USA MC Captain
- Thread starter lfigueroa
- Start date
If they kept getting their arses kicked, they probably would not care. I had a buddy coaching a baseball team in Germany ( not a very popular sport, but they do have "pro" teams, which are basically the same quality as a decent college team)
They had no problems bringing in American players (limit 2 per team) as well as American coaches. They want to learn the game, they want to be competitive. And i'm sure there are more than a few German lads that can throw a ball over 90mph, that have dreams of $100M contracts. That buys an awful lot of Schnitzel and beer
Personally, I'm not ready to swallow national pride and identity. I don't think the American MC players are either. Let the Euros do what they may, we are the USA.
Lou Figueroa
I agree. I also think that sooner or later SVB is going to break the MC code and things will be different.
Lou Figueroa
PoolChump
Banned
I'm sorry, but I think most of you guys are completely delusional regarding what your problem is, and what the proper measures to correct it are.
Obviously Mosconi cup started as a bit of light entertainment, some snooker players who'd hardly played the game versus seasoned pros. The shift happened when the European team got tired of losing and started taking it seriously. The US never got to this stage. Firstly, you still will not admit that you are losing, and not only that, being BEATEN. There are 1 million excuses, and nobody actually adresses what the problems are.
The attitudes are in fact the main problem the US has. The players, coaches and fans alike all share the same problem. "We are equally as good as the Europeans, but we don't win because the format isn't fair". So whenever someone suggests a fix the answer is always the same "Leave us alone, we're pros, we know what we are doing." Usually followed by an attack on the messenger.
The players on the US teams have very little respect for one another, just watch the body language, apart from a couple of people that are friends on the personal level. That is not helping, in fact these relationship is driving a wedge between those players and the rest of the group. Look at Van Boenings face when his teammates mess up...That is not helping his teammates or himself to excel. Earl had some of the same effect when he was part of the team.
To build a team, companies who do teambuilding usually take the participants out of their familiar surroundings for a while, forcing them to interact only with their group. The US teams need a rather intensive version of this, IMO.
There is also the matter of simple mistakes caused by fundamental and judgement issues that should be adressed by a coach and/or a sport psychologist.
The last part of the puzzle would be execises that would as realistically as possible recreate the conditions of the Cup, with world class opposition.
Putting some figurehead has-been up in the stands in order to give him an easy payday is a nice thought... If you do this, you will lose.
Obviously Mosconi cup started as a bit of light entertainment, some snooker players who'd hardly played the game versus seasoned pros. The shift happened when the European team got tired of losing and started taking it seriously. The US never got to this stage. Firstly, you still will not admit that you are losing, and not only that, being BEATEN. There are 1 million excuses, and nobody actually adresses what the problems are.
The attitudes are in fact the main problem the US has. The players, coaches and fans alike all share the same problem. "We are equally as good as the Europeans, but we don't win because the format isn't fair". So whenever someone suggests a fix the answer is always the same "Leave us alone, we're pros, we know what we are doing." Usually followed by an attack on the messenger.
The players on the US teams have very little respect for one another, just watch the body language, apart from a couple of people that are friends on the personal level. That is not helping, in fact these relationship is driving a wedge between those players and the rest of the group. Look at Van Boenings face when his teammates mess up...That is not helping his teammates or himself to excel. Earl had some of the same effect when he was part of the team.
To build a team, companies who do teambuilding usually take the participants out of their familiar surroundings for a while, forcing them to interact only with their group. The US teams need a rather intensive version of this, IMO.
There is also the matter of simple mistakes caused by fundamental and judgement issues that should be adressed by a coach and/or a sport psychologist.
The last part of the puzzle would be execises that would as realistically as possible recreate the conditions of the Cup, with world class opposition.
Putting some figurehead has-been up in the stands in order to give him an easy payday is a nice thought... If you do this, you will lose.
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If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. You've dominated this thread with dozens of posts and not one has offered anything constructive. As for me I will support whoever is chosen for this job. I'm well aware that there are other well qualified people out there.
Eh, I'll take the win with whomever is the coach, I could care less if he's from Mars if he produces a winner. But the USA could lost the next 10 years in a row, and you won't here a peep from me, still quite entertaining.
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No, you have it quite wrong. It's not about attitude or respect, it's a different level of play and experience. IMO, we will get there.
Lou Figueroa
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*I was the OP* in this thread and have been responding to posts directed to me, you oaf. If you are that tone deaf and can't discern that, it is just one more reason you should not be selected.
Lou Figueroa
Talk about 'motivation'..She's got my vote for captain of anything! :thumbup:
Who's the one getting personal now? Your true colors are showing Lucy. Unlike you, I've never been satisfied to sit on a chair and pontificate from a keyboard. I prefer to get off my ass and actually make something happen. I'm proud of my accomplishments in the pool world and would love the opportunity to right our ship in the MC.
It's clear I don't have your vote, but I'm not easily discouraged by my detractors. I've been told all my life I couldn't achieve something but pressed on anyway. It's people like you that push me to succeed, so please feel free to continue your negativity.
You got the right word: "push." Lou likes to push buttons.
In a thread that was supposed to be a hypothetical fun thread about having five Keith McCreadys at the Mosconi Cup, Lou felt it imperative to demean Keith's capabilities on a field of green. Meanwhile, ask Marcus Chamat who the best Scotch doubles player is in the world, and if anybody can shoot under pressure, it's Keith. In fact, he thrives on it. That is when he is at his best. Nobody was seriously considering Keith as a Team USA member for next year. Again, the thread was in jest.
It is well known that Lou does not like professional pool players, as he puts them down every chance he gets on all pool forums. In the fun thread about Keith, Lou felt compelled to weigh in with his 2 cents, sharing his opinion about Keith's capabilities, just like this thread he is weighing in about you. He enjoys this kind of banter and being in the minority. It gives him a platform.
Ignore him. It's not really worth it when it gets personal. In this instance, it may be best to consider the source. :wink:
Lou has done this on every pool forum that I've ever came across and he has been banned, at least once, from every one that I've seen.
Lou was a Public Affairs Officer in the Air Force. He was trained to talk out of both sides of his mouth. I wouldn't listen to a single word he said on any subject, much less pool. He has a holier-than-thou personality and thinks he has a superior intellect to most people, but it isn't hard to see right through him.
I just left another forum that I haven't been on for months and guess who they were talking about. I'll give you three guesses...and they all start with Lou.
Pathetic Shark
Banned
Lol. Can't lou have a fun thread, too?
I think there are others better suited to be USA MC captain. Sorry that's too personal for you.
Lou Figueroa
not really
Keith would be a very poor pick for the MC, IMO. If you've kept up with the discussion, one of the reoccurring themes is criticism of the loose, flamboyant style and overly aggressive technique of some of the US players. In that regard, Keith would be the worst of the worst.
Lou Figueroa