The Worlds Greatest Player vs. The Peoples Champion II

[sfleinen]

Why isn't anyone else stepping up, are they that unsure of how good Earl could possibly be on that table.

Good point, Dave. That right there is it -- the question of assurance. Unless you play on a 10'x5' pool table, you simply don't know. Lots of these top-level players know they can beat Earl (or at least think they can beat "the Earl they're accustomed to seeing") on a standard 9'x4.5' table. But 10'x5' pool tables (and notice I said pool, not snooker, tables) are very rare these days.

Earl keeps bringing the 10'x5' table up, because he knows a thing or two about it. And methinks the other top-flight players *know* this. That's why Earl's offer went unanswered for so long. Kudos to Shane for being the first person to step-up.

It should be a very interesting match. Personally, I'm curious to see this 10'x5' table! Is it one of those really old Gold Crowns with the ash trays moulded into the pocket castings? If so, that should bring back a lot of memories!

-Sean

 

[Mark Griffin]

greatest player

Mr Griffin, do you really think that Earl is the greatest player in the world right now?

Jesters,

I looked at the title 'Greatest Player' as pertaining to 9-ball and to life record. Do I think he is the best player int he world NOW? No.
But his overall record has not been matched. There are a few that can maeat or beat it (SVB - Mika) - but htye have not done that.

Even when they do (if they do), the debate would still be on about who had the highest gear. Hard one to prove, but most agree that Earl's high gear was the highest.

SpiderDave, I think you get what I am saying. His record is going to be tough to match.

BUT BEWARE - Earl just might shock a lot of players on the 5 x 10. Depending on cloth and pockets etc. it is a different game on a 5 x 10. The cue ball is going to have to be moved around.

Kinda like Joe Lous vs Ali?????

Mark Griffin

 

[cleary]

If Earl is not the "Worlds Greatest Player" then who is?

"worlds greatest" is most often a current thing. Currently, Earl is not even close to the worlds greatest. Not taking away from him, he still plays great pool, but he is certainly not the greatest in the world at the moment.

Earl will play all of them on the 5x10, lets line em up.[/QUOTE

Why is it you cannot see that a 5x10 has ZERO relevance in 2011? If I beat beat Dennis Orcollo playing Bonus Ball, does that make me the champion of the world? No, because nobody cares about bonus ball.

Again, nothing against Earl, but in 2011 he just cannot hang with the younger crowd. I applaud him for trying.

 

[asbani]

I don't think there's a person other than Mike in the entire world or AZB who thinks Earl is a better player than Shane.

You think only Mike thinks that? then think again, cause I do too I do believe that Earl is a better player than Shane in my book, Not dissing Shane or anything, Shane is a great great player and i love him, but in my book Earl is the greatest of all greats. if that makes any sense

 

[gulyassy]

"worlds greatest" is most often a current thing. Currently, Earl is not even close to the worlds greatest. Not taking away from him, he still plays great pool, but he is certainly not the greatest in the world at the moment.

Earl will play all of them on the 5x10, lets line em up.[/QUOTE

Why is it you cannot see that a 5x10 has ZERO relevance in 2011? If I beat beat Dennis Orcollo playing Bonus Ball, does that make me the champion of the world? No, because nobody cares about bonus ball.

Again, nothing against Earl, but in 2011 he just cannot hang with the younger crowd. I applaud him for trying.

I beg to differ. The 5x10 might be the beginning of a new era. You have never seen a match of this magnitude played on a 5x10 in your lifetime. The table is not going to be destroyed after this match with Shane. I am not going into hiding if Shane beats Earl which might not happen. He beat him the first time and I said to Earl lets play again with different rules and Earl said let me play him on a 5x10 and now it is so. The relevance of this table is astronomical. This should be the professional table in my opinion because it was the professional table when pool was a respected American Sport. This could be the beginning.

 

[suprnva]

This match will not prove in any way, shape or form who the "World's Greatest Player" is. The only thing it will prove is who is the better player between Earl and Shane when they play using the astronomical amount of rules Earl has to come up with to think he has a chance.

If you want to find out who the actual "World's Greatest Player" is you have to setup a tournament with ALL the top players from ALL countries playing ALL the games in a round-robin format.

 

[Jesters]

"worlds greatest" is most often a current thing. Currently, Earl is not even close to the worlds greatest. Not taking away from him, he still plays great pool, but he is certainly not the greatest in the world at the moment.




I beg to differ. The 5x10 might be the beginning of a new era. You have never seen a match of this magnitude played on a 5x10 in your lifetime. The table is not going to be destroyed after this match with Shane. I am not going into hiding if Shane beats Earl which might not happen. He beat him the first time and I said to Earl lets play again with different rules and Earl said let me play him on a 5x10 and now it is so. The relevance of this table is astronomical. This should be the professional table in my opinion because it was the professional table when pool was a respected American Sport. This could be the beginning.

I am not happy that I am coming across so negatively on this. However I can't just sit and not say something when I have something to say. I think you guys getting Earl and SVB together to play is great but please don't kid yourself that this is some kind of back to the future deal here. If you think that pool rooms all across the country are going to buy a bunch of 5 x 10 table and put them in the pool room you are nuts. Especially in this financial climate. They are struggling to stay in business let alone add expense. Also the tournaments are not going to be able to bring in a bunch on 5x10's either to play their events. If thats what you are thinking don't hold your breath. Just keeping it real.

 

[westcoast]

This is a 10 ball match, correct?

10 ball on break is spotted?

