Put Earl Strickland on Team USA in 2017 Mosconi Cup

[JAM]

Well I'll just say this if we keep picking the team this say we will never have our best players. I want to play Mosconi Cup as bad as anyone out there I promise you that but the way the points s he duke is setup makes it almost impossible.

I would say there's around 10 players that are capable of winning against Europes best 5 so you could probably take around 2 different types of teams and still win. It is after all a race to 5. I really don't want to get into names but if someone wants to P.M. me I'll tell you who I think are the best 5 9 ball players. I would say Europe has more variety of better players. They could get 10 pretty good teams probably and we could only get 2. But our top 5 is very close in ability to their 5. They have outplayed last few years but also out broke us that's HUGE! If anyone of you a truly truly pool fans you'll know a race to 5 nine ball at that level really is not a legitimate match. Not a knock on Mosconi Cup because it's the one thing we have that's growing every year and the players get good money just to play and more if we win, and it's extremely exciting for both players & fans.

I wish they would change the way they pick the team. Like this year for instance they have a tournament that pays $2,000 for 1st, race to 5 and maybe 3 good players show up. where some players are 2,500 miles away and they didn't use the U.S. Open as points where it's a long race $40,000 for 1st and very good competition. Maybe have a Mosconi Cup tour. It wouldn't be donation or a money loser. Take 8 pool rooms in spread out areas... Maybe two in Califronia, two in Midwest, two down south, and two in East coast.... Make them $500 entry, $1,000, or maybe $2,000.... I think there is at least 10 pool room owners out there that would add money to and already good pot with a high entry, maybe you can get the streamer to get some advertising money, or some of Matchroom big sponsors to add a little bit. That's what I would really love to see.

Sorry I don't want to throw any players under the bus because there is probably more than 5 deserving players for that, not that they all play the same but all them could compete and win a race to 5. I thinks that's a realistic idea to help pro pool out for all both players, fans, and the game in general. This is just me but I didn't start playing pool when I was a kid to play in a bar table tournament and win $800. I think that's why we are far behind Europe... Most of us play 70 percent of our tournaments on bar tables, for little money, we change racks, rules every other tournament, different cue balls, etc. Sorry for he long post but I just wanted to get that all out. Hopefully something will change next year. If that happens then maybe we will see better play from U.S. players.

Excellent synopsis of the sad state of affairs that exist in American pool. Bravo for writing it and sharing your thoughts!

 

[BeiberLvr]

Well I'll just say this if we keep picking the team this say we will never have our best players. I want to play Mosconi Cup as bad as anyone out there I promise you that but the way the points s he duke is setup makes it almost impossible.

I would say there's around 10 players that are capable of winning against Europes best 5 so you could probably take around 2 different types of teams and still win. It is after all a race to 5. I really don't want to get into names but if someone wants to P.M. me I'll tell you who I think are the best 5 9 ball players. I would say Europe has more variety of better players. They could get 10 pretty good teams probably and we could only get 2. But our top 5 is very close in ability to their 5. They have outplayed last few years but also out broke us that's HUGE! If anyone of you a truly truly pool fans you'll know a race to 5 nine ball at that level really is not a legitimate match. Not a knock on Mosconi Cup because it's the one thing we have that's growing every year and the players get good money just to play and more if we win, and it's extremely exciting for both players & fans.

I wish they would change the way they pick the team. Like this year for instance they have a tournament that pays $2,000 for 1st, race to 5 and maybe 3 good players show up. where some players are 2,500 miles away and they didn't use the U.S. Open as points where it's a long race $40,000 for 1st and very good competition. Maybe have a Mosconi Cup tour. It wouldn't be donation or a money loser. Take 8 pool rooms in spread out areas... Maybe two in Califronia, two in Midwest, two down south, and two in East coast.... Make them $500 entry, $1,000, or maybe $2,000.... I think there is at least 10 pool room owners out there that would add money to and already good pot with a high entry, maybe you can get the streamer to get some advertising money, or some of Matchroom big sponsors to add a little bit. That's what I would really love to see.

