Question for the USA Mosconi Cup fans

cardiac kid said:
Think the problem with "earning" the spots is it favors the players with the most sponsorship or personnal funds. Not necessarily the best players. No system is going to be perfect though and this years player choice was pretty good except for leaving Dennis off the team! Please don't ask me who I would have dropped.

Lyn
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While I understand that concern, none of the points events were overseas, and if these guys are supposed to be "pro's", it's not in-fair to expect that they compete in a majority of the bigger events if they want to be considered to represent the US.

Personally, I feel that the "points events" requirement for the Cup is the only thing pool has that resembles an actual tour. If this concept could be expanded upon and promoted, we could have an actual "season", and the winner at the end of the year is considered the national champion for that year. The 4 runners up join him for the Cup team.
 
sjm said:
What we have here is called piling on.

I thought we'd already heard every possible excuse regarding Team USA - a) the wrong guys were on Team USA, b) Europe got the rolls, c) we could have won this match and that match and that would have changed everything, d) Team USA had the wrong captain. e) the European players get Olympic money, and Americans don't (actually, English players don't get Olympic foundation money, yet Team USA would probably not be favored by the bookmakers against an all-England team of Darren Appleton, Karl Boyes, Darryl Peach, Chris Melling and Mark Gray). Now you want to put some of the blame on the fans, who, by your assessment, failed to offer sufficient support to the team. Shame, shame, shame.

Time for Team USA and its many apologists to stop living in denial. We lost to a better team.

Europe, very much to their credit, has become a thorn in America's side when it comes to profesional pool. Once upon a time, the Americans dominated in nine ball. Now, Europe has won the last four US Open nine ball events, the last two Mosconi Cups, and the last three Challenge of Champions events. Once upon a time in 14.1, America dominated. Now, since the emergence in 2006 of a truly world class 14.1 event, Europeans have won all six of them (Thorsten Hohmann twice, Oliver Ortmann twice, Niels Feijen once and Stefan Cohen once), with every single one of these events contested on American soil. Somehow, though, American players don't give credit to the European players to the extent that is appropriate. Let's hope the Europeans don't take up serious one-pocket or bank pool any time soon!

Time for Americans to start making fewer mistakes and fewer excuses. Preparing for the next Mosconi Cup should be the focus, not moaning about the Mosconi Cup that's already behind us. Beating a team whose players hone their skills year round by competing in the most elite events on three continents is a tall order indeed, but it is possible if the desire and work ethic are there.
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TAP, TAP, TAP!!!:cool:
 
demonrho said:
The Mosconi event needs to modernize and drop nine ball in favor of one pocket. Or at least make it 1pkt, banks, and 9 ball like the DCC.
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Demographics choose the game Not ''poolplayers''. Since the broadcasts are aimed at other countries, how could one in the states even suggest the business model is flawed?
 
JCIN said:
Its a made for TV event with criteria for entry that changes every year.

Its really not that big of a deal. To put it in perspective.....if the Mosconi Cup paid zero dollars and the only payment the players received was the chance to represent their country how do you think it would go?

How much would they care?

Why be surprised at backlash when teams are chosen to represent the USA when the USA has no say in how they are chosen?

I personally like how Matchroom chose the teams this year. Top 5 in points go. Perfect way to do it. They dicked up the Captains choice about as bad as possible but its their nickel they can spend it how they want.

American pool fans are just tired of the bullshit IMO and its starting to show.
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Your comments are right on the mark. Thanks for all you do for our sport. Please keep up the good work.

By the way, I just ordered 2 more sets of the Tar 20 11 disc sets, including one for Earl. Have a great holiday.
 
justadub said:
While I understand that concern, none of the points events were overseas, and if these guys are supposed to be "pro's", it's not in-fair to expect that they compete in a majority of the bigger events if they want to be considered to represent the US.

Personally, I feel that the "points events" requirement for the Cup is the only thing pool has that resembles an actual tour. If this concept could be expanded upon and promoted, we could have an actual "season", and the winner at the end of the year is considered the national champion for that year. The 4 runners up join him for the Cup team.
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Considering the state of pool in the US, where are some of the top players going to find the money to travel a tour? Either corporate or individual sponsorships are necessary. Understand your point but in the real world there is just too little tournament prize money available. Unfortunately, it puts us back to step one. On second thought, the top American pro's could begin to play bar box. Lots of "easy" money there!

Lyn
 
pt109 said:
Personally, I'm happy when Nick Varner is the captain.
But if a change was going to happen, my choice would be Mark Wilson.

But I like the fact that if something is felt to be wrong.....
...we on AZ will speak up.
Save the euphemisms for the politicians....
...although I did like Justadub's 'deceased equine'...:lmao:
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Mark is an excellent choice. Terrific coach, mature, a gentleman, respected and professional.
 
pt109 said:
Personally, I'm happy when Nick Varner is the captain.
But if a change was going to happen, my choice would be Mark Wilson.

But I like the fact that if something is felt to be wrong.....
...we on AZ will speak up.
Save the euphemisms for the politicians....
...although I did like Justadub's 'deceased equine'...:lmao:
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Mark Wilson is an excellent choice. Terrific coach, mature, respected and professional. Another great choice is Jerry Brieseth. Active players as coaches for the team is proving to be shaky at best:years of in-fighting and politics among each other to name a few issues. A seasoned nationally recognized coach would be someone that players and fans could respect and rally behind.

