Which SVB challenge is more important?

[Diamond69]

If Shane beats Ko Pin Yi, haters will say it's because of home advantage.
If he loses, they'll say Ko Pin Yi is the better player.
If Shane beats Nick in Greece, they'll say he played an inferior opponent.
If Shane loses, they'll say he can't win overseas.

Which match do you think will help validate SVB's status in the ranks of pool players?

 

[TheThaiger]

I don't think either will prove anything.

And who is "hating"? The only way this will ever be settled one way or another is when or if SVB wins a world title.

 

[Swighey]

I don't think it will prove anything and he has nothing to prove anyway. Win or lose, he'll be a better player afterwards because his head works that way. I agree though, that he needs to win an official world championship. Yes, variance is high in a pool tournament but he has shown that he knows how to win them. He will have lots of opportunities to win one of the three/four (or however many the WPA decides there will be in a given year) title in years to come.And when he does it everyone will say it was only a matter of time.

That said, Jimmy White is a snooker great in my eyes despite his six 2nds (including completely bottling a give on one occasion in a lower variance cue discipline) in world finals. SVB doesn't have to "cement his legacy" but I hope he does.

 

[Masayoshi]

If Shane beats Ko Pin Yi, haters will say it's because of home advantage.
If he loses, they'll say Ko Pin Yi is the better player.
If Shane beats Nick in Greece, they'll say he played an inferior opponent.
If Shane loses, they'll say he can't win overseas.

All valid criticisms. It works the other way, as well.

If Ko wins, people will say, "the race was too short, he will never win a race to 100"
If Ko loses, they will say, Shane was the better player.

As far as cementing his place among the best of the best, he needs to create a legacy by winning a world title or two, which is certainly within his ability. In 30 years, when Shane is mostly retired from competition, people wont remember how good he was at beating people in ultra long races, nor how many non-major tournaments he won. They will remember US Opens and World Championships, he has US Opens in spades, now he needs to take down the latter.

A good example of this is Jose Parica. By all contemporary accounts, he was better than Efren in his prime, but when people list the best players of the modern era, Jose's name rarely comes up at all except for the odd old guy who is looking for an against the grain answer.

 

[Diamond69]

I should have posted another choice that validation is success over time. Although I don't think one of the World titles is a requirement in validation as the greatest.

Dan Marino never won a Super Bowl, but he got validation over time.

 

[Swighey]

Team sports are different though - and in American Football there is only one competition you can win per year. Although I agree, a world title isn't a requirement. It would, and should, be a disappointment though if SVB doesn't win one.

 

[boogeyman]

I don't think either will prove anything.

And who is "hating"? The only way this will ever be settled one way or another is when or if SVB wins a world title.

I agree. Not ONE match is going to define a player's ability, let alone legacy.
SVB still has many opportunities to win a world title.

People are going to "hate" no matter.
As we know, and as I have pointed and/or alluded to in previous posts, the pool world has "shifted" over the years.
If the "hotspot" in pool right now were in the U.S. then there might be more world title opportunities for SVB.
However, many of those world titles are now overseas and it is very difficult to travel overseas—ask anyone.

Not to criticize SVB, but remember this...he has a "handicap."
I have to imagine that using hearing aids is not natural and when traveling in a foreign country it can be doubly uncomfortable when dealing with foreign sounds.
It's a wonder that SVB has done so well in a milieu such as pool. Not easy.
Also remember this, there are better players now; all around the world.

In previous years, even when there were great players outside the U.S. they didn't always come to play in he U.S. right away.
Why? Visa issues, travel logistics, financial reasons.
The issues with U.S. players traveling now [sic] are different but the same.
Don't worry, SVB will win a world title. Be patient and please quit judging so soon.
Nonetheless, no matter the result of any of the above matches, he will continue to get better.
Go SVB!

 

[Swighey]

However, many of those world titles are now overseas and it is very difficult to travel overseas—ask anyone.

Indeed! The game needs a real governing body with 8 ball, rotation (10 ball) and straight pool world championships rotated through (for now) North America, Europe and Asia and held every year. Having said that, any investment (money, time, hardship) that Shane needs to make to cement his legacy is a worthwhile one. If he wants to be world champion, makes the effort, and doesn't run ridiculously bad then he will be a world champion.

 

[one stroke]

I should have posted another choice that validation is success over time. Although I don't think one of the World titles is a requirement in validation as the greatest.

Dan Marino never won a Super Bowl, but he got validation over time.

