USA MC Captain

[Kris_b1104]

Prior to captaining his first Mosconi Cup (2006), Johann was the head of the Royal Dutch Billiards Association acting as both instructor and coach to a number of top pool players. But more importantly, he had tremendous credibility with MC players such as Niels Feijen, NVB, and Alex Lely.

And, IMO, that is the key ingredient for a successful coach - credibility. Without credibility, it is difficult if not impossible for him/her to motivate, teach, or lead any group to success.

How do you gain credibility? For this, there isn't just one path. Sometimes, credibility is earned through past coaching success (Johann, Bill Belichick, Marv Levy, ...). Other times it comes through past playing success (Ray Reardon, Lenny Wilkens, Joe Torre, etc...).

But all great coaches, BEFORE given the opportunity to prove their greatness FIRST had to be credible.

Mark Wilson has a sh*t ton of credibility, yet he has been unsuccessful. Your point?

 

[one stroke]

Mark Wilson has a sh*t ton of credibility, yet he has been unsuccessful. Your point?

Measured in wins and loses correct losing with out looking like a bunch jack ass's incorrect



1

 

[sunburn]

]First off, our team captain should be American. Sorry Lee Brett

Second, our team captain should be a pro-level player. Sorry Ozzy and Jay.[/COLOR]

Third, our team captain should be someone who is currently competing, knows what the players specs are nowadays, and not a past champion. Sorry JA.

Fourth, our team captain should be someone respected across the industry, articulate, and a fierce current day competitor in his own right.

I think when all is said and done, It should be Jeremy Jones, if he'll take it. It's a thankless job.

Lou Figueroa

I agree with your first & second. USA needs someone that can take the heat off the players...someone who's "been there/done that" in the arena but came out approachable with backbone. Somebody that's been on the top rung as well as the bottom.

 

[BJTyler]

Mark Wilson has a sh*t ton of credibility, yet he has been unsuccessful. Your point?

Are you familiar with the concept of "a necessary but not sufficient condition"?

The point is that Credibility is necessary for coaching success but not sufficient.

 

[Scott Lee]

Which is why Mark Wilson has such success with his collegiate program at Lindenwood University. Teamwork, attitude, and a rigorous 'self-administered' daily training regimen are the hallmarks of breeding success in his players, on and off the table. If you look up class in the dictionary, Mark's picture will be there.

The MC team are, as has been mentioned 1000x, a group of individuals, that are all different, with different temperaments, and different triggers...thrown together at the last minute, and expected to perform as teammates (I think JAM calls them "dancing monkeys")...especially in 'partners' formats. That's a difficult task for anyone. I say Thank You Mark Wilson for making us more professional.,,and I say good luck to the incoming captain, whoever that may be. They have a tough job.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Are you familiar with the concept of "a necessary but not sufficient condition"?

The point is that Credibility is necessary for coaching success but not sufficient.

nt tr

 

[Justin Bergman]

Pool is not a team sport period. I guarntee that Europe is not best buds playing and they are competing with each other all year round. Actually U.S. has the best record in the doubles. Singles is where we struggle and it's because we make too many errors in the singles. There is 14 possible singles and only 7 doubles. I think what hurts us is the competion here. We play mostly bar tables, small added big table events maybe once every two months, the competion is soft compared to Taiwan, Philippines, etc. The Filipinos match up with each other everyday for $200-$300 sets and stay in action with players their speed. Americans don't do that.

As far as Americans playing better in the Mosconi Cup in 90s well of course... The competion is no where near the level it is today. Nobody knew the break, even the worst breakers today outbreak the players in the past with all the knowledge about the rack now. Tournaments back then had 5-8 players in contention, 2016 U.S. Open had probably 20-30 Nick Varners and Buddy Halls and another 30 that play just a hair under that level. There used to be women in the very first Mosconi Cups and for several years Snooker players.

