Top 8 Mosconi picks announced!!!

My picks, based on limited knowledge of who's who today in American pool, would be, as follows:

Shane Van Boening
Corey Deuel
John Schmidt
Oscar Dominguez or Brandon Shuff
[One New Kid on the Block] *

Way to go, Mark!

Close to my picks, JAM. I got:

Shane
John
Oscar
Brandon
Jeremy

Shane... never mind. Goes without saying.

I'm so glad John Schmidt was put in the mix. He's such an incredible player, and a real gentleman in person. I'm confident he will do his part on the team.

Corey is a longtime fav of mine, but he just doesn't seem to have the drive anymore. Oscar does, and he's playing very strong this year.

Brandon got a bad rap in 2012. What I saw was a focused and cool player, who seemed to have the best attitude on the team.

I've seen quite a bit of Jeremy in the past two years and his time has arrived IMO.
 
It's a shame no Earl this year. The boys in Blackpool will be very sad indeed!
 
Mark has lots of great ideas; but they will be difficult to make a reality - I offered to assist but I am strictly someone who loves pool and wants to help amd I am planning on footing ALL my own bills).
All issues regarding the team need to go through Matchroom (it would be best to funnel all suggestions, criticisms, and offers to Mark) There is a LOT of work behind the scenes to make this a year to remember - I hope you will all give Mark the benefit of the doubt as he attempts to lay the groundwork for something that may be much better for the sport in years to come :-)

I am more than happy tha Mark has chosen Don to accompany him on The Road to Mosconi0. Few people wil understand the enormity of the task that Mark has undertaken. Matchroom have placed him in a unique position by letting him have responsibilities that no previous Captain (including European choices) have had. The logistics of the task on top of an existing heavy workload have put a strain on him even in the past two months.

You can expect many things that you have not seen before with the US Mosconi Team and one thing is certain that these guys will have a much higher and positive profile and could even be household names by the time they embark for Blackpool.
I hope they find the money to ensure that all the eight players get to go to the Cup. This will be as morale boosting for the Chosen Five as it will be Freed Three.

There will be many others who have or who will contribute to Mark's crusade over the coming months. It was a tough call to cut what was originally a 12 man team down to 8 players (one dropped out and 3 had to be benched).. Now he still has the unenviable task of losing three more names.
Mark is in this for the long haul but players who have missed out this year should not write their future chances off. Right now Mark's priority is team building and he has already got off to a flying start according to the concensus on this forum.
 
Wouldn't be the worst idea having a team solidified early. Maybe form some chemistry and confidence in each other. Last year was a joke, Europe showed more skill, composure and obviously more etiquette. I'd like to see Shane, Corey, Landon, Dechaine and Oscar.
I wouldnt argue if Joey grey or Justin Bergman filled Landon's spot though


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How is Corey even in the running for this what has he done recently to deserve a shot
 
Class or no class they love Earl in England. Especially in Blackpool.:thumbup:
 
How is Corey even in the running for this what has he done recently to deserve a shot

because even a Corey that practices zero and hasn't won anything in a while (although he just won the US barbox 8-ball event) can still beat anyone else on the team outside of Shane.
 
because even a Corey that practices zero and hasn't won anything in a while (although he just won the US barbox 8-ball event) can still beat anyone else on the team outside of Shane.

Of course he could beat anyone on the team besides shane did you see the roster lol
 
My picks, based on limited knowledge of who's who today in American pool, would be, as follows:

Shane Van Boening
Corey Deuel
John Schmidt
Oscar Dominguez or Brandon Shuff
[One New Kid on the Block] *

* Justin Bergman is my pick to date so far based on recent tournaments

Three veterans, one existing pro, and a new kid on the block.

Is Don Wardell, the co-captain, a member of this forum?

Don is an old time veteran of the forum. AKA > Williebetmore
 
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One thing worth pointing out about Dechaine... he finished below both Shuff and Dominguez last week at the expo. Oscar actually knocked him out.

Well, if we want to throw the SBE into the mix.......Earl did trounce a few people on his way to third that will most likely be on the EU Cup team. Just putting that out there. :smile:
 
And Justin just mentioned that he asked Shane who he'd pick & Shane said the 1st person he'd pick was Earl.
 
Hey guys.......its not about me in any way, and its not about Mark Wilson. This is about the players, improving the future of American pool, and giving Matchroom a product they can get behind.

Mark has lots of great ideas; but they will be difficult to make a reality - I offered to assist (though the difference between offering and being conscripted is somewhat fine :-)). I am strictly someone who loves pool and wants to help (not riding any gravy train - am planning on footing ALL my own bills). Please be reassured that I will be unlikely to hit a single ball in the Cup - so why my name even was mentioned by Matchroom or Tommy C. I have no clue.

Mark and I work well as a team (six years writing the book, and we both serve on the board of directors of a charitable foundation - ANOTHER unpaid job for me :-)). I think I did pay for a lesson from him about ten years ago (hard to see how that is a "ton of lessons").

All issues regarding the team need to go through Matchroom (it would be best to funnel all suggestions, criticisms, and offers of financial support :-) through them), but just thought I might clarify in a single post. There is a LOT of work behind the scenes to make this a year to remember - I hope you will all give Mark the benefit of the doubt as he attempts to lay the groundwork for something that may be much better for the sport in years to come.

P.S. - The "feud" was with the late "Breakup"....one of the greatest guys I've ever met through AZB. It was dangerous to drink beer around him - he was SOOOOOO funny he would have you snorting it out your nose every five minutes. :-)

Welcome aboard Don! I'm sure your support of Mark and Team USA will help create the right atmosphere for success this year. You are a positive force and a good choice as part of the team. Now go make a miracle happen! That's the only thing that will quiet the naysayers. :wink:
 
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Mike Dechaine should not be involved. Too much bad blood between him and SVB!!!

SVB had to horsef__k him on TAR for all to see! I am aware of at least two other top players that hate his guts and would not P__S on him if he was on fire! literally!!! Whoop's make that 3 players! I forgot about Archer also! They had a rather public dispute.

KD

If I'm not mistaken they went out to eat together, sometime during their last TAR match.
I don't know about you but when there's bad blood between me someone I don't go out to eat with them.

Do you ?
 
How is Corey even in the running for this what has he done recently to deserve a shot

True, Corey hasn't done that great in 9 or 10 ball tournaments recently, but he is always a solid player and has seemed to really improved his 1 pocket game for what its worth. He has to be considered one of the best 1 pocket players in the world. I know MC isn't a 1 pocket tournament, but it shows that he is still somewhat dedicated to the sport
 
Class or no class they love Earl in England. Especially in Blackpool.:thumbup:

I know Earl didn't behave himself all that well in the last MC, but he did play hard. Give him that. He may have been the best player on the team with the possible exception of SVB. I know that isn't saying much considering they got trounced.
 
If I'm not mistaken they went out to eat together, sometime during their last TAR match.
I don't know about you but when there's bad blood between me someone I don't go out to eat with them.

Do you ?

You go out to eat with someone that just days ago publicly stated he was going to horse F__K you for the world to see. What was MD thinking? Poisoning his food? LOL that was a joke of course! But shane did have an upset stomach after horse f__king him. But, could have just pulled a muscle!

KD
 
I just gotta say well done Mark. I'm behind you and the team 100% percent. These kind of things are always tough; why did someone get in and someone didn't. I can't argue with any of the guys you picked. May they win or lose at least these guys will show up, practice hard, be professional and do it in a classy way. Well done!
 
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