Strickland "Is an Embrassment"

[memikey]

OK.out of SI list of the top athletes of the last century how many were from Europe,Asia,or in this case UA. Are you really trying to say pool is not #1 in Asia? And isnt snooker REALLY big in the UK? Compared to any sport in the usa I'm sorry to admit pool has got to be close to dead last behind texas hold'em! Maybe I streched it when saying there were no athletes in these other countries but pool takes about zero athletisism......

Correct.......as Gadawg has eloquently pointed out pool is nowhere near a top sport/game in Asia and most certainly nowhere near No 1.In mainland Europe it is even more markedly so and in the UK pool in general is a very minority sport/game and is traditionally very poorly funded and as a spectator sport has had virtually zero appeal whatsoever.American pool in particular in UK is played by a comparative handful of people.Hopefully IPT might help change both of those things.

If you broaden your narrow horizons a little bit you will learn that pool is generally looked down upon all over the world as a kind of seedy little pastime,not just in USA.Any excuse for poor performance of American pool players in IPT or for poor character qualities of Earl Strickland based even loosely on the underlying premise that pool is more looked down upon in USA than everywhere else in the world just won't wash.

To answer your question ......no snooker isn't REALLY big in UK any more.Snooker was already a dying sport/game when cigarette advertising/sponsorship bans came into place and that effectively administered the last rites.It is now coughing and wheezing its way into extinction.

None of us needs Einstein qualities to realise that pool requires little athleticism,nobody is disagreeing with you on that.However it would be unwise of you to pursue your argument on the theme of "there are no athletes other than USA athletes" or anything even remotely close to that theme as the notion is patently ridiculous. Americans do excel in track and field athletics but so do several other countries.Furthermore all 'sports' (not 'games' like pool) require degrees of athleticism and the vast majority of team and individual world championships/titles in sport are currently held by non-American teams or individuals who do so in good measure as a result of their athleticism being superior to all their opponents,including their American ones.

Chill out,travel,discover a bit more about the world first hand......or at least other than just through Fox or Espn.....you might be pleasantly surprised,just as some of us are every time we visit the USA

 

[jcrack_corn]

If you are not a doctor, you should not be on the internet saying that wellbutrin is a "bi-polar balancing" agent. Wellbutrin is actually contraindicated for bipolar, read the package insert.

And sweeping comments about how one drug "will" or "will not" affect everyone are just silly.

In anycase, you should consider editing your message to protect personal information.

DEPAKOTE or WELBUTRIN will not affect ones' ability to play nearly as much as PROZAC or LITHIUM. I'm not a doctor, however I've tried all of these bi-polar balancing agents, and the WELBUTRIN has done the best job for me.

I'm a huge Earl fan, and I sincerely hope he checks into this option. Being out there far too many times myself, and what it has cost me in my career, I'd be willing to bet Efren wouldn't come back from 17 games behind as he did in Hong Kong years ago had Earl been aware of the simple balancing help available.

 

[lewdo26]

You've missed the whole point. I'm not suggesting players emulate Earl's antics. Put your disgust of Earl aside for a moment. I'm wishing that more U.S. players had some gumption and backbone, like they used to. You're too young to have seen the past great pool champions. Most of them were real men who didn't take guff from anybody. Mosconi was the biggest S.O.B. to ever play the game. They had admiration and respect because they were good at what they did, and they didn't put up with any crap. Today it's as if everyone is trying to show how "fair" and "caring" they are. Leave that to the women's tour. I'd rather see some men's action.

Doc

Doc, I can't stand the PC crap myself, but I say you got the cause and the effect mixed up. The reason this country is losing ground to Europe and Asia (on many areas, not just pool) is because we've become a frivolous consumer and entertainment society.

The era you're referring to, when men were men, was when the U.S. was the greatest PRODUCER society on Earth, full of hardened industrial workers and what not. It was also a time when this country produced TALENT; unlike today - just look at today's music.