Again pretty sure my Mom could have coached Europe the last 6 years and they still would have won. Maybe I'm wrong but I think a lot of people on here are placing way too much blame on Mark and saying if we had Johan or Jim Rempe as a coach it would be different. I think the captain has a role and he can make a 2-5 percent difference and that might be giving it to much credit. Pool is an individual game, Mark can't take Shane out if he's struggling, it's not baseball. You shouldn't be going down yelling in Shane's ear telling him to play safe lol.. Or high fiving when he makes a stop shot I don't think makes a difference. Minimizing our errors, working on break, and playing tougher competion year round will make a difference.

 

[gxman]

I concur with the points Justin made.

The role of the team captain in pool is way overated. Outside of deciding who plays when and who doubles with who, the team captain had zero effect on the outcome.

 

[Ak147]

Wonder how much difference a non playing captain can make. Most influence comes from team.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

Wonder how much difference a non playing captain can make. Most influence comes from team.

Coach has marginal gains at best - unless the players hate him a la Jose Mourinho.

 

[JoeyA]

Justin,

How is the USA Mosconi Cup Team to deal with the squealing, chanting, singing, sharking, drunken, thug fans of Europe? :smile:

That seems to be as large a problem as anything you've mentioned.

JoeyA

Pool is not a team sport period. I guarntee that Europe is not best buds playing and they are competing with each other all year round. Actually U.S. has the best record in the doubles. Singles is where we struggle and it's because we make too many errors in the singles. There is 14 possible singles and only 7 doubles. I think what hurts us is the competion here. We play mostly bar tables, small added big table events maybe once every two months, the competion is soft compared to Taiwan, Philippines, etc. The Filipinos match up with each other everyday for $200-$300 sets and stay in action with players their speed. Americans don't do that.

As far as Americans playing better in the Mosconi Cup in 90s well of course... The competion is no where near the level it is today. Nobody knew the break, even the worst breakers today outbreak the players in the past with all the knowledge about the rack now. Tournaments back then had 5-8 players in contention, 2016 U.S. Open had probably 20-30 Nick Varners and Buddy Halls and another 30 that play just a hair under that level. There used to be women in the very first Mosconi Cups and for several years Snooker players.

Again pretty sure my Mom could have coached Europe the last 6 years and they still would have won. Maybe I'm wrong but I think a lot of people on here are placing way too much blame on Mark and saying if we had Johan or Jim Rempe as a coach it would be different. I think the captain has a role and he can make a 2-5 percent difference and that might be giving it to much credit. Pool is an individual game, Mark can't take Shane out if he's struggling, it's not baseball. You shouldn't be going down yelling in Shane's ear telling him to play safe lol.. Or high fiving when he makes a stop shot I don't think makes a difference. Minimizing our errors, working on break, and playing tougher competion year round will make a difference.

 

[lfigueroa]

Pool is not a team sport period. I guarntee that Europe is not best buds playing and they are competing with each other all year round. Actually U.S. has the best record in the doubles. Singles is where we struggle and it's because we make too many errors in the singles. There is 14 possible singles and only 7 doubles. I think what hurts us is the competion here. We play mostly bar tables, small added big table events maybe once every two months, the competion is soft compared to Taiwan, Philippines, etc. The Filipinos match up with each other everyday for $200-$300 sets and stay in action with players their speed. Americans don't do that.

As far as Americans playing better in the Mosconi Cup in 90s well of course... The competion is no where near the level it is today. Nobody knew the break, even the worst breakers today outbreak the players in the past with all the knowledge about the rack now. Tournaments back then had 5-8 players in contention, 2016 U.S. Open had probably 20-30 Nick Varners and Buddy Halls and another 30 that play just a hair under that level. There used to be women in the very first Mosconi Cups and for several years Snooker players.

Again pretty sure my Mom could have coached Europe the last 6 years and they still would have won. Maybe I'm wrong but I think a lot of people on here are placing way too much blame on Mark and saying if we had Johan or Jim Rempe as a coach it would be different. I think the captain has a role and he can make a 2-5 percent difference and that might be giving it to much credit. Pool is an individual game, Mark can't take Shane out if he's struggling, it's not baseball. You shouldn't be going down yelling in Shane's ear telling him to play safe lol.. Or high fiving when he makes a stop shot I don't think makes a difference. Minimizing our errors, working on break, and playing tougher competion year round will make a difference.

