after that match...seriously.

As for the OP, I have to disagree whole-heartedly. Sure, he's got issues with sportsmanship during touch matches, but his safety play is right up there with the best. I personally think is cue ball control is better now than it was when he was on top back in the early 1990s. I have met him and watched him practice 10 ball on the 10 footer at Steinway...let me tell you, when you see his stroke in person, standing right over the table, you can really appreciate just how talented he still is...scary good.

 

[Jerry OC]

earl is known to be bipolar, his personality is what it is, if you don't like it, I get it, I don't mind it, people are who they are.

I have a nephew (borderline genius) that was going to Dartmouth and his parents got a call that he was out of control, like running around a football game naked...lol...they brought him back home and found out he was bipolar...He decided to go to Columbia and got his law degree....The bottom line is, as long as he takes his medication he's normal, if not he gets out there?

Not sure if that's Earls situation, but lets face it, Earl can be a genuine pain in the ass to play...Boy can he hit those f'n balls!

 

[sonny_burnett]

Dear all,

recently I've been observing Earl Strickland's playing (2014 and 2015) in various tournaments, most recently the Chinese 8-ball masters.
Still chalking up very carelessly (which irritates me greatly), and can't play a safety if his life (game) depended on it (which it really did all the time), just firing away mindlessly.

Seems to me he's lost all his greatness, instead murmuring about the table, the cloth, the balls when he's not succeeding, even tries to chat up Stephen Hendry.
He can only play adequately when he gets his mind or when the ball lie in a way he can just shoot away.

Also the advice given by Earl here seems really off:
https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~peer/pool-earl-archer.html

To summarize - he's hit the final wall of his playing, and is no longer succeeding with his old ways. And he can't see it and develop further because he would need somebody else to coach him and also would need to develop his mind further (which he aparently doesn't do at all).

Any thoughts on this?

Cheers,
M

PS: I really can't understand why he's allowed his stupid arm weights in major tournaments.

And your list of billiard accomplisments? Another dim wit to ignore.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[PINKLADY]

Why would post count matter?

On your first post, were you ignorant? Are you now 2197 times more educated?

Maybe one day my opinion will mean as much as yours, but I'm going to have to start posting a lot of irreverent garbage like, the above in order to catch up to you and your big swingin' post count.

or maybe, just maybe.... 336Robin is FROM here, same as Earl?
or maybe, just maybe....336Robin KNOWS or knows people who have known Earl for years?
and maybe, just maybe....336Robin is smart enough to know what he's talking about before he posts.

TO THE OP - i've known Earl for >25yrs since shooting at BreakTime. KK9 has known him for 15+ shooting & they play golf together @ Sedgefield. Earl is Earl. but he can be absolutely wonderful at times & he NEVER forgets a face! he's an amazing shot & had the best record from Mosconi 2013 for Team USA.

i don't know how his record is for the past year, but he could have too much on his plate at this time which might be interferring with his game?

as for his conduct - i am shocked that your comments are coming from a German? at Mosconi 2013 @ Mirage, the loudest background sounds you will hear from the crowd, are those of the 5 Germans dressed in matching blue custom tshirts. seated center up high near Lee Brett. (and we have an invite to stay with them anytime) it's what the Euros do - like rugby. and Matchroom LOVES Earl for this reason. (plus, Earl was a little pissed about the "savers" that 3 of his teammates "supposedly" did....)

if you want him to tame it down, it's not going to happen anytime soon. Earl, is Earl.

but i do think you raise a valid point about him being allowed to shoot with the arm weights!

 

[Ratta]

Hm....

wondering a bit about the sense of this thread-- far too many aspects have influence that also a player like Earl doesn t win that much tournaments as he did *earlier*.
But imo he s still playing amazing- he still has so much heart. And furthermore he s still playing on a f....ng high level.
Some ppl just forget that the level of playing has raised amazingly in the past 2 decades-
Much longer ago we had a very few absolutley top-guns who ve shared the big victories-- nowadays we have dozens of players who can beat everyone-

And i m pretty sure. that still everyone fears Earl- he still can beat everyone outthere- -maybe not that often over a longer time (big tournament)- but he still has it.

just my 2 cts