shane van boening

[BeiberLvr]

Shane hasn't fallen off so much as others have been getting better.

A few have mentioned his age, but he's really not that old, and no reason to suspect he's completely past his prime. Let's not forget that Efren's best years were in his mid 40's to early 50's.

Even Earl had some good years at an older age, and he did win the world 9 ball at 40.

As long as Shane keeps playing, I think we'll still see great things from him.

 

[poolhustler]

I also subscribe to the belief that SVB isn't waning much, if at all. There is just more super high end competition out there now. Filler, Aranas, Shaw, Ko Bros, Etc.....

 

[one stroke]

Shane hasn't fallen off so much as others have been getting better.

A few have mentioned his age, but he's really not that old, and no reason to suspect he's completely past his prime. Let's not forget that Efren's best years were in his mid 40's to early 50's.

Even Earl had some good years at an older age, and he did win the world 9 ball at 40.

As long as Shane keeps playing, I think we'll still see great things from him.

Well if the keep dumping down the fields he might just catch a World Tittle, I have hope they will do the same thing in World Cup soccer so possibly we can win a World Cup in soccer JS

1

 

[trinacria]

Just curious, who makes that Mt Rushmore of 4 pool players (eliminating snooker and 3-C) for 50-100 years ago and a separate 4 for the past 50 years? My old-timers list would be Greenleaf, Mosconi, Lassiter, and Fats (just can’t justify leaving him off it). Crane would be the next that comes to mind.

For the past 50 years, it’s a lot tougher. Certainly Reyes and Strickland. After those two, it gets real tough to choose from SVB, Sigel, Miz, Varner, Souquet, Hall, Parica, Archer, and I’m sure I’m leaving out a number of others who would deserve consideration.

Reyes and svb have been dominant with no equals. Strickland is upthere, souquet is a pros pro, bustamante has reyes like talent. Alcano was freakishly talented. Last 50 very hard, but id e have to say svb, earl and reyes, fourth guy is a difficult one

 

[AtLarge]

... I do believe Shane ran about the same maybe a tad better break and run pct against DO as Joshua did against James , and that was late last yr I believe, ...

True: https://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=6606481&postcount=5

 

[trinacria]

I can just hear fats commenting about this conversation. Something to the effect that Everest wouldn't be big enough to place his likeness.:wink:

These conversations about the GOAT or GOATS are always an opinion in any sport. There can be many discussions and viewpoints and they all can be right. Still fun to talk about.

No, theres goats and than theres everyone else. Lassiter was the best shot maker who ever lived, as per countless accounts. Mosconi was the best 14.1 player of all time. Earl best 9 baller, shane best 10 baller, eddie taylor best banker and so on, those guys are considered the goats in their respected field, but best overall who can beat any of them at their own specialty was reyes. Simply the goat of our sport and he did so while sayimg he was better when he was younger and had to quit to play 3 cushion bc he was untouchable.

 

[asbani]

seems like his dominance has slowed down a bit, still one of the best, but is it age, desire, maybe equipment? watched his match against filler and he missed a couple of shots he makes with his eyes closed normally.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yahinqwAhDE&t=2092s
and hes lost a few other matches like this, his body language is different. what you think?

He's playing the same as he always does, he's great.

By now you should know the reality of pool to be honest, you don't play the same game every single day, some days you're shooting the lights out, some days you're a little bit off, and nobody as of yet discovered the reason to this, but I think the reason is being human.

hope this helps.

EDIT: Just saw the match for the second time, he missed one easy shot, the 5 ball, he also hooked himself on the 4ball, he scratched on the break one time, all pro's do that, also Filler in that match got out of line one time then played safe, it happens to all pro's in every match that he miss one ball and get hooked maybe once, I advise you not to give full assessment based on the result of a match, e.g. the score, sometimes score is irrelevent, people can mess up and it doesn't cost them, other times it can cost them.

 

[straightline]

Peanut gallery wisdom is it's whomever's playing good right now. My take (like somebody else already said) is there are more players on equal footing. Pumping this variable into a situation where only one wins, means the hotter one wins.

As to GOATs, I prefer BOATS (best) which technically they are - boats that is...

 

[sjm]

At 36, Shane is young and still very much in his playing prime.

Burnout is a convenient excuse for his failure to win any of the toughest titles over deep, internationally diverse fields (US Open 9-ball, China Open, All-Japan Championships, WPA World 9-ball, World Pool Masters, Derby City Classic 9-ball, International 9-ball) since 2016, but the truth is that the fields in these events have become much stronger and the titles are much harder to come by. Shane can no longer win the biggest events with his "B" game, as he did on numerous occasions from 2011-16.

Shane will be remembered as one of the all-time greats, and rightfully so, for his competitive record speaks volumes. I, for one, believe he will win some more of the biggest titles before he retires from competition. He's still got the game, but it's just so much harder to win the big titles right now than ever before.

Yup, I'm betting on Shane to win something real big real soon!

 

[Maniac]

Yup, I'm betting on Shane to win something real big real soon!

Just curious....what's YOUR definition of "big".

Maniac

 

[sjm]

Just curious....what's YOUR definition of "big".

