Who are "they" ?
black folks (duh)
Josh Robert’s, for one, is a better player than several other picks in the last few years. However, it’s typical and expected, just as the losses are to other countries, around the world. Years ago, as great as the American players were, as soon as competition started to come to America from around the world, America has consistently been beaten down and completely humiliated by the rest of the world. I saw it in the 1960’s and 70’s, when soldiers returned from the war and described how the Filipino players took their money. Then, when the Filipino players came to America, they called it a “Filipino Invasion “!!!! What the Hell were they invading? The sheer arrogance of the statements about the “Foreign Players “ was ridiculous, ending with America shamefully getting our Asses kicked on the World stage. I don’t know where Pool would be without Non-American players! The World of Pool players knows that the United States is not putting their best players on the Felt, and them kicking our Asses is proof. I’m ashamed of what happened to the “American game”, and it’s proof that it never belonged to America. Just look at the names in the Major Tournaments! Twenty year old players are playing our Best, Head up, and are dominating America for the most part!
i am impressed you could read his posts without getting a headache
A great percentage of these black players that you see in baseball are black Latinos (mostly from the Dominican Republic). African Americans (born in the US) are by far the minority of the black players in today's MLB.
I agree with what you say, especially the video game part. And I could write a book on the subject -- like most, I have lived it. I did everything to interest every kid in the neighborhood except buy a table for the house (no room) and I just don't get how folks can ignore, or fail to acknowledge, or trivialize, pool's plight.
Josh Robert’s, for one, is a better player than several other picks in the last few years. However, it’s typical and expected, just as the losses are to other countries, around the world. Years ago, as great as the American players were, as soon as competition started to come to America from around the world, America has consistently been beaten down and completely humiliated by the rest of the world. I saw it in the 1960’s and 70’s, when soldiers returned from the war and described how the Filipino players took their money. Then, when the Filipino players came to America, they called it a “Filipino Invasion “!!!! What the Hell were they invading? The sheer arrogance of the statements about the “Foreign Players “ was ridiculous, ending with America shamefully getting our Asses kicked on the World stage. I don’t know where Pool would be without Non-American players! The World of Pool players knows that the United States is not putting their best players on the Felt, and them kicking our Asses is proof. I’m ashamed of what happened to the “American game”, and it’s proof that it never belonged to America. Just look at the names in the Major Tournaments! Twenty year old players are playing our Best, Head up, and are dominating America for the most part!
I was referring to Pool overall, Josh Roberts was just mentioned as a recent, obvious, choice of a Player who is more talented and a better overall Player than several recent picks for the U.S. Mosconi Team, and recent years have shown us that the World has surpassed America for DEVELOPED TALENT. Even the Philippines, with bad conditions, and the Players are basically self-taught and learn by facing stiff competition, with support of the COUNTRY and TOP PLAYERS, consistently turn out better, younger, World Class Players. The results are staring us right in our Faces. However , if things continue the way they are, America has NO Chance to catch up in the foreseeable future. Honest evaluation shows where the U.S. is in Pool, and we are theLaughingstock of the Pool World! Arrogant Americans feeling that they are SUPPOSED to be the Best at Everything, especially "American Sports".
Having to mention several Great Black Players, highlights the issue and problem, Black Players didn't have equal chances , but knew that they could Pay. If anyone came to The Rack, just outside of Detroit, White Champions and Hustlers from everywhere could get Top Action, at Big Numbers, from Black and White Players. Astronomical amounts of Money were bet and exchanged, and it proved to many Black Players that they could compete with the Best. Bugs, Marvin, Cannonball, and others unmentioned, knew that they were Top Players, but that the System, as usual, was Tilted against them, and if you were considered to be a Thoroughbred, you HAD to get it from the Dirt, that we were not going to be fully accepted in the mainstream, just you HAD to fight against the Grain, our Entire Lives, Pool or otherwise. Pool has completely changed since the Players from around the World were allowed to compete, and be accepted. The Non-American Players have really advanced the Game of Pool in the Last 25 Years or so, and it definitely wasn't America who advanced it. I'm supportive of our Country in its competition, but America has been surpassed, clearly, a long time ago, with no sign of improvement imminent.
Many, probably most, Black Children have been self-taught from their Friends, or Schoolmates, unless someone that Shoots or Hangs at the Poolroom took a notice or interest in us, or saw Talent or potential, and helped Teach us the game as they did for me. I couldn't get into the Poolroom, three blocks from my House, because I wasn't 18, so the Window was Painted in the lower part of the Glass windows of the Poolroom, so I stood on my Tiptoes for as long as I could endure, to see the Players compete. The players felt sorry for me, and knew how badly I wanted to Play and Learn, so they told the Owner that they were my Guardian, and they let me in, and Taught me and encouraged me. I read everything in my LocalLibrary on Pool, and bought everything I could find in the Bookstores locally, and then started ordering Pool Instruction Books, and reading up on all the Champions, although, except for Hustlers, they were all White, but I just loved Pool. No Sport has ever accepted Blacks as equal, and even Tiger Woods and the Tennis williams Sisters, had a Lot of Personal Instruction and inspiration from their Parents, or they wouldn't have been accepted or successful. Such, is Life in America, no matter how much Blacks want to Play or compete, most of the time, the Door is completely, or mainly, Blocked, and we are forced to adapt if we want to play at all. Additionally, Poolis terribly promoted, and very divided, despite recent improvements in Purses, Pool has Millions of Players, but is one of the most poorly promoted Sports in the World.