The immesnse pressure, the bright lights, the emotions, and on top of all that being bipolar in a time it wasnt regularly diagnosed and understood, to somehow keeping it together at a world champion, and argueably beyond, caliber. Thank you for battling through it all to give us some of pool's finest moments. Hope you are enjoying our game Legend.
Earl is a really great player, his rivalry with the GOAT efren, will go down in history as the greatest rivalry of their time. Both talented and very strong, contrasted by their demeanour on the table. A quiet smiling efren and an angry loud talking earl. Earls skills still can beat a lot of new players today.
Reyes is a winner of over 70 major titles. Reyes beat Earl Strickland in The Color of Money. Reyes the first player to win WPA world championships in more than one discipline. US Open is a home turf of Earl Strickland. Home advantage is real.
@Charlie B Color of money was held in Hongkong. It was real event because of big money at stakes. Efren Rayes beat Mike Sigel - 8-Ball IPT King of the Hill 2005, please watch. 9 Ball pool game is a simple style tournament that a pro-player can beat each other, with luck. 8 Ball pool is a little bit harder. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_world_eight-ball_champions Philippines dominate WPA World Eight-ball Championship
@Charlie B Almost all legend pool player are former pool hustler, that is why Big money tournament is more important for them than a title. and speaking of Big money pool tournament, Efren is Reigned king and Unbeatable. Makes Efren outstanding in Pool from the rest.
preach it. i can just binge his games and get satisfied with it. i think he is a amazing pool player and some of his shots are the best in the world. very amusing player to watch and see how he unpuzzles the pool table in his games
I mean, it’s him and Efron in whichever order you prefer. There isn’t a close 3rd. They were both just a level above everyone else in the history of the game.
Earl is a flawed genius doing the best he can to control his instability. He has given his life to the escalation of this sport and deserves the respect due any World Champion.
As someone who is Bipolar, I actually relate and feel for Earl a lot. Definitely takes it too far sometimes and I wish he treated his opponents with a little more respect, but I do feel for him a lot. Specifically the first clip, if you watch before the match when they are announcing his name, I see the face of someone who looks very depressed and anxious, trying to calm himself down. I also see this exact same demeanor during a lot of his matches that you can find here on RUclips. A definitely unpopular opinion, but I do respect the man for continuing to try and overcome that aspect, while simultaneously being super competitive and having the extreme desire to win.
I agree with you - some of the things he does are pretty annoying, but nothing I've seen was unforgivable, and genius-level talent often comes with a complicated mind.
There's a word for passion and other is temper tantrum --> Earl (he has displayed some meltdowns once in a while). A lot of athletes who area passionate about their sports they're good at but does not throw tantrums if it doesn't go their way. Humility and sportsmanship bring you up to another level type of athlete which the Pearl doesn't possess.
Being a pro doesn't only mean to win, it also means to inspire other amateurs and share the experience to keep the spirit of the game alive. Thank you👍🤝
Earl is the John McEnroe of pool, and I watch every match he plays. When he is on his game nobody can beat him. He may be a little crazy, but he is possibly the best 9-ball player to ever play the game.
@@rb879 Not in 9 ball sparky, SVB and Earl both have 5 U.S. Open 9 ball titles. Efren only has 1 U.S. Open 9 ball title. In the Color of Money showdown, a three-day, race-to-120 9-ball competition in Hong Kong, Reyes only won, 120-117. After 3 days, it was a virtual tie. Efren also said earl was the toughest player he ever played. Earl beat Efren in the US Open final after the COM. He also beat Efren in the world 9-ball too before Efren won the US Open in '94. I have not found any article that gives out their head-to-head tally, but discussions on the subject in most pool forums appear to have Earl ahead without disclosure of the exact numbers.
Efren has always owned Earl when it mattered. Earl’s best gear is way behind Efren’s. Earl had streaks of incredible play. Don’t let that cloud your judgement.!
Yes, but when you slam a cue stick down, a footlong piece of it goes flying. Earl is irresponsible to do that, but the end of his cue didnt end up in someone's eye, so he's still Earl, the angry pearl.
There's a difference between passion and arrogance. Efren is just as passionate as Earl. The latter just shows disrespect to the sport. That's not passion in my book.
Love watching Earl play, quirks and all. He has brought more to the game than any other. Pool will not be the same when he hangs it up. If you are a player and haven't listened to him doing pool commentary you should. His explanations on what to do and why will improve your game tremendously.
@@marksmith1916 Not at one time. And the statistics more than back that up. Actually, for best player call by Accustats and some pros that have seen players for the last 60 years, they pick SVB the best ever. I suspect Chinese players like Ko, and maybe some others, Filler is one guess, may be taking that honor eventually, or Shaw, or a few others. Pool is played at a higher and higher level, and one of the largest Tiger Woods kind of players to hit the scene was Efren, and a few other Filipinos (Boosty for one) who took safety solutions to an entirely new and much higher level, overnight. Whoever heard of kicking to solid safeties shot after shot after shot before than? SOP in pro play now. No player could begin to compete at this level without major talent in that aspect. Efren is my favorite player, and repeatedly voted that in pro polls, and no question the most fun to watch ever. I would agree with the assessment of Shane, until you consider all games out beyond the standard four, then Efren is the king, hands down. He was practically unbeatable at balkline, played carom (most difficult cue sport out there, pyramid is probably second) at a decent professional level (where some of those spectacularly entertaining solutions he presented came from) and without a doubt one of the most sportsmanlike, humble, and well behaved players at the table, definitely one to emulate. Direct opposite of Earl in that respect. It does my heart good that even with Efren's age and health problems he is still a pro BEAST at one pocket, where knowledge and creativity reign supreme over the difference in percentage shooting he had then, and now. I hope he is able to do it for years to come. His 'magicianship' is far from gone. I saw one major example in a one pocket final I watched just a week or so back, in a final, I believe, or close anyway.