Just for the record, Matchroom is one of best sports production groups I've had the pleasure to get to know over the years. If the rest of the pool world was as together, we would not have as many "what's wrong with pool" threads and comments.
 
Holly said:
Mark Wilson is an excellent choice. Terrific coach, mature, respected and professional. Another great choice is Jerry Brieseth. Active players as coaches for the team is proving to be shaky at best:years of in-fighting and politics among each other to name a few issues. A seasoned nationally recognized coach would be someone that players and fans could respect and rally behind.

Just for the record, Matchroom is one of best sports production groups I've had the pleasure to get to know over the years. If the rest of the pool world was as together, we would not have as many "what's wrong with pool" threads and comments.
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I forgot about Jerry....we bought our first table time system from him.
And I've attended his pool business seminars...I clearly remember his
advice about de-valuing your product....he had a day of free pool at
his room and was disappointed at the response...next year he did almost
the same thing but made it 50% off...and got a much greater response.

But I like the fact that Mark Wilson had a time he was the best player in the midwest. And his friend Jeff Carter would also be a good coach.
They had the same attitude as Steve Davis....which was basically .....
...don't watch me as much as watch this marvelous game that we play.

Up front we need a certain amount of those struttin' and 'regardez moi'
players....but they don't make good coaches.

regards
pt..<..the 't' stands for Tolstoy..:o
 
Pick a coach / captain or small group and let them select the best players in the US who will each enhance the team. Then turn them lose.

The best players / team members are not the highest money earners this year.
 
No Go

I am amazed that there are many (but not too many) good ideas on these forums where the posters are missing the point that nothing can move while there is no structure to take responsibility for what happens.
I will repeat myself. The US Players are individually contracted by Matchroom and any of them fail to perform they can still get back as Number One in the following season with little or no accountability to anyone except their team mates.

The US does not have the luxury of a PROFESSIONAL administrative body to set a program for the future.

OK you may say what about the ABP? But I would envisage another multitude of opposition from the pool fan base if it was left in such rookie hands.

It needs a sports business brain who would work with Matchroom to underpin a new younger pool regime.
 
PETROBOY said:
As soon as the team was set all I seen on these fourms was that some of the players shouldnt be there and Earl, Corey, Denis should be on it and Charlie being captian that it should have been someone else, My question is why didnt the fans embrace the team and cheer for them? It must be hard to be a player who earned your spot and see that alot of fans think you dont belong. Its my thoughts that only the players who earned their spots belong on the team. Negative comments and attitudes create negative results.
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I wondered how long it would take for the fans to be blamed.

The Beijing Open is on the list of points tournaments for the Mosconi Cup team. The only American player on the list was Charlie Williams, how did that tournament get on the list of - never mind.
 
sjm said:
What we have here is called piling on.

I thought we'd already heard every possible excuse regarding Team USA - a) the wrong guys were on Team USA, b) Europe got the rolls, c) we could have won this match and that match and that would have changed everything, d) Team USA had the wrong captain. e) the European players get Olympic money, and Americans don't (actually, English players don't get Olympic foundation money, yet Team USA would probably not be favored by the bookmakers against an all-England team of Darren Appleton, Karl Boyes, Darryl Peach, Chris Melling and Mark Gray). Now you want to put some of the blame on the fans, who, by your assessment, failed to offer sufficient support to the team. Shame, shame, shame.

Time for Team USA and its many apologists to stop living in denial. We lost to a better team.

Europe, very much to their credit, has become a thorn in America's side when it comes to profesional pool. Once upon a time, the Americans dominated in nine ball. Now, Europe has won the last four US Open nine ball events, the last two Mosconi Cups, and the last three Challenge of Champions events. Once upon a time in 14.1, America dominated. Now, since the emergence in 2006 of a truly world class 14.1 event, Europeans have won all six of them (Thorsten Hohmann twice, Oliver Ortmann twice, Niels Feijen once and Stefan Cohen once), with every single one of these events contested on American soil. Somehow, though, American players don't give credit to the European players to the extent that is appropriate. Let's hope the Europeans don't take up serious one-pocket or bank pool any time soon!

Time for Americans to start making fewer mistakes and fewer excuses. Preparing for the next Mosconi Cup should be the focus, not moaning about the Mosconi Cup that's already behind us. Beating a team whose players hone their skills year round by competing in the most elite events on three continents is a tall order indeed, but it is possible if the desire and work ethic are there.
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Couldn't agree more! By the way, Europe has won four of the last five Mosconi Cups!
 
JoeW said:
Pick a coach / captain or small group and let them select the best players in the US who will each enhance the team. Then turn them lose.

The best players / team members are not the highest money earners this year.
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Amen Brother!

This is not College SATs.

 
Celtic said:
9-ball to 1-pocket makes no sense at all. 10-ball instead of 9-ball would be a change that I think would be worth looking into, but you don't change a 9-ball event into 1-pocket...
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How about 9 ball on bar boxes alternating somehow with 9 footers.

Now that would be a trip. I wonder who would win then?
 
Darren Appleton and Chris Melling learned their craft on barbox tables and none of the current US team could come near them.
They would need to draft in specialists like Dave Matlock to stand a chance.
 
pro9dg said:
Darren Appleton and Chris Melling learned their craft on barbox tables and none of the current US team could come near them.
They would need to draft in specialists like Dave Matlock to stand a chance.
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SVB is one of the strongest barbox players alive...not sure even Matlock could take him today. As I understand it, he's got an insane offer out there on a barbox against anybody with no takers yet.
 
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