I know no one here likes pool...
 

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The player is a good man.


I know no one here likes pool...

I used to.

I was quite good, something like a 3 out of 10 skills wise.

Trouble is if the other people are playing badly, I tend to play badly. If the other people are good, I get beaten.

LOL! Shane's lost a step or two in tournament play, but he's still the best in the USA. Only two people have won the US open five times. The other is Earl Strickland.

(edit) One Shane tale I love..during another interview, he told of returning home after winning the US open, and taking his car to the local car wash. He found one of his former bullies working there. With a smirk, he added; "I tipped him five bucks."

Who is currently the best? Far as I'm concerned, a toss up between Josh Filler of Germany and Russian Fedor Gorst...Gorst now playing in the USA with a green card...for obvious reasons wants to become a USA citizen.

It is a shame that the top players earn so little. To reach that level requires the natural talent, but also total dedication. Maybe the top 25 make a decent living.

If you want to kill an hour, here's Shane vs. "Jayson who?" in Gibraltar's world pool masters invitational. Watch how each player controls the cue ball. Playing shape well IS the game..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIOCh_ti3aQ&ab_channel=MatchroomPool

peppy, don't worry about it. These guys don't like pool because they are narrow minded. Or, maybe they tried it and discovered it wasn't as easy as it first looks. Or maybe they thought they were good, only to end up getting taken by a shark. Whatever.

It's a niche sport...always has been, probably always will be in this age of computer games.

I like pools, but not when it is friggen 109F and a "Feels Like" of 117F

I'm thinking Houston pool halls probably have air conditioning...

Anybody interested in what the pool community thinks of the piece can click here. Many LOLs at them saying Shane doesn't gamble..but I don't think he does. He does play big money matchups that have a lot of betting involved..but is it really gambling when both players know exactly who their opponent is, and the talent level? That's a far cry from robbing some unsuspecting bar fly of his rent money.

https://forums.azbilliards.com/threads/svb-featured-on-60-min-dropped-10-hrs-ago.556678/

I was really interested in a deaf man standing at the top of something competitive. I think it takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there with a handicap.

Good point...Shane overcame a lot to be where he is today. Actually, the pool world is one of the most accepting I know of...a classless thing where race, age, etc. simply doesn't matter...like Shane said what you see is people having fun.

I still don't understand why "Pool" (and NOT swimming kind) is still lesser than "Curling" as an officially-recognized 'sport'.

Olympics. Media. Corporate sponsors.
Everyone shut the venue out.

It involves only mathematical angles and strategy. Logic. Precision under stress.
Young/old/male/female/etc. Makes no difference.
It is universal.

And then people are forced to watch golf instead?

They shut out pool because gambling happens in pool halls. Of course, gambling never happens on golf courses. :rolleyes:

(edit) Funny thing about that. When I played, I was often asked to play for money. When I said no, the response was that I can't get better without playing for money. I'd respond that was okay, I didn't really need to play for money to have fun, but if they really wanted to play for my money, I could call my honorary nephew, a son of my deceased best buddy. They'd usually ask his name...I'd give it. Suddenly, they didn't want to get better either. ;) Matt's among the top 5 in Oregon...has a low level pro ranking, despite being an amateur. World wide? He might make the top 4,000 or so.