Sorry I don't want to throw any players under the bus because there is probably more than 5 deserving players for that, not that they all play the same but all them could compete and win a race to 5. I thinks that's a realistic idea to help pro pool out for all both players, fans, and the game in general. This is just me but I didn't start playing pool when I was a kid to play in a bar table tournament and win $800. I think that's why we are far behind Europe... Most of us play 70 percent of our tournaments on bar tables, for little money, we change racks, rules every other tournament, different cue balls, etc. Sorry for he long post but I just wanted to get that all out. Hopefully something will change next year. If that happens then maybe we will see better play from U.S. players.

I think a MC tour would be a good idea, but it's not really necessary. Skill wise, it's clear who the top 3 American pool players are at this time. In no particular order:

1. You (Justin Bergman)
2. Shane
3. Sky


The 4th and 5th spots should be players that not only play well, but that can handle the pressure of the event. Pick any two from the following list to round out the team.

Thorpe
Justin Hall
Corey*
Rodney*
Oscar D.
Josh Roberts
Hatch*

That's the best we can offer. It's good enough to win, but still a sizable underdog vs most 5 man European teams.


*If Corey, Rodney, or Hatch is going to be on the team. I'd only pick one of the 3.

 

[jay helfert]

Well I'll just say this if we keep picking the team this say we will never have our best players. I want to play Mosconi Cup as bad as anyone out there I promise you that but the way the points s he duke is setup makes it almost impossible.

I would say there's around 10 players that are capable of winning against Europes best 5 so you could probably take around 2 different types of teams and still win. It is after all a race to 5. I really don't want to get into names but if someone wants to P.M. me I'll tell you who I think are the best 5 9 ball players. I would say Europe has more variety of better players. They could get 10 pretty good teams probably and we could only get 2. But our top 5 is very close in ability to their 5. They have outplayed last few years but also out broke us that's HUGE! If anyone of you a truly truly pool fans you'll know a race to 5 nine ball at that level really is not a legitimate match. Not a knock on Mosconi Cup because it's the one thing we have that's growing every year and the players get good money just to play and more if we win, and it's extremely exciting for both players & fans.

I wish they would change the way they pick the team. Like this year for instance they have a tournament that pays $2,000 for 1st, race to 5 and maybe 3 good players show up. where some players are 2,500 miles away and they didn't use the U.S. Open as points where it's a long race $40,000 for 1st and very good competition. Maybe have a Mosconi Cup tour. It wouldn't be donation or a money loser. Take 8 pool rooms in spread out areas... Maybe two in Califronia, two in Midwest, two down south, and two in East coast.... Make them $500 entry, $1,000, or maybe $2,000.... I think there is at least 10 pool room owners out there that would add money to and already good pot with a high entry, maybe you can get the streamer to get some advertising money, or some of Matchroom big sponsors to add a little bit. That's what I would really love to see.

Sorry I don't want to throw any players under the bus because there is probably more than 5 deserving players for that, not that they all play the same but all them could compete and win a race to 5. I thinks that's a realistic idea to help pro pool out for all both players, fans, and the game in general. This is just me but I didn't start playing pool when I was a kid to play in a bar table tournament and win $800. I think that's why we are far behind Europe... Most of us play 70 percent of our tournaments on bar tables, for little money, we change racks, rules every other tournament, different cue balls, etc. Sorry for he long post but I just wanted to get that all out. Hopefully something will change next year. If that happens then maybe we will see better play from U.S. players.

Well said Justin! I know that if I were the Captain you would be on the team, along with Sky and Shane and maybe Josh Roberts, who plays good under pressure. There are many guys I would choose before Earl, Justin Hall and Billy Thorpe being the first two who come to mind. I don't know if you attended Johann's training camp in Vegas or plan to attend another one but good luck if you do.

