Thes best 2010 US OPEN Interview...

You have to like Raj's candor and there's a lot of truth to what he says.

If Earl sees this interview, he is fist pumping the air like world champion boxer after a successful title defense. :grin:

I like a lot of what Raj had to say, especially: "The guys might as well walk around with high heels and handbags."
 
Refreshingly candid, and I don't think I disagree with anything he said. One thing though, I really don't want to see Earl walking around with a handbag and high heels.
 
I just noticed that two previous posters mentioned "candid" as well. I would just like to add that I also agree with the thrust of what Raj said. Well done! Bring back the hard break. No offense to anyone, but I am a self-proclaimed pool nut. However, I would rather watch paint dry than watch what many pro pool matches have become. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the skill and all, but really, soft breaks are killing the sport. It is so boring. I know that Donnie Mills can make the wing ball 110% of the time and all. But I just don't give a damn and won't pay to see it.

Also, winner breaks - hell yes! The potential of putting together packages makes this game exciting and is one of the reasons that I started playing. Also, I agree with co-ed tourneys. Certainly more interesting.

Just a thought, but perhaps we should just abandon 9 and 10 ball and just move on to rotation.
 
Raj just gained a heap of respect from me. Bang on.

Love the props he gave to Brunswick tables too. I like Diamonds but I still think it is tough to beat a properly set up Gold Crown.
 
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Jason Klatt

I noticed that Raj gave a lot of respect to the improvements of Jason Klatt's game.

When you don't see someone for a while it is easy to see the difference and I guess Raj saw something in Jason's game in the last year.

Anyone know what Jason is doing that has improved his game enough that Raj would make that mention?
 
I liked it. .. I bought a couple days worth of matches. All i saw was a need to have a neutral racker. Or just play 10 ball. The game of 9 ball is a joke now.
 
I noticed that Raj gave a lot of respect to the improvements of Jason Klatt's game.

When you don't see someone for a while it is easy to see the difference and I guess Raj saw something in Jason's game in the last year.

Anyone know what Jason is doing that has improved his game enough that Raj would make that mention?

He was gambling a lot with the local players when he was in the Philippines. Not the top players but good players nonetheless.
 
I have to agree with everything he said. But really all that has been said right on here for years. #1 is a ref/racker on every table and #2 is you must break with speeds over a certain mph (maybe 18 mph) not sure.

Some promoters, some players, and some fans say it don't matter, that the cream will always rise to the top. I say try the above for a few tournaments and see if it's the same cream rising to the top. Johnnyt
 
I agree with him on the tables, breaking hard and winner breaks. The only tapes I watch of pool are the older ones. That era he was talking about.

I disagree with him on the women though. I think IF the ladies play more 2 and 3 rail position they can start making the top 10 in big tournaments.
 
I think he's cute, and I love his accent. :smile:

Raj took a little heat about those comments from a few comrades who post on a British forum, but he stands by them.

Personally, I think Raj is a good spokesman. I liked his interview on the IPT trailers, and this one was great as well.
 
It's kind of ironic that this topic has been discussed quite often on AzBilliards in the past: RACK RIGGERS.

I agree with Raj that all professional events should have neutral rackers. I've said that before on this forum many times. Bravo to Raj. He was honest and didn't sugar-coat anything, but he did speak the truth.:)
 
Raj just gained a heap of respect from me. Bang on.

Love the props he gave to Brunswick tables too. I like Diamonds but I still think it is tough to beat a properly set up Gold Crown.

Yeah, he definitely thinks Brunswicks are better, that's interesting.
 
loved that

Could not agree more !! If enough people say what they think it would help things. For years Earl says this same stuff and they play him off like a radical
Joey, it goes without saying how proud I am of you for being in agreement. It is the most undiplomatic move I have seen you make yet . :thumbup2:
You have to like Raj's candor and there's a lot of truth to what he says.

If Earl sees this interview, he is fist pumping the air like world champion boxer after a successful title defense. :grin:

I like a lot of what Raj had to say, especially: "The guys might as well walk around with high heels and handbags."
 
I admire Raj's candor, but can't say that I'm in agreement with him on all counts. A Brunswick is a Brunswick and a Diamond is a Diamond. They may play a little different, but both are very good tables. The Diamond may play a little tougher, which to me is a good thing.

In the U.S. Open, you had to either drive three balls past the side pocket or pocket them. A medium speed break would usually work, but not always. A soft break would not. Failure to meet the above requirements was loss of turn. It happened quite a few times during the course of the tournament.

Take a look at the top sixteen players. These ARE the guys who played the best all week, not the ones who are complaining afterwards. Once again, racking the balls for 9-Ball will never be a perfect science. You still need position on the one ball after the break, and be able to run out the remaining balls. With the best players this may occur 25-30% of the time. That leaves 70-75% of the racks to be contested.

The best players this past week made the fewest errors and played the best pool, and that's the name of that tune. Ralf Souquet may well have the most effective break of anyone, yet he failed to win. He wasn't making excuses afterwards. He admitted that he failed to get out several times in critical situations. That's why he lost.

I like Raj, but if he played a little better he might have gone a little further. I saw him miss balls, but maybe he forgot. It had little, if anything, to do with his opponents racking ability. Those are my observations.
 
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