Strickland vs Sigel- Huge Pockets
- Thread starter LastTwo
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drivermaker
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LastTwo said:
I don't know, but if they played a race to 50 three days in a row, I think each of them would come out a victor on any given day. (and I think you could also throw Buddy into that fray and do it over 4 days and they'd each come out on top)
I would put my money on Earls best game against Mikes best game if the game were 9-ball, and on Simonis cloth. I think Mike is the better player when it comes to knowledge and wisdom, but I think that Earl is the better 9-ball player. Put the same players on tight pockets with the older and slower cloths playing straight ball, and I think Mike would eat Earl alive.
dave
dave
Tokyo-dave said:
I have seen Mike at his best and the game can't be played better. He almost never misses or gets out of line. I remember being at a tournament and Mike came into the practice room one morning and began practicing. As he was playing people began to ask him some questions so he was telling us what he was doing and why as he played. He would break and if he had a makable shot begin shooting or move the cueball a little if he had no shot. Either way he ran out every time describing what he was doing as he did it. He ran out several dozen racks, never missing or ever being out of position. You would have to see the actual level of his play back then to believe it. For a period of time years ago he may have played the game better then anyone ever played it before or since including Efrin and has the records to prove it. He plays every game at the highest level even banks. I have seen him play many times, several times first hand from the chair, but that one morning practice session really showed me what kind of player his was. The ease at which he could play the game flawlessly was remarkable. Like I said, I can't see the game being played any better then he played it. This is just my opinion but I think Earl as great as he is, falls way short of matching Mike as a player.
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bet
I (being the gambling man I am) would bet on Mike in this game or any other imo. Earl is a good player, but imo no where near Mike's status. I think Mike would or should eat Earl's game alive. this is obviously my opinion and should be taken as such...just my opinion.
I (being the gambling man I am) would bet on Mike in this game or any other imo. Earl is a good player, but imo no where near Mike's status. I think Mike would or should eat Earl's game alive. this is obviously my opinion and should be taken as such...just my opinion.
i'd just flip a coin to figure who i'd bet on.
whoever catches a gear first would win.
VAP
whoever catches a gear first would win.
VAP
LastTwo said:
Well, they both are the greatest players of course.
At their best, one their best days - I like Sigel on that one in a very long, grinding session. In a short session I would like Earl.
I think Earl is a tremendous momentum player with superior talent and ability. When he is totally right, he cannot be beaten. His fearsome combination of powerful stroke and shotmaking, plus his natural break and runout power allows him to just steamroll opponents in short races. I have tapes of him just running over Efren and others at their peak - pretty brutal when he's on cruise control. Basically, you get a chance at the lag and maybe a shot or two (don't miss!).
However, it would be incredibly difficult for a momentum player , even at his peak, to play against a player like Sigel in a 50 game race. I cannot see Sigel losing focus or running out of steam. It would be very discouraging to play against him that long unless you were totally dominating the table time, which is unlikely.
I compare Sigel's focus to the mental game of Jack Nicklaus in golf. He is the most deliberate and careful player ever and somehow he doesn't choke. Nicklaus was the same way. Methodical and exacting to the point of perfectionism. He planned and strategized better than other players who were more talented in some areas, longer hitters and better putters, but he step by step won title after title.
I think Earl would excel in spurts but Sigel would stalk him down.
Chris
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bruin70 said:
Point well taken, Still, Pat Fleming has told me that his stats show that the advantage of the player having the bigger break is increased (in winner breaks format) on looser pocket tables. Though not by much, Earl had the better break of the two in their respective primes.
Earl v.s. Mike
I wish there were a matchup when both these players were in their prime where they had to race to 50 in 9-ball played out over 7 sessions (best 4 out of 7 sets)....Too bad it's just wishful thinking because I think they're both past their prime now..................
I wish there were a matchup when both these players were in their prime where they had to race to 50 in 9-ball played out over 7 sessions (best 4 out of 7 sets)....Too bad it's just wishful thinking because I think they're both past their prime now..................
In 9-ball on big pocket table between Sigel and Strickland, I pick Strickland. I have seen him too many times break and run out 5-7 racks consistantly back in the 80's and early 90's. Back then his break was huge and his runouts consisted of 6 or fewer balls to be pocketed....
Tokyo-dave said:
In the 80's every final was the Sigel-Hall show...not Sigel-Strickland show. In the long run, Mike Sigel's best game would overpower Earl's...period. Earl is like the Mike Tyson of 9 ball. When he's on fire he is a force to be reckoned with....but if his head isn't right, and his training isn't up to speed he's easily defeated. When Sigel is playing seriously his head was always right and he played great under pressure. It doesn't matter what the conditions...Sigel's best game was better than anyone's in the world in his prime....even Efren (at 9 ball and straight pool). Ask Efren who his favorite player is.
If you ask me, Nick Varner in his prime has a better chance beating Sigel in the long race versus Earl Strickland. They played a Match and Nick was down 10-1 (with Sigel) and came back to win 11-10. That is why they called Nick - The Little Grinder! People don't mention Nick much and I don't know why. In his prime he played as good as anyone in the world and still does (if his health is good). He's won world championships in EVERY discipline. Next to Efren he's probably one of the best ALL AROUND players that have ever lived. Gotta give credit to Nick!
Race to 5-0 ....
Hmmmm ...
Takin' Mike on this one. Make it a race to 15 or less and I could bet the other way.
I'd be far more likely to bet which guy would blurt out something loud/rude first ... same odds, really. Two talkers.
Mike knows too much, has a fast mind & absolutely explosive play ... almost never lost the rock when I watched. Earl is wild and might be the best angry player the world has ever seen.
Both these guys are big momentum players, I'd bet on Mike.
When I've asked alot of top players who they'd least like to play for their own piggybank in a random choice of games, I would always hear Nick Varner ... If they knew it was nine-ball they used to say Buddy or even Medina, if they knew it was eight-ball they used to want to avoid Efren or Jeff Carter, if they knew it was 14.1 or one-pocket Ronnie Allen or the Fusco's were to be avoided like a bill collector.
All in all, too long a race to not ride it out with Mike
doGlooP
Hmmmm ...
Takin' Mike on this one. Make it a race to 15 or less and I could bet the other way.
I'd be far more likely to bet which guy would blurt out something loud/rude first ... same odds, really. Two talkers.
Mike knows too much, has a fast mind & absolutely explosive play ... almost never lost the rock when I watched. Earl is wild and might be the best angry player the world has ever seen.
Both these guys are big momentum players, I'd bet on Mike.
When I've asked alot of top players who they'd least like to play for their own piggybank in a random choice of games, I would always hear Nick Varner ... If they knew it was nine-ball they used to say Buddy or even Medina, if they knew it was eight-ball they used to want to avoid Efren or Jeff Carter, if they knew it was 14.1 or one-pocket Ronnie Allen or the Fusco's were to be avoided like a bill collector.
All in all, too long a race to not ride it out with Mike
doGlooP
Did any of you see Efren vs Earl TCOM? Earl played unbelievable throughout the entire race to 120. Efren made an unstoppable barrage to close the gap of about 20 games and won by 3. For those of you have seen it, I can't imagine 9-ball being played better than either Earl or Efren, even moreso Earl, because he ran out racks when he had no shot, just kick a ball in or masse in and run out. Wouldn't Mike play more safes? In the last tape of the race to 120, there were like 7 or 8 racks that Earl just stole, I mean he had nothing and he made something out of it and ran out. I don't think Mike would take the offense in those situations, so in my opinion with Earl being the offensive machine, he would come out ahead of Mike. Who can fire in shots on the rail like Earl and land perfect shape?