Will SVB be the top American player of all time?

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.

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And he won a WPA World 8-ball Championship as well.
 
Consider the comparison to Archer, the 1990's Player of the Decade. Archer turned 30 in 1998.

Fred

A noteworthy achievement for Johnny, that's for sure, but who do you think would be player of the century, if there was such a thing, and if you were guessing.:scratchhead:
 
I have it on good athority that in the 24th century, pool sees a mighty resurgence, and the player of that era will beat anything anyone of this generation will ever do.

{sarcasm mode=off}

The big problem with any assertion with the phrase "of all time" is that it is terribly myopic with respect to what can happen in the future.
 
A noteworthy achievement for Johnny, that's for sure, but who do you think would be player of the century, if there was such a thing, and if you were guessing.:scratchhead:

Just to be super clear, this comparison was specific to the OP's question of SVB.

For Player of the Century, how could it not be Mosconi???

Fred
 
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.

At 9 ball and 10 ball he is one of the best currently. "Top American player" to me is a guy who can play other disciplines as well. Archer for example has won the national 14.1 championship as well as numerous 9 ball titles. Varner has won in just about everything involving a cue stick.

Lassiter from what I understand was so good at 9 ball that nobody wanted any part of him in his prime, also a 14.1 champion and I believe he won the Jonston City one pocket once.

Shane is a great player but I'd hold off on declaring him the greatest. If he ever is declared the greatest, by then some young guys will come along and say their generation is better than his.
 
he's what 27 ? let's give this a few years and then see what's up

one thing for sure he's a very dedicated and talented player and time is on his side

i also say Mosconi was the best of the best at all disciplines
 
dang it!!

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:

Most folks at least let me post before they start replying to me! :D


As to the subject at hand, I'm betting that Shane won't be a champion over many years which is one of the things that we have to judge by when saying the best ever. Not that I think he couldn't be, I think he is too smart to be. Shane has always struck me as wise beyond his years and I suspect that he will either leave pool or focus on an area more profitable than playing in the long run. I doubt his main priority will be playing pool ten or fifteen years from now.

Hu
 
Could he be, is he, the Tiger Woods of American pool?

Umm, not even kinda. Tiger Woods was/is a phenom, the guy won 4 US amatures before he even entered the PGA and then went on to win multiple majors and become the #1 player in the world.

Wu Chia Ching would possibly have managed to become the Tiger Woods of pool until he got ousted from the game after winning 2 world championships before turning 20. SVB is a top player, but he is most definately not a phenom that excels beyond the other pros, there are alot of pros in the world every bit as good as SVB. People like Tiger Woods have a level noone else can reach when they hit their peak. Pool players like that are extremely rare, Mosconi was like that, possibly Efren in his prime. ATMI dont think anyone truly stands out of the pack as the clear best.
 
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.
What he said.
 
Of all time is a tallllllllll order when you throw names like Lassiter, Greenleaf, Mosconi, Strickland and Archer into the mix just to name a paltry few. There is no doubt that he seems to have the skill, drive, work ethic and composure to get tossed into that mix of names, but only time will tell.

I am certainly rooting for him as I really enjoy watching him play.
 
Age tends to bring a more clear perspective on these types of debates.....call me "old school" but take a gander at Nick Varner's accomplishments. Sorry...but I don't see where you draw any comparisons to SVB. Oh and if you want a tie breaker(not that there should be one) lets measure the action results in the Phillipines. These are the same assinine comparisons to a legend like Hank Aaron to Barry Bonds or A-rod. This is no disrespect to Shane....but lets give credit where credit is due.
 
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