 

[SCCues]

Nothing against many of the top players of the USA and the world - but Earl Strickland has been pretty much accepted as the strongest 9-ball player that has ever played the game.

Five US Open championships plus a slew of world titles.

In time, some of the others might catch Earl on titles - but no one had the top gear that Earl had.

So. . . I think it is proper to call Earl 'the World's Greatest Player' (when referring to 9-ball.

Let's see how the other names on everyone's list and lips hold up over close to 30 years on the tournament trails.

Mark Griffin

Very well put and I think the number of world titles in 9 ball is "6".

James

 

[gulyassy]

This is a 10 ball match, correct?

10 ball on break is spotted?

10 ball goes last, 6 inch break box, call shot with the option and a 40 second shot clock, race to 100 winner takes all.

 

[westcoast]

Does Earl have a 10 X 5 that he practices on a lot?

How big are the pockets on the table for this match?

How much will the PPV cost?

 

[cleary]

I beg to differ. The 5x10 might be the beginning of a new era. You have never seen a match of this magnitude played on a 5x10 in your lifetime. The table is not going to be destroyed after this match with Shane. I am not going into hiding if Shane beats Earl which might not happen. He beat him the first time and I said to Earl lets play again with different rules and Earl said let me play him on a 5x10 and now it is so. The relevance of this table is astronomical. This should be the professional table in my opinion because it was the professional table when pool was a respected American Sport. This could be the beginning.

I can't really respond without being mean so I'll just say this... Ill bet my leg in 15 years you won't see pro tournaments on 5x10 tables.

 

[hunger strike]

Neither Griffin nor Gulyassy said........

.... neither said that poolrooms would start installing all 5x10s. If they believed that then Mark Griffin would have made a 5x10 Diamond. I believe what is meant is that maybe some tournaments would use them and more rooms would have one as sort of a "feature table" if there was a "comeback" for ten footers. Kling and Allen only had TWO 5x10' tables in the beginning - 1913. AND there were articles and editorials back then by those whose argument was that ten footers were not widely available and therefore should not be used - the thinking being that the champions were Brunswick "pets" who were kept on top by using ten footers and ivory balls as gimmicks. This was disproven in 1916 when Emmett Blankenship, a relative unknown from Tulsa, cruised through every champion in the world tourney and won despite the ivory balls giving the champions fits for whatever reason. It seems to me that all the comments are actually coming from a fear that Earl might somehow catch that GEAR and use a win to validate a claim that seems to have p*ssed a few off. Ain't nothin' wrong with having a few 5x10's around if someone wants to step up ~ you gotta admit that if there were maybe Earl's argument MIGHT have been settled a while back. Hey, is the Mahoning Valley Billiard Club still open in Youngstown? Hi Mike if you're still there making cues in back..... (I like to throw in a new topic at the end of any comment so that if anyone thinks of starting an argument about what I said, the point seems moot as I have moved on.......)

 

[JB Cases]

Earl Strickland is the greatest living tournament 9-ball player. Efren Reyes is the greatest living pool player.

All the rest have a LONG LONG LONG way to go to match the accomplishments of these two players in both tournament victories and in gambling sessions.

In fact it's doubtful that any single player will EVER eclipse the records of either of these two.

In my opinion.

If Billy Chips is still offering 3:1 on the money then I will bet $200 on Earl just to take the underdog. I believe that Earl has enough fire left in him to play world class pool. And if his pysche holds up then Shane will have his hands full. I just hope that Earl gets the ass-weights adjusted properly.

 

[markpatrick]

yep

I sponsored him in the first Earl Shane match. I did not like the outcome. I will behind Earl win or loose.

that is a LOT of pool cues.

 

[sengkun108]

Nobody want to stake SVB side if he come to Phillipine and fight Bustamante or Dennis orcullo..So how come he could be a "people's champion". I really don't get it.

There a lot player above SVB skill in the world...Let's say Yang ching Shun, Bustamante, Orcullo...
Reyes and Alex maybe can match him too.

And for the Earl Strickland. Yes for the record tournament, he is unbeatable....But this is a money game, I don't think he is that great in money game.....For the money game, i think Reyes is the "World greatest player" for now there is Yang Ching Shun...:smile:

 

[paksat]

Nobody want to stake SVB side if he come to Phillipine and fight Bustamante or Dennis orcullo..So how come he could be a "people's champion". I really don't get it.

There a lot player above SVB skill in the world...Let's say Yang ching Shun, Bustamante, Orcullo...
Reyes and Alex maybe can match him too.

And for the Earl Strickland. Yes for the record tournament, he is unbeatable....But this is a money game, I don't think he is that great in money game.....For the money game, i think Reyes is the "World greatest player" for now there is Yang Ching Shun...:smile:

If I had the money I would back shane against any of these players without a second thought.

And for the record, and IMO, the only chance in hell Earl has is if shane has an off day.

 

[scrappy]

^ if horses we're wishes beggars would ride, if turnips we're swoards i'd have one by my side ...

go Earl !!!

 

[gulyassy]

If I had the money I would back shane against any of these players without a second thought.

And for the record, and IMO, the only chance in hell Earl has is if shane has an off day.

In the race to 100 there will be a chance to come back two new days. I expect that will both have good, bad, dogging and winning turns. This race is like 10 tournament matches all back to back. This test will be to see who is the best player. I concede that when Shane beat Earl in the Earl vs. Shane I, Shane was the best. Now several years later we will see who is the best right now. Come to Youngstown and see it in person, you never know what can happen face to face as far as action goes.

 

[Perk]

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