I prefer to watch him than these players who never take a tough shot, take an hour to shoot, and have no personality… Me and everyone else, that’s why the people judging him have a game that can’t get on ESPN. I love pool… I love watching intense matches… watching pro’s today is the most boring thing on earth.
I agree 100%. The Mosconi crowd took over and sucked all of the spirit out of pool. It literally feels like a dead sport to me, despite the fact that millions of people in the United States alone play pool regularly.
Great Skill, a God-given talent is overshadowed and slammed down into the cesspool gutter by rudeness and a total lack of manners for both player and fans. Earl is the poster boy for the worst that one can be with so much to offer.
I think you're in the majority, which is why no one watches pool anymore, since they removed all of the interaction between players and made it a wannabe-respectable game.
He reminds me of two former tennis players: John McEnroe and llie Nastase, both very good players who let their anger be the cause of them losing many games. They all might be great players, but very poor sportsman.
Earls an eccentric that strives for perfection. He would do anything to improve his game. A guy with short hair was playing good. Earl asked a friend if he should cut his hair.
Earl loses all my respect for how good of a player he is by the way he acts whining and crying like a child the second things don't go his way he's a horribly sore loser
ALL of them are sore losers, the rest just contain it. NONE of them go into a tournament without expecting to win or place highly (at least deep down), regardless of what they say in interviews. It's kind of like a fighter pilot. In their case, in battle, they don't last long if they don't think that way. People used to bash Dechaine for his talk, and in one interview I saw Deschaine say SVB is far worse than he is for hating to lose. The only response SVB gave was a wry smile, pretty telling. Does SVB even remotely display it to any unacceptable level? If he does, I haven't seen it, but I understand he was a cocky disrespectful pain in the ass as a kid, and it stopped when someone jacked him up against a wall and explained to him in no uncertain terms that that was completely unacceptable. Maybe someone should have done that to Earl in his more teachable youth. The same guy that related the story about Shane said he never saw that behavior again. Sometimes that is what it takes, a gentle slap up side the head. and a good talking to.
@@Larryrandom2549 ya but I still have a right to an opinion even if he doesn't care so what's your point? Or did I just forget where it says that because someone can push a ball around with a stick better than me then I lose my freedom of speech?
He didn't just do this when he was losing though. All the time he would start this kind of crap when he had the cue ball on a string and he was winning. In an interview he said a lot of the time the crowd was on his opponents side from the beginning and he didn't feel like he deserved to win. The start of his career wasn't like this, I think it all escalated over time. And he's nuts
@@JamiefromHali mad cause u cant compare to him. he is a good pool player, just because he has anger issues does not mean he is a bad guy. everyone has there problems just like you. do not say that pool does not need this guy, because wheather you like it or not, he is a pool legend and will go down in history. even if he has a bit of anger issues, in most of his games he kept cool and still won so many world tournaments. I think that is most impressive. keep saying that the world does not need him lol just a hater who probably does not even play pool irl.
@@faadu1706 insulting and belittling opponents does not belong in any game. Doesn't matter how good you are. Deal with your anger and paranoia issues, then come play the game...with respect.
@@JamiefromHali by that logic, you're saying that we also do not need Jordan in basketball . MJ, Larry Bird and many greats were notorious for trash talking. Getting in your opponent's head is just a part of sports
Earl the Great. Greatest in so many ways. Love Earl. We're lucky to live in an Era you dominated the game. About the temper - love that too haha. Earl is all heart spirit & talent.
He’s not wrong. They are loud and obnoxious, sharking him and playing favoritism to Davis. Always Loved Earl. He’s not angry with anyone but with him self when he misses a shot or get out of position, he strives for perfection. Respect to The Pearl
2003 Cardiff, I was lucky enough to be front row for his match with Davis. What is not widely discussed is the after party which took place later that evening. Earl stormed in like a mighty hero, having beaten Steve, and as others clapped he bellowed at the top of his lungs "I saved pool! I saved pool!" Earl clearly believed that what Matchroom Sport were doing was belittling the sport of pool; was diminishing the achievements of one of pool's greatest exponents. Steve Davis was a "snooker player"; a cuesport that demands far greater skill. Steve would wipe the floor with Earl. Well it didn't happen. Pool may be played on smaller tables with larger pockets, but to consistently achieve at the highest level in all forms of pool, you must undoubtedly be schooled in the sport. Earl's exaggerated exclamations that he had "saved pool" were a little obnoxious, aggressive, even laughable at the time. However as I have matured over the years and developed a greater appreciation of the sport, I have grown to understand what Earl meant back in 2003.
Pool is a competitive sport. In a sport, it is unacceptable that you can abuse a referee in such a way and get away with it. I'm sorry for earl, but focus and mental resilience is part of the sport and it's probably what's prevented him to be the all times greatest in pool.
Earl is a great player. The crowd edges him on because they want to see his reactions. He plays right into their mind games and the crowd gets to enjoy what they came for, an angry Earl. He has every right to say something. Look at a snooker match/tournament. Quiet and respectful for the most part. But look at a pool match. Huge difference.
