We All Lost the Cup

[Island Drive]

This recent tirade with the Cup, has struck a blow to oall of us that truly care for this great game. For the bar players and the small time hustlers....business as usual. It feels like a sucker punch, a low blow, a Bite to ones earlobe. It's effects and Badi Nazhat's article, add MUCHO Clarity.:banghead: DCC your outta mind at this point. Being around that demographic is no longer of interest. US Billiard world just got FRACKED, it's results are ahead.

 

[ironman]

This recent tirade with the Cup, has struck a blow to oall of us that truly care for this great game. For the bar players and the small time hustlers....business as usual. It feels like a sucker punch, a low blow, a Bite to ones earlobe. It's effects and Badi Nazhat's article, add MUCHO Clarity.:banghead: DCC your outta mind at this point. Being around that demographic is no longer of interest. US Billiard world just got FRACKED, it's results are ahead.

YOU are dead right whether we want to agree or not. IMO, there needs to be more into the selection. First we have all heard it but, the re is no "I" in the word team and they need to hear that. If that is a form of diffidculty for some, go the hell home. Everyone misses aball, big deal who cant live with that. But team play is a different animal altogether. P00; is often far more than jiust straight shooting
THe foul laguage is unforgivable and cannot be tolerated. HIS game is suffereing enough and besides the potetial sponsors hearing it, somebodys kids are hearring it and the message that comes with it.
I have to wonder how we would have all felt with tis behavior, how we would have felt had they won? IS ashamed a good word?
What message are we as Americans sending?
I am not a flag waver by any means but this to me is outrageous.

 

[A_Lake]

IMHO, i too think the cup was lost

Hi AZers,

Lets look at it this way, this year's Mosconi Cup can be perceived as the shift from "Attacking Pool" to "Tactical Pool". Below is a simple equation to explain it all:

Spot the 9-ball + Break box + Alternate break
= Many dry breaks + Difficult run outs + Low cue ball control after break
= More Push outs + Safeties + Break & Scratches + Jumps + Kicks
= Tactical Pool


Actually the Mosconi Cup was much more demanding this year in terms of table knowledge rather than simply clearing the balls. Players such as Shane and Earl who are highly aggressive tend to fall short when kicking or playing safe or pushing out or jumping balls. Its quite clear that the Americans lost in these aspects.

In contrast, the Europeans are pushing out smartly and making jump shots and returning snooks and kicking balls with a handful of rails. The plethora of skills exhibited were those that were needed to win in this format with new break rules.

Its not that the Americans aren't good enough players (I'm sure if its old break rules, they would have the advantage), its just that their skill sets don't suit the new dynamics of the game.

P.S. I would really love to see the Taiwanese or Pinoy's approach towards this format and breaking rules.

 

[Johnnyt]

"Actually the Mosconi Cup was much more demanding this year in terms of table knowledge rather than simply clearing the balls. Players such as Shane and Earl who are highly aggressive tend to fall short when kicking or playing safe or pushing out or jumping balls"????

Shane and Earl fall short when kicking, playing safe, pushing out, and jumping? You got to be kidding. Johnnyt

 

[JAM]

This recent tirade with the Cup, has struck a blow to oall of us that truly care for this great game. For the bar players and the small time hustlers....business as usual. It feels like a sucker punch, a low blow, a Bite to ones earlobe. It's effects and Badi Nazhat's article, add MUCHO Clarity.:banghead: DCC your outta mind at this point. Being around that demographic is no longer of interest. US Billiard world just got FRACKED, it's results are ahead.

Oh, man, Island Drive, please don't speak ill about one of the few remaining American happenings, the Derby City Classic. If anything, we Americans should be supporting it.

You say the U.S. billiard world got fracked; I'm thinking the American pool culture is sure a fickle bunch. The DCC is one of the best events of the year, as far as I'm concerned.

As an American, we're all disappointed in the performance of Team USA at the Mosconi Cup, but I can assure you that every single one of the five players probably also feels the burn much worse than we do.

Organizations that cultive our youth in the American pool world is who we should all be supporting at this juncture. It doesn't do any good to look at the past and complain how screwed-up it is. I can't change the pool world to my liking; in fact, nobody can alone. As a group, however, people can make a difference. I donate to BEF every year now. I also on occasion help sponsor a youth player to attend competitions. This is one area that all of us can help, even if it is just moral support. :yes:

Food for thought.

