I know you have a hard on for me. So I didn't bother clicking the link.
Truth be told, I simply just spelled the name wrong.
Because [spoiler alert] I'm NOT really a Justin Bieber fan.
Put Earl Strickland on Team USA in 2017 Mosconi Cup
- Thread starter JAM
- Start date
I know you have a hard on for me. So I didn't bother clicking the link.
Truth be told, I simply just spelled the name wrong.
Because [spoiler alert] I'm NOT really a Justin Bieber fan.
Earl definitely has my vote, as long as he keeps his focus on the game
I will consider a bet that Earl has either the best or second best record on the team. I'm not going to bet on the team due to other folks who have not done it "yet" at MC.
So, if he's not as good as you say, surely, those European dudes will light him up and he should finish pretty low. That's pretty fair I think for a "sweat bet"
Let's say Earl is on the team and blows up again or pollutes the environment such that he becomes the attraction once again. Then what? Another wasted year? Earl has a need to continue to be in the spotlight even when he is not winning. Let the new coach pick his team and let's move on. Even the great Yankee's had to be broken up and Babe Ruth cut from the roster. It's about the USA winning the Mosconi Cup.
In case anyone forgot what happened the last time they tried this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9vcbCqw-A4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9vcbCqw-A4
People here are constantly talking about Earl's behavior on the table, but in my eyes thats not the main problem.
It doesn't really matter if he stays calm or gets furious, we all know he can play his best pool either way.
But I think that Earl's "best game" might not be enough to compete with the modern style of play. Without a doubt he still is a great player and if some people here say he still is capeable of producing the form he had in his prime, I believe them...but, well...the game has moved on quite a bit in the last 10-20 years.
Can Earl keep up with the break/runout ratio of the young players?
Can he fire in 8 out of 10 jump shots?
Can he play his best while shot clock is in operation?
Players like Earl or Efren (or Souquet for the Euros) are still fun to watch and I hope the stick around for many, many years, but they (and we as their fans) have to accept, that they aren't part of the world's elite players anymore.
It doesn't really matter if he stays calm or gets furious, we all know he can play his best pool either way.
But I think that Earl's "best game" might not be enough to compete with the modern style of play. Without a doubt he still is a great player and if some people here say he still is capeable of producing the form he had in his prime, I believe them...but, well...the game has moved on quite a bit in the last 10-20 years.
Can Earl keep up with the break/runout ratio of the young players?
Can he fire in 8 out of 10 jump shots?
Can he play his best while shot clock is in operation?
Players like Earl or Efren (or Souquet for the Euros) are still fun to watch and I hope the stick around for many, many years, but they (and we as their fans) have to accept, that they aren't part of the world's elite players anymore.
So, it's fair to say it the loss was NOT all on Earl but a tremendous team effort of bad rolls and forced errors. Yeah, it's one "playoff", overall, Earl has the strongest batting average in the MC. But no worries, they would not pick him anyways, the coach could not handle him like I could
Even in pool there are standards of behavior that competitors should be expected to meet. Earl doesn't even come close. The problem with that video is not the missed shots, it's the erratic, disturbing, unprofessional behavior.So, it's fair to say it the loss was NOT all on Earl but a tremendous team effort of bad rolls and forced errors. Yeah, it's one "playoff", overall, Earl has the strongest batting average in the MC. But no worries, they would not pick him anyways, the coach could not handle him like I could
As everyone saw this weekend, he couldn't even control himself in a cozy bar tournament with most of the audience rooting for him. After missing tough shots he raked the final two winning racks for Corey, conceding the penultimate game with 8 balls left on the table and the match winner with 5 balls left. And this is the guy people say "never gives up"?
He is a great shooter but should be nowhere near the Mosconi Cup team until he shows a pattern of improved behavior. At his age and with his history that seems unlikely, which is too bad for all parties.
So, folks are still upset about some minor "antics" from Earl. In professional sports, Earl would not even be on the radar in the NBA, NFL, MLB, NASCAR or NHL... heck, they might think he's too laid back. And with no felony arrests they might have to have him "tested" to make sure he's OK. LOL
Anyone who did the equivalent of raking the final two racks in the NBA, NFL, MLB or NHL would immediately be cut from their teams.
Right, the guy last week who tried to KILL another player by intentionally throwing a baseball at his head at 95mph did not even get suspended by the league. He was not fined by his team, heck, he probably got a few high fives in the locker room afterwards.
Please, it took months before they even cut a guy for knocking out his own wife out in an elevator. The Hall of Fame still has OJ Simpson enshrined. We have not even touched on rape, robbery, drug distribution or taking, etc. etc.
So, please, stop with the comparisons, Earl would NOT even be fined in the biggest sports in America.
The actual equivalent of what Earl does when he rakes 8 balls away after missing a shot would be a closer intentionally walking three batters in a row to lose the game because he gets mad about walking the first batter in the ninth inning.
Or if a kicker intentionally kicks a ball out of bounds because he is pissed off about missing a game-winning field goal.
Yes, anyone who did something like that would be immediately kicked off their team.
Add acting like either a brat or mentally disturbed (pick your poison) on top of that and it's an easy choice to leave him off the team.
Has Earl's "attitude" ever gotten him into an actual physical altercation during (or before
or after) a match?
We've all seen him have words with just about everyone, has it ever gone
beyond that?
or after) a match?
We've all seen him have words with just about everyone, has it ever gone
beyond that?
Yes, because raking the balls which only affects him is more important than murder, rape, kidnapping, stalking, drug distribution? Please.
Plus, the raking is more to Earl's benefit than his opponent. Why let opponent get in stroke, why let him feel confident, why watch him shoot while you're stewing. Most likely a shark move.
And of course, trying to KILL your opponent does not affect the other teams chance of winning, huh? What about players getting suspended for days or weeks, or even a season, that does not hurt your team, and yet, rarely ever are they "cut" as you say.
Get a grip, John McEnroe, even though retired for over a decade still gets sponsors, still gets commentary assignments and is highly regarded still in the pool world. I seriously doubt too many tennis fans are sitting around whining about that time he broke his rackets and yelled at the ref's.
So, if you want to say Earl can't compete at that level anymore than fine, you're entitled to your opinion. But this behavior is minor in the sporting world, so minor he has never even been kicked out of a tourney that I know of? Now, when he starts selling for the drug cartels and beats a girlfriend, then we can talk
I'm pretty sure Michael Jordan could throw a game winning shot into the stands and would NOT be cut. Not in a million, billion, gazillion years. And the team would cover for him and say he was trying to hit make the shot off the beer stand wall and all would be forgiven rather quickly
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He raked the final two racks against Corey Deuel to lose the match and be eliminated from the tournament. Some shark move.
Oh dear. And they let him live ? I'm pretty sure some "snowflakes" took this as a personal affront to humanity. And then packed their game gear, tail gated outside some NFL stadium and wanted for the Felons to come out to play
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Has Earl ever done this during a "team" event, like the Mosconi Cup?
The only times I'm aware of him doing it is where he was playing in solo events that were not associated with any team.
If he is his "own" team, he can do whatever he wants if he is willing to suffer the penalty.
Exactly right!
USA, all the way!
USA, Earl must play!
USA, All THE WAY!
USA, EARL MUST PLAY!