Past vs present. Your dream matchups.

j2pac said:
Would anyone touch Earl on a 10 footer in his prime?
🤔
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Yes, Filler, Gorst, Kaci and SVB would all, in my opinion, be favored over prime Earl at 10ball. To my recollection, the last time a premier pro tour played 10ball was when the PBT (of which Strickland was a touring player) played 10ball in 1998-99, but it was not played with call shot or ten ball last. Different game back then, and I'd suggest that Johnny Archer was Earl's equal at 10ball back then.

It was at 9ball that Earl had a habit of beating champions in very lopsided matches. Of every match on my list, I think the one I'd most like to see is Filler vs prime Earl.
 
sjm said:
Yes, Filler, Gorst, Kaci and SVB would all, in my opinion, be favored over prime Earl at 10ball. To my recollection, the last time a premier pro tour played 10ball was when the PBT (of which Strickland was a touring player) played 10ball in 1998-99, but it was not played with call shot or ten ball last. Different game back then, and I'd suggest that Johnny Archer was Earl's equal at 10ball back then.

It was at 9ball that Earl had a habit of beating champions in very lopsided matches. Of every match on my list, I think the one I'd most like to see is Filler vs prime Earl.
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10 foot table, not 10 ball. 9 Ball, we agree. Earl had a gear that was as good as any. I think prime Earl vs. Filler would be my favorite as well.
 
j2pac said:
10 foot table, not 10 ball. 9 Ball, we agree. Earl had a gear that was as good as any. I think prime Earl vs. Filler would be my favorite as well.
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Yes, but the only event played regularly in these times on a 10 foot table is 10ball, and I think Filler, Gorst, Kaci and SVB have shown enough form in those events to make me reach the conclusion I did.

Prime Earl might beat all of them at 14.1 on the 10 footer, but that's a debate for another day.
 
j2pac said:
What past players in their prime, would you have loved to have seen play against today's generation of greats?
Granted we're assuming all things being equal... table conditions, balls, gear, etc.

Obviously this is just for fun.
I'll start.
For me, it would have been a prime Earl Strickland vs. Joshua Filler...9 Ball, or a prime McCready vs. Shaw. That one would have been pure gold for the entertainment value alone.
As far as banks go, I think Eddie Taylor against well, any of them.
Enjoy.
🙂
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I knew Jersey Red in the last third of his life. I watched him give Jeremy Jones and others lessons on a 10 footer. You could play him all day long but had to bet $10 a game.

So I would say Red in his prime and Jeremy Jones in his prime playing one pocket on a tight 10 footer.
 
j2pac said:
I remember Earl beating Shane somewhere, later in Earls career. Even Shane commented, " probably no one beats him on a 10' table."
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They played in your neck of the woods in Youngstown. My all time favorite TAR match. It was crazy. Earl went off the ranch nuts. Throwing chalk, wearing ear muffs, using a magnifying glass to check the rack. John Schmidt doing commentary. It was great.

Some YouTube Hightlights:

Part 1 - Highlights

Part 2 - Highlights

TAR 20 featured Shane Van Boening taking on one of his hero's, Earl Strickland in a ten ball race to 100. This match took place on February 4-6, 2011 IceBreakers Billiards in Youngstown, OH. This was an action match with each player putting up $10,000 with the winner taking all.

The match was played on a 5X10 Gold Crown that was put together by a local mechanic. This was the first match to feature a ten footer in this race to 100 format. It was a big factor in the match.

In this match you will see Earl use four cues, two sets of ear muffs and a magnifying glass. True story. John Schmidt sits in and provides some of the funniest commentary ever on a TAR match. At about 20 hours in length this will be something to watch over time but with unlimited streaming to any device and the ability to download and save the source file you will be able to watch it all at your own pace.

vimeo.com

Watch TAR 20: Van Boening vs Strickland Online | Vimeo On Demand

TAR 20 featured Shane Van Boening taking on one of his hero's, Earl Strickland in a ten ball race to 100. This match took place on February 4-6, 2011 IceBreakers…
vimeo.com vimeo.com

1738379131147.png
 
Hungarian said:
They played in your neck of the woods in Youngstown. My all time favorite TAR match. It was crazy. Earl went off the ranch nuts. Throwing chalk, wearing ear muffs, using a magnifying glass to check the rack. John Schmidt doing commentary. It was great.

Some YouTube Hightlights:

Part 1 - Highlights

Part 2 - Highlights

TAR 20 featured Shane Van Boening taking on one of his hero's, Earl Strickland in a ten ball race to 100. This match took place on February 4-6, 2011 IceBreakers Billiards in Youngstown, OH. This was an action match with each player putting up $10,000 with the winner taking all.