 

[peteypooldude]

Well I'm going to give my 02 cents here since I've not posted since the MC
I have a little different view of it. At ANY time a team of great players can get their asses handed to them. I play on a money league with the best players in my area all on one team. We still get killed every once in a while. To write off the US is crazy. If anything it was a wake up call. It's not about talent at that level it's about preparation . If we want to win we have to practice as a team and prepare as a team. It's no bigger than that.

 

[Donny Lutz]

Other reasons

Well I'm going to give my 02 cents here since I've not posted since the MC
I have a little different view of it. At ANY time a team of great players can get their asses handed to them. I play on a money league with the best players in my area all on one team. We still get killed every once in a while. To write off the US is crazy. If anything it was a wake up call. It's not about talent at that level it's about preparation . If we want to win we have to practice as a team and prepare as a team. It's no bigger than that.

If it weren't a matter of talent (as well as attitude), you'd see more American players winning international events. Who would you have on an American "second" team? The Europeans could field at least two teams that would crush the current American players, and the Asians could probably field half a dozen. Americans are not always # 1, no matter how much we want to believe it.

Another factor somewhat ignored is that the current crop of "top" American players have virtually no experience playing team pool other than once a year at the Mosconi. Back in the '70s, many of the top pros actually played in BCA and VNEA pool leagues (yes, even on bar boxes!) and they knew how to organize and cultivate and coach teams.

There was generally more cooperation in the pool world back then...between players, proprietors, sponsors, league organizations, etc. At some point it became what it is today, - a me first world where the game suffers from greed and arrogance.

 

[voiceofreason]

We All Lost the Cup

Speak for yourself

 

[Pathetic Shark]

Well I'm going to give my 02 cents here since I've not posted since the MC
I have a little different view of it. At ANY time a team of great players can get their asses handed to them. I play on a money league with the best players in my area all on one team. We still get killed every once in a while. To write off the US is crazy. If anything it was a wake up call. It's not about talent at that level it's about preparation . If we want to win we have to practice as a team and prepare as a team. It's no bigger than that.

Couldn't disagree more. This mindset MUST change.

 

[Island Drive]

Another Voice Of Reasoning

Speak for yourself

I like it, I'm English....appreciate your Great Humor:thumbup:.

No Jam its been the same too long, another direction is needed. Those over the pond have Iconic players to look up too, emulate, aspire to be and become. The young herd in the states here, that has recently passed their youthful years had little to look up to and aspire to be, other than the next score. My self I was very fortunate to have my dad kick my ass' to help me in my youth' understand the difference between right/wrong, accepted and not. He taught me the ''value'' of being honest, and caring for others, tho his methods were Drastic by todays methods, but I learned early on....there is a cost in life for ones mistakes.
I'm very upset at the actions of those representing the United States in this pool match, if I was the captain this behavior would of been handled immediately, I would of easily taken a shirt off of one and gladly put it on Janette Lee as a substitute in a heartbeat.

Behavior....Martin Luther Kings words about Nelson Mandela.

''Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'' I can find three American players actions were NOT justifiable.

 

[macguy]

There is a certain reality in pool at least American pool that can't be ingored. It is just a waste of time as far as trying to make any money at it. Most all of our US pros at one time or another were fanatics about the game. They would rather play pool then anything else and rewards of the game were not really in their thoughts. It was an addiction of sorts and those with the talent rose to high skill levels. We can all point to the years when one player or another was totaly dominant. Those would be their fanatic years, when they played pool for the sake of playing pool.

They probably didn't even know why they were playing pool they loved it so much and they were good at it. That can only last s long though and they can't keep up all that practice and commitment for what is esentaly is nothing. They continue to play and compete and to the spectator they look as good as ever but they really are not, the dedacation is gone. Their games that were once honed to perfection are now, although still very good, hit and miss as far as performance. That is just a fact. Although I don't know these current players I did know many of the past players and at a point they hardly even parcticed anymore. They would arrive at a tournament and just see what happens relying on their natiral talents. Often the results would be pritty bad.


Even among the average players who read this board, how many of you don't honestly believe if you had the time and cound dedacate yourself to the game you could be a very good player maybe even compete in pro tournaments. I would bet the number is pretty high. You don't though because you have a job and family to take care of and want some kind of future for yourself in this life. Pool is no future, at least as a player and at some point pretty much every pro reconizes that. They still play but don't expect the dedacation they once had. They move on to other things.