Year 2007 overview with a Mosconi Cup winning team member (long but recommended)

[Vahmurka]

VAH,
I think you may be off-base a bit in your assumption. The number of views can be quite misleading. There are many worthwhile threads that occasionally fly past the radar - the initial date of this thread was the last Friday of DCC - THE BIGGEST POOL NIGHT OF THE YEAR for many of us here in the States. It is very easy for a thread to pass unnoticed on such a day. Don't take it personally.

Not all AZB'ers are interested in the same things; but there are plenty that just love this type of information; so KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

P.S. - perhaps you can also fill us in on the Russian pool scene. I was fortunate to observe Evgeny Stalev in action last year at DCC; how are such proficient players developed over there??

Williebetmore, I hope you are right about me being wrong. Thanks for inspiration! I'm glad to know that my effort was not in vain, as the replies above show now. It was not that I translate each and every word Kosta tells me in annual interviews, but this time I really enjoyed it (After my pal living in Germany requested if he could translate the interview in German for their AZ-like pool forum I realized that I wasn't wrong with my feelings) and thought that it is full of things the Americans would like to keep in mind. Like what it takes to be a real team and how to perform and behave in order to achieve that. Someone mentioned already in other Mosconi Cup thread that they should choose a good captain first, not just a famous vet (nothing personal to Davenport or Varner). And other stuff like that.
At least when time comes those who ran through the text will know where to search for it
Thanks everyone, I got more evidence that I achieved what I was striving to do, and that is giving you those insights by Konstantin. (Though I still believe it is Williebetmore's attention to the thread which made that little magic, since you posted here the numbers of hits increased three times compared to previous state Arrgh, I'm a bit verbose as well as you are, LOL)

OFFTOPIC starts below, so in case you are keen on pool only don't bother to read

Excellent article. Your translation is superb. I'm always amazed at how fluent non-native English speakers can be.

That's because we have to LEARN if we want to know it. People who want to learn Russian good and succeed have better knowledge than average person who was born Russian. I think it applies to every language.
But I wish I could speak as good as I (hopefully, thanks for your recognition) write. I'm lacking verbal practise. That's natural, since the only means I can support my English is reading and writing, just like here at marvellous AZB.

By the way, I was talking to a Russian colleague and asked him what your Avatar means. He never heard of "Vahmurka". He said the elements were something like "bad cat". Any enlightenment on your avatar's meaning???

Okay, I'm coming from the shadow, hehe. "Cat" is correct only for the second part, but it is wrong in general. How old is your colleague? He must have missed a popular cartoon.
http://www.supraphon.cz/!img_katalog/SU5239_2_xl.gif
http://www.dvdr.cz/zbozi_video.php?shop=vi&id_zbozi=6285
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85n8VA358vA&feature=related
Vahmurka is the way character's name sounds in Russian (Vochomurka in Czech). He is the shortest of two. I liked that animation series.

 

[Vahmurka]

P.S. - perhaps you can also fill us in on the Russian pool scene. I was fortunate to observe Evgeny Stalev in action last year at DCC; how are such proficient players developed over there??

uh, forgot to dwell on that. I believe it is only talent so far, and natural ability to play the game. But multiplied by hard work of course. Both Stalev and Stepanov are close to world level, and they are the only ones from here. Pool has too short history in Russia compared to the US, so our country being as big as yours has only two competitive players to offer, while one could name a hundred of Americans easily. So I'm sure that with proper approach more of them Russians to come, we have two very good juniors, Ruslan Chinakhov and Roman Pruchai, who will be very good players unless they get distracted with "normal" life and continue their quest in the world of pool with dedication.
Could be great if Stalev returned to his abilities in pool but they say he is more into poker now than cue sports.
Stepanov is more determined and, which is important, he is tasting the benefits more and more. WPC, Mosconi Cup... Derby City is still to be tasted

 

[beetle]

Okay, I'm coming from the shadow, hehe. "Cat" is correct only for the second part, but it is wrong in general. How old is your colleague? He must have missed a popular cartoon.
http://www.supraphon.cz/!img_katalog/SU5239_2_xl.gif
http://www.dvdr.cz/zbozi_video.php?shop=vi&id_zbozi=6285
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85n8VA358vA&feature=related
Vahmurka is the way character's name sounds in Russian (Vochomurka in Czech). He is the shortest of two. I liked that animation series.

Thanks for solving the mystery, Vahmurka! My colleague moved from St. Petersburg 15 years ago (he's 52 now), so perhaps he missed this recent popular culture Russian icon!

dasvedanya,
Steve

 

[nuklhd]

Earl at Mosconi

Hello, I am new to this great forum after having gotten back into shooting after a 10 year absence. I was working at the Mosconi cup this year and got to see all the matches. I personally thought Earls behavior was bad although entertaining. I have been watching him for many years and it was nothing new. There was an incedent after the final match that I thought was in very bad taste and extremely rude. All the players were signing autographs including Earl, who was talking to anyone who would listen. A guy walked up and stuck is hand out to shake, when Earl reached out the guy pulled back and walked away (pysch). Earl belted out a few profane words to the guy and then prceeded to go off on a lady who was next in line with a stick to be autographed. He basically said " get the f*** out of here, he ruined it for all you f***s ", and stormed away shouting profanities. This lady did or said nothing to him yet he laid into her. Just more evidence of his imaturity and lack of character in my opinion. I have always admired his prowess at the table and thought for the most part he used his antics to motivate himself but this was a little much for my taste. I won't be wasting my time watching him again.
All in all it was nice event marred only by one persons actions. Everyone else was very gracious and friendly. And I also got to see some great pool.

 

[Vahmurka]

thanks for addition, that wasn't told before. That is very sad about Earl, who used to be a great sportsman. His diagnosis must be true then I'm afraid.

 

[nuklhd]

Forgot to thank you for a great interview. Also as I was there the whole week I got to see everyone play and my observations about the USA team were as follows:
J Archer - Below average play, Class all the time
R Morris - Above average play, Class and Fun all the time
C Duel - Poor Play, Seemed disinterested
SVB - Above average play, Class and a introverted
E Strickland - Average play, see above post

Afterword all but E.S. were extremely gracious with their time and words as were the eroupeans.