I agree about the Race to Five format. They are very short matches but there are some important things to remember when playing a short match with alternate breaks. Number one is do not scratch on the break! Better to leave a look at the one than to give up BIH. In such short races, there is a lot of pressure to run out when given a shot and that goes for both teams. The winning team is almost always the one with the fewest errors overall. Fouling on jump shots (as opposed to at least hitting the object ball) is sin number two. Once again you give up BIH rather than possibly leaving a hard shot or no shot to your opponent if you hit the ball. Not hitting the ball on a kick shot is sin number three. Once again BIH is a fatal mistake. When you kick and hit the ball there is a 50-50 chance of leaving it tough.

Once again the winning team is not always determined by great play, but by making the fewest errors and giving up BIH the least number of times. BIH in 9-Ball with top players is almost always an automatic loss of game. If Team USA can find a way to avoid costly mistakes like this, they can win. That's what playing under pressure looks like, not making the critical errors. Of course being able to make a big shot under pressure gives a lift to the whole team as well. One last thing. Being able to execute a good (lock 'em up) safety at the right time also wins games and in a Race to Five can win matches. Practice, Practice, Practice your safety game so you can make these shots when they come up!

Good luck this year to Team USA and our new Captain! :thumbup2:

 

[easy-e]

The Fact That We Even Get To Read Input From A Pro On Here Is Great. Not Saying You Have To Agree With Everything He Says But At Least Respect Where It's Coming From..

Can you explain why you capitalize every word? I've seen this done before and have always wondered the reasoning.

 

[thewhiffer]

People really have no clue about pool it's amazing. I just wish some of these people that have such serious opinions would bet a lot of money on who they think would win if they were on or off the team or who would beat who. Some of these games lol I'm not even going to say who because most people don't want to listen they just think their opinion is right. Amazing the stupidity in pool.

Nicely put and a comment that would seem to be well placed in the flow of this stream. Opinionated people are not restricted to pool and opinions that are not well reasoned can easily seem to border on stupidity. However, the opinion reflect on those offering the opinion and are not a reflection on the pool community as a whole. In my opinion, this should not be confused with the frustration generated by the lack of leadership and focus in the professional side of pool from those in a position to do something but seem too short sighted to act. Your post #140 is a good example of how to make a point and hopefully will serve as a template to those that simply want to attack the viability of a player with no substantive argument other than their opinion.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Earl has already put 100 percent of himself in any event he shoots in. ...

In the 2016 US Open 9-Ball, in his match with Josh Roberts, he was behind, Josh took his break, and Earl abandoned the match. He just packed up and left while Josh was gone. He has quit before. There is the chance he would simply walk away from the Cup on the third day. As long as that is a real possibility, Matchroom cannot take the risk of letting him on the US team.

 

[FuManchu]

Earls bad attitude, poor sportsmanship and ridiculous antics are not worth his level of play. There are plenty of players that play his speed and dont bring the negative antics along with them.

 

[pt109]

The Fact That We Even Get To Read Input From A Pro On Here Is Great. Not Saying You Have To Agree With Everything He Says But At Least Respect Where It's Coming From..

Can you explain why you capitalize every word? I've seen this done before and have always wondered the reasoning.

English at it's roots is a Germanic language...the traces are still there and is instinctively
used.
Here is a sentence in German where all the nouns are capitalized....
--------------------------------------
Wenn hinter Fliegen fliegen Fliegen, fliegen Fliegen nach Fliegen.
(When flies fly behind flies, flies fly after flies.)
Yeah, kind of a pointless sentence, but there's no question as to what is a verb and what isn't.
-----------------------------------------
It's actually a good method to distinguish Nouns from their homonyms....
..it makes it easy to spot 'Fly" the noun from "fly" the verb.

'course, Se7en went a little batshit crazy on the caps...

 

[Joe_Jaguar]

In the 2016 US Open 9-Ball, in his match with Josh Roberts, he was behind, Josh took his break, and Earl abandoned the match. He just packed up and left while Josh was gone. He has quit before. There is the chance he would simply walk away from the Cup on the third day. As long as that is a real possibility, Matchroom cannot take the risk of letting him on the US team.

