Will SVB be the top American player of all time?

hang-the-9

hang-the-9

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
He does not have the resume as of yet of a Sigel, Archer, or a Stickland, but for his age (24 I think?) and current accomplishments could he overtake all the players that came before him? Could he be, is he, the Tiger Woods of American pool?

How were the other top pros at his age?

It used to be I always recommended new players to study the game of Buddy Hall or Nick Varner to learn to play the right way, now I find myself telling everyone to watch SVBs matches.
 
Check back in ten years and we'll see.
P.S. He turned 27 yesterday.
 
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Only time will tell, He will need to play as good as he is playing now for a long time to pass some of the champions already mentioned. I think the younger generation forget about some of the old guys that played for decades at the top of the sport. JMHO
 
Even if he wins everything for the next 20 years he will never have a chance to play Eddie Taylor Mosconi or Greenleaf. He will never be able to play guys like Strickland Mcready Segil or Varner in their prime. So asking if someone is best of all time will never be answered. I am by no means saying SVB is not great because I had the privilidge to watch him play at the Gem city classic this weekend and I was in awe of every aspect of his game he is the american to beat right now for sure.
 
As of today, I've never see Shane's name associated with winning a World class one pocket event. No references to a 14.1 title at any level I'm familiar with. He's not involved with bank pool as far as I know.

To even wonder if he's the best, I believe you need to set parameters first. Nine or ten ball? He certainly has the resume' to be considered. Dedication to the game? Never seen anyone practice as much as he does. Best ever? Way too early.

Lyn
 
evanandpeaches said:
Even if he wins everything for the next 20 years he will never have a chance to play Eddie Taylor Mosconi or Greenleaf. He will never be able to play guys like Strickland Mcready Segil or Varner in their prime. So asking if someone is best of all time will never be answered. I am by no means saying SVB is not great because I had the privilidge to watch him play at the Gem city classic this weekend and I was in awe of every aspect of his game he is the american to beat right now for sure.
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I guess what I meant was if he would be in the list of people that gets tossed about when best American players are mensioned. And another poster pointed out that he does not play straight or one-pocket, and skill in those games is probably needed to be in the list. Although I don't think Strickland plays much of anything aside from 9 ball either.
 
Well... if he keeps going strong for another half-century or so, he can be to 9/10 ball what Raymond Ceulemans was to billiards! :thumbup::thumbup:
 
Q77 said:
Well... if he keeps going strong for another half-century or so, he can be to 9/10 ball what Raymond Ceulemans was to billiards! :thumbup::thumbup:
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Don't forget Willie Hoppe. He won his first world championship (balkline) at 18 and his last (three cushion) at 65. And he was the man to beat in all the years in between. Different game, but still ....

I think age 24 is a little too early to start speculating about being the best of all time.
 
I would think for him to be even considered in the conversation, he would need to win at least two more US Opens and pick up a few more games. Varner, Hall, and Sigel were not just rotation (9/10 ball) players. They were adept at many games and won titles in multiple disciplines.

Strickland may not have been multi-faceted like the others, but he won 5 US Opens; a feat that I believe will not see an equal.

Like others have said, he is still far too young to tell, but he needs to pick up some titles at other games, or be so far ahead in rotation games that he blows everyone out of the water.
 
He is not even the best "all around" American pool player right now!

I would go with a JS or Harriman or maybe even a Daulton if he would get back into it.

Now if you ask about 10 ball American player then absolutely. There is no doubt there.

my .02
 
hang-the-9 said:
Although I don't think Strickland plays much of anything aside from 9 ball either.
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Then you'd be one of the vast majority that do not know that Earl claims a high run of 408 in 14.1. :thumbup:

Are we talking all-around players or specialists? At this time, SVB is THE 10B specialist. His BB 8B game is proven too.

For all-arounds, you need to consider guys like Schmidt, Harriman, Deuel,..., etc.
 
Just to back up Mosconiac's post. I have heard stories, (I know, extreme hearsay), that Earl would practice 14.1 every day and try to run 200. Dont' know how often he was successful, but I can definitely believe a high run of 408 from the Pearl.

As far as SVB being considered amongst the best...as has been stated earlier, if you are talking rotation and 8-ball, then yes, he is amongst the best, playing at the level he is now. To be considered one of the greats, he will have to sustain it over a period of time. Until he has close to the resume of Johnny, Earl, Nick, Buddy, or Sigel I have a very hard time putting him in that realm of players just yet. But I really believe that he will be mentioned with them. As far as all around players, not even close. When he the level of his 14.1, 1 Pocket, and Banks reaches what his rotation and 8-ball game is, then we can start talking about the all around. Right now, if he played an all around against Shannon Daulton in a long race, (any good player can get there occasionally in a race to 3 1 Pocket or Banks) Derby style format, he doesn't stand too much of a chance. Throw 14.1 on top of it and have him play Schmidt or Harriman, even more so. JMHO...

Then again, just to play the devils advocate with myself here, 3 years ago I watched him take 9-7/10-7 from Gabe in Chattanooga and was hanging tough. If his 1P game has improved since then, he could challenge a little there. His pocketing ability bodes well for 14.1 as well if he decided to take that game up...just would have to learn the intricacies of the game. Banks...well, I just think if you haven't been playing the game a while, there's not much chance to get as proficient at the game as people like Taylor, Bugs, Fargo, Spaeth, Gregg, Daulton. But who knows, he practices like a man posessed. Should he decide he wants to be the best banker out there, he has the talent to do so.

there's my $.08...a little more than $.02.
 
Rich93 said:
Don't forget Willie Hoppe. He won his first world championship (balkline) at 18 and his last (three cushion) at 65. And he was the man to beat in all the years in between. Different game, but still ....

I think age 24 is a little too early to start speculating about being the best of all time.
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I agree with Rich on this one.

This is a bit off topic from the original post - apologies in advance.
For those of you who like good books on billiards/pool. Hoppe wrote an autobiography "Thirty Years in Billiards" in which was published in 1925 and reprinted in 1975 ISBN 0-486-23126-7. The last paragraph was "How Long can I keep my title" ..Don't know how long he kept that title but his last came in 1952..27 years later.. It also has a section on lessons/instruction in the back with theories that can be applied/used in pool as well as billiards.
 
It is unlikely that he'll top Lassiter, at 9-ball.
As for 14.1, that should read Harriman and Schmidt, Hu. Not the other way around. :smile:
 
hang-the-9 said:
He does not have the resume as of yet of a Sigel, Archer, or a Stickland, but for his age (24 I think?) and current accomplishments could he overtake all the players that came before him? Could he be, is he, the Tiger Woods of American pool?

How were the other top pros at his age?

It used to be I always recommended new players to study the game of Buddy Hall or Nick Varner to learn to play the right way, now I find myself telling everyone to watch SVBs matches.
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No he is not.
 
SVB would runout like water on those 5"+ pockets and the slow cloth wouldn't bother him at all with his stroke. But you can't compare the old players with the new players. If he keeps his desire he will be one of the best ever when it's all said and done. He is one of the rare ones that plays tournaments and action matches, with his own money most of the time, at top speed. Johnnyt
 
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