Do you know anything about Wayne Webb? My friends were bowlers (I'm not), and I'd go to with them to the alley his family owned in Rehobeth MA. I think it was called Taunton Ten Pin. Wayne was already a big deal in pro bowling, I guess. This was in the early eighties. Anyway, I met him a couple of times and he was really stuck up and kind of a jerk. Then one day he showed up at a pick-up softball game we were having, and asked to play. We ended up on opposing teams and the guy wouldn't shut up. Did nothing but bitch - like Strickland. I played second base and he got really pissed when the shortstop and I turned a double play with Webb on first base. I zipped the ball right by his ear and he tried to take me out with a hard slide, then got up and got in my face. I gave him a chance to back off, but he swung at me and I knocked him senseless. When he woke up he walked to his car without a word and drove way. Good bowler. Bad fighter.
Pool, billiards, snooker are 90% mental. The elites are all similar in skill set. Mental strength is key and Earl lacks it. If he had it he'd be the best ever. His talent is jeopardised by his mentality.
Met Earl at Turning Stone and had a good long convo with him, dude's real nice imo. I don't believe people take into account what someone has on their plate at any given time, I mean we all have things going on and we need to understand that more often. The Limeys love to get on him, it's got to be annoying.
Earl is a selfish jerk. His behavior overshadows his pool skills. He is a drama queen and bully. Efren Reyes, on the other hand, is a graceful and talented player who far outshines Strickland.
poor earl....he never believed the fans really loved him....so he tried to make them mad ...make them hate him...so he could say "i told you they dont like me".....
Met earl at an event. Out of all the pros there he was kindest id met. Shaw was there selling autographed balls and treating people as they were below him. Strickland on the other hand was pleasant and signed autographs for free and even engaged with his fans.
Most ppl dont realize is that u need a ridiculous amount of time and focus to be on stricklands level in playing pool sometimes that breaks players not only physically but mentally. One thing for sure earl is one of the greatest player u will ever see he is pretty much unstoppable in his prime.
@@fraserwing8744yup and im pretty sure greats like earl got his fair share of being lucky in matches but like they said the more u work hard and practice the more u get lucky.
I agree, at the table he looks absolutely miserable, a horrible position for anyone to be in. If he'd used his previous winnings more intelligently he wouldn't be in the position of being "forced to play", his words, not mine. Life happens, and sometimes it sucks. He is obviously not having fun here, and at one time, for a long time, I can almost guaranty you he was, just go look at him back in the day. Totally different behavior. And significantly better level of play, the best at times, no question.
🤣This guy reminds me of a buddy in the early 90s...., but it was snooker, not pool. Moaned his face off after EVERY shot. One day at the snooker hall during a burger & pint break, I said, "John. Why don't you accept that you suck at this game? Maybe you'll start enjoying it and quit the tantrums and cue breakages." Didn't work...... remained a hot-head like Strickland.
Earl is not my favorite player to watch. But, I prefer watching him more than watching new generation. He is a real player, he feels the game. Any competitive player knows how he feels. Do we all want boring snooker players playing 9 ball? No way.
That's so bad any one haven't rights to disrespect to a honourable player...he can't even concentrate on his game...that crowd haven't any type of manners that's why they do that type of thing.....😞😞😞
I like players like Earl Strickland and Mike Sigel , they are players with passion and love for the game! You can see that in Earl eyes that every match is very important to him! Today's players are like robots , no character and expressions at all , just move around the table like robots! I prefer to watch Earl old matches all day long than today's pool.. he is a kind of player that speaks what he thinks and dont give a f**k about it!
I remember one tournament their is a beef between Earl and Bustamante, a tragedy back in the Philippines happened, Bustamante's daughter died and it made Bustamante very upset but kept his composure and went through the tournament. With respect to Bustamante all or most players tie a ribbon around their arm but Earl refuses, Bustamante told Efren Reyes ''If I hear a bad word comes out of Earl's dirty mouth I will whack his head with my stick'' somehow I think the message reach Earl and before the match tied a ribbon around his arm.
Earl is a true legend who was booed by pool league players and other casual fans who have never been in a big game. They have never played at a high level so they don't understand what Earl went through. Was he a bit high strung? Yes but he's an all time great regardless.
i love Early Stricklands the guy is crazy but in the same time he is one of the best pool players ever play the game whit 3 world cups and 6 USA 9ball open maddens
John McEnroe and Phil Helmuth of pool.Guys you love to hate,but are very talented and successful at what they have accomplished in there professions.It seems professionals with these kind of personalities know how to market themselves.
The thing is, I’ve heard from guys like Jayson Shaw, who lived with Earl for a little while, that Earl when he’s not playing is one of the coolest guys. But once it’s go time, you don’t eff with Earl.
Why is it so surprising the people who compete at the highest level in the world at pretty much anything are often emotional and explosive? Strickland is like any other elite level competitor, he's truly playing against himself when he competes. He knows what he is capable of and when things go wrong, the level of frustration, aggravation, pain and rage that comes with it must be hard to cope with. If his fire didn't burn so hot, he likely wouldn't be as great as he is. True competitors know that losing is not taken lightly with a grin and a hand shake. It hurts. It sticks with you forever. It haunts you. Winning is the only option, otherwise there is no purpose to competing.