Stop it with those facts. Don't feed the Queen Troll...

 

[JAM]

In the 2016 US Open 9-Ball, in his match with Josh Roberts, he was behind, Josh took his break, and Earl abandoned the match. He just packed up and left while Josh was gone. He has quit before. There is the chance he would simply walk away from the Cup on the third day. As long as that is a real possibility, Matchroom cannot take the risk of letting him on the US team.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts in an intelligent and polite manner. I don't agree with your opinion, but I do appreciate you taking to time to express your reasoning and logic.

It's hard to read the good posts in this thread because of the banned members posting.

Earl is playing well right now and took a hiatus. He's feeling good and looking good. This is why I think Matchroom should have him on the team. I respect your opinion, though, and do think it is good for everyone to post their thoughts, as long as the thoughts are sharing their opinion and not attacking others.

 

[LJhookem14]

My 5 would be (in no order):

SVB
Skyler Woodward
Justin Bergman
Billy Thorpe
Earl or Rocket

I don't think the team should necessarily be the top-5 Americans playing thus the Wild Card. I think in that position Rocket or Earl would be my WC as either could really spark the team. Only Earl could go either way as he's so volatile in his actions.

In one of my posts above I thought for sure I had Justin in there which would have been 5.

I think experience in these events is so huge. Of course you've got to still be capable which I still feel Rocket & Earl would be.

Rocket plays a little too "laissez faire" lately but I think he would buckle down hard for this match.

Now if the chemistry of the team would be messed up by having Earl then he absolutely can't be on the team. I think team Chemistry is #1 for a good outcome for the US.

Sent from my iPhone using AzBilliards Forums

 

[Tony_in_MD]

I love AZ you learn something new every day!! :wink:

English at it's roots is a Germanic language...the traces are still there and is instinctively
used.
Here is a sentence in German where all the nouns are capitalized....
--------------------------------------
Wenn hinter Fliegen fliegen Fliegen, fliegen Fliegen nach Fliegen.
(When flies fly behind flies, flies fly after flies.)
Yeah, kind of a pointless sentence, but there's no question as to what is a verb and what isn't.
-----------------------------------------
It's actually a good method to distinguish Nouns from their homonyms....
..it makes it easy to spot 'Fly" the noun from "fly" the verb.

'course, Se7en went a little batshit crazy on the caps...

 

[Celophanewrap]

Why in the world would I be scared ? And how do you bet on it ??.....lol.

If I knew for a fact that Earl was a cancer and I was a Team Europe fan I'd be all for
him being on the American team.
Why would you say anything negative about him? If you thought he'd be bad for the
American team why not keep quiet about it until it was over, then you could say, I
knew it" then tell the rude beer story.
You're kind of "nervous talking" like a frightened little girl. Why do you care if Earl is on
the American team? Wouldn't you prefer it if he were?

...and, well, to bet on it, I guess you'd have to be honest, not much chance of that happening....

It's pretty easy to be tough from behind your keyboard, eh?

 

[SE7EN]

English at it's roots is a Germanic language...the traces are still there and is instinctively
used.
Here is a sentence in German where all the nouns are capitalized....
--------------------------------------
Wenn hinter Fliegen fliegen Fliegen, fliegen Fliegen nach Fliegen.
(When flies fly behind flies, flies fly after flies.)
Yeah, kind of a pointless sentence, but there's no question as to what is a verb and what isn't.
-----------------------------------------
It's actually a good method to distinguish Nouns from their homonyms....
..it makes it easy to spot 'Fly" the noun from "fly" the verb.

'course, Se7en went a little batshit crazy on the caps...

I can only speak for myself.

But I think it has something to do with the 4 years or drafting/architecture classes I took in high school.

I like seeing the capital letters shoot Up Then Down In Words. For me it creates like a certain look when I read it.

https://goo.gl/images/1xXnLy

:wave:

 

[pt109]

I can only speak for myself.

But I think it has something to do with the 4 years or drafting/architecture classes I took in high school.