Europe and Asia are spending much less psychic energy, time, and money on Jerry Springer and the mall. Ultimately, political correctedness is a symptom, not the disease. Cutting it out and having a bunch of Earls out there, only produces caricatures of real men, but not real men themselves.

 

[onepocketchump]

I agree. Strickland did better than all but 3 Americans. There are only 3 U.S. guys in the final 18!! That's the real disgrace-- not Earl's behavior. If Van denBerg was dissing Earl, then Earl was right to brow beat him. I'm sick of our players acting like politically correct, wussy little choirboys. That whole Milquetoast attitude has resulted in our players becoming second-class in the international field. We used to dominate. Now we're a bunch of butt-kissers.

Doc

I disagree. It's only American arrogance and ignorance of anything that happens anywhere besides USA Today that allows for the opinion that America used to dominate. Why is it so hard to fathom that other countries have pool cultures that are capable of producing world class players?

If you look at it purely from a task point of view it is totally concievable that players in Germany can learn to perform the task to perfection. It's a rectangle with 6 pockets. The physical requirements don't change just because the pool table is in Germany.

In fact, I would argue that the Germans specifically produce more world class players per capitita than America does due to their better system of competition and development. German pool is organized in a tiered series of leagues which get stronger with each level. From the lowest level to the highest the games played at every league match are 14.1, 9-ball and 8-ball. How many Americans are playing those three games in regular competition? In the Bundesliga (the National League) every match is between teams of world class players. Think Thorsten Hohmann is good? How about a nation full of players who are very close to his speed?

Taiwan has it's training programs with pool in high school and treated as a serious sport. Players who win titles are rewarded with accolades and fame. Earl Strickland could win the US Open and go to the Denny's next door and it's better than even money that there won't be a single non-pool player in the building who would recognize him.

Strickland is an asshole. That's it. Pool is not boxing. You don't have to shark and offend your opponent to win unless you are just not able to do it on your skill alone.

Wanna know what I think? I think Earl sabotages himself. The guy is PHENOMENAL. I bet if they made an Earl Rule (will never happen) that if he uttered a single word while playing it was a loss of game and two infractions was a loss of set that he would focus and WIN much more than he does. As it is his victories are always tainted with his constant controversy. The Europeans by contrast let their cues do the talking and their victories are always celebrations of world class pool.

I absolutely do not agree that the game needs more trash talking and sharking by Americans or anyone else. Earl is gonna be Earl and he should be fined when he oversteps the line. That isn't going to stop him from being a jerk but at least it will be the right thing to do for the sport. The media and the production company should report on Earl's blowups, it's entertainment, everyone likes to watch the monkey dance rather than watch the lion sleep. But when he does it then punish him for it.

Does anyone wanna bet that if we were to watch the match that Earl started in first with the comments and BS?

John

 

[GADawg]

Europe,but not asia.And it sounds like pool in china is about the same here. Enlighten me,name some very talented athletes beside Yo Ming(?)the center for Houston in the NBA(pretty far from china).Please do not include ping pong,chinese checkers,or any board game players. Take it easy,just having some fun,thats what this board is for sometimes Well,if I have insulted some foreigners,I apologize,I'm an american

First of all, you said pool is not a sport, but a game. Which is it. If you think the the IPT players who played 10-12 hours per day are not athletes, they might disagree with you.

Also, if you think ping pong is not a sport, you are truly uninformed and have had no exposure to professional level ping pong. You probably don't realize this but badminton is the fastest racket game played.

For world rankings in ping pong go to http://www.pongworld.com/elite.php3

For world rankings in badminton go to http://www.internationalbadminton.org/worldranking.asp

For rankings in sumo wresting go to http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/sumo_ranking.html

For any other sport or game, do a google search for the name of the game and world rankings

Soccer players and cyclists in Europe are just are well known and revered there as the top basketball, football and baseball players are in the US. Outside of the USA, nobody knows or cares about A-Rod, T.O., etc. Here in China, during the World Cup, everybody was watching, even though the late matches came on at 3am here and China was not in the running. All the bars stayed open all night. How many did you watch and how many of the top players can you name?