Justin, I agree with most of what you say.

However, I think a good captain also takes a load off the players by doing prep and logistical work, so things go smoothly for the players and they can concentrate on playing. Given the blood, sweat, and tears Mark (and Cathy) put in for three years -- most often, behind the scenes -- my guess is that in 2017 returning USA MC players are going to notice a *big* difference regardless of who is chosen as the new captain.

Lou Figueroa

 

[GB Basher]

Pool is not a team sport period. I guarntee that Europe is not best buds playing and they are competing with each other all year round. Actually U.S. has the best record in the doubles. Singles is where we struggle and it's because we make too many errors in the singles. There is 14 possible singles and only 7 doubles. I think what hurts us is the competion here. We play mostly bar tables, small added big table events maybe once every two months, the competion is soft compared to Taiwan, Philippines, etc. The Filipinos match up with each other everyday for $200-$300 sets and stay in action with players their speed. Americans don't do that.

As far as Americans playing better in the Mosconi Cup in 90s well of course... The competion is no where near the level it is today. Nobody knew the break, even the worst breakers today outbreak the players in the past with all the knowledge about the rack now. Tournaments back then had 5-8 players in contention, 2016 U.S. Open had probably 20-30 Nick Varners and Buddy Halls and another 30 that play just a hair under that level. There used to be women in the very first Mosconi Cups and for several years Snooker players.

Again pretty sure my Mom could have coached Europe the last 6 years and they still would have won. Maybe I'm wrong but I think a lot of people on here are placing way too much blame on Mark and saying if we had Johan or Jim Rempe as a coach it would be different. I think the captain has a role and he can make a 2-5 percent difference and that might be giving it to much credit. Pool is an individual game, Mark can't take Shane out if he's struggling, it's not baseball. You shouldn't be going down yelling in Shane's ear telling him to play safe lol.. Or high fiving when he makes a stop shot I don't think makes a difference. Minimizing our errors, working on break, and playing tougher competion year round will make a difference.

Great post Justin.
I agree with most of what you say.
IMO Mark just said a couple of things that did not come across well and these did not help his cause

 

[Majic]

Pool is not a team sport period. I guarntee that Europe is not best buds playing and they are competing with each other all year round. Actually U.S. has the best record in the doubles. Singles is where we struggle and it's because we make too many errors in the singles. There is 14 possible singles and only 7 doubles. I think what hurts us is the competion here. We play mostly bar tables, small added big table events maybe once every two months, the competion is soft compared to Taiwan, Philippines, etc. The Filipinos match up with each other everyday for $200-$300 sets and stay in action with players their speed. Americans don't do that.

As far as Americans playing better in the Mosconi Cup in 90s well of course... The competion is no where near the level it is today. Nobody knew the break, even the worst breakers today outbreak the players in the past with all the knowledge about the rack now. Tournaments back then had 5-8 players in contention, 2016 U.S. Open had probably 20-30 Nick Varners and Buddy Halls and another 30 that play just a hair under that level. There used to be women in the very first Mosconi Cups and for several years Snooker players.

Again pretty sure my Mom could have coached Europe the last 6 years and they still would have won. Maybe I'm wrong but I think a lot of people on here are placing way too much blame on Mark and saying if we had Johan or Jim Rempe as a coach it would be different. I think the captain has a role and he can make a 2-5 percent difference and that might be giving it to much credit. Pool is an individual game, Mark can't take Shane out if he's struggling, it's not baseball. You shouldn't be going down yelling in Shane's ear telling him to play safe lol.. Or high fiving when he makes a stop shot I don't think makes a difference. Minimizing our errors, working on break, and playing tougher competion year round will make a difference.

Your perspective is interesting and has merit.

What I see as a spectator is that the Euro's are more disciplined. It is obvious that they work on breaking, safeties, kicking and focus. All the things team USA lacks. Can you learn all of those things by playing more tourney's or a having a more disciplined routine?
I am not calling anyone lazy but playing in more tourney's will not necessarily improve your game enough to compete with world class players. The Euro's are world class top to bottom.