Im like this too. Its one thing to get angry because of lack of skill but in his case he gets pissed because he knows he's better than that and its obvious
I agree 100%, and it doesn't remotely help your, or his, performance. You are not doing yourself a service. I eventually learned this. Earl is playing better lately, and with less drama, too. I expect the two go hand in hand. And as for skill, NEVER judge yourself against anyone else. The only thing you should be focused on, in that regard, if you truly want to improve your game, is well designed practice, and comparing your current skill level to your previous one. If the slope is up, you are golden. Took me a while to learn that too, actually I haven't conquered all of it yet, either. It's especially bad if you (me actually) were much better before, as measured by league play ratings, not some inflated idea of what I once was. I can tell you beyond any doubt, the best path to improvement is practice, practice, practice. And getting an instructor, a good one (ask around) can work some immediate wonders, if you listen and incorporate. Lousy fundamentals and thinking will limit you to an absolute ceiling, zero question. Now, if I could just stay down and steady, my worst foible. Also, at some point (you are probably far better than I am, especially now) the mental aspect is key. I recommend Dr Dave's and Tor Lowry's YT channels for some truly excellent information. FXbilliards is another good YT pool channel. There are some truly crap channels out there, but these will never lead you wrong, and even if you've been playing 20 years, there is a ton of useful info there that you don't know, I don't care who you are. For what it's worth, I hope at least something here helps. It certainly has helped me. 🙂
@@stevenm6200 hahaha, I noticed that too. Mike seems to forget that he is on the table and keeps talking instead of thinking while the crowd is waiting for the shot. 😁
Obviously you've never sat and listened to Segal. His mouth NEVER stops, and by that I mean he can and does go on for hours, non stop, unasked. He also uses the word I about 1-3 times in each sentence. He was magnificent, but he is also incredibly tiring after a while. I will say he has his moments when he relates stories that are entertaining, too. It's not all bad.
Every sport needs an Earl Strickland. That mix of huge talent and absolute sheer mentalness is intoxicating!
Agree 💯 different level
Pete Webber, John McEnroe
Well he was a special kind of Richard Head that's for sure.
Pool isn't a sport
@@trichotillomaniac1959then what it is?
The immesnse pressure, the bright lights, the emotions, and on top of all that being bipolar in a time it wasnt regularly diagnosed and understood, to somehow keeping it together at a world champion, and argueably beyond, caliber. Thank you for battling through it all to give us some of pool's finest moments. Hope you are enjoying our game Legend.
Earl is a really great player, his rivalry with the GOAT efren, will go down in history as the greatest rivalry of their time. Both talented and very strong, contrasted by their demeanour on the table. A quiet smiling efren and an angry loud talking earl. Earls skills still can beat a lot of new players today.
@Charlie B Earl said "Efren is the best pool player".
Reyes is a winner of over 70 major titles.
Reyes beat Earl Strickland in The Color of Money.
Reyes the first player to win WPA world championships in more than one discipline.
US Open is a home turf of Earl Strickland.
Home advantage is real.
@Charlie B Color of money was held in Hongkong. It was real event because of big money at stakes.
Efren Rayes beat Mike Sigel - 8-Ball IPT King of the Hill 2005, please watch.
9 Ball pool game is a simple style tournament that a pro-player can beat each other, with luck.
8 Ball pool is a little bit harder.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_world_eight-ball_champions
Philippines dominate WPA World Eight-ball Championship
@Charlie B Almost all legend pool player are former pool hustler, that is why Big money tournament is more important for them than a title.
and speaking of Big money pool tournament, Efren is Reigned king and Unbeatable. Makes Efren outstanding in Pool from the rest.
@Charlie B 9 Ball US open can beat each other in Pro player, because of easy style game rule. Efren Reyes is not always present every US open.
Love him or hate him. He's one of the best pool player ever. I like watching his style...quick and accurate.
preach it. i can just binge his games and get satisfied with it. i think he is a amazing pool player and some of his shots are the best in the world. very amusing player to watch and see how he unpuzzles the pool table in his games
I mean, it’s him and Efron in whichever order you prefer. There isn’t a close 3rd. They were both just a level above everyone else in the history of the game.
I’ve heard on RUclips videos that Earl Strickland is bipolar. If that’s the case, that explains everything you need to know to understand his temper.
Yhea. It's hilarious when he goes all Karen when he misses. Love it.
Earl is a flawed genius doing the best he can to control his instability. He has given his life to the escalation of this sport and deserves the respect due any World Champion.
Thank you... Exactly 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
I can relate he’s a legend. I’m pissed at the world too. The hell with the critics
Win or lose, its always a treat to watch mr strickland.
As someone who is Bipolar, I actually relate and feel for Earl a lot. Definitely takes it too far sometimes and I wish he treated his opponents with a little more respect, but I do feel for him a lot. Specifically the first clip, if you watch before the match when they are announcing his name, I see the face of someone who looks very depressed and anxious, trying to calm himself down. I also see this exact same demeanor during a lot of his matches that you can find here on RUclips.
A definitely unpopular opinion, but I do respect the man for continuing to try and overcome that aspect, while simultaneously being super competitive and having the extreme desire to win.
Showing emotion is part of the game, shows that you taking it seriously and trying your best to compete and win. Respect him for that.
I agree with you - some of the things he does are pretty annoying, but nothing I've seen was unforgivable, and genius-level talent often comes with a complicated mind.
No-one will ever understand the passion this guy has for the game. That’s why he is considered one of the best ever
There's a word for passion and other is temper tantrum --> Earl (he has displayed some meltdowns once in a while). A lot of athletes who area passionate about their sports they're good at but does not throw tantrums if it doesn't go their way. Humility and sportsmanship bring you up to another level type of athlete which the Pearl doesn't possess.