I'm an American too and proud of it but get really frustrated when my fellow countrymen show how little they really know about the world outside the borders of the US.

 

[vagabond]

Yes, problem is not alot of the newer crop of players do.
Chuck

Do they respect themselves-piercing stud in the tongue,ring in the nipple,nail in the nose ?!!!?

 

[onepocketchump]

Dont make me angry, you would not like me when im angry.

Now that's FUNNY!

John

 

[onepocketchump]

I think it would be nice to see the courteous side of Earl ......QUOTE]

Yes, it would be.

John

 

[onepocketchump]

Europe,but not asia.And it sounds like pool in china is about the same here. Enlighten me,name some very talented athletes beside Yo Ming(?)the center for Houston in the NBA(pretty far from china).Please do not include ping pong,chinese checkers,or any board game players. Take it easy,just having some fun,thats what this board is for sometimes Well,if I have insulted some foreigners,I apologize,I'm an american

If your comments are intended to mean that the vast majority of sports stars in American are American then you are probably right. I would bet though that there are more people on the planet Earth who know who Michael Schumacher is than are living beings who know who Michael Jordan is.

John

 

[lewdo26]

If your comments are intended to mean that the vast majority of sports stars in American are American then you are probably right. I would bet though that there are more people on the planet Earth who know who Michael Schumacher is than are living beings who know who Michael Jordan is.

John

I don't know about THAT. Shumacher??? LOL You pulled that one out from way down there, John!

If you said, PELE, than we certainly agree...

 

[onepocketchump]

I don't know about THAT. Shumacher??? LOL You pulled that one out from way down there, John!

If you said, PELE, than we certainly agree...

Pele was too easy. You see, there are more people worldwide who watch every Formula 1 race than there are who watch the NBA finals. (of course I have to say that in the last ten years the NBA and the NFL has made signifigant inroads in getting their games rebroadcast overseas.)

I believe that if we had a way to poll all the adults on Earth more of them would be able to identify Michael Schuacher ad what he does than would be able to do the same for Michael Jordan.

In fact though, Pele is a very good example of what I mean. Despite the fact that professional soccer was not even around in the USA when Pele was at the height of his fame nearly everyone in the USA knew of him and what he did. Even I as a child knew of Pele and tried to emulate him when I played soccer.

Little kids in Germany 20 years ago would not have known who Michael Jordan was as basketball was a very fringe sport there at that time.

John

 

[GADawg]

I must take exception. Outside the US Formula 1 is huge around the world and everybody, everywhere knows all the drivers. Nobody outside the US has heard of NASCAR or Dale Jr., Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon or any of the others.

I think you dated yourself into my era using Pele as an example. He retired in 1975 - 80, I think. If you had said Ronaldo, Thierry, Ronaldino or Thierry as soccer players, most of today's world would recognize them.

 

[chefjeff]

This is post #93....naw....Earl doesn't help this game...

The winner, today, gets $350,000!...Thank you, Earl, for helping market the IPT. May your antics generate millions more for the players....and may you find your game again.

Sincerely,

Jeff Livingston

 

[sixpack]

Pele was too easy. You see, there are more people worldwide who watch every Formula 1 race than there are who watch the NBA finals. (of course I have to say that in the last ten years the NBA and the NFL has made signifigant inroads in getting their games rebroadcast overseas.)

I believe that if we had a way to poll all the adults on Earth more of them would be able to identify Michael Schuacher ad what he does than would be able to do the same for Michael Jordan.

In fact though, Pele is a very good example of what I mean. Despite the fact that professional soccer was not even around in the USA when Pele was at the height of his fame nearly everyone in the USA knew of him and what he did. Even I as a child knew of Pele and tried to emulate him when I played soccer.

Little kids in Germany 20 years ago would not have known who Michael Jordan was as basketball was a very fringe sport there at that time.