No he didn't he is not even in the conversation of who's the best ever ,, so If Shane is to be considered in that conversation he absolutely need world championship hardware

1

 

[Celtic]

Honestly, I am a fan of SVB. But there are a lot of complete SVB nut-huggers on AZB and their constant going on about him like he is the second coming of Christ gets a little old.

I think the people who "put" SVB on the insanely high pedestal are the ones that have also put him into a position where every match he now plays is analyzed and talked about constantly.

He is a great player, one of the best on this planet no doubt. But my saying that makes me a "hater" to a lot of people because I said he is "one of the best" and I did not say he is clearly by far the best player this planet has ever seen and no one from any era past present or future has any chance of ever beating him in a long set of 10-ball.

He is a favorite to win both sets IMO, for different reasons.

He is the home favorite against Ko. I think both players would be about even on neutral turf, but either guy gets a slight advantage by being the home team and playing in front of their own fans. SVB will also be playing it on a Diamond and he knows those tables better then anyone, especially someone from China. Diamonds are the best tables out there, but they play a little different then any other table out there and take a bit of a learning curve.

And against Nick I simply think SVB is better to a degree that it will overpower Nick's own home field advantage.

 

[BeiberLvr]

No he didn't he is not even in the conversation of who's the best ever ,, so If Shane is to be considered in that conversation he absolutely need world championship hardware

1

It's different with team sports.

Marino is definitely considered by fans and players to be one of the best QBs to ever play.

But by your logic, I guess Trent Dilfer is a better QB than Marino.

Also, two of the best PF in NBA history never won a title.

 

[SakuJack]

Honestly, I am a fan of SVB. But there are a lot of complete SVB nut-huggers on AZB and their constant going on about him like he is the second coming of Christ gets a little old.

I think the people who "put" SVB on the insanely high pedestal are the ones that have also put him into a position where every match he now plays is analyzed and talked about constantly.

He is a great player, one of the best on this planet no doubt. But my saying that makes me a "hater" to a lot of people because I said he is "one of the best" and I did not say he is clearly by far the best player this planet has ever seen and no one from any era past present or future has any chance of ever beating him in a long set of 10-ball.

He is a favorite to win both sets IMO, for different reasons.

He is the home favorite against Ko. I think both players would be about even on neutral turf, but either guy gets a slight advantage by being the home team and playing in front of their own fans. SVB will also be playing it on a Diamond and he knows those tables better then anyone, especially someone from China. Diamonds are the best tables out there, but they play a little different then any other table out there and take a bit of a learning curve.

And against Nick I simply think SVB is better to a degree that it will overpower Nick's own home field advantage.

Good post, and I agree.

I like Shane. I think he's one of the best players in the world. But I think there are more people on here who overrate him than who underrate him.

 

[King T]

Well said!

All valid criticisms. It works the other way, as well.

If Ko wins, people will say, "the race was too short, he will never win a race to 100"
If Ko loses, they will say, Shane was the better player.

As far as cementing his place among the best of the best, he needs to create a legacy by winning a world title or two, which is certainly within his ability. In 30 years, when Shane is mostly retired from competition, people wont remember how good he was at beating people in ultra long races, nor how many non-major tournaments he won. They will remember US Opens and World Championships, he has US Opens in spades, now he needs to take down the latter.

A good example of this is Jose Parica. By all contemporary accounts, he was better than Efren in his prime, but when people list the best players of the modern era, Jose's name rarely comes up at all except for the odd old guy who is looking for an against the grain answer.

If there was another player from the USA that could win anything it would help SVB and that player by giving some focus to the game state side and giving him a guy to shoot for here,

 

[boogeyman]

Good post, and I agree.

I like Shane. I think he's one of the best players in the world. But I think there are more people on here who overrate him than who underrate him.

________________________
You're right, SakuJack. People on here seem to talk SVB up quite a bit.
I don't blame them though. He's the only U.S. player we got when it comes to the pool world—and it IS a world sport now.
And as much as I dislike Earl as a person, he readily admits as to SVBs amazing potential.
Nonetheless, SVB HAS proved himself to get the attention he has received.
And remember, he has NOT peaked yet.

As long as his focus stays put (on pool) he will win many more tourneys; not the least of which will be world titles.
Once he fully matures on the world stage he will get those coveted world titles.

In the meantime, to repeat myself, SVB is all we got right now.

PLEASE PEOPLE, SPELLCHECK YOUR POSTS. It's very distracting to read good information with bad form.

 

[metrolamar]

Not sure if anything will be proven. But I cant wait to see the video!!!! Love watching all these guys play.