Earl is entertaining and one of the most talented cue artist to ever live ,.....just a little insane like a mad genius plus his NPD !
Watch Earl every chance I get he's a good communicator..also.
Mad genius, omg 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯😊😊🤣😊💯💯💯😃😃😃😃💯💯💯💯.. he's totally awesome and genius forsure
@Oliver Abbot that's a story that deserves a RUclips talk time video
Just Can't hate Earl the Pearl..Still one of the best players to ever touch the game...Respect
He was one of the best pool players ever bad temper yes but always entertaining to watching
Being a pro doesn't only mean to win, it also means to inspire other amateurs and share the experience to keep the spirit of the game alive. Thank you👍🤝
Earl is the John McEnroe of pool, and I watch every match he plays. When he is on his game nobody can beat him. He may be a little crazy, but he is possibly the best 9-ball player to ever play the game.
Efren Reyes beat him everyday all day
@@rb879 Not in 9 ball sparky, SVB and Earl both have 5 U.S. Open 9 ball titles. Efren only has 1 U.S. Open 9 ball title. In the Color of Money showdown, a three-day, race-to-120 9-ball competition in Hong Kong, Reyes only won, 120-117. After 3 days, it was a virtual tie.
Efren also said earl was the toughest player he ever played.
Earl beat Efren in the US Open final after the COM. He also beat Efren in the world 9-ball too before Efren won the US Open in '94.
I have not found any article that gives out their head-to-head tally, but discussions on the subject in most pool forums appear to have Earl ahead without disclosure of the exact numbers.
Efren has always owned Earl when it mattered. Earl’s best gear is way behind Efren’s. Earl had streaks of incredible play. Don’t let that cloud your judgement.!
Yes, but when you slam a cue stick down, a footlong piece of it goes flying. Earl is irresponsible to do that, but the end of his cue didnt end up in someone's eye, so he's still Earl, the angry pearl.
@@stevestewart6287 Earl already admitted that Efren is the GOAT. End of discussion.
Say what you want, but this is just straight passion. You gotta love it.
There's a difference between passion and arrogance. Efren is just as passionate as Earl. The latter just shows disrespect to the sport. That's not passion in my book.
Love watching Earl play, quirks and all. He has brought more to the game than any other. Pool will not be the same when he hangs it up. If you are a player and haven't listened to him doing pool commentary you should. His explanations on what to do and why will improve your game tremendously.
Any links to some of his commentary?
@@nathanielkintner3053 Just type in "Earl Strickland presents" on you tube search.
@@nathanielkintner3053 they're on the Billiards Network channel. Like him or not.... Earl has by far some of the best commentary.
@@mejeremyb Yeah I've watched a few matches. He's great.
Earl once said that he has never missed a shot that was his fault😂
Most geniuses are insane and Earl is no different 😂
McEnroe, Weber, etc. Doesnt help people dont understand earl suffers from bi-polar disorder
@@shayne.7770 I was thinking more like tripolar, since he is so much more 'pronounced" than most.
hot tempered
I call bullshit. Efren is 10 times the player and you don't see him acting up.
@@marksmith1916 Not at one time. And the statistics more than back that up. Actually, for best player call by Accustats and some pros that have seen players for the last 60 years, they pick SVB the best ever. I suspect Chinese players like Ko, and maybe some others, Filler is one guess, may be taking that honor eventually, or Shaw, or a few others.
Pool is played at a higher and higher level, and one of the largest Tiger Woods kind of players to hit the scene was Efren, and a few other Filipinos (Boosty for one) who took safety solutions to an entirely new and much higher level, overnight. Whoever heard of kicking to solid safeties shot after shot after shot before than? SOP in pro play now. No player could begin to compete at this level without major talent in that aspect.
Efren is my favorite player, and repeatedly voted that in pro polls, and no question the most fun to watch ever. I would agree with the assessment of Shane, until you consider all games out beyond the standard four, then Efren is the king, hands down. He was practically unbeatable at balkline, played carom (most difficult cue sport out there, pyramid is probably second) at a decent professional level (where some of those spectacularly entertaining solutions he presented came from) and without a doubt one of the most sportsmanlike, humble, and well behaved players at the table, definitely one to emulate. Direct opposite of Earl in that respect.
It does my heart good that even with Efren's age and health problems he is still a pro BEAST at one pocket, where knowledge and creativity reign supreme over the difference in percentage shooting he had then, and now. I hope he is able to do it for years to come. His 'magicianship' is far from gone. I saw one major example in a one pocket final I watched just a week or so back, in a final, I believe, or close anyway.
some people just don't give a damn...that's Earl. No reason to talk smack about him
He could have won more tournaments if he controlled his temper.. one of the all time great despite his attitude problem.
Earl was his greatest opponent
“The Taiwanese are hogging the practice tables” 😂😂
😂😂
I prefer to watch him than these players who never take a tough shot, take an hour to shoot, and have no personality…
Me and everyone else, that’s why the people judging him have a game that can’t get on ESPN. I love pool… I love watching intense matches… watching pro’s today is the most boring thing on earth.
You might like some of my shots. Usually I do not even touch the table. Nothing boring about that. ruclips.net/video/MEFjTXO84U8/видео.html
I agree 100%. The Mosconi crowd took over and sucked all of the spirit out of pool. It literally feels like a dead sport to me, despite the fact that millions of people in the United States alone play pool regularly.
I love Earl. He has a colorful personality and massive amounts of talent. One of my all time idols in pool for sure.