John

I respectfully disagree. When I was in Europe about 20 years ago (17 to be exact), the little kids knew exactly who Michael Jordan was. In fact many of them were wearing MJ jerseys. The child of a family I visited had a nintendo with some NBA video game on it and he used to play it nonstop. This was in Spain.

I believe the sports marketing research firm that DID ask people worldwide who was the most recognizable sports figure, named Jordan to that title several times. Now of course it's Tiger Woods.

Cheers,
RC

 

[cuedoctor]

Also, if you think ping pong is not a sport, you are truly uninformed and have had no exposure to professional level ping pong.

In China,its a sport but I hope I shoot my self in the head if I ever get the urge to go to a ping pong match!I would really have no life at all if that would seem like a exciting thing to do

You probably don't realize this but badminton is the fastest racket game played.

Who gives a crap about BADMINTON

For world rankings in ping pong go to http://www.pongworld.com/elite.php3


SEE ABOVE

For rankings in sumo wresting go to http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/sumo_ranking.html

Isnt this that type of wrestling were there trying to grap each others Diaper that they wear and throw the other guy out of the circle

Here in China, during the World Cup, everybody was watching, even though the late matches came on at 3am here and China was not in the running. All the bars stayed open all night. How many did you watch and how many of the top players can you name?

Soccer is a sport that requires great athletism so you got that right though.I know who Zindanine guy is now


I'm an American too and proud of it but get really frustrated when my fellow countrymen show how little they really know about the world outside the borders of the US.[/QUOTE]

I know everyone hates us because of G.Bush but that still wouldnt make me want to promote a country like communist china ,Who gives a crap about these other countries,there would be no europe if it wasnt for the usa
GO EARL

 

[memikey]

I know everyone hates us because of G.Bush.........

Some do,yep...........

Who gives a crap about these other countries........

......but even more hate USA for the kind of blind ignorance and selfishness personified by remarks like that.....

.......there would be no europe if it wasnt for the usa.....

......that is debatable but what is certain is that there would in fact have been no USA were it not for Europe......

 

[cuedoctor]

Have Nice Day Everyone,there is no reason for us to continue this

 

[JoeyInCali]

Kinda odd two very calm players are going to the finals.
One of them is going to win the biggest purse ever.
Manalo and Hohmann will represent our dying sport well.

 

[gulfportdoc]

Doc, I can't stand the PC crap myself, but I say you got the cause and the effect mixed up. The reason this country is losing ground to Europe and Asia (on many areas, not just pool) is because we've become a frivolous consumer and entertainment society.

The era you're referring to, when men were men, was when the U.S. was the greatest PRODUCER society on Earth, full of hardened industrial workers and what not. It was also a time when this country produced TALENT; unlike today - just look at today's music.

Europe and Asia are spending much less psychic energy, time, and money on Jerry Springer and the mall. Ultimately, political correctedness is a symptom, not the disease. Cutting it out and having a bunch of Earls out there, only produces caricatures of real men, but not real men themselves.

Good points, L26. I was with you until the last 2 sentences. However, "political correctness" is exactly the cause of U.S. society's ills. "PC" is a political euphemism for collectivism. "Politically Cleansed" would be a more accurate term. This socio-fascism has metastasized and has incrementally infected our society and our legal code. In the late '60's the Hippie, peace/love behavior spawned the marxist/feminist/homosexual "blame America" movement, which now permeates just about every facet of life. It's unnatural. Our leaders are significantly emasculated. People feel powerless. Men are afraid of offending anyone. Women are confused. Most believe government will save them. Consequently people have become lazy. Their standards are shot. This is a perfect enironment for I.V. TV use, and apathy. I don't care a whit specifically about Earl or his antics. My hope is that people stand back and look at the forrest, rather than at a few trees.

 

[cuedoctor]

Kinda odd two very calm players are going to the finals.
One of them is going to win the biggest purse ever.
Manalo and Hohmann will represent our dying sport well.

Yes,I have to agree,they are 2 fine gentlemen and I hope they show there match on OLN in the future.