What has Earl contributed to the sport?

Rasta

Rasta

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Silver Member
There has been a lot of talk about Earl since his dismissal from Cuetec. Some to consider this a slight on American pool.

I would like to know what Earl has done for the sport. I know he's won a bunch of nine ball. That's not what I'm talking about; someone has to win. Winning in and of itself does not constitute a contribution to the sport. What has Earl done to contribute?

Good Rolls,
Rasta
 
he hasn't just won games and tournaments, by just making the balls. he's played the game more beautifully and inspirationally than anybody else ever has or is likely to.

i think earl's a god damn legend! asking what he's contributed to the sport is i think a little dicrespectful.
 
I agree with the above sentiments. Earl hasn't just won a lot of tournaments. When he wins he is a powerhouse. He can string more 9-ball racks together than I can run balls in straight pool lol. Also, he's always interesting win, lose or in any other circumstance.
 
worriedbeef said:
asking what he's contributed to the sport is i think a little dicrespectful.
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I'm not trying to be disrespectful. Some people seem to admire Earl a lot. Every time I've seen Earl he seems to act more like a whiny spoiled brat than an ambassador for pool. I'm trying to see what others see in him that I'm missing.

Good Rolls,
Rasta
 
Earl Strickland for PRESIDENT

Rasta said:
I would like to know what Earl has done for the sport. I know he's won a bunch of nine ball. That's not what I'm talking about; someone has to win. Winning in and of itself does not constitute a contribution to the sport. What has Earl done to contribute?
Rasta
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Wingshots !
Doug
( and he made many friends among spectators )
 
I think it's pretty safe to say that there are guys and gals in their 20's all over the world that play pool as a direct result of some form of influence from Earl and his game.
That's what I would call good for the industry. Increasing players = increasing players that need cues and other goods.
dave
 
Tokyo-dave said:
I think it's pretty safe to say that there are guys and gals in their 20's all over the world that play pool as a direct result of some form of influence from Earl and his game.
That's what I would call good for the industry. Increasing players = increasing players that need cues and other goods.
dave
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Why is that safe to say? What did he do to increase participation?

Good Rolls,
Rasta
 
Rasta said:
There has been a lot of talk about Earl since his dismissal from Cuetec. Some to consider this a slight on American pool.

I would like to know what Earl has done for the sport. I know he's won a bunch of nine ball. That's not what I'm talking about; someone has to win. Winning in and of itself does not constitute a contribution to the sport. What has Earl done to contribute?

Good Rolls,
Rasta
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This is the second time today I have to ask this question.
What planet are you from?
Philw
 
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earl plays pool for himself.... what does he need to contribute? whatever he's made playing pool he earned, it wasn't contributed to him.
 
Earl Strickland is the "John McEnroe" of moden day pocket billiards. He's an entertaining character who brings excitment and controversy to the table almost everytime he plays.
 
philw said:
This is the second time today I have to ask this question.
What planet are you from?
Philw
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I'm just trying to understand what people see in Earl; that's all.

Good Rolls,
Rasta
 
branpureza said:
earl plays pool for himself.... what does he need to contribute? whatever he's made playing pool he earned, it wasn't contributed to him.
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No one says he needs to contribute. Some have stated he has contributed. I'm trying to understand what it was he contributed.

Good Rolls,
Rasta
 
Rasta said:
Why is that safe to say? What did he do to increase participation?

Good Rolls,
Rasta
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I have no idea if Earl has ever donated his time to clinics to help teach children, or donated tournament winnings to NPOs or any form of 'feel good' actions. And yes, you may be right in your apparent opinion that Earl has possibly never made a real effort contribute to the game of pool. (I realize that you haven't stated that, but the opinion seems apparent in your posts)
But Earl just being who he is, or should I say who he has been, in itself has undoubtedly increased pool playing numbers. It happens in all sports. Kids want to become pro baseball players and be like A-rod someday. And there has to be numbers of people that play pool that were drawn to the sport because they had seen Earl play. Not to mention the undeniable fact that when Earl shows up for a tournament, people are more interested in watching him play than most other players. It may be for reasons that have nothing to do with watching great pool, but the fact is that he sells tickets.
Now I agree that just because people buy tickets to watch him play, and also the fact that there are many players that started playing the game as a result of Earl.......................doesn't mean that Earl set out with the intentions of mentoring a generation of pool players, and obviously he doesn't care how many tickets are sold at any particular event. So in that respect, Earl hasn't really gone out of his way to actually intentionally 'do' something for the sport other than simply being himself, and at one time, being one of the more dominating players in the world, but that alone is enough when it comes to a player of Earls caliber.
Don't misunderstand my defending of Earl 'cause the truth is, although I have always respected his abilities on the table, he has always been one of the players that I despise most because of his actions that often times border a total lack of respect for the game, and in many cases his opponent.
However, it's a fact that, albeit unintentional from Earls point of view, there are players all over the world that play the game because of Earl. And there are spectators at every event that are always willing to make great efforts to get a chance to watch him play. I would call that good contribution to the sport.
dave
(now don't make me defend the guy anymore!:( )
 
hey fellows rasta still has that stinky stuff running out his mouth and I don't mean puke so press ignore button this may be fast larry in drag . Leonard
 
I echo the above comment. He's the best at shooting wing-shots than anybody I've ever seen. Someone above asked what a wing-shot is... it's when you take a ball... roll it down table....and then shoot the moving ball in a corner pocket. Earl rolls them at a fair pace...and this shot actually won him a trick shot championship.

You can complain about Earl's attitude all you want.... when he's gone, the only thing people will remember him by are his countless championships. The license plate on his Porsche used to say it all..... 5XUSOPN

He's a living legend.
Dave
 
Rasta said:
I'm trying to understand what it was he contributed.

Good Rolls,
Rasta
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Absolutely nothing. He has given the sport I love several black eyes. If every pool player was of the ilk of this twit, the sport would be banned forever. He disgusts me.
 
I respect Earl's game, he is a champion, and probably as sane as the rest of the pros away from the game.

The one affect that Earl definately had on U.S. Pool was a match between him and Corey Deuel, which was a live ESPN broadcast, and Earl quit the match because he didn't like the rack he got told to accept. Believe me that left an everlasting impression on the ESPN program directors....

Something I would have loved to have seen would have been Earl vs Louie Roberts. That could have been entertaining.
 
Rasta said:
There has been a lot of talk about Earl since his dismissal from Cuetec. Some to consider this a slight on American pool.

I would like to know what Earl has done for the sport. I know he's won a bunch of nine ball. That's not what I'm talking about; someone has to win. Winning in and of itself does not constitute a contribution to the sport. What has Earl done to contribute?

Good Rolls,
Rasta
Click to expand...

Earl has been an inspiration to a generation of players who desire to play without fear. His offensive game is second to none. It's not just that someone has to win, it's WHO is winning all the events. Earl for a time was the man to beat and everyone else was playing for second place. Because, while everyone at the tournament was good, everyone at the tournament knew that Earl was the only one who could put fives and six packs together before the opponent got back to their seat.

Earl's style of play inspired people to put in more table time. He didn't have to make any instructional videos. His instructional videos were the many, many tapes of Earl Strickland vs. ???? in the finals.

As far as 9-ball is concerned Earl might very well be the greatest of our generation. For the two tournaments the count most in 9-ball, the US Open and the World Championships he has won more of them than any other player.

He inspired me as a player. I bought Sigel's tapes on how to play, but all I ever wanted was Earl's break.
 
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