Maniac

Any of these:

US Open 9-ball
China Open 9-ball
All-Japan 9-ball
WPA World 9-ball
World Pool Masters 9-ball
Derby City Classic 9-ball
International 9-ball

Also, the World 10-ball, if the event resumes next year.

 

[AtLarge]

Any of these:

US Open 9-ball
China Open 9-ball
All-Japan 9-ball
WPA World 9-ball
World Pool Masters 9-ball
Derby City Classic 9-ball
International 9-ball

Also, the World 10-ball, if the event resumes next year.

And possibly the World 8-Ball Championship, on the calendar for November.

 

[trinacria]

He's playing the same as he always does, he's great.

By now you should know the reality of pool to be honest, you don't play the same game every single day, some days you're shooting the lights out, some days you're a little bit off, and nobody as of yet discovered the reason to this, but I think the reason is being human.

hope this helps.

EDIT: Just saw the match for the second time, he missed one easy shot, the 5 ball, he also hooked himself on the 4ball, he scratched on the break one time, all pro's do that, also Filler in that match got out of line one time then played safe, it happens to all pro's in every match that he miss one ball and get hooked maybe once, I advise you not to give full assessment based on the result of a match, e.g. the score, sometimes score is irrelevent, people can mess up and it doesn't cost them, other times it can cost them.

ive watched hundreds of hours of shane. hes different, his killer instinct is starting to go. he also missed an easy 7 ball. he still has all the talent in the world, maybe its the alternate breaking and he cant get rolling, maybe hes burnt out. who knows. hes not at immonen level yet, mika hasn't enjoyed playing pool in ten years. he concedes more matches than he wins. lol.

 

[ChrisinNC]

But you put SVB on your candidate list, and he's 5 years younger than Alex.

Yes, I kind of realize that before even getting to read your thread but you are completely correct. Alex just looks so young that it’s hard to remember he’s been competing out there nearly 25 years!

 

[Mich]

These things go in cycles. No one can stay on top forever. But I don't think his big tournament winning ways are over yet. Buddy was supposedly "burned out" before winning the US Open in '91 and having a resurgence. Varner was unbeatable in '89 and maybe '90 before coming back to earth. Sigel was dominant throughout the '80's before "burning out." Even with him supposedly losing his desire, he won the Bicycle Club, 14.1 and Valley Forge events right before "retiring." Today as countless other have mentioned the fields are brutal and no one can win every time out. Right now Id say Filler,Chang, the Ko Bros, Gorst, Shaw and SVB are all right there. And Mr Wu when he gets out of the Country. Maybe Kaci. The bigger point is look at all the youngsters playing world class, not to mention even younger monsters we still haven't heard from yet in the UK and Europe.

 

[Maniac]

These things go in cycles. No one can stay on top forever. But I don't think his big tournament winning ways are over yet. Buddy was supposedly "burned out" before winning the US Open in '91 and having a resurgence. Varner was unbeatable in '89 and maybe '90 before coming back to earth. Sigel was dominant throughout the '80's before "burning out." Even with him supposedly losing his desire, he won the Bicycle Club, 14.1 and Valley Forge events right before "retiring." Today as countless other have mentioned the fields are brutal and no one can win every time out. Right now Id say Filler,Chang, the Ko Bros, Gorst, Shaw and SVB are all right there. And Mr Wu when he gets out of the Country. Maybe Kaci. The bigger point is look at all the youngsters playing world class, not to mention even younger monsters we still haven't heard from yet in the UK and Europe.

I gotta believe that Skyler is as good as Kaci or Gorst. Just my opinion.

Maniac

 

[sjm]

I gotta believe that Skyler is as good as Kaci or Gorst. Just my opinion.

Maniac

Gorst is quite a bit stronger than either of them. He beat Filler in the final of the last European 9-ball Championships, he won the WPA World 9-ball Championship over JL Chang in the final and he has cashed in each of his last two Bigfoot 10-ball Challenges.

Kaci vs either Skyler or Bergman is very close.

 

[mikepage]

These things go in cycles. No one can stay on top forever. [...]

My head's going to fall off if I keep shaking it like this. SVB has played 1200 games since last August, and there is ONE person on the planet who has logged more than 200 games at a higher performance rating....One. And that person has only 400 games and has not been mentioned in this thread... Everybody mentioned in this thread has a lower average performance...

 

[AtLarge]

My head's going to fall off if I keep shaking it like this. SVB has played 1200 games since last August, and there is ONE person on the planet who has logged more than 200 games at a higher performance rating....One. And that person has only 400 games and has not been mentioned in this thread... Everybody mentioned in this thread has a lower average performance...

Anton Raga?

 

[Cuebuddy]

Gorst is quite a bit stronger than either of them. He beat Filler in the final of the last European 9-ball Championships, he won the WPA World 9-ball Championship over JL Chang in the final and he has cashed in each of his last two Bigfoot 10-ball Challenges.

Kaci vs either Skyler or Bergman is very close.

I would agree Fedor is an amazing young talent and seems like very nice guy. Fedor (IMHO) has not even developed an ego yet!
He also has the first name of one of the best if not the finest heavy weight MMA fighter ever!