Nice comment, very nice and thank you, God bless, most sincerely Leslie and baby Louise 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😊😊🤣😊🤣😊🤣😊🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😊🙏🙏🙏😊🙏🙏🙏😊😊🤣😊🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏.... .
Great Skill, a God-given talent is overshadowed and slammed down into the cesspool gutter by rudeness and a total lack of manners for both player and fans. Earl is the poster boy for the worst that one can be with so much to offer.
Earl has already proved his worth. Your comment does not bear anything at all.
I like efren and earl. I dont mind his temper hehe...i think its exciting to watch when therrs little drama
I think you're in the majority, which is why no one watches pool anymore, since they removed all of the interaction between players and made it a wannabe-respectable game.
The best Video bruh! Thanks 👍👍👍
He reminds me of two former tennis players: John McEnroe and llie Nastase, both very good players who let their anger
be the cause of them losing many games. They all might be great players, but very poor sportsman.
One of my favorite players.
Gotta love the pearl. Miss watching this legend play
I like when Earl tells Efren the GOAT he was "lucky."
Wow somebody is seething jealous of greatness.
Earls an eccentric that strives for perfection.
He would do anything to improve his game.
A guy with short hair was playing good. Earl asked a friend if he should cut his hair.
Earl loses all my respect for how good of a player he is by the way he acts whining and crying like a child the second things don't go his way he's a horribly sore loser
ALL of them are sore losers, the rest just contain it. NONE of them go into a tournament without expecting to win or place highly (at least deep down), regardless of what they say in interviews. It's kind of like a fighter pilot. In their case, in battle, they don't last long if they don't think that way.
People used to bash Dechaine for his talk, and in one interview I saw Deschaine say SVB is far worse than he is for hating to lose. The only response SVB gave was a wry smile, pretty telling.
Does SVB even remotely display it to any unacceptable level? If he does, I haven't seen it, but I understand he was a cocky disrespectful pain in the ass as a kid, and it stopped when someone jacked him up against a wall and explained to him in no uncertain terms that that was completely unacceptable. Maybe someone should have done that to Earl in his more teachable youth. The same guy that related the story about Shane said he never saw that behavior again. Sometimes that is what it takes, a gentle slap up side the head. and a good talking to.
@@Larryrandom2549 ya but I still have a right to an opinion even if he doesn't care so what's your point? Or did I just forget where it says that because someone can push a ball around with a stick better than me then I lose my freedom of speech?
He didn't just do this when he was losing though. All the time he would start this kind of crap when he had the cue ball on a string and he was winning. In an interview he said a lot of the time the crowd was on his opponents side from the beginning and he didn't feel like he deserved to win. The start of his career wasn't like this, I think it all escalated over time. And he's nuts
Michaelas smirking when Davis walks out 🤣
Imagine the pool world without Earl. Absolute character and the skills to back it up. Love to see him at his prime.
Toxic and paranoid. Pool doesn’t need this guy.
@@JamiefromHali mad cause u cant compare to him. he is a good pool player, just because he has anger issues does not mean he is a bad guy. everyone has there problems just like you. do not say that pool does not need this guy, because wheather you like it or not, he is a pool legend and will go down in history. even if he has a bit of anger issues, in most of his games he kept cool and still won so many world tournaments. I think that is most impressive. keep saying that the world does not need him lol just a hater who probably does not even play pool irl.
@@faadu1706 insulting and belittling opponents does not belong in any game. Doesn't matter how good you are. Deal with your anger and paranoia issues, then come play the game...with respect.
@@JamiefromHali everyone needs earl, including you.... . Now get serious... Trump 2024
@@JamiefromHali by that logic, you're saying that we also do not need Jordan in basketball . MJ, Larry Bird and many greats were notorious for trash talking. Getting in your opponent's head is just a part of sports
Strickland is the Phil Hellmuth of pool.
Earl the Great. Greatest in so many ways.
Love Earl. We're lucky to live in an Era you dominated the game. About the temper - love that too haha. Earl is all heart spirit & talent.
Earl is an entertainer.. he knows exactly what he's doing
Latest is his tantrum against seo
very colorful character, every sport need a guy like this. Talent but unpredictable.
He’s not wrong. They are loud and obnoxious, sharking him and playing favoritism to Davis. Always Loved Earl. He’s not angry with anyone but with him self when he misses a shot or get out of position, he strives for perfection. Respect to The Pearl
2003 Cardiff, I was lucky enough to be front row for his match with Davis. What is not widely discussed is the after party which took place later that evening. Earl stormed in like a mighty hero, having beaten Steve, and as others clapped he bellowed at the top of his lungs "I saved pool! I saved pool!" Earl clearly believed that what Matchroom Sport were doing was belittling the sport of pool; was diminishing the achievements of one of pool's greatest exponents. Steve Davis was a "snooker player"; a cuesport that demands far greater skill. Steve would wipe the floor with Earl.
Well it didn't happen. Pool may be played on smaller tables with larger pockets, but to consistently achieve at the highest level in all forms of pool, you must undoubtedly be schooled in the sport.
Earl's exaggerated exclamations that he had "saved pool" were a little obnoxious, aggressive, even laughable at the time. However as I have matured over the years and developed a greater appreciation of the sport, I have grown to understand what Earl meant back in 2003.
Like him or not. The guy was and is awesome!
He is a cxxt
If he changed his mentality he wouldn't be the man he is.
Efren is Einstein with a cue stick
While earl is version of angry Lord Voldemort!!