The match was played on a 5X10 Gold Crown that was put together by a local mechanic. This was the first match to feature a ten footer in this race to 100 format. It was a big factor in the match.

In this match you will see Earl use four cues, two sets of ear muffs and a magnifying glass. True story. John Schmidt sits in and provides some of the funniest commentary ever on a TAR match. At about 20 hours in length this will be something to watch over time but with unlimited streaming to any device and the ability to download and save the source file you will be able to watch it all at your own pace.

vimeo.com

Watch TAR 20: Van Boening vs Strickland Online | Vimeo On Demand

TAR 20 featured Shane Van Boening taking on one of his hero's, Earl Strickland in a ten ball race to 100. This match took place on February 4-6, 2011 IceBreakers…
vimeo.com vimeo.com

View attachment 805124
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I think that is the one. 👍
 
Willie Mosconi vs Jayson Shaw. Straight pool. Best of 15 games over 2 days. Played with 1940s tables and equipment.
 
Prime Strickland vs Filler is the only answer here.

He’s the only guy from the old guard that makes you wonder.
 
sjm said:
Yes, Filler, Gorst, Kaci and SVB would all, in my opinion, be favored over prime Earl at 10ball. To my recollection, the last time a premier pro tour played 10ball was when the PBT (of which Strickland was a touring player) played 10ball in 1998-99, but it was not played with call shot or ten ball last. Different game back then, and I'd suggest that Johnny Archer was Earl's equal at 10ball back then.

It was at 9ball that Earl had a habit of beating champions in very lopsided matches. Of every match on my list, I think the one I'd most like to see is Filler vs prime Earl.
Click to expand...
Parica was the best Ten Ball player for many years and he did beat Earl for the cash playing Ten Ball. I'd like to see a prime Parica against any of these top guys like Filler and Gorst. Now that would be a match made in heaven. Jose moved the cue ball the best I ever saw after Harold Worst. The great Yang from Taiwan was third best. He died only a couple of years ago, but he was one magnificent pool player in his prime. He made shots no one else would even attempt, under pressure too!
 
Hungarian said:
I knew Jersey Red in the last third of his life. I watched him give Jeremy Jones and others lessons on a 10 footer. You could play him all day long but had to bet $10 a game.

So I would say Red in his prime and Jeremy Jones in his prime playing one pocket on a tight 10 footer.
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i would bet on red based on this saying
"I taught you all you know........but i didnt teach you all I know"......;)
 
skogstokig said:
haha! did he bring one or was there one lying around?
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Mike Gulyassy was there with hardware and a tip lathe and he was feeding Earl shafts. Plus Earl had a shit ton or cues and shafts and all sorts of other various garage and office items laying all over the floor. It was freaking nuts. This was Earl at his nuttiest scaring the fans and playing great. Earl did some shit that was really shocking and at times the fans were on pins and needles. Then the crowd turned on Earl. Then everything settled down.
 
earl certainly went overboard. but watching pool needs to have characters you both love and hate, and some you identify with, or there is no way for it to progress in audience viewing.
 
jersey red was the best on the 10 footers. no one could beat him at one pocket on them. bar none and few if any could(maybe eddie tayor in prime) at 9 ball. we played shoot out then and on a 10 it was much more strategy and thinking than mindlessly running open balls.
 
jay helfert said:
Parica was the best Ten Ball player for many years and he did beat Earl for the cash playing Ten Ball. I'd like to see a prime Parica against any of these top guys like Filler and Gorst. Now that would be a match made in heaven. Jose moved the cue ball the best I ever saw after Harold Worst. The great Yang from Taiwan was third best. He died only a couple of years ago, but he was one magnificent pool player in his prime. He made shots no one else would even attempt, under pressure too!
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Hard to believe it, but I don't ever remember seeing Parica play 10ball. I did, however, see the Parica of 1997 at 9ball and he'd have given today's best a good run for their money.
 
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BlueRaider said:
Wu Jia-qing circa 2008 (age 19) vs 19 year old Filler/Gorst/Kaci.

In 2008, he was already a 2x world champion, an All Japan Championship winner, and a runner-up in the World 10-Ball.
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You can put me on the list of those that feel that had Wu remained a full-time pro player, he might have become the best rotation pool player of all time.

Still, I'm not convinced that he ever showed the form to compete with prime Filler, Gorst, or SVB. Still, even as a part time player at age 30, he was an absolute monster, as he showed at the 2019 US Open 9ball, in which he lost the final to Filler.

To me, Wu, as great a talent that has ever graced the pro pool scene, will always be in the "what might have been" category. I'll never be convinced that we saw Wu reach his potential, and yes, I know all the reasons he was unable to compete full-time.
 
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