This is the best I could do...hope you get the gist of the interview, but hearing it first hand from Oscar is a very good look into the Mosconi Cup selection process.
Interview (not verbatim...just highlights)
1. Going to Iowa for first boot camp session...Oscar likes the boot camp because Johan is trying to create structure and discipline in American pool.
2 16 people originally invited, but 14 accepted, Shane being one of the 2 that choose not to attend. Did not name the second player who declined the invite.
3. Does team USA have zero chance without Shane? Oscar says on paper, yes, because of the 1 on 1 factor. It's hard to play doubles with Shane. In a race to 5, 1 on 1, opponents will play tighter because of the reputation Shane has, but in a race to 5 anyone is beatable especially on the Mosconi Cup stage. So nothing is set in stone just because Shane isn't on the team.
4. Is Oscar on board with boot camp? Yes. Oscar says every single sport has an off season training camp. Why not pool? He has learned more with Johan than he has in years, and he has improved as a player. He loves the boot camps because he improves as a player.
Oscar wonders why wouldn't any player want to improve? He disagrees with Shane and told Shane all of this, who may be beyond the training and practice of what Johan is trying to do with the boot camps, but even if Shane learned one flaw/shot, then wouldn't it all be worth it?
5. Shane doesn't need the Mosconi Cup at his level. It means more to others who do not get that opportunity every year than it does to Shane.
6. Experience only takes you so far in Mosconi Cup. In Mosconi you need a shooter who is unafraid to fire at opponents than one who is hesitant over the ball. Oscar names a few players (Mitch Ellerman) who are relatively unknown and new but would be great for Mosconi because they fire at you.
7. Oscar doesn't expect to be on the team because of his poor performance last year, but he loves the opportunity to be considered and to learn and attend the boot camps.
8. Absence of Johnny archer, Rodney Morris wasn't too much of a shock to Oscar for not being considered because they are not active on the event schedule as much as others. The players who are on the list are the most active players in general. Johan and Jeremy did their homework on who can not only match-up but also work well with each other.
9. Oscar says he asked Johan for private training lessons (willing to fly to wherever Johan was in the states), and Johan said no because he doesn't want to show favoritism in the selection process. Johan doesn't talk to any players in regards to selection process and all players are on the same level at this point.
10. The boot camp is held in Des Moines and then Vegas...then team is narrowed to go to Russia, and then Belgium.
11. Johan is the best coach he's ever had and he'd say the same thing even if not picked. Oscar didn't ever think that someone who doesn't play at a high level could coach him, but he was totally wrong after working with Johan. He's extremely good and his knowledge is proven. Why wouldn't any player want to learn from a guy who's proven to coach some of the best players on earth? If Johan wanted to invite 16 players from Europe for free lessons, there would be a waiting list of players crashing at his door. Why not the same in America? Why wouldn't you want to learn from someone like this and it's a mistake on American players' part if they don't support this.
12. When Oscar first started working with Johan he found out how much he sucked. He found out the flaws in his game and things he needed to work on.
13. Oscar realized that he had to work on a lot of things on his game in order to improve as are other players, so there will be improvement but there is not just pressure on the team, but pressure on Johan as well, especially with a program that parted ways with the best player in the country.