Pool is a competitive sport. In a sport, it is unacceptable that you can abuse a referee in such a way and get away with it. I'm sorry for earl, but focus and mental resilience is part of the sport and it's probably what's prevented him to be the all times greatest in pool.
Earl is a great player. The crowd edges him on because they want to see his reactions. He plays right into their mind games and the crowd gets to enjoy what they came for, an angry Earl. He has every right to say something. Look at a snooker match/tournament. Quiet and respectful for the most part. But look at a pool match. Huge difference.
Can't blame the crowd when every player has to face it.
Do you know anything about Wayne Webb? My friends were bowlers (I'm not), and I'd go to with them to the alley his family owned in Rehobeth MA. I think it was called Taunton Ten Pin. Wayne was already a big deal in pro bowling, I guess. This was in the early eighties. Anyway, I met him a couple of times and he was really stuck up and kind of a jerk.
Then one day he showed up at a pick-up softball game we were having, and asked to play. We ended up on opposing teams and the guy wouldn't shut up. Did nothing but bitch - like Strickland. I played second base and he got really pissed when the shortstop and I turned a double play with Webb on first base.
I zipped the ball right by his ear and he tried to take me out with a hard slide, then got up and got in my face. I gave him a chance to back off, but he swung at me and I knocked him senseless. When he woke up he walked to his car without a word and drove way. Good bowler. Bad fighter.
Earl is a great mechanic; however, I have no respect for his attitude and manners...He truly need ANGER MANAGEMENT.
@Pool Trick Shots, if we follow your logic that Earl can't control his rants, apparently you can't either.
OK video. Needed more videos of his actual metal downs.
Pool, billiards, snooker are 90% mental. The elites are all similar in skill set. Mental strength is key and Earl lacks it. If he had it he'd be the best ever. His talent is jeopardised by his mentality.
Ever thought about getting a real job? Earl would be a great Greeter at Wal-Mart
We love Earl!!!
Earl is great no matter what. One of the 5 greatest players ever ❤
He’s the best 9 ball player ever.
Ever !!!!!!
Met Earl at Turning Stone and had a good long convo with him, dude's real nice imo. I don't believe people take into account what someone has on their plate at any given time, I mean we all have things going on and we need to understand that more often. The Limeys love to get on him, it's got to be annoying.
the temper makes this man more famous than any other players.
Not forgot that he is 2nd to efren
i think you mean notorious.
True, although I recently saw footage of Jayson Shaw go off on Earl, Earl looked completely perplexed at being out earled😂
passionate athletes are a real pleasure to watch
Strickland is Squidward of billiard World 🤣🤣🤣
FACTS
He’d rip your liver out and hand it to ya!
Earl is a selfish jerk. His behavior overshadows his pool skills. He is a drama queen and bully. Efren Reyes, on the other hand, is a graceful and talented player who far outshines Strickland.
If Earl just kept his cool...he's a very good pool player.
He really is a good guy who is an amazing player just has a hard time keeping his feelings in check! But whwn hes calm and happy he is unbeatable
poor earl....he never believed the fans really loved him....so he tried to make them mad ...make them hate him...so he could say "i told you they dont like me".....
Met earl at an event. Out of all the pros there he was kindest id met. Shaw was there selling autographed balls and treating people as they were below him. Strickland on the other hand was pleasant and signed autographs for free and even engaged with his fans.
Very nice and genuine guy!!
Hehe, he's the John McEnroe of billiards.
The pool cue seller must have love Early Stricklands did that to his cue.
Except Earl makes his own cue shafts so he's always got plenty of spares when he plays.
You ever heard of a guy named pete weber? He is a bowler
I love this guy
Earl is the Bobby Fisher of pool! : )
Most ppl dont realize is that u need a ridiculous amount of time and focus to be on stricklands level in playing pool sometimes that breaks players not only physically but mentally.
One thing for sure earl is one of the greatest player u will ever see he is pretty much unstoppable in his prime.
Very true, buddy. Earl is right, and a lot like me, he's rarely ever got lucky in matches, always having to grind for what he's got.
@@fraserwing8744yup and im pretty sure greats like earl got his fair share of being lucky in matches but like they said the more u work hard and practice the more u get lucky.
The best is Efren Reyes than Earl Strickland!!! XD
Strickland is Benson from The Regular Show
OMH.....Inner Demons. Picking at the wounds is easy, but it's a actually sad situation.
I agree, at the table he looks absolutely miserable, a horrible position for anyone to be in. If he'd used his previous winnings more intelligently he wouldn't be in the position of being "forced to play", his words, not mine. Life happens, and sometimes it sucks. He is obviously not having fun here, and at one time, for a long time, I can almost guaranty you he was, just go look at him back in the day. Totally different behavior. And significantly better level of play, the best at times, no question.
Earl is an utter legend. Love the man.
After the match the that he told Michaela to shut up, one of his friends told him he better buy her some flowers and say sorry to her. And he did.
🤣This guy reminds me of a buddy in the early 90s...., but it was snooker, not pool. Moaned his face off after EVERY shot. One day at the snooker hall during a burger & pint break, I said, "John. Why don't you accept that you suck at this game? Maybe you'll start enjoying it and quit the tantrums and cue breakages." Didn't work...... remained a hot-head like Strickland.
Earl is not my favorite player to watch. But, I prefer watching him more than watching new generation. He is a real player, he feels the game. Any competitive player knows how he feels. Do we all want boring snooker players playing 9 ball? No way.