I like seeing the capital letters shoot Up Then Down In Words. For me it creates like a certain look when I read it.

https://goo.gl/images/1xXnLy

:wave:

I print notes to myself in block capitals...only way I can read them later.
...and regardless of your compulsion to sentence us to CAPITAL punishment...
...keep up the good work....we love your gifs.

 

[KRJ]

Having The Pearl at the Mosconi Cup would be a bonus since I've got tickets this year... But history tells us that in the presence of a rowdy audience and high-pressure competition, the bad side of Earl surfaces... :-(

Yeah, those 5 World Championships and 5 US Opens show that he can't handle a crowd or high pressure situation? Such nonsense.

He talks, he's a little rude. He's harmless.

2 days ago, in baseball, a $100B a year business, in which some players have $100M contracts, the average salary is north of $5M, and some guy was mad at the other team because of "talk" and threw a ball, at 95mph at his head and hit him. Could have killed the guy, but Earl acted "up" in the past and has put a pall on the entire billiard universe??

The guy that threw the ball got a few game suspension, will lose a couple of bucks, and NOBODY will say he needs to leave the game because he is hurting it. I don't agree with trying to kill a guy over a baseball game, but my god, compared to Earl, we are like HS girls getting emotional over the guy who stood us up last night.

Michael Jordan talked shit non stop to his opponents, he said things that would make a Trucker cringe. He literally tore into his teammates if he believed they were not playing good enough or if their played in some way displeased MJ. And he's now worth $1B and owns a Pro basketball team. He has sponsors galore, then and now.

Yeah, Jordan should have shut up and played nice, and forfeited his 6 Championships to the other teams, and walked away as some back up scrub and gone to work as a Jr. High coach after basketball

I'm sure if Earl could go back in time he would "play" nice and walk away from his World Championships and his US Open victories, I know I would

Pool folks need to put some stuff in perspective for crying out loud.

 

[Justin Bergman]

Earl was one of my favorite players growing up. One of the most talented rotation players ever. For sure top 3 shot makers of all time. He gives up a little too easy now, he doesn't kick that great, but I think he's still capable of winning.

I agree with some people that show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser. Most champions would rather die than lose.

I have never played on a team with Earl but I've played with a lot of players that have and they said its brutal. I think I would like it and wouldn't mind playing with him. I could see where some players might not like it. If you are dogging it or playing bad he could very easily make it worse for you.

 

[one stroke]

Earl was one of my favorite players growing up. One of the most talented rotation players ever. For sure top 3 shot makers of all time. He gives up a little too easy now, he doesn't kick that great, but I think he's still capable of winning.

I agree with some people that show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser. Most champions would rather die than lose.

I have never played on a team with Earl but I've played with a lot of players that have and they said its brutal. I think I would like it and wouldn't mind playing with him. I could see where some players might not like it. If you are dogging it or playing bad he could very easily make it worse for you.

Well you were doing just fine JB stay on the high road ,,believe it or not some of us idiots that have been watching pool for decades actually stumble in to this knowledge by pure accident kinda like a blind squirrel finding a acorn lol

1

 

[trophycue]

If I knew for a fact that Earl was a cancer and I was a Team Europe fan I'd be all for
him being on the American team.
Why would you say anything negative about him? If you thought he'd be bad for the
American team why not keep quiet about it until it was over, then you could say, I
knew it" then tell the rude beer story.
You're kind of "nervous talking" like a frightened little girl. Why do you care if Earl is on
the American team? Wouldn't you prefer it if he were?

...and, well, to bet on it, I guess you'd have to be honest, not much chance of that happening....

It's pretty easy to be tough from behind your keyboard, eh?

Wow......Li'l testy big boy....lmao.

 

[AtLarge]

... show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser. ...

That's an absurd expression. Sports are full of people who try their hardest yet are gracious when they lose. Weren't Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus good losers? Or, how about Efren Reyes, Ralf Souquet, Thorsten Hohmann.