No no no... Exactly 💯. Plus we're Americans.. snooker, forget about it. Let's go earl, let's go trump 2024
@@lesliethompson4039 That's a little bit of a stretch don't you think 😂
That's so bad any one haven't rights to disrespect to a honourable player...he can't even concentrate on his game...that crowd haven't any type of manners that's why they do that type of thing.....😞😞😞
I like players like Earl Strickland and Mike Sigel , they are players with passion and love for the game! You can see that in Earl eyes that every match is very important to him! Today's players are like robots , no character and expressions at all , just move around the table like robots! I prefer to watch Earl old matches all day long than today's pool.. he is a kind of player that speaks what he thinks and dont give a f**k about it!
I remember one tournament their is a beef between Earl and Bustamante, a tragedy back in the Philippines happened, Bustamante's daughter died and it made Bustamante very upset but kept his composure and went through the tournament. With respect to Bustamante all or most players tie a ribbon around their arm but Earl refuses, Bustamante told Efren Reyes ''If I hear a bad word comes out of Earl's dirty mouth I will whack his head with my stick'' somehow I think the message reach Earl and before the match tied a ribbon around his arm.
Strickland is the the most entertaining player ever. Even when he's waiting to shoot.
I love Earl man. He's one of the GOATs. His heartfelt speech about Efren Reyes tells us who he really is.
Earl is a true legend who was booed by pool league players and other casual fans who have never been in a big game. They have never played at a high level so they don't understand what Earl went through. Was he a bit high strung? Yes but he's an all time great regardless.
i love Early Stricklands the guy is crazy but in the same time he is one of the best pool players ever play the game whit 3 world cups and 6 USA 9ball open maddens
John McEnroe and Phil Helmuth of pool.Guys you love to hate,but are very talented and successful at what they have accomplished in there professions.It seems professionals with these kind of personalities know how to market themselves.
The thing is, I’ve heard from guys like Jayson Shaw, who lived with Earl for a little while, that Earl when he’s not playing is one of the coolest guys. But once it’s go time, you don’t eff with Earl.
The Squidward of pool as someone once said
Why is it so surprising the people who compete at the highest level in the world at pretty much anything are often emotional and explosive? Strickland is like any other elite level competitor, he's truly playing against himself when he competes. He knows what he is capable of and when things go wrong, the level of frustration, aggravation, pain and rage that comes with it must be hard to cope with. If his fire didn't burn so hot, he likely wouldn't be as great as he is. True competitors know that losing is not taken lightly with a grin and a hand shake. It hurts. It sticks with you forever. It haunts you. Winning is the only option, otherwise there is no purpose to competing.
Jesus, what ever man.
Love or hate him. He’s a great player 😎
The Great Earl the Pearl is awesome and entertaining...Gotta love him♥️♥️♥️♥️.
I think his lunacy is what makes him a great entertainer and top player.
LOVE YA EARL!
Yes on occasion Strickland is as mad as a bag of cats but where would pool be without him ? He is a pool god .
Everyone loses but Earl is still one of the best to play the game
Im like this too. Its one thing to get angry because of lack of skill but in his case he gets pissed because he knows he's better than that and its obvious
I agree 100%, and it doesn't remotely help your, or his, performance. You are not doing yourself a service. I eventually learned this. Earl is playing better lately, and with less drama, too. I expect the two go hand in hand.
And as for skill, NEVER judge yourself against anyone else. The only thing you should be focused on, in that regard, if you truly want to improve your game, is well designed practice, and comparing your current skill level to your previous one. If the slope is up, you are golden. Took me a while to learn that too, actually I haven't conquered all of it yet, either. It's especially bad if you (me actually) were much better before, as measured by league play ratings, not some inflated idea of what I once was. I can tell you beyond any doubt, the best path to improvement is practice, practice, practice. And getting an instructor, a good one (ask around) can work some immediate wonders, if you listen and incorporate. Lousy fundamentals and thinking will limit you to an absolute ceiling, zero question. Now, if I could just stay down and steady, my worst foible.
Also, at some point (you are probably far better than I am, especially now) the mental aspect is key. I recommend Dr Dave's and Tor Lowry's YT channels for some truly excellent information. FXbilliards is another good YT pool channel. There are some truly crap channels out there, but these will never lead you wrong, and even if you've been playing 20 years, there is a ton of useful info there that you don't know, I don't care who you are. For what it's worth, I hope at least something here helps. It certainly has helped me. 🙂
i love watching earl. he's a great player. he's as great as efren when it comes to 9 ball.
I love this guy man
straight intensity. people have it for short period of time then loose it to keep that edge is hard in any sport
Sorry Mike Sigel, the title "The Mouth" belongs to Earl 🤣🤣🤣
Hahahah no it goes to Siegel, he never stops, like never, even when he’s not playing he’s chatting to the people next to him, Earl has a limit😂
@@stevenm6200 hahaha, I noticed that too. Mike seems to forget that he is on the table and keeps talking instead of thinking while the crowd is waiting for the shot. 😁
Obviously you've never sat and listened to Segal. His mouth NEVER stops, and by that I mean he can and does go on for hours, non stop, unasked. He also uses the word I about 1-3 times in each sentence. He was magnificent, but he is also incredibly tiring after a while. I will say he has his moments when he relates stories that are entertaining, too. It's not all bad.
Earl is madara's reincarnation
Efren is hashirama's
Indra and ashura reincarnation 😂😂
strickland IMO is one of the fastest to make a shot always in a hurry
And no one else draws a crowd like earl, for or against him. Half a million views just to see earl being earl
Earl is great makes me